02Pilot said:Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:Well my son was so enamored of the Bimmer that he talked the guy down a grand and bought it himself. It really is a nice car. There is some turbo lag, but once it spools...woowee! Also very comfortable, a nice mix of ride and handling. Great seats, nice stereo, nice size. Now if we can just afford the repair bills.
So where do I go to edumacate myself on the care and feeding of this car?
Start with the engine - this is a good beginner's guide from FCP Euro. At 105k, it's due for a water pump and thermostat, the oil filter housing gasket is leaking (and probably the valve cover gasket and the oil pan gasket as well), and you should check the accessory belt very carefully - if they come off, they tend to get sucked behind the crank pulley, through the front main seal, and grenade the engine by sending fragments of belt throughout the crankcase.
I would strongly encourage your son to get up to speed super quick on the N54. Their reliability is...uh...less than stellar. I have a 128i with the N52, and would LOVE to upgrade to a 135i. However, the stories I've heard over and over about the N54 and N55 are enough to keep me far away.
