[jss12636]

Hello everyone,
A few days before Christmas my 2008 Tahoe got hit and they declared it a total loss. I really loved that thing but I missed BMWs even more. So I picked up a F30 2012 328i for $10,200 from my local dealer. It has 70k miles and seems to be in good shape. I take delivery in 2 days (had to wait for insurance check). I really wanted another e93 or f33 but my insurance is way too high with previous wrecks being my fault, especially after I put the e93 into the back of a Lexus and totaled them both... and its nice not having car payments. A little older and wiser now, if I may say so.

I have to say Global Imports in Atlanta were great to deal with and they came down from $12,780.

Excited to pick up my car. I forgot how much I loved these things, despite the high maintenance! My golden retriever will probably tear the thing up, though lol. First order of business is tinting the windows, replacing the battery for good measure, and getting a seat protector for the pup! First mods will probably be grilles and would love to do the non-halogen lights.

Regards,
Jay

[chowser51]

Battery is two-three years old at the most? Skip replacing that and do goflat tires and a tune after the tint.

[jss12636]

Originally Posted by chowser51

Battery is two-three years old at the most? Skip replacing that and do goflat tires and a tune after the tint.

sorry, it is a 2012 and not 2018 like I incorrectly mentioned in my OP! but yes, I despise run flats. Sounds like BM3 is the new kid on the block and better than JB4...

[Elvisfan]

Originally Posted by jaysahni2012

sorry, it is a 2012 and not 2018 like I incorrectly mentioned in my OP! but yes, I despise run flats. Sounds like BM3 is the new kid on the block and better than JB4...

The $10,000 price should have given it away.

[jss12636]

Originally Posted by Elvisfan

The $10,000 price should have given it away.

It does make me a little nervous, not gonna lie. Although the list price was pretty much in-line with others in the area, if I'm not mistaken, and it drove nice. It's pretty basic, with only the premium package, and heated seats. No driver aids, cameras, etc. Clean carfax.

Just hoping it can last me 30k or so miles, great if more. I know there'll be a good bit in needed and preventative maintenance, though.

[jss12636]

Just an update. Had this for a couple days now. Super clean inside and outside. Needs rear brakes in 4,600 miles. Drives nice!

[Aldor27]

Welcome to the n20/n26 world! Id have a post purchase inspection done at your local bmw dealership or a trusted indy shop do one. The timing chains and guides have plagued these engines well into the 2014 model year. The chains and guides like to give out in the higher mileage 60k+ miles. 2015 is when they had a revised timing chain and guides installed to the x28i BMW vehicles. Besides that, there is a tendency for a turbo oil line to leak and have white smoke on cold start ups. Besides that, have at it with the tuning and be careful because there is a power ceiling of around 300-350 hp/tq where these engines like to crap out. Catless downpipes (VRSF) with an O2 spacer add nice sound and not too much smell while keeping the CEL from coming on. Air intakes from Injen produces much spooling noises from the turbo (Not so much performance gains but turbo noises are worth it).

-Aldo

Originally Posted by jss12636

Hello everyone,
A few days before Christmas my 2008 Tahoe got hit and they declared it a total loss. I really loved that thing but I missed BMWs even more. So I picked up a F30 2012 328i for $10,200 from my local dealer. It has 70k miles and seems to be in good shape. I take delivery in 2 days (had to wait for insurance check). I really wanted another e93 or f33 but my insurance is way too high with previous wrecks being my fault, especially after I put the e93 into the back of a Lexus and totaled them both... and its nice not having car payments. A little older and wiser now, if I may say so.

I have to say Global Imports in Atlanta were great to deal with and they came down from $12,780.

Excited to pick up my car. I forgot how much I loved these things, despite the high maintenance! My golden retriever will probably tear the thing up, though lol. First order of business is tinting the windows, replacing the battery for good measure, and getting a seat protector for the pup! First mods will probably be grilles and would love to do the non-halogen lights.

Regards,
Jay

[sspade]

Welcome. Nice purchase, sounds like you bought it right.

Be ready for coolant thermostat replacement if it already hasn't been done. Pretty common but luckily cheap and easy DIY.

Timing chain is a concern but keep oil changed every 5k and code Auto Start Stop off and you should be fine.

Mines been relatively trouble free at 86k miles.

A Bentley manual for F30 body would be nice to have around.

[jss12636]

Originally Posted by sspade

Welcome. Nice purchase, sounds like you bought it right.

Be ready for coolant thermostat replacement if it already hasn't been done. Pretty common but luckily cheap and easy DIY.

Timing chain is a concern but keep oil changed every 5k and code Auto Start Stop off and you should be fine.

Mines been relatively trouble free at 86k miles.

A Bentley manual for F30 body would be nice to have around.

Ah, I do strongly dislike Auto Start/Stop. I shall order the Bimmerlink tool thingy.

Was also going to do brakes, tranny flush, and thermostat/coolant the next time it goes for an oil change, which I've decided to do 5k intervals. Why not, it's cheap insurance. Maybe aluminum charge pipe too. Surprisingly, I haven't been stomping on it- will probably keep it that way. Nice not replacing Pilot Super Sports every few months like on the e93 LOL.


But thanks for the comment, I appreciate it! It's a daily commuter (8 miles roundtrip) so as long as it does that, I'm happy!

[jss12636]

Originally Posted by Aldor27

Welcome to the n20/n26 world! Id have a post purchase inspection done at your local bmw dealership or a trusted indy shop do one. The timing chains and guides have plagued these engines well into the 2014 model year. The chains and guides like to give out in the higher mileage 60k+ miles. 2015 is when they had a revised timing chain and guides installed to the x28i BMW vehicles. Besides that, there is a tendency for a turbo oil line to leak and have white smoke on cold start ups. Besides that, have at it with the tuning and be careful because there is a power ceiling of around 300-350 hp/tq where these engines like to crap out. Catless downpipes (VRSF) with an O2 spacer add nice sound and not too much smell while keeping the CEL from coming on. Air intakes from Injen produces much spooling noises from the turbo (Not so much performance gains but turbo noises are worth it).

-Aldo

Thank you, thank you. I think the plan at the moment is to knock out some preventative maintenance out of the way and then lets see if I can avoid the mod bug. As silly as it may sound, I'd like to tackle the halogen headlights prior to some performance stuff. Coming from a big ol SUV it certainly feels peppy enough- not that Atlanta traffic allows me any chance to open it up anyway! haha

[Aldor27]

I took the same route as you did with preventative maintenance but with my now totaled/gone e92 335i with the n54 engine. God was that a nightmare with catching up on the maintenance. I had it all done was going to start to tune it when a grandma t boned my car on my way to work lol.

Originally Posted by jss12636

Thank you, thank you. I think the plan at the moment is to knock out some preventative maintenance out of the way and then lets see if I can avoid the mod bug. As silly as it may sound, I'd like to tackle the halogen headlights prior to some performance stuff. Coming from a big ol SUV it certainly feels peppy enough- not that Atlanta traffic allows me any chance to open it up anyway! haha