[2e9x's]

You don't often hear nice things being said about BMW NA. Here's the background story -

My wife's 2008 335i has 19,000 miles on it. So far it has had all 6 injectors replaced, 6 spark plugs, and 2 HPFP's (I recall 3 of them, but BMW's computer only shows 2). All of this has been within the past 3,000 miles and 4 months. My wife uses only 91 octane tier 1 gas and drives very normally. The car has no modifications and has never been modified.

On Sunday, while I was out at Streets of Willow with the BMW CCA LA Chapter, she calls me and tells me her car is difficult to start (again) and is going into an immediate limp mode. Unfortunately she is not close to home, but she gets it and the kids back safely.

Yesterday morning I took the car to the dealer (South Bay BMW). The service manager came out and saw the car with the MIL illuminated. I explained the car's history as politely as possible and told him that I understood this is not the dealership's fault.

The following day I got a call from BMW NA. They are agreeing to pay the remaining two months lease payments. Kudos for stepping-up and doing the right thing. The rep from NA was extremely friendly and helpful.

So while my wife will really miss this car, I am unwilling to take another chance of her getting stranded. She is now the proud owner of a 2009 VW Passat CC Luxury, black on black. Not a BMW I know but still...VW seems to have worked the kinks out of their HPFP's.

I wish I could attribute these issues to one bad car but these failures are just too common. My mom's (age 69) 2007 335i coupe has had 2 replacement pumps, a full set of injectors and 6 plugs. That car has 12,000 miles on it. My 07 335i only went through one HPFP in 20,000 miles but still...

BMW is a great engineering company that makes amazing cars. I just wish they would get a handle on this situation.

[fuzzy123]

Could it be the type of gas your wife/mom put in?

I know the HPFP issue is very common (hasn't happened to me yet in 25k miles) ... I guess its just luck of the draw...

[2e9x's]

I seriously doubt it. They both use only tier 1 Chevron or Shell 91. I mean clearly the gas has something to do with it but that really does not make things better. This engineering gaff is unfortunate.

[TXSurfer]

i live in tx and use shell 93 and havent had a hiccup yet on my modded 07 with 38000 on it maybe it is a hit or miss

[GrandMaster_B]

Glad that it worked out for you.

I'm in the middle of a buyback situation (BMW has agreed to replace the car, but so far no details...) and I'm hesitant to get another one because of the bad luck people are having with multiple cars.

[shaddai]

Originally Posted by GrandMaster_B

Glad that it worked out for you.

I'm in the middle of a buyback situation (BMW has agreed to replace the car, but so far no details...) and I'm hesitant to get another one because of the bad luck people are having with multiple cars.

I wasn't willing to risk another 335i. Clearly, they have not fixed the issue.

[Kroy]

Originally Posted by 2e9x's

You don't often hear nice things being said about BMW NA. Here's the background story -

My wife's 2008 335i has 19,000 miles on it. So far it has had all 6 injectors replaced, 6 spark plugs, and 2 HPFP's (I recall 3 of them, but BMW's computer only shows 2). All of this has been within the past 3,000 miles and 4 months. My wife uses only 91 octane tier 1 gas and drives very normally. The car has no modifications and has never been modified.

On Sunday, while I was out at Streets of Willow with the BMW CCA LA Chapter, she calls me and tells me her car is difficult to start (again) and is going into an immediate limp mode. Unfortunately she is not close to home, but she gets it and the kids back safely.

Yesterday morning I took the car to the dealer (South Bay BMW). The service manager came out and saw the car with the MIL illuminated. I explained the car's history as politely as possible and told him that I understood this is not the dealership's fault.

The following day I got a call from BMW NA. They are agreeing to pay the remaining two months lease payments. Kudos for stepping-up and doing the right thing. The rep from NA was extremely friendly and helpful.

So while my wife will really miss this car, I am unwilling to take another chance of her getting stranded. She is now the proud owner of a 2009 VW Passat CC Luxury, black on black. Not a BMW I know but still...VW seems to have worked the kinks out of their HPFP's.

I wish I could attribute these issues to one bad car but these failures are just too common. My mom's (age 69) 2007 335i coupe has had 2 replacement pumps, a full set of injectors and 6 plugs. That car has 12,000 miles on it. My 07 335i only went through one HPFP in 20,000 miles but still...

BMW is a great engineering company that makes amazing cars. I just wish they would get a handle on this situation.

Your whole family seems to love the 335i.

[BavarianBullet]

Originally Posted by 2e9x's

You don't often hear nice things being said about BMW NA. Here's the background story -

My sentiments exactly.

This car and the Space Shuttle have a lot in common (uber complex, lots of gadgets to break) and unfortunately it's about as reliable to run as the SS is of liftoff on any given launch attempt.

While the N54 gained fame from the auto press re it's wonderful design in 2006, it seems it will ultimately achieve infamy with it's reliability.

Man, the US Big 3 used to make cars this unreliable, WTF.

[JoosyJoos]

I kinda wonder if the N54's problems are exacerbated on the forums. You only hear about the problems on the forums... it's a selection bias to an extent. I'd be curious to find out the actual number of units that have failed relative to the population of N54s. I haven't had a problem with mine yet *knocks on wood* however my mothers 535i has gone through one fuel pump at 5k miles.

[shaddai]

Originally Posted by JoosyJoos

I kinda wonder if the N54's problems are exacerbated on the forums. You only hear about the problems on the forums... it's a selection bias to an extent. I'd be curious to find out the actual number of units that have failed relative to the population of N54s. I haven't had a problem with mine yet *knocks on wood* however my mothers 535i has gone through one fuel pump at 5k miles.

Maybe, but how many buybacks have you heard in relation to the 328i, or the 330i, or the 325i? Non zero, but far closer to that number.

[roozie2001]

Originally Posted by TXSurfer

i live in tx and use shell 93 and havent had a hiccup yet on my modded 07 with 38000 on it maybe it is a hit or miss

+1. same here. (as i knock on wood. ) lol

[MSPORTWORLD]

Secretly I hope the fuel pump in your CC fails to, not anything against you specifically, but if enough people's fuel pumps fail, the US government will finally realize how stupid "enriching" fuel with ethanol is. Instead of having car companies just design around a stupid idea.

[BavarianBullet]

Originally Posted by TXSurfer

i live in tx and use shell 93 and havent had a hiccup yet on my modded 07 with 38000 on it maybe it is a hit or miss

Gas is very regional. Different blends AFAIK.

Recently I've been getting start-die from my engine on first crank again. That is, the engine starts and then dies immediately. Start it again right away and it's fine.

It did this and "surging" at WOT (feels like rapid throttle closure or spark blow out) right below my first fuel pump let go around 6k miles (a few months ago).

So when it started again recently, I decided to try different gas to see if it made a difference- I literally buy all my gas from a single Shell station near my home. So I tried mobil 93 and so far, no start/die problems and almost zero surging at WOT.

I've only been through about 1 tankful of the mobil so far and was going to wait a little longer before reporting any findings but so far it does seem to be a significant difference. I'm keeping an eye on it and may switch back to a 1/2 tank of Shell when empty to see if the problems return. YMMV.

[2e9x's]

You know...somebody mentioned hoping the HPFP dies on the CC...kind of jerky, but I understood the sentiment... VW was having issues with their HPFP's on the 2006-2008.5. Then VW changed over to a new engine and seems to have gotten their pumps under control.