[Peter335i]

Hello!

I'm planning to buy a 335i Convertible Auto next week of a friend - i know its been well looked after but it has done 84K miles. I'm planning to take out the BMW Comprehensive Warranty.

Can anyone give me advice on things to look out for or get checked? Service is due in 1000 miles, MOT just done.

I'm also looking for advice on a local BMW Specialist - i'm not looking to do much to the car but maybe some coding or getting extended paddles fitted for easier gear changes - i'm based in Ruislip, Middlesex

All thoughts welcome!

Thanks,

Peter

[Dann]

Check it's service history
and thoroughly. Ring up previous garages to see what work has been done.

The things to check are
Turbo wastegates
Waterpump
High Pressure Fuel pumps
Injectors
When were the plugs last changed

I'm 99% sure there is a buying guide on here. Might be worth finding it and giving it a read too

[djgandy]

You want advice?


Get your wallet ready

[Peter335i]

Originally Posted by djgandy

You want advice?


Get your wallet ready

Like I said, i'm going for the warranty so most things will be covered...

[windymissile]

The warranty will be expensive if it's gone over the 60k mark. Best to buy one with it already running so you could continue the payments.
People are quick to jump on the "335i money pit" bandwagon. My experience is anything but.

WM

[Corradokid]

Originally Posted by windymissile

The warranty will be expensive if it's gone over the 60k mark. Best to buy one with it already running so you could continue the payments.
People are quick to jump on the "335i money pit" bandwagon. My experience is anything but.

WM

This. mine is on 83k now, original turbos, injectors, waterpump, coils, hpfp etc. Had the gearbox sump changed and a couple of minor bits but thats about it. just renewed my comprehensive warranty with bmw for £550 for the year. Has been pretty cheap to run so far, but now ive said that watch it all go wrong at once!

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by djgandy

You want advice?


Get your wallet ready

there are great car but as Andy says they can bite money wise and bite hard.

also look out for oil filter housing leaks

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by Peter335i

Like I said, i'm going for the warranty so most things will be covered...

I hope you have a good garage. It's getting tough to get things through the warranty, especially with increased mileage. I've had 6-7 visits to the garage this year, just trying to get things done. I've got to the point where I've just given up on some issues. I did get 2 new turbos, and I already believe that they are already rattling on partial throttle.

Until they get worse, I'm not going back, because I'm already "that guy" in the dealership.

At 84k though, I'd set away a grand for repairs. Suspension is quite commonly past it at the 80 mark, especially if the car has enjoyed some potholes + runflats + 19's in its life. You can replace with OEM shocks, but it makes more sense just to do the job properly.
I'd get the auto box oil done too, this is a "lifetime fluid". This is a bmw lifetime, which is the time they want the car to live before a brand new one is required to replace it.
Walnut blasting is not a bad idea either, to help the engine breathe.

[imy]

hi mate, im just down the road in northwood hills! ive used Spires in Ruislip a few times but not overly impressed to a put money in the bank and take it to a reputable indy (although my car had its turbos and a few other bits changed already)...

[Thermobaric]

There's Birds in Iver and TCS Autos in High Wycombe.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by windymissile

The warranty will be expensive if it's gone over the 60k mark. Best to buy one with it already running so you could continue the payments.
People are quick to jump on the "335i money pit" bandwagon. My experience is anything but.

WM

I had mine 5 years and would say it was much cheaper than I thought.

A few issues under the manufacturers warranty, including the actuators, but once I was on my extended warranty, I only had the seatbelt handover and the water pump failed near the end of my ownership.

Given my car was up over 83,000 miles, it wasn't bad.

I did have to have the spot welds done on the bulkhead with manufacturers warranty, but that and the seatbelt handover are hardly 335i specific issues.

[AlanYoro35i]

i got a good one for sale!! All issues sorted out and been problem free!

all old worn parts replaced, 97k miles with a £45 a month fully comp no excess bmw warranty.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by Kerr

I had mine 5 years and would say it was much cheaper than I thought.

A few issues under the manufacturers warranty, including the actuators, but once I was on my extended warranty, I only had the seatbelt handover and the water pump failed near the end of my ownership.

Given my car was up over 83,000 miles, it wasn't bad.

I did have to have the spot welds done on the bulkhead with manufacturers warranty, but that and the seatbelt handover are hardly 335i specific issues.

Yeah, I think this is the key. My car was fine, not a single problem. Then 80k miles came.

DSC unit, water pump, differential, turbos + vacuum system, seat belt handover, passenger wing mirror not dipping.

Only the HPFP to go, then probably injectors

So it's probably best to buy a car that's had a lot of repair work. All comes with 2 year guarantee too.

[pmmcbl]

Since you are after a convertible there is some good news. There are loads and loads of them for sell. So I would look at others and not just your friends. Don't feel forced to get his car. Looking at others it will help you finding common issues or wen noises and the way they drive.
Service history is a must and what service regime it was done. Ideally these should have a service every year and not the two years intervals.

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by windymissile

The warranty will be expensive if it's gone over the 60k mark. Best to buy one with it already running so you could continue the payments.
People are quick to jump on the "335i money pit" bandwagon. My experience is anything but.

WM

It's not really just the repairs costs though....It's the small matter of all those tempting mods

I spent a fair bit on repairs on mine (£2.5-3K), but actually spent more than double that amount on mods...and had I kept the car RB turbos would have been on by now.

One of the reasons I sold mine was simply to remove that temptation to mod....Nothing wrong with spending money on something you enjoy though, would happily do it all again