Buying Used 335i, any advice?

AaronL21 · 06-05-2010, 07:02 PM

Hi there,
I'm looking to buy a used 335i sedan and wanted to get people's advice. I found one that I particularly like from another private owner. It's a late 2007 car with Steptronic, Sport, Nav but no Premium package. It's going for $25,500 (I can probably negotiate it down a thousand or two) has 38,000 miles on it with 15 months original factory warranty left on it. Carfax is clean and it's been serviced regularly. My concerns would be:

1) Has had 2 owners. First was a lease return after 2 years with 33k miles on it. The current owner had a dealer friend buy it at an auto auction and has had it for a year only driving about 5k miles.

2) HPFP. Has never had any HPFP problems. If it's held up for 38k miles, are you pretty much in the clear?

3) How is this price? (Say a final sale at $24,500)

Any advice?

Thanks,
A

123Britt · 06-05-2010, 07:06 PM

I have a CPO 2007 335i and LOVE it. As long are you are ready for the German experience ~ oil changes every 7k and enjoy old school maintenance - she will provide years of driving pleasure -- if not seek G35.

AaronL21 · 06-05-2010, 07:10 PM

What do you mean by 'old school' maintenance?

I've owned a previous German car (Porsche Cayman) but they're more known for reliabilit than bmw so I'm a bit wary. It seems the 335i reliability is not too bad as long as you don't get the dreaded repeat HPFP failures?

123Britt · 06-05-2010, 07:14 PM

Compare the two and if you wish to own past 100k - you will need to follow the
E46 plan.

Bcube · 06-05-2010, 07:41 PM

The 2007s with the original HPFP and software seem to have gone a lot longer distance than the later 08 and 09 models with the -881 HPFP and crap software loads. My HPFP went ~59K miles.

That said, your original HPFP will eventually go out, but that component is covered under a stand alone 10 yr/120K mile warranty. Being a late 2007 build, you may have the newer part numbered turbos, fuel injectors, VANOS solenoids, etc, that needed or will need eventual replacement on the early build cars.

Marcus-SanDiego · 06-05-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronL21

Carfax is clean and it's been serviced regularly.

Piece of advice: do not limit yourself to Carfax. Run an Autocheck report as well. It's much better at picking up accidents.

AaronL21 · 06-05-2010, 08:41 PM

Thanks for the info. The build date is May '07 (wasn't purchased until August) so I may have the earlier components for the turbos, vanos solenoids, fuel injectors. What sort of problems have happened with those? Am I looking at a potential multi-thousands repair bill if they crap out after 50k miles or 4 years?

06-05-2010, 07:02 PM	#1
AaronL21 New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Buying Used 335i, any advice? Hi there, I'm looking to buy a used 335i sedan and wanted to get people's advice. I found one that I particularly like from another private owner. It's a late 2007 car with Steptronic, Sport, Nav but no Premium package. It's going for $25,500 (I can probably negotiate it down a thousand or two) has 38,000 miles on it with 15 months original factory warranty left on it. Carfax is clean and it's been serviced regularly. My concerns would be: 1) Has had 2 owners. First was a lease return after 2 years with 33k miles on it. The current owner had a dealer friend buy it at an auto auction and has had it for a year only driving about 5k miles. 2) HPFP. Has never had any HPFP problems. If it's held up for 38k miles, are you pretty much in the clear? 3) How is this price? (Say a final sale at $24,500) Any advice? Thanks, A
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-05-2010, 07:06 PM	#2
123Britt Captain 289 Rep 864 Posts Drives: 15 M235i AT Join Date: May 2008 Location: Madison, Alabama iTrader: (0)	I Like it. I have a CPO 2007 335i and LOVE it. As long are you are ready for the German experience ~ oil changes every 7k and enjoy old school maintenance - she will provide years of driving pleasure -- if not seek G35.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-05-2010, 07:10 PM	#3
AaronL21 New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	What do you mean by 'old school' maintenance? I've owned a previous German car (Porsche Cayman) but they're more known for reliabilit than bmw so I'm a bit wary. It seems the 335i reliability is not too bad as long as you don't get the dreaded repeat HPFP failures?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-05-2010, 07:14 PM	#4
123Britt Captain 289 Rep 864 Posts Drives: 15 M235i AT Join Date: May 2008 Location: Madison, Alabama iTrader: (0)	E46 Plan vs E90 Compare the two and if you wish to own past 100k - you will need to follow the E46 plan.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-05-2010, 07:41 PM	#5
Bcube Been there, wrecked that. 18 Rep 547 Posts Drives: '07 E93 335i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	The 2007s with the original HPFP and software seem to have gone a lot longer distance than the later 08 and 09 models with the -881 HPFP and crap software loads. My HPFP went ~59K miles. That said, your original HPFP will eventually go out, but that component is covered under a stand alone 10 yr/120K mile warranty. Being a late 2007 build, you may have the newer part numbered turbos, fuel injectors, VANOS solenoids, etc, that needed or will need eventual replacement on the early build cars. __________________ -Brian ~199K miles. I -still- don't fear my 335i.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-05-2010, 08:41 PM	#7
AaronL21 New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info. The build date is May '07 (wasn't purchased until August) so I may have the earlier components for the turbos, vanos solenoids, fuel injectors. What sort of problems have happened with those? Am I looking at a potential multi-thousands repair bill if they crap out after 50k miles or 4 years?
	Appreciate 0 Quote