[mvestor]

I'm looking to upgrade my 330ci ZHP with a 2011 335D - the good news is I have found a suitable one with M-Sport, fully loaded excluding iDrive from a private seller with about 20,000 miles.

My question to the board is what are your feelings doing a deal sight unseen? Also, what is a good, going market price for a car like this? I have had trouble nailing down a price as they seem to be all over the place.

Any help or advice is appreciated.

[Meeni]

Year for the car ?

[mvestor]

2011

[RaddM4]

Don't buy it sight on seen man. Any reason why your going with the D?

[mvestor]

The mileage improvement and niche-ness is attractive. Trying to find good 2011 335i's with M-Sport is proving just as challenging and frankly I'd be open to either option at this point.

[PJPHughes]

You should also check out the diesel (N57/M57) forum discussions as well. You'll get some great advice over there, and you'll find there isn't a single unhappy 335d owner on the forum.

I've had my 335d for three years now. Best car I've ever owned, but I bought it new. I've bought cars sight unseen before but for a car of this vintage and caliber, I'd make sure it's been serviced properly, and get a bunch of detailed pics. Carfax report as well.

[kdbryce]

doesn't the diesel only rev to like 5k?

that'd be a deal breaker for me

[ddeliber]

Originally Posted by kbryce

doesn't the diesel only rev to like 5k?

that'd be a deal breaker for me

I'm not sure I understand your concern. Sure it has a lower red line but so what, what difference does that make to the performance of the car? It also has 425 lb ft of torque.

I just bought mine a few weeks ago and I absolutely love it, it flies when I want it to. Not saying that it will take a 335 off the line, but it will be close. 36mgh also means something to me. There is no other car on the market (at least that I have found) like it.

Private party or dealer? CPO? A low mile, M-Sport loaded w/o nav should probably be listing just about $35 based on what I have seen. What is it listed for? I also noticed that private sales have been odd where many are asking more than what you can find at a dealer. If you are looking to buy remote, I noticed that there are a few in GA that were aggressively priced at a couple BMW dealers, you might want to check them out. I had to drive down to NY to get mine, there were only two low mile options in MA/NH/RI and they were overpriced.

If you are going remote and even if it is CPOed you really shouldn't buy without a PPI at an indy before you make the trip if that is what you are planning.

Best of luck and let us know how it works out.

[335dFan]

A former president said "Trust But Verify". Unless you are quite wealthy, I wouldn't risk doing it sight unseen. But once you have it verified, go for it. It's a great car. I could have bought either the 335i or the d, and I specifically chose the d for probably the same reason all the other d owners did. Unique, mind-blowing torque, tuneability, mpg, did I mention torque, and all the same body and suspension features.

[Toyo]

Get a D and you wont regret it. Super strong and very reliable. 335D with Msport is money!! Not many around at all. Here is a photo of mine to help you make up your mind.

[mvestor]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm shooting to get it around 34k - crossing fingers!!

[nesnith]

Keep the ZHP. The ZHP is a future classic in my book. Even though you are getting more luxury and power in the 335d, you won't get the same excitement as in the ZHP.

[WreckerX5d]

If you do a lot of highway driving, the D would be great for you. The car still should have a factory warrantee on it, as well as the maintenance.

Mine was $39k a year ago with 15kmi on it, also CPO. 34k seems about right. I know trade in for mine @ 40k mi is roughly $32k (going by KBB).

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by PJPHughes

You should also check out the diesel (N57/M57) forum discussions as well. You'll get some great advice over there, and you'll find there isn't a single unhappy 335d owner on the forum.

I've had my 335d for three years now. Best car I've ever owned, but I bought it new. I've bought cars sight unseen before but for a car of this vintage and caliber, I'd make sure it's been serviced properly, and get a bunch of detailed pics. Carfax report as well.

A 2011 with 20K on it will have had a sum total of a single oil change for service, so how could it NOT be serviced properly? Even if it didn't get that oil change, it is only slightly overdue and BMW will change it.

Is this a private sale or a dealership, and if a dealership is it a BMW dealership? If it is a BMW dealership I would have very little qualms. I would get plenty of high-res pictures sent, and examine them carefully. Then put down a refundable deposit, and go get it. If it turns out to have non-warranty covered issues, get your deposit back and go home. It's under full factory warranty at this point, so any mechanical problems are BMWs, not the purchasers. The only things I can really think of are it smells like cigarette smoke or dog or something. Anything else should be fairly evident in the pictures.

BTW, the best way to put down a deposit is on a major credit card. Even if the seller tries to play stupid and not refund your money, a quick call to your credit card customer service will get you a refund in short order.

[richpike]

Have you driven a D? Like everyone said above, it seems awesome (great gas mileage, tons of torque, exclusivity, etc), and I was seriously looking for one when I was car shopping two years ago.

No offense to the folks here who have one, but I HATED it. There is significant lag off the line, which amazes me given it has 400+ lb-ft of torque. Compared to the gas version, it drove me nuts. We also looked at a X5D for my wife and it had the same issue. In fact, I ended up with a D loaner when I had my car in for service last time and they actually warned me about the lag ("be careful pulling out - it takes a second to get going"). It could be our altitude (we are 6,500ft ASL), but both the D and the I have similar torque curves at low RPMs, but the I takes off like a rocket compared to the D.

My advice - just make sure you test drive one. And more on task, I have bought a car sight unseen, but I always have an inspection done when that is the case. Ask for locals that can recommend a good shop to look it over.

-Rich

[ddeliber]

My problem with the d is that it keeps spinning the tires and engaging the DTC - which cuts the engine by like 50%. Since it is so new to me I haven't had the chance to really try it out on dry roads not covered with salt/sand and without the winter tires I put on it. RichP when you had your loaner did you notice if the DTC light blipped? That will definitely lead to your "it takes a second to get going" problem.

[richpike]

Definitely not traction control.

-Rich

[ddeliber]

Well, I finally had the chance last night. It rained all day a couple days ago and it was pretty sunny yesterday so I put my son to bed and decided to stop at the convenience store around the corner for some health food (you know, the kind in the brown wrapper with the word Snickers on it).

The store is about 1/4 mile away so I decide to take the indirect way there. 5 miles in to the trip and I am on a quiet dark narrow and curvy road so I decide to see how she launches even with the winters shoes on. I shut of the DSC and let her go. First two I get some noticeable chirp but no major spin, significantly better than with the sandy/salty roads. Then I add a little modulated throttle and I get a couple great runs in (well for me anyway) and had a lot more fun than I expected I would. There is ample power there and minimal turbo lag.

Now I am no expert, but what I experienced was not a hesitant start, and nobody would say that "it takes a second for it to get going". I drove a couple 335i 's (not "is" es) and I could tell the difference, the i is faster off the line, but the d is no slouch. I'll even say it pulls harder from 20 - 60 than the i. Again I am no expert, but that is how it felt to me.

So, back to the OP, if max power is what you are looking for, you'll get a little better with the i, both off the line and probably at 120mph. If you are going to the track, or plan to do some street racing, a couple tenths will matter more to you and that is where you should be looking. In fact you should think about sticking with an n54 as I heard they are a bit quicker and more mod friendly than the n55s in 2011+. However, in my opinion, the d does just fine in the performance category and is a better complete package. To me, a couple tenths slower 0-60 vs legitimate 10+ mpg savings is a no-brainer. Hell, for the past 2 weeks or so I have been driving less than 20% hwy and like a lead foot teenager and I am still getting 27mpg.

[richpike]

Fair enough - I definitely agree the 335d is quick, no doubt about it. It just has a hesitation from a standstill that is surprising. And the "second" to get going is clearly dealer speak. It isn't that bad. But noticeable nonetheless.

-Rich

[ddeliber]

Forgot to mention,,, I had so much fun, I forgot to pick up the health food and had to go back out again.

[richpike]

Originally Posted by ddeliber

Forgot to mention,,, I had so much fun, I forgot to pick up the health food and had to go back out again.

-Rich

[mvestor]

Looks like I will be joining the club soon. Came to terms at 33.9 and assuming all goes well will be getting in the next week or so.

Thanks for all the help and advice.