[jt335i]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

It's fun to hear some people with no to bad reliability!

Just to clarify you never replaced injectors, water pump? Which fuel pump did you had to replace? Low pressure or high pressure?

Yep. Never replaced the injectors or water pump. The cooling system was checked and flushed by my trusted mechanic back in 2016 and he gave things an A-Ok. Neither did the walnut blasting thingy that others have posted. Engine has been running fine just like new.

It was the the LPFP that was replaced. HPFP was replaced via the recall, but I never had any issues with the original.
Also had the OEM spark plugs replaced in 2017 as part of the regular preventive maintenance.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by jt335i

Yep. Never replaced the injectors or water pump. The cooling system was checked and flushed by my trusted mechanic back in 2016 and he gave things an A-Ok. Neither did the walnut blasting thingy that others have posted. Engine has been running fine just like new.

It was the the LPFP that was replaced. HPFP was replaced via the recall, but I never had any issues with the original.
Also had the OEM spark plugs replaced in 2017 as part of the regular preventive maintenance.

Nice nice nice... that's good to hear that my waterpump or injectors possibly won't fail! My car is a 2011 335is .

For the walnut blasting I still think it may be robbing some HP tho if you never done it! Ever took a look with the intake manifold removed?

[whyzee125]

If I were looking for a 335 and was not constrained by budget I'd try to find a 2010 sedan with logic7 or a 335is. N54s do have a lot more issues than n55s but mine has been quite reliable even at 160k+ miles. To me it's worth the tradeoff.

[iScramble]

Wow.... are N54's really that bad?! Haha

[unrulyteach]

People don't really post the good reviews, only the bad, no car is perfect moving parts will fail eventually

[MysticRob]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

How do you blow a n52 engine?

Start by cupping the balls.

OP, just like any other used car, whatever you buy will have problems. If you do your own maintenance you'll save zillions of Zimbabwe dollars. Weigh the potential costs versus the potential enjoyment and go from there. I do my own maintenance and couldn't be happier with my E90. Just bought the xHP bundle, and tweaked my MHD tune a bit, and at 142k miles it puts a smile on my face every time.

[am335i]

So i've had my 2008 335i brand new since Oct 2017 and for the most part it's been great. I'm at 185k miles and starting to experience a bit more problems. It's a given at this point considering the age and miles on the car.

Currently its looks like i may have a valve stem issue that results in smokey startups and a small coolant leak somewhere. Right now i'm only having to put in a quart of oil and some coolant once about every 2 months. I was advised i do need a new oil filter housing gasket replaced as well as coolant hoses due to age (look fine to me). About 8000 or 9000 miles ago i had all new injectors replaced and a walnut blast was done about 16000 miles ago
.
The only real issues i've had with the car were the HPFP that were taken care of during the new car warranty (2x, between 20k-30kmiles) and a 3rd time part of a recall at about 60k miles. The common repair item seems to be the oil cover and filter gaskets, had that done once each before and my water pump failed once at 110k miles.

This is my daily driver so i put on about 1500-1700 miles a month, hopeful that it gets to 200k before it dies on me completely.

My wife's 2012 328i however has been tough as a rock, not a single repair item needed (just usual required maintenance) and we are at 120k miles there *knock on wood*

Added a 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 recently and that's a beautiful car, i almost want to go out and pick up a new Volvo S90 as a replacement for the 335i.

[Pladi]

2011 N55 its a pretty reliable car. Things that go are super easy to replace. Cant go wrong for a good price. If you cant do any DIY it can be a nightmare. If you do it yourself its a joy to own.

[tcphoto]

I've owned my '09 E92 for two years and it's cost me an average of $60 a month to keep it on the road. The only engine oriented expenses have been one ignition coil and the battery. Everything else has been plastic and rubber bits that wear out like glass moldings and headlight restoration. Add two Wheel Speed Sensors and an M3 trunk lip and that is it.

[Ozzie335i]

Certainly not mine.

[jt335i]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Nice nice nice... that's good to hear that my waterpump or injectors possibly won't fail! My car is a 2011 335is .

For the walnut blasting I still think it may be robbing some HP tho if you never done it! Ever took a look with the intake manifold removed?

Thanks bro.
Glad your ride hasn't had any failure.

I haven't taken a look at the intake manifold, but when I asked my trusted BMW mechanic about the walnut blasting he said I don't need to have it done that way since there are other ways to do it using specialized chemicals.
I will have him check it again to see if it does need cleaning.

Back to OP's post.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by jt335i

Thanks bro.
Glad your ride hasn't had any failure.

I haven't taken a look at the intake manifold, but when I asked my trusted BMW mechanic about the walnut blasting he said I don't need to have it done that way since there are other ways to do it using specialized chemicals.
I will have him check it again to see if it does need cleaning.

Back to OP's post.

Well just got the car 3-4 weeks ago so we'll see

[Ronin76]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

Or save your money and get an E9x M3. These cars have come way down in price. The E9X is a fairly modern looking BMW, last NA M car, and other than rod bearings it's fairly reliable.

IF you buy an E9X M3 and spend $2.2k on red bearing job plus another $1500 to replace throttle actuators you'll have a car that's more reliable than any N54/N55 335i. Also twice as fun as any 335i. Btw the S65 in the M3 has a mechanical water pump that seems to last forever instead of the silly electric ones in the non M cars.

Another plus is that these E9X M cars might even go up in value 10 years from now. A 335 will not. Have you seen how much people are asking for E30 M3's and E36 M3's?

Is this really true (I am not doubting you, just curious)? I have been going back and forth on this for a bit. I have seen some pretty nice 335s and 335is' with low miles in the high teens and low 20s (IS) and quite a few people have said the same thing....that an M3 is more reliable than the 335 (N54/N55) and the 335is (N54). The issue comes in when it comes to maintaining and fixing the M3.

It kinda feels like a "pick your poison" kind of thing. The 335 maybe in the shop more than the M3 but when the M3 is in the shop may god be with you. All three are beautiful cars and I would love to have one for a weekend car.

I am thinking the safer one would be a 335 with the N55 engine?? Mid to high teens now so you could put some money aside for repairs and such and some additional money aside for upgrades/mods. For me the mods would be more aesthetics (tint, wheels, exhaust, and such).

[Miller335]

Here's my maintenance/repair index for my 2007 335i 6MT with 56k miles my recepit folder is quite thick!

Yes it's not alot of miles but I've always had to be working on it (mainly maintenance) but it's never failed me/left me stranded and it's always ran tip top unlike alot of people's 335s.

I think these can be reliable/easy to manage cars IF you dont drive them as 100% daily's and have another vehicle to drive while you're working on them yourself.
These cars take more know how and you have to be more thorough in your work so not having the rush of getting the job done over the weekend so you can still get to work Monday is key in getting the job done right and still enjoying the car even though it requires more maintenance/repairs.

I've had the car for 6 years now and Im thinking about selling it but man what I think its worth/what I'd be ok with letting it go for vs. what its actually worth could be two vastly different numbers.

Its definitely one of the nicest/most cared for E92 in the PNW.

Bought at 23.3k miles
Oil change at 23.3k miles
Front Run flats replaced at 26.2K miles
Upgraded Intakes at 27k miles
Upgraded Catless downpipes at 27k miles
Spark plugs replaced at 28.2k
Oil change at 28.3k miles
Alignment at 30.1k miles
Oil change at 33.3k miles
Upgraded Charge pipe at 33.4k
Intake valves cleaned at 33.4k
New rotors, pads and brakes sensors front and back at 34.6K
Brake fluid flush at 34.6k
Coolant Flush 35.5K
New accessory belt 35.5k
Upgraded 7” core intercooler at 35.5k
Power steering flush at 35.5k
Oil change 37.5k
335IS clutch and new LUK flywheel 37.5K
Pilot Super Sports installed 40.3K
Rear passenger tail lamp bulb socket assembly replaced 40.3K
Oil Change 42K
New battery 42K
Spark plugs replaced at 44.2K
Oil change 47k
Walbro 455 fuel pump upgrade 48K
Brake fluid change 48.3k
Transmission fluid change 48.3k
Turbos replaced 51.7K
Oil change 51.7K
Low pressure fuel sensor 52.5k
New Spark plugs 55.2K
Oil Filter Housing Gasket 56.1k
Oil change 56.1k
Coolant flush 56.1k
ABS Pump rebuild 56.5k
Brake Fluid Change 56.5k
Alignment 56.6k

[unrulyteach]

Originally Posted by Miller335

Here's my maintenance/repair index for my 2007 335i 6MT with 56k miles my recepit folder is quite thick!

Yes it's not alot of miles but I've always had to be working on it (mainly maintenance) but it's never failed me/left me stranded and it's always ran tip top unlike alot of people's 335s.

I think these can be reliable/easy to manage cars IF you dont drive them as 100% daily's and have another vehicle to drive while you're working on them yourself.
These cars take more know how and you have to be more thorough in your work so not having the rush of getting the job done over the weekend so you can still get to work Monday is key in getting the job done right and still enjoying the car even though it requires more maintenance/repairs.

I've had the car for 6 years now and Im thinking about selling it but man what I think its worth/what I'd be ok with letting it go for vs. what its actually worth could be two vastly different numbers.

Its definitely one of the nicest/most cared for E92 in the PNW.

Bought at 23.3k miles
Oil change at 23.3k miles
Front Run flats replaced at 26.2K miles
Upgraded Intakes at 27k miles
Upgraded Catless downpipes at 27k miles
Spark plugs replaced at 28.2k
Oil change at 28.3k miles
Alignment at 30.1k miles
Oil change at 33.3k miles
Upgraded Charge pipe at 33.4k
Intake valves cleaned at 33.4k
New rotors, pads and brakes sensors front and back at 34.6K
Brake fluid flush at 34.6k
Coolant Flush 35.5K
New accessory belt 35.5k
Upgraded 7” core intercooler at 35.5k
Power steering flush at 35.5k
Oil change 37.5k
335IS clutch and new LUK flywheel 37.5K
Pilot Super Sports installed 40.3K
Rear passenger tail lamp bulb socket assembly replaced 40.3K
Oil Change 42K
New battery 42K
Spark plugs replaced at 44.2K
Oil change 47k
Walbro 455 fuel pump upgrade 48K
Brake fluid change 48.3k
Transmission fluid change 48.3k
Turbos replaced 51.7K
Oil change 51.7K
Low pressure fuel sensor 52.5k
New Spark plugs 55.2K
Oil Filter Housing Gasket 56.1k
Oil change 56.1k
Coolant flush 56.1k
ABS Pump rebuild 56.5k
Brake Fluid Change 56.5k
Alignment 56.6k

Is ur car manual or auto

[Miller335]

Originally Posted by unrulyteach

Is ur car manual or auto

Manual

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

I don't know. I have bee lurking M3 forums for a while and the main bearings were starting to cause issues so rod bearing didn't do any difference.

Ended up with a 335is . Risking to blow a 20k motor compared to just 5k in terms of turbos and other maintenance items..

I think if you changed the rod bearings immediately upon purchase (assuming they weren't changed), and got new or rebuilt throttle body actuators, the M3 would be extremely reliable.

The only thing on an M3 is that you are changing out fluids a lot more frequently. Also, when you do the rod bearings, that's a good time to do the engine mounts. Fortunately, rogue engineering makes a mean set for this car.

From my understanding, if you have the skill & tools needed to do turbos, then you can do rod bearings.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

I think if you changed the rod bearings immediately upon purchase (assuming they weren't changed), and got new or rebuilt throttle body actuators, the M3 would be extremely reliable.

The only thing on an M3 is that you are changing out fluids a lot more frequently. Also, when you do the rod bearings, that's a good time to do the engine mounts. Fortunately, rogue engineering makes a mean set for this car.

From my understanding, if you have the skill & tools needed to do turbos, then you can do rod bearings.

Yeah looking back on it seems like only rod bearings were the problem and a quick swap would be done. But then my mechanical ability was slightly less better than now. I'm pretty confident in doing my tubrskies if they go today. But internal engine works still scared me a little bit.

But my friend has a M3 and he's actually going to trade it for a 335i. Why? Because the same reason I was worried, power. I do 400whp with a few bolt ons while on a E92 M3 to do more HP you need at minimum a 7 500$ USD supercharger.

My next car though will definitely be a M now that they are turbo.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Yeah looking back on it seems like only rod bearings were the problem and a quick swap would be done.

But my friend has a M3 and he's actually going to trade it for a 335i. Why? Because the same reason I was worried, power. I do 400whp with a few bolt ons while on a E92 M3 to do more HP you need at minimum a 7 500$ USD supercharger.

My next car though will definitely be a M now that they are turbo.

You could throw a used Dinan CAI and a tune and probably net an additional 60hp. A super charger would absolutely do the trick, but not for $7500.00. No ROI there.

The only thing about an e90/M3 is the lack of torque.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

You could throw a used Dinan CAI and a tune and probably net an additional 60hp. A super charger would absolutely do the trick, but not for $7500.00. No ROI there.

The only thing about an e90/M3 is the lack of torque.

No way a CAI and a tune gives you 60hp... I've lurked the m3 forums for a looong time.

Yes torque to was a issue/worry for street car.

[Maestro]

I am going to go against the winds here on the N54, I have an 10/06 build 07 335I Manual, the original owner with 178K miles. Unlike many built after mine i have the oil cooler which I believe helps the car. Other than the standard maintenance everyone talks about with any of the BMWs, I did not have any real major issues. The big one was the fuel pump, I never had the issue and my call are already 6 yrs old but the local dealer decide to do the recall on my car even though I told them to leave it alone since the replacement pumps were still having the issue. I know in 07 to 09 lots of people were abusing the car, they were putting tunes on the car before the tuners really had it all figured out. I remember reading about all the issues people were having as it was happening.

I am still on the original injectors and turbos, just now changes the coils, probably did not need to since they were in good shape except for the fact a mouse eat the rubber boot on the top of the coils.

I think the issue with the N54 is the fact people were pushing that engine really hard when they first came out and we saw all sorts of issues, we may not otherwise seen. Just my opinion.


As it was pointed out, all the oil leaks you have to deal with whether it is a N54 or N55 is the same, you still have to deal with stupid little things breaking over times and the worse it will be if someone did not take car of the car.

So it is not reliable, as one would expect, getting a used 335 will come with its set of issues you need to plan to deal with. I am now looking at replacing all suspension rubber since it seen better days.

[STRMTRPR]

Two years later from me posting this, i finally waited for the right spec 335, couldnt lose this one, got the 2013 335i Space Grey M Package! 1 Owner and 45k miles, ive been wanting this car for years, def a big upgrade from a 328. I got rid of my 328, hopefully i can get some tips and pointers from 335i owners for a first time owner.