Considering buying this car! Need opinions

[Tiny Chainsaw]

What's up, first post here.

I'm planning to buy a 335i (2007-2010) for the N54.
Found a nice 2009 Alpine White 335i 6MT for 28k, and was wondering about your opinions?

The only thing that concerns me is the "corporate fleet vehicle" on carfax, because I'm not sure if it was a demo car or not, because it is a manual and I'm not sure why they would choose a manual to be a fleet vehicle. Seems more likely that it would be a demo car lent to magazines and what not.

And I was also wondering if it's worth it to buy a 335i from a private owner instead of a dealership... I mean are BMW's warranties transferable?

Carfax Link: carfax.com/VehicleHistory/p/Report.cfx?make=BMW&vin=55|-96|22|88|-119|-70|46|-106|26|-128|-4|-74|21|-55|-48|106|-41|-116|-67|42|-34|-75|-92|-60|&dealer_id=53500956&car_id=332342637&partner=ATD_W

[tularockstar]

My wife and I have just bought a CPO 2010 328ci two weeks ago, and have to say that we are loving it! The difference between 335i and 328i is that 335i has turbo, and 328i doesn't. Even without the turbo, our 328ci kicks butt with plenty of power up the hill and gets pretty good mileage as well. Of course the 335i will give you a bit more power, but it will cost more to repair as well--when the turbo breaks! I would suggest buying a 2010 or newer, as you should still have factory warranty (if less than 50k miles) for the free maintenance. Then, if you have a choice of purchasing the extended warranty--or buy a Certified Pre-Own (CPO) that comes with extended warranty up to 100k miles. Even though we bought ours CPO, we still had to take it in last week for some brake pulsation. Which, the dealer ended up replacing the entire front brakes. This, would have cost us almost $800, but the warranty covered it.

I hope this helps!

[Ian1973]

To me it sounds leased to a corporate entity. Like a private company who buys or leases cars for their staff level managers.

I do not understand why people immediately assume because a vehicle has a turbo, that they become less reliable than the same car without a turbo. Do you know how many cars out there have turbos?
Beyond that there are differences beyond turbos with the 335 and 328, and it is much more than "a bit more power".

[tularockstar]

Ian,

It was not my intention to offend any 335i owners, or implied that 335i with turbo is not a great car! Yes, many cars have turbos, and those who like it should, by all means, get one.

My opinion was just that, an opinion! I have test drove both 335i and 328i, and found that we got the power we needed in the 328i. Of course, 335i would have more power. But, we also weighed in the facts of additional costs and future maintenance. And, just like any mechanical things, there will always be a few problem (turbo) children out there. I just didn't see the need or wanted to take the risk of getting a 335i.

Just clarifying my comments.


To me it sounds leased to a corporate entity. Like a private company who buys or leases cars for their staff level managers.

I do not understand why people immediately assume because a vehicle has a turbo, that they become less reliable than the same car without a turbo. Do you know how many cars out there have turbos?
Beyond that there are differences beyond turbos with the 335 and 328, and it is much more than "a bit more power".

[Hollywood D]

Corporate fleet vehicle means it was either registered to a business as somebody's company car or worst case it was a rental car. I don't know if anybody is renting BMWs but I know you can get Mercedes from Hertz, Enterprise, etc.

You see corporate fleet vehicles a lot with used Fords. Anywhere from taxis to construction.

[ndog14]

Turbocharged cars have more components. More components=more stuff to fail.

[floydr]

Turbocharged cars have more components. More components=more stuff to fail.

This is absolutely not true, when it comes to comparisons between the N52 and N54 (the N55 is a different story). The N52 has Valvetronic, which has at least 14 more parts (in the head) than the N54, outweighing the turbo stuff.

[ndog14]

This is absolutely not true, when it comes to comparisons between the N52 and N54 (the N55 is a different story). The N52 has Valvetronic, which has at least 14 more parts (in the head) than the N54, outweighing the turbo stuff.

What isn't true about that? If the N52 has more parts altogether than the N54 that means more parts to fail. This isn't about the reliability of individual parts, just math, 2 > 1. If you want to discuss overall reliability and long term running costs an N52 is superior.

[floydr]

What isn't true about that? If the N52 has more parts altogether than the N54 that means more parts to fail. This isn't about the reliability of individual parts, just math, 2 > 1. If you want to discuss overall reliability and long term running costs an N52 is superior.

Your posting implies that the N54 is more unreliable than the N52 due to "more parts" (we're talking 335i and 328i after all.) If that isn't what you meant, then you just weren't clear.

I agree that the N54 is more unreliable (than N52), but it's due to reasons other than parts count.

[Karbon]

Corporate Fleet vehicle could means anything.
It could simply have been a guy who bought it under his small business.

I wouldn't worry about it if it's been taken care of properly.

[ndog14]

Your posting implies that the N54 is more unreliable than the N52 due to "more parts" (we're talking 335i and 328i after all.) If that isn't what you meant, then you just weren't clear.

I agree that the N54 is more unreliable (than N52), but it's due to reasons other than parts count.

I did not know Valvetronic had so many parts. I acted the belief that the N52 is a traditional NA I6 and the N54 is an I6 with 2 turbos and all the other turbo parts. What is Valvetronic? Is that BMW's name for variable valve timing? I thought that was part of the vanos system.


Corporate Fleet vehicle could means anything.
It could simply have been a guy who bought it under his small business.

I wouldn't worry about it if it's been taken care of properly.

My uncle does this. He uses his F-150 for work and it shows. I have never seen it clean since he bought it.

[floydr]

I did not know Valvetronic had so many parts. I acted the belief that the N52 is a traditional NA I6 and the N54 is an I6 with 2 turbos and all the other turbo parts. What is Valvetronic? Is that BMW's name for variable valve timing? I thought that was part of the vanos system.

Valvetronic is the variable LIFT AND DURATION that replaces the throttle in the N52 (and N55) engines. It's entirely separate (other than being in the head) from VANOS. It consists of a drive positioning motor, an eccentric gear/camshaft and followers on every intake valve (12). Realoem.com has it (intake camshaft and attached parts) if you look at the engine blowup pages.

As you imply, reliability doesn't (necessarily) follow parts count. If that were true, our 4-valve engines would be significantly more unreliable than the M20 SOHC that they replaced (there were a couple iterations between).;)

[Karbon]

My 2010 335i was a 'Fleet Vehicle'
I found out that the person who leased it originally leased it for his wife. Car is spanking new looking inside and out.

No issues to be found. Anyone with a business can register a car under their business and it will show up as a 'Fleet Vehicle'. Doesn't look like it was used for 'work' at all. See below for my former 'Fleet Vehicle'

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/panzerdragon/335i/DSC_0101.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/panzerdragon/335i/DSC_0106.jpg

[cochise325]

My 2010 335i was a 'Fleet Vehicle'
I found out that the person who leased it originally leased it for his wife. Car is spanking new looking inside and out.

No issues to be found. Anyone with a business can register a car under their business and it will show up as a 'Fleet Vehicle'. Doesn't look like it was used for 'work' at all. See below for my former 'Fleet Vehicle'

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/panzerdragon/335i/DSC_0101.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/panzerdragon/335i/DSC_0106.jpg

I need a work vehicle like that so i can wonder why they call it work.

[gpb]

Anyone with a business can register a car under their business and it will show up as a 'Fleet Vehicle'. Doesn't look like it was used for 'work' at all.

A car leased for business use can be "written off" as a business expense, thus saving on your taxes. I may be wrong but would assume there's something about business/personal use split and it getting sticky if you get audited and are found to have been dishonest about the "business use" of the car.

[ndog14]

A car leased for business use can be "written off" as a business expense, thus saving on your taxes. I may be wrong but would assume there's something about business/personal use split and it getting sticky if you get audited and are found to have been dishonest about the "business use" of the car.

Exactly. Do you really want to be skimping on your taxes as the US is approaching the fiscal cliff and deficit cutting talks are going nowhere?