New 2007 335i coupe owner

[Blackedout335]

Hey everyone,

I just purchased a 2007 black on black 335i coupe. Every option that you could get.
I just had a few questions that maybe you could help me with.
It is keyless entry but comes with a BMW key chain that I believe must be on you to start the car. The owner only has one. Where could I get another? I know BMW but I am guess they are expensive. Any idea how much?

Also it looks like the previous owner put a blow-off valve on the car. How does this affect the warranty. Will they not even look at the car with after-market parts on the car? Will they still do maintenance such as oil changes if there is mods on the car at the BMW dealership?
Thanks for all your help

[Jhunter]

There should be two key fobs. You can probably only get a replacement from the dealer. Maybe the original owner is just keeping one in case he wants to drive the car sometime. :confused

You will have serious warranty problems with the BOV. I don't see why they wouldn't do an oil change though. I would get the car back to stock before a dealer sees it. It may be too late for your warranty though if the original owner had in with the mods and the car is already '" in the system".

[Blackedout335]

ok, is there a part I could buy to replace to bov?

Where could I buy it from... dealer the only option?

[Beer Goggles]

ok, is there a part I could buy to replace to bov?

Where could I buy it from... dealer the only option?

I'd ask the guy you bought it from, and I'd ask him what other mods might be in there...something tells me if he left a BOV on there he's not telling you things. And I'd also question where the 2nd key is, not really a good thing to have another key floating around for your car and have somebody know where to "get it". :(

[Critter7r]

Engine mods won't affect the Maintneance Program coverage (oil changes, inspections, fluids, belts, wipers, etc), and will only affect the system that they're a part of for the regular warranty. So, if your ignition coil or (shocker!) fuel pump or headlight bulb fails, it'll still be covered. But if something in the turbo fails, the blow-off might have an impact if it's determined to be the cause of the failure.

[Blackedout335]

ok good info thanks, anyways if I cannot get that part from the guy, is there a simple part or part number I can order? Hopefully not through the dealer?

[Stealthauto]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your purchase!~ Be sure to enjoy her. :)

-Aaron

[Beer Goggles]

Engine mods won't affect the Maintneance Program coverage (oil changes, inspections, fluids, belts, wipers, etc), and will only affect the system that they're a part of for the regular warranty. So, if your ignition coil or (shocker!) fuel pump or headlight bulb fails, it'll still be covered. But if something in the turbo fails, the blow-off might have an impact if it's determined to be the cause of the failure.

Umm there have been plently of posts where the dealer pulled the warranty on somebody because of a mod.

If you find a dealer talk to the service manager about mods, and find a tech to talk to them. Realistically if they don't "see it" they don't report it. But I'd ask what else was done to the car...I'm betting it had some chip mod, and I might even go to the dealer and ask for service records, it could turn out the car is already flagged as "modded".

[Blackedout335]

Can you just randomly get service records for any bmw with a vin at a dealership?

[Beer Goggles]

Can you just randomly get service records for any bmw with a vin at a dealership?

They might, you could always call and say you were going to buy the car from a private party...there are a few BMW techs that have helped people out in the past..

Ty <something> is very helpful, I just dont' remember his screen name.

[Beer Goggles]

Ah I found it Ty Vil is his SN, you can search for him and send him a PM.

[Blackedout335]

ok, I will try and give them a call

[raceyBMW]

In the eyes of the dealer, they won't really care about the BOV unless something major goes wrong (ie. turbo failure). Then they will probably hastle you for it. If you like the sound, I wouldn't worry about the BOV unless the dealer starts to hastle you, which at that time just remove it.

If you want to take it off, then you will need to replace the charge pipe and get new diverter valves, unless the original owner has it. Honestly, I don't see why he wouldn't.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=WB73&mospid=49514&btnr=13_1185&hg=13&fg=20
You will need the pipe pointed to by #5 and also #'s 13 & 14

[AbsolutDrew]

they should have sent you two sets, contact the owner and make sure he's not still holding onto the other one.

[Beer Goggles]

In the eyes of the dealer, they won't really care about the BOV unless something major goes wrong (ie. turbo failure). Then they will probably hastle you for it. If you like the sound, I wouldn't worry about the BOV unless the dealer starts to hastle you, which at that time just remove it.

If you want to take it off, then you will need to replace the charge pipe and get new diverter valves, unless the original owner has it. Honestly, I don't see why he wouldn't.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=WB73&mospid=49514&btnr=13_1185&hg=13&fg=20
You will need the pipe pointed to by #5 and also #'s 13 & 14

I'll have to disagree with that statement, but it really is dealer dependent if they want to "find" things. Some may not worry about things, others may. I might be wrong but I think somebody blew their engine with a BOV falling apart and sucking parts in the engine...that was a $18,000 problem.


And "hassle" you over a blown turbo is a bit of an understatement.

Don't get me wrong my last car was a Twin Turbo 350Z, and the dealer by me loved modded cars, but most of them don't. Considering BMW went on a witch hunt for ECU modding...I wouldn't be surprised if they are offering bonuses to techs for finding mods.

[Critter7r]

I'll have to disagree with that statement, but it really is dealer dependent if they want to "find" things. Some may not worry about things, others may. I might be wrong but I think somebody blew their engine with a BOV falling apart and sucking parts in the engine...that was a $18,000 problem.


And "hassle" you over a blown turbo is a bit of an understatement.

Don't get me wrong my last car was a Twin Turbo 350Z, and the dealer by me loved modded cars, but most of them don't. Considering BMW went on a witch hunt for ECU modding...I wouldn't be surprised if they are offering bonuses to techs for finding mods.

This is really it more than anything... BMW's official position is that the warranty is not affected unless the installed component causes or contributed to the cause of a failure that would otherwise be covered under warranty. So a leaking headgasket might not be covered if you've installed a supercharger, but the headlight bulbs will still be covered.


This probably isn't happening, since the delaer's get paid by BMW to actually perform warranty work, not turn it away.

[Beer Goggles]

This is really it more than anything... BMW's official position is that the warranty is not affected unless the installed component causes or contributed to the cause of a failure that would otherwise be covered under warranty. So a leaking headgasket might not be covered if you've installed a supercharger, but the headlight bulbs will still be covered.


This probably isn't happening, since the delaer's get paid by BMW to actually perform warranty work, not turn it away.

Okay, I'll ignore the posts on the forums that speak otherwise. Ask the manager and tech before you "test" the water.

[ModBargains]

Welcome! Congrats on the 335.

[raceyBMW]

I'll have to disagree with that statement, but it really is dealer dependent if they want to "find" things. Some may not worry about things, others may. I might be wrong but I think somebody blew their engine with a BOV falling apart and sucking parts in the engine...that was a $18,000 problem.


And "hassle" you over a blown turbo is a bit of an understatement.

Don't get me wrong my last car was a Twin Turbo 350Z, and the dealer by me loved modded cars, but most of them don't. Considering BMW went on a witch hunt for ECU modding...I wouldn't be surprised if they are offering bonuses to techs for finding mods.

HAHA, of course if the BOV fails and end up causing the turbos to overspool (like that other case) then they will probably do a little more than just hassle you about it, and be justified in doing so.

I am talking more like wastegate rattle issues, fuel pumps...things like that are known defects, but the dealer may still give you problems just because you have aftermarket components on...even though it may have nothing to do with what is going on. It's really up to the dealer on this one like you said.

I have been runing an aftermarket intake and bring it into the BMW service to get work done and don't think twice about taking it off first. But I will remove the piggyback if I feel they might be going into the ECU compartment.

It just comes down to how comfortable you feel with your service dept.

[Beer Goggles]

HAHA, of course if the BOV fails and end up causing the turbos to overspool (like that other case) then they will probably do a little more than just hassle you about it, and be justified in doing so.

I am talking more like wastegate rattle issues, fuel pumps...things like that are known defects, but the dealer may still give you problems just because you have aftermarket components on...even though it may have nothing to do with what is going on. It's really up to the dealer on this one like you said.

I have been runing an aftermarket intake and bring it into the BMW service to get work done and don't think twice about taking it off first. But I will remove the piggyback if I feel they might be going into the ECU compartment.

It just comes down to how comfortable you feel with your service dept.

Which has been my point from the start. I've read dealers threatening loss of warranty for using NON RFT...that's why you ask and be nice first. Because if they want to be pricks...it's much harder to fix things with parts on.


But back to my OG point...find out what mods were really on the car. a BOV isnt' an easy install on this car and I'd guess there is more too it.

[Babagnush]

I wouldn't buy a car from someone who was careless enough to lose a comfort access key fob and not keep the factory charge pipe and DVs. That's just me though. And having a BOV will without a doubt raise some eyebrows at the dealer. I'm sure you don't even know what spring that BOV is using. It could be sprung for a car running a tune. Which would create compressor surging if that tune isn't there anymore. The only reason for getting a BOV on a closed loop turbo system is for the sound anyway. They won't deny your maintainence for it, but they'll deny anything else they can. The dealer gets paid a nominal fee for warranty work vs. the premium rate they'd get from you. I'd pass on this car, that's just my 2 cents though.


Edit: Ok looks like you already bought it. You can save some cash and get the Riss Racing charge pipe/DV kit. This will give you a new, better than stock charge pipe and two new DVs(diverter valves) with adjustable springs. This will allow you to run the right spring for your application. If your ECU is stock, run the 8-10 psi spings. Get a tune, run the 15psi springs.

[Blackedout335]

is there anyone in the Orlando FL area that knows these cars that would be willing to take a look at the engine, possibly replace the stock parts and take off the bov. Obviously get paid to do maybe next month or I can meet you somewhere. Thanks

[Critter7r]

Okay, I'll ignore the posts on the forums that speak otherwise. Ask the manager and tech before you "test" the water.


You know, the good thing about working at a dealer is that you get to see how things actually work, and not how people that post on forums assume things work.

Now, obviously, I can't speak for evry dealer, or even a lot of them, but I've worked at 4 BMW dealers (and 1 domestic) in 3 states over the last 15 years, and the dealer I'm at now, I've been at for over 10 of them. At all the dealers I've worked at and all the dealer group meetings and training classes I've been to and talking to people from other dealers, the consensus has been that when a customer comes in with an aftermarket part of whatever sort (engine, electronic, suspension or otherwise), if we couldn't definitively prove that the aftermarket part caused the failure, then the repair would be covered. It wasn't that if there was an aftermarket part on the car, we just stopped trying to fix it and told the customer it wouldn't be covered.

Because we know that as soon as we tell the customer that, they're going to take their car somewhere else. And what if they then are happy with that 'somewhere else'? Then they're not going to come back to us for anything.

I've heard enough stories online to believe that these things are happening, but I just want everyone to know that it's not right! BMW does NOT void the vehicle's warranty due to an aftermarket part!! And voiding warranty because of non-run-flat tires, I'm sorry but that is just stupid. Anybody that would try to pull that off is really an idiot.

[mryakan]

Okay, I'll ignore the posts on the forums that speak otherwise.
Yeah don't believe all you read on the forums unless backed up with solid evidence. A lot of it is uninformed people being fed incorrect information that they repeat and others repeat after them until the large amount of posts on a certain topic make it become a fact due to sheer volume even though there is no evidence of it being true. I believe this is how urban legends are born. I'd like to yet see one of those claiming denied warranty work post their work orders for us to see. Actually, to be fair, I did see one in the recent past, but that was about it:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1021280

[Beer Goggles]

Yeah don't believe all you read on the forums unless backed up with solid evidence. A lot of it is uninformed people being fed incorrect information that they repeat and others repeat after them until the large amount of posts on a certain topic make it become a fact due to sheer volume even though there is no evidence of it being true. I believe this is how urban legends are born. I'd like to yet see one of those claiming denied warranty work post their work orders for us to see. Actually, to be fair, I did see one in the recent past, but that was about it:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1021280)
/showthread.php?t=1021280 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1021280)


I'm going to base it off the people who posted these things dont' seem like kids talking about wasting time.

Yes it's very easy to say that if you upgraded we won't worry until it breaks, the thing is that some of the changes actually can cause failure and then WILL be a problem.

I don't want to sound ANTI-Mod...I had a twin turbo car that could have voided every warranty I had on the car. It's just knowing that despite the dealers that come on an Enthusiast forum and say they are mod friendly there are lots of dealers out there (the majority) that are morons and don't act that way.

The place I bought my 350Z from told me I couldn't put any other intake on it than the NISMO one, which was technically made by AEM. They stated unless it was installed by them it would cause problems. The other dealer told me not to worry about my Twin Turbo and if any problems came up they'd handle it.

There are mod friendly dealer, and honestly I don't even think most will come on line and say it, because I've seen companies use ONLINE post against the owner to deny a claim.

Subaru was going to local race tracks and tracking VIN numbers because their warranty states if used in racing it voids the warranty...even though they gave you an SCCA membership with the car.

I'm not making this up about a few people online who may or may not have had issues, I'm basing it off being in the aftermarket community and witness problems that came from modifiying cars and NOT knowing that you shouldn't trust anybody when it comes to that. Tomorrow the guy on here who says it's okay goes somewhere else and his word leaves too.

When BMW gets brought into the situation on an expensive claim...they will look to blame it on you. That's how it goes.