Didn't realize the market was starting to drop that much for E90 328i models. Is there anything to really worry about on the N52 or the platform in general like the E46 and E36 have issues with?
Didn't realize the market was starting to drop that much for E90 328i models. Is there anything to really worry about on the N52 or the platform in general like the E46 and E36 have issues with?
At 160,000 miles everything under the hood is on the BMW watch list for replacement. That and it has an open diff.
The 6 speed is in demand for a conversion of a SMG M3 to a stick. Or, just track the car as is. After you replace the cooling system, track down the oil leaks, RnR the control arm bushings, add the new shocks/struts......
Didn't plan on tracking, just daily-driving...
The N52 has the typical electric water pump issues and the engine is finicky when it comes to which brand VANOS you throw in it (BMW. The thing for some reason only likes BMW), they're pretty stout engines.
Mine in the 530xi wagon has been chugging along, somehow. I'll be hitting 180k before the end of the month
Just so you know, there's really nothing performance-wise you can do to an N52. ESS sells/sold a supercharger kit, but it doesn't offer much of an improvement for a $5k kit. This is an engine that was designed w/ longevity and normal daily driving duties in mind.
FuzzWuzzy said:Just so you know, there's really nothing performance-wise you can do to an N52.
I was under the impression the intake manifold/header/tune results in quite the power bump.
And from what I read the ESS supercharger is worth 80-100whp.
I don't mind not having to mod it, the stock power level seems acceptable
I just want to make sure there won't be any...random surprises that come up
In reply to z31maniac :
As far as I knew, the 3-stage manifold only really benefited the x25 cars. I wouldn't be surprised if it helped the x28s, too.
I feel like at the cost of the kit, anyone w/ the N52 would be better off selling their car and buying a x35 for the N54.
Well, It is a high mileage German car so random surprises are nothing I wouldn't bet against.
The only other "big thing" I can think of is, do the E90 cars have the same AC setup as the 1xx series cars? Where some part of the AC fails, and requires a dash removal to replace it?
Do the E90s have the same issue as the E60s w/ the modules in the spare wheel well getting flooded thanks to the sunroof drains?
That's all I can think of in terms of "Surprise!" issues popping up.
FuzzWuzzy said:In reply to z31maniac :
As far as I knew, the 3-stage manifold only really benefited the x25 cars. I wouldn't be surprised if it helped the x28s, too.
I feel like at the cost of the kit, anyone w/ the N52 would be better off selling their car and buying a x35 for the N54.
I'm not sure which "kit" you're referring to, but a junkyard 3-stage intake manifold is a couple hundred dollars, and the tune is 6-700 from AA or BPC. There's even a guy on E90post that has figured out how to load the x30 software onto the x28 cars to get the 255 hp rating and he's not charging anything.
That also doesn't take into account the fact that you don't have to own an N54.
With all of that said though, a $4000 E90 is going to probably need all of the suspension bushings replaced, and the cooling system plastic disintegration will have begun.
FuzzWuzzy said:Do the E90s have the same issue as the E60s w/ the modules in the spare wheel well getting flooded thanks to the sunroof drains?
That's all I can think of in terms of "Surprise!" issues popping up.
I don't think the sunroof leaking into the trunk is a thing in E90s, though I did have a tail light seal leak and cause water in the same area. It killed my logic7 amp, which was pretty expensive at the time since it was a newish car (2006 model in 2009).
E90s have issues with bad coils, leaky injectors, “footwell module” failures, insufficient oil cooling, cooling system failures, and just randomly throwing a check engine light every 20 minutes for no particular reason. Then, of course, there’s carbon buildup in the head. And service headaches from lack of filters and drain/fill plugs for diffs, transmissions, and transfer cases thanks to “lifetime fill” (ROFL) fluids.
That’s been my personal experience with an E90 335xi anyway. Pretty much the polar opposite of BMWs of old.
In reply to LanEvo :
Some of the issue you mention are specific to the N54 and N55 turbo motors. The NA N51 and N52 do not have direct injection, which makes servicing easier and eliminates the problems of leaky injectors and carbon build-up. Similarly, lacking turbos oil cooling is not a problem on the NA engines, and the life of underhood plastics is generally longer due to lower heat.
IIn reply to 02Pilot :
I think you’re right about that.
The twin-turbo, direct-injection, AWD, automatic version (335xi) probably adds a lot of failure points. I bet the normally aspirated, port-injection, RWD, manual versions are more reliable.
BTW, your post reminded me that I forgot a failure! Cracked valve cover LOL.
A friend's first BMW is an '06 E90 330i that he bought for like $4k 2 years ago. He's put something like 80k miles on it in that time. I wouldn't say it has been reliable, we had to disable the seat occupancy sensors for the airbags, it's needed rear window regulators, a starter, an alternator, rear bumpstops; and that's just the stuff that I helped with.
When it's working though, it really is a fantastic car. I borrowed it for a road trip from TN to VA and back, and it never missed a beat. Best cruise control in any car I've ever driven.
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