[Bimmer_Engineer]

Congratulations! It sounds like the basis for writing a book of some sort...

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

Congratulations! It sounds like the basis for writing a book of some sort...

"Zen and the art of N52 Maintenance"

[lookalikehuuh]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Is it reliable and a 6mT? Just got one

Unfortunately no its an Auto because at the time I was sitting in traffic for like 1.5+ hours every day a huge portion of that being stop and go so a manual just didn't make sense for me.

Its been pretty solid overall the only true failures I've had are:

Alternator 2x (towed home 2x)
Starter (also towed home)
all the gaskets (typical)
Wheel bearing ( bearing was fine but the magnetic pickup somehow stopped working)
Torque converter judder but that was a $10 fix with Dr. Judderfix from Lubeguard.
Engine mounts

Everything else I have replaced as part of what I consider maintenance like brake rotors, pads, struts, Vanos selonoids, Ignition coils, spark plugs, filters, etc.

Overall its been a solid car, I came from a Lexus IS300 that car was bit more reliable but not quite as capable as my 330i and definitely gutless compared to my 335i. If I had to do it again, I would without question.

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

Great info Efthreeoh thanks for sharing!


It's actually 37*F



I almost bought a 180k mile 6MT '06 330 as a 'forever' car in 2017. Got an e39 6MT 540 instead at 120k and I should've just gotten the damn e90 if I'm honest.

I would be happy with either TBH. I'm kind of jonesing the (relative) simplicity of working on something like an E39. The E90 is is still relatively simple, the simplest thing that is still also relatively modern. I guess it depends on the ratio of wrenching to miles driven which is the most enjoyable but both is the best solution.

[gjm120]

Good stuff. My N52 at just over 50k is still an infant.

[850CSi]

Awesome stuff.
Makes my 170k over the last 15 years feel paltry.

[tlow98]

Congrats!

[Bmw1939]

I am thinking of buying a 2006 X3 M54 as a family car @ 170,000 miles. Is that crazy with this in mind?

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

Great info Efthreeoh thanks for sharing!

It's actually 37*F

I almost bought a 180k mile 6MT '06 330 as a 'forever' car in 2017. Got an e39 6MT 540 instead at 120k and I should've just gotten the damn e90 if I'm honest.

Dude I was just in the SAME BOAT. I already have a 328i E90. Automatic 540i Monaco blue m sport. Then someone bought it, I got a manual e90 330i instead. Best decision ever and even my tech said it to. Car came with new clutch, rear main seal, alternator, battery, waterpump, and was always garage kept. They had to move and the wife drives this e90 hehehe. She drives a 911 manual now so im guessing this car was driven well and happily used by a loving owner.

[John 070]

Congrats!

I can't wait for the gentlemen, nine hundred thousand miles! It makes a person think, hey, if I take care of my car, maybe it's not actually that unusual that I (or anybody) could classify their BMW as reliable.

In our household, it's like 2020 was the year that never happened. I have the actual numbers somewhere, but my DD did 3k, and my wife's which is the family car did like 7k, while the BMW did 280 lol. Normally the first 2 are 15-16k, and the BMW maybe 4k. Not sure if it's all good or not, cars like to be driven regularly, we all know that....so a 400k BMW could be in better shape than one the same age at 50k...

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 850CSi

Awesome stuff.
Makes my 170k over the last 15 years feel paltry.

If I had the option to, I would have taken a less-distant commute; the job was too good to pass up.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Bmw1939

I am thinking of buying a 2006 X3 M54 as a family car @ 170,000 miles. Is that crazy with this in mind?

My sister had a 2004 X3 with the M54. You should go over to E46Fanatics and dig into what needs the M54 takes to provide a long life (it has a few common problems - as every BMW engine does). The 1st Gen X3 was a contract-build vehicle where BMW contracted with Magna Steyr to build the X3 using BMW parts. Magna Steyr is a major component supplier for BMW and other European manufacturers and builds several cars for the Euros including the current G29 Z4. The build quality of my sister's X3 was really good, but most X3 will develop issues with the sunroof. The only fix, from what I know, is replacement of the entire sunroof cassette; but that may be outdated information. She got 145,000 out of it until some douche rear ended it and it was totaled.

But like any used high-mileage BMW, it won't be perfect and will need repair and refurbishment. If you DIY, great, but if your a shop-only owner, then it could be painful for you.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

"Zen and the art of N52 Maintenance"

This will be the pic for the cover...

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

Removing gasoline costs, the cost of your maintenance and original vehicle cost over 14 years equates to about the price of a brand new 340i with most option packages. You've basically gotten an entire second new car's worth of value out of one. If we consider it from a used vehicle perspective, you could have 2 or 3 used BMWs for that price as well - and you didn't pay any interest on it. Very nicely done.

Appreciate your comments. Coming from you adds some validity to the debate of how long to keep a car functional, thanks. TBH, I never expected the E90 to last 400,000 miles. My target was 250,000. But when I hit the 250K mark, it was in such fantastic shape, there was no need to swap it out for a new BMW; plus the F30 was out and I had an extended test (a full week) drive with one in 2013 and discovered the F30 couldn't hold a candle to the E90 in terms of BMW driving dynamics. The Caddy ATS I really liked, but my E90 had different plans for me; she just wouldn't give up the ghost. In April 2018 when Bambi #4 decided to find the E90 it was totaled. I think it says a lot that the car was in such good shape at 350,000 I decided to buy it from my insurance company and bring it back to life. My thought was for $5,000 (basically what to took to repair) it was the best E90 I could find as a used car; I knew the owner and he had all the service records.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Appreciate your comments. Coming from you adds some validity to the debate of how long to keep a car functional, thanks. TBH, I never expected the E90 to last 400,000 miles. My target was 250,000. But when I hit the 250K mark, it was in such fantastic shape, there was no need to swap it out for a new BMW; plus the F30 was out and I had an extended test (a full week) drive with one in 2013 and discovered the F30 couldn't hold a candle to the E90 in terms of BMW driving dynamics. The Caddy ATS I really liked, but my E90 had different plans for me; she just wouldn't give up the ghost. In April 2018 when Bambi #4 decided to find the E90 it was totaled. I think it says a lot that the car was in such good shape at 350,000 I decided to buy it from my insurance company and bring it back to life. My thought was for $5,000 (basically what to took to repair) it was the best E90 I could find as a used car; I knew the owner and he had all the service records.

I think it's really cool. People always want to get rid of their cars every 4-5 years and lock themselves into car payments for life. I've seen loans extend out as far as 8 years, which is wild. Continuing to pay a car off over 8 years while simultaneously paying for maintenance costs is probably 1.25-1.5x as expensive as if they held onto their old car and just continued to do basic maintenance on it. I think the general rule of thumb is every....4 ish years you hold onto your car, you've gotten a car's worth of value out of it. Plus, you own it. No repo man in sight. If a repair's gotta wait, it can wait. Those payments to the bank can't.

Seeing how far you can take a car is awesome. The deer hits are freaking unfortunate though. That's such a fear of mine when driving at night. I think if anything will kill my car it'd be that.

It's really great to see someone show how basic maintenance items can keep a BMW going. It's simply staying on top of them like one should with any car. No aircraft maintenance schedule needed: maintain it to the factory maintenance schedule, repair it when it's broken or noticeably worn and causing an issue.

My goal is to get the N55 to 200,000 and think about what I want do from there. I am real curious how reliable the N55 really could be. At 127k miles so far it's been fantastic.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

I think it's really cool. People always want to get rid of their cars every 4-5 years and lock themselves into car payments for life. I've seen loans extend out as far as 8 years, which is wild. Continuing to pay a car off over 8 years while simultaneously paying for maintenance costs is probably 1.25-1.5x as expensive as if they held onto their old car and just continued to do basic maintenance on it. I think the general rule of thumb is every....4 ish years you hold onto your car, you've gotten a car's worth of value out of it. Plus, you own it. No repo man in sight. If a repair's gotta wait, it can wait. Those payments to the bank can't.

Seeing how far you can take a car is awesome. The deer hits are freaking unfortunate though. That's such a fear of mine when driving at night. I think if anything will kill my car it'd be that.

It's really great to see someone show how basic maintenance items can keep a BMW going. It's just a part of staying on top of them like one should with any car. No aircraft maintenance schedule needed. Repair it when it's broken or noticeably worn and causing an issue.

My goal is to get the N55 to 200,000 and think about what I want do from there. I am real curious how reliable the N55 really could be. At 127k miles so far it's been fantastic.

My brother is in the crowd, "My brand new S class is a piece of garbage and in the shop again!" Then, "ha my new X5 M50i is broke again and I only had it 2 months!"

One time one of the partners said, "Nobody buys a car these days."

to which he responded, "My brother has had his 1998 Maxima for over 20 years."

"Your brother is an idiot."

Really now? Haven't had a car payment in 9 years, bought 1998, 2007, and 2011 cars all new, all on the road, and a flagship Lexus to boot used.

To me, spending money wisely allows the possibility of contemplating, building a garage with a lift (I looked it all up the other day, 14x28 2 story with 10' high first floor walls accomodates that Bend Pak). Able to replace the hvac when it breaks (this was 3X what I thought it would be). Having options in life.

And the most important? I think we do enjoy keeping things, how is that wrong, especially if we like it? I can say I love my 2007 335i. I love my Lexus LS. I love that I could fix everything on my wife's 2011 GM SUV myself. That Maxima put me into a financial position to get the 335i.

Pretty sure Efthreeoh loves his car. Do my bro's colleagues actually love their new S classes or X5 m sports (which is not a real M)? I doubt it.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

I think it's really cool. People always want to get rid of their cars every 4-5 years and lock themselves into car payments for life. I've seen loans extend out as far as 8 years, which is wild. Continuing to pay a car off over 8 years while simultaneously paying for maintenance costs is probably 1.25-1.5x as expensive as if they held onto their old car and just continued to do basic maintenance on it. I think the general rule of thumb is every....4 ish years you hold onto your car, you've gotten a car's worth of value out of it. Plus, you own it. No repo man in sight. If a repair's gotta wait, it can wait. Those payments to the bank can't.

Seeing how far you can take a car is awesome. The deer hits are freaking unfortunate though. That's such a fear of mine when driving at night. I think if anything will kill my car it'd be that.

It's really great to see someone show how basic maintenance items can keep a BMW going. It's simply staying on top of them like one should with any car. No aircraft maintenance schedule needed: maintain it to the factory maintenance schedule, repair it when it's broken or noticeably worn and causing an issue.

My goal is to get the N55 to 200,000 and think about what I want do from there. I am real curious how reliable the N55 really could be. At 127k miles so far it's been fantastic.

All this sanity (?) comes from my dad. A man of means, but who had 6 kids. He could fix anything he looked at and was WWII generation, who kept his stuff a long time; I don't think he did less than 200,000 on any of the cars I remember him having. Luckily, I inherited his skills for machinery logic and repair and learned his appreciation for keeping stuff a long time.

My awakening as I fondly remember, was when he and I pulled the leaking radiator from his 1972 Mercury Marquis. He must have been around 50 at the time. He had me cut a 1/8th-inch strip of copper from an old gutter that was knocked off the house in a storm. Stuffed it in the leaking seam, and soldered it in place with his plumber's torch. I was 14 or so at the time. The repair lasted even further than me using the car in college and my dad selling the car sometime in the mid 1980's.

I think 200,000 on the N55 will be easy. I look forward to you telling us the journey.

[Buug959]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Good stuff. My N52 at just over 50k is still an infant.

Yup, probably past the diaper stage but still in pull-ups.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

All this sanity (?) comes from my dad. A man of means, but who had 6 kids. He could fix anything he looked at and was WWII generation, who kept his stuff a long time; I don't think he did less than 200,000 on any of the cars I remember him having. Luckily, I inherited his skills for machinery logic and repair and learned his appreciation for keeping stuff a long time.

My awakening as I fondly remember, was when he and I pulled the leaking radiator from his 1972 Mercury Marquis. He must have been around 50 at the time. He had me cut a 1/8th-inch strip of copper from an old gutter that was knocked off the house in a storm. Stuffed it in the leaking seam, and soldered it in place with his plumber's torch. I was 14 or so at the time. The repair lasted even further than me using the car in college and my dad selling the car sometime in the mid 1980's.

I think 200,000 on the N55 will be easy. I look forward to you telling us the journey.

haha you made me think of a similar story with my dad. He had Buick with a carburetor, it was like 15 years old, and I decide I will change the fuel filter. The fuel line twists with the nut and breaks. Smells like fuel.

My dad actually had no interest in cars. So it's off to the plumbing supply house. He bought a straight tube, a tube bender, and a flare kit, and like Superman (dads were like that when we were young), he bends the tube into the shape it needs to be and car is fixed. HUH? I couldn't do that today! Well, no experience--that's why when my Maxima brake hose needed replacement, I paid a shop, who said you change your own calipers? You can certainly replace a hose? I was afraid of the metal portion being all rusted, breaking and then needed a new section....

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

So that's the Bluetooth receiver. It was acting sporadic around 350,000. After the deer accident of April 2018, the several week inactivity at the shop, with the battery disconnected I suppose, did the BT module in. BMW doesn't support the emergency side of it, and I just plug my phone into the radio most times and use the mic on the phone with output via the AUX. Works just as well.

If I do an engine stop with a quick restart, a catalytic converter code comes up every once and awhile. I clear it usually, or it self clears eventually. 3 of the 4 exhaust emission sensors are original.

But that triangle is the Bluetooth module.

I can mail you a pre coded replacement TCU module for free if you want.

[Mosaud1998]

Wow, this makes me more confident in my N52. But, I'm sitting at 71k rn. I want to diy things but I'm kinda afraid since I haven't really worked on cars. Other than the easy oil changes, filters, and spark plugs. But, once a starter blows or something, idk if I'll want to diy it. Just because I don't want to break something while I do it.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

All this sanity (?) comes from my dad. A man of means, but who had 6 kids. He could fix anything he looked at and was WWII generation, who kept his stuff a long time; I don't think he did less than 200,000 on any of the cars I remember him having. Luckily, I inherited his skills for machinery logic and repair and learned his appreciation for keeping stuff a long time.

My awakening as I fondly remember, was when he and I pulled the leaking radiator from his 1972 Mercury Marquis. He must have been around 50 at the time. He had me cut a 1/8th-inch strip of copper from an old gutter that was knocked off the house in a storm. Stuffed it in the leaking seam, and soldered it in place with his plumber's torch. I was 14 or so at the time. The repair lasted even further than me using the car in college and my dad selling the car sometime in the mid 1980's.

I think 200,000 on the N55 will be easy. I look forward to you telling us the journey.

Your dad was a smart guy. My parents aren't ultra handy, valuing time over manual repair of certain things. Granted, there is some truth to that: sometimes your time is more valuable for some things.

One of the philosophies of my dad is "You gotta wanna." In other words, we can all pretty much do anything we are physically and mentally capable of; what decides if you do it is if you wanna. If you don't wanna do it, you're probably going to have poor results. If you wanna, you're going to reap the most benefits and enjoy it. Some things in life are worth doing yourself while others may not be. Life is too short to be miserable doing things you don't wanna do all the time. Anything can be profitable, money-saving, enjoyable, or anything in-between if you want to do it.

As a kid I always took stuff apart to learn how it worked. It was, and still is, a really fun thing for me. One of the things "I gotta wanna" is learn. I love learning, even if it's unrelated to what I need to do. Sometimes I spend more time learning things I don't need to do over the things I need to do (which makes me wonder if someone who hired me to do something but told me I needed to do the opposite of what I was truly hired to do and secretly wanted me to do actually do other things that I would research instead would actually make me more effective...if that makes any sense...).

Cars are one of those things - though they never were even remotely interesting to me until I drove a BMW once. They're fun to take apart and put back together. They're logically designed by engineers (sometimes) to be repaired. I'm no engineer, but I really appreciate what goes into it. BMWs made me realize how a car should drive, but it comes at a cost. I figured if I wanted to enjoy it, I need to DIY. If I need to DIY, I need to enjoy that aspect. Either that, or make so much money that I can have someone else always do the work. I'm not remotely there in life, so I don't want to give up other things like vacations and stuff all for a car. In the end I make it work and I enjoy it.

In the end, we make stuff work for ourselves. We invest our time and energy into what we want to do. I believe in being efficient. Every profession, whether it's mechanics, gunsmithing, data science, plumbing, sewing, sales or carpentry, all have a "top 5 things I would do if I knew nothing about this subject." For the few things that I "gotta needa," I spend my entire life perfecting the subject. For the things that "I gotta wanna," I wanna learn the top 50 things. For the things that I don't gotta wanna, I wanna learn the top 5. Even if I only have those top 5, I'm better off than not knowing anything.