What sort of proposition is owing one of these BMW's from 2007 or 2008? Potential money pit due to being out of warranty?

 

Quite risky I reckon; that's the earlier N54 engine and it did have quite a few issues mainly with HPFP and VANOS. I had the option of a 335i but didn't trust reliabity. Later N55s seem to be a lot stronger.
Cracking cars when they work though and very tuneable.

 

Which models have the N55?

 

Was looking at these last night on eBay , what pi55ed me off so much was the difference in prices....they really are all over the place

Some really bonny ones up for sale but they don't seem to be good sellers?

 

I think it's 2010 and after - the N54 is bi-turbo, the N55 is twin scroll single. Better efficiency, less lag, flatter torque curve.

One of the reasons (apart from it taking forever to persuade the missus!) for holding off on the M135i, which has a slightly tweaked N55 unit was just to make sure the engine was reliable. So far it seems pretty solid.

 

Wiki says 2011 (and is never wrong of course ) but it would seem then that owning one with an N55 lump is going to be a more expensive proposition.

I've read about fuel pump failures on the N54, BMW recalls and extended warranties and stuff? I guess there are other issues then as well.

Anyway I will probably investigate and see what sort of deals you can get from the main dealers used.

 

If you get a good, well looked after one (there are many around), it's a cracking motor!