Tell me about the BMW e91 - 3-series wagon

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
09/10/2015 at 12:14 • Filed to: None

Specifically the 2005-2009 year models, 328i maybe 330i. No 335, no AWD. Just your basic RWD straight six BMW wagon. Oh, and with an autobox, because my wife.

Reliability, known issues, things to look for, mileage specific maintenance, etc.

DISCUSSION (17)

Party-vi > Chairman Kaga
09/10/2015 at 12:17

Well, the 330i was only made in 2006, and it was only a sedan in the US, so you’re looking at either a 328i or 325i. The good news is that you’ll find quite a few with your automatic requirement.

For Sweden > Chairman Kaga
09/10/2015 at 12:19

Why can’t your wife drive stick?

Party-vi > For Sweden
09/10/2015 at 12:21

Because he is a greedy husband that wants the Alfa all to himself.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Chairman Kaga
09/10/2015 at 12:29

I’m very curious to buy one of these as well. Probably a 2011 or 2012, but prices are way up there. I know the newer models have the updated iDrive, etc...but if there aren’t any other real mechanical differences with the earlier cars I might be tempted for a lower mileage well documented older car...as they are essentially the same car as well.

Also looking for same spec - auto RWD 328i...sucks that so many of them are AWD. And try to get the sports package (again much harder to find) - better suspension and the sports seats are divine.

Party-vi > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
09/10/2015 at 12:32

With BMW’s electronic interface you should be able to get sport seats from any E9x car and swap them in with little issue. Don’t hold back getting a nice one just because it doesn’t have the sport seats in it :)

Chairman Kaga > For Sweden
09/10/2015 at 12:42

Hormones?

I really don’t know. She’s mechanically capable. I taught her in my old Pathfinder, which had such long clutch takeup that it was impossible to stall. When I got my Fit, which had an on/off clutch and not enough torque to open a pickle jar, she lost her confidence. She had to drive me home from the ER one day and just freaked out. Total panic attack. We tried a few more times but she’s just decided she can’t do it, especially in the heavy traffic we deal with here, and laid down the law - only an automatic or a DSG for my daily driver.

To be honest though, I don’t really want another manual daily driver. Traffic here is horrendous and it just wears me out, not to mention the clutch.

RallyWrench > Chairman Kaga
09/10/2015 at 13:00

Where to start... we work on a lot of these.

They tend to start crumbling after 100k, but are more or less reliable. If the electric water pump has not yet been done it’ll need to be ($1000). If the valve cover gasket has not yet been done it’ll need to be ($600, requires retraction of the valvetronic solenoid). The oil filter housing and oil pan will leak, guaranteed. There’s also a head bolt that breaks on some of them, causing pressurized oil to leak out the top of the head near the oil filter housing. If the transmission has not been serviced before 100k don’t expect much more from it. The serpentine belt tensioner is a common failure as well, and if ignored it will wrap the belt around the crank pulley, through the front crank seal, and will seize the engine. The Junction Box, which is the main electrical bus behind the dash, has been known to melt at the main battery cable contact. Early I-drive is literally the worst user interface ever fitted to an automobile, and BMW no longer supports disc-based Nav updates for cars over 10 years old, so avoid that. The paint and trim is pretty awful, with clearcoat peeling and weatherstrip failure being very common. The touch surfaces in the cockpit peel as well. They all seem to have water intrusion problems in the trunk from either plugged roof drains or the aforementioned bad weatherstripping, but the wagons are the worst because they locate several of the infotainment control modules in the D-pillars, where they then get soaked. The battery is under the left rear floor, and is kind of a pain in the ass too. The good news is that basic maintenance is pretty easy, and the plugs aren’t due until 100k, though they often erode and cause misfires before that. Oh, and the coils will fail, and they’re $70 each.

Unfortunately, if you want a small (ish) sporty wagon of that era, your options are pretty limited. If you’re willing to go older and can find a perfect E46 wagon, it’d be the better car. That’s what I have (though it’s a stick and I have to sell it), and I will never even consider owning an E9o/1/2/3. The E39 is a good car too, the last good 5 as far as we’re concerned. You could also look at the W203 Mercedes C-class wagon, which has a very good engine and pretty good trans, but is a letdown in several other ways.

RallyWrench > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 13:01

Can’t say as I blame him for that.

Chairman Kaga > RallyWrench
09/10/2015 at 13:04

Thanks! I read about a third of your post and decided it was a big ol’ can of Nope.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 13:32

True - should just be open to buying whatever car checks most of the boxes at the most decent price, and then just swap out the seats, go aftermarket suspension and whatever else it needs to tickle you just right with the extra cash.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Chairman Kaga
09/10/2015 at 13:36

Similar situation on this front as well. The wife doesn’t drive stick but is curious to learn. But still I don’t want the DD to be a stick with the horrendous traffic and the hills (San Francisco) here given that she’ll be the one driving it most of the time.

That auto box isn’t horrible, and it appears you have other fun cars with sticks to play with (ditto here, with the E30)...so not much lost really.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > Chairman Kaga
09/10/2015 at 13:52

Manners, Kaga! Even if you did just read a third, it’s best to keep that

bit to yourself.

finn's arm > RallyWrench
09/10/2015 at 14:48

I guess I’ll need a 330 e46 wagon....

Chairman Kaga > luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln!
09/10/2015 at 14:56

Well, I did read the whole thing. I just decided nope pretty early on.

RallyWrench > finn's arm
09/10/2015 at 15:15

Not in ‘Murica, we didn’t get the big engine in wagons.

finn's arm > RallyWrench
09/10/2015 at 16:38

332 E46 Wagon it is.

jkm7680 > Chairman Kaga
09/10/2015 at 16:44

The interiors are horrible.