Need some help on a used 335

E90076 · 11-29-2007, 09:49 PM

I am looking to purchase a used 335i premium, sport, step tomorrow and was wondering if I could get some advice on any warning signs I should look for?

Build date is 04/07 so I should be OK on the oil cooler.

I did notice that the car automatically shifted a little ahead of redline when in M mode with a little delay or retardation in power - is that typical?

Also, any clue on how purchasing used can effect my warranty and/or scheduled free maintenance? My only worry is that they could hit me on the car being driven to hard...etc. from the previous owner.

I would definitely appreciate any insight you may have. Hope to have some pictures for you all soon.

Thank you,

flyinb501 · 11-30-2007, 09:10 AM

bump. I'd be interested to know some of the answers to these questions also.

Zeeman · 11-30-2007, 10:02 AM

re the warranty and maintence, this should transfer over. if the car is in good shape now, you shouldn't have to worry about your warranty being voided as a result of something the previous owner did. it might be a good idea to have the car inspected. I sold my E46 (previous generation 3 series) earlier this year and the buyer had BMW do an inspection. it was pretty comprehensive.

I can't comment on the transmission question since I have the MT.

mikethmack · 11-30-2007, 10:38 AM

Good call Zeeman. Your best bet would to have the car inspected by BMW certified mechanics to ensure that there is nothing that the current owner did to the vehicle that would void any part of the warranty.

alexckma · 11-30-2007, 11:11 AM

take it in BMW with the seller, and ask them to do a checkup

John 070 · 11-30-2007, 11:14 AM

Be curious to see what the vehicle is being sold for. In the old days, it rarely seemed worth it to buy a used BMW as the differential was so close with new. Now, I hear BMW is offering 4.9%, so that should help close the gap even more.

purplewidow · 11-30-2007, 11:26 AM

the warranty is golden...take it out and if they have a new one even if its a diff body....drive it for comparison see if the suspension is weak..check the tires..just be smart about it....also try to look at it in sun light to see swirls and scratches make them get those out....be careful some dealerships are stealerships but bmw is deff better than most as a whole...just be careful...and make sure you see the cars history...probably the previous owner moved to a 535 or something..just check out the records and use your head!!!!

E90076 · 12-02-2007, 01:47 PM

Thanks for all of the feedback. Looks like I am going to be getting a E92 335i Black/Black tomorrow. Looks to be in better condition than the last so a feel more comfortable with it.

There is one issue though - the build date is in February 2007 so it doesnt have an oil cooler. Anything else I should be concerned with considering the build date? Is performance impaired in any way by the lack of oil cooler?

Looking forward to getting you all some pictures soon.

Thanks again,

mike fab · 12-02-2007, 04:27 PM

I'm surprised that a coupe with the sport package doesn't have an oil cooler. Take it for a test drive and see what temperature it stabilizes at. Warm it up, then drive it kinda hard. Does the temp exceed 240? If so, run!

Ask for all maintenance records. Did they do any oil changes yet? If not, why not?????????? How many miles?

Any 335 should be essentially new. I personally wouldn't buy one that didn't seem like a new car.

Definitely make sure it wasn't involved in any accident. An inspection should reveal that. Look at the tire wear, is it even?

Also, did the seller modify it? If so, understand the details. There are a few 335s for sale on this board where the seller installed a PROCEDE. I would never (at any price) buy a car that had been modified like that.

Look at the maintenance records. Was the car a lemon? Any HP fuel pump symptoms or issues? Anything that took muliple trips to the dealer to resolve?

Finally, try to find out why the seller is selling. I am selling my 335 coupe because we just had a baby and its not the right car for a rear facing car seat. That is a good reason for selling a car (lifestyle change) -- good luck.

mike fab · 12-02-2007, 04:30 PM

Also, my car is a Jan 07 build date & it DOES have an oil cooler. Are you sure its not there?

E90076 · 12-02-2007, 04:41 PM

Thanks,

I am actually not sure that it doesn't have an oil cooler - I made that assumption because I had heard that Steptronics were not fitted with oil coolers before March 1st.

The car is in great shape - I am actually purchasing it from a BMW dealer. i believe it was once a loaner vehicle. There are no modifications to the vehicle and it hasnt been in service for anything as of yet - only 9,700 miles on it.

No indication of HP fuel pump issues - will this hurt performance it if is not fitted with one or is it only a starting issue?

11-29-2007, 09:49 PM	#1
E90076 Lieutenant 235 Rep 506 Posts Drives: X3M, M2CS, M5CS Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Need some help on a used 335 I am looking to purchase a used 335i premium, sport, step tomorrow and was wondering if I could get some advice on any warning signs I should look for? Build date is 04/07 so I should be OK on the oil cooler. I did notice that the car automatically shifted a little ahead of redline when in M mode with a little delay or retardation in power - is that typical? Also, any clue on how purchasing used can effect my warranty and/or scheduled free maintenance? My only worry is that they could hit me on the car being driven to hard...etc. from the previous owner. I would definitely appreciate any insight you may have. Hope to have some pictures for you all soon. Thank you,
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11-30-2007, 09:10 AM	#2
flyinb501 Captain 72 Rep 627 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (1)	bump. I'd be interested to know some of the answers to these questions also.
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11-30-2007, 10:02 AM	#3
Zeeman Captain 56 Rep 661 Posts Drives: E90 335 SG Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	re the warranty and maintence, this should transfer over. if the car is in good shape now, you shouldn't have to worry about your warranty being voided as a result of something the previous owner did. it might be a good idea to have the car inspected. I sold my E46 (previous generation 3 series) earlier this year and the buyer had BMW do an inspection. it was pretty comprehensive. I can't comment on the transmission question since I have the MT.
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11-30-2007, 10:38 AM	#4
mikethmack Private 9 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 330xi Monaco Blue on Terra Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NH cjrc163@a iTrader: (0)	Good call Zeeman. Your best bet would to have the car inspected by BMW certified mechanics to ensure that there is nothing that the current owner did to the vehicle that would void any part of the warranty. __________________ MiKeThMaCk 2006 BMW 330xi Monaco Blue w/ Terra. Sports Package, Premium Package, Navigation, Comfort Access, Logic 7, Park Distance, Silver Breyton Race GTS 20"
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11-30-2007, 11:11 AM	#5
alexckma Lieutenant 30 Rep 518 Posts Drives: P. Panorama 10, L Gallardo 05 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hong Kong, Canada iTrader: (0)	take it in BMW with the seller, and ask them to do a checkup
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11-30-2007, 11:14 AM	#6
John 070 Lieutenant General 1706 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	Be curious to see what the vehicle is being sold for. In the old days, it rarely seemed worth it to buy a used BMW as the differential was so close with new. Now, I hear BMW is offering 4.9%, so that should help close the gap even more.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-30-2007, 11:26 AM	#7
purplewidow Lieutenant Colonel 51 Rep 1,928 Posts Drives: e92 335 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago iTrader: (2)	the warranty is golden...take it out and if they have a new one even if its a diff body....drive it for comparison see if the suspension is weak..check the tires..just be smart about it....also try to look at it in sun light to see swirls and scratches make them get those out....be careful some dealerships are stealerships but bmw is deff better than most as a whole...just be careful...and make sure you see the cars history...probably the previous owner moved to a 535 or something..just check out the records and use your head!!!!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-02-2007, 01:47 PM	#8
E90076 Lieutenant 235 Rep 506 Posts Drives: X3M, M2CS, M5CS Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all of the feedback. Looks like I am going to be getting a E92 335i Black/Black tomorrow. Looks to be in better condition than the last so a feel more comfortable with it. There is one issue though - the build date is in February 2007 so it doesnt have an oil cooler. Anything else I should be concerned with considering the build date? Is performance impaired in any way by the lack of oil cooler? Looking forward to getting you all some pictures soon. Thanks again,
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-02-2007, 04:27 PM	#9
mike fab Private First Class 6 Rep 199 Posts Drives: 335 Coupe (sold) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rural NJ iTrader: (0)	I'm surprised that a coupe with the sport package doesn't have an oil cooler. Take it for a test drive and see what temperature it stabilizes at. Warm it up, then drive it kinda hard. Does the temp exceed 240? If so, run! Ask for all maintenance records. Did they do any oil changes yet? If not, why not?????????? How many miles? Any 335 should be essentially new. I personally wouldn't buy one that didn't seem like a new car. Definitely make sure it wasn't involved in any accident. An inspection should reveal that. Look at the tire wear, is it even? Also, did the seller modify it? If so, understand the details. There are a few 335s for sale on this board where the seller installed a PROCEDE. I would never (at any price) buy a car that had been modified like that. Look at the maintenance records. Was the car a lemon? Any HP fuel pump symptoms or issues? Anything that took muliple trips to the dealer to resolve? Finally, try to find out why the seller is selling. I am selling my 335 coupe because we just had a baby and its not the right car for a rear facing car seat. That is a good reason for selling a car (lifestyle change) -- good luck.
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12-02-2007, 04:30 PM	#10
mike fab Private First Class 6 Rep 199 Posts Drives: 335 Coupe (sold) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rural NJ iTrader: (0)	Also, my car is a Jan 07 build date & it DOES have an oil cooler. Are you sure its not there?
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12-02-2007, 04:41 PM	#11
E90076 Lieutenant 235 Rep 506 Posts Drives: X3M, M2CS, M5CS Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks, I am actually not sure that it doesn't have an oil cooler - I made that assumption because I had heard that Steptronics were not fitted with oil coolers before March 1st. The car is in great shape - I am actually purchasing it from a BMW dealer. i believe it was once a loaner vehicle. There are no modifications to the vehicle and it hasnt been in service for anything as of yet - only 9,700 miles on it. No indication of HP fuel pump issues - will this hurt performance it if is not fitted with one or is it only a starting issue?
	Appreciate 0 Quote