Looking to buy n54 335i. - N54Tech.com

Bdhaeh · 09:07 PM

Hey guys...i have done a ton of research
Looking to buy a 2008ish 335i..mileage varies a lot...from 75k..to over 125k. I am about to turn 40...so maybe this is my midlife crises car..lol. I want to do full bolt ons with jb4 + backend flash..just an daily driver that's really fast when I want to be..any advice? I have been researching this car for a while and it seems like the biggest bang for the buck out there ��

Bdhaeh · 10-19-2017, 09:05 PM

I can do almost all repairs, maintenance on my own.

E92 Evan · 10-20-2017, 06:34 AM

Buy it. Never look back!

LessIsMore · 10-20-2017, 07:11 AM

For what you want, 335i w/ n54 (or n55 even) is a great way to go.
For the power/mods, reliability is better than most 'tuned' cars.
Advice:
You mentioned JB4/BEF/FBO, which is great, however when buying 75-125K mi cars, go ahead and plan to upgrade the turbos in short order as well, if they haven't already been. Considering you can get a pair of upgraded twins for $3K, not a bad thing and ups your power potential a lot.
Do major maintenance items as soon as you get the car, unless you know for sure they've been done recently: Valve cover and gasket, PCV, water pump/thermostat, coolant expansion tank, 02 sensors, transmission fluid/pan replacement, etc.

Bdhaeh · 10-23-2017, 09:30 PM

I keep reading about the cost of repairs...but I assume most folks are talking about dealer costs...i can turn a wrench..and from looking at rockauto..common parts for the bmw are surprisingly much cheaper than comparable parts for the Nissan Frontier I am currently driving. What do you guys think about a 2008 335i sedan with 125k miles with a two yr warranty for $7500?

Motolawyer · 10-24-2017, 03:14 PM

Chances are the warranty won't cover what ever item breaks. In the long run and statistically speaking you are better off not purchasing a warranty and putting that money in the bank.

I too purchased my car with the idea of saving expenses by being mechanically inclined and it has worked out well for me so far. I would say if you have any inkling of getting a manual do not settle for the auto. I have had two 335i e92 now, first was auto.

To give you an idea at what I spent, i found a 2007 with all the options I wanted with 46k miles for 16xxx before taxes. I purchased new injectors ($700), I replaced the water pump ($500), installed new coil packs (maybe ~$200? I do not remember exactly), and have done routine oil changes at about ~$75 each.

This can give you a rough idea of what maintenance will cost however your mileage may vary. At those miles like someone posted above you will likely need a new water pump, turbos (can be had as cheaply as $750 refurbished), oil pan gasket ($$), valve cover gasket, and perhaps the valve cover itself which I believe is around the $200 mark.