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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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Need Help Buying a Post-LCI E90 3-Series
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05-22-2019, 11:28 AM | #1 |
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Need Help Buying a Post-LCI E90 3-Series
So I'm 16 years old, essentially looking for my first car. I've heavily researched the N52 328i, and found it to be relatively reliable, and I think I'll be able to do most maintenance items by myself as I understand cars pretty well. However, the 335i seems to be significantly more powerful, I understand that the twin turbos make it significantly more unreliable, but I saw a post somewhere that said there was a model year, maybe 2011 or something, that uses a single turbo? I think it was an N55 engine for that one, but I just wanted to know if there were any model years of the 335i that were almost as reliable as a 328i. Thank you.
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05-22-2019, 11:40 AM | #2 | |
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I had a 07 328 and currently have a 2011 N55 based E92 335 and a 2016 228. Hands down the 07 328 was bullet proof. If you are on a budget dont buy a 335. Yes it is way faster but more problematic and will cost you way more if you cant DYI. The N55 is more reliable than the N54 but it wont be more reliable than a N52. More components and more complexity means more possible issues down the road. If you are on a budget then dont bother with a BMW. Low purchasing price will have you kicking yourself in the ass once the car starts having issues and the costs add up. A high mileage BMW is not a good option unless you know the seller and know that it was maintained to spec. Last edited by Delta0311; 05-22-2019 at 11:55 AM.. |
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05-22-2019, 11:48 AM | #3 |
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I dunno, lots of N52 guys in our group have plenty of issues, mostly the same wear and tear issues as any car of that age.
That said, unless you have a lot of disposable income and the ability and a place to wrench, no 16 year old should be driving and old BMW. That said, I have a 2011 N55 E90 335i and at 104,000 it has been very reliable and has only left me stranded once due to a busted coolant fitting. But I have been very proactive at replacing the common failure points before they have had a chance to break. And yes N52's are slow AF.
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05-22-2019, 12:18 PM | #4 |
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You're 16, inexperienced, and an N52 is more than fast enough to get into trouble in a hurry.
All the resident bench racers can argue otherwise, but no 16 year old needs a car with 300-400hp. It would be cool to get a really nice car but honestly you're probably going to end up crashing it anyway. |
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05-22-2019, 12:46 PM | #5 | |
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05-22-2019, 12:50 PM | #6 |
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Clean title means jack. It just shows the car was not in any bad accidents. It does not tell you how well the car was maintained and if the owner skimmed on maintenance then you will start seeing issues. And i can say that most BMW owners that are not enthusiasts only do the bare maintenance minimum, if that. No way on Gods green earth would I buy a BMW with close to 100k.
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05-22-2019, 12:52 PM | #7 |
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I have 328i 2011. It's fast, or for me at least, it's fun, and you'd most likely save a bit for upgrades/mods.
And as mentioned earlier, no turbos or hpfp to worry about = simpler and less costly maintenance. |
05-22-2019, 01:05 PM | #8 | |
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05-22-2019, 01:23 PM | #10 |
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For what its worth, I bought my first BMW when I was 18, a 2006 330xi with the N52, I'm now 21 and bought a 2011 335i with the N55 engine (sold the 330 to my dad). The 330 has actually been a bit more problematic and expensive to own than the tuned N55, but then again its 5 years older with 20,000 more miles.
The point I'm trying to make is either model will be decently reliable IF maintained well, but random things will absolutely go wrong regardless and it will be VERY expensive if you don't do the work yourself, figure about $1500-2000 per year on repairs/maintenance if you have a shop do everything. Having been in a sort of similar situation, I'd suggest starting out with a 328 for sure (I remember wanting to get a 335 right off the bat and being irritated when people suggested that it would be too much power, but it is ABSOLUTELY true, I would have undoubtedly gotten into tons of trouble with an N54/55). Once you get a feel for the platform, the kind of money and/or time it takes to keep an E90 in good shape, and most importantly more driving experience and caution, then there will still be plenty of 335's out there. Also having owned both, I still think the N52 is a great engine with satisfying power, so don't worry about that. Long story short, from someone who has been in your shoes, a well maintained N52 E90 can be a great choice for a satisfyingly quick and very nice first car IF you plan on maintaining and repairing it yourself. Good luck with the search! |
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05-22-2019, 01:31 PM | #11 |
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I had a g35 when I was teen and it was plenty of power. Took it up to dumb speeds.
15 years later I have a 325i. It was fine at first but after 9 months of ownership I’m craving more power. Just understand that with more power you’ll want to drive faster, have higher insurance and generally do the same stupid shit just at a higher speeds. But hey, that’s what being young is all about. Also, I’ve never know anyone to regret getting the faster/more powerful car. Maybe some regrets around reliability - but never power and speed. Edit: with your budget id pick up a clean n52. Mine has never left me stranded but I spent easily $3k on preventative stuff: tires, plugs, coils, shocks, fluids, etc all DIY cept the tires. Last edited by porsche959; 05-22-2019 at 01:37 PM.. |
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05-22-2019, 04:29 PM | #13 | |
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OP, the 328i would be a great first car if it's well maintained, and keep up with maintenance on it. Plus, you can put the 3 stage intake manifold (from the 330i, and other 30i models) on it, which will give you a nice bump in power if you are feeling the need to. You should save some money for maintenance, as a precaution because it definitely can add up IF things go wrong. Most things aren't too difficult to DIY though. Good luck with getting a car! |
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05-22-2019, 04:45 PM | #14 |
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LOL @ Hass.
I second (or third, or fourth...) the idea of getting an N52. Hell, my first car was a 1990 Honda Accord and that shit was dopppeeee. Niceness is all relative. Don't set the bar too high at 16. If you like to skip class, get an N54. It'll give you plenty of opportunities to not be wherever you're supposed to at that moment in time
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05-23-2019, 05:57 AM | #15 |
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I have a 2011 328 with 173,000 miles on her and its been very reliable. I have had the standard problem areas addressed, Valve cover / gasket, oil filter housing gasket. Still have the original water pump. As others have stated the non turbo straight six has more than enough power to get you into trouble as well as get you out!
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05-23-2019, 06:02 AM | #16 |
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Drives: 09 328i Sport 6MT
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My 09 328i has a 6-speed, so it's a little quicker than your standard auto 328.
It's been a wonderful and reliable car. 102000 miles and I haven't done anything other than shocks (got Bilsteins) an o2 sensor and plugs and coils, brakes, normal wear and tear stuff. That's IT. No leaks, no codes, nothing. I use it for my 90mph commute up and down I-95, and it's getting 25-27mpg. Got a 3 stage intake manifold and a tune, and this car rips to 60 in under 6 secs, easy, and runs right up past 140mph. They are not slow, they are reliable. They are great highway cars. You'd be lucky to have this as a first car, and the steering alone will ruin you for every other car. Disclaimer: I've had many faster more powerful cars and motorcycles... |
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