The thing about your videos is that you share information that has tremendous value to anyone in the market for a BMW. The last thing a person wants to be stuck with is a BMW that never stops needing repairs.
One of my customers has a 328i 2007 210k miles on it. Original engine and transmission. Only work we did from 80k( first knowing him) to now 210k was the starter, oil changes, couple coolant hoses here and there, oil filter housing gasket, valve cover gasket, and one transmission fluid drain and fill with new filter and pan with gasket. Very impressed to see the car still going strong to this day
I still can’t get my head around the fact that poeple didn’t get the LED headlights on a F3X and took the halogen instead. Those LED headlights does a lot for the car.
But the e90 has the better drivers experience. The f30 will allure you with the updated look, interior and electronics, but its geared more toward luxury and the electronic steering takes away from that engaged drivers feel and is not as fun to drive. With the N55 being more reliable than the n54, I think the E90 with the n55 would be the car to get over the f30 model. For the Tuners with open wallets, the n54 is a MONSTER and will be the clear go to for modding and insane power. Ultimate reliability: snag a e90/e92 328i or better yet the 330i. The 330i is the best N/A version only offered for 2006 in the US and offers more power, bigger brakes, better exhaust, a better transmission, and more options as standard equipment than the 328i. I have an E90 330i and love the car with it's lower maintenance costs over its turbo brothers as well as the upgrades over the 328i. Definitely a fun car to drive.
Bought my 2011 e92 328i 2 years ago today put nearly 30k miles on it only had to change the brakes and oil changes love this car about to go give it a fresh detail❤️
N55 owner here. My engine is now at 110,000 miles and it is still running really well. My main concern with this car is that the tail lights will fail due to a burnt ground connection, but this can easily be fixed with a replacement kit.
I got my f30 LCI 320d for about 3 to 4 months now and i absolutly love the way it drives. Bought it at 129XXX KM and as of now it has 146XXX KM on the clock. Hope it holds up better then my V40 D4 from 2014.
I have an e9x 330i sport with a staggered setup as well, I baby it as I know it will never have an equal. Everything has been CAFE'd into DI, Turbo, 4 cylinder garbage. When I do move to an electric I will keep the inline 6 for weekends. At that time in the future, it might be slower and use $200 in fuel but I will gladly pay.
why does he said that i should avoid 328i f30 and get back to e90? i dont get it . for me it is a perfect looking dream car,is maintenance so expensive or whats the problem? maybe 320i f30 is better solution?
Green DoG Dream car? Before or after that N20 becomes a nightmare for you? The E9x 328i is the 3.0 N52 which is naturally aspirated. Way better engine for fun and reliability.
I’ve an N52. Had the standard coil problems, leaking valve cover gasket over the 70,000 miles that I’ve covered with it. Just completed a service, and I must say that the car still runs like new right now, it’s a joy to drive. Only deal breaker for me is poor fuel consumption, in Europe, it’s a problem.
@@Jdoug305 it’s a very small leak so I live with it, I lose a litre every 3 months and it’s not getting worse. It’s 14 years old so it’s not worth a lot so I just live with it. It’s a common fault but I’m not mechanically minded enough to attempt to do it myself. There are videos on how to do it, it’s about 6 hours work which in the uk would be £300, plus £80 for the gasket. As my car is only worth £2000 and needs new brakes, I’ll probably just part ex it soon
E90 steering is not just heavy, it is numb and imprecise. Given that BMW are supposed to handle it was the biggest surprise, whereas the unreliability I had expected. After replacing the control arms, sway links and strut mounts (Lemforder) and struts (Bilstein) at least the POS handles better.
I have a e90 330i 2006 low mileage with alot of modding on it., I just love this car, you have good power and torque. And it´s as you say reliable., And you are spot on when it comes to oil change, I change my oil twice per year, and do alot of other stuffs just to prevent and be safe. Great channel btw!
When you do your oil filter housing gasket repair your better off doing the valve cover gasket at the same time Also buy a water pump just to be ready when it goes out
@@Alecxace I went all the way to 194,000 miles before I had to change my thermostat. My mechanic said that the water pump was in the car the day it left the factory. I was just as surprised as he was, but replaced it since I could just kill two birds with one stone.
Great video! But just wanted to add that the LCI change for the F30s came in 2016, not 2015. Also, the B58 motor was added in 2016, and the B48 or 30i engine came in 2017.
A small input from Holland. In 2013 a update N47 diesel engine came out. The N47TU (technical update) this engine has the timing chain issue resolved. So when searching for a F30/F31 diesel. Make sure the engine is built in the year 2013 and has the engine code N47TU. Then your good. Greets from Holland
How is it possible that bmw did not make that tu in the beginning of the f30 in 2012? Still putting the bad chain engine in the New model 3 series. Cant believe that
@@freekveenstra2746 probably BMW and there contracted suppliers had alot of chains in stock. So the they had to finish that first before installing a better chain. This is likely due to al there contracts and they couldn't right them off. In the US this chain problem was also added as a warranty coverage after consumer lawsuits. A least in some states.
E90 solid well made awesome engine. Few issues. N52 engines valve cover gaskets fail early and are a chore to change but otherwise great engines that if the oil is kept fresh you'll get 200k plus from the engine.
@@ECPP I had both E90 and E92 in the past which was my lifetime worst experience with BMW cars. Both have fatal engine problems. After valve cover gasket replaced, engine never run again properly even dealer could not program the valvetronic servo. E92 was another disastrous experiences for me, even BMW specialized mechanic friend of mine could not fixed the engine. Over complicated and when you fixe one thing another thing fails. E9x series least reliable cars made by BMW period!
Thanks for ypur info I recently bought my bucket list 08 325i . .75k N52 and love my dream come true. Keep up tour info ...Im in the Caribbean ..Trinindad and Tobago..
I have 2006 325i going on 2yrs since owning great car and yes reliable recently I’ve been refreshing a lot of mechanical parts to make it last me another 100,000 😊 right now I’m marking at 168,200 I have a list of things I’ve already replaced an another big list of things I’m buying
These videos are a great resource. Thank you. I used to own an E90 but got rid of it in 2010. Now I'm looking into getting a used BMW and have seriously considered the E90 again. However, one deterrent is fuel consumption. Those E90s do consume more fuel compared to comparable F30 models and, in addition to that, these vehicles require premium gasoline. So if you're budget conscious, don't forget to estimate your fuel expenses as part of your cost of ownership.
I love my 2011 E90 328i. It's the best car I've ever driven besides a 2001 E38 740il. I bought my E90 last year in perfect condition with only 84,000 KM on the odometer. The hydraulic steering, naturally-aspirated I6 engine, and Executive Package trim combine to make, in my opinion, the last truly GREAT 3-Series BMW. As nice as the F30 is, it just doesn't beat the feel of a silky smooth E90.
N20 was used before facelift. Then for all LCI's came B48 which is much more reliable, especially after 2017 revision (that went into 7 series first and now into new G20). So basically all 330i F30's are great and better than N52 engines in E90.
I think a lot of youtubers talking about this engine have never driven a 30i b48. It is nearly as smooth as an old 6 cylinder. I now bought my fourth bmw and can say that from an owners sight. I have also driven the 140i ;-) Great motor, bad fuel economy in the city and heavy turn in feeling, but a great deal for a straight line autobahn.
@@zrMysli The thing with B48 is that it can be tuned with Stage 1 to 310+ bhp with practically no reliability concerns and no issues at all. Getting 55-60bhp just from a simple map without any downside is just amazing. Also 310+ bhp from a 4 pot engine with stock turbo, intercooler and exhaust is quite an achievement.
@@perakojot6524 This is not correct. For reliability you have to change some hardware like the new 135i has. Crankshaft, cylinder with more copper... One of my friends is working in munich at Frauenhofer Institute in cooperation with BMW.
As a youth, I remember an old SCCA racer, who piloted some BMWs, that you "You must drive the sh**t outta them everyday, and hard, and they will not break down. That's what those motors were designed for, with such tight tolerances".. The lesson, if you baby a BMW like an old lady, she will stay in the hospital trying to get well... Great lesson. That's why their mantra is "The Ultimate Driving Machine"... get it?
Have 40,000 miles on our E90 328i. Repairs: eccentric shaft sensor replacement $850, spark coil and plug replacement $900, tires $1,000, front struts control arms and sway bar links $1,120, front brakes $50 did it myself, oil filter body gasket and aluminum bolt replacement $42 did it myself (shop wanted $400). I told my partner to buy a Lexus, not this piece of junk, but she wouldn't listen.
What the f**k? I could do all that work for 500$ ,watching RUclips videos if you weren’t sure on the job. The bmw is cheap if you stay out of shops lol.
@@Tyler-qy7dj The eccentric shaft sensor is $454. The struts,control arms, sway bar links and bushings are $650. The point is not that I have the cheapest shop in the world. The point is that BMWs are unreliable junk.
Great video. I have the 2011 e90 with inline 6. Nice and smooth. When I first got the car about 5-6 years ago had issues with ignition coils but since replacing them the car has been pretty reliable. Some minor anything little things that creep up such as trunk release but aside from that I’m happy with it.
Thank you so much. Bmw officially said long service intervals, but every mechanic on earth said use the best oil and change it every 6,000 miles. Oil powers the tensioner, and if not changed can get gluggy, and cause the tensioner to malfunction
What's your opinion about B38 engine on F30(318i) the 3 cylinder is that good or the vehicle will crawl and make major problems later on also tell me if the N13 the 4 cylinder one(316i 1600cc) is good enough to buy it on F30? I need your opinion on low cubic capacity cars BCS in Greece the taxes are high on 2000cc cars and more
Driving my 2014 F31 318d every day för the last 2 years has bin great. Great fuel economy and not a single problem. It has simply bin the perfect daily driver.
I have a 2006 330xi with 306k on the motor. its not as reliable as any compact car these are not daily drivers But the engine and manual transmission makes it a bit more worth your time
According to folks that I have heard from, these are improved and less prone to failure but there are still some with a few failures as noted and worst with firewall side of engine. Oil co sumptuous too as a possibility due to extended oil services. Do frequent servicing and it will help. I personally love diesels for daily vehicles due to great power delivery and massive fuel economy
Make sure it's a N47TU engine. They where a Technical update of the N47 and came out in building year 2013. The dont have any oil consumption and the timing chain issue is resolved. Greets N47TU enthusiast.
I got a used 2009 328i e90 a year and four months ago. I bought it with just under 85k on the engine and up to this day I’ve had two main issues, engine gasket leak, and the thermostat. That’s about it. I’ve had other issues, but those were just maintenance things, headlights and brakes, wipers etc. The car has been great! Love driving it, looks modern, and drives well. For my first BMW, I think I did well on my research and getting the 328i. Good info on the 2015 f30 which I will now highly consider.. 🤔🤔
why does he said that i should avoid 328i f30 and get back to e90? i dont get it . for me it is a perfect looking dream car,is maintenance so expensive or whats the problem? maybe 320i f30 is better solution?
I think my next purchase is 2015 530 D as I am older now and not that interested in performance.Thanks for telling us the better years Mark. Good research
He left out the SULEV that came with 2015+ 328i with the N20 and N26 it addresses the timing issue with an extended warranty that most states accept. The extended warranty is good for 15 years. The extended warranty comes with the car no need to pay extra for it
E9x 335 N54 is the old M54 engine with two turbos. It has an aluminum engine block instead of the N52's magnesium and has no VANOS. BMW extended the warranty on the N54's HPFP to 10 years. They stopped selling the E9x 330i in North America but was for sale in Europe.
Please, it is hard to write down info as fast as you rattle it off. How about a sort of newsletter we could sign up for just listing the good points and the bad points???
Hey Mark thank you for finally making this video! Question, I have the N26 SULEV almost 120k, my timing chain should be fine right? I change oil every 5k.
This video got me clear one thing that i need it so bad, i want a 330i e90 2012 lci and as he says this model is the one to go, so this has the n52 engine too, thx
The LCI e90/92 are wonderful and the N55 is a great engine and the NA engines are nice too, just a bit older tech. Either way, you cant go wrong because they are all fun cars to drive.
Thank you so much for your time to answer, great youtube channel, i have learned so much from your videos, one more follower, i let you know when i got my first BMW 👌👌👌i will take your advise
Almost perfect! When it was more relevant, you stopped! So, big question: I understand that f30 328i have some problems, but, after 2015, is there any 2L gasoline engine? And second, have you any idea if timing belt is at the back of the engine like in n47? Cus, if it in the front, changing timing belt shouldn't be a problem. Thank you!
My girlfriend had an e90 328i and I have an f30 328i and both are very reliable but the big thing for me is the gas mileage on the e90 is so low and the f30 gets you up to 33 on highway potentially
I can give you guys some advice sence I owned both models 07 328i xi it was reliable until it hit 70k electronic fuel pump, head gasket and other minor issues and yes I did all the maintenance and oil at 5k.. but my excuse I was the 3rd owner. My 15 328 xdrive really is a totally different car 50k it feels more like a 5 series also sport mode turns the car in to a beast so far so good .. It's all about being able to keep up with such a high maintenance car.. But its worth the driving EXPERIENCE.
The S85 ten cylinder motor was the best engine bmw ever made. Yes they have flaws but that formula 1 engine for the street was unmatched in its time. No other brand can match the performance for the price, sorry dodge viper owners the bmw ten cylinder is the king of the hill. I own a 335is and have had the typical problems oil leaks,waste gate rattle etc but the engine was developed by Alpina and with a tune I was able to get 400 hp and 420 flb. of torque at 2000 rpm with stock turbos and be able to drive it every day. The major mod was a catch can and i would advise installing for any direct injected motor. The N54 is a stout motor it"s just all the other accessories attached to it that really fail. Great video as always
New B47 have resovled chain issues from previous N47. However these engines are known for a massive recall done by Bmw , where around 1.6 milion vehicles have been requested for service because of issues with EGR and Egr cooler which can cause fire
Hey, Mark. Fellow Canuck here. I dig your videos and have told friends to check out your channel. I was wondering something. Why do so many of your videos have the words "reliable" or "unreliable" in them?
I’m on the edge of buying an F30 328i because I had an e90 328i and that had problems with the water pump and thermostat which cost about $800 other than that it was a solid car idk what to expect from the f30
Hope someone can answer me I got a bmw f30 2014 with 114k miles, and it’s amazing but I want to change oil and coolant. Which oil do you suggest Motul 5w40 full Synthetic, castrol 5w30, valvoline o castrol ?
The difference in reliability is negligible. You’ll enjoy a much more powerful car with the 330 without sacrificing reliability. I really would stay away from 320 they’re way too anemic. Same engine different configurations but nothing that will be a detriment to its long term dependability.
Thanks a lot Kevin. Any closer to getting a Gallardo ? Still got the Supra it ch, I don’t blame ya they are holding some insane value these days. Also have you been watching Stradman and his new Supra ?
ExoticCar PlayPlace Yeah I have been watching him with the new supra. I actually want to buy the stradmans Gallardo. I've reached out to him multiple times with bo responce. But about a month or two ago he responded and said he wouldn't sell it. And he posted that video recently saying he won't sell it.
Well that’s encouraging because I have reached out to him with no response. Either way I am seeing a few gated cars pop up here and there and prices seem a bit soft on Gallardo’s right now.
ExoticCar PlayPlace Found a few 2004s for under 90k gated but not in colors I want. I would preffer orange or black. Just keep messaging him he will respond eventually. I even contacted his brother lol
i guess its safe to say now my '13 n20 (aug '12 production date) is at 113k. i never knew people's timing chains were taking a shi since early last year when i started looking for another f30. had it since new. oil changes regularly at the same indy shop for roughly 7 years now since i went to the dealership first. they just told me valve cover and oil filter housing gasket is starting a minor leak. they havent said anything about timing chain ever so i could be the lucky .01%. i live in the upper midwest too so its around freezing half the year. but when it goes nightnight, im going w the b58 preferably or n55. somethin about that f30 bodystyle makes me wet.
I never liked or paid much attention to the F30 platform and didn't like the looks - but that was because I was mostly looking at cars that didn't have the M Sport package. Nowadays I own an F30 335i with the N55. Sexy looking car
I wonder about the B48 engine(replaced the N20 in 2018)- I think? Its the lastest 4 cyl turbo engine (330I)? I wonder if that is an improvement over the N20 in terms of reliability?
The thing about your videos is that you share information that has tremendous value to anyone in the market for a BMW. The last thing a person wants to be stuck with is a BMW that never stops needing repairs.
N52 gang
Cheers Justin, great to hear from you. Have a good one.
I have an n52, trying to upgrade to the n55
@@brennanmoney271 I’m tryna get b58 m340i, but for now I’m still rocking my n52 with manual transmission
One of my customers has a 328i 2007 210k miles on it. Original engine and transmission. Only work we did from 80k( first knowing him) to now 210k was the starter, oil changes, couple coolant hoses here and there, oil filter housing gasket, valve cover gasket, and one transmission fluid drain and fill with new filter and pan with gasket. Very impressed to see the car still going strong to this day
What oil do u suggest for a F30 114k miles 2014 ? I can get motul, Mobil o castrol.
Summary 10:01
zikuss123 Thanks.
I still can’t get my head around the fact that poeple didn’t get the LED headlights on a F3X and took the halogen instead. Those LED headlights does a lot for the car.
Agree
They were probably the people who were too broke to afford them and wanted to look rich to their other friends
But the e90 has the better drivers experience. The f30 will allure you with the updated look, interior and electronics, but its geared more toward luxury and the electronic steering takes away from that engaged drivers feel and is not as fun to drive. With the N55 being more reliable than the n54, I think the E90 with the n55 would be the car to get over the f30 model. For the Tuners with open wallets, the n54 is a MONSTER and will be the clear go to for modding and insane power. Ultimate reliability: snag a e90/e92 328i or better yet the 330i. The 330i is the best N/A version only offered for 2006 in the US and offers more power, bigger brakes, better exhaust, a better transmission, and more options as standard equipment than the 328i. I have an E90 330i and love the car with it's lower maintenance costs over its turbo brothers as well as the upgrades over the 328i. Definitely a fun car to drive.
What are the 330i upgrades over the 328? thanks.
Bought my 2011 e92 328i 2 years ago today put nearly 30k miles on it only had to change the brakes and oil changes love this car about to go give it a fresh detail❤️
N55 owner here. My engine is now at 110,000 miles and it is still running really well. My main concern with this car is that the tail lights will fail due to a burnt ground connection, but this can easily be fixed with a replacement kit.
Good engines if they are maintained.
How much is the replacement kit?
@@menukaariyadasa5863 It was roughly $40 for the bulb holder and $15 for the tail light plug replacement.
Best BMW engine
1. M54 (6 Cylinder NA) 2000-2006
2. N52 (6 Cylinder NA) 2004-2015
3. B48 (4 Cylinder Turbo) 2014-Present
4. B58 (6 Cylinder Turbo) 2015-Present
B58 should be 2nd. The N52 wasn't as reliable
I got my f30 LCI 320d for about 3 to 4 months now and i absolutly love the way it drives. Bought it at 129XXX KM and as of now it has 146XXX KM on the clock. Hope it holds up better then my V40 D4 from 2014.
You always skip the m57 diesel e90 when turned it's the most reliable BMW
2015 is the year the B58 340’s went into production & started being sold but the first available model year for a 340i is 2016...
Can’t beat the straight 6 n/a from the 330i. BMW should have kept that engine going
I have an e9x 330i sport with a staggered setup as well, I baby it as I know it will never have an equal. Everything has been CAFE'd into DI, Turbo, 4 cylinder garbage. When I do move to an electric I will keep the inline 6 for weekends. At that time in the future, it might be slower and use $200 in fuel but I will gladly pay.
Blame emissions laws
why does he said that i should avoid 328i f30 and get back to e90? i dont get it . for me it is a perfect looking dream car,is maintenance so expensive or whats the problem?
maybe 320i f30 is better solution?
Green DoG Dream car? Before or after that N20 becomes a nightmare for you? The E9x 328i is the 3.0 N52 which is naturally aspirated. Way better engine for fun and reliability.
@@gtmike916 nope 328 f30 more fun old one is slow
Oh my God I love this it's almost like you made this for me I I have an e90 and I've been thinking about upgrading to a f30 used
Timing chain issues big time lawsuits
timing chain guides were updated in 2/15 i read
Get a 2015/2016. Timing chain fixed. Also any N26 engine will have a 10 year 150k sulev warranty.
Its always timing chain in both f and e
I’ve an N52. Had the standard coil problems, leaking valve cover gasket over the 70,000 miles that I’ve covered with it. Just completed a service, and I must say that the car still runs like new right now, it’s a joy to drive. Only deal breaker for me is poor fuel consumption, in Europe, it’s a problem.
You fixed the valve cover gasket yourself? Because my friend paid 1k rip 😂 and is it common for 328i or n52to have these problems over 70k miles?
@@Jdoug305 it’s a very small leak so I live with it, I lose a litre every 3 months and it’s not getting worse. It’s 14 years old so it’s not worth a lot so I just live with it. It’s a common fault but I’m not mechanically minded enough to attempt to do it myself. There are videos on how to do it, it’s about 6 hours work which in the uk would be £300, plus £80 for the gasket. As my car is only worth £2000 and needs new brakes, I’ll probably just part ex it soon
My 04 E46 330i has 160,000 miles and the engine is so smooth and the car feel great, love this car
Great to hear!
one more thing e90 = hydraulic steering and f30 = electric steering. hydraulic is heavier to steer but it’s definitely more fun.
E90 steering is not just heavy, it is numb and imprecise. Given that BMW are supposed to handle it was the biggest surprise, whereas the unreliability I had expected. After replacing the control arms, sway links and strut mounts (Lemforder) and struts (Bilstein) at least the POS handles better.
Not true.some e90 has electric steering
E90 lci have electric steering!
Yup deff noticed that, I thought when I got my f30 I'd sell my old one,nope.
U can turn off a lot of the electric steering with DSC off . Makes the steering very heavy
I have a e90 330i 2006 low mileage with alot of modding on it., I just love this car, you have good power and torque. And it´s as you say reliable., And you are spot on when it comes to oil change, I change my oil twice per year, and do alot of other stuffs just to prevent and be safe. Great channel btw!
When you do your oil filter housing gasket repair your better off doing the valve cover gasket at the same time
Also buy a water pump just to be ready when it goes out
@@mopessos9294 I changed the water pump around 7 months ago ☺
patrik andersson
Changing my water pump and thermostat now... 68,000 miles in
@@Alecxace I went all the way to 194,000 miles before I had to change my thermostat. My mechanic said that the water pump was in the car the day it left the factory. I was just as surprised as he was, but replaced it since I could just kill two birds with one stone.
@@ItsJustNomad
you are one of the few to get that far lol. mine is golden now though! just gotta change an ABS sensor
Great video! But just wanted to add that the LCI change for the F30s came in 2016, not 2015. Also, the B58 motor was added in 2016, and the B48 or 30i engine came in 2017.
He probably using the UK model years, but you are right 2016 not 2015 also 2012 not 2011.
my F30 LCI was built on late 2015.
A small input from Holland. In 2013 a update N47 diesel engine came out. The N47TU (technical update) this engine has the timing chain issue resolved. So when searching for a F30/F31 diesel. Make sure the engine is built in the year 2013 and has the engine code N47TU. Then your good. Greets from Holland
How is it possible that bmw did not make that tu in the beginning of the f30 in 2012? Still putting the bad chain engine in the New model 3 series. Cant believe that
@@freekveenstra2746 probably BMW and there contracted suppliers had alot of chains in stock. So the they had to finish that first before installing a better chain. This is likely due to al there contracts and they couldn't right them off. In the US this chain problem was also added as a warranty coverage after consumer lawsuits. A least in some states.
2015 n20 F30 328. Not a single issue so far at 70 000 miles
i have the same.. made in December 2015. Apparently they updated the timing chain by then. im at 60,000, not a single issue.
E90 solid well made awesome engine. Few issues. N52 engines valve cover gaskets fail early and are a chore to change but otherwise great engines that if the oil is kept fresh you'll get 200k plus from the engine.
True
@@ECPP I had both E90 and E92 in the past which was my lifetime worst experience with BMW cars. Both have fatal engine problems. After valve cover gasket replaced, engine never run again properly even dealer could not program the valvetronic servo. E92 was another disastrous experiences for me, even BMW specialized mechanic friend of mine could not fixed the engine. Over complicated and when you fixe one thing another thing fails. E9x series least reliable cars made by BMW period!
Thanks for ypur info I recently bought my bucket list 08 325i . .75k N52 and love my dream come true. Keep up tour info ...Im in the Caribbean ..Trinindad and Tobago..
Congrats on the buy, yes those cars are great to drive and more durable than the turbos
I have 2006 325i going on 2yrs since owning great car and yes reliable recently I’ve been refreshing a lot of mechanical parts to make it last me another 100,000 😊 right now I’m marking at 168,200 I have a list of things I’ve already replaced an another big list of things I’m buying
These videos are a great resource. Thank you. I used to own an E90 but got rid of it in 2010. Now I'm looking into getting a used BMW and have seriously considered the E90 again. However, one deterrent is fuel consumption. Those E90s do consume more fuel compared to comparable F30 models and, in addition to that, these vehicles require premium gasoline. So if you're budget conscious, don't forget to estimate your fuel expenses as part of your cost of ownership.
Thanks for watching
Diesel? ;-)
Ive been looking at getting a second hand BMW 3 series and your channel has been so valuable at picking up advice on what to look out for.
What'd you grab ?
@@j14l28 2007 e90 320i
Make a video of N20 vs B48 !!
Thanks! What about the F30 320d 2013? Is this engine reliable?
A year late watching this video, but it's educated me loads on the two generations and narrowed down my options. Thanks so much for your help!
You are very welcome
I love my 2011 E90 328i. It's the best car I've ever driven besides a 2001 E38 740il. I bought my E90 last year in perfect condition with only 84,000 KM on the odometer. The hydraulic steering, naturally-aspirated I6 engine, and Executive Package trim combine to make, in my opinion, the last truly GREAT 3-Series BMW. As nice as the F30 is, it just doesn't beat the feel of a silky smooth E90.
Thanks for sharing
N20 was used before facelift. Then for all LCI's came B48 which is much more reliable, especially after 2017 revision (that went into 7 series first and now into new G20). So basically all 330i F30's are great and better than N52 engines in E90.
I think a lot of youtubers talking about this engine have never driven a 30i b48. It is nearly as smooth as an old 6 cylinder. I now bought my fourth bmw and can say that from an owners sight. I have also driven the 140i ;-) Great motor, bad fuel economy in the city and heavy turn in feeling, but a great deal for a straight line autobahn.
@@zrMysli The thing with B48 is that it can be tuned with Stage 1 to 310+ bhp with practically no reliability concerns and no issues at all. Getting 55-60bhp just from a simple map without any downside is just amazing. Also 310+ bhp from a 4 pot engine with stock turbo, intercooler and exhaust is quite an achievement.
@@perakojot6524 This is not correct. For reliability you have to change some hardware like the new 135i has. Crankshaft, cylinder with more copper... One of my friends is working in munich at Frauenhofer Institute in cooperation with BMW.
As a youth, I remember an old SCCA racer, who piloted some BMWs, that you "You must drive the sh**t outta them everyday, and hard, and they will not break down. That's what those motors were designed for, with such tight tolerances".. The lesson, if you baby a BMW like an old lady, she will stay in the hospital trying to get well... Great lesson. That's why their mantra is "The Ultimate Driving Machine"... get it?
I'm currently waiting on the papers for my 2007 E93 320i. I'm soo excited plus the 170hp will hopefully not drain my wallet too much
Have 40,000 miles on our E90 328i. Repairs: eccentric shaft sensor replacement $850, spark coil and plug replacement $900, tires $1,000, front struts control arms and sway bar links $1,120, front brakes $50 did it myself, oil filter body gasket and aluminum bolt replacement $42 did it myself (shop wanted $400).
I told my partner to buy a Lexus, not this piece of junk, but she wouldn't listen.
A Lexus iSF would be a great replacement
What the f**k? I could do all that work for 500$ ,watching RUclips videos if you weren’t sure on the job. The bmw is cheap if you stay out of shops lol.
@@Tyler-qy7dj The eccentric shaft sensor is $454. The struts,control arms, sway bar links and bushings are $650.
The point is not that I have the cheapest shop in the world. The point is that BMWs are unreliable junk.
dalton knox 😬sounds like u got a lemon bud
@@iiplaya. No, read Consumer Reports or watch Scotty Kilmer. BMWs are junk.
Great video. I have the 2011 e90 with inline 6. Nice and smooth. When I first got the car about 5-6 years ago had issues with ignition coils but since replacing them the car has been pretty reliable. Some minor anything little things that creep up such as trunk release but aside from that I’m happy with it.
You never had a leak valve cover gasket?
Thank you so much. Bmw officially said long service intervals, but every mechanic on earth said use the best oil and change it every 6,000 miles. Oil powers the tensioner, and if not changed can get gluggy, and cause the tensioner to malfunction
What's your opinion about B38 engine on F30(318i) the 3 cylinder is that good or the vehicle will crawl and make major problems later on also tell me if the N13 the 4 cylinder one(316i 1600cc) is good enough to buy it on F30? I need your opinion on low cubic capacity cars BCS in Greece the taxes are high on 2000cc cars and more
Driving my 2014 F31 318d every day för the last 2 years has bin great. Great fuel economy and not a single problem. It has simply bin the perfect daily driver.
Have a 2016 318 too, great car, beautiful ride. 0 problem. Even the yearly servicing was cheaper than expected.
I have 318 d 2015 for nearly 1 year now, anything can I concearn?
Great video! Thank you for this. Does anybody know the difference in reliability between the N52 with silver cover and the one with black cover?
Sliver cover because it’s not made out of plastic
great video thanks very much! exactly what i was looking for, will probably watch 3 times..
Thanks a lot for watching.
Love the talking about reliability as usual. N55 & B58 motor rocks! As well as N52 naturally aspirated. Just stay away from N20 & N54 motors.
Totally agree
In Europe in most countries the taxes for a 3 liter engine ar absurd aprox 800euros a year.
@@Zero4Infinitives i pay 180€uros on taxes a year in germany for a 3 liter :D
Love my N26! I know a guy with over 200,000 on his N26 with nothing but oil changes and regular maintenance.
Glad to stumble on this video man. Thanks for the tips +1 Subscriber!
Thank you very much and welcome aboard.
Good advise, I just pickup a 2011 328i (LCI E93), what a great car!
I have a 2006 330xi with 306k on the motor. its not as reliable as any compact car these are not daily drivers
But the engine and manual transmission makes it a bit more worth your time
Hey, thanks for such an informative detailed video! Can you tell me if an F30 2013 320d N47T engine is still prone to timing chain issues? Thanks 👍
According to folks that I have heard from, these are improved and less prone to failure but there are still some with a few failures as noted and worst with firewall side of engine. Oil co sumptuous too as a possibility due to extended oil services. Do frequent servicing and it will help. I personally love diesels for daily vehicles due to great power delivery and massive fuel economy
Make sure it's a N47TU engine. They where a Technical update of the N47 and came out in building year 2013. The dont have any oil consumption and the timing chain issue is resolved. Greets N47TU enthusiast.
@@f31alpina47 what does U stand for in the TU?
Isnt the second character supposed to be a number 0-9?
I got a used 2009 328i e90 a year and four months ago. I bought it with just under 85k on the engine and up to this day I’ve had two main issues, engine gasket leak, and the thermostat. That’s about it. I’ve had other issues, but those were just maintenance things, headlights and brakes, wipers etc. The car has been great! Love driving it, looks modern, and drives well. For my first BMW, I think I did well on my research and getting the 328i. Good info on the 2015 f30 which I will now highly consider.. 🤔🤔
why does he said that i should avoid 328i f30 and get back to e90? i dont get it . for me it is a perfect looking dream car,is maintenance so expensive or whats the problem?
maybe 320i f30 is better solution?
Hi..e90 325i or f30 320i for a best long term daily used drive.thnx
Thanks for the information ECPP
I think my next purchase is 2015 530 D as I am older now and not that interested in performance.Thanks for telling us the better years Mark.
Good research
He left out the SULEV that came with 2015+ 328i with the N20 and N26 it addresses the timing issue with an extended warranty that most states accept. The extended warranty is good for 15 years. The extended warranty comes with the car no need to pay extra for it
E9x 335 N54 is the old M54 engine with two turbos. It has an aluminum engine block instead of the N52's magnesium and has no VANOS. BMW extended the warranty on the N54's HPFP to 10 years. They stopped selling the E9x 330i in North America but was for sale in Europe.
2015 n20 engines and on the timing chain issue was fixed
i was just going to ask, I read after Jan 2015 it was fixed? Can somebody confirm.
Very helpful info. Brilliant
Hi, any concern with buying a 2016 SULEV 328i vs a 2016 non-SULEV 328i? Is one more reliable than the other? Great video by the way.
I have made up my mind. Its going to be an E92 325i or 325d for my next car. Good to hear about the n52.
Got a 325i e92 pre-lci = pure cruising joy
Please, it is hard to write down info as fast as you rattle it off. How about a sort of newsletter we could sign up for just listing the good points and the bad points???
Hey Mark thank you for finally making this video! Question, I have the N26 SULEV almost 120k, my timing chain should be fine right? I change oil every 5k.
Joey McMahon Jr you can open your oil cap and try moving the timing chain. If there’s a lot of slack, you may want to think about replacing it.
This video got me clear one thing that i need it so bad, i want a 330i e90 2012 lci and as he says this model is the one to go, so this has the n52 engine too, thx
The LCI e90/92 are wonderful and the N55 is a great engine and the NA engines are nice too, just a bit older tech. Either way, you cant go wrong because they are all fun cars to drive.
Thank you so much for your time to answer, great youtube channel, i have learned so much from your videos, one more follower, i let you know when i got my first BMW 👌👌👌i will take your advise
N52 the only reason why I dont know If I buy 316i f30 or e90...
In a nutshell if you want reliability, stay away from those Turbo engines. Go with the I6 naturally aspirated; less of a headache
Older cars
im thinking about buying either a e90 325i (218)2009-2011 lci or f30 320i (184) 2012. Can you give me your opinion and thoughts?thanks in advance
I have a BMW 320d e90 for 10 years now and not a single problem so far.
Nice, I'm considering a 2017 330i, hope its reliable.
I have the same car, very fun to drive
I have that exact same car and the only problem I've had was a broken charge pipe. Fun car.
Almost perfect! When it was more relevant, you stopped! So, big question: I understand that f30 328i have some problems, but, after 2015, is there any 2L gasoline engine? And second, have you any idea if timing belt is at the back of the engine like in n47? Cus, if it in the front, changing timing belt shouldn't be a problem. Thank you!
AmaImg video thanks
Thanks
Good informed video. Just got into a F30
How did it treat you please I’m dying to know
@@Focusing-profit its been perfect since purchase
N52 in line 6 for life 🔵⚪️🔵
M54 u mean?
@@robibobi702 u went too way back in time time dude
My 2011 E90 328i is still going strong and smooth at 148k miles without any major issues at all!
I have a 2011 lci 328i 180000k on it still has the original water pump.
Best car I've ever owned.
Change the oil change the oil and change the oil . I have a 2013 F30 oil changed at 5000 no timing change problems at 90000 miles .
My girlfriend had an e90 328i and I have an f30 328i and both are very reliable but the big thing for me is the gas mileage on the e90 is so low and the f30 gets you up to 33 on highway potentially
Please make a video about Mercedes w204 c class engines. Thank you
I can give you guys some advice sence I owned both models 07 328i xi it was reliable until it hit 70k electronic fuel pump, head gasket and other minor issues and yes I did all the maintenance and oil at 5k.. but my excuse I was the 3rd owner.
My 15 328 xdrive really is a totally different car 50k it feels more like a 5 series also sport mode turns the car in to a beast so far so good ..
It's all about being able to keep up with such a high maintenance car..
But its worth the driving EXPERIENCE.
On that note, engine light comes on dealer said due to emissions it should reset after 72 hours. a week later still on back to the dealer.
The S85 ten cylinder motor was the best engine bmw ever made. Yes they have flaws but that formula 1 engine for the street was unmatched in its time. No other brand can match the performance for the price, sorry dodge viper owners the bmw ten cylinder is the king of the hill. I own a 335is and have had the typical problems oil leaks,waste gate rattle etc but the engine was developed by Alpina and with a tune I was able to get 400 hp and 420 flb. of torque at 2000 rpm with stock turbos and be able to drive it every day. The major mod was a catch can and i would advise installing for any direct injected motor. The N54 is a stout motor it"s just all the other accessories attached to it that really fail. Great video as always
New B47 have resovled chain issues from previous N47. However these engines are known for a massive recall done by Bmw , where around 1.6 milion vehicles have been requested for service because of issues with EGR and Egr cooler which can cause fire
Thanks for the feedback
Ugh the n20 timing chain issues are beyond blow out of proportion
Sean Lelie 100% blown out of proportion. 85k on my n20 engine and timing chain is tight.
Matthew Lenartowicz 100k and tight as can be
100k and E30 stage 2 and no chain issues
Hey, Mark. Fellow Canuck here. I dig your videos and have told friends to check out your channel. I was wondering something. Why do so many of your videos have the words "reliable" or "unreliable" in them?
Great stuff 👍
Appreciate the reviews!
Can I buy a used F30 sedan with 250d km? Will it make me broke as a student with those maintance costs?
No I dont think so
You ‘Shoehornedk a lotta info into this vid ~ thanks
Thanks a lot for watching.
Presumably the n47 in the e87 has the same issues as in the e90?
I have a 2013 n47 318d F30 with 200.000km and the timing chain has 0 rattle noise or problems.
I’m on the edge of buying an F30 328i because I had an e90 328i and that had problems with the water pump and thermostat which cost about $800 other than that it was a solid car idk what to expect from the f30
B52 strait 6 going on 499 ks still strong and no issues 323i
Hope someone can answer me I got a bmw f30 2014 with 114k miles, and it’s amazing but I want to change oil and coolant. Which oil do you suggest Motul 5w40 full Synthetic, castrol 5w30, valvoline o castrol ?
Okay, so this is about the engines, but what about the electronics etc I.e. the whole package overall?
what about the 2013+ F30 over 2010 2011 E90?
Enjoying these F3o videos - F3o is for sure on my potential next car buy. Any idea if the 330i engine is more/less/same reliability as the 320i?
The difference in reliability is negligible. You’ll enjoy a much more powerful car with the 330 without sacrificing reliability. I really would stay away from 320 they’re way too anemic. Same engine different configurations but nothing that will be a detriment to its long term dependability.
What is your opinion on the 2007 E90 320D with M47 engine?
Great video
Thanks a lot Kevin. Any closer to getting a Gallardo ? Still got the Supra it ch, I don’t blame ya they are holding some insane value these days. Also have you been watching Stradman and his new Supra ?
ExoticCar PlayPlace
Yeah I have been watching him with the new supra. I actually want to buy the stradmans Gallardo. I've reached out to him multiple times with bo responce. But about a month or two ago he responded and said he wouldn't sell it. And he posted that video recently saying he won't sell it.
Well that’s encouraging because I have reached out to him with no response. Either way I am seeing a few gated cars pop up here and there and prices seem a bit soft on Gallardo’s right now.
ExoticCar PlayPlace
Found a few 2004s for under 90k gated but not in colors I want. I would preffer orange or black. Just keep messaging him he will respond eventually. I even contacted his brother lol
E90 all day! Better looking, better quality, and all models came with an inline-6
Would the b47 be more reliable then the b48?
Just bought a 2014 328i today! Coming from a 2010 328i :) so far so good! Will update later on my RUclips probably
JP Bredenkamp hello glad you got the 2014 one how is it now?
Hi great video really enjoyed it can you do one for 7 series pls👍👍👍
7"s are certainly very luxurious cars....but comparing different 7 series reliability is like holding a beauty contest for turds.
Hello I got a bmw e90 318i 2008 lei petrol but I’m thinking of upgrading to a f30 320i ? Shall I or not
Absolutely, its stronger, more tech and more up to date. Better car in every way.
Oh right ok
Would know what year to go for? Or more reliability?
Hi. What would you suggest . E90 325i msport 2007 or E92 325i msport 2007. Or 2015 F30 316i N13. Both E90 and E92 on N52.
E90 n52 is pretty good from what I searched
So should I not get the 2013 328i x sport line ??? 4cyl twin turbo and go to an older 6cyl
Thank you ! always stick with the base @ a six no turbo for me. I have already had my SAAB story. going w/ manual tarn a 2011328I *lose the x drive
The 340 didn’t come out in 2015. It came out in 2016. In 2015 bmw still had the 335.
i guess its safe to say now my '13 n20 (aug '12 production date) is at 113k. i never knew people's timing chains were taking a shi since early last year when i started looking for another f30. had it since new. oil changes regularly at the same indy shop for roughly 7 years now since i went to the dealership first. they just told me valve cover and oil filter housing gasket is starting a minor leak. they havent said anything about timing chain ever so i could be the lucky .01%. i live in the upper midwest too so its around freezing half the year. but when it goes nightnight, im going w the b58 preferably or n55. somethin about that f30 bodystyle makes me wet.
I never liked or paid much attention to the F30 platform and didn't like the looks - but that was because I was mostly looking at cars that didn't have the M Sport package. Nowadays I own an F30 335i with the N55. Sexy looking car
I wonder about the B48 engine(replaced the N20 in 2018)- I think? Its the lastest 4 cyl turbo engine (330I)? I wonder if that is an improvement over the N20 in terms of reliability?
My name is Joe, I would like to know if BMW 328I 2015 model is best buy or should I jump to 2016 BMW 330I 4 cylinder B58 engine
B58 is the 6 cylinder and found in the 340 and that’s what is would buy since it is the most fun