335i money pit?

[steve singh]

Saw one over the weekend (haven't test drove just yet) and thought about part ex'ing my wifes GTI for it - loved my old E46 M3 and thought this could be something which could offer cheaper running costs, current bodyshape design and not too disimilar performance 0-60.

However reading that there are quite a few issues in terms of reliability (fuel pumps, turbo issues, jerky auto transmission)...any owners of the 335i who can shed any light on whether this is simply internet hysteria?

The cars I was looking at where typically 56 plates with about 50k on the clock (so N54? engine).

Thanks in advance.

[NoelWatson]

steve singh said:

Saw one over the weekend (haven't test drove just yet) and thought about part ex'ing my wifes GTI for it - loved my old E46 M3 and thought this could be something which could offer cheaper running costs, current bodyshape design and not too disimilar performance 0-60.

However reading that there are quite a few issues in terms of reliability (fuel pumps, turbo issues, jerky auto transmission)...any owners of the 335i who can shed any light on whether this is simply internet hysteria?

The cars I was looking at where typically 56 plates with about 50k on the clock (so N54? engine).

Thanks in advance.

I have the 330i N53 and have had a number of engine related issues, but if you get a 335i with a BMW warranty, you should be fine.

[steve singh]

NoelWatson said:

I have the 330i N53 and have had a number of engine related issues, but if you get a 335i with a BMW warranty, you should be fine.

The cars I'm looing at will have no warranty as I'll be purchasing from an independent (or any warranty worthy of note if you see what I mean).

[NoelWatson]

steve singh said:

NoelWatson said:

I have the 330i N53 and have had a number of engine related issues, but if you get a 335i with a BMW warranty, you should be fine.

The cars I'm looing at will have no warranty as I'll be purchasing from an independent (or any warranty worthy of note if you see what I mean).

Personally, I wouldn't buy a 330i without caat iron warranty, let alone 335i, but my views are biased by my experiences. Probably best to wait for more feedback from other owners

[E30M3SE]

If the 335i your looking at meets the criteria you can buy one of three BMW warranties for it to cover the car, have a look at this, click on the level of cover and enter the VRM for a online quotation. Only draw back, as such, is that you are tied into the dealer network for servicing.

ETA, if you take out a BMW warranty pay for it monthly, rather than annually, and the cost of the warranty will not jump dramatically when you car hits 60K.

Edited by E30M3SE on Tuesday 3rd May 11:17

[superlightr]

Ive had my 335i cab for a 18 months now bought used from a dealer when it was 18mths old. so just over 3 yrs old now. Had no issues apart from a rattle from the roof which was fixed. get about 25mpg on slow rural roads to work. enjoying it. miles about 46000 miles now.

Edited by superlightr on Wednesday 4th May 20:41

[JBM78]

I've had a 335i coupe for just over a year now, no problems whatsoever [touch wood]. I'm now taking the risk of running it out of warranty.....

[steve singh]

Thanks Guys and for that link. I'm keen to stay out the dealer network - had too many bad experiences at too high a cost !

Superlightr & JBM78 - what kind of mpg are you getting? I see BMW state the 335i as having far better fuel consumption than the E46 M3 (combined 34 mpg?), but is that your experience?

As my car is a 996, I don't really want to be running 2 very thirsty motors.

[E30M3SE]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Picking a 56 plate 335i SE with 53K from the classifieds,


annual £448p/a comprehensive £100 excess with b/down cover.
monthly £41p/m for same level of cover.

There is no jump at 60K because they regard it as a rolling warranty, so, as long as it never lapses 'you' will continue to pay £41p/m for the fully comprehensive warranty. The annual policies are exactly that, annual, so need to be renewed each year and the mileage declared.

One draw back of the monthly policy is that your total claim limit on the warranty is the value of the car when you take out the warranty, on the annual warranty it is the value of the car at renewal each time you renew.

[Crackie]

Had an E92 335i for 6 months and getting 25.9mpg average ~ mostly very short journeys under 5 miles. N54 engine's fuel consumption varies enormously depending on how its driven; its very thirsty under big loads when accelerating but its pretty good when cruising on constant throttle.

[JBM78]

steve singh said:

Thanks Guys and for that link. I'm keen to stay out the dealer network - had too many bad experiences at too high a cost !

Superlightr & JBM78 - what kind of mpg are you getting? I see BMW state the 335i as having far better fuel consumption than the E46 M3 (combined 34 mpg?), but is that your experience?

As my car is a 996, I don't really want to be running 2 very thirsty motors.

I've got 27.7 mpg average over the last year (worked out on a phone app 'cos the OBD is apparently optimistic!).

This rises to early 30s for motorway runs, or < 20 if you're caning it.

[steve singh]

Brilliant - thanks both for those mpg figures.

[E30M3SE]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Renew it before it expires, as if it lapses they charge you a little more.

It is all transferable if you sell the car on, obviously if you go the monthly route the new owner would have to take on the monthly's but at the same rate.

BMW Warranty Tel. [phone].

[steve singh]

E30M3SE that is really useful info - thank you.

Trying to book a test drive in for the weekend.

I want to get the same feel for speed as my old E46 M3 (where it absolutely nailed you to the back of the seat beyond 4k revs) so fingers crossed the 335i lives up to that 0-60 feel !

[Crackie]

I think you'll find a standard 335i feel's stronger than an E46 M3 because the 335i's torque to weight is better. My standard 335i gives a bigger shove in the back than my tuned E36 M3 EVO and the E36 has better torque to weight than the E46.

If you want a really big shove in the back, a properly mapped 335i will see 420+ lb/ft i.e. torque to weight of 265 lb/ft per tonne. That's 15% more than an V10 Audi R8 and the same as a Ferrari 599.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qFJj2U84LY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTdvIole3xI&fea...

Edited by Crackie on Wednesday 4th May 15:41

[steve singh]

Crackie said:

I think you'll find a standard 335i feel's stronger than an E46 M3 because the 335i's torque to weight is better. My standard 335i gives a bigger shove in the back than my tuned E36 M3 EVO and the E36 has better torque to weight than the E46.

If you want really big shove in the back a properly mapped 335i will see 420+ lb/ft i.e. torque to weight of 265 lb/ft per tonne. That's 15% more than an V10 Audi R8 and the same as a Ferrari 599.

Thanks for that insight - quite excited to test drive one now !

[NoelWatson]

Crackie said:

I think you'll find a standard 335i feel's stronger than an E46 M3 because the 335i's torque to weight is better.

Not sure why that would make it feel quicker, unless it is a perception thing (because torque spikes).

[Crackie]

NoelWatson said:

Crackie said:

I think you'll find a standard 335i feel's stronger than an E46 M3 because the 335i's torque to weight is better.

Not sure why that would make it feel quicker, unless it is a perception thing (because torque spikes).

My understanding is that a car's 'seat of the pants' subjective pace is directly related to its torque to weight ratio. The following link looks into BHP/Torque; the explanations work well IMHO.

http://vettenet.org/torquehp.html

[NoelWatson]

Crackie said:

My understanding is that a car's 'seat of the pants' subjective pace is directly related to its torque to weight ratio.

I can't see how it can be unless all cars had identical gearing (and only one gear). For example, a modern Golf diesel probably has around 180lbs/ft tonne, same as my NSX, yet I know which would give me a greater kick in the back.

[steve singh]

NoelWatson said:

Crackie said:

My understanding is that a car's 'seat of the pants' subjective pace is directly related to its torque to weight ratio.

I can't see how it can be unless all cars had identical gearing (and only one gear). For example, a modern Golf diesel probably has around 180lbs/ft tonne, same as my NSX, yet I know which would give me a greater kick in the back.

Isn't the feeling determined by when that torque is delivered?

For example my 996 doesn't feel as fast as my previous M3 in the 'seat of the pants' despite on paper being equally as quick.

This I believe is down to the fact the 996 power delivery is very smooth across the entire rev range, whereas in the M3 there is virtually nothing until 4k revs and then all hell breaks loose?

As such the M3 delivers it's torque within a shorter rev range than the 996, which excerbates that 'seat of the pants' feeling vis-a-vis the 996 - if that makes sense?