[Feddersen]

Why this post? I thought others might benefit of knowing how a long distance car that is well maintained car can look and the defect log might also be interesting.

I have just sold my 2011 F30 335i. Some would say “Hey – the F30 didn’t come before 2012” and that is also true but mine was special. It was the 70th of all builds that got a serial number. It was built by BMW as a dealer presentation car for the dealers to see the model and all its options before the public could see it. Therefore the car literally had every single option available except for the sun curtains in the back. Furthermore when the parts became available I added the M Performance Power Kit, M Performance brakes and M Performance limited slip differential.

I bought it second hand when it was two years old at 38000km/23750mi and sold it eight years old at 196600km/122875mi. So I enjoyed it for almost 160000km/100000mi and six years. This is actually the longest I have ever had the same car in time and distance.

The car was fully serviced as BMW recommended. However oil changes was done at about every 16000km/10000mi. Sometimes a bit shorter/longer depending on how it fitted in the calendar. Every service and every repair was done by BMW.

I did take care of my car but I have to say it is also just a car that has to be used. I have probably spent about 16.000km/10.000 miles on the German autobahn at speeds of typically 200kmh/120mph when possible and up to top speed a few times. Also the car has been used at six full day long track days and a couple of rounds at Nürburgring. Besides that it has contained dirty kids, travelled mud trails, hauled trailers up till 750kg and been filled with Ikea furniture to an extend where there was no room for passengers. So all in all well used.

Twice I replaced the brake discs. Both times they did about 85000km/53125mi and every set of discs covered two sets of brake pads.
In total I bought 10 winter tires, 6 summer tires and 4 track tires. Summer and winter have always been run flats and two of the winter tires were replaced due to a major puncture in one tire but two tires had to be replaced due to wear. The rear summer tires now need replacement.

The defect log is as follows:
KM/Miles - Defect
45360/28350 - ISO fix cover in the back replaced (broke again later)
62029/38768 - Tank cover fell of. Needed new one.
79616/49760 - Side indicator in left mirror needed replacement
91713/57321 - Driver side window engine replaced
98033/61271 - Valve spring in exhaust broke (exhaust rattled)
107965/67478 - Right DSC/ABS sensor replaced
111621/69763 - Rod bearing failure. Engine broke as well as gear box (courtesy by BMW)
136143/85089 - Rattle in B-pillar fixed
137628/86018 - Air condition condenser and left DSC/ABS sensor replaced
137628/86018 - Oil pan sealing replaced (warranty)
147840/92400 - Fuel high pressure sensor replaced
163611/102257 - Charge pipe replaced. Probably failed due to engine replacement.

When handing over the car to the buyer the driver side seat belt tensioner engine didn’t work but since it wasn’t a safety issue I never replaced it.
If I would have the car for longer my mechanic told me I could expect to replace the adaptive dampers within a couple of years and the brake pipes within two years. I would probably also repaint the front bumper and hood due to the massive amount of chips. The wind shield was pretty chipped as well but still the original. So were the head lights.

I did want to make a “good bye photo shooting” but the buyer took me by surprise and we made the deal immediately so here are some of the most recent pictures. Still looks pretty good however. My absolute favorite picture is the one from the track.

















I was really glad for my car and if I didn’t have a bad spine that caused me pain to enter the car and get out of it I would have kept it for at least a couple of years. But the time came to get rid of it and I felt absolutely no sorrow of seeing it leave. Now I just look forward to get to the BMW dealer to order a new X1 x25i/x28i with a lot of options. Once you have had all options you will be spoiled.

Feel free to ask whatever you want. I will still be around in the F30 forum even though I don’t have one anymore.

[Beek]

Thanks for sharing your experience, my concern is rod bearings before 70,000 miles. Any more info to share regarding this?

[floridaorange]

Was it tuned?

[cfm56d7b]

Such a helpful ownership experience with maintenance details. Thanks for sharing!

[MmmmmM2]

Thanks for the post! Sounds like you got all you could from it!

[Feddersen]

Originally Posted by Beek

Thanks for sharing your experience, my concern is rod bearings before 70,000 miles. Any more info to share regarding this?

I have of course searched quite a lot on the rod bearing failures of the N55 engine. The best you can do is to search for "rod bearing failure" in the N55 engine section. There are many threads and I have contributed as much as I could as well. I myself started this thread: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...il+consumption and mine was probably one of the first engines that failed. As far as I can tell the rod bearing failure is only reported on the early years of the F30 or heavy tuned cars. However I could easily feel the difference between the first and the second engine so something has been wrong with the first engine from the beginning. From 2014 and forward the issue should be less.

[Feddersen]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Was it tuned?

Only with the M Performance Power Kit. So from 306hp/400nm to 326hp/450nm.

[otay]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

Why the X1?

[Feddersen]

I need a car that is easier to get into and out of. I have osteochondrosis in my lower spine and it means that it can’t bend and when I try to do so it hurts. In worst case the getting down into the seats and out again causes me up till an hour of pain on a normal working day. Once in the car I need a seat with lumbar support and it has to hold me in place when fx turning. So I need good adjustable side support as well. The last thing about the seat is that is has to be electric in order to have micro adjustments.

Basically I need to be able to get into the car with as few body movements/bends as possible and the X1 is really the best available car there is in the market for me. All the seat options the X1 offers are not found in the similar Audi, Mercedes models or any other make for that sake. Any non-X BMW is too low and X3 or higher is too tall. The i3 is also perfect in regards of getting in and out but it doesn’t offer sport seats.

I don’t need any of the space the X1 offers or xDrive so if it wasn’t for my back I would have kept the F30 for at least a couple of years more. I know the X1 will never ever offer the fun and driving pleasure my F30 gave me but luckily my wife has an M240i (see it here https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1644646) I can take for a spin if I miss the power and the RWD. I guess the X1 will just give me a new kind of driving pleasure.

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by Feddersen

...
111621/69763 - Rod bearing failure. Engine broke as well as gear box (courtesy by BMW)
...

That is the only concerning part. I'd say those are major failures. I don't think I've heard of this being a common issue though.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Thank you for sharing

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Feddersen

I need a car that is easier to get into and out of. I have osteochondrosis in my lower spine and it means that it can’t bend and when I try to do so it hurts. In worst case the getting down into the seats and out again causes me up till an hour of pain on a normal working day. Once in the car I need a seat with lumbar support and it has to hold me in place when fx turning. So I need good adjustable side support as well. The last thing about the seat is that is has to be electric in order to have micro adjustments.

Basically I need to be able to get into the car with as few body movements/bends as possible and the X1 is really the best available car there is in the market for me. All the seat options the X1 offers are not found in the similar Audi, Mercedes models or any other make for that sake. Any non-X BMW is too low and X3 or higher is too tall. The i3 is also perfect in regards of getting in and out but it doesn’t offer sport seats.

I don’t need any of the space the X1 offers or xDrive so if it wasn’t for my back I would have kept the F30 for at least a couple of years more. I know the X1 will never ever offer the fun and driving pleasure my F30 gave me but luckily my wife has an M240i (see it here https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1644646) I can take for a spin if I miss the power and the RWD. I guess the X1 will just give me a new kind of driving pleasure.

Thanks for sharing. I've got back issues so I get it. Glad you were still able to find a BMW solution with the X1. I'm gonna start checking the X1 forum. By next year you'll probably be adding a big turbo, air suspension and staggered with 285's in back. Take care!

[Feddersen]

Thanks you too. For sure I am going to miss the power and yes. I have already been looking at tuning, suspension and wheel options

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by Feddersen

I have of course searched quite a lot on the rod bearing failures of the N55 engine. The best you can do is to search for "rod bearing failure" in the N55 engine section. There are many threads and I have contributed as much as I could as well. I myself started this thread: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...il+consumption and mine was probably one of the first engines that failed. As far as I can tell the rod bearing failure is only reported on the early years of the F30 or heavy tuned cars. However I could easily feel the difference between the first and the second engine so something has been wrong with the first engine from the beginning. From 2014 and forward the issue should be less.

Thank you for sharing your conclusions.