e91 335i (N55) or 330i (N52)? How reliable is the N55?

[Franzino]

Hi;

I'm a real petrolhead and I love driving...especially the driving feel is important to me. I'm not the petrol head who says; "power is everything". For example; my perfect second car would be a 997 GT3, not the faster 997 GT2 or Turbo S.

For the moment I have a full-option e46 325i M-tech touring that is 10 years old. This touring is my daily driven car. I also have a lovely Z4M for sun, fun and track that I love. I have no complaining about my two car garage for the moment. My daily car does not come on track. I want to change my old 325i touring to a used e91 335i touring (N55) or e91 330i (N52). The e91 cars are lower mileage examples.

The e91,will also be full option with M-tech and a manual transmission from building year 2011-2012. Probably; I will keep this car again another 10 years. I tend to keep my daily driven cars for a very long time (+ 200.000 KM). My perfect daily car would be a M3 V8 touring, but this car does not exist and running a V8 M3 is a bit to expensive (tax and gas) for me as a daily car.

So; I'm now debating between the e91 335i (N55) and the e91 330i (N52). Will the 335i be a lot more fun and drive nicer then the 330i? Will the 335i give me more street thrills and feel more special then the 330i or my older e46 325i?

How reliable is the N55..? I know the N54 was a unreliable engine, but how is the N55?

The turbo is a weak spot on every engine. I'm aware of that. But how is the driving feel of the 335i...? Does it feel some what like a turbodiesel car with a small powerband or does it feel rather linear? I really don't like driving a high powered turbodiesel car (personal preference). So no need to mention the 330d and 335d as alternatives.

I also don't like a big turbo gap. I did a test drive with the new M4; the car was really fast, but I did not like the engine and the power delivery. The e92 M3 V8 was a lot more fun! I also did a test drive with a BMW 1M; I really like that car and it felt really nice. So it's not that I hate a turbo powered car...but not every turbo car. The extra torque of the 335i sounds nice to have on a street driven car. I have seen how fast the 335i can pull away on the high way.

Or will the 330i (N52) engine be the more pure drivers car, more enjoyable and more reliable and more my taste? But maybe the difference between my old e46 325i and the newer e91 330i is not that big and it will only feel more of the same?

Which one (N55 335i or N52 330i) would you choice in my place and why?

THANKS!

Edited by Franzino on Saturday 8th November 03:53

[Driver101]

The unreliability of the N54 is greatly exaggerated.

Insure a N54 using BMWs approved warranty and it is one of the cheapest to insure.

The N55 seems pretty good reliability wise.

[Franzino]

Driver101 said:

The unreliability of the N54 is greatly exaggerated.

Insure a N54 using BMWs approved warranty and it is one of the cheapest to insure.

The N55 seems pretty good reliability wise.

I will have a 2 year used car BMW warranty on this car. After that; I'm on my own...extended BMW warranty does not exist in my country.

[rassi]

Since you are in Belgium, you should take advantage of the current 4 years warranty offer on Premium Selection cars (think it was extended to 19 November).

And I would go for a N55 335i if I were you, plenty more of those and the direct injection 330i while on paper very economical has a strange diesel like idle sound, not the smooth inline 6 of "old" BMW

[cerb4.5lee]

I use a E90 N52 330i as my daily and its a lovely engine and I used to run a E92 M3 as a daily as well and I agree they are pretty expensive on fuel! you say ultimate power isn't massively important so I think the 330i would be fine.

The N52 is very sweet revving and sounds nice at the top end of the revs and the only reason I didn't go with the 335i is that I believed it would be thirsty if driven hard but from what I have read from owners is that the 335i/330i basically return the same mpg so I now wish I had gone with the 335i.

I haven't driven a 335i but they are very lag free I believe and the extra power would be nice I would imagine but the 330i has just about enough power to enjoy out on the road though.

[Smuler]

Which one (N55 335i or N52 330i) would you choice in my place and why?


335i, because in your M car you already have the best combination of N/A straight six and manual gearbox so why get a N/A straight six manual that whilst faster than your current daily is not really anything different and if I'm right doesn't even have the hydraulic steering of the old E46. Whilst the 330i is great for most people, it seems a boring choice in your situation.

335i is faster stock, (even faster tuned) so a (much) bigger step forward from the E46 and it keeps the hydraulic steering. It also gives you something different in terms of power delivery, although in my opinion it's not like a diesel if you are worried. In your position I would consider the DCT; it doesn't feel like an auto, more like a racing driver is doing the clutches for you, but it does make a change from your manual M car and in dull daily situations you can let D do it's thing.

[cerb4.5lee]

Smuler said:

Which one (N55 335i or N52 330i) would you choice in my place and why?


335i, because in your M car you already have the best combination of N/A straight six and manual gearbox so why get a N/A straight six manual that whilst faster than your current daily is not really anything different and if I'm right doesn't even have the hydraulic steering of the old E46. Whilst the 330i is great for most people, it seems a boring choice in your situation.

My N52 330i has hydraulic steering but I agree with you the OP should get the 335i.

[Franzino]

rassi said:

Since you are in Belgium, you should take advantage of the current 4 years warranty offer on Premium Selection cars (think it was extended to 19 November)

100% correct... This is one of the reasons I want to buy one now and I found a really great 335i example (that is almost 100% perfect for me).

[aeropilot]

The N52 engine had been dropped in the 330i E9* series and been replaced by the N53 engiine for the years you are looking at.

N55 is a lot more reliable than the N54, and is a nicer road car engine as well, but I'm biased as I own a N55 engined car.....but, IMHO, the manual gearbox doesn't suit the engine as well as a manual suits a n/a engine (as the N53 in the 330i).
The DCT gearbox matched with the N55 on the other hand is superb.

[Franzino]

Smuler said:

335i, because in your M car you already have the best combination of N/A straight six and manual gearbox so why get a N/A straight six manual that whilst faster than your current daily is not really anything different and if I'm right doesn't even have the hydraulic steering of the old E46. Whilst the 330i is great for most people, it seems a boring choice in your situation.

Very good point! That was something that was also crossing my mind. A 330i is a great car (the e46 325i also), but maybe not the right choice in my case...when coming from a e46 325i and also having a second pure drivers car with a lovely S54 engine. I don't want to have the feeling when driving in my new e91; "damn this feels almost exactly as my older 325i...only a little faster".

I was not aware that hydraulic steering is not available on the 330i? Strange! Did the e90 already have electric steering? Or are there steering options? Steering feel is something I think is realy important (something that is lacking in the new M4).

Smuler said:

335i is faster stock, (even faster tuned) so a (much) bigger step forward from the E46 and it keeps the hydraulic steering. It also gives you something different in terms of power delivery, although in my opinion it's not like a diesel if you are worried. In your position I would consider the DCT; it doesn't feel like an auto, more like a racing driver is doing the clutches for you, but it does make a change from your manual M car and in dull daily situations you can let D do it's thing.

I will not do any engine modifications or other modifications on my daily (besides maybe one day fitting a limited slip from Quaife). I'm a little confused what you are saying about the steering...? I was not aware there is a difference in steering between the e91 335i and other (lower engined) e9x models?
I did read something about a option called Variable Speed Steering that was available on the e9x models... any idea what that exactly is?

M-DCT is something I would consider (never a steptronic), but it seems I can only find the M-DCT gearbox in the e92 335i coupe and not in the e91 335i touring. I think the M-DCT was only available on the coupe. Or it was an option nobody took on a 335i touring?

[Franzino]

cerb4.5lee said:

My N52 330i has hydraulic steering but I agree with you the OP should get the 335i.

Did hydraulic steering used to be an option on certain e9x models? The only e9x model I drove in my life is a e92 M3 V8 and I liked the steering in standard setting...

[Franzino]

aeropilot said:

The N52 engine had been dropped in the 330i E9* series and been replaced by the N53 engiine for the years you are looking at.

Good to know! Thanks for the info, I was not aware of this. I got my info about the N52 from an article on BMWCAR magazine. After a quick search; on paper there does not seem to much difference between the older N52 engine and the newer N53 in the 330i.

aeropilot said:

N55 is a lot more reliable than the N54, and is a nicer road car engine as well, but I'm biased as I own a N55 engined car.....but, IMHO, the manual gearbox doesn't suit the engine as well as a manual suits a n/a engine (as the N53 in the 330i).
The DCT gearbox matched with the N55 on the other hand is superb.

As stated above; I think the M-DCT gearbox is only available on the e92 335i coupe and not on other 335i models
I'm only interested in a e91 335i touring and steptronic is out of the question. If there would be a e91 335i touring with M-DCT I would consider it...but I never found one in the classifieds.

Edited by Franzino on Saturday 8th November 17:56

Edited by Franzino on Sunday 9th November 02:41

[Smuler]

No, hydraulic was the standard, see the extract from the article which compares the E90 series 335i with it's replacement.

The most common assault leveled against the F30 335i involves BMW’s decision to implement electric steering over the celebrated hydraulic setup used since the dawn of man. While the more modern application arguably saves a few microlitres of fuel, it does isolate the driver a bit more from what’s happening where the rubber meets the road.

http://www.autos.ca/car-comparisons/comparison-tes...

From what Greg posted it seems, however, I was wrong in thinking that the change from hydraulic happened during the E90 series with the exception of the 335 models.

The 335i isn't a M3, but in my opinion it is the next best thing and when I first tested one I felt reminded of my drive in a E92 M3 with regards to the weighty steering feel and great seats.

[aeropilot]

Franzino said:

As stated above; I think the M-DCT gearbox is only available on the e92 335i coupe and not on other 335i models

It seems your right, DCT was only available on the E92/E93 335i, and not on the E90/E91.

I'd still rather have the n/a engine if wanting a manual 'box though, manual boxes just don't suit wide torque band engines IMHO (or indeed narrow torque band engines like most modern diesels)

[Franzino]

aeropilot said:

It seems your right, DCT was only available on the E92/E93 335i, and not on the E90/E91.

I'd still rather have the n/a engine if wanting a manual 'box though, manual boxes just don't suit wide torque band engines IMHO (or indeed narrow torque band engines like most modern diesels)

In case of a 330d or 335d I would choice a automatic gearbox (335d is auto only)... But with a petrol engine it is manual or M-DCT for me. So; would you rather have a manual e91 330i then a manaul e91 335i..? knowing the M-DCT is not available on the e91

Edited by Franzino on Sunday 9th November 02:39

[Smuler]

Apologies, Franzino, I forgot you wanted a E91; in which case sadly the DCT is not an option for you.

Interestingly, this was the excellent article which led me to think the other E90s did not have hydraulic steering, I'm attaching it for you to read because it does give an interesting insight into the E90 335i (and it's a manual trans in the example) when compared to E90 M3
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=428...


I had a 325 ci manual, by the way, so despite my errors so far I can add weight to my earlier opinion which is that the 330i is not enough of a step forward for you. A n/a and manual is a lovely combination, but you've had that experience in your 325 and have it at it's best in your weekend M car. The 335i is something different; and faster.

[Rdawson]

It has to be a 335i - it's everything a 330 is and then some - so it's the logical choice. Neither is a supercar so you're not asking us whether you should buy a 458 or a 330i. In terms of N54 v N55, don't listen to anyone who says one is vastly better or more reliable than the other - they will just be biased. What has been proven is that the N55 is slightly more fuel efficient and that its maximum torque arrives 200 rpm lower in the rev range. Conversely, the N54 is more tuneable and has the greater potential (at least at this stage) since the ECU for the N55 hasn't been cracked fully. Piezo electric injector issues on the N54 will have been sorted by now under recall, as will many the turbo wastegate issues. Other than those two, both N54 and N55 share the same woes.

[Franzino]

Smuler said:

No, hydraulic was the standard, see the extract from the article which compares the E90 series 335i with it's replacement.

The most common assault leveled against the F30 335i involves BMW’s decision to implement electric steering over the celebrated hydraulic setup used since the dawn of man. While the more modern application arguably saves a few microlitres of fuel, it does isolate the driver a bit more from what’s happening where the rubber meets the road.

http://www.autos.ca/car-comparisons/comparison-tes...

From what Greg posted it seems, however, I was wrong in thinking that the change from hydraulic happened during the E90 series with the exception of the 335 models.

The 335i isn't a M3, but in my opinion it is the next best thing and when I first tested one I felt reminded of my drive in a E92 M3 with regards to the weighty steering feel and great seats.

Found this about the steering

said:

BMW’s steering is just as essential to the driving experience. All 3 Series models come standard with a hydraulic power-steering system whose road feel and precision are legendary; the 335i M Sport that I tested came with the Active Steering system which varies both the steering ratio and power assist to further enhance agility, particularly at low to medium driving speeds. Active Steering is another of those BMW innovations that truly has to be experienced to be believed. Just a slight turn of the wheel quickly and precisely changes you direction, just like on a racecar. The speed of the reaction to my inputs was phenomenal.

[Smuler]

Franzino said:

Smuler said:

No, hydraulic was the standard, see the extract from the article which compares the E90 series 335i with it's replacement.

The most common assault leveled against the F30 335i involves BMW’s decision to implement electric steering over the celebrated hydraulic setup used since the dawn of man. While the more modern application arguably saves a few microlitres of fuel, it does isolate the driver a bit more from what’s happening where the rubber meets the road.

http://www.autos.ca/car-comparisons/comparison-tes...

From what Greg posted it seems, however, I was wrong in thinking that the change from hydraulic happened during the E90 series with the exception of the 335 models.

The 335i isn't a M3, but in my opinion it is the next best thing and when I first tested one I felt reminded of my drive in a E92 M3 with regards to the weighty steering feel and great seats.

Found this about the steering

said:

BMW’s steering is just as essential to the driving experience. All 3 Series models come standard with a hydraulic power-steering system whose road feel and precision are legendary; the 335i M Sport that I tested came with the Active Steering system which varies both the steering ratio and power assist to further enhance agility, particularly at low to medium driving speeds. Active Steering is another of those BMW innovations that truly has to be experienced to be believed. Just a slight turn of the wheel quickly and precisely changes you direction, just like on a racecar. The speed of the reaction to my inputs was phenomenal.

From a quick google, this seems to be an option. I have looked at my build sheet and I don't have it on mine. It wasn't present on any of the cars I tested, as I had checked their build sheets too.



Spotted it on this review, and it suggests active steering is best avoided.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/3-series-c...

Edited by Smuler on Monday 10th November 09:49

[moffat]

My 2p.

N55 over the N52 easily. It can also be tuned easily to 370bhp+

I personally prefer the N54 which is even better for tuning but I did have two HPFP failures.

Hydraulic steering was on all N54/N55 1er's and 3er's if I remember correctly and is much nicer than electric steering, but still not great.