[mtnviewer]

Hi,
This is my first time buying a car though I have been renting cars from last 5 yrs or so. I really like BMW as a car and want to get myself a used 328i from 2008-09. I have a budget of upto 27-28k.

Couple of questions:
1. How much is a fair price for single owner, 40k, 2008 328i, with and without options?

2. I have been warned by many people about maintenance costs for a BMW. Can you please give me an idea about how much will be typical service costs in a 5yr lifespan of the car? Any known maintenance issues which could be hard on pocket?

[gunsekun]

2008 FULLY LOADED 328i CPO 49k miles should be around $26k... cause auction price is around 21k...
maintenance is very expensive once you are out of the free maintenance program.. it's cheaper if you do your own Oil Change and brake pads... but if you willing to pay... it avgs 2k a year if only minor maintenance and repair is been performed.

[gunsekun]

I guess i should've said once you are out of warranty.... but oil change cost about 80-100 if you take to the stealership

[landau88]

Originally Posted by mtnviewer

Hi,
This is my first time buying a car though I have been renting cars from last 5 yrs or so. I really like BMW as a car and want to get myself a used 328i from 2008-09. I have a budget of upto 27-28k.

Couple of questions:
1. How much is a fair price for single owner, 40k, 2008 328i, with and without options?

2. I have been warned by many people about maintenance costs for a BMW. Can you please give me an idea about how much will be typical service costs in a 5yr lifespan of the car? Any known maintenance issues which could be hard on pocket?

As someone who just last month purchased a CPO BMW series, I would STRONGLY advise you to look at 2007 335i. I purchased a 2007 335xi after test driving both 335 and 328 of the 2007 and 2008 variety and firmly believe the 2007 335i will provide 90% of drivers the most satisfaction for their dollar. Between 2007 and 2008, there weren't any major changes made to the e90, while the changes that were made were mostly aesthetic in nature. The difference in power between the 335 and the 328 is DRASTIC and the 335 is also much more tunable, meaning you get easily get even more power out of it than what comes stock.

For the most part, your budget of 27-28k will get you a well equipped 2007 335 or well equipped 2008 328. As stated above, the improvement from a 2007 328 to 2008 328 is minor, while the improvement from a 2008 328 to a 2007 335 is drastic.

[JoosyJoos]

Originally Posted by landau88

As someone who just last month purchased a CPO BMW series, I would STRONGLY advise you to look at 2007 335i. I purchased a 2007 335xi after test driving both 335 and 328 of the 2007 and 2008 variety and firmly believe the 2007 335i will provide 90% of drivers the most satisfaction for their dollar. Between 2007 and 2008, there weren't any major changes made to the e90, while the changes that were made were mostly aesthetic in nature. The difference in power between the 335 and the 328 is DRASTIC and the 335 is also much more tunable, meaning you get easily get even more power out of it than what comes stock.

For the most part, your budget of 27-28k will get you a well equipped 2007 335 or well equipped 2008 328. As stated above, the improvement from a 2007 328 to 2008 328 is minor, while the improvement from a 2008 328 to a 2007 335 is drastic.

You bring up several relevant points... however, the 328i is considered more reliable due to the lack of HPFP issues. I think a lot of the reason the 335i prices have depreciated so much is do to the HPFP issues, carbon build up and other N54 specific problems. Besides, the 328i is the last of the naturally aspirated i6's... guess it all depends on what the OP prefers.

[Jred22]

coupe or sedan?

[landau88]

Originally Posted by JoosyJoos

You bring up several relevant points... however, the 328i is considered more reliable due to the lack of HPFP issues. I think a lot of the reason the 335i prices have depreciated so much is do to the HPFP issues, carbon build up and other N54 specific problems. Besides, the 328i is the last of the naturally aspirated i6's... guess it all depends on what the OP prefers.

I agree with that, but if you're going to cite the 328i as more reliable specifically due to lack of HPFP issues, you have to also note this aspect of unreliability in the 335i is negated by its extended warranty/recall. Turbo issues on the other may be valid (not really sure in all honesty).

[John 070]

The way I see it is these cars are great years 0-4, and that's when reliability means enjoy the car without spending a lot of time at the dealership. After that, it will be like that clown dancing around in the Progressive commercial, what's his name, big money? Reliable is one thing, cost of maintenance is something else altogether. I remember that guy saying his SES lit, needed an EVAP, and next thing he knew his 328i was on a lift to the tune of $1800.

[laughter95]

what were the differences between the 2008 and 2007? were there even any?

and yeah, after two months of car searching, i've finally come to landau's conclusion! also i realized that getting an LCI car would cost me an extra 10k or demote me to take a 328i for around 30k whereas i could get a 335i from 2007 for 25k. if i wanted the same options that the 2007 came standard with, i'd have to shell about 33-34k.

now one thing a salesperson told me that i found interesting... she said she bought her m3 with leatherette because it stays newer than leather. mentioned that the bolsters get creased with leather, whereas the leatherette stays taut and nice.

any thoughts on this last point?

[John 070]

Originally Posted by laughter95

what were the differences between the 2008 and 2007? were there even any?

and yeah, after two months of car searching, i've finally come to landau's conclusion! also i realized that getting an LCI car would cost me an extra 10k or demote me to take a 328i for around 30k whereas i could get a 335i from 2007 for 25k. if i wanted the same options that the 2007 came standard with, i'd have to shell about 33-34k.

now one thing a salesperson told me that i found interesting... she said she bought her m3 with leatherette because it stays newer than leather. mentioned that the bolsters get creased with leather, whereas the leatherette stays taut and nice.

any thoughts on this last point?

As far as I know no such thing as leatherette on a M3. Possibly cloth/leather like in a ZHP. Of course salespeople make things up as they see fit so maybe she has leatherette, but doubt it. Leatherette lends a cheap plasticky feel in a 328, that I can say firsthand from loaners.

[laughter95]

Maintenance and repair on an out of warranty 335i averages 2000 a year? !

[jayhyun]

Originally Posted by laughter95

Maintenance and repair on an out of warranty 335i averages 2000 a year? !

i hope not, i'm thinking about buying one...

[redline2001]

Btw the turbo,waste gate,injector, and a few other issues the 335 is a big crap shoot to own out of warranty. Just do a search on the site.

[Php]

Originally Posted by gunsekun

2008 FULLY LOADED 328i CPO 49k miles should be around $26k... cause auction price is around 21k...
maintenance is very expensive once you are out of the free maintenance program.. it's cheaper if you do your own Oil Change and brake pads... but if you willing to pay... it avgs 2k a year if only minor maintenance and repair is been performed.

2k per year?? Hell I don't think it's that expensive if nothing major goes wrong.

[Verbiage]

Originally Posted by landau88

As someone who just last month purchased a CPO BMW series, I would STRONGLY advise you to look at 2007 335i. I purchased a 2007 335xi after test driving both 335 and 328 of the 2007 and 2008 variety and firmly believe the 2007 335i will provide 90% of drivers the most satisfaction for their dollar. Between 2007 and 2008, there weren't any major changes made to the e90, while the changes that were made were mostly aesthetic in nature. The difference in power between the 335 and the 328 is DRASTIC and the 335 is also much more tunable, meaning you get easily get even more power out of it than what comes stock.

I agree with this. Also in 2007, many of the standard premium features found on 335's were optional on 2008+, making it harder to come by newer, fully loaded CPO's with all of the goodies you may want (if you're into that sort of thing like I am). My 335i was also a 2007 CPO.

[mcmcallister]

maintenance isnt a problem if you DIY, especially if you have access to a lift

[abcde]

Hope I'm not thread jacking here. I keep hearing all these problems with the old models. Are these issues such as HPFP still going on with the 2011 models? I'm looking at getting a new one.

[username604]

^^Yes, but the new pumps have been doing well even though they still fail. No solution as of now not even the new n55 in the 2011s.

[chromisdesigns]

Originally Posted by landau88

I agree with that, but if you're going to cite the 328i as more reliable specifically due to lack of HPFP issues, you have to also note this aspect of unreliability in the 335i is negated by its extended warranty/recall. Turbo issues on the other may be valid (not really sure in all honesty).

HPFP is the only part of the questionable stuff on 335i covered by extended warranty. Injectors, Vanos, coils, etc. are also problematic, but not covered.

If you are going 335i, definitely get one CPO, and look really closely at the maintenance history, as well.