[pkancel]

Guys, we have an F30 328i and wife drives that one and we both love it and its been nearly 99.9% reliable. I am thinking of adding a 3rd car and going with the F30 335i. Has there been any gremlins with engine or trans common to the 335i, in stock. Obviously I hear about 328s and 335s with blown engines when someone overrevs / over mods them.

I know the 328s well enough to consider another but not the 335s so just in general question. Dont need the one offs where friends car dropped all of the oil after crankcase cracked or odd ball scenarios. JUst any common theme's that have been noticed, if any?

Thanks

[claykin]

335i (N55) is solid. The N55 motor spent the first 1.5 years on the E9x before the 2012 F30 launched. So, any niggly issues were likely addressed during the time the N55 was mated to the E9x body.

I think its safe for you to go for a 335i.

[CIWS]

Would agree, N55 is a good engine and is shown to withstand some serious modding if done right. Find you a good deal on a 2015 before they're gone (new)

[RoundelM3]

No problems here after 2.5 years aside from a defective aux cooling fan (M-Sport model only) that was fixed under warranty. Great engine, 8AT flawless so far.

[ronanz]

Couldn't agree more with everyone above, N55 is solid and under rated

.

[mookie45]

I've had zero issues so far at 10k miles.

Like any BMW, there is a premium to pay with maintenance costs outside of warranty, also the turbo maintenance at higher mileage (n20/n55) will carry more risk in regards to reliability.

Hopefully, the higher mileage guys should be able to give you better insight.

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by pkancel

Guys, we have an F30 328i and wife drives that one and we both love it and its been nearly 99.9% reliable. I am thinking of adding a 3rd car and going with the F30 335i. Has there been any gremlins with engine or trans common to the 335i, in stock. Obviously I hear about 328s and 335s with blown engines when someone overrevs / over mods them.

I know the 328s well enough to consider another but not the 335s so just in general question. Dont need the one offs where friends car dropped all of the oil after crankcase cracked or odd ball scenarios. JUst any common theme's that have been noticed, if any?

Thanks

One of the most reliable cars I have had. In fact this is my second N55 F30 . I have had small stuff like software, undercoating recall, wiper motor software update, heater core top hat to block out debris and leaves. THats pretty much between the two cars. ANd my wife currently has a 1 year old 228i and it has been very solid.

I would say for BMW this is very good and very reliable. No complaints here.

[Mobster1983]

There is a not uncommon issue with the chargepipe splitting or cracking at high revs. Mine just did this for the third time today (no mods, and not even full acceleration). The engine may be solid overall, but I am seriously considering a different brand because of this. I cannot even accelerate without being afraid my engine will die in the middle of it.

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by Mobster1983

There is a not uncommon issue with the chargepipe splitting or cracking at high revs. Mine just did this for the third time today (no mods, and not even full acceleration). The engine may be solid overall, but I am seriously considering a different brand because of this. I cannot even accelerate without being afraid my engine will die in the middle of it.

I understand your frustration, but if you really love the car and enjoy it why jump ship because of this? There is an aftermarket aluminum charge pipe that us tuned guys run with high boost without issues at all. Its like $300 bucks and does not fail.

[mookie45]

Originally Posted by dd1981

I understand your frustration, but if you really love the car and enjoy it why jump ship because of this? There is an aftermarket aluminum charge pipe that us tuned guys run with high boost without issues at all. Its like $300 bucks and does not fail.

I could see Mobster's frustration though. If we are paying for a $50k+ car, we would expect not to have cheap parts like the factory CP or misengineering on parts like fuel pumps in the past.

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by mookie45

I could see Mobster's frustration though. If we are paying for a $50k+ car, we would expect not to have cheap parts like the factory CP or misengineering on parts like fuel pumps in the past.

I can't argue one point from you boss but that goes for any manufacturer then, especially as of recent with more serous and catastrophic issues that the Porsche team faced with the GT3 and its engine failure/fires...not to mention countless Ferrari and Lambo fires. And these are 200k+ cars who would want or expect that.

At the end of the day I hear you but any part can fail. I know it's frustrating.

[ronanz]

Originally Posted by Mobster1983

There is a not uncommon issue with the chargepipe splitting or cracking at high revs. Mine just did this for the third time today (no mods, and not even full acceleration). The engine may be solid overall, but I am seriously considering a different brand because of this. I cannot even accelerate without being afraid my engine will die in the middle of it.

ER Charge Pipe is the best relatively inexpensive piece of mind mod you can buy!

.

[Mobster1983]

Originally Posted by dd1981

I understand your frustration, but if you really love the car and enjoy it why jump ship because of this? There is an aftermarket aluminum charge pipe that us tuned guys run with high boost without issues at all. Its like $300 bucks and does not fail.

You have a valid point, but there are other factors.

This is my 5th BMW. First 2 no issues. Last 2 years I had the issue I mentioned above, an X5 where the engine completely blew with less than 30k miles (out of warranty so took a $25k loss) and an M6 that the fuel injectors failed and flooded the engine with fuel (fortunately under warranty).

I would like to get an aftermarket charge pipe, but being on a small island, only a couple shops can install it and labor will cost me over $1000. Plus the cost of the new charge pipe.

I love the brand, but if you look at testing and reports, the reliability had really gone down lately.

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by Mobster1983

You have a valid point, but there are other factors.

This is my 5th BMW. First 2 no issues. Last 2 years I had the issue I mentioned above, an X5 where the engine completely blew with less than 30k miles (out of warranty so took a $25k loss) and an M6 that the fuel injectors failed and flooded the engine with fuel (fortunately under warranty).

I would like to get an aftermarket charge pipe, but being on a small island, only a couple shops can install it and labor will cost me over $1000. Plus the cost of the new charge pipe.

I love the brand, but if you look at testing and reports, the reliability had really gone down lately.

Ah jeez that's a tough string of luck especially with such serious failures.
Sorry yeah I'm on my iPhone app and it doesn't say member location lol if it's gonna be over a $1000 for a charge pipe with labor forget that man! Next!

As far as brand going south lately tend to disagree especially from the late 2000's cars with all the hpfp, turbo, fuel injector failure, BMW had one of the worst reps and reliability records. But the last 4-5 years they have come very far. But it's also the luck of the draw! Just because I didn't have issues with my last 4 cars doesn't mean someone else didn't with the same exact models.

[F32Fleet]

N55 has been fairly well sorted out at this point in time.

[pkancel]

Good to hear, thank you everyone. I closed the deal on a 2012 335i CPO from BV Hills BMW with 37k miles, still have until Aug 2016 on the Original Warranty and Service, then the CPO kicks in. Even though CPO isnt what is used to be, it covers the main things if something goes wrong. I'll likely pay the extra to extend the service because its really nice to get those brakes, rotors, etc covered at no cost. Pick it up tomorrow.