[thechoson]

2008 328i, 37000 miles. I got a couple of maintenance items to take care of. I've started to entertain the idea of possibly just getting a new car. If I decide to keep the BMW, I'd ideally like to keep it another 5 years (at around year 10-11 I tend to get rid of my cars for no other reason than just boredom). With my driving habits, I can't see myself putting on any more than 40,000 miles in that span, might be a lot less.

So I'm looking at a 10-year old car with about 70000 miles.

If I get the brakes done soon, I shouldn't need new ones during that time period, same with tires (just got new ones).

I'm trying to get an idea of what kind of REGULAR maintenance (outside of the annual oil changes I get) may be needed over the next 5 years, and more importantly, what might be an issue that might come up that would need repairs? Are there any common issues with this car that arise at around the 50-70000 mile mark?

[e90ben]

The big three that come to mind

Valve cover gasket
Oil filter housing gasket
Eccentric Shaft sensor

[bender rodriguez]

Control arm bushings, dmtl pump, suspension parts after 100k

[kisho]

Don't forget the water pump.

[thechoson]

Originally Posted by bender rodriguez

Control arm bushings, dmtl pump, suspension parts after 100k

I will definitely not hit 100k during my ownership of this car. At this rate it would take me 20 years

[snayko]

My car is 2006(2005 production date) almost 90k miles.
Thanks god engine is still running good.
VVC, power steering pump, rack, suspension parts , ac compressor, starter, battery: all these parts can go bad within 100k miles.
And it's good that us market doesn't have many of those engines like 2.5 liter and 2 liter
(Not 3 liters) those engines are really bad and known for many issues that can cost fortune to fix it.

[9iron]

I have an '08 328i i bought used (CPO) with 26,000 on it in 2010. I just rolled 90k. Havent had a single issue yet. I did just change the pads/rotors this week. Im gonna roll the dice and drive it for a few more years.....hopefully nothing expensive breaks.

I would buy the car again though, and if you dont put a lot of miles on it, you should be good to go. Rock solid car in every sense IME.

[Route 16]

Originally Posted by 9iron

I have an '08 328i i bought used (CPO) with 26,000 on it in 2010. I just rolled 90k. Havent had a single issue yet. I did just change the pads/rotors this week. Im gonna roll the dice and drive it for a few more years.....hopefully nothing expensive breaks.

I would buy the car again though, and if you dont put a lot of miles on it, you should be good to go. Rock solid car in every sense IME.

I did 30k miles in 6 months with my job last year, 10k up to now. No issues, I'm about to hit 89k with my '07. I'm going to refresh all suspension parts by 100k, braking system, all fluids, hoses, and keep the water pump/tstat parts in the garage when that day comes.
There is a new concern I've seen. 1st or 2nd symptom, A/C does not work and the glove box area is excessively hotter than normal. Quite possibly fuse/wiring is the cause and there could be a fire. I'm planning to keep an extinguisher in the car.
My wife says buy an old civic and keep the E90 in the garage. Why I don't buy a civic? I would rather spend that money to where it makes me happy to spend, instead use that for maintenance/repairs on the 328. $5000 civic can be used on the engine/transmission if that were my issue. I'm keeping this sucker.

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by e90ben

The big three that come to mind

Valve cover gasket
Oil filter housing gasket
Eccentric Shaft sensor

+1

I have an 08 with 84k on it... My VCG and OFHG are both starting to go bad.

[jvsxn]

I agree with Jason. Keep fluids and a water pump and tstat for when that day comes. My pump blew at around 68k which feels premature in comparison to others' stories but it happens.

[Dark_Knight_335]

You don't have to worry about any stupid turbos- you can drive that thing until it disintegrates.

Just keep up on regular maintenance.

[Efthreeoh]

LOL. 70K in 10 years. I'd not worry about anything major. I've covered 260,000 in just over 8.5 years and the only "major" issue I could call unexpected was the AC compressor died at 85,000 miles. However I suspect it died early due to crash damage repair at 12,000 miles from a deer hit, where they body shop had to remove the core support, which required disassembly of the AC system. They probably left the system open too long and degraded the compressor seals. Since the repair of the AC at 85K she's gone another 175,000 on the replacement compressor.

BY 70,000 miles, I spent $2,800 for maintenance and repairs. Most all of that was comprised of a new set of wheels and two sets of tires.

You probably might need another set of brakes by 70K...

Guys, the E90 with the N52 goes easily 200,000 miles with little expense.

[udm328i]

Originally Posted by AllBlackBimmer

+1

I have an 08 with 84k on it... My VCG and OFHG are both starting to go bad.

Vcg, ofhg?

*oh just got it never mind, actually just did that repair,

[Saintor]

Originally Posted by snayko

And it's good that us market doesn't have many of those engines like 2.5 liter and 2 liter
(Not 3 liters) those engines are really bad and known for many issues that can cost fortune to fix it.

I'll bite. I have a N52 2.5L, yeah there is 0 benefit over a 3.0 but what 2.5 specific issues are you talking about?

As for reliability, mine has been aging OK (although it was a pain - read unreliable - in its first 3 years). The only issue in the last year was an O2 sensor. I learnt that messing with 3rd party for replacement parts can be expensive.

Without tires and brakes, and after 41 months out of warranty now at near 85K miles I spent 4022$ in repair/maintenance. The 2 worst items were replacement of valve cover and front shocks.

[Eagle1oh7]

I'm definitely looking to keep this car until gas is no longer the primary fuel source for cars. My dream for this car is to give it to my son(he's 2 next month).

[Barny323Motorsport]

You may also be hit with having to replace the ABS Hydro unit, mine went at 39km. After researching various blogs, this seems to be a common fault, and at $3000 NZD, it was an expensive repair.

[krhodes1]

I look at it this way - in the first 4 years of ownership of a new one you are paying $20K+ in depreciation, even if you do not have a single repair. So that makes replacing the car just to avoid some repairs rather silly. All the likely repairs before 100K are less money than 1 year of depreciation on a new one, even at $tealership prices. Assuming the car is long paid for, repairs are nothing compared to that initial depreciation. I'm at 3.5yrs, 32K on mine, and I plan to keep it for eternity. Only failures so far are a seat relay and the front door seals due to rubbing against them getting in and out.

Unless BMW comes to their senses and decides to sell F31 RWD 328d's in the US. I have no need of AWD on a non-offroad vehicle.

[galahad05]

These last few posts have been well informed.

Driving a car into the ground is the best way to get your money's worth.

[mansito]

With the NA engine you should be good for 200K+ miles. Most of your cost will be routine maintenance items (i.e. rotors/brakes, fluids, shocks, clutch - depend on how you drive, etc.) I put 200K on my last BMW (e28).

I've owned American, Japanese, and European vehicles. I can say that all my vehicles had issues as they got older. But it is still significantly cheaper to address the problem than to dump the car and get a new one. I currently own two Lexus (is300 and GX470). Lexus is supposed to be the industry benchmark for reliability. Both cars have had issues (e.g., headlight leveling sensor stopped working, broken sunroof, frozen front brake calipers, O2 sensors) aside from normal maintenance.

[thechoson]

Thanks for the responses.

I'd also like to ask, what would be the absolute WORST thing that could go wrong on a cost basis? I'd assume needing a new engine and/or transmission? How much would something like that cost on this model of car?

[AceOnShake]

I've had my vehicle for almost 10 years It will be in March. I got the earliest build e90 330i 6 speed. Its been reliable for the most part nothing major. I have put 67k miles and thats in 10 years almost. The N52 is as reliable as it gets its the last N/A inline 6 motor in the 3 series.

I love the feeling of a naturally aspirated car rather than a boosted vehicle so I will most likely pick up an e90 M3 for my next car. I been looking at the BMW M5 E39 as well. E39 will be cheaper to maintain less technology and no rod bearing issue as well.

[Nhe261]

IMO, BMW ' S rubber and plastic parts sucks. They will break down before any metal parts and it is time concerns not milage.