[Mordegrey]

I’m considering buying a BMW 335xi E90 and would really appreciate input from real owners or people who’ve worked on these cars.

Price $6650
77k miles

CARFAX highlights
Ownership:
Owner 1: 2008 – 2018
Owner 2: 2018 – present

States registered:
Colorado → New York → Florida → New York

Service history:
Car was serviced mainly at:
Schomp BMW (CO)
BMW of Brooklyn (NY)
Braman Cadillac (FL)

Regular maintenance records include:
- Oil & filter changes
- Brake inspections and fluid flushes
- General maintenance inspections
- Diagnostic system checks

However, CARFAX does NOT show confirmed replacement of:

-Water pump
-Thermostat
-HPFP (high-pressure fuel pump)
-Injectors

The last recorded service on CARFAX is at 63,861 miles.
Current mileage is 77,600 miles.

There is a noticeable service gap of ~14k miles between the last CARFAX entry and the current mileage. I’m unsure whether maintenance was done but simply not reported, or if the car went without proper servicing during that period.

My budget is roughly $9k. I'm looking to spend around $7k on the car and keep the remaining amount as a backup for possible repairs.

[ppointer]

I wouldn’t have a problem with the that car. I’d change the oil immediately since that appears to have been neglected. Coils and plugs are an easy DiY in an hour. Get the charge pipe replaced with something metal.

This is a low option car. I would not pay more than KBB private sale money for it.

[Cloverdale]

These old turbo charged girls are for those who can repair and maintain them w/out dependence on professionals. The all wheel drive brings with it additional eventual requirements. If you're not performing your own repairs and maintenance stick with something naturally aspirated.

[StradaRedlands]

"Possible repairs..."

Do you DIY your work? If not, that $2k repair budget is going to go to just getting the valve cover done. In addition to the items you mentioned, regular E9x maintenance will be valve cover gasket (most get the new cover at the time due to PCV), auto trans service (it's due), radiator replacement, oil filter housing gasket, and this will be the big one to make you cry on an AWD car: Oil pan gasket. It's probably $8k to get all done at a shop, but only about $1k if you can DIY. You will also have brake pads/rotors/fluid, diff fluid changes, thrust arms, tires and occasional valve cleaning as regular maintenance.

Long/short, the car looks great and is well priced for low mileage car, but your repair budget is way off unless you DIY it. Those repairs won't all happen at once, but they are inevitable. The more you can DIY, the less you will resent them!

[sonofsun]

If you have time to DIY you can do almost everything yourself. Depends on both time and DIY skill level. But still parts will set you back a few thousand dollars like said before. But these 335 drive like a super car. Less than 80,000 miles means car hasn't been driven too much. Two owners for these cars is par for the course.

Do already check the valve cover, oil filter housing gasket and oil pan gaskets for leaks. Get a pre purchase inspection to rule out any other codes.

[Fiasco]

Get a PPI done by a BMW mechanic for a clear idea of what needs to be done.

[e91Owner]

I think most people have said it already, but negatives: x-drive, older car that has been exposed to a lot of salt in northern climates. Remove the roundels on the front wheels, if the drive shaft stubs are extremely corroded, stay away.

[Mordegrey]

Thanks all for the comments, appreciate it.

[autoart]

Remove the engine cover and check the injectors, they should be index 12. To get new set of injectors is $2300.

[lordnikon]

[Stradson]

If PPI comes back good, seems like a slam-dunk for 66 at 77 (BAT would love this). Seems like a great interior, and single hump also! +1 for the DIY repairs, more is less and less is more.

[Cloverdale]

Originally Posted by Mordegrey

Thanks all for the comments, appreciate it.

What have you decided?

[lookalikehuuh]

Originally Posted by ppointer

This is a low option car. I would not pay more than KBB private sale money for it.

Interested in knowing what makes you consider a "low option car" To my eye, it appears to have the most important packages, the sport package, based on seats/steering wheel. It also appears to have at least cold weather package with the headlight cleaners and seat warmers.

Of course we don't have the VIN, but seems like a properly optioned car to me.

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by lookalikehuuh

Interested in knowing what makes you consider a "low option car" To my eye, it appears to have the most important packages, the sport package, based on seats/steering wheel. It also appears to have at least cold weather package with the headlight cleaners and seat warmers.

Of course we don't have the VIN, but seems like a properly optioned car to me.

Yeah it also has L7 sound system.

[darkfires102]

Originally Posted by lordnikon

Yeah it also has L7 sound system.

I'm pretty sure L7 was standard equipment on the 335i, no? Just like how the premium package (sunroof, leather, homelink) is standard. The only option that I require on any BMW is the sports pack because the seats and steering wheel are far superior than the base.

For me, I would look for a 2009 and up. I hate the Pre-LCI. Single hump is superior for the pre-LCI, but CIC iDrive is worlds better than the junky CCC system. Looks stock which is quite rare to see.

Unfortunately for most N54s, the injectors alone can mechanically total the car out these days. That's my only gripe, everything else is reasonably affordable and easy to DIY. Only true enthusiasts will throw in a set of Index 12s if they care about the car enough. It's hard to check injector index on a used car because the engine cover is usually fully screwed on. I leave off the rear screw of the cover so I can easily remove it with the cowl still attached.

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by darkfires102

I'm pretty sure L7 was standard equipment on the 335i, no? Just like how the premium package (sunroof, leather, homelink) is standard. The only option that I require on any BMW is the sports pack because the seats and steering wheel are far superior than the base.

For me, I would look for a 2009 and up. I hate the Pre-LCI. Single hump is superior for the pre-LCI, but CIC iDrive is worlds better than the junky CCC system. Looks stock which is quite rare to see.

Unfortunately for most N54s, the injectors alone can mechanically total the car out these days. That's my only gripe, everything else is reasonably affordable and easy to DIY. Only true enthusiasts will throw in a set of Index 12s if they care about the car enough. It's hard to check injector index on a used car because the engine cover is usually fully screwed on. I leave off the rear screw of the cover so I can easily remove it with the cowl still attached.

Not everybody is from the US who has knowledge of every single package or standard equipment.

[lookalikehuuh]

Originally Posted by darkfires102

I'm pretty sure L7 was standard equipment on the 335i, no? Just like how the premium package (sunroof, leather, homelink) is standard. The only option that I require on any BMW is the sports pack because the seats and steering wheel are far superior than the base.

For me, I would look for a 2009 and up. I hate the Pre-LCI. Single hump is superior for the pre-LCI, but CIC iDrive is worlds better than the junky CCC system. Looks stock which is quite rare to see.

Unfortunately for most N54s, the injectors alone can mechanically total the car out these days. That's my only gripe, everything else is reasonably affordable and easy to DIY. Only true enthusiasts will throw in a set of Index 12s if they care about the car enough. It's hard to check injector index on a used car because the engine cover is usually fully screwed on. I leave off the rear screw of the cover so I can easily remove it with the cowl still attached.

Logic 7 was definitely not a "standard" feature for 335i, I paid like $3K or something like that for the Premium package alone. The only year that the Logic 7 was standard was in 2006 for the 330i, since they had to justify the jump in price between the 325i vs 330i, since engine power really wasn't that huge of a factor for that year. When the N54 got loaded in, the engine was justification enough.

Source: Me, I purchased both a 330i and a 335i brand new back in the day, I wasn't about to go back to the base sound system after having owned the Logic 7 in my 330i. To this day, the Logic 7 is damn good even in 2025.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by lookalikehuuh

Logic 7 was definitely not a "standard" feature for 335i, I paid like $3K or something like that for the Premium package alone. The only year that the Logic 7 was standard was in 2006 for the 330i, since they had to justify the jump in price between the 325i vs 330i, since engine power really wasn't that huge of a factor for that year. When the N54 got loaded in, the engine was justification enough.

Source: Me, I purchased both a 330i and a 335i brand new back in the day, I wasn't about to go back to the base sound system after having owned the Logic 7 in my 330i. To this day, the Logic 7 is damn good even in 2025.

It didn't click with me that you were the original owner to both those cars... that is awesome!

[Efthreeoh]

Turbo car with x-drive? A $2K maintenance budget is way under adequate.

[lookalikehuuh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

It didn't click with me that you were the original owner to both those cars... that is awesome!

yeah... I WAS sooo happy with my 330i, until my stupid friend told me to drive his 335i... that same week I went and bought a 335i.

I blame him!!! Stupid Simon!

[sonofsun]

The sheer driving pleasure should've made you happy and not have any regrets about purchasing the same.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by lookalikehuuh

yeah... I WAS sooo happy with my 330i, until my stupid friend told me to drive his 335i... that same week I went and bought a 335i.

I blame him!!! Stupid Simon!

Power corrupts LOL...