[rimshotsnap]

Hi All,

I bought my 2009 335i coupe CPO back in 2012. It's been an incredible run. She now has 108K miles, and unfortunately the HPFP just went and it's 2 months out of warranty. BMW won't cover it out of good faith, and I am at the point now where I am thinking it is time to let go and sell the car. It is also in need of some other maintenance - brakes, some fluids, oil change, etc, and I'm probably looking at close to 3K in repairs.

I'm looking for advice on how to sell my car in this condition. Should I pay my mechanic to complete all the necessary work, and then try to sell it to a private party? See if anyone would be willing to take it as is? Just scrap it? It has run great for all these years, only had one issue (water pump), and I've taken good care of it.

I appreciate all suggestions on how to go about selling this! I don't need to fetch top dollar, but I do need to recoup something to put toward my next vehicle. Many thanks in advance!

[KClemente]

Are you able to do your own labor? A mechanics special 335 will obviously never sell a lot, but the benefit of selling a perfectly working car will always pay more. Used hpfp's online are only around $100.

The payout will outweigh the cost of repairs easily, especially with something so easy to install.

I would personally address these issues as they really dont add close to $3k, unless your mechanic is charging $200 an hour for labor.

[MartinWake]

Yeah it wont be 3k bro just call that one "mechanic" friend over to help you out

[robthewrench]

Your situation is exactly how / why used car dealers exist and make money. You've driven the car for many years, but now it is broken and you are are hesitating about fixing it.

It is a time or money question.

If you don't want to invest the time and money to get it fixed, you are pretty much limited to selling as-is or trading it in to a dealer. In both cases you will get way below any reasonable market value because it is not running correctly. Selling it yourself in this condition will probably take a long, long time. If you want out quick, trade it to a dealer on the sale of something else and try not to think about the financial hit.

Your other options is to get it fixed and then sell it when it is in better working condition. This will save you money in the longer term, but requires you to invest both time and money now.

Your choice.

[Wolf 335]

Fix that car and drive it.

It has many more years left, considering you've taken good care of it.


And post a pic of the damn car considering you jut joined the forum.

[type-dRew]

There is basically nothing wrong with the car and you're talking of scrapping it.

Put a $400 hpfp on it, change the oil and drive it or sell it. I have no idea how this is a thought.

7 years and you just give up on it, come on now.

[rimshotsnap]

Thanks, everyone, for your replies! Seems like the overwhelming consensus is just to fix it and then keep driving it. I understand that take, for sure, and that's what I'll end up doing, at least for a little while.

It seems like around this age, I can expect some additional major repairs. I'm likely to need a second water pump. Valve cover gaskets, carbon building, etc. I am also terrified of the turbos failing, which seems common around the 120K mile mark. Am I just worrying about these things unnecessary?

And while I could probably do the most basic repairs myself, unfortunately, I lack both the space (no garage) and skill to do anything even moderately complex, so I'll have to rely on my private shop for pretty much everything.

[dakine_surf]

Originally Posted by rimshotsnap

Thanks, everyone, for your replies! Seems like the overwhelming consensus is just to fix it and then keep driving it. I understand that take, for sure, and that's what I'll end up doing, at least for a little while.

It seems like around this age, I can expect some additional major repairs. I'm likely to need a second water pump. Valve cover gaskets, carbon building, etc. I am also terrified of the turbos failing, which seems common around the 120K mile mark. Am I just worrying about these things unnecessary?

And while I could probably do the most basic repairs myself, unfortunately, I lack both the space (no garage) and skill to do anything even moderately complex, so I'll have to rely on my private shop for pretty much everything.

Well you joined a forum where the overwhelming majority of active members are the DIY type. So I would say the majority are going to say fix it and drive it, but it really depends on YOUR situation and your means both financially and physically.

Your fears are not completely unfounded. Even a well taken care of n54 is going to have some issues with the FI system if it is still original. Might happen tomorrow or in 50K, but it WILL inevitably need replacement. The cooling system might need looking into depending on what was replaced during the H2O pump replacement.

Fluid change, a HPFP , brakes and general maintenance should not be 3K. But then again you might be getting nickle and dime'd by your Indy Mechanic, I recently bought a BMW from up in your neck of the woods and the invoices and maintenance performed by the guys mechanic were scary expensive.

Hearing that you don't have a garage or the tools to DIY means realistically you have some money to put into the car. If you are OK keeping it I would say go for it and put the money into the car, its worth it if you can see yourself driving it another 50K. Especially if your car is optioned well or a manual. But if you really see yourself in a new car soon, the BMW could end up FEELING like a money pit soon. HPFP is cheap compared to noisy wastegates and turbos, and if you are not DIYing this its gonna be expensive.

[macheff03]

Ok so two options here IMO

1) fix it and drive it (what I would do). It’s not going to stop being a good car, just needs some work first

2) sell it needing the repairs, why would you invest money in it just to sell it?

Just fix it and continue driving it, I don’t see why not...

[jt335i]

Keep it and have your mechanic continue to maintain it.
Bought my 2010 E92 335i brand sparkling new and still own it at 110,000+ miles.
I'm probably one of few original owners on this forum.
I don't have time to my own DIY so I have a trusted indy BMW mechanic who takes care of it because I can afford it.
My ride has had a few things fixed or replaced due to normal wear and tear, most recently the water pump which I knew was coming, but I still love this car and don't have any plans to get rid of it anytime soon.

[zomski101]

Replace the hpfp and sell it. Most likely the next buyer, if he's smart, will change all the fluids and upgrade the brakes after purchasing the car so don't bother yourself with the little stuff. With your lack of wrenching, owning a 10 year old BMW, especially an n54 335i, is a major financial risk.

[K9Leader]

It really depends on what this car is worth to you. If all the things that need fixing were fixed, would you be happy continuing to drive it? If so, then have it fixed and drive it. I don't mind driving older cars - my three cars are a '99, an '03, and a '10 and my wife's car (our "new" car is 6 years old) - and I am willing to put money into them to keep them running well and/or to repair them and/or to upgrade them (just did the 3IM on my 2010 129K miles E91 and a few months ago put in a new transmission on the '99 Corvette).

Or do you really want something newer, shinier, faster, or with a warranty. If the costs/trouble of maintaining this one is out of your financial comfort zone, then maybe you should consider leasing so that you don't have to worry about the big ticket items.

Selling this one without addressing the HPFPs will be difficult so you probably need to do that at the least.

[am335i]

At your miles, i think fixing and keep driving it would be the best option. My 2008 335 e92 is now at 198k miles, original owner since Oct 07. The last 15k miles, i've put in maybe $2500 in various repairs. It's coming close to the end for me i feel but i think you still have at least another 75-100k miles before major repairs occur.

[Emilime75]

I'll give you 5 hundy for it. Let me know.

[tisdrew]

You're gonna get screwed attempting to sell a broken car. It is very much in your interest to fix the immediate issue. If you don't have the cash to fix it now, it'll cost you more later.

GLWS