Thinking of getting an E92 335i (06/07) Opinions?

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Looking at a 2006/2007model.
Anyone have any experience with these? Anything to look out for when viewing?

Upgrading from a e46 coupe 2.0l petrol.

Matt Simis

Rattles from the engine bay (turbo problems) and weird noises from the clutch.

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Should have mentioned I am looking at Auto gearbox with paddle shifts. – any known issues with early e92s auto transmission?

bazz26

Wastegate issue is the biggest issue on these afaik.

MetzgerMeister on here owns one so have a chat with him.

MetzgerMeister

The autos can also have a similar strange noise from the transmission but it's considered normal and due to the design. Mine is manual (one of very few in ROI as far as I can tell) but it's a "marbles-in-can" type of noise. It doesn't always happen so it can be hard to replicate it.

EDIT: It's worth noting that this does not affect performance in any way.

If you hear any loud metallic ticking from the driver's side of the engine bay, this means the wastegate seal bushings have worn on the turbos and both turbos will need to be replaced. I replaced my rear one already and I'm getting the funds together to get the other one done. It's pricey but you won't have maximum performance unless both are ok.

Put the car in neutral, door open and rev the engine. The rattle goes with the revs if you know what I mean. The one you're mainly hearing here is the rear turbo, the rattle from the front one is only audible on acceleration.

Apart from that, I have had absolutely nothing else go wrong with mine so they are fairly reliable on the whole. I'll have owned it a year in September and I love it

bazz26

Speak of the devil.

rocky

High pressure fuel pump also gave trouble on them, in the US they issued a recall, get a warranty if you can.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Had one,great car really fast. Issues are
1. Injectors
2. Injectors
3. Hpfp.
4. Cracked alloys epically 330's and 225
5. Waste gate rattle.
6. Broken seatbelt handlers.
7. Excessive wear of the leather on sports seats.
8. Slow I drive need software update.

It's best get it checked by BMW to see if te injectors have been done. Great car, e46 m3 fast in a a more modern package. Turbo power is fun. Buy one now.

MetzgerMeister

From what I've read:

The injectors and the HPFP were really only issues in the US, not so much Europe.

The seat belt assists break because people unknowingly reach around and hit the arm.

Did you have excessive wear on your seats fitzgeme?

I don't know about iDrive, don't have it in mine.

They issued a recall for the HPFP and an extended warranty in the US for the turbos. 3 very expensive items replaced FOC but as usual, no such thing given to us here :rolleyes:

btkm8unsl0w5r4

The hpfp can go in Europe too mostly due to poor quality fuel, the yanks have crap fuel all the time.

The side bolsters of the sports seats wear from e seatbelt rubbing off it, not bad unless you have a light coloured leather. I had this issue and BMW fixed it free of charge. The injectors were my major issue cause BMW would only replace then as they went meaning many trip to the dealers and limp modes.

If the I drive screen is brown then it needs an update, that's a day in the dealers, the software update also help the waste gate problem. I never had this issue. Silver home screen is up to date.

Having said that once is got the niggles sorted it was rock solid, did serious mileage in it. Very hard ride on run flats, very hard.

Oh yeah the aux in the glovebox is prone to not working.

MetzgerMeister

The software "helps" the wastegate because it moves it further away from the seal. This means the wastegate can't seal at all which in turn causes increased lag and less power. It goes against everything this car was meant to do.

Did yours still have the warranty and were the injectors etc. all fixed under it? If the warranty expires, you're on your own because they will NOT offer any goodwill gestures. I've been through it and it was a waste of time.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Mine was out of warranty for half the injectors but they did in all fairness give me a good deal as goodwill. It was frustrating under warranty as they would only replace the faulty injectors leading to me having a lot of different trips to the dealers over the same issue. When I was out of warranty I just asked for all the remaining original injectors to be replaced.

MetzgerMeister

What symptoms did you have with the injector failure?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

The car would hesitate to rev from 1500-2500 and the accelerator felt really lagging, then a LIMP mode. That would come on and go away on restart and eventually stay on.

MetzgerMeister

Sometimes it won't through a code at all until it gets very bad.

The injectors are pricey but thankfully, a very easy DIY for the home mechanic.

gallag

Its unacceptable that BMW would produce such a problematic car and not stand over it! I would also consider a 335i but I just feel like I would be waiting on it to break to much to enjoy it.

MetzgerMeister

gallag wrote: »

Its unacceptable that BMW would produce such a problematic car and not stand over it! I would also consider a 335i but I just feel like I would be waiting on it to break to much to enjoy it.

This is true but it's not only BMW who have done this!

Once you know what to look out for and know how to repair/remedy it before you buy the car then it's not so bad. Buying it not knowing potential problems and not knowing how to solve them is where people get caught out.

As I said, the only problem I've had with mine is the turbos, never had HPFP failure or injector failure and neither the HPFP or injectors have been replaced from what the paperwork I got with the car tells me. I wouldn't replace the turbos myself but everything else I'd be happy enough to do myself.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Brand new engine, injectors not up to the task. BMW should really have tested the injectors properly. Newer ones do not have this issue. The 335i is IMHO one of the best BMW's ever made. It is very fun to drive, and the engine is very powerful even more so than the figures suggest. The engine is stressed, like anything over 100 bhp per liter, teething issues are expected but BMW do have a way of making your dealer experience a infuriating time.

MetzgerMeister

Actually, the N54 engine wasn't brand new but moreso an updated version of the E46 330i engine. The E90 330i engine was a brand new design.

I fully agree with what you say about it being one of the best BMW ever made (much better than that heap of an E60 M5 they made :pac: ). Maybe it was the eagerness to get it into the market place that led to them not testing these things properly.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Actually, the N54 engine wasn't brand new but moreso an updated version of the E46 330i engine. The E90 330i engine was a brand new design..

True enough but it was a pretty big change and also with it being a landmark foray into forced induction for their petrol engines I though they would have done some serious stress testing.

Having said that, my ownership experience was good. I can forgive the car its faults as I was an early adopter, and it struck such a fine compromise between power, economy, torque and comfort. I would hearty recommend it to anyone.

MetzgerMeister

Yep, you'd expect their first FI petrol engine to be almost problem free and would have been had they done as much testing as one would imagine a company like that would do! To be fair though, the wastegate issue was down to Mitsubishi as they manufactured the turbos. Same turbos used in the VW TFSI engine and they had the same wastegate issues.

mickdw

Fantastic car but ive always had a fear of them. Too many stories of continuous running faults with injectors etc.
Are you guys saying that if injectors are replaced, you are unlikely to have limp home and all that crap on a regular basis?
If it wasnt going to be a money pit, a 335i from 08 or so looks like the bargain.

MetzgerMeister

Once the following are sorted, it's the car it always should have been:

> Turbos replaced

> Injectors replaced

> Coils replaced

Not all 335i's are affected by the above but to cover everything, those are the 3 main things. You'd be lucky to find a post '08 335i for sale. I know Shane732 here had an e93 but I haven't seen another post '08 one around. Also, the coupe handles a lot better than the vert from what he said. Don't think you'll find any e90 335i here either.

coolisin

Nearly impossible to find an e90 335, think I have only seen one.
I really wanted one of them but just couldn't locate one, in two months of looking.
And at the time going to the UK wasn't an option.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Get one, spend 700 euro on an extended warranty from warranty direct and your golden.

MetzgerMeister

Myles Lively Patio wrote: »

Get one, spend 700 euro on an extended warranty from warranty direct and your golden.

And make sure the warranty doesn't only cover "sudden failure" of these items. The warranty I got when I bought mine was a Mapfre one and only covered sudden failure of the turbo wastegates, coils and injectors but since these fail due to "wear and tear" (crap design actually) they won't cover them.

ION08

Myles Lively Patio wrote: »

Had one,great car really fast. Issues are
1. Injectors
2. Injectors
3. Hpfp.
4. Cracked alloys epically 330's and 225
5. Waste gate rattle.
6. Broken seatbelt handlers.
7. Excessive wear of the leather on sports seats.
8. Slow I drive need software update.

My god Myles Lively Patio, along with your RX-8 stories it seems you could put anyone off wanting any type of car you've previously owned :P

MetzgerMeister

ION08 wrote: »

My god fitzgeme, along with your RX-8 stories it seems you could put anyone off wanting any type of car you've previously owned :P

It just clicked with me that I have that in common with fitzgeme - we both owned an RX-8 and 335i :eek:

Alanstrainor

Give me a year worth of saving and ill get one too. Its on my list

btkm8unsl0w5r4

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

It just clicked with me that I have that in common with fitzgeme - we both owned an RX-8 and 335i :eek:

Just love engines, anything out of the ordinary and I am hooked. For anyone looking at my post. Yes I have issues with cars. Maybe its because I have to have a car perfect in every way despite buying second hand all the time, I am sure a lot on here are the same.

I kinda accept that performance cars have issues, maybe I am just honest about the number of things I have done.

Currently I am in e60 M5, my 335i was stolen and burnt out (found by a boards member, spotted on crime line by a boards member, cops did nothing). If its had not been stolen I would still have it. The M5 is fantastic, and I have had little issues with it, however I rank the 335i up there. That turbo kick is so much fun without the uncontrollable fury of the M5/M3. Driving at regular speeds, traffic light derbys and the like, the 335i is stonking, once you get it off the runflats you can make some serious progress on windy roads, it so effortless. An M5 or a e46 M3 requires so much more driving to get the performance. There is a reason the 335i engine is all over the BMW lineup now. And I honestly did 27-30+ MPG combined.

Had mine remapped, once thats done the 335i is animal.....

air

Apart from the above, they seem to be slow enough to sell on.
This very low mileage one's been sitting on carzone for over a year (at the same price which is probably why!)
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/335-335I/201314214224345/advert?channel=CARS

This black one has been there 4 months also despite looking very clean and being a one owner car:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/335I-SE-/201312213859379/advert?channel=CARS

fitzgeme, how are they to insure? Are they treated as a "performance" car?

MetzgerMeister

Air, I think they've been sitting there due to the tax. Although, the day I test drove mine, there was 2 other people there, one before me and one after me test driving it. On the day I bought it, one of those people arrived after I had the money paid saying he wanted to buy it. I paid 16k for mine with 54,000km on the clock. The first one you posted is very cheap for what it is!

Insurance wise, I don't know if they are treated as a performance car but I'd say they are because I went from an RX8 to a 6MPS to the 335i and my insurance was around the same. My renewal in December was €580, that's with 7 years NCB, 27 years old, 0 penalty points (at the time )

air

Yeah I guess the tax is offputting alright but I guess it helps keep the cost to purchase down too which means it's catch 22 to a certain extent.

I thought the same about that one when it first came up - perhaps it was as much as 18 months ago, however the mileage hasn't been updated at all in that time which is a bit strange. Personally I would drop the price on a car every month until it sold, only fooling yourself otherwise IMHO.

Sounds like you got a very good deal on yours, there was a green E93 in Tipp on carzone for a long while too, must have sold eventually I guess.

MetzgerMeister

A lot of people think that by dropping the price, the seller was just trying his look all the time. What they don't see is the depreciation aspect of it IMO.

I got a good enough deal on mine, I traded in my Mazda 6MPS (bought from the same garage) and gave them 8.5k on top of it. However, it was cheap for a reason, the turbos needed to be replaced. I have one of them done and I'm saving to get the other done soon. But apart from the common faults, they truly are an excellent car.

JJJJNR

Both turbos need replacing and your footing the bill, was there a s/h.. Whats wrong with BMW, thats a bit mad.

challengemaster

Myles Lively Patio wrote: »

Yes I have issues with cars. Maybe its because I have to have a car perfect in every way despite buying second hand all the time, I am sure a lot on here are the same.

Is your name also dave, by any chance? :pac:

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Once the following are sorted, it's the car it always should have been:

> Turbos replaced

> Injectors replaced

> Coils replaced

I have to piss myself laughing at that, from an outside point of view

MetzgerMeister

They are actually remanufactured turbos with upgraded parts and you send BMW back your old faulty ones.

air

What's the damage including labour per turbo on an exchange basis then?

MetzgerMeister

challengemaster wrote: »

I have to piss myself laughing at that, from an outside point of view

You whisht swirl flaps :P

Like I said, not all of them affect every car, mainly just the turbos here.

air wrote: »

What's the damage including labour per turbo on an exchange basis then?

It depends, the turbos are about €600 each (compared to new which owuld be €1300 + VAT) and then however long the mechanic takes.

I'm quite drunk right now so I'm sorry if there's any gibberish!

the merchant

Is this the same engine that is in the 335i touring? Also was it ever in the E61?

JJJJNR

Yah U drink all you like....... holy sh*t

Stallingrad

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

They are actually remanufactured turbos with upgraded parts and you send BMW back your old faulty ones.

When you say 'upgraded' you mean fit for purpose? Bloody BMW and their rubbish engines!

MetzgerMeister

Stallingrad wrote: »

When you say 'upgraded' you mean fit for purpose? Bloody BMW and their rubbish engines!

It's not actually BMW's fault. They bought the whole turbo units from Mitsubishi.

Stallingrad

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

It's not actually BMW's fault. They bought the whole turbo units from Mitsubishi.

I disagree, when they put third party bits in their cars they have to be responsible for them and their quality. You could say its not Renaults fault that their supplier gave them millions of lousy window regulators.

JJJJNR

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

It's not actually BMW's fault. They bought the whole turbo units from Mitsubishi.

was going to a hybrid turbo ever an option, at least then you'll have accesss to more power.

Leonard Hofstadter

the merchant wrote: »

Is this the same engine that is in the 335i touring? Also was it ever in the E61?

Oddly enough the engine was used in the E60 and E61, but only the US market got it. We got a V8 powered 540i instead, which had the same power but less torque.

MetzgerMeister

Stallingrad wrote: »

I disagree, when they put third party bits in their cars they have to be responsible for them and their quality. You could say its not Renaults fault that their supplier gave them millions of lousy window regulators.

Ah yeah but it's true to a certain extent. Toyota blamed their suppliers several times. I mean, BMW didn't actually manufacture the turbos even though it is them replacing them etc.

JJJJNR wrote: »

was going to a hybrid turbo ever an option, at least then you'll have accesss to more power.

Too expensive and I like to keep cars OEM.