335i or not ???

[WPBMW]

I am in the market for a car, as driving my 4 ton Land Cruiser in traffic to Simons town and back from the N subs every day is not always fun. Lets put it this way, my insurance asked me to get a smaller car as I take a car out every 3 months on average with Crooza, and I must confess it is fun.
I had two 330i before, both manual and I loved them. I never had any problems with either.
But now I am a few years older and now I also want to sit back and read the Burger while driving to work (I want an Auto box)
But i have a few options. BMW 335I, Chev Lumina SS, C55 AMG.
The reason why I want the 335 is, because of safety and not too bad fuel consumption.
All second hand, as I am never going to buy a new car again, as I lost too much with my two 330i's.
But reading this forum scare me a bit of a 335....it seems there are issues and problems. I see there are recalls (Yes, sure my BMW 1200GS also had recalls) but my knowledge of the 335 might let me down and i might buy a problem.
First I am to find a good looking white 335i or second choise a silver, Auto, with sunroof and xenons. Where do i look ?
Secondly can I ask the owner to take it to BMW to have a report before I buy ? Can I extend the M/Plan ? Can somebody else with knowledge check this car out and look for the danger signs ?
Thirdly I would like to have it a bit more power, maybe the JB4 and a proper exhaust (Powerflow, comes to mind)
All help will be appreciated.

 

[zaleonardz]

//Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm tough one.

I get where your coming from I think...

I have a silly question for you, have you thaught of the E60 5 series... You can purchase a seriously nice E60 550 for 250 to 280k nowadays. 525's could be had for far less. 530i's will have essentailly the same motor as the 330i, and the 530d is just phycotic....

Now firstly.....

1. Do not say they handle like a tank until you have tested one.
2. Their maintance is not that heavy, its a fraction more, but its not going to break the bank if you find a clean example
3. The diesels are frikken awesome on a BMW.

I can add onto this list, but who's that for starters...

 

[msm]

Have you considered a 330d (or possibly 530d)?

 

[herr bmw]

there is a 335i white with all the bells and whistles at pretoria club fountains
asking 298000 for it .was thinking of it my self but only had the 323i since feb

 

[mahinder-suresh]

///Mmmmm awesome car buy it!

 

[WPBMW]

Hi, thanks a lot so far for the comments. It all makes sense.
Well i will need somebody with knowledge of these cars to check it out for me if in Blue Bull land. No problem to get the car down here as I am sure if i ask my son to race, i mean drive, it to CT he will do for me. I see in CT there are a few gents who seems to understand these cars....

 

[Twinz]

From what you describing i dont think the 335 falls in your category of a car to save on fuel and or to sit in daily traffic or a city runner.

Its a performance car. Period.:excited:

BMW happens to stumble on this gem of a car and hence the reason you get long forum debates: M3 vs 335. It is that good of a car. I have owned two of them and its been a brilliant choice i made.

Yes, the earlier versions have come with their fuel pump/turbo and injector issues. But the later models, like mine, is hard as nails even being heavily modded.

Which year model 335 are you looking at?
If it is out of motorplan...dont take it, unless you want to build a fun/play car.

My suggestion would be to look for a 330d...it sounds more like what you describing you need. Economical, powerful and does not have the historic problems of the 335.

I will be very willing to assist if you choose a 335/135. But i can tell you now; i have lived with this car for many years and can tell you if it is joing to be a fail just by listening to the motor

All the best with the search...:thumb:

 

[WPBMW]

Twinz, perhaps I should have givin more info. I am a power freak, hehehe.
I ride my GS 1200 like a superbike and i often do 0-100 in 3 sec.
My Crooza gives 180kw and 460 Nm, and often I am involved to some sort of race...but i pick on the smaller cars and I wait for good twisties as the Crooza is permanent 4 wheel drive and really eats the ave rage car around corners...and fuel consumption is not really the issue. The Crooza gives in town 4.5 km/l and open road 6 and on Thursday evenings in the Atlantis dunes 2.5 km/l. But it takes 250 L and the only reason why a car with better consumption would be good as I dont want to stop every day to fill up.
I took the 55 AMG for a test drive and I can live with the power...it really goes well, but it is a 2006 model and getting a bit long in the tooth. I will take a 335 on Tuesday for a test and the same afternoon a Lumina 6L SS. In fact I am scared that the BMW might be a bit on the lean side regarding power, thats why I would think about a JB4.
I dont see why the 335 will not be happy to be driven in traffic ? Even a C 55 AMG is happy in traffic. Both cars will easily be driven in traffic due to large amount of torque, where kilowatts means nothing.
I will look at least at a 2008/ 2009 model, depending on price. I agree it must have motorplan and if possible with the option to extend. I hear what everybody say about the diesels, but I dont think it is time yet. Not that they are slow.
Thanks i appreciate and please send me a pm or mail with your contact details should i need your proffesional ear. Experience cannot be bought and thats why i need a Twinz with the knowledge to tell me and hold my hand with the purchase of a car/toy/performance thing.

 

[Twinz]

Thx. That explanation does help alot.
The JB will transform the car for sure and may even lower fuel consumption on
Moderate driving.

A 2008/2009 model is a good choice...the later the better. I heard that Hollard offers a good aftermarket warranty on the 335 covering the turbos and most major parts if you need to extend.

Enjoy the lumina test drive.

 

[E82 N55 fan]

you cant realy compare the 335i and the lumina ss in my opinion. stock vs stock he the 335i will eat the ss for breakfast. i know the book might say otherwise but wat i have seen with my own eyes the 335i is the clear winner:thumbsup: this is neither a biast nor argumental statement im just my opinion goodluck on the find tho

 

[WPBMW]

E82 N55 , I think you miss the point. I am not comparing the cars at all and each is a winner in its own rights. But yes maybe the 355 will win, maybe not. But I can tell you the roar of a V8 with nice header pipes on will leave every man with a spontaneous erection and your girl with a wet patch. Point.
My choice will still be the BMW and only for drivability, and I think the BMW will be the smoothest when having your family in the car and you try to behave behind the wheel. I also think the BMW will have the more advanced safety features and in any sports car that is a big feature. See how the kids are wiping themselves out by modifying their sewing machines (Golf, Opel) and the car goes, but it was not designed for that speeds (safety, brakes, drivability, component stress)
Twinz, thanks, yes I agree the later the model the better. How reliable was the 2009 ? When did BMW solve the issues ? Don’t forget to PM me your details.

 

[WPBMW]

E82 N55 , I think you miss the point. I am not comparing the cars at all and each is a winner in its own rights. But yes maybe the 355 will win, maybe not. But I can tell you the roar of a V8 with nice header pipes on will leave every man with a spontaneous erection and your girl with a wet patch. Point.
My choice will still be the BMW and only for drivability, and I think the BMW will be the smoothest when having your family in the car and you try to behave behind the wheel. I also think the BMW will have the more advanced safety features and in any sports car that is a big feature. See how the kids are wiping themselves out by modifying their sewing machines (Golf, Opel) and the car goes, but it was not designed for that speeds (safety, brakes, drivability, component stress)
Twinz, thanks, yes I agree the later the model the better. How reliable was the 2009 ? When did BMW solve the issues ? Don’t forget to PM me your details.

 

[Bossman]

Just make sure you take the VIN number down to yor local bmw outlet and get a complete!! pintout of the service history, and make sure the coding and HPFP changes have been done. Mine is on pump numbr 4!. So insurance on the 335 after motorplan is crucial, and yes friggen buy it!, I have both the 335i and the e90 330d, and they both go like hell, but i use the diesel for everyday driving.

 

[moranor@axis]

what about an m3?

 

[herr bmw]

phone this number,012 322 8546.club motors fountains pretoria
speak to Rudi,
looked at the car on thursday,white e 90,all the bells and whistles,if i remember correctly 84000km on the clock,so should still have motor plan.car looked in good condition,iwas thinking of buying it myself but will lose too much on the 323i as i bought it if feb this year.

i bought my 323i e90 from them and im really impressed with there service.its the only bmw dealer i will go to(i live around the corner from menlyn bmw)

 

[WPBMW]

Thanks herr bmw, i will give them a call. Sounds like it might be a 2007 model.

 

[WPBMW]

Ok well so this morning I took a 2006 335i Coupe for a test drive and the car blew me away....now i want a 335i and the Lumina is no longer an option.
I can get a good deal on this car, but then I am busy talking to 3 other possibilities as well. so hold thumbs.

 

[Twinz]

I ran a few modded Luminas in my area and I am still waiting for them to catch up. You made a good choice. Hopefully, one day Mr "suspect" and I will find each other at a red light...:excited:

But if you really want to go the Lumina route, you can also contact (Gogh & Cooper) sponsor on this forum. They specialise in boosting the Luminas and can recommend/point you....and they a stone throw from my house. :thumbsup:

 

[Fordkoppie]

A lumina is 10X more reliable than the 335i (Mabe cause it has 10X less things that can go wrong).
You can buy a new SS for the price of a used/abused 335i.
Fuel consumption on SS = Cruiser consumption

 

[WPBMW]

Ok the good news. I am now the proud owner of a white auto 335I. Now 1 week before my son can bring me the car from JHB.
Laser jammers is the first thing , then JB4, and where do i get something to make the angel yeyes bright and not the standard yellow ?

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