[J340i]

Hello, so I am currently looking into purchasing a 2016 manual bmw 340i with 77,000 miles on it (rebuilt title). 3 previous owners! The owner says nothing wrong with it and has the following modifications —Vrsf downpipe, oil catch can/ pcv delete, cold air intake, Vargas crank case breather, tuned on stage 2 bootmod3– but that the check engine light is on due to the o2 sensors because it’s catless down pipes. But i am under the impression that the tune will remove the check engine light from popping up cause of 02 sensors. Need somebodies opinion that knows more about the 340i platform when it comes to tuning etc. Please let me know asap! I am going to go look at it Saturday and potentially buy it but I am also looking at another 340i automatic with no CEL and 75k miles
I am new to the bmw platform. Thank you for your time !

[Wires]

I'd run the codes to confirm that it's because of the O2 sensor. If he's running BM3, you can just disable that warning (if that is actually the issue).

[J340i]

That’s what I planned on doing! Exactly why I’m confused why the CEL is still on if you can clear it with BM3. So idk it seems a little fishy to me. Starting to make me second guess the manual 340i but I really rather have the manual but don’t need the issues that come with it if there are any of course. I know the owner right now said he hasn’t bought a license for BM3. So all mods/tune were done by previous owner so therefore maybe he couldn’t cheat them himself due to that reason..? The automatic 340i I’m looking at, has
*Coilovers Bilstein
* Downpipe
* Dinan cold intake
* JB4 tuning
75k miles/ no CEL
Thank you for responding!

[Wires]

The B58 is an amazing engine (power wise) and has ton of tuning potential. Coupling it with a tune (BM3, MHD, etc) is just an amazing platform.

The auto will take more power than the manual can. Even stock, a 340 manual has a lower power spec than the auto. Clutch is the weak point on that setup.

But, either car would be amazing.

[J340i]

That is what I’ve been seeing and hearing! Why i want to own one myself! So with that being said about the difference between the two manual/automatic, would you say that the automatic is more realiable for that reason? I mean considering there almost the same car but I’m looking for more reliability then anything! Thank you for the information and time!

[Wires]

Reliability is probably similar. It's just when tuned, most threads I see require you to swap the clutch or it slips under high HP.

One thing to note about the ZF8 automatic, is it's in A LOT of brands in different variants of torque handling ability with a brand specific tune to the shifting (insert reliable piece of hardware here). You'll find a ZF8 in BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Dodge, etc. My 335 had there 6-speed variant, which was reliable, no issues with my 8 speed either.

[J340i]

Okay understandable! Yeah from the looks of it and what you’re telling me that transmission is a tank!! Thats awesome man! It makes me want to get the automatic lol. Thank you for enlightening me on that! I love learning new information and I’m really excited to join the BMW platform and learn a lot more!! I will be posting which vehicle I do end up getting this weekend, it really comes down the the o2 sensor codes on the manual. If the codes aren’t for the sensors I’m going with the automatic no question. Thank you again!

[bcwalks2]

Nothing like a manual! The code is probably for the O2 sensor. Had a N55 and currently have a B58 - both 200 cell downpipe and both had CELs.

[J340i]

I know! I love manuals why I am really shooting for the manual 340i! Yeah I am hoping so! The current owner has been pretty striaght forward with me, about the car so I’m just hoping it is only CEL for o2 sensors! Did you always have CEL code due to downpipes or did you clear it and it just comes back? That sounds sick! How has the 340i been to you?! Hear nothing but good about the b58 platform! Thank you for that info!

[bcwalks2]

Originally Posted by J340i

I know! I love manuals why I am really shooting for the manual 340i! Yeah I am hoping so! The current owner has been pretty striaght forward with me, about the car so I’m just hoping it is only CEL for o2 sensors! Did you always have CEL code due to downpipes or did you clear it and it just comes back? That sounds sick! How has the 340i been to you?! Hear nothing but good about the b58 platform! Thank you for that info!

It comes and goes randomly. I normally just clear it when I get around to it. 340i has been awesome so far - it’s only been 2 months though!

[J340i]

Okay good to know, I’ll have to learn and get a license so I can do it myself also! Appreciate your feedback!! But that’s awesome congrats on the new car and I hope it continues to treat you well! I am really leaning towards the manual I will be posting which one I do end up purchasing!

[Livetodrive]

FWIW, I wouldn’t purchase a vehicle with the CEL on. You just don’t know what you’re getting into. If it was something simple, why didn’t the owner take care of it?

[J340i]

That’s what I initially was thinking, why I started this thread because I don’t know to much about the car and the fact of a CEL due to o2 sensors when it can be cleared from BM3.. So I’m currently still trying to decide. My other option is same year make just automatic and xdrive. Has down pipe, exhaust, and tune with no CEL. 75k miles. I really want the manual comes in asterail blue. But I also don’t want to spend money on something I’d have to fix right away.

[B58 parts]

You're talking about not wanting to spend money on repairs, and buying a used BMW, out of warranty, with all kinds of very serious expensive engine f***ery going on, in the same sentence.

[J340i]

Lol. Well no really. If I’m going to go buy a car, I’d assume it wouldn’t have issues to have to spend on “repairing” the car? Irrelevant comment. Have a good day bud 😂😁

[Wires]

Originally Posted by J340i

That’s what I initially was thinking, why I started this thread because I don’t know to much about the car and the fact of a CEL due to o2 sensors when it can be cleared from BM3.. So I’m currently still trying to decide. My other option is same year make just automatic and xdrive. Has down pipe, exhaust, and tune with no CEL. 75k miles. I really want the manual comes in asterail blue. But I also don’t want to spend money on something I’d have to fix right away.

It's not that BM3 can clear the O2 codes (it can), it has a setting in the map to ignore the downstream O2 error so it won't display a CEL.

Seems sketchy that a person would tune it, drive around with a CEL that masks any other codes that might be important. You just set the Catalytic Monitors to "Off" to prevent that CEL from showing.