£6k to spend on a bmw 335i, am I mad?
Discussion
No not mad, but beware that they cost a lot to run and at 6k you are at the very bottom of the market. A 330i could cost the same to run if they are both in bad condition.
Do the research and have a good budget set aside for maintenance and fuel.
N54 is a great engine, but has some weaknesses. Most will have had these sorted by now though.
Do the research and have a good budget set aside for maintenance and fuel.
N54 is a great engine, but has some weaknesses. Most will have had these sorted by now though.
You are not mad, providing you go in with your eyes open, with a realistic expectation and understanding of what an, and does go wrong.
N54 is a great engine which is capable of big power, N55 less problematic but equally less potential for big power.
If you were happy to stay sub 380hp, I'd say an N55 will give the potential for less headaches.
N54 is a great engine which is capable of big power, N55 less problematic but equally less potential for big power.
If you were happy to stay sub 380hp, I'd say an N55 will give the potential for less headaches.
If you really need to have forced induction, you'd be better off paying more for an N55. They had most of the common (very) fail points addressed. Spending £10k on an N55 might well be cheaper than buying a tired N54 and keeping it going.
As above
Turbos (never heard of an N55 turbo failure & I ran one with lots more boost for 5+ years)
HPFP (N54's will fail, N55's unlikely to)
Injectors (N54, over £200 each and will go, N55, circa £60 each and more dependable)
Electric water pump and stat (will probably fail on both - my N55's went at under 50,000 miles and cost over £400 to replace)
The N52 na motor has the reputation of being one of the most reliable engines BMW has ever produced. They still suffer the weak water pumps though.
It's often a very bad idea to buy the cheapest of any car (I have finally learned this lesson). If your budget cannot be stretched and you are determined to have one, you might be better off buying a CAT N write off directly from Motorhog or Copart - at least then you'll know that the car was probably working well until it got damaged, or stolen...
As above
Turbos (never heard of an N55 turbo failure & I ran one with lots more boost for 5+ years)
HPFP (N54's will fail, N55's unlikely to)
Injectors (N54, over £200 each and will go, N55, circa £60 each and more dependable)
Electric water pump and stat (will probably fail on both - my N55's went at under 50,000 miles and cost over £400 to replace)
The N52 na motor has the reputation of being one of the most reliable engines BMW has ever produced. They still suffer the weak water pumps though.
It's often a very bad idea to buy the cheapest of any car (I have finally learned this lesson). If your budget cannot be stretched and you are determined to have one, you might be better off buying a CAT N write off directly from Motorhog or Copart - at least then you'll know that the car was probably working well until it got damaged, or stolen...
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