Calling for BMW Experts. 2011 335i reliability.

" V8 Rustler" (handschaltgetriebe6)
11/29/2014 at 23:22 • Filed to: None

So my mother is searching for a new car, and I'm recommending her buying a 2011 335i 7 speed DCT. Her previous BMW was a manuel, and she now wants an automatic one. So I'm asking you, will a 2011 335i with 7.5k miles be reliable? From my research, all of the problems of the N54 have been fixed on the new N55 engine. If you have any experience with this car, please let me know. Thanks!

DISCUSSION (34)

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > V8 Rustler
11/29/2014 at 23:28

7.5k miles?! barely broken in. I'd be concerned that it might have been sitting undriven for the last couple years

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > V8 Rustler
11/29/2014 at 23:30

Yes, my mom has an 08 with almost 70k and nothing major has occurred, YET. That car's barely broken in.

Manuél Ferrari > V8 Rustler
11/29/2014 at 23:30

does the regular one have the DCT? Or just the 335is?

I have the DCT in the M3. I love it. I like it more than PDK, even though PDK is smoother. PDK is so smooth it's almost boring, as it just feels like a slushbox sometimes

Manuél Ferrari > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
11/29/2014 at 23:31

probably just a weekend car?

 V8 Rustler > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
11/29/2014 at 23:33

I don't think that is a bad thing. There are people that don't drive their car much. She bought her 2006 BMW with 18k miles in 2011, 0 issues. My 2013 Mustang only has 1600 miles.

SlickMcRick > V8 Rustler
11/29/2014 at 23:34

As long as it has the CPO warranty it's a nice deal. If not avoid it like the plague. Trust me the N55 may be more reliable but it isn't without it's faults. I know the 335is had a DCT not sure about the standard one though. The 6spd auto does shift crisply though.

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > V8 Rustler
11/29/2014 at 23:35

Do you have multiple vehicles??? I've put 6500 km (around 4000 miles) on my 350Z in the last month and a half!

Edit: 2 months now

 V8 Rustler > Manuél Ferrari
11/29/2014 at 23:36

Yes, the regular 335i could be optioned with the DCT, don't know if it is the same as the one in the M3. How does it drive on the city? Does it feel weird when moving from a complete stop? I'm asking because I drove a Jetta GLI with the DSG, and it sucked.

 V8 Rustler > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
11/29/2014 at 23:38

haha, you drive A LOT. Yes, we have a lot of vehicles in my house.

 V8 Rustler > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
11/29/2014 at 23:40

That is awesome, and the one your mom has is supposed to be the unreliable.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > V8 Rustler
11/29/2014 at 23:41

I don't think I'd be duly concerned if it only has 7.5k miles...

 V8 Rustler > SlickMcRick
11/29/2014 at 23:41

It's a private seller, so no warranty...

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > V8 Rustler
11/29/2014 at 23:42

I was doing inspection visits between a couple farms twice a week, 300km roundtrip. Thankfully the company covers mileage/fuel

Manuél Ferrari > V8 Rustler
11/30/2014 at 00:03

nice! Did not know that.

I have not driven the VW DSG. So I can't compare.

I think it's smooth enough from a stop and in parking lots. It has a tad of the "manual" feel to it, which I like.

Definitely way smoother than SMG

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > V8 Rustler
11/30/2014 at 00:08

I keep telling her to get rid of it. BMW actually contacted her recently to buy the car back since it's so clean. I told her to trade in and up before that car costs her big time.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > V8 Rustler
11/30/2014 at 00:14

In certain situations you might still be able to get BMW to provide a CPO warranty if the car otherwise qualifies. Worth looking into.

Textured Soy Protein > V8 Rustler
11/30/2014 at 00:29

I'm fairly confident that the E90/92 N55 335i was only available with the 6-speed Steptronic torque converter automatic, not the DCT. In the non-M 3-series, the DCT is only on the 335is, which has an N54.

The N55 135i and 135is however, do have the DCT. The N54 135i has the 6-speed Steptronic. The 135i switched to the N55 for 2011, and the 135is was only available in North America for the 2013 model year. It comes standard with the Performance Power Kit 2, and M Performance Exhaust.

I have a 135is DCT.

Steve in Manhattan > V8 Rustler
11/30/2014 at 00:30

The only issue is if the mileage has been 2/3/4/5 mile trips mostly. The exhaust doesn't heat up enough to burn off all the water, so there might be rust.

 V8 Rustler > Textured Soy Protein
11/30/2014 at 00:39

They are available with DCT, even the non 335is.

Textured Soy Protein > V8 Rustler
11/30/2014 at 01:02

In the US, the only E90/92 3-series models with an available DCT were the M3 starting in 2009, and the 335is.

Most of the information I've seen about the 335i outside the US having the DCT available mentions Europe/Middle East/Asia regions.

Since I found a post of yours where you mention being in Mexico, I honestly don't know what the model mix was there. I suppose it's possible.

 V8 Rustler > Textured Soy Protein
11/30/2014 at 01:11

I was going to tell you that maybe it was a US thing. 335i here is available with the DCT. For older years it was steptronic.

SolitudeTM > V8 Rustler
11/30/2014 at 05:51

Why don't you go to Carmax and pull a Demuro(aka Carmax warranty)?

Vicente Esteve > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
11/30/2014 at 11:01

This car is in Mexico, trips here are barely 6 or 8 miles but the car is on for more time due to heavy traffic.

 V8 Rustler > SolitudeTM
11/30/2014 at 15:49

Carmax doesn't exist in Mexico

SolitudeTM > V8 Rustler
11/30/2014 at 18:06

Ah. I didn't know you were in Mexico. :)

Manuél Ferrari > SlickMcRick
11/30/2014 at 21:33

Is the N55 really that bad?

SlickMcRick > Manuél Ferrari
11/30/2014 at 21:40

It's a modern BMW so that should be self explanatory. Nothing catastrophic should happen just random issues. You're more than likely to have other issues than the motor though. Still check to see if you can get some kind of extended warranty on it or something. Better to be safe than sorry.

Manuél Ferrari > SlickMcRick
11/30/2014 at 21:43

Now I'm scared

My E90 M3 just ran out of the original factory warranty

I know it's a different engine. But still modern BMW...

SlickMcRick > Manuél Ferrari
11/30/2014 at 21:47

Did you go to the dealership and see if it's possible to sign up for extended coverage because nothing to fix on a high performance German car is cheap unfortunately? Love the E90 M3 btw. The reason I know these things about reliability is because I used to work at a BMW dealership for a few years.

Manuél Ferrari > SlickMcRick
11/30/2014 at 21:49

Yes. But then I was cheap and didn't pay for it :P

The only good news is that it's not my only car so I can afford to have it out of service for a while, and my dad wrenches nearly 7 days a week for fun so he can fix some issues for me for free. He will only work on cars he likes. Luckily he likes this car. He borrowed it for a road trip once and loved it. Also it's a 2011 so hopefully many bugs were worked out by then.

SlickMcRick > Manuél Ferrari
11/30/2014 at 21:53

Oh well you have it good then. No worries. And now that I know you have a father that wrenches I can recommend that 335 you were looking at for your mom. Parts are expensive sometimes but service is what kills you. GO FOR IT! If it's something your father can't do himself it's OK to take it to a respectable independent shop that specializes on BMWs.

Manuél Ferrari > SlickMcRick
11/30/2014 at 21:58

Oh I wasn't the OP who asked about the car for his Mom. I was just curious what you knew because I've never researched the full differences between the N55 and the engine it replaced. And I'm afraid of turbos, lol

SlickMcRick > Manuél Ferrari
11/30/2014 at 22:02

Ohhh ok lol. Yea there are a few differences. Apparently the N54 is more tunable N55. It's twin turbo with forged pistons. Good stuff but if something breaks then oh well lol. N55 is a single twin scroll turbo and has cast pistons. They dumbed things down and made it more reliable and somewhat cheaper to repair.

Manuél Ferrari > SlickMcRick
11/30/2014 at 22:04

Ah got it. That makes sense.

One day I'll get over my fear of turbos, haha