Topic: 2011 BMW 335is; Day 1

[dragonflyjack]

 I've heard of this fuel pump problem with these engines before...Sounds like a really serious issue....three or four failures of the same part in a relatively short period of time might be something a caring manufacturer might want to look into....Nah...they buy em anyway...Maroons!    dragonfly

[Ex-airbalancer]

BMW has a number of design problems with all their cars when they first come out
On an E46 I do not believe there enough room to list them all
If you can not do DIY, it will cost you pretty penny
A lot of is electrical, If you dash shows burnout rear light, or your top will not work, it is the not bulb , but the wire was cut by the trunk hinge,
If your brake lights are on the dash, no worries it just the sensors, next time you turn the car on , the lights will be off
Low oil indicator coming just after you turn the car on, no worries you have dip stick to see the oil is topped up( e46 anyway LOL)
Dont forget fan speed controller, not to hard to replace it
The joys of owning a BMW

[vdk]

As the current owner of an N54-powered BMW, I want to say that I love this engine more than any other car I've ever owned. I also want to say that I'm ditching it in favour of a 335d.

After nearly getting run over by an 18-wheeler when my high pressure fuel pump crapped out in Pennsylvania, I did some research to see if this is a common problem in N54 cars. OH BOY, IS IT EVER. Not only that, there are owners on their 3rd or 4th fuel pump replacements.

This is a design failure that has nothing to do with driving style, octane used, or modifications made. It is a faulty piece of hardware that BMW has known about for several years and has done nothing to remedy. The fact that I have a new HPFP covered by warranty makes me MORE nervous, not less, as it is a ticking time bomb.

Let me tell you, having your car completely lose power on a busy 8-lane highway is not exactly fun or safe. Hopefully this won't be an issue for James or any other 335is driver.

That problem does exist on the N54 engines; but it seems to be concentrated in the US. There are far fewer reports of HPFP failures on Canadian cars. Makes me wonder a bit if there is something in US fuel that makes this problem worse. 

BMW is working on the fix, and part of it is that the new N55 engine with a different turbo set-up has replaced the N54 in many models.

And, yes I did own a N54 engine in 535xi, and I had zero problems with it in 21,000 kms.

The German way of fixing things? So we got a fuel pump problem. Yes yes we do. Let's change the engine then!

[Julie]

The new N55 engine uses the same high pressure fuel pump though.  It appears it's much more of an issue in the States, especially in those areas with high ethanol fuel, than in the Canada or Europe.  I use fuel with 0% ethanol just in case.

Interesting to hear about the DCT behaviour in the 335is.  Seems similar to what I read about the DCT in the M3...  However, I've also heard they've made programming changes to the software in the M3 and that the 'lag' that was a problem in some 08 M3 models is now no longer a problem.

First year is a risky one to buy a brand new model IMHO.

[rrocket]

^^I've also read of oil cooling issues.  Has that been resolved or is it as common as it was made out to be?

[Julie]

^^I've also read of oil cooling issues.  Has that been resolved or is it as common as it was made out to be?

For the N54?  Resolved soon after it was discovered.  Not an issue anymore.  Really only the HPFP left (and it's still ongoing)

[JamesTS]

I work at a shop on the weekends and a guy brought in a 2007 328 coupe because it felt like it was waundering around on the highway, and didn't track straight.  Track bar on the rear left was shot so the tail was waging the dog.   For the money these cars cost - the one James' had was $60K large - I would expect more reliability.  Important rule: avoid used BMW's and keep the new ones for the warranty period only.

[Que]

In regards to used BMWs. I think they are a good buys, but you have to know what ur looking for, also if your handy with the wrench, you can enjoy the ultimate driving machine.  I have avoided Turbo cars all my life, as they are great new, used, they always seem to depreciate greater than NA cars, so if you want a 3 series with power, in the long run the M3 may be the best option with a standard 6 speed manual of course, no history on how the DCT will fair with time.

[Spec5]

And nobody believes me when I post stuff about BMWs not having very good reliability the last few years.

I had the fortune of test driving a 2002 M5 a few years back and for everything I've said about BMWs I'd buy one in a heartbeat if I had the cash. 335d is interesting though I'm willing to bet you could easily chip that puppy and end up with some really impressive numbers and STILL get great fuel economy.

[Julie]

The twin-turbo diesel in the 335d seems to be farely better, reliability-wise.

In reply to an earlier post, the 328 has good reliability according to consumer reports.  I would not take one report of a messed up 328 to make conclusions about the brand.  That car could have been abused.  In fact, that's one of the reasons I decided to buy a new 335i.  A previous owner (especially one that's leasing) might have beat up on it, and tunes to increase power & torque output are very popular and inexpensive.  Also, used BMW still command high prices.  Didn't think it was worth it to go used for a 335i.  For a used 328 on the other hand, I'd bite....

BMW, overall, are not very reliable these days.  However, are its closest competitors (e.g. Audi, Mer) more reliable?  People have got to make their own decisions.

[bikenut]

european models have always lagged behind the japanese in reliability
to top it off they are expensive to fix - porsche is the only one that gets high marks of the european brands for reliablity
i remember reading sometime ago the vtec system on one bmw  can't remember the model costs $ 8,000 to tune up , mind you bmw has the best working most advanced vtec in the world
i would never own a bmw even if i had the money to buy one but that doesn't mean i can't appreciate a great engine when i see it ( i couldn't afford the parts or repairs ), the people who buy them are buying them because they are great cars to drive and are willing to pay the cost for owning them

 vw always rank near the bottom of reliability surveys but it doesn't hurt their sales one bit because people like that germanic experience , personnally i want my next car to be very reliable , but thats just me,
regarding bmw i don't place alot of faith in consummer reports findings because only a small amount of people get back to them in comparison to j.d. power
it was nice to read james day 4  driving portion of the 335is , too bad about the transmission , sounds like a great engine though , but then that was no surprise to me

[bikenut]

julie ,take a look at this consumer site
this particular study rates cars after they have been driven 3 years
these are 2007 cars rated in 2010
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2010-Vehicle-Dependability-Study-Results

[Julie]

julie ,take a look at this consumer site
this particular study rates cars after they have been driven 3 years
these are 2007 cars rated in 2010
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2010-Vehicle-Dependability-Study-Results

Always good to have extra data.  Whereas I would not have considered cars from the Detroit 3 a few years, that has changed.  Especially with respect to Ford. 

[Julie]

Regarding Day 4 and the fuel consumption:

I drive mostly in the city, and my average is what James experienced:  10.5-11L/100km.

[Julie]

Regarding the M3 (as we were talking about its relative value over a 335i/is), in 2 recent comparos done by Car and Driver and Motortrend, comparing the M3 to its newest rivals, the upcoming 2011 RS4 and 2011 Cadillac CTS-V coupe (with more, or much more, hp and torque), the 3 year old M3 still came out on top, albeit all 3 cars were excellent and the results very close. 

MotorTrend comparo video:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1009_2010_audi_rs_5_vs_2011_bmw_m3_vs_2011_cadillac_cts_v_comparison/index.html#ixzz0uvG9pdHW

C & D comparison - article not on-line yet, but suscribers have got it.

I was not expecting these results, given the M3's relative lack of hp and torque over its newest rivals - 3 years younger than it.

I'm really curious now, in seeing how its 'low end torque' compares to that of the 335i/is in day-to-day driving....  James, you going to test the 2011 M3 (with competition package) soon? 

[rrocket]

^^I've read more than once the stick shift in the M3 being called "rubbery".  No good, IMO. 

[wing]

I wish they would send me an M3, maybe after the refresh.

[Julie]

^^I've read more than once the stick shift in the M3 being called "rubbery".  No good, IMO. 

Yeah, I've heard....  However, the DCT is what I'd want. 

I wish they would send me an M3, maybe after the refresh.

The mid-cycle refresh has occurred now.  New tail-lights and competition package.  However, starting with September production, there are further revisions, such as the addition of the MDrive as standard rather than as an option.  Maybe they'll send you one after Sept...  Let's hope! 

[bikenut]

  julie i doubt the competition package was necessary for the m3 to win , though i'm sure it helped
their is something you are missing here , that is, "light makes right"  the cts is 279 heavier than the rs5 and whopping 710 lbs heavier than the m3
the cts poor automatic trans also ruled it out -- its also a slow reving engine

the rs has all the credentials to win , but is 431 lbs heavier than the m3  , it also looses because you feel disconected to the whole driving experience , not what you'd call a real drivers car
so it looses
that leaves the m3 , the much lighter car than the other 2 , so it can have less hp because it has less weight to move around , and to top it it off the m3 is a real drivers car , so naturally the bmw is going to win in this comparo against the other 2 cars tested

also i might add -- drivers cars are always preferred by car magazines - the way it should be 

[rrocket]

  julie i doubt the competition package was necessary for the m3 to win , though i'm sure it helped
their is something you are missing here , that is, "light makes right"  the cts is 279 heavier than the rs5 and whopping 710 lbs heavier than the m3
the cts poor automatic trans also ruled it out -- its also a slow reving engine

the rs has all the credentials to win , but then 278 ls is alot of extra weight , it loses because you feel disconected to the whole driving experience , not what you'd call a real drivers car
so it looses
that leaves the m3 , the much lighter car than the other 2 , so it can have less hp because it has less weight to move around , and to top it it off the m3  happens to be a real drivers car , so naturally the bmw is going to win in this comparo against the other 2 cars

also i might add -- drivers cars are always preferred by car magazines - the way it should be 

It's odd...because with the S4, they thought it was every bit the drivers car (and then some) that the 335 was.  Which is why it won against the 335 in 2-3 comparos I've seen already.

Wonder if the V8 really ruins the RS4 that much?