[CharleyGFX]

So long story short, I found out about the leak at around 120k miles, drove the car from Florida to California and everything was fine. Did an oil change before I left in mid July, drove and just kept adding oil when it burnt a bit of oil. After a long and fun road trip, I was finally in California around early Aug.


When I left wasn't that bad, but just about 2 weeks ago.. it's gushing out oil. It's all over my drive way. Money has been kind of tight so I was about to sell the car, but the buyer could not get approved for a loan. So I took it into the shop after looking around the forum. And?


Oil filter housing leaking

Valve cover gasket leaking

Thermostat pretty done for
Something BMW did with the battery recall, now my battery wont last more than 5 mins in idle. It comes on and off just fine though, but if the headlights are on and the car isn't? 10 mins and I gotta get the car jumped.

One other thing was going out too but I forgot what it was.

It's an indy shop that has been working on BMW for the past 25 years, read a lot of reviews on it and everything seem good. Went to take it in this morning and the owner even looked at it on the lift with me and we went over everything, the JB4 wouldn't let them read the car, but after it did.. 4 major things were wrong besides the leaks.

Shop is charging me 7 hours for valve cover gasket and doing the oil filter housing for free and just gonna charge me the parts for the thermostat. His rate is $90 an hour, which is pretty much free compared to BMW rates back in Florida AND here in Sacramento. I'll update everyone on how it goes and if anyone has the same problem or is interested on cost, I'll post everything when it's said and done too.

Originally Posted by nukezero

both jobs require some time to do. I've done the oil filter housing and you'll need an afternoon for that. There's a lot of stuff to remove, coolant to drain, etc. Your back will be hurting when you're done.

Valve cover gasket will probably be a bit faster but still tedious as you have to remove the fuel rails, injectors, and what not.

How long did it take you? would you say 7 hours is fair? It seems like I'm getting a great deal, just worried because anything that is too good to be true, most of the time is.


Update***

Priced came out to be $1,085.75 for the following things..
7 Hours labor x 90HR = 630
1 Oem Thermostat $120
1 Valve cover gasket $$$(don't know what he paid, he ordered it from the dealer. Will see when I go pick up the car)
1 Oil filter housing gasket $$$(don't know what he paid, he ordered it from the dealer. Will see when I go pick up the car)
1 Low pressure fuel sensor (don't know what he paid, he ordered it from the dealer. Will see when I go pick up the car)
Oil/Oil filter change..

So I think this is pretty fair being that I was quoted $1300, for ONE thing from BMW and that was the valve cover gasket. With that said, he did say that the fans are kicking hard and thinks it's because of my jb4(which the cool mode was not on when I brought it in, tune was turned off) so I don't know what could be causing it to be running.

Gonna pick up the car tomorrow hopefully, then drive from Sacramento to Westminster for the weekend. See how it runs, if everything runs great.. like I hope it will, I will for sure go back to this shop. The owner was pretty nice, old school BMW guy that's into M's

[MORTON]

I read the title and assumed your engine blew or something and after reading I'm glad it wasn't that bad. Your only looking at about 700-800 dollars in repair + parts cost so be happy lol

[Desert_Fox]

Not bad man... I spent $4,000 in repairs and maintenance on my 540i within 60 days of buying it.

[GarlicBread]

What's the issue? Both leaks are extremely common on these cars and the oil filter one you can do yourself no problem. The valve cover takes more effort

[CharleyGFX]

Originally Posted by MORTON

I read the title and assumed your engine blew or something and after reading I'm glad it wasn't that bad. Your only looking at about 700-800 dollars in repair + parts cost so be happy lol

Yeah it's not bad at all, BMW in my city in Florida was trying to charge me 1300+ just to fix the valve cover gasket. If I can get everything listed done for less than 1100-1200 for parts and labor, I'll be super happy.

Originally Posted by Desert_Fox

Not bad man... I spent $4,000 in repairs and maintenance on my 540i within 60 days of buying it.

Almost had the same problem, my whole AC unit went out and I almost cried at the dealership. It was gonna be 6k to fix everything, but lucky and I do mean lucky me.. I bought the car from a dealership who did not know it had a 100k CPO, they even tried to sell me a 3rd party warranty. $50 to redo the whole AC/Heating unit

Originally Posted by GarlicBread

What's the issue? Both leaks are extremely common on these cars and the oil filter one you can do yourself no problem. The valve cover takes more effort

It's just that I didn't have the funds to fix the car, just moving to cali and not having a job. It got worst and worst.. the car was on the lift for the first time today and my gawd, I gotta tell you.. the bottom of the car was COVERED in oil.. it's everywhere!!! I felt so bad for letting my baby get so bad, but I couldn't do anything till now.

[07chupacabra]

What codes were read?

[Myrder]

Talk about a Chicken Little title. These are common issues and you seem to be getting off cheap. It's not even your turbos.

[AWDBooSTIn90]

if the oil filter housing gasket has been leaking a while, i would think about changing the serpentine belt while your there. you have the mileage anyway.

bad things can happen if the belt snaps or shreds.

[MORTON]

Originally Posted by Myrder

Talk about a Chicken Little title. These are common issues and you seem to be getting off cheap. It's not even your turbos.

lol that's exactly what I was thinking but in his defense things can feel that way when your tight on money, we've all been there at some point for w.e reason it was.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Welcome to a 335 BMW son... pay to play!

Can't wait till you get an actual serious repair... you'll shit your drawers

[Taran.J]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Welcome to a 335 BMW son... pay to play!

Can't wait till you get an actual serious repair... you'll shit your drawers

Why I ditched my E90 Love em to death but God sakes always abrupt issues with them

[GOS7]

Originally Posted by Desert_Fox

Not bad man... I spent $4,000 in repairs and maintenance on my 540i within 60 days of buying it.

+1, I spent $1600 on my 545i and only owned it for 8 months and that's with me doing all the work myself. I have a 335i now and considering its a car that has the performance potential of a supercar, i'm definitely willing to accept the maintenance cost.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by Taran.J

Why I ditched my E90 Love em to death but God sakes always abrupt issues with them

I hear you bro...sometimes I feel like I'm rolling in a time-bomb. with a hard top attached.

[deeLow]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

I hear you bro...sometimes I feel like I'm rolling in a time-bomb. with a hard top attached.

I'll take yours over mine anyday! Well maybe not I'd have to weld the top shut

OP- I spent 2500$ in 1 year on maintenance doing it myself. Most costly were 3 injectors and a walnut blast...

BUT I still love to burn the gas right out of this thing

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Ghos7N54

its a car that has the performance potential of a supercar

lol

So 7 hours for an experienced mechanic to replace the VCG? That explains why they're throwing in the OFHG for free!

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by deeLow

I'll take yours over mine anyday! Well maybe not I'd have to weld the top shut

OP- I spent 2500$ in 1 year on maintenance doing it myself. Most costly were 3 injectors and a walnut blast...

BUT I still love to burn the gas right out of this thing

Well thank you Dee- I still recall your car looking clean as hell for its age

[CharleyGFX]

Originally Posted by AWDBooSTIn90

if the oil filter housing gasket has been leaking a while, i would think about changing the serpentine belt while your there. you have the mileage anyway.

bad things can happen if the belt snaps or shreds.

done under cpo, about 30k miles ago =]]

Originally Posted by NGEE

lol

So 7 hours for an experienced mechanic to replace the VCG? That explains why they're throwing in the OFHG for free!

BMW quoted me 8 hours and another indy shop did the same, is the number off a bit? A lot of guys are saying it would take a whole saturday

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Welcome to a 335 BMW son... pay to play!

Can't wait till you get an actual serious repair... you'll shit your drawers

I've had the car since 2011 and have put 60 miles on it, trust me I've paid a lot to play lol most of the serious work were already done under the cpo

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by CharleyGFX

done under cpo, about 30k miles ago =]]

BMW quoted me 8 hours and another indy shop did the same, is the number off a bit? A lot of guys are saying it would take a whole saturday

I've had the car since 2011 and have put 60 miles on it, trust me I've paid a lot to play lol most of the serious work were already done under the cpo

I know what you mean man... I'm just busting balls. 335's are usually the biggest pains in the asses due to the extra moving parts.

[Tiago@VRSF]

Sounds like basic maintenance. That battery problem sounds like a user error issue, don't leave the headlights on without the car started

[CharleyGFX]

Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF

Sounds like basic maintenance. That battery problem sounds like a user error issue, don't leave the headlights on without the car started

I left them to test the theory =\\ I was right about it. No longer than 10 mins and it went out

[melloww22]

This is why you pay for extended warranty... In about 5k miles my warranty expires.

Repair costs are ridiculous, but i feel better knowing all parts are OEM and services are covered.

[GB-335xiCoupe]

Originally Posted by CharleyGFX

Yeah it's not bad at all, BMW in my city in Florida was trying to charge me 1300+ just to fix the valve cover gasket. If I can get everything listed done for less than 1100-1200 for parts and labor, I'll be super happy.

DIY son! You will not only save a lot of money now and possibly accumulate some good tools, but you will learn stuff about your car that will save you $$ in the long run as well!