[DHS]

Bought an E90, sold it after 7 years and bought an F32.

[DrifterX]

Besides being much sexier, offering Brembos from factory, interior styling, HUD, and torque?

Fuel efficiency... no, I'm not kidding.

[ouengineer]

Ultimately, I went with an F30 N55 because of greater reliability and a lower calculated cost to own than the late model E90's I was looking at.

At first, I had thought I wanted an E90 N55 after doing some research on forums. After driving one though, I knew it wouldn't work. Despite the steering feel being very good (vs relatively non-existent on the F30), the heavier steering effort was slightly annoying (though probably would have gotten used to it in no time). The main issue though was the cup holders. That was the deal breaker for me.

I'm quite happy with my choice. The F30 I bought has a ton of luxury and tech features, an easy to use I-drive system, and it easily syncs well with my phone for making calls or changing music from the steering wheel. When I found a really good deal on one that could actually cost less to own than the E90's I was looking at, it was an easy choice.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

BMW in general are not reliable cars. When you get an older BMW with no warranty, you should expect to put couple thousands dollars a year in repairs and maintenance (water pump, radiator, fuel pumps, radiator lines, turbo,etc...)

My '07 E92 335i didn't have thousands of dollars a year in repairs - in fact, it might only have been a few hundred a year, not counting oil changes and normal items like that after the original maintenance expired in 2011. I sold it with 42000 miles on it and bought a 2013 335i MSport in early 2013.

N54 turbos only need replacing if you push them too hard with a tune over 15.5 PSI. N55 single turbo should be OK if buying an E9x with that engine. Radiator and other cooling-system-related replacements are more prevalent on E46 and earlier models. Fuel pumps, particularly the HPFP, were warranted out to 110K miles on N54-engined cars, so no costs there. It all depends on whether the E92 that the OP is looking at has been tuned to the max and driven hard with no preventative maintenance after the original 4/50 free maintenance expired.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by roundel335

My '07 E92 335i didn't have thousands of dollars a year in repairs - in fact, it might only have been a few hundred a year, not counting oil changes and normal items like that after the original maintenance expired in 2011. I sold it with 42000 miles on it and bought a 2013 335i MSport in early 2013.

N54 turbos only need replacing if you push them too hard with a tune over 15.5 PSI. N55 single turbo should be OK if buying an E9x with that engine. Radiator and other cooling-system-related replacements are more prevalent on E46 and earlier models. Fuel pumps, particularly the HPFP, were warranted out to 110K miles on N54-engined cars, so no costs there. It all depends on whether the E92 that the OP is looking at has been tuned to the max and driven hard with no preventative maintenance after the original 4/50 free maintenance expired.

You sold it with 42k miles on it thats why ... In my reply i said when you buy an older BMW ( a car with 42k miles is not considered an older car, its still new).

When i say older car, i meant closer to 90-100k miles

[Darkcross]

I still like the body style of the E90, I was recently helping my nephew look for one, they still look awesome dropped with some nice wheels. I bought my F30 because it looked very aggressive with M Performance parts, had maintenance and CPO. I still have my E46 as well.

[Shadycrew31]

Warranty.

That is all.

Oh that and E90's are everywhere and cost $0.10.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

You sold it with 42k miles on it thats why ... In my reply i said when you buy an older BMW ( a car with 42k miles is not considered an older car, its still new).

When i say older car, i meant closer to 90-100k miles

Well, even then, Mike, there's no need for turbo replacement or any of those other things unless the car's been rode hard and put up wet every night. The E46 models were much more fragile in that respect, frequently requiring braces for the front and rear subframes and water-pump and radiator replacements. The E9x 335i, especially the pre-LCI ones, had issues with turbos and wastegate actuators well before 90-100K miles, just as with the HPFP, and all got replaced under warranty. By the time the 2013 E92 335is came out, those problems had been resolved, as they were with the 2011 1M Coupe. Those were the last of the N54 cars, and they were much better than their predecessors.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Well, even then, Mike, there's no need for turbo replacement or any of those other things unless the car's been rode hard and put up wet every night. The E46 models were much more fragile in that respect, frequently requiring braces for the front and rear subframes and water-pump and radiator replacements. The E9x 335i, especially the pre-LCI ones, had issues with turbos and wastegate actuators well before 90-100K miles, just as with the HPFP, and all got replaced under warranty. By the time the 2013 E92 335is came out, those problems had been resolved, as they were with the 2011 1M Coupe. Those were the last of the N54 cars, and they were much better than their predecessors.

I agree with you about the newer chassis being more reliable than the E chassis, but they are still not considered reliable cars (from my personal experience at least).

I have owned an E chasssis 335 N54, F chassis 328 and F Chassis 528 and all of them cost me a fortune in maintenance. I also owned a 03 Toyota Celica and 04 Toyota Camry (still own both Toyotas with over 200k miles) and they dont cost me more than $500 a year maintenance

[Shadycrew31]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

I agree with you about the newer chassis being more reliable than the E chassis, but they are still not considered reliable cars (from my personal experience at least).

I have owned an E chasssis 335 N54, F chassis 328 and F Chassis 528 and all of them cost me a fortune in maintenance. I also owned a 03 Toyota Celica and 04 Toyota Camry (still own both Toyotas with over 200k miles) and they dont cost me more than $500 a year maintenance

What maintenance costs did you have with the 328?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Shadycrew31

What maintenance costs did you have with the 328?

Usual BMW stuff water pump and fuel pump on a car with less than 20k miles

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Usual BMW stuff water pump and fuel pump on a car with less than 20k miles

So a warranty job costed you a fortune?

[Shadycrew31]

Originally Posted by AGONXF30

So a warranty job costed you a fortune?

I'm confused as well...