2006 BMW 330i: Common Issues?

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Originally Posted By: CivicFan
I don't see why anyone, who wants to drive a BMW, would not do it. Once you drive one, you will not want to go back to anything made by the big 3, the Japanese or the Koreans.

The $ per mile will probably be higher than a Saturn. With premium fuel and 30 MPG, things can get expensive real quick. The cars are reliable but if something goes wrong, the parts and labor will be more than a Saturn. I have found that BMW-s are easier to work on than Audis but not as easy as Hondas so there is a potential for DYI. The parts are available widely.


Agreed. This is why I am looking at one too (E39 M5).
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
I don't see why anyone, who wants to drive a BMW, would not do it. Once you drive one, you will not want to go back to anything made by the big 3, the Japanese or the Koreans.

The $ per mile will probably be higher than a Saturn. With premium fuel and 30 MPG, things can get expensive real quick. The cars are reliable but if something goes wrong, the parts and labor will be more than a Saturn. I have found that BMW-s are easier to work on than Audis but not as easy as Hondas so there is a potential for DYI. The parts are available widely.


Agreed. This is why I am looking at one too (E39 M5).


I think the key point is they want to drive a BMW, not be seen in one... Chris142 deals with all the folks who want to be seen in one it seems.
I'm not convinced a normal BMW is all that special driven on the street compared to alot of cars anymore, but to each his own.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan


I think the key point is they want to drive a BMW, not be seen in one... Chris142 deals with all the folks who want to be seen in one it seems.
I'm not convinced a normal BMW is all that special driven on the street compared to alot of cars anymore, but to each his own.


This may be true. However, carving the road to Windermere from Bracebridge in a BMW would be a surreal experience. And is a trip I make almost weekly in the summer.

I am a person who loves driving.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: d00df00d


Chris142 said:
When certain parts break, certain others are rarely far behind. Replacing them in groups (e.g. expansion tank + thermostat + thermostat housing + water pump + radiator + hoses etc.) eliminates those nasty surprises.
THEN YOU CAN COME TO MY SHOP AND TRY TO UPSELL THOSE PARTS!! They come to me because I'm cheaper than the stealer. These people are so sick and tired of dumping money into those piles of junk cars at the stealer that they come to me hoping that I'm cheaper. They only want the one part replaced or that one leak fixed.

I can recomend replacement of all plastic parts till I'm blue in the face. Don't work! But when the next weekest link breaks it's my fault because I was the last guy to work on it. Then they bad mounth me and my shop!! They don't want to spend $1500 to fix it right but when another plastic part fails it's my fault.

NOPE! I'M DONE WITH BMW'S AND THEIR OWNERS!!! YES I'M YELLING!

The problems just go on and on and I get the brunt of it from these people.

PS. I wish that I could curse on this forum to tell people how I really feel about BMW's.


Well put. Straight to the point and brilliant.

It wouldn't have bothered me but it was consistant for BMW owners

I didn't want to sell service for BMWs for that reason.
Usually not the 1st owners, sometimes not the second owners....but by the time you got to the 3rd owner.
33.gif

The plastic water pump impeller would come apart on the pump. They would keep driving the car with inadequate coolant circulation because, (and I quote) "BMW run hot... they s'posed to."
I don't even know what that means.
21.gif
Actually I do. But I'm being nice.
BUT, and some of the blame is on me by starting off telling them what failed to cause the problem, they demanded only the one component get replaced.

Document the [heck] out of everything and have the client sign the work order. Change just the pump and then wait for the small claims court summons for "intentionally damaging their car to make more money". Nope had nothing to do with them continuing to drive when their car had a problem.

Chrysler owners would come in on the hook for driving their car in 2nd gearfailsafe for 3 months. It was Chrysler's fault that they needed a whole transmission. Not mine. But not BMW owners.
Click to expand...
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
These parts. Theres more that don't come with the kit. See how it all clips together? Nothing but trouble!!!!!!!! Terrible design and then they used inferier materials. Labor is over $1k.

Ah yeah, just did this on mine last year at 70K miles as things were starting to fall apart left right and center. Parts were around $800, which included new radiator and fan in addition to all hoses, tensioners, belts, expansion tank, water pump and thermostat. Labor was another $300.

Cooling systems are definitely a weak spot. Not sure if things have improved on the E90 platform though.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: IndyIan


I think the key point is they want to drive a BMW, not be seen in one... Chris142 deals with all the folks who want to be seen in one it seems.
I'm not convinced a normal BMW is all that special driven on the street compared to alot of cars anymore, but to each his own.


This may be true. However, carving the road to Windermere from Bracebridge in a BMW would be a surreal experience. And is a trip I make almost weekly in the summer.

I am a person who loves driving.

That's on 118? Surreal in any BMW? I think you'll love driving an M5 but I've got to think that it will make normal windy roads even with bursts of speed of 50km/h over, not very challenging... An old 318 on skinny snowtires on a cold wet road would be more fun/challenging and you won't lose your license if the law is around.
On a track day at Mosport though, your M5 will be worth every penny! Pulling through the gears on the back straight will be amazing...

Anyways, I'm sure The Critic would enjoy a 330i for all its qualities, driving and image-wise, and he has the skills to keep it running well without costing himself a fortune.
 
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
I don't see why anyone, who wants to drive a BMW, would not do it. Once you drive one, you will not want to go back to anything made by the big 3, the Japanese or the Koreans.

The $ per mile will probably be higher than a Saturn. With premium fuel and 30 MPG, things can get expensive real quick. The cars are reliable but if something goes wrong, the parts and labor will be more than a Saturn. I have found that BMW-s are easier to work on than Audis but not as easy as Hondas so there is a potential for DYI. The parts are available widely.


I agree 100% for people who are willing to be responsible auto owners and maintain their cars. In my experience the costs are no more than any other car, but it does seem that there are cooling system issues ever since the plastic impeller E36 cars.

I disagree with Critic getting one. Now, I may be way off, and perhaps the critic is going to pay $17k cash for it and still have >$10k in the bank. If so, great. I have no doubt that critic will do the maintenance needed to keep it going perfectly.

But it is fairly well established that a bunch of things will be needed, especially wrt the cooling system (lets call a spade a spade... ANY car is going to need a bunch of work at 70-100k), and I just fear that a college student/newly employed person may not want to shoulder that risk. A used car, especially one >60k IS a risk, no matter the make or model. Its exactly at that right point where things could be overlooked and things could be looming very shortly.

If critic was buying an E30 or an E36, maybe even an E46, Id probably say go for it... But that is a lot of $$$ for a used car that is right on the cusp of needing a bunch of work at a point in time where he will need an absolute reliable car that he can use wthout fail to come through as the FNG and low man on the totem pole. Im not saying really that the BMW is unreliable. Im just saying that we dont know what it will need and need at a moment's notice, and dont want to necessarily chance that.
 
Knowing The Critic personally and have participated in his "troubleshooting" of his late Saturn, I'd say he would really appreciate the dynamics of a 330i, as well as being seen in one in his current and future dating image building.

Also knowing his mechanical skill developed while hunting down problems on his late Saturn and his over $1k Snap On collection, he is ready to tackle almost all mechanical German piece of Engineering that will be coming at him at full force. Now the electrical gremlin typical on many European cars..... There is probably a lot of junk yard around that can help.

I'd say he can do it if he really want, but put in an estimate of $1-2k worth of preemptive maintenance like swapping out plastic parts with metal ones and new fluids and hoses. My understanding is The Critic is not that sufficient in fund to buy the car to begin let alone sand bagging the preemptive maintenance cost.
 
Just to make it clear, the car that I'm looking at still has 1 year and 30k of bumper-to-bumper warranty left on it since it was a CPO car.

http://www.montereymercedes.com/used/BMW/2006-BMW-330-015ecdb84046381100d21555f94ed286.htm

I checked with the BMW dealer and the control arm bushings were already done, so all that's really left is the ticking issue, if it comes up. The cooling system doesn't seem to be a real issue on the E90s, from what I understand.
 
Originally Posted By: Eurospec91
E90 330i's are great cars for the money. A friend of mine has one and drives it everyday without a problem. If you do not want to deal with the fuel pump issues with the 335i, I would definitely get the 330i. Pretty much the same car but a different motor. And having a 330i CPO is a definite plus.


It's a good year of 330 since it has the 255HP engine rather than the 225 or the 235 of the previous ZHP.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Seems to be missing a pedal. I'd stay away if I were you.

LOL! Agreed!


+2....why anyone would buy a 'sports sedan', and then lose the driver involvement of a manual transmission is beyond me.

This is an easy indicator of people who are just after the 'image' of the car, and not what the car can actually do...Critic clearly isn't a 'driver'.
 
Originally Posted By: addyguy

This is an easy indicator of people who are just after the 'image' of the car, and not what the car can actually do...Critic clearly isn't a 'driver'.

Try driving in my area-- Silicon Valley, or worse, LA and tell me if you still want to drive a stick after spending a week in traffic.

People buy sports sedans for a number of reasons. For me, it's the handling and steering feel. Also, many manufacturers are going to DCTs because they have both the edge in shift speed and efficiency. Yes, it is not a true manual, but driving one in densely populated areas just isn't realistic.
 
Originally Posted By: The Critic

Try driving in my area-- Silicon Valley, or worse, LA and tell me if you still want to drive a stick after spending a week in traffic.

Chicago traffic ain't much different than what you have over there. I commuted in mine for over year in heavy traffic, 2 hours each day. It's not that big of a deal.

Quote:

Also, many manufacturers are going to DCTs because they have both the edge in shift speed and efficiency.

Is DCT a BMW's version of VW's DSG? If so, I wasn't impressed after driving a GTI with DSG. I'd still prefer the third pedal.
 
If the car makes Critic happy then by all means buy the car. Nothing is worse than driving a car you hate, and I'm speaking from experience, but I was not in a financial situation to drive what I wanted when in school.

Personally I don't have any experience with BMW's, but with 70k on the clock and 5 years old, how bad could it really be, given proper maintenance and care?

My car is in that age an mileage category and I don't see where major things could come from, but again BMW's could be different than an econobox.
 
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Personally I don't have any experience with BMW's, but with 70k on the clock and 5 years old, how bad could it really be, given proper maintenance and care?

It varies. Some are better than others. That CPO warranty definitely is a smart thing to get. I bought my 530i when it was 4-years old with 30K miles on the clock, and it did not have the extended warranty. I spent about $4K on it in maintenance and repairs during first year of ownership alone.
 
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
I don't see why anyone, who wants to drive a BMW, would not do it. Once you drive one, you will not want to go back to anything made by the big 3, the Japanese or the Koreans.
I have test driven probably every make except for exotic stuff like Ferrari's and Lamborghini's. Never cared for the BMW ride. Wasn't anything special to me.

I'd rather drive a Crown Vic than a Beemer, Bens or Volvo.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Never cared for the BMW ride. Wasn't anything special to me


LOL!

and make that Bimmer, and Benz
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Try driving in my area-- Silicon Valley, or worse, LA and tell me if you still want to drive a stick after spending a week in traffic.

How about the middle of Manhattan during rush hour, with a much heavier clutch pedal than what's in a modern BMW? Been there, done that, still won't give up a manual.
wink.gif


If I had to face that kind of traffic every day, I wouldn't drive at all if I had the choice. There's just no point. If I absolutely had to drive, BMW would be last on my list.


Originally Posted By: The Critic
People buy sports sedans for a number of reasons. For me, it's the handling and steering feel.

Won't these advantages be meaningless if you're sitting in traffic all the time?

For sure, its disadvantages -- heavy controls, firm ride, ho-hum fuel economy, additional mainenance requirements especially when you never hit high speeds, etc. -- will be at their worst. Not a good cost/benefit ratio, IMO.


Originally Posted By: The Critic
Also, many manufacturers are going to DCTs because they have both the edge in shift speed and efficiency.

You know this car has a plain-Jane torque converter automatic, right?
 
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