They are solid in my opinion.
Regarding transfer case, the diesel engine vibrations while sitting at a light idling will wear out the output flange for rear driveshaft and eventually shear off. It's a questionable design for that by ATC, the supplier of these transfer cases. I have put a thread on f30 post regarding prevention methods for the output flange, but it's for the dedicated owner.
The diesel engine destroys the output flange faster, followed by the gas 4-cyl, and then very few reported 6cyl because they are naturally balanced.
It has nothing to do with the power or torque, but rather vibration. A small quantity of Loctite on the output flange splines takes care of that.
If you want completely trouble free, I'd get a rwd sedan.
The HPFP failures were because of low quality fuel, just as it was for VWs, Dodge Cummins, Ford trucks, and many others. Use a quality fuel station and add lubricant such as Diesel Kleen to prevent wear from the low sulfur diesel. Yes Bosch should have designed one for North American fuel from the beginning, but it took them a while to improve the pumps. BMW was nice enough to provide 10 year 120,000mile warranty on it (and very often downstream components).
I have to disagree on the electronics. They're tons better than e90 era. Obviously there are going to be incidents here and there, but I haven't seen as many of these failing. Also, I do electronic repairs and retrofits for BMWs as a side hobby.
*Owner of a 93,000 mile 328d wagon with 250hp and over 400ft-lbs of torque.
-Abel
- E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
- 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
- 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
- 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
- 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
- 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
- 2016 Mini Cooper S
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