[downsouth]

Hi guys,

I am new to this board and hope to become an owner of a 335i coupe in the near future. I have come across a 2008 335i coupe blk on blk with premium package, navigation, bluetooth, sports package, ipod, sirius/xm radio, paddle shifters, and heated seats 16k miles. I am going to go take a look at the vehicle this weekend, and was wondering if anyone could provide any info on what I should be looking for in terms of a used car. Are there any known visibile issues that I should be looking for? What is a reasonable price for this vehicle based on the information that I have provided.

As you can tell I am new to the world of 335i's and would love any info that would help me make an informed decision. The wife currently has a 2004 530i and I can't wait to add another BMW to the collection.

[Van[ForTheTired]]

most people are going to say search, but I am not like that. lol.

You should check if it has an oil cooler. [Look in the engine bay and check the passenger side to see if you have a mini-intercooler looking thing]

visibly I cant think of anything else.

Price may vary, but I think it would be mid to high 30's if I am not mistaken.

That car is loaded.

[downsouth]

Thanks for the info!

Whats the deal with the oil cooler? Anything I should know about it? Faulty? Accessory etc?

[Van[ForTheTired]]

Well your car will overheat if you push it too hard like in hot days. I read if you track it too, it will overheat quickly without a oil cooler.

if you want to know more about it, you can search "oil cooler" and tons of stuff pop up. That's pretty much I know about the oil coolers.

[downsouth]

Good info thanks.

Anything else I should know?

[Van[ForTheTired]]

I think it might have been fixed already, but your still under warranty so no worries. But the failing fuel pump problem. Look up "limp mode" also.

that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

good luck with the buy and it sounds like a great car.

[nicknaz]

OP, check for signs of modification like the panel to access the ECU having been removed, or signs that the exhaust has been replaced back to stock. Also look for signs of hard use like a weird slipping in the transmission or scuffs on the tire sidewalls or cupped wear in the outside edge of the tire.

Personally, I would purchase as much warranty as possible, since you can assume it was driven hard by the previous owner and every employee of every mechanic and dealership that has had access to the car. I'm sure it is a tough car, but hard use is hard use and if you are planning to keep the car past 100k miles take steps to ensure you aren't left holding the bag for repair cost

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by Nick Nazareno

OP, check for signs of modification like the panel to access the ECU having been removed, or signs that the exhaust has been replaced back to stock. Also look for signs of hard use like a weird slipping in the transmission or scuffs on the tire sidewalls or cupped wear in the outside edge of the tire.

Personally, I would purchase as much warranty as possible, since you can assume it was driven hard by the previous owner and every employee of every mechanic and dealership that has had access to the car. I'm sure it is a tough car, but hard use is hard use and if you are planning to keep the car past 100k miles take steps to ensure you aren't left holding the bag for repair cost

very good advice thank you!

Do you know off hand how much the 100k warranty costs after the car has been purchased? Especially since I hope to be the second owner of the car?

[JunkStory]

If you are getting a used 3-series bimmer, I highly recommend a 328i. There are far less problems to deal with, and less likely that the previous owner had driven it hard.

But yes, I agree with the above posters.. look for the oil cooler, fuel pump problems, and mods. If it's modded, stay away!

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by JunkStory

If you are getting a used 3-series bimmer, I highly recommend a 328i. There are far less problems to deal with.

Thats no fun...buying it for the 300hp!

[Payroll]

Like others have said, check to see if there's an oil cooler (all 2008's should have it but it's always better to check). Just take a look in front of the passenger front tire, you should see what looks like a vent for an oil cooler / radiator - there's no mistaking it. I wouldn't be too concerned about the car having been tuned (this board is extremely misleading since it is comprised of all those people that are interested in modifying the car). But I would have the dealer's service department check to see if the car has been "flagged" for having a tune.

If the car does not have any visual modifications (e.g. front orange reflectors are not swapped out for painted reflectors) than it's probably safe to assume that the owner was not necessarily into tuning his car.

Hope you like it - as everyone on this forum can attest, while the 335 does not do any one thing better than any other car, it does everything extremely well. You'll love it.

Hope that helps.

[JunkStory]

Out of curiosity, do the 2007 335i's also get the oil cooler under warranty/TSB, or is it only the 2008's?

[downsouth]

Well it turns out that the car was too good to be true. It was completely beat up on the inside.

Make up stains on passanger side headliner
Exploded lotion bottle on back seat (WTF??)
Leather scuffed significantly in the back seat
Dog hair throughout the car
Car made a loud ticking noise at idle (anyone have any info on this?)
Many of the hoses were leaking fluid at the connections (any info on this)
Curbed rims and swirls in paint

And what pissed me off the most was the alumninum trim on both the passanger side and driver side door had dings and scratches in it as if someone hit it with a baseball bat and then scratched the heck out of them with a file.


Back to the drawing board I suppose. I ended up finding another vehicle that I may check out but its in Houston so may have to wait till the weekend. Here are the specs. Thoughts? Also this car had the calipers painted red, (wtf). How difficult would that be to reverse?


Year
2008

Mileage
16,444
Make
BMW

Interior
Black
Model
3-Series

Exterior
Black


PREMIUM PKG
SPORT PKG
PWR REAR SUNSHADE

REAR PARK DISTANCE CONTROL
DVD-BASED NAVIGATION SYSTEM
6-SPEED STEPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

$39,850

[MRQturbo]

^^red calipers??..maybe it has an aftermarket big brake kit....

[Van[ForTheTired]]

stay away and dont buy. sounds terrible.

also that price is outrageous for the condition it is. [how you're telling us atleast.]

[Russian325is]

Originally Posted by downsouth

Thats no fun...buying it for the 300hp!

Yeah...stay with the 335i...
335 has bigger front/rear brake discs and a better tranny.

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by Van[ForTheTired]

stay away and dont buy. sounds terrible.

also that price is outrageous for the condition it is. [how you're telling us atleast.]

That was for the first one I looked at this weekend.

The second one listed above is the one w/ the red calipers. I am not sure if its a big brake kit since everything else is bone stock. The car is at a private luxury car dealer in Houston.

At this point I am getting kinda nervous about buying a 3 from a private dealer, and my try and focus on getting a CPO 2007 for a little bit more.

[downsouth]

Originally Posted by downsouth

Back to the drawing board I suppose. I ended up finding another vehicle that I may check out but its in Houston so may have to wait till the weekend. Here are the specs. Thoughts? Also this car had the calipers painted red, (wtf). How difficult would that be to reverse?


Year
2008

Mileage
16,444
Make
BMW

Interior
Black
Model
3-Series

Exterior
Black


PREMIUM PKG
SPORT PKG
PWR REAR SUNSHADE

REAR PARK DISTANCE CONTROL
DVD-BASED NAVIGATION SYSTEM
6-SPEED STEPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

$39,850

This is the one that I will most probably look at next. This is the car w/ the red calipers

[barbados]

Originally Posted by downsouth

This is the one that I will most probably look at next. This is the car w/ the red calipers

Sounds good - you can always just paint the calipers black if you like the car. I'm painting mine black sometime in the next couple of months, it doesn't void your warranty and it looks classier than the raw metal.