2011 328i xDrive Sedan - Things to Consider?

**gjacquin** · 05-28-2019, 12:42 PM

Hi All, I'm new here. Have never owned a BMW, always admired them. Been to Germany and was amazed that taxi drivers use them over there! (or Mercedes, depending on where in Germany)

Anyway, considering a 2011 328i xDrive with 80K miles for my son to take to college. Thoughts on reliability, cost to maintain? Things to look for before I buy? Do they require full synthetic oil? Anything to consider related to reliability and cost of ownership. It sure is a nice looking car, seems to good to be true that there are a bunch out there around $9K. Thanks all.

**hemi6** · 05-29-2019, 08:38 PM

Oil pan big leaks 2k
Valve cover leaks 600.....new plastic valve cover because the PVC system is integrated and when it clogs guess what..
A/C Evaporator leaked: 2k
Main electronics board: under warranty
No sign of recall from 2 years ago ever being addressed
Under sized front brakes, new front rotors every year
Electric water pump seized: 1k
Should I keep going? My car is not unique and has less than 100k, if you buy a used BMW you will get real antiquated with it, BMW's are built to be trouble free for 60k miles, then its time for a new one.

Mike

**floydr** · 05-30-2019, 02:23 AM

While BMWs are not cheap to own and run, IMO Hemi's problems are not most people's experience.
For instance, my front brakes lasted just over 100K miles.
Last piece of A/C hardware I had to have replaced was an evaporator, in my '91 525i at 80K miles or so. Never had any problem in 145K in my 2001, and my current one at 135K.

Have your choice checked by a mechanic: www.bimrs.org www.bimmershops.com.

**gjacquin** · 06-01-2019, 08:45 PM

Thanks guys. I know there are lots of threads like this, but they are old, so I was looking for some recent input.

**The Beastmaster** · 06-02-2019, 07:57 PM

If the car has been dealer maintained, the brakes will frustrate you. BMW pads dust an incredible amount. You wash the car and wheels, drive a few miles and there is a coating of brake dust!

**luciano136** · 06-03-2019, 02:20 PM

I'm considering a 2011 328, so will subscribe to this one

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**gjacquin** · 06-07-2019, 08:50 PM

We bought a 2011 335i xDrive with 103K miles. It's beautiful inside and out, and runs great. Hopefully the turbo holds out during his college years. The only known problem is that the "Angel Eyes" don't work in one of the headlights. Apparently it's actually some sort of mechanical failure - same bulbs drive both the headlights and the DRLs. And the headlights follow the road as you turn. Way over-complicated headlights, that's for sure! Stealership wants $1,600 to replace the one headlight assembly. Well DRL is not needed, and you can turn them off in the software, so that's the free solution!

**luciano136** · 06-07-2019, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by The Beastmaster

If the car has been dealer maintained, the brakes will frustrate you. BMW pads dust an incredible amount. You wash the car and wheels, drive a few miles and there is a coating of brake dust!

Sounds like my 911.

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