Meet Ozzy! (And a modern BMW question)

"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
03/03/2019 at 16:00 • Filed to: None

We got a dog! He’s a rescue, he came from a kill shelter in NC where he’d been picked up as a stray, wandering the mean streets of North Cackalacky. He was ferried up to Northern VA by a pilot who volunteers her time for Fancy Cats and Dogs Rescue (awesome volunteer job, btw) . We don’t know too much about him but our best guess is he’s about 4 years old. The shelter he came from listed his breed as Cardigan Welsh Corgi and Catahoula Leopard Dog cross. He’s cute, sweet, and smart, and loves to go for walks. He’s a fiend for cheese and is good at catching treats out of the air. He hates bath s and the dinosaur that lives nextdoor ( Italian Mastiff “ puppy” , who really, REALLY wants to be his best friend). So far he’s been the goodest of boys and we are lucky to have him!

Now for the BMWs, I’m still thinking of a Cruze replacement and was originally looking for a 2015-2016 328i. Now I’m thinking I may hold off and save a bit more and get a 335i. What should I be looking for on a 335 issues wise? I learned all about the 328 timing issues that affected 2012-2015 cars. Anything major like that with the 335?

DISCUSSION (41)

CB > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:23

I have nothing to add about BMWs, but that’s one cute dog! Good on you for rescuing!

Alfalfa > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:25

Those ears kill me.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > CB
03/03/2019 at 16:26

Thank you! Mrs. Snuze and I are so happy with him!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Alfalfa
03/03/2019 at 16:27

I know, right? They are like floppy corgi ears. I grew up with corgis and love them so much (my parents have 2 fat little Pembroke corigs that they rescued - sisters whos owners couldn’t care for them any longer). So we looked for a corgi to rescue and found this guy and he just stole our hearts.

facw > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:30

Good doggo! And you’re good too, for busting him out of dog jail!

E90M3 > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:33

You looking for a coupe or you need 4 doors?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:34

Congrats on the rescue!

Avoid the N -series 4 cylinders like the plague.

Svend > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:37

Congratulations, he’s a cutie.

phenotyp > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:39

A former neighbor of mine had a Catahoula, one of the best dogs I’ve ever known. TOTAL sweetheart, and ran and leapt like a gazelle. Glad you were able to rescue this adorable pupper.

CompactLuxuryFan > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:41

‘15 and ‘16 were the last two years for the N55 as far as I recall, so it should have been pretty well sorted out by then. That engine never suffered from anything catastrophic like Audi’s timing chain guides or anything like that anyway. Probably the most common issue will be seeping gaskets in various places.

$kaycog > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 16:41

He’s so lucky to have you!

Alfalfa > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 17:00

Kinja'd!!!

Ours often gets just one ear inside out playing and doesn't seem to care most of the time. Also named Oz, btw.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > facw
03/03/2019 at 17:09

Thanks!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > E90M3
03/03/2019 at 17:10

Would probably prefer a sedan (especially with the new doggo - it would be easier to load him into the back) but I’m not too picky. Though I’m also not sure I’m ready to buy just yet, I’m still in the research phase.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 17:11

This big fella was my mom’s catahoula.

Kinja'd!!!

He only weighed about 85 lbs, but he was really tall. He was also deaf as a post. She had a large fenced yard in which he ran loose when he was outside. Standard procedure was to look for the dog before opening the gate so he wouldn’t make a break for it. One day when I came to visit, I couldn’t see him anywhere, so I opened the gate and pulled my car in. It wasn’t until I went to close the gate that I finally spotted him. He was fast asleep in the deep leaves right next to where I pulled in. His color camouflaged him well enough to be hidden, but he was completely unaware of my presence, even with a car idling not three feet away. I closed the gate, then poked him with my foot to wake him up to say hello.

The vet thought his deafness is what led some people to abandon him on a rural road near her house. I’m thankful that she had a soft heart and saved his life. He was a great companion for her, even if he shed everywhere. It took me several hours with a vacuum and various brushes to get all of his hair out of her Outback. That’s even with storage liners covering the entire cargo area. The hair was deep in the cracks between the seats, on the floor, on the headliner, on the dash....

I’m sure he’ll be a great dog for you! Good luck!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/03/2019 at 17:12

Thanks!

So I read up on that a little bit. There’s a few problems, but the biggest one is the timing chain guides and oil pump drive. And it affects 2012 through early 2015 cars. Theres a site called Real OEM (I’m sure there are others too) that you can punch in the VIN and get the build date. Starting around 3/2015 BMW switched suppliers for those parts and the problem is no more. So I would only be buying a late 2015 or a 2016 model. Beyond that I haven’t heard anything awful about those engines.

E90M3 > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 17:12

Reason I asked was because you can get an N54 in the 2013 335is, and that’s a coupe only. As far as the N55 goes, I know my dad had a VANOS issue at 32k miles. Also a weeping valve gasket. Other than that, it’s been good.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Svend
03/03/2019 at 17:13

Thanks! Hes a handsome boy!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > $kaycog
03/03/2019 at 17:17

Thanks! I hope he feels that way too. I’ve already subjected him to a bath yesterday and he got microchipped today, so he’s not thrilled with us, especially me . But I’m hoping he will come around.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > phenotyp
03/03/2019 at 17:19

Thank you! We’re so happy to have him.

I didn’t know anything about catahoulas until we got him. But they sound great.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > E90M3
03/03/2019 at 17:23

Good to know. My Cruze is a 2012 so I’d be looking for something a little newer, I was thinking maybe 2015-2016. But if I find a decently low mileage N54 I would definitely consider it.

I was extremely close to pulling the trigger on a 2015 328i. Then I learned about the timing chain guide issue. It turns out the car was a late 2014 build date so I passed on it. The problem is the fix requires taking what seems like half the engine apart. BMW won’t fix it under warranty unless your car is making noises or just fails completely. But outside of warranty it’s a $3500+ fix (depending on shop rates, etc) - parts are only around $500 but it’s very labor intensive. And almost definitely not something I’d do at home, especially on my DD . Also apparently from the time it starts making noises to the time the engine dies is very short - some people report only a couple of miles. And a new engine is like $10k+.

phenotyp > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 17:24

Oh, and re BMWs-- if my experience with mid-to-late ‘00s E60s are concerned, the difference between a *28 and a *35 is pretty vast, in terms of driving feel. Definitely worth waiting and saving for the bigger number.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Alfalfa
03/03/2019 at 17:24

Aww, he’s a handsome boy! And a great name! The ear thing is funny. Used to happen to my parents bull terrier, but it would drive her nuts.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheRealBicycleBuck
03/03/2019 at 17:28

Wow! My first thought was that he looks a lot like Ozzy, except for the long legs. I always kind of assumed the shelter just guessed on what kind of dog he is, but I think I’m buying the catahoula/corgi cross now.

And your moms dog sounds like he was wonderful. That’s a cute story.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > CompactLuxuryFan
03/03/2019 at 17:29

Thanks! That’s good to know. Another member on here mentioned weeping gaskets, so I’ll keep my eye out for that. Thanks!

My bird IS the word > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 17:32

He looks super huggable. Have fun!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > phenotyp
03/03/2019 at 17:33

Thanks for the heads up. I know with the ‘ teens cars they have gone to all turbo engines, so the *28 is a 240HP turbo 4 and the *35 is a 340HP turbo 6. So I’m sure that power jump alone is huge. But I don’t know what different from a chassis standpoint, but I’m sure the *35 is the overall better car and I’m going to try to make it happen.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > My bird IS the word
03/03/2019 at 17:34

Thanks!

Future Heap Owner > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 18:18

Congratulations on the new addition to the family! He’s a stone cold cutie. Good choice.

ttyymmnn > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 18:19

What a cutie! Congrats.

$kaycog > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 18:25

He’ll come around.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 18:36

If you love spending countless weekends chasing down gasket leaks, smoking turbos and other fun issues, get an early 335. Otherwise get the late model with the n55 (although the n54 is way more tunable, just sayin)

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/03/2019 at 19:01

Doggo approved.

Get a pre-12 328 with the N53 or any 335 with the N55. In spite of what others have said, the N54 seems like more work to keep running.

To be fair, the N20 may treat you fine and there’s plenty that make it to 200k miles. But plenty more that don’t...

I’ve heard great things about the de-tuned N20 in the 320i, though, as far as reliability goes.

facw > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/04/2019 at 02:13

There are DNA tests for dogs to help determine what breeds they are, though unfortunately they are still pretty expensive (It’s amazing that I can sit here and complain about something that would have been impossible 30, maybe even 20 years ago costing $73 )

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Future Heap Owner
03/06/2019 at 09:31

Thanks!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > facw
03/06/2019 at 09:34

I’ve gone through the same though process - thought about DNA testing him, then saw the prices. I agree that it’s pretty amazing that we can do it, but I think DNA testing your dog is also a first-world kind of issue, and at the end of the day it comes down to a value judgement. Is it worth that kind of money to know what kind of dog he is? When I find out is it going to make me love him any more or less? For me, I think it would be cool to know, but I’d rather put that money towards more toys for him or something like that, because it will make us both a lot happier.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
03/06/2019 at 09:35

Thanks! And Thanks for the BMW advice.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
03/06/2019 at 09:38

Thanks for the advice. I’m starting to lean towards a later N55 car (i.e. 2015 335 ) . Though I recently saw a 2016 340i for a good price, but I believe that’s a B58 engine. Something new to learn about.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > ttyymmnn
03/06/2019 at 09:39

Thanks!

facw > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/06/2019 at 09:51

Yeah, apparently Wisdom P anel was on sale for $50 around Black Friday, and at that price I might be tempted, but really I feel like $35 is where I’d feel comfortable paying the money, basically for my own entertainment.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > facw
03/06/2019 at 11:40

Agreed. Actually more than the breed I’d just be interested to know if he’s got any genetic issues we should be on watch for. I want to keep him healthy and around for as long as possible. We got super lucky, he’s been great so far.