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Need Advice - looking to buy a 335
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07-30-2018, 07:43 AM | #1 |
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Need Advice - looking to buy a 335
Hello all,
I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I know this subject has been beaten to death but it hasn't answered my specific question. I'm looking to buy a 335i/xi, and I'm debating between the n54/55 platforms. I'm looking to make around 400-450hp with a few mods and I know the n54 is easier to do this with but I'm also planning to daily this car and use it in the winter in Montreal and we get a lot of snow. So my question is, with that kind of hp and keeping reliability in mind, which engine am I best off with? And I know there's problems with the crankcase not being able to hold much power on the xi models so should I have any issues with those types of numbers? Or is the 335i a good option for winter and power? Thanks! |
07-30-2018, 08:26 AM | #2 |
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you'll be perfectly fine with xi if you're only gonna be on the stock turbo(s), which is what it sounds like.
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07-30-2018, 10:01 AM | #3 |
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I would highly recommend xDrive.
Some may say rear drive is just fine for winters. They obviously have never lived in Montreal, or experienced what a Canadian winter is like during a bad year. Sorry I don't have anything to offer besides that! Others certainly will. |
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07-30-2018, 10:30 AM | #4 |
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I would say X-Drive is mandatory we get a decent amount of snow where i live and i would be stuck several times without it.
As far as the weak points in the system it would be the front diff, front driveshaft and transfer case in that order and if your going just FBO you should be perfectly fine. With the N54 you can make that power easier but being its older Im sure clean unmolested ones will be hard to find. The N55 will be generally more reliable and a better daily IMO I would say if your mechanically inclined the n54 could be a good daily as well, just know with the greatness of the motor comes the quirks.
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07-30-2018, 11:02 AM | #5 |
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if you are going to mod a 10 year old car do not complaint about cost of maintenance. That is just the way it is.
If you leave the car unmolested, driving stock , then you have a better chance to keep the car reliable. All wheel drive much better for the snow , specially the snow you get in montreal. |
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07-30-2018, 04:12 PM | #7 | |
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07-30-2018, 04:14 PM | #8 |
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would it still be possible to safely make 400-450 safely with the n55? i feel like it would just fit my needs better. the car is already at the higher end of my budget but I'm looking for something a little lower mileage that i could mod but not have to replace a bunch of expensive things like the turbos
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07-30-2018, 04:26 PM | #9 | |
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07-30-2018, 05:19 PM | #10 |
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yeah im definitely getting a manual, and coming from an automatic civic i think 400HP should be a real nice upgrade lol. thanks for the advice
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07-31-2018, 10:49 AM | #11 |
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Montreal does not have a monopoly on winter. I'm in Ottawa and RWD is just fine. Yes, yes AWD > RWD in winter but for the remainder of the time, RWD > AWD. If you want a Volvo, buy a Volvo. If you want fun, get RWD with Sport Suspension.
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07-31-2018, 01:14 PM | #12 |
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I'll offer the other side of the XI vs RWD debate. I live in Minnesota and see very similar severity of winters as those in the North East and Canada. I drive my RWD N54 E90 year round at close to 400 WHP.
Set of solid snow tires for winter and it's never once been a problem.
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07-31-2018, 01:20 PM | #13 | |
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07-31-2018, 01:22 PM | #14 | |
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07-31-2018, 01:28 PM | #15 | |
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Like yeah of course we won't plow through un-plowed snow, but on plowed streets and with snow falling, it's gonna be fine. |
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07-31-2018, 01:40 PM | #16 |
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I have the XI and you know i wish i had the RWD because its easier to work on and less things to go wrong.. I wish i had looked at this forum before i bought my car..
That being said, driving the XI on full snow.. its fun. |
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07-31-2018, 01:47 PM | #17 |
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07-31-2018, 01:50 PM | #18 |
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In Montreal, you'll want an XI
Slap some snow tires on, and you'll be passing trucks in the snow (believe me) Go with the N54, better gains, more support, and several folks are already doing 400-450 easy. However, there is just no such thing as a reliable 400-450hp N54. Just doesn't exist lol, those words don't belong in the same sentence. There is typically something big to fix or maintain every 20-30k in addition to your regular maintenance intervals. You really need a few thousand to throw down when something goes very wrong, or spend a weekend DIY and fixing it yourself, especially if this is your daily driver. This is one of the better posts I've seen on buying a 3 series: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...2Fowners+guide Last edited by catcher22; 07-31-2018 at 02:28 PM.. |
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07-31-2018, 03:18 PM | #19 |
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07-31-2018, 04:59 PM | #20 | |
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Didn't they also have a wicked winter last year? I vaguely remember constant news reports of several feet of snow up there last season, while of course we got nothin here in the DMV |
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07-31-2018, 05:19 PM | #21 |
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Hmm it wasn't to bad. I can't wait to try out my IS in the winter though lol.
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