Oppopinions Wanted: BMW 328i

"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg) 01/25/2019 at 21:49 • Filed to: None

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Today I test drove a 2015 BMW 328i. I think I’m in love.

It’s a nice car, black/black, has a 6 speed manual, and fold down rear seats (these are important to me and are an option, apparently) . It’s got a nice little deck lid spoiler and the 18" wheels look good on it. It also has a bunch of other options I don’t care about (heated seats, sunroof, etc.), but nothing too fancy. Over all it’s a really nice car and they want $18,500 for it.

In terms of condition I’d call it good. I got a Carfax on it and it’s clean, no issues . It was a lease car and was then sold as a CPO. I went over it as best I could and it’s straight and tight (body gaps good, no paint mismatch). The interior is in very nice shape, only issue I could find was a plastic cover over a child seat anchor was missing. The outside is rough, theres some swirl in the paint and a couple semi-concerning scratches. However I have a friend who is pretty good at detailing & paint restoration, I sent him pictures and he’s confident we can fix most of it.

The price seems in line with 2 similar 328i’s w/ 6 speeds at Carmax in my area , a 2011 with 62k miles for $16k and a 2014 with 58k for $17k.  So what do you all think?  Good car?  Good deal?  Or am I walking into a minefield on this?  

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 22:19

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It’s not the N54 ticking timebomb. Should be fine. The forums say the N20 engine is mostly fine but it’s always good to get the BMW extended warranty. And always pull Autocheck and Carfax both in case one missed something.

Not as good to drive as the E90 though.

Spasoje > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 22:22

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M y f r i e n d j u s t b o u g h t a b l a c k ‘ 1 5 3 2 8 i last month.. . M a ke sure the production date is Jan 2015 or later! Reason being is that p l a s t i c t i m i n g c h a i n g u i d e s i n BMW four-bangers had a t e n d e n c y t o snap, grenading the entire engine... They updated the part (it’ s e v e n a d i f f e r e nt p / n) s o m e t i m e i n D e c 2 0 1 4 , s o a l l c a r s p r o d u c e d in January 2015 and later have it from the factory.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/25/2019 at 22:25

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Yeah, I’ve perused a few forums and haven’t seen anything horrible about them.

And while it’s no E90, it would be a nice step up from my Cruze.  

camarov6rs > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 22:25

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If Carmax wants less for similar the one your looking at is too high. Willing to bet the CarMax cars will have very, very minor scuffs and scratches or they repaired them.

HoustonRunner > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 22:31

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I leased one similarly spec’d for three years. Mine hade the M Sport package that included the suspension and steering wheel. I assume most manual transmission ones have at least the sport suspension, and I’m not sure the difference between sport and M Sport.

Overall I was happy with it, good acceleration, good seats, and I never had any issues with it.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 22:35

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How many miles on this one?

CompactLuxuryFan > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 22:55

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Didn’t realize F30s got so cheap already! Lotta car for the money. Those 328s are shockingly torquey. T hat magic earlier BMWs had is somewhat missing, but part of it is just getting more modern, comfier, and bigger. Great back seat on those, too. Early N20s don’t have a good reputation, but by 2015 you should be fine. 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/25/2019 at 22:57

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44k miles.  

DipodomysDeserti > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 22:59

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I’d go with an older E90 for $10k less and use the extra money on repairs. Also, learn how to work on BMWs. (I own a 115k mile ‘13 X1). The N20 is known for eating timing chain guides. Supposedly the newer engines have an upgraded guide, but Germans aren’t good at making plastic.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > camarov6rs 01/25/2019 at 22:59

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But the Carmax cars were 1 & 3 years older and had 11k and 18k miles more, respectively.  We also hadn’t talked numbers yet, so I’m sure there’s some room to negotiate.  

DipodomysDeserti > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/25/2019 at 23:00

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The N20 engine is also a ticking timebomb. Disintegrating timing chain guides.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HoustonRunner 01/25/2019 at 23:03

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Good to know.  The seats were actually one of the things I loved in it during my test drive.  Very comfy.  Also, the 240HP is a nice upgrade from my 140/180HP Cruze (I have, off and on, had it tuned).  

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > DipodomysDeserti 01/25/2019 at 23:03

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Only for first few years. 2015 should be fine. I have read about it.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Spasoje 01/25/2019 at 23:03

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Thanks for the tip!  That’s exactly the kind of info I’m looking for!

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Spasoje 01/25/2019 at 23:04

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This. For all N20 cars. 

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 23:05

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Not bad at all. Should be good.

HoustonRunner > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/25/2019 at 23:07

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There is definitely room to tune it as well, I just wasn’t going to try under lease.  Not a lot of options, but definitely available.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/25/2019 at 23:10

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Thanks!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HoustonRunner 01/25/2019 at 23:11

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Yeah, I’ve already looked.  Modding potential is something I always consider before I buy a car.  I wouldn’t do anything wild though, probably an intake, catback, and a tune.  Although apparently that’s quite a potent combo on the little N20 motor.  So that’s definitely something that could come down the road if I pick the car up.  

DipodomysDeserti > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/25/2019 at 23:14

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Yeah, but in my experience, Germans don’t know how to make plastic. The 2015s will just disintegrate a few years later than the earlier ones. BMW doesn’t give a shit about their cars once the warranty has expired. I have an email from BMW corporate telling me there is no warranty on repairs done under warranty. I’ve had the caps on two fuel fuel pumps disintegrate, and two radiators dissolve on my wife’s 2013 X1. I’m swapoing my spare SBC 350 in when the timing chain guides let go.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > DipodomysDeserti 01/26/2019 at 01:24

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Star for some Rancid!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Spasoje 01/26/2019 at 01:29

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Well crap.  I found the VIN and ran it to get the build date.  It was built in September of 2014.  Might still be worth it but I need to figure out what it’s going to cost to have the timing chain guides replaced.  

Spasoje > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/26/2019 at 03:32

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It’s labor-intensive for sure, but might still be worth it if the price of the car is right . Plus, I don’t suppose there’s that much choice of manuals with the right spec, so there’s that too.

A l s o k n o w t h a t t h e y u p d a t e d t h e t i m i n g c h a i n i t s elf, n o t j u s t the guides! I I R C b o t h t h e g uides and the chain itself fall under o n e p / n, however :  

http://www.rightfootdown.com/cars/automotive-news/bmw-redesigns-n20-timing-chain-components-n26-too/

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Spasoje 01/26/2019 at 17:11

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Thanks for the info. I did a lot of reading in the forums, and you’re right, its the whole thing - timing chains, guides, oil pump drive chain, etc.

And I found some videos and tutorials, it’s a lot of labor (I think I read somewhere that the BMW TSB says 20 hours). Not impossible but its a lot of work and you need some special tools as well. It’s going to be my daily driver and I don’t have a backup car so it would be hard to take it down for a week to get all that done. Having a shop do it costs around $3k (parts are only around $300, though)

I think I’m going to pass on this particular car and look for a newer 328, or possibly a different car. I’ve always been a GM guy and been interested in the Cadillac ATS, which is supposed to be a competent 328 competitor. I think it’s maybe the first time in my life, but I’m not actually in a hurry to buy a car, so I can take my time and be choosy.

Spasoje > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/26/2019 at 19:19

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In that case, I’d take advantage and wait it out for the right BMW! When my friend was looking, we found at least two 2015s with the right production date selling concurrently – so who knows, one might turn up sooner rather than later. With cars like these, it’s definitely worth waiting it out, if at all possible.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Spasoje 02/20/2019 at 11:32

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Someone else snagged the particular 328 I was interested in, and I didn’t feel bad about it. I’m just biding my time and looking. I’ve done some wrenching on the Cruze to fix a few little issues it has so I can hopefully get more for it when I sell it.

I also went with my wife to Carmax last weekend with my wife and we sat in a 2016 BMW 328 and a 2016 Cadillac ATS back to back. The cars were the same year, similar mileage (around 40k) and the BMW was just so much nicer. As I said before, I’ve been a GM guy for a long time, but after seeing the 3 and ATS back to back, my mind was made up.

So now I’m just biding my time and also saving some extra money.  It’s not much more to go from a 328 to a 335.  I feel like I’ve done my homework on the 2.0L turbo engines and know what to watch for, now I need to get smart on the 3.0L engines and see if it’s worth it.  

Spasoje > Snuze: Needs another Swede 02/22/2019 at 21:29

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F r o m m y experience driving them back to back, the 3 2 8 i i s n o s l o u c h , b u t t h e 335i is a monster! TBH, you can’ t g o wrong with either.