[BH86ENG]

Hey all,

Have a 2006 330i 6-Spd Sprt
It's my DD, absolutely love its road manners, handling, comfort, etc. PITA to work on. I try and do all my own wrenching.

It has 211,xxx miles on it now. Debating selling it now vs when it is no longer running ($3-$4k vs $1k)

Would you stay with E90 or go earlier maybe? It will be another DD, but I drive ~32k miles a year. Been tempted to go E39 528i also.

Any thoughts appreciated, especially if you've had more experience with other generations. This car has been remarkably reliable for me and I'm hoping for more of the same.

Cheers

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by BH86ENG

Hey all,

Have a 2006 330i 6-Spd Sprt
It's my DD, absolutely love its road manners, handling, comfort, etc. PITA to work on. I try and do all my own wrenching.

It has 211,xxx miles on it now. Debating selling it now vs when it is no longer running ($3-$4k vs $1k)

Would you stay with E90 or go earlier maybe? It will be another DD, but I drive ~32k miles a year. Been tempted to go E39 528i also.

Any thoughts appreciated, especially if you've had more experience with other generations. This car has been remarkably reliable for me and I'm hoping for more of the same.

Cheers

Your engine will surpass 300k with regular maintenance. If you have been keeping on top of maintenance I would keep it.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by BH86ENG

Hey all,

Have a 2006 330i 6-Spd Sprt
It's my DD, absolutely love its road manners, handling, comfort, etc. PITA to work on. I try and do all my own wrenching.

It has 211,xxx miles on it now. Debating selling it now vs when it is no longer running ($3-$4k vs $1k)

Would you stay with E90 or go earlier maybe? It will be another DD, but I drive ~32k miles a year. Been tempted to go E39 528i also.

Any thoughts appreciated, especially if you've had more experience with other generations. This car has been remarkably reliable for me and I'm hoping for more of the same.

Cheers

Sell it to me.

Seriously though, my suggestion is to keep driving it. I have 220K on my 325 (2006). I do wish I had a manual transmission, but I've accepted that the auto is more practical for 90% of my driving.

I'm a bit skeptical about the high mileage, specifically concerned about my transmission and a few other expensive sensors, but as long as you can wrench on a car and do basic repairs you should be fine. You're not going to find a new car that is as comfortable and practical AND rides/handles as nice without spending some serious money.

[tlow98]

This particular car is probably the most reliable, modern BMW you will find. It’s a little more painful to work on than some others, but not by much...

If you’re driving 32k miles a year then an e39 will cost you at least double in maintenance. That car is known to need suspension relatively often and there are about 2x as many suspension components.

There is a member on here that has 350k on his e90 drives it every day.

The rationale of saving $3k by selling your car now will immediately evaporate into whatever you buy. The manual transmission e90 might just be the cheapest to own car $/mile of any bmw currently available...

Keep it. Buy a code scanner for $100 and just replace stuff as it goes. I’d argu only a Japanese car would beat the e90 for value.

[Efthreeoh]

I'm one of the Fourm members that has 350K+ on their E90. I'm not sure at what level DIY you go to, but I have a full shop at home including alot of hand tools and BMW-special tools collected over 40 years, air tools, and a lift, so maintenance and repairs are easier than with jacks and stands and someone with less resources and experience. So for example, I did the pan gasket fix and had a ball doing it. Replacing the clutch, likewise, fun for me. I also have a few other cars to drive, so I can take my time on doing repairs. I too drive 32,000 a year just to my office.

Anyway I said all that to just frame on what it took me to reach 350,000. I didn't expect the car to be in such great shape at this point. But because the N52 E90 is the last of the classic BMW sport sedan architecture, I can't find the will to let mine go. I even resurrected it from a deer hit this past April, that totalled it (insurance wise). Things like pan gaskets and clutch replacements cost more than the value of the car if one can't support that level of DIY.

I think your car has a good 100,000 miles left in it before it gets cost prohibitive to repair non-DIY. The great thing about owning an E90 is the level of information available on the net to diagnose and repair it. It's going to be a classic to hard core Bimmer owners because it's the last and best of the breed classic BMW 3-series sports sedan IMO.

Find another car to DD (if you can) and save the 330i as a keepsake.

[F30lolz]

I’ve had a few e39’s (three to be exact) ranging from the rev the crap out of it 525/5 speed stick to an auto 528i to the M5. The M5 was actually the most reliable out of the three as the other two needed new clusters/LKM (light control modules) and both suffered the ABS module failures (modulemaster.com IIRC saved my day).

You know what you have already and you are a DIY’er. I agree with all the other posters, keep your 330 and enjoy driving it. Plus you have the highly desirable manual transmission which are getting harder to find and you’ll regret selling it.

[BH86ENG]

Sadly I don't have nearly the garage I want but I can hack through what I need to do.

My oil pan experience was one cheek on the concrete, one getting smushed by the subframe while I got to the pan bolts. I'd rather do 10 valve covers than another pan gasket...

Starter was tough too, just for the sheer number of blind connections.

In 350k have you had to do any timing work? I had a decent rattle at no load 2k rpm or so, changed the tensioner and it drastically reduced but still there a bit until the car warms up. Just wondering if I should proactively do a timing kit.

Thanks for all the input so far!

[TemjinX2]

at 200k, your car will not be worth much via private sale or trade in. i say just keep it until the engine blows up. At least you have enough exp with the e90 plateform to take care of any issues.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by BH86ENG

Sadly I don't have nearly the garage I want but I can hack through what I need to do.

My oil pan experience was one cheek on the concrete, one getting smushed by the subframe while I got to the pan bolts. I'd rather do 10 valve covers than another pan gasket...

Starter was tough too, just for the sheer number of blind connections.

In 350k have you had to do any timing work? I had a decent rattle at no load 2k rpm or so, changed the tensioner and it drastically reduced but still there a bit until the car warms up. Just wondering if I should proactively do a timing kit.

Thanks for all the input so far!

The pan and the starter are two of the larger projects for these cars so good that you’ve got those out of the way.

There are no timing parts that need to be replaced. You could be hearing idle pulleys going bad, however. Might want to replace them - think there are two of them in the serpentine path. Double check that number tho.

[TemjinX2]

maybe get a e39 540i 6speed as a project/weekend driver car.

[BravoJohny33]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I'm one of the Fourm members that has 350K+ on their E90. I'm not sure at what level DIY you go to, but I have a full shop at home including alot of hand tools and BMW-special tools collected over 40 years, air tools, and a lift, so maintenance and repairs are easier than with jacks and stands and someone with less resources and experience. So for example, I did the pan gasket fix and had a ball doing it. Replacing the clutch, likewise, fun for me. I also have a few other cars to drive, so I can take my time on doing repairs. I too drive 32,000 a year just to my office.

Anyway I said all that to just frame on what it took me to reach 350,000. I didn't expect the car to be in such great shape at this point. But because the N52 E90 is the last of the classic BMW sport sedan architecture, I can't find the will to let mine go. I even resurrected it from a deer hit this past April, that totalled it (insurance wise). Things like pan gaskets and clutch replacements cost more than the value of the car if one can't support that level of DIY.

I think your car has a good 100,000 miles left in it before it gets cost prohibitive to repair non-DIY. The great thing about owning an E90 is the level of information available on the net to diagnose and repair it. It's going to be a classic to hard core Bimmer owners because it's the last and best of the breed classic BMW 3-series sports sedan IMO.

Find another car to DD (if you can) and save the 330i as a keepsake.

Why the fu.. does every mechanic want 3k+ for a clutch in this car.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by BravoJohny33

Why the fu.. does every mechanic want 3k+ for a clutch in this car.

Because most people don't have the skill level or resources to replace the clutch.

[Needbmwpartzz]

Originally Posted by BravoJohny33

Why the fu.. does every mechanic want 3k+ for a clutch in this car.

1k in parts/labour and 2k in the pocket sounds right for a bmw tax....

[Bali]

Originally Posted by TemjinX2

maybe get a e39 540i 6speed as a project/weekend driver car.

If you go that route, I’d get a 2003 540i M-sport, as pristine as possible.

[TemjinX2]

Originally Posted by BaliDawg

If you go that route, I’d get a 2003 540i M-sport, as pristine as possible.

yeah i heard it basically gives you 80-90% the experience of the e39 m5 but lot cheaper maintence costs.