06/07 335i Reliability

[gib4793]

Thinking of buying one 2nd hand..

Any known issues?

Thanks

[Rdawson]

There are literally hundreds of threads on this topic, both here and on other forums. Best to use the search function.

However, the key issues were / are:

Fuel injector failure - require replacing in banks of 3. Rather expensive.
Turbo wastegate failure - become rattly over time and with age, usually from 60,000 miles upwards - generally requires replacement turbochargers as there is no real fix
Electric water pump failure - completely out of the blue and without warning - usually anywhere from 50-60,000 miles. Requires an immediate stop and fix.
Oil filter housing gasket leaks - cheap parts, but slightly fiddly job
Valve cover gasket leaks - again, cheap part, but quite a bit more time consuming than the OFHG repair
High pressure fuel pump failure - more common in the USA due to ethanol content in their fuel - linked to injector failure from rubber seal particles clogging injectors
DSC hydro pump failure - not 335i specific - more E90 specific - and in any event there are cheap rebuild kits available.

Bear in mind that by this stage, most '06/'07 335is will have had the above issues remedied either under warranty (some were recalls) or on a previous owner's wallet. It is almost a better bet to buy a 90,000 mile car that has had the above work done, rather than a 50,000 mile example that is about to need 5K in repair work.

Together, this does make for a fairly frightening list, however as explained, many cars of that age will have had a lot of those repairs carried out - so check the service records or call BMW directly / speak to the dealer who has seen the car the most, and ask for confirmation of what has been done. A service record is imperative with these cars. If there has been any sign of neglect, walk away. That said, when they're functioning as they should (which is more often than many nay-sayers would have you believe), there are an absolute pleasure to own and drive.

[gib4793]

thanks how is the diesel version? mpg is attractive however I want a lovely loud growl when I put my foot down!

Any problems with manual gearbox? Would pref over auto

[Rdawson]

gib4793 said:

thanks how is the diesel version? mpg is attractive however I want a lovely loud growl when I put my foot down!

Any problems with manual gearbox? Would pref over auto

No experience with the diesel I'm afraid, however my 335i has a manual gearbox. Like any manual, it can be a pain around town - but when out on the open roads it is just a total blast. Not much more I can say!

[Smuler]

gib4793 said:

thanks how is the diesel version? mpg is attractive however I want a lovely loud growl when I put my foot down!

Any problems with manual gearbox? Would pref over auto

surely diesel would depend on your miles being high, otherwise, and in my opinion a bad thing, you's stuck with a steptronic auto for no good reason

I test drove manuals and found them good. I was looking for a 2009 coupe so , as manuals are rare and I was fussy on colour, I had option of DCT; much better than 'ordinary auto' tho like for like I would still have chosen manual.

2006/7s, when I asked, were noted as having more reliability issues. I know of those with similar (and less) miles to my 2009 (now over 80k) having big bills (say 2-3k) luckily mostly covered by warranty.


335i noise even sounds nice (well I think) on the (inferior) dash cam audio

https://youtu.be/ispelqHXbM0

[Monty Python]

gib4793 said:

thanks how is the diesel version? mpg is attractive however I want a lovely loud growl when I put my foot down!

Any problems with manual gearbox? Would pref over auto

335d is auto only, but it suits it's performance. I've had two so far without any problems (6 years and 60k miles between them), averaging around 38mpg. If I wanted a petrol I'd go for an M3.

[bimmerman]

Hi Mate - I don't see what the fuss is about. I have an 08REG Coupe 335i M Sport. I honestly think I have one of the best examples in the country and I traveled far to go and buy this particular example 4 years ago. I have had no issues with mine and its been on a comprehensive BMW warranty which I pay for monthly and in the 4 years its had no work. Only routine BMW servicing from my local BMW main dealer. My one is fully loaded and at that time it had all the options for an 08 Reg E92. The car has never skipped a beat and 4 years on it still puts a smile on my face. I believe you can't find a better example with only 26,000 miles from new and full BMW service history in Alpine White. I have an itch for a F10 M5 - if your interested in mine let me know

Edited by bimmerman on Thursday 18th February 07:51

[The Stiglet]

Monty Python said:

335d is auto only, but it suits it's performance. I've had two so far without any problems (6 years and 60k miles between them), averaging around 38mpg. If I wanted a petrol I'd go for an M3.

We ran a new E92 335d up to around 80k and the only thing that it needed were some new hoses that had perished. Quite a while back now but they were cheap and a fairly common issue, if I recall. Excellent car.

I was looking at getting a 335i or 335d myself recently but ended up purchasing a newer F10 535d MSport last weekend. As others have mentioned in the past, I wouldn't buy a 335i without a warranty. I would buy a 335d without one though; there just seem to be too many potential issues with the petrol for me.

[gib4793]

Sadly I can't afford an M3, I'm 23 and my last car was a stty 03 1.4 Astra so big upgrade for me!!

Safe to get a 335i if the necessary work has been done, or i could go for a manual 330d?

I want the sound of a petrol engine, doesn't compare!

Absolutely wrecking my brain here

Edited by gib4793 on Thursday 18th February 11:49

[The Stiglet]

gib4793 said:

Sadly I can't afford an M3, I'm 23 and my last car was a stty 03 1.4 Astra so big upgrade for me!!

Safe to get a 335i if the necessary work has been done, or i could go for a manual 330d?

I want the sound of a petrol engine, doesn't compare!

Absolutely wrecking my brain here

Edited by gib4793 on Thursday 18th February 11:49

Quite a few have chosen the 330i petrol in manual form over the 335i.

Have you looked at that? Less problems without the turbos although some of the other issues remain, they are significantly less expensive to address by all accounts.

[Smuler]

gib4793 said:

Sadly I can't afford an M3, I'm 23 and my last car was a stty 03 1.4 Astra so big upgrade for me!!

Safe to get a 335i if the necessary work has been done, or i could go for a manual 330d?

I want the sound of a petrol engine, doesn't compare!

Absolutely wrecking my brain here

Edited by gib4793 on Thursday 18th February 11:49

what's your budget?

[gib4793]

I can possibly stretch to £6500, been looking at around £6k for the most part

[Smuler]

gib4793 said:

I can possibly stretch to £6500, been looking at around £6k for the most part

I think that found a shortlist of 2, on A/trader all with mega miles.

Have you considered the E46? In my opinion a better car, overall, and it's only because of the excellent 335i engine that I went E92; if I was looking 330, I'd go E46.


E46 is smaller, and even though my 335i's been excellent, I'd vote for better reliability at the very least for simplicity. There's even more steering feedback and in general better looking car too.


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[gib4793]

I was looking yeah, both are very nice. I'm probably not going to buy until end of April/beginning of May so will have to see whats on the market then I guess. I'm not sure which one I prefer the look of tbh, especially considering in Liverpool every 2nd scally has an e46!

[FTBBCVoodoo]

Read this....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Buy mine...

57 plate with 52k miles on the clock.

Just had a new HPFP this week.

Don't think there is anything else that can break on it that hasn't been replaced so you should be good to go ;-)

[Crackie]

Rdawson said:

There are literally hundreds of threads on this topic, both here and on other forums. Best to use the search function.

However, the key issues were / are:

Fuel injector failure - require replacing in banks of 3. Rather expensive.
Turbo wastegate failure - become rattly over time and with age, usually from 60,000 miles upwards - generally requires replacement turbochargers as there is no real fix
Electric water pump failure - completely out of the blue and without warning - usually anywhere from 50-60,000 miles. Requires an immediate stop and fix.
Oil filter housing gasket leaks - cheap parts, but slightly fiddly job
Valve cover gasket leaks - again, cheap part, but quite a bit more time consuming than the OFHG repair
High pressure fuel pump failure - more common in the USA due to ethanol content in their fuel - linked to injector failure from rubber seal particles clogging injectors
DSC hydro pump failure - not 335i specific - more E90 specific - and in any event there are cheap rebuild kits available.

Bear in mind that by this stage, most '06/'07 335is will have had the above issues remedied either under warranty (some were recalls) or on a previous owner's wallet. It is almost a better bet to buy a 90,000 mile car that has had the above work done, rather than a 50,000 mile example that is about to need 5K in repair work.

Together, this does make for a fairly frightening list, however as explained, many cars of that age will have had a lot of those repairs carried out - so check the service records or call BMW directly / speak to the dealer who has seen the car the most, and ask for confirmation of what has been done. A service record is imperative with these cars. If there has been any sign of neglect, walk away. That said, when they're functioning as they should (which is more often than many nay-sayers would have you believe), there are an absolute pleasure to own and drive.

Agree with all of the above with one caveat; not sure that there is a cheap rebuild kit for the 335i DSC brake Hydro unit. My experience was back in May 2013 and there may be one available now but having checked with the main dealer and a couple of specialist BMW indies, in the Huntingdon area, the kit for 335i is far more expensive than the rest of the range.

Thread about it here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=127... .

Edited by Crackie on Thursday 18th February 23:17

[gib4793]

So; I'm thinking E92 or E46 330i or 325i. From what I've got much more reliable and safer option if I dont want to fork out ££££ for turbos and other st!?

Seem like a good idea?

Edited by gib4793 on Friday 19th February 00:12

[MikeGoodwin]

Id prefer a 330i manual with a performance exhaust.

335i has all the problems listed.... they are very common too. I wouldnt run any BMW without a warranty, whether thats through warranty wise or BMW used approved.

[megenzo]

my e91 has had all of the usual problems seen to over its 121k lifetime, it still drives fantastically! I've toyed with selling every now and then but never have and I have never had a car anywhere near as long as I've had this one (6 1/2 years and counting).
It can return 35mpg on a gentle long run, it picks its heals up when asked with seamless power, it can get the dogs in the back, great for tip runs, looks great when clean, it blends in with the econoboxes when dirty. I've driven 330i and plenty of 330d and 530d and they dont come close IMO. Buy one with the BMW warranty.

[Mr Tidy]

gib4793 said:

So; I'm thinking E92 or E46 330i or 325i. From what I've got much more reliable and safer option if I dont want to fork out ££££ for turbos and other st!?

Seem like a good idea?

Edited by gib4793 on Friday 19th February 00:12

It might save you from a world of pain if something major does go wrong.

I have a Z4Coupe which has the same N52 engine as the early E92 330i and last month (as predicted above) at 61,000 the electric water-pump died.

The pump on it's own from BMW cost £500!

The E46 330i had an M54 engine like my daily 325ti Compact. I got the whole cooling system refreshed on that (radiator, expansion tank, temperature sensor, etc. plus a new auxiliary drive belt) for just over £400 supplied and fitted!

Also I think the early 335is mean you are looking at £500+ a year for road tax.

Obviously it's your decision at the end of the day and I hope you get something you really enjoy; equally I hope you don't spend all your budget on the car then get stuck with an expensive issue!

Good luck.