because chrome is ugly

3/15/2012 8:43:44 PM

Real chrome isn't bad. Plasti-chrome sucks

3/15/2012 8:46:34 PM

whatever that shit is, is oxidizes... looks turrible. black it the fuck out.

3/15/2012 8:48:26 PM

Quote :

"wahoowa. nice purchase! I really like that car, but it is a huge shame that it's automatic only in the US "

Supposedly BMW had to require an automatic transmission to handle the torque of the diesel engine...the manual could not handle it. Im not an expert on cars so i dont know if that's true but thats why there are no diesels with manual transmissions.

3/15/2012 8:57:29 PM

that is their story but it is absolutely not true. the fact that they offer it in manual in Europe makes that story complete BS.

3/15/2012 10:39:16 PM

I didn't realize it wasn't just a US situation. If BMW is serious about offering diesel engines across the board then they need to offer a manual transmission that can handle the torque. If not, kinda hard to still call them the "ultimate driving machine" IMO.

3/15/2012 10:41:04 PM

I usually agree with you TKE-Teg, but "ultimate driving machine" doesn't always have to mean manual transmission, <5 sec 0-60 times, record breaking Nürburgring lap times, etc... Nothing wrong with an auto, as long as it's a proper auto (ie dual clutch) and not a slushbox.

3/15/2012 11:20:47 PM

No more S2000 joyrides for you!

Perhaps I'm wrong, but ultimate driving machine for me = fully involving driving experience. A computer shifting gears for you isn't involving IMO.

3/16/2012 9:34:55 AM

FULLY INVOLVED

3/16/2012 12:24:37 PM

grammar nazi

3/16/2012 2:20:48 PM

dude i wasn't grammar naziing... i don't know grammar....

I was being a beastie boys like echo on your sentiment to really hammer that shit home.

3/16/2012 3:07:05 PM

3/16/2012 4:01:24 PM

do y'all have the sound system set to default settings or did you tinker with it? I have the regular one, whatever comes with sports/premium package - says BMW Professional on the head, not H&K. If so, what's your settings?

3/19/2012 11:58:56 PM

How about you mess with it till you like it ??

I always set my speakers to sound like surround sound for the driver and then mess with the eq till I like it.

3/20/2012 6:26:40 AM

I had to turn the bass down some because it was too boomy but thats all Ive done.

3/20/2012 8:04:57 AM

What a nightmare memorial day weekend. Headed to San Diego from SF Bay area on sat morning. 200 miles south from SF... near Fresno, cooling system overcooked, spewed coolant under the hood and all over I-5. Waited for 5hr on side of highway for tow truck. Thank god for CPO. They are repairing the car now at BMW of Fresno. 88,500 mileage. SA said they see a lot of 335i at this mileage with dead water pumps. Of course it had to happen the weekend you decide to travel for vacation.


When will this company make a cooling system worth a damn?

5/30/2012 1:47:13 PM

that's seriously crazy.

I think i may have been chased off from ever owning a bimmer now.


which sucks because they're the only car company that holds my values in everything but reliability.

5/30/2012 2:11:38 PM

Picked up an '09 328xi last night. W00t! First thing first - Replace that wood grain with aluminum.

5/31/2012 9:08:18 AM

What are you guys' thoughts on Oil Catch Cans? From what I've gathered they reduce carbon buildup on valves.. does anyone on here have it?


[Edited on May 31, 2012 at 9:15 AM. Reason : .]

5/31/2012 9:12:58 AM

i don't run a catch can but a drain back system but IMHO... on a car that the heads aren't submerged in oil i wouldn't bother.

But if you fee the desire.. rather then a catch can i run http://www.grimmspeed.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=91&products_id=191

5/31/2012 9:24:33 AM

What's your opinions on stickers on cars...specifically BMWs? Ok on most cars, not on BMWs? I only ask that because I don't really see any on them. I said fuck it and put two in my rear window

Quote :

"which sucks because they're the only car company that holds my values in everything but reliability."

To be fair to BMW you can't call his experiences the rule.

5/31/2012 9:31:59 AM

I know.. but i also know plenty of people with e36s that the water pump died on and left them stranded before 100k

the e39s 540s had similar cooling system issues compounded by a shitty radiator too.

he's had his fuel pump go bad, injectors go bad, and now the water pump. And it's not like these are random issues and his car is just a lemon... all of them have a pretty serious history with cars under 100k miles. Its pretty sad that it seems you can only trust these things 30-50k at a time.

It seems like the only cars they make worth a damn anymore are the M cars an my guess is the m1 and the new m5 will have the 335 issues.

[Edited on May 31, 2012 at 9:57 AM. Reason : .]

5/31/2012 9:56:25 AM

catch cans=bad idea on 335.

335 is definitely unreliable BMW model.

in 28k of ownership:

injectors
misfires
HPFP
water pump

that's too much.


E36, E46, E34, E60, E28, E39 have all been reliable sans few issues, but all cars have some.

5/31/2012 12:51:17 PM

my 04 325i recently hit 100k. I know it needs some work done, but what are the most important things to concentrate on so I can keep it forever? trying to keep costs as low as possible.

5/31/2012 12:56:38 PM

04 3 series. Let's see, here's what we do most often:
Cooling system -expansion tank, water pump, thermostat housing, radiators.
Oil leaks -oil filter housing, valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket.
Window regulators
Power Steering Leaks
Crank case breather
And quite rarely wheel bearings and I think I've seen one axle.

That's not trying to scare you away, I think they're fantastic and rather tough cars. Rare to see anything else broken. (well, hazard light switch, window switches if you spill things on them or gorilla grab them). Well OK rear shock mounts and a-arm/trailing arm bushings also...

[Edited on May 31, 2012 at 2:14 PM. Reason : ]

5/31/2012 1:58:07 PM

ha! driver side angel eye just died. keeps getting better

5/31/2012 7:30:38 PM

Quote :

"angel eye"

5/31/2012 7:43:25 PM

more like


amirite?

5/31/2012 8:42:03 PM

I hope the diesel variant is reliable cuz I would love to keep this car for a long time.

5/31/2012 9:27:10 PM

^^^ 4 years and 40k miles and only issue I have had was vanos solenoids and dsc, none leaving me stranded. Been rock solid for the past 2 years.

[Edited on June 5, 2012 at 4:38 PM. Reason : ]

6/5/2012 4:38:22 PM

I've only had mine for a year and a half, 34k-48k miles...but it's been fine during that period.

6/5/2012 5:32:36 PM

Enabled both rear fog lights to gain visibility and annoy tailgaters. Angel eye fixed itself, then died again. Whatever...

6/6/2012 4:21:47 PM

apparently my passenger side halo is out? is this something I can fix or do I need to take it in? I think I remember reading something about recalls on that, but I doubt I'd still be covered. ugh.

6/9/2012 10:59:22 PM

Has anyone put a hitch on their 335 (or any BMW really)? I've done some reading on e90 but am looking for some TWW input.

7/18/2012 9:44:01 PM

i let eurowise f with my bad halo. 85 bucks and done.

7/18/2012 10:31:21 PM

I love BMWs, i miss my BMWs, i want to want a BMW, but every time i get antsy and want a 135 or maybe 335 i get scared off. I've been doing a lot of BMWCCA track days lately and the N54 cars drop like flies. Limp modes all over. Even the owners are like, yeh, these are lease only cars... :/

[Edited on July 19, 2012 at 6:18 PM. Reason : .]

7/19/2012 6:18:13 PM

Just spent a week on vacation up in NY and I spent a lot of time driving my brother's 2007 335i 6 speed. A few observations:

-loved the power and low end torque. Just wow, pulls so hard from every gear.
-handling was good but not amazing (of course this gets a pass b/c this 335i doesn't have the sports package)
-I hate hate hated the shifter and clutch pedal (no wonder so many people get the DCT?). Shifter felt rubbery and the clutch pedal had no feel. Smooth shifts were difficult to come by and I noticed that even my brother (who has had the car for 2 years) wasn't that smooth either.
-couldn't stand the windshield wiper stalk, seemed overly complicated to me. Maybe over time I would realize the genius of it's way but after a week (and 2 days of driving in rain) I was annoyed with it.


That being said I also question the reliability of this car. The HPFP has been replaced, but my brother still has a problem with the engine going into limp home mode and the check engine light coming on. Turning off the car and restarting it makes everything go back to normal. That being said he took the car to the dealership before our NY trip and for the $150 diagnostic fee he was told nothing is wrong with the car. Then the check engine light (and limp home mode) came on twice on our trip. Again, turning the car off and on again fixed it. And the car performed wonderfully on the whole, so we didn't notice anything amiss.

Any suggestions on what could be causing this issue would be appreciated.

One other thing, is it normal for the 335i's engine to run a little hot? The coolant gauge for this car stays at 230 degrees under normal operating conditions.

7/31/2012 8:35:39 AM

^ TKE, do you find that the S2000 shifter has spoiled you? Virtually every other manual I drive feels clunky to me now. My '97 Civic felt decent for what it was, but even newer Hondas feel terrible to me. The M3's isn't too bad (well, for 1-4, 5th gear is some horribly vague spot waaaay off to the right), but it is one aspect of the two cars I've got right now where the S2000 wins hands down.

7/31/2012 3:42:03 PM

335 has arguably the BEST shifter BMW made aside from E46 ZHP. you hav def been spoiled by honda's shifter which have always been the better than BMWs shifters.

230 is not hot for 335i. try 250-260F

[Edited on July 31, 2012 at 4:14 PM. Reason : g]

7/31/2012 4:13:55 PM

Quote :

"TKE, do you find that the S2000 shifter has spoiled you?"

Perhaps it has. However, to be honest I don't think very highly of the S2000's shifter for just driving around town. It's too notchy and I usually end up letting the rpms drop too much inbetween gears resulting in a slight jerkiness. However, around the race track or in spirited driving when you want to shift as fast as possible it is absolutely brilliant.

On the flip side I prefer my Integra's shifter for around town driving. I also think it's clutch pedal feel is superior.

Quote :

"230 is not hot for 335i. try 250-260F "

Haha, yeah my brother said 230 is normal. But what about the CEL and repeated limp home mode? Any opinion on that?

7/31/2012 4:23:49 PM

On my cross country trip, I had a pinched vacuum line that affected boost and waste gate operation causing it too go to limp. Restart, works fine, then CEL again. He needs to get a code reader from any tuner online store and just read the codes he is getting. Unless he is at track pushing the car he should not be going to limp. That's not normal at all...even for this freakin car. Just take it to good indy shop if he doesnt want the hassle of diagnosing himself.

7/31/2012 7:51:27 PM

I've had my 2007 335i for a year and a half and it's been completely problem free. And while I haven't tracked it, I do drive pretty aggressively.

Quote :

"couldn't stand the windshield wiper stalk, seemed overly complicated to me. Maybe over time I would realize the genius of it's way but after a week (and 2 days of driving in rain) I was annoyed with it."

Takes a little getting used to, but I like the setup.

Quote :

"but my brother still has a problem with the engine going into limp home mode and the check engine light coming on."

Is it completely stock?

7/31/2012 8:53:38 PM

Quote :

"I do drive pretty aggressively."

been flogging the shit out of mine for the past year. replaced 1 injector. would buy again A+++++++

now i have changed oil twice and both front and rear brakes. just normal shit.

7/31/2012 9:14:08 PM

^^^thanks for the tip, I will pass it on.

^^car is completely stock. He bought it as a CPO with under 30k miles. I've tried to get him to come to the track with me but he has declined. And since it goes into limp home mode at (apparently) the drop of a hat I don't foresee him ever taking it to the track. He's looking around now at switching over to a 135i if one pops up.

Quote :

"Takes a little getting used to, but I like the setup."

Is there a way to manually set the wipers to operate on an intermittent setting? My brother said no, that it only does that via the "auto" setting. Seriously?

[Edited on July 31, 2012 at 11:34 PM. Reason : k]

7/31/2012 11:32:56 PM

For those who change their oil on this car, where do you get filters and oil? More importantly, how do you reset the maintenance indications on the computer?

Quote :

"Is there a way to manually set the wipers to operate on an intermittent setting? My brother said no, that it only does that via the "auto" setting. Seriously?"

Hm not sure, I always use the auto/rain-sensing feature and have been very happy with it. I'll play around and see if I can do it manually.

8/1/2012 8:55:00 AM

^http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10056

same procedure for any othe indicators...brakes, plugs, microfilter, maintenance intervals..etc

oil...dealer with bmwcca discount, turner or ebay.

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 1:01 PM. Reason : f]

8/1/2012 1:00:10 PM

Sweet thanks for the link

8/1/2012 3:21:37 PM

For oil changes, my local Advance Auto carries a couple dozen types of the OE Mann filters for BMW's, less than $4 for my e46 including the o-ring and crush washer. I've heard its up to each franchisee if they want to carry Mann or not. I just use any full synthetic that goes on sale at wallyworld like Mobile1 or Castrol.

[Edited on August 9, 2012 at 11:06 PM. Reason : .]

8/9/2012 11:04:08 PM

$157 oil change @ 90,500 miles.

Not having a place to change oil blows.

8/16/2012 12:57:14 PM

^ Hows your car running at 90k? Any noticeable decrease in performance? Also, is it true that you should change the oil at every 7,500 miles as opposed to the 15k BMW suggests?

[Edited on August 16, 2012 at 1:37 PM. Reason : .]

8/16/2012 1:37:03 PM