BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
04-11-2012, 04:14 PM
#21
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Re: BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
OP - On BMWs it is very important to check the maintenance history. Ask to see it on paper, don't trust them if they tell that the I-Drive is all you need to see. Anyone can figure out how to update the service intervals thanks to idiot BMW techs who posted how-to's up on the internet.
I'm not going to lie to your, parts can be expensive for these cars. Know that as the vehicle increases in mileage you WILL have to overhaul the cooling as the car ages. You will most likely end up replacing the power steering hoses as well. I don't know why but BMW can't seem to produce a decent P/S hose for one reason or another.
Here is a small list of some E90/1/2 specifications off the top of my head:
330 - 3.0 liter 255hp NA
328 - 3.0 liter 235hp NA
325 - 3.0 liter 215hp NA
335 - 3.0 liter 300hp TT
xi = AWD
BMW claims as high as 30 MPG highway from the NA models whereas the 335 is going to be somewhere in the mid 20's.
You do realize that Carmax is where people take particularly ragged out new-ish cars to trade in, right? It is a horrible place to purchase a used car. Whenever a dealer buys a car and realizes it's a clusterfuck they sell it to Carmax because their inspection is a fucking joke. It's a great place to buy a lemon.
Way to recommend a really stupid car. 06 = most problematic year for 3 series since the switch from the e30 to e36 chassis. With an 06 you will be getting the shittiest version of IDrive as well so I fail to see how it is a must..
Correct on all counts. You can purchase a pretty nice e46 m3 in the mid-high 20's at this point. If you consider one make sure that the Service II has been performed recently. You don't want to buy a car and then turn right around and spend 2k+ on necessary service.
Test lights are dumb.
Yeah. Except the waste gate issues, fuel pump problems and the infamous permanently locked doors problems.. lolol
You will get ripped off buying used cars from a dealer unless you have a hook up. He'd be better off looking private party and paying a reputable BMW specialist for pre-purchase inspections. That is going to be the only way to know that you are making a 100% good decision.
ZHP = yawn. For the price you pay you're better off buying a base and throwing the specific aftermarket parts you want at it.
Smarty pants. lulz
I'm not going to lie to your, parts can be expensive for these cars. Know that as the vehicle increases in mileage you WILL have to overhaul the cooling as the car ages. You will most likely end up replacing the power steering hoses as well. I don't know why but BMW can't seem to produce a decent P/S hose for one reason or another.
Here is a small list of some E90/1/2 specifications off the top of my head:
330 - 3.0 liter 255hp NA
328 - 3.0 liter 235hp NA
325 - 3.0 liter 215hp NA
335 - 3.0 liter 300hp TT
xi = AWD
BMW claims as high as 30 MPG highway from the NA models whereas the 335 is going to be somewhere in the mid 20's.
I don't pretend to know the differences between all of the 3 Serires BMW's. All I can say is that you should look at Carmax when the time comes to buy one. My in-laws picked up two seperate models (330i and a Z4) from there last year and both have been top notch, and didn't break their bank either.
Test lights are dumb.
Smarty pants. lulz
04-11-2012, 04:16 PM
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04-11-2012, 04:35 PM
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Re: BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
BMW claims as high as 30 MPG highway from the NA models whereas the 335 is going to be somewhere in the mid 20's.
You do realize that Carmax is where people take particularly ragged out new-ish cars to trade in, right? It is a horrible place to purchase a used car. Whenever a dealer buys a car and realizes it's a clusterfuck they sell it to Carmax because their inspection is a fucking joke. It's a great place to buy a lemon.
except the waste gate issues, fuel pump problems and the infamous permanently locked doors problems.. lolol
You will get ripped off buying used cars from a dealer unless you have a hook up. He'd be better off looking private party and paying a reputable BMW specialist for pre-purchase inspections. That is going to be the only way to know that you are making a 100% good decision.
Only other issue the op may want to know about for the 335's is the intake valves with any newer direct injection engine, get covered in carbon. I've been quoted $400 to get mine cleaned.
Last edited by SpeedOften; 04-11-2012 at 04:38 PM.
04-11-2012, 04:37 PM
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Re: BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
Good for you. Thanks for really adding something to the conversation.. 
They are still common known issues. Take your sass and shove it up your ass. You know nothing.
I worked on an X3 last month that was recently (less than month prior) purchased at Carmax. This is what I found when I cracked the valve cover open:
This isn't the first cluster-fuck I've seen that came from Carmax either. Maybe, just MAYBE I know a little bit more about this subject than you do.
They are still common known issues. Take your sass and shove it up your ass. You know nothing.I worked on an X3 last month that was recently (less than month prior) purchased at Carmax. This is what I found when I cracked the valve cover open:
This isn't the first cluster-fuck I've seen that came from Carmax either. Maybe, just MAYBE I know a little bit more about this subject than you do.
Last edited by Archer; 04-11-2012 at 04:43 PM.
04-11-2012, 04:51 PM
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04-11-2012, 05:30 PM
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Re: BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
Good for you. Thanks for really adding something to the conversation.. They are still common known issues. Take your sass and shove it up your ass. You know nothing.
I worked on an X3 last month that was recently (less than month prior) purchased at Carmax. This is what I found when I cracked the valve cover open:
This isn't the first cluster-fuck I've seen that came from Carmax either. Maybe, just MAYBE I know a little bit more about this subject than you do.
They are still common known issues. Take your sass and shove it up your ass. You know nothing.I worked on an X3 last month that was recently (less than month prior) purchased at Carmax. This is what I found when I cracked the valve cover open:
This isn't the first cluster-fuck I've seen that came from Carmax either. Maybe, just MAYBE I know a little bit more about this subject than you do.
Archer also didn't mention that there's two setups in the 335i - the N54 vs the N55. Since he works at BMW you would think he would know the difference between the two right? I mean just like the one tech who told me all 335i's (about 6 months ago) had twin turbo's when the N55 has just a single twin scroll... But I'm not saying he doesn't know that, he just failed to mention it...
04-11-2012, 05:35 PM
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Re: BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
I don't work at a BMW dealership. I gave a very brief summary of specs for E90/1/2 cars because that is what the op requested. The N55 engine was not released until later and vehicles equipped with it will most likely not fall into the OP's price range so I felt no need to mention it.
Your original post that I replied to stated simply that you bought your car from CarMax and have not had any typical e9x problems - it conveyed no information worth mentioning so I assumed you know nothing.
Your original post that I replied to stated simply that you bought your car from CarMax and have not had any typical e9x problems - it conveyed no information worth mentioning so I assumed you know nothing.
04-11-2012, 05:59 PM
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Re: BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
OP - On BMWs it is very important to check the maintenance history. Ask to see it on paper, don't trust them if they tell that the I-Drive is all you need to see. Anyone can figure out how to update the service intervals thanks to idiot BMW techs who posted how-to's up on the internet.
I'm not going to lie to your, parts can be expensive for these cars. Know that as the vehicle increases in mileage you WILL have to overhaul the cooling as the car ages. You will most likely end up replacing the power steering hoses as well. I don't know why but BMW can't seem to produce a decent P/S hose for one reason or another.
Here is a small list of some E90/1/2 specifications off the top of my head:
330 - 3.0 liter 255hp NA
328 - 3.0 liter 235hp NA
325 - 3.0 liter 215hp NA
335 - 3.0 liter 300hp TT
xi = AWD
BMW claims as high as 30 MPG highway from the NA models whereas the 335 is going to be somewhere in the mid 20's.
You do realize that Carmax is where people take particularly ragged out new-ish cars to trade in, right? It is a horrible place to purchase a used car. Whenever a dealer buys a car and realizes it's a clusterfuck they sell it to Carmax because their inspection is a fucking joke. It's a great place to buy a lemon.
Way to recommend a really stupid car. 06 = most problematic year for 3 series since the switch from the e30 to e36 chassis. With an 06 you will be getting the shittiest version of IDrive as well so I fail to see how it is a must..
Correct on all counts. You can purchase a pretty nice e46 m3 in the mid-high 20's at this point. If you consider one make sure that the Service II has been performed recently. You don't want to buy a car and then turn right around and spend 2k+ on necessary service.
Test lights are dumb.
Yeah. Except the waste gate issues, fuel pump problems and the infamous permanently locked doors problems.. lolol
You will get ripped off buying used cars from a dealer unless you have a hook up. He'd be better off looking private party and paying a reputable BMW specialist for pre-purchase inspections. That is going to be the only way to know that you are making a 100% good decision.
ZHP = yawn. For the price you pay you're better off buying a base and throwing the specific aftermarket parts you want at it.
Smarty pants. lulz
I'm not going to lie to your, parts can be expensive for these cars. Know that as the vehicle increases in mileage you WILL have to overhaul the cooling as the car ages. You will most likely end up replacing the power steering hoses as well. I don't know why but BMW can't seem to produce a decent P/S hose for one reason or another.
Here is a small list of some E90/1/2 specifications off the top of my head:
330 - 3.0 liter 255hp NA
328 - 3.0 liter 235hp NA
325 - 3.0 liter 215hp NA
335 - 3.0 liter 300hp TT
xi = AWD
BMW claims as high as 30 MPG highway from the NA models whereas the 335 is going to be somewhere in the mid 20's.
You do realize that Carmax is where people take particularly ragged out new-ish cars to trade in, right? It is a horrible place to purchase a used car. Whenever a dealer buys a car and realizes it's a clusterfuck they sell it to Carmax because their inspection is a fucking joke. It's a great place to buy a lemon.
Way to recommend a really stupid car. 06 = most problematic year for 3 series since the switch from the e30 to e36 chassis. With an 06 you will be getting the shittiest version of IDrive as well so I fail to see how it is a must..
Correct on all counts. You can purchase a pretty nice e46 m3 in the mid-high 20's at this point. If you consider one make sure that the Service II has been performed recently. You don't want to buy a car and then turn right around and spend 2k+ on necessary service.
Test lights are dumb.
Yeah. Except the waste gate issues, fuel pump problems and the infamous permanently locked doors problems.. lolol
You will get ripped off buying used cars from a dealer unless you have a hook up. He'd be better off looking private party and paying a reputable BMW specialist for pre-purchase inspections. That is going to be the only way to know that you are making a 100% good decision.
ZHP = yawn. For the price you pay you're better off buying a base and throwing the specific aftermarket parts you want at it.
Smarty pants. lulz
So is an 06 330i with 82k miles advertised for $17600 something to avoid? I'm trying to line up some cars to look at and I like the interior on this one.
04-12-2012, 04:42 AM
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Re: BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
Yeah. Except the waste gate issues, fuel pump problems and the infamous permanently locked doors problems.. lolol
04-12-2012, 05:09 AM
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Re: BMW gods of VADriven, I request thy advice
find a low mileage X5, I know nothing abot these cars except it looks fucking good.