Hey bimmerforums, so I’m in the market for a new car and looking at either a 2008 335xi with 65,000 miles for $8,000 or a 2007 328xi with 65,000 miles for $7,000.
I’m leaning towards the 335 however my understanding is maintenance tends to more expensive and prevalent than on a 328 or 330. I was curious what you folks might have for thoughts on which car might be the better/smarter buy both short term and long term. Pros/cons?
I know there’s a ton of threads like this one out there so I apologize for the redundancy.
If you want the lowest cost of ownership, 328 would be the way to go. If you want to modify the car and get a little more power out of it relatively easy , the 335 will be much more fun and responsive to upgrades. They share similar issues (or preventative maintenance for most BMW's) , valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, water pump/thermostat, plugs/coils and the valve covers can crack. Nothing else to major for the 328's.
The early 335's have the N54. I have had some customers with only 80k miles need to replace the turbos. High pressure fuel pump is a common failure, the dealer will cover this to a certain mileage (check with your local dealer to see if its already been replaced). Fuel injectors have issues down the road. I might be missing some issues but this is what came to mind quickly. I have to say, the N54 is a ton of fun so it is not an easy decision!
If you have any other questions, feel free to email me, seank@turnermotorsport.com
Turner Motorsport
/ // Parts and Performance for BMWs
16 South Hunt Road
Amesbury, MA 01913
800-280-6966
info@turnermotorsport.com
I believe seank has summed it up well.
I've had a couple of each. I'm finding my 335i is significantly more maintenance, but I have also upped the boost and associated requirements.
For the first time ever, I got a beater car to drive while I'm working on my 335i... pricey if you just pay for all the labor.
However, when the hard top drops, and 400+ whp hits, all the sweat and tears are left behind.
I looked at both and ultimately settled on the 335. I think it has bigger brakes and sleight stiffer suspension. It felt more solid when driven - something that surprises me since they are otherwise the same. Maybe, it was the specific cars we drove. I love my manual transmission 2009 335xi in light blue color. It’s been a great car, but I also don’t put a ton of miles each year.
Just hope the turbos don't give you problems. Rebuilds are expensive.
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