335d - How Reliable?

[Cyclone1]

Whilst the 335d appears to be the flavour of the month for all the right and in some cases the wrong reasons, I thought I'd throw up this thread just to try and gauge how good a car it is from a reliability perspective. This needs to include any issues from the following categories mechanical, electrical, software and build.

I'll start:

Mileage - 25k

Oil useage - 1 litre

Services - 1 @ 20,600 (Oil and inspection service)

Consumables - Rear tyres just above legal at 21k miles, all 4 replaced.

Mechanical issues - front discs/pads replaced after 5k miles due to deep scoring, hand brake doesn't full release resulting in an irritating squeal at slow speed (resolved once but now doing it again).

Electrical - None

Software - DAB signal is very erratic, even on the same road it'll sometimes work and other times not.

Build - A part of the engine cover came away never to be found (disc above the belts), a plastic section of boxing to hold some cables at the rear top of the engine had it's bracket snap. Paintwork still questionable. Leather upholstery not the best for the money.

All in nothing major just a few minor niggles, performance wise the car is superb and returns excellent mpg.

Jules.

Edited by Cyclone1 on Friday 18th April 19:01

[Hedgeman]

I'll add my stats.

Car bought new by me in December 2006. Now showing approximately 8200 miles.

Oil usage: around 0.3 litres in the first few thousand miles, not a drop since.

Fuel consumption: around 34-35mpg average.

Problems and reliability issues: None

Gary.

[eowen]

Bought my "56" 335d Coupe in Jan with 5,800 miles on the clock.
As of today, just turned 11,000 miles. Still showing 8,000 miles to first service.

Oil useage - NIL
Faults - NIL
Fuel economy since I bought it - 38.7mpg.

Edited by eowen on Friday 18th April 18:38

[smartie]

My 535d (same engine) bought at 60K miles but had just finished as co owned with 60K maint pack so presumably all done properly.

Intermitant fault with boost, would drop off and "hesiatate" at fixed throttle openings and judder. Did this quite often, but most of the time was fine. Very annoying when it did it and could last for 10/15 mins (ona motorway trip was really not nice)

Booked into main dealer on 2 occassions, ragged round block by "technician" and told all seems fine and no fault codes showing.

Sold it now! (hated i-drive too, but different topic and helped my decision to get shut rather than get to bottom of runing fault)

Also had "hose issue" meaning I lost all boost from small turbo. Repaired itself (worryingly). Thought could be connected to above problem but apparantly not.

[Cyclone1]

smartie said:

My 535d (same engine) bought at 60K miles but had just finished as co owned with 60K maint pack so presumably all done properly.

Intermitant fault with boost, would drop off and "hesiatate" at fixed throttle openings and judder. Did this quite often, but most of the time was fine. Very annoying when it did it and could last for 10/15 mins (ona motorway trip was really not nice)

Booked into main dealer on 2 occassions, ragged round block by "technician" and told all seems fine and no fault codes showing.

Sold it now! (hated i-drive too, but different topic and helped my decision to get shut rather than get to bottom of runing fault)

Also had "hose issue" meaning I lost all boost from small turbo. Repaired itself (worryingly). Thought could be connected to above problem but apparantly not.

I have heard of this so called "hose" issue, could you expand please? Is it the turbo boost hose/pipe and if so did it split or come loose?

[smartie]

No idea.

All of a sudden no bost on small turbo. REALLY flat until 3000rpm then all hell broke loose!


Called BMW assist who couldn't teel why was happening, told safe to drive and take to BMW dealer next day.

Put car away for night in garage.

Next day drove to BMW dealer but all working fine.

Checked over, told "hose issue" and all ok now!

[Johnbmw6]

Had the 635D Sport now for 3 months ( same engine 286BHP) 5250 Miles, Rear discs showing some scoring!! nothing else has gone wrong, 35/39MPG, fantastic Car.
I will get the rear discs checked under warantee.

[x5x3]

for me, bought at 7K miles,

now 28K miles, had 4 new tyres (around 21K miles and £1k for the set!)

fuel consumption about 37mpg,

no real issues except the idrive controller needed to be replaced, plus the dealer scratched the car and refuses to fix it

leather ok, except slightly worn on the side bolster due to getting in and out of car (coupe with the long doors) in small car park spaces

[eowen]

x5x3 said:

had 4 new tyres (around 21K miles and £1k for the set!)

Ouch. I may avoid runflats to try and reduce that!

[phelix]

Cyclone1 said:

smartie said:

My 535d (same engine) bought at 60K miles but had just finished as co owned with 60K maint pack so presumably all done properly.

Intermitant fault with boost, would drop off and "hesiatate" at fixed throttle openings and judder. Did this quite often, but most of the time was fine. Very annoying when it did it and could last for 10/15 mins (ona motorway trip was really not nice)

Booked into main dealer on 2 occassions, ragged round block by "technician" and told all seems fine and no fault codes showing.

Sold it now! (hated i-drive too, but different topic and helped my decision to get shut rather than get to bottom of runing fault)

Also had "hose issue" meaning I lost all boost from small turbo. Repaired itself (worryingly). Thought could be connected to above problem but apparantly not.

I have heard of this so called "hose" issue, could you expand please? Is it the turbo boost hose/pipe and if so did it split or come loose?

I had what might be the same hose issue on my Oct 2004 build E61 535d. There are a series of small diameter hoses that are used to control the exhaust flow distribution valve between the two turbos and the small turbo bypass valve. The hose to the latter had popped off keeping the small turbo out of the loop. Refixing, this time with a cable tie, solved the problem. In general I think we'll see more problems with these hoses as the cars get older; they're located above the turbos and exhaust manifold so will perish with time and heat. The good thing is that they're cheap to replace and failures should not cause consequential damage. See http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... for a thread with far too many posts by one person.

[Cyclone1]

phelix said:

Cyclone1 said:

smartie said:

My 535d (same engine) bought at 60K miles but had just finished as co owned with 60K maint pack so presumably all done properly.

Intermitant fault with boost, would drop off and "hesiatate" at fixed throttle openings and judder. Did this quite often, but most of the time was fine. Very annoying when it did it and could last for 10/15 mins (ona motorway trip was really not nice)

Booked into main dealer on 2 occassions, ragged round block by "technician" and told all seems fine and no fault codes showing.

Sold it now! (hated i-drive too, but different topic and helped my decision to get shut rather than get to bottom of runing fault)

Also had "hose issue" meaning I lost all boost from small turbo. Repaired itself (worryingly). Thought could be connected to above problem but apparantly not.

I have heard of this so called "hose" issue, could you expand please? Is it the turbo boost hose/pipe and if so did it split or come loose?

I had what might be the same hose issue on my Oct 2004 build E61 535d. There are a series of small diameter hoses that are used to control the exhaust flow distribution valve between the two turbos and the small turbo bypass valve. The hose to the latter had popped off keeping the small turbo out of the loop. Refixing, this time with a cable tie, solved the problem. In general I think we'll see more problems with these hoses as the cars get older; they're located above the turbos and exhaust manifold so will perish with time and heat. The good thing is that they're cheap to replace and failures should not cause consequential damage. See http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... for a thread with far too many posts by one person.

Phelix,

Sorry to hear your woes but good to see the way you got to the bottom of the issue.

This is exactly the type of post I am hoping to come out of this thread, not because I think that the 335d is going to be a problematic car, but because by Owners highlighting their experiences (both good and bad) then we'll have a greater understanding of the car for the duration of it's life whilst in our ownership. For me this is part of what good car forums are all about, shared knowledge and at times re-assurance. There is nothing worse than getting a problem with your car and feeling that you are the only one that has experienced it.

With regards to the "hose issue" were there any other tell tale signs when you investigated? Things like oil residue etc.

Jules.

[phelix]

Cyclone1 said:

With regards to the "hose issue" were there any other tell tale signs when you investigated? Things like oil residue etc.
Jules.

No, everything else looked fine. No sign of leaks.

[eowen]

The earlier 535d engine is not exactly the same as the 335d, so careful making comparisons...

[phelix]

eowen said:

The earlier 535d engine is not exactly the same as the 335d, so careful making comparisons...

You're quite correct; there have been some changes to the wastegate and distribution valve actuators but both variants do have numerous vacuum-type hoses in the region.

[dxb335d]

Shiiight load of miles and the only thing it needs to go in for is sticking door handles and squeeky passenger seat base. (touchwood)

Also a drive shaft gater is on its way out now also.

Fuel consumption has not been brill (lead foot) but good enough.

Performance wise very happy with it!


Carlos

[JeffC]

bought dec 2006, now done 9k, topped oil once, only complaints I have is the i drive is painfully slow and tyres wearing outside edge on front and inside edge on front.

[dxb335d]

how does everyone find the oil?

Mine is all over the place.. one day minimum, one day max and always changing, i do check a little to often that is for sure!

[davidd]

dxb335d said:

how does everyone find the oil?

Quite simple, pop the bonnet, there is a dipstick, the oil is in there..

On a more serious note, do you always check after leaving the engine off for the same amount of time? always on a level surface?

Mine has not used a drop in the 3,000 miles since I got it.

D

[dxb335d]

davidd said:

dxb335d said:

how does everyone find the oil?

Quite simple, pop the bonnet, there is a dipstick, the oil is in there..

On a more serious note, do you always check after leaving the engine off for the same amount of time? always on a level surface?

Mine has not used a drop in the 3,000 miles since I got it.

D

HI David,

Mine has used a drop in ages.. i aint topped up since she was new. But the level always keeps changing.

I check via the manuals procedure. Which seems odd. Runt he car 6 miles or more so upto operating temp then stop let sit for 5 mins and check. Thats how i check now. Every other car ive ever checked has been from stone cold as it makes sense as all oil will in the sump after a prolonged period on rest compared to being run to temp and hot and oil still in turbos/head etc.

[x5x3]

dxb335d said:

davidd said:

dxb335d said:

how does everyone find the oil?

Quite simple, pop the bonnet, there is a dipstick, the oil is in there..

On a more serious note, do you always check after leaving the engine off for the same amount of time? always on a level surface?

Mine has not used a drop in the 3,000 miles since I got it.

D

HI David,

Mine has used a drop in ages.. i aint topped up since she was new. But the level always keeps changing.

I check via the manuals procedure. Which seems odd. Runt he car 6 miles or more so upto operating temp then stop let sit for 5 mins and check. Thats how i check now. Every other car ive ever checked has been from stone cold as it makes sense as all oil will in the sump after a prolonged period on rest compared to being run to temp and hot and oil still in turbos/head etc.

I have to admit I have never checked the oil - isn't that what the lights on the dash are for?

(this is a serious question - is it possible for the oil to get so low that damage could occur before the dash/idrive lights/warnings come on?)