BMW 3 series (opinions?)

[flanman]

So everyone here was super helpful when I was gathering info before buying my monster. I've checked out a few bmw forums but wanted to get some opinions from this group  . I am looking at a higher milage 2007 328xi coupe, working within a limited budget. From what I've read the 3 series are pretty solid, fun, decent driving vehicles. My concern comes up after reading about reliability and maintenance cost horror stories. Does anyone here have a 3 series and would you recommend it to others? I know every car has issues and can be pricey I just don't want to buy a something notorious for problem after problem. Thanks!

[Skybarney]

I had a 330I convertible.  Great fun to drive but every time the top actually worked I felt like I won the lottery.  I would NEVER own that car without a full warranty...........

Damn thing adjusts the passenger mirror down to look at the curb when parking......  To many bits and sensors to break and I felt the full effect of it.  The BMW's are only great if you can stay in the warranty!

[sno_duc]

Our currently cages are my '11 135 M-sport 6mt and her '12 328xi coupe (European delivery), previously she drove a '08 335xi coupe.
Only issue we've had was on the 335, a temp sensor didn't like going from a 55* heated garage to -20* outside and would throw a CEL, didn't affect performance just a PITA.

If you can look for a CPO with time and mileage left on the warranty. Also take a test thrash drive in a 135 /128, it's what the 3 series was a couple of generation ago.

[caperix]

What kind of milage is higher milage?  The E90 3 series is not a horrible car but there are some things to watch out for.  The N52K engine uses a mag block so most of the bolts are aluminum, over time & heat cycles the heads break off the bolts causing all sorts of issues.  If it is an auto make sure it is not slipping or shifting rough, the ZF trans with the plastic pan is worse for this than the GM trans with the metal pan, a 328 could have either.  Have it inspected before make a decision, get as much service history as you can & try to get an extended warranty on it.

[The Mad King Pepe']

Great cars to drive, my brother had a 318ti that was a hoot! But ... they can get very very expensive! Guy in my condo had to replace a $500+ head light module due to some BS component that had gone bad in his 5-series.

If you're on a budget sites like http://www.germanautoparts.com/ or even your local junkyard might be your best friend. I used to have a 3rd gen Golf, and while I loved the car (and miss it!), going into the shop (any, not just VW) meant spending on it more than it was worth.

I also have a 2006 BMW F650GS, and it's a well build bike but the parts are expensive! Also there's so many f***ing screws holding everything together...   I feel like the Germans tend to go OCD when engineering their bikes (and cars) and overdo things... like the axle on my F650's triples: it's two pieces with a special nut and requires a special tool to torque it down correctly...  

If you're looking for a cheap fun car I can recommend the Honda Civic Si. Unlike the regular Civic, it has proper shocks, seats, a manual 6-speed, and Japanese practical reliability.

[Speedbag]

A buddy had an early 2000s 3-series. Fun to drive, decently built. However, once it got out of warranty and close to 90K on the odo, the little stuff started cropping up. Said little stuff cost an average of a grand every time he took it in.

Now he drives a C-class Benz. Same general situation.

[hbliam]

Just got rid of my wife's 335i with 55k on the odo. I've never had a car in the shop more. As was said, do not own a bmw with no warranty. The last repair which they covered as a good faith warranty at 51K would have run me $2200 and was just a fuel pump. Fun to drive but horribly unrealiable.

[zooom]

E30 and E36 are/were examples of how bulletproof they can be...the E46 can be depending on how it was driven and maintained....I have not much experience beyond the E46 generation.

[hbliam]

Ours was easy to maintain. It was in the shop so much it never missed an oil change. 

[Skybarney]

There is a reason they are called BM Trouble Yous..........

[duc_fan]

If you own a German car, and it's out of warranty, be prepared to spend on maintenance and repairs.  This is true for Audi, BMW, M-B, Porsche, and VW.  They're fun to drive and well-engineered, but when they start getting long in the tooth and the little electrical crap starts breaking, they can cause some very expensive headaches.

I highly recommend having a good German auto mechanic nearby.

This is the biggest reason why my wife and I bought a new Subaru Outback instead of a used Porsche Cayenne.  No German auto mechanic nearby... closest reputable one is 2 hours away.  The Subaru dealership (with a reputable service shop) is 45 min away, and only 20 min from my workplace.  If something needs fixed and I don't have the time to do it, the shop is the backup, and I like having them nearby.

You may get lucky, and your particular car may have been well-maintained, and it may only break cheap stuff occasionally, and generally be a good car.  I just wouldn't gamble on it unless you have a reliable backup vehicle.

[Mr.Purple]

I had a 1986 E30 325i M-tech when I was 19, best car I ever had.

Buddy of mine got a E39 520ia with 340 000km on the counter. It will be the second bimmer he takes over 350k km.

[flanman]

Thank you all for the feedback and firsthand experiences! This particular car has 94,000 miles on it, I think I will keep looking. Seems like without a warranty and the fact its not a certified pre owned from a dealer with a decent paper trail of service history its a bit risky.

[Drjones]

There is a reason they are called BM Trouble Yous..........

New one.  Always heard they were called Break My Wallets.

[MadDuck]

I work in an independent BMW / Mini repair shop as the service manager and sometime tech ( been working on these cars since the mid '70's and am ASE Master certified. Even did a stint for years as a dealership service manager.  The E90 series is no car to own without  a good, highly comprehensive extended warranty. Period. I don't think they drive as nicely as the E46 series and they are far more complicated.  Good luck to anyone with a 335i.  If you haven't been bitten yet you will be. Not only are they ( all models ) fussy and prone to breaking you really need the combination of a good experienced, intelligent, honest tech with a good grasp of the fundamentals and the particular traits of these cars.  That combination is hard to find and well worth what he charges you if you do find him.  God help you if you are going to Jiffy Lube or other generic shops. You WILL suffer as a result. You cannot cross compare other older models with the new ones. They are completely different animals.  My $0.02.