[Advise] Used 335i with DTC & ABS

zoppp · 10-14-2015, 12:30 PM

Need your opinions of buying a 2008 335i with 68k miles but has the DSC, ABS and Brake warning lights on. The car is at a very good price, under 9k and everything else seems to be in good condition. Owner has maintenance records and what not. I was reading around and it seems it can either be a wheel speed sensor, steering yaw sensor or the ABS pump/control module.

At $8500 it seems like a great price for a low mileage 335i but I just don't want to have to spend more than 1k to fix this problem.
Coming from 2 e46 330i's (Both rear ended by idiots), so I have some experience working in the engine bay and under the car.

Worth it or not?

zoppp · 10-14-2015, 03:54 PM

I have also learned that the car was bought back by BMW in 2010 around 24000 miles. I read around on the forums and apparently this could be because there was a shortage of new HPFPs which prevented BMW from getting cars fixed in a timely manner.
Still worth it or not? The owner has not had any issues since he bought it other than the ABS/DTC issue.

hgtran21 · 10-15-2015, 08:56 AM

i just had the DSC and ABS diagnosed and it was the steering wheel sensor. THe part and labor was 1500.

zoppp · 10-15-2015, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hgtran21

i just had the DSC and ABS diagnosed and it was the steering wheel sensor. THe part and labor was 1500.

Found a DIY on fixing the steering wheel sensor so ill probably do that. Was your problem fixed after?

hgtran21 · 10-19-2015, 12:35 PM

ya it was under warranty

byebyev8 · 10-22-2015, 08:18 PM

Seems like a steal

deeLow · 10-23-2015, 02:12 PM

Can you diy?

8500 seems like a steal for sure

M.Power · 10-23-2015, 07:58 PM

Why isn't it already in your garage? Lol.

M.Power · 10-23-2015, 07:58 PM

Even if it cost 5k to fix it'd still be worth it..

zoppp · 10-26-2015, 02:37 PM

Actually in the process of buying it. Seller is getting the title sent from the bank as he just finished paying the car off. And yeah I can diy, came from an e46 and did all the work on that car by myself (all gaskets, cooling system etc). Only thing I'm worried about is turbos, have till the end of the year to run them into the ground for replacements.

sirdaft1 · 10-26-2015, 10:06 PM

Was it the clock spring that was broken? And if it already has JB4 installed it could be programmed to have DTC turned off on startup (thus leaving the light on) and the ABS/brake sensor lights could be a bad brake pad sensor (or worn pads). Many of us, especially those who track our cars; just hardwire the sensors to avoid having them come on again. Just throwing these ideas out there in the event that the dealer is just shooting in the dark at the root of these issues.

zoppp · 10-27-2015, 01:20 PM

Don't know about the clock spring and the car never was jb4 tuned. I got a PPI at Technica Motorsports in Atlanta and they found that it needs a low pressure fuel pump sensor and it seems one of the previous owners installed an aftermarket horn which could possibly be feeding off the abs/dtc power line. When I fix the low pressure fuel pump sensor I'm going to be doing the walnut blasting too. Any of you know a good indy in Georgia for the turbo replacements for when they do go bad?

Nitrousbird · 10-27-2015, 07:15 PM

9k is a steal for that car, even broken with low options.

But I bet that buy back = rebuilt title = not a steal at all. Actually, with a rebuilt title, not even a good deal.

zoppp · 11-03-2015, 07:33 PM

Sadly the buyer of the car ended up selling it to his uncle after having me drive back and forth from savannah to atlanta 2 times

I did find another 335i but this time an e92 for around 9k, same story with the buyback in california probably for the HPFP. This car is being sold by an actual dealership but has 94k miles instead of 68k like the car I was originally looking at. Im thinking of working the dealership down to around 8k because if the turbos were not replaced it will be a large expense but I doubt the dealership will do that.

I spent some time reading around about n54 reliability after 100k and it seems I mainly have to worry about the water pump, walnut blasting and the turbos. Anything else that would possibly drain my wallet? Unsure about buying a 94k miles n54 equipped car.

10-14-2015, 12:30 PM	#1
zoppp Private First Class 43 Rep 133 Posts Drives: 2008 E60 528i Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	[Advise] Used 335i with DTC & ABS Need your opinions of buying a 2008 335i with 68k miles but has the DSC, ABS and Brake warning lights on. The car is at a very good price, under 9k and everything else seems to be in good condition. Owner has maintenance records and what not. I was reading around and it seems it can either be a wheel speed sensor, steering yaw sensor or the ABS pump/control module. At $8500 it seems like a great price for a low mileage 335i but I just don't want to have to spend more than 1k to fix this problem. Coming from 2 e46 330i's (Both rear ended by idiots), so I have some experience working in the engine bay and under the car. Worth it or not?
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10-14-2015, 03:54 PM	#2
zoppp Private First Class 43 Rep 133 Posts Drives: 2008 E60 528i Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	I have also learned that the car was bought back by BMW in 2010 around 24000 miles. I read around on the forums and apparently this could be because there was a shortage of new HPFPs which prevented BMW from getting cars fixed in a timely manner. Still worth it or not? The owner has not had any issues since he bought it other than the ABS/DTC issue.
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10-15-2015, 08:56 AM	#3
hgtran21 Captain 33 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: san diego iTrader: (1)	i just had the DSC and ABS diagnosed and it was the steering wheel sensor. THe part and labor was 1500.
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10-19-2015, 12:35 PM	#5
hgtran21 Captain 33 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: san diego iTrader: (1)	ya it was under warranty
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10-22-2015, 08:18 PM	#6
byebyev8 Private First Class 81 Rep 185 Posts Drives: e92 335i f12 m6 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Kenosha wi iTrader: (1)	Seems like a steal
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10-23-2015, 02:12 PM	#7
deeLow DOPE 148 Rep 758 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	Can you diy? 8500 seems like a steal for sure
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10-23-2015, 07:58 PM	#8
M.Power Գեվոջանյան 301 Rep 1,103 Posts Drives: 2022 LP650 Urus/2023 F93 M8 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Why isn't it already in your garage? Lol. __________________ Current: 23 Frozen Gray M8 Comp GC, 22 Viola Parsifae Lamborghini Urus, 11 Fire Orange E92 M3 6MT, 07 BSM E60 M5 6MT, 00 Imola E39 M5 Previous: 2019 BSM F90 M5 Comp, 2019 Giallo Auge Lamborghini Urus, 2011 Silverstone E92 M3
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10-26-2015, 02:37 PM	#10
zoppp Private First Class 43 Rep 133 Posts Drives: 2008 E60 528i Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Actually in the process of buying it. Seller is getting the title sent from the bank as he just finished paying the car off. And yeah I can diy, came from an e46 and did all the work on that car by myself (all gaskets, cooling system etc). Only thing I'm worried about is turbos, have till the end of the year to run them into the ground for replacements.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-26-2015, 10:06 PM	#11
sirdaft1 Brigadier General 2203 Rep 3,336 Posts Drives: X5 & E90 WTCC Widebody Racecar Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Chicago West Burbs iTrader: (9) Garage List 2007 E90 WTCC Wideb ... [9.50] 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35i [9.00]	Was it the clock spring that was broken? And if it already has JB4 installed it could be programmed to have DTC turned off on startup (thus leaving the light on) and the ABS/brake sensor lights could be a bad brake pad sensor (or worn pads). Many of us, especially those who track our cars; just hardwire the sensors to avoid having them come on again. Just throwing these ideas out there in the event that the dealer is just shooting in the dark at the root of these issues.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-27-2015, 01:20 PM	#12
zoppp Private First Class 43 Rep 133 Posts Drives: 2008 E60 528i Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Don't know about the clock spring and the car never was jb4 tuned. I got a PPI at Technica Motorsports in Atlanta and they found that it needs a low pressure fuel pump sensor and it seems one of the previous owners installed an aftermarket horn which could possibly be feeding off the abs/dtc power line. When I fix the low pressure fuel pump sensor I'm going to be doing the walnut blasting too. Any of you know a good indy in Georgia for the turbo replacements for when they do go bad?
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10-27-2015, 07:15 PM	#13
Nitrousbird Banned 432 Rep 1,602 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Powell, OH iTrader: (2)	9k is a steal for that car, even broken with low options. But I bet that buy back = rebuilt title = not a steal at all. Actually, with a rebuilt title, not even a good deal.
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11-03-2015, 07:33 PM	#14
zoppp Private First Class 43 Rep 133 Posts Drives: 2008 E60 528i Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Sadly the buyer of the car ended up selling it to his uncle after having me drive back and forth from savannah to atlanta 2 times I did find another 335i but this time an e92 for around 9k, same story with the buyback in california probably for the HPFP. This car is being sold by an actual dealership but has 94k miles instead of 68k like the car I was originally looking at. Im thinking of working the dealership down to around 8k because if the turbos were not replaced it will be a large expense but I doubt the dealership will do that. I spent some time reading around about n54 reliability after 100k and it seems I mainly have to worry about the water pump, walnut blasting and the turbos. Anything else that would possibly drain my wallet? Unsure about buying a 94k miles n54 equipped car.
	Appreciate 0 Quote