Used 2008 BMW 3 Series Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Driver's and Mechanic's dream
Bought my 335xi AWD sedan as a CPO with 30K miles in 2011 as a "practical" commuter as too many miles on my 1995 Porsche 911S. Love the car but the maintenance costs are beginning to concern me. IMO the ONLY way to purchase / own a 335XI is under the CPO warranty program and sell it before the value curve falls off at 5 to 6 years. Maintenance thus far: Via recall: fuel pump, Under CPO: Both rear bearings, front transfer case, front bearing, all O2 sensors, idler pulley, main harness from battery to engine compartment. Maintenance not covered under CPO: rear window motor: $400 Now at 104K highway miles, maintenance out of my pocket: Electric water pump and thermostat ($1500). So I am estimating the cost to drive this driving machine approaching >$10k in 4 years. Ouch. Expected Maintenance in next 3 months: All fuel injectors: $1600, Rotors / pads $800. Turbos...? hope not. Update 10/2016 118k miles. Original 8yr old battery showing signs of death. New BMW battery $210 self install plus $130 for bmw to reset the not-so-adaptive battery mgmt system. Value cover gasket leak. Dealer wants 1100. Another self install of 4hrs and 40bucks... 170K mile update. Still runs fantastic. Maintenance since 118k update: transmission flush/filter, aftermarket drilled rotors and ceramic pads, spark plug coils 1.5 hr do it yourself for $180.00. Inner window door seal felt glue smearing my ceramic window tint so replaced the seals. Cabin blower motor suddenly not working so pulled module connection and reset... eight minute repair. A/c Compressor getting noisy. Oil pan Gasket leaking... expensive fix coming up. Turbos still performing well. Love it more everyday...like replacement is expensive.
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Best Car I've Owned
I owned a 2002 325i before I bought my 2008 328i sedan new four years ago. The OEM Bridgestone run-flats were even more awful than many folks are willing to say. After my run-flats wore out at only 16K, I replaced them with a set of Michellin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. After 10K, these tires are wearing very well and give me a soft, quiet, and great-handling ride. The car has been incredibly reliable--simply outstanding since the beginning--and still puts a smile on my face when I drive it. It has a sporty yet secure, comfottable ride and I get about 18 mpg in the city and almost 30 on the highway.
- 328i SedanMSRP: $5,99576 mi away
- 328i SedanMSRP: $11,99593 mi away
- 335xi CoupeMSRP: $13,99593 mi away
BW328i Great Car But Repairs are Expensive!
I have driven a 2008 BW328i for a year and a half now. It's fun to drive with precise handling, quick braking, and very good acceleration. The interior is nice with leather seats but some trim parts aren't great. The retractable cupholders are prone to breaking and expensive to replace. Brake dust is excessive too with the stock brakepads making the wheels always dusty. I enjoy the car very much as it is well designed with high quality components for the most part. I would warn any Raleigh, North Carolina prospective BMW buyers to avoid Leith BMW due to dishonest sales and service practices.
Officially a BMW loyalist
Never understood the BMW fans out there until I got mine. I used to trade in my car every couple years, I've had this one for 3 years and still get excited to go out and drive it. It just rides and drives different than any car I have had before. You really feel like you "know" this car, and it "knows" you. The handling is incredible, fuel economy is very good on the highway, and it still gets stares from others. As with many German cars, its had a few electrical glitches, but the warranty covers everything and its been a couple minor inconveniences more than anything else. And to include all routine service for free for 4 years?? You more than get your money's worth with this car!
Great combination of sportiness and luxury
I recently traded my 02 325i for an 08 335xi and must say, it's been a great decision. This car is so smooth and quick and handles corners with ease. There are several nice touches in technology added from the previous version that are really nice. For example, the exterior LED door handle lights are very cool and useful. I don't use the can chiller often in the console, but it's nice to have it for the long trips. This car represents one of the best balances of luxury and handling I've had the pleasure of driving. I'm just glad I bought this used as the original pricetag is just out of my reach.
High satisfaction, but even higher operating cost!
Bought my '08 in May 2015. It was pristine with only 38k miles on it then and still ran and looked like new. It had Cold Weather, Premium and Sports packages, 6-spd manual. The run-flats were ditched by the previous owner and despite the extra weight over the nose from AWD it carved corners like a Ginsu knife with quick, responsive steering; highly tossable. Yet it also had that legendary combination of sporty handling with ride comfort, although being the 3-series it did tend to follow road perturbations more than it absorbed them, making the ride along PA's crappy roads 'busier' than I'd like at times. The car had that classic German horsepower swell where, the further along the tach the needle goes, the harder it seems to pull; third gear was nearly frighteningly quick and I swear it had way more than 'just' 300 hp. All that said, I kept my fingers crossed every time I got in it. Three months after getting it, it stranded me; I had to have its third high-pressure fuel pump installed at under 40k miles. Thankfully, BMW had years before acknowledged the problem and extended the warranty on that specific part to ten years or 120k miles, which meant I would be on my own in another fifteen months. Still, warranty or not, three fuel pumps in under 40k miles is a joke. And then there were the dainty little piezo fuel injectors that also reputedly might have a short life and the twin turbo wate-gates and of course, the self-imploding water pump (every 55k miles!). The tech at my local BMW dealer, as well as the owner of the indie BMW shop I take it to, both told me that the N54 in-line 6 was “..the best engine BMW ever made..” and that its foibles are grossly exaggerated on the internet. The dealer tech was able to tell through the BMW database that my specific car had “..already had the injectors addressed..” at around 20k miles although he was unable to explain exactly what that meant, and so he assured me I was “..good to go..”. I hoped they were both right. But even if they were, that still left me with the frequent and expensive maintenance charges. I spread-sheeted the planned expenditures according to my much-trusted indie shop’s schedule for the car, (which BTW included changing differential and xfer case oil that BMW claims never needs changing; yeah, right!). Including the guaranteed-to-fail water-pump, and it was going to cost me about $1,000/yr to keep her maintained and running ‘like a BMW’. The online BMW forums dismiss this as ‘..pay-to-play..’ and the cost of ‘being in the club’. I suppose that’s really not so bad, but if the other of its notorious bits start to ‘pop’ it’ll be a LOT worse than that. So I started shopping for something less fussy to maintain and repair, while keeping my fingers crossed. The problem was, once you’ve become spoiled by the car’s unparalleled combination of power, handling and comfort (for a 4-door sedan anyway), most every other sedan felt inferior by comparison. Darn Germans!! UPDATE 2/1/2022 This car has been long gone for 5+ years now. I first replaced it with a a naturally aspirated 530Xi which proved to have equally high maintenance costs. Now I’m driving a 2017 Infiniti QX50; their compact cross-over SUV hatchback. It had been in production since 2008 (called the ‘EX35 then} and refined/perfected over these its ten years. 325 hellacious horses under the hood in a naturally aspirated V6 that has been named one of the best engines ever for many years. It pulls like a freight train, mimicking BMW’s performance, and sounds great doing it. The car, based off the company’s earlier ‘G’ series sedans, has nimble handling like the 3-series but ride quality like the bigger 5 series; I kid you not! Its dynamic performance limits are not as high as the BMWs, so it’s not as track worthy. But for my daily driving needs, which sometimes include spirited driving on twisty roads, I’m every bit as satisfied as I was in the Bimmers. The technology is way better than those older Bimmers. My fully loaded car has all the modern toys and driver aids, but also incorporates actually push-button controls for radio stations and A/C control along with actual knobs for volume and station tuning. These are big pluses in my book. I wish it got better gas mileage, and that it also had Apple CarPlay so I could see my Waze nav directions on the screen. I also wish it had come in a stickshift, although I find I don’t mind the automatic at all, which has a sport mode and can be shifted manually. But these shortcomings are all small prices to pay for a car which should cost a fraction of the BMWs’ long term operating cost while sacrificing nothing in day-to-day driving satisfaction, at least within the less demanding limits of my driving needs. Japanese reliability is well proven and my peace-of-mind/car-anxiety levels have both improved by a factor of ten. I’m never going back to BMW, nor other equally finicky European cars. There’s truly no need to anymore as the rest of the world has finally caught up to building cars having whatever elusive magic only the Europeans seemed able to engineer into their cars. Before getting the QX50 I had a brief, and wonderful, stint in a Lexus ES300h hybrid which rode and handled almost as well as that 530xi I mentioned, while getting 40+ mpg. And none of this will matter anyway in a few more years as we’ll all be driving EVs anyway! 8/2/2022 Still loving the Infiniti!! As hoped, expenses over the last two years have been routine maintenance only; oil and filter changes and one brake fluid flush. Now at 44k miles, the car still performs as new. Unless I choose to lease a car (which is unlikely), I will never again go back to a BMW.
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BMW 2008 328xi - got rid of it at 104k miles
If you are under warranty or less than 75K miles, you are lucky otherwise get rid of it before parts start to fall of the car and it stops on you in the middle of a freeway at 75 miles per hour speed not once but thrice, each time for a different issue. I would also quote here a dealership words on a expensive repair cost "Sir, what do you expect, your BMW has over 90K miles". I learnt my lesson that day.
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2008 BMW 335i, Transmission died at 84k mi
This car was great! When I first bought it I loved it. It had 72k miles on it. I bought it from an Audi dealer (someone had traded it in). In less than 6 months I needed new brakes all around. The driver side headlight had also gone out. Around 3 months after that, the passenger side headlight went out. I purchased the car in April 2014 and by August 2015 at around 84k miles, I had to get a new transmission which thankfully was covered under an aftermarket warranty. So within not even a year and a half, and about 12k miles, the following repairs needed to be done: new transmission, all around brake pads, driver and passenger side headlights, brake fluid flush, oil leak, power steering fluid leak, and some kind of fuel sensor or something that I don't know what in the world the dealer was talking about.
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Most Unreliable Car I Ever Owned
After driving Saabs for the past 23 years, I excitedly bought a BMW. What a mistake! This is the worse car I have ever owned and that includes a 1973 Vega. It has stranded me, requiring a flatbed ride to the mechanic 5 times in the past 2.5 years. It drives nice, the AWD is excellent and is a great car when it is not with the mechanic. Here are the problems to date: 1. Broken Motor Mount Bolts at 41K miles 2. Water Pump Failure at 50K - stranded 3. Serpentine Belt Failure at 57K - stranded 4. Fuel Pump Failure at 61K - stranded 5. Ignition Coil Failure at 72K - stranded 6. Starter Failure at 76K - stranded Based on conversations with 3 colleagues that also own 328s and 335s, these problems are common. I am dumping this car in the spring and will never own a BMW again.
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Expensive but reliable
I bought this car in October 2007 with 2 miles on it. I have had it to the shop 1 time for a stero fuse that went back and was replaced under the warrant. I replaced the run flat tires with regular tires ($70 dollar Pirelli's from Discount Tire) and it made no change in it's performance, "repeat, no change in performance after i had run the original tires on Nitrogen for 39000 miles. Nitrogen makes the difference in tires, trust me. The car now has 53000 miles and it still runs great. The only notable annoyance it that the timing clicks and has clicked since about 8000 miles but it is of no harm to the engine. I get the oil changed once a year for about $80, not at the dealership. Great car.
What exactly is German Engineering?
Bought this car in November 2010 with 50k miles as a CPO. Water pumps are electric and go out every 50k miles or so, covered under cpo. Injectors on this car are notorious for failing, had 3 fail on my car also covered under cpo. Finally the condensor was leaking also replaced under warranty. I sold the car recently for a good price as it still had one year left on the maintenance and warranty. But the new owner reported serpentine belt failure. This is due to a bad subfram design and driver side engine mount which allows the belt to hit the subframe, over time the belt will shear and WILL FAIL. BMW has a "New" subframe but will not cover costs to fix their mistake. Idiots.
Wanted to Love It
Wanted to love it. Took me a long time to finally settle on this car, should have gone with the G35x. Two fuel pumps replaced. Very expensive tires that seem to attract nails like magnets, and boy do they ride harshly. Dealer costs very high on parts and service. Small and cramped inside (I'm 6'2"). Love the handling and power. Very precise and tossable. Fun, even in the rain w/AWD. In the end, sold it after only a year and a month because I couldn't take it anymore. Lost $9k between repairs and sale of car. Even warned the guy that bought it off me that it was costly to own. Just to be fair, the car had 32,000 miles on it when I bought it and I sold it with 57,000.
The best car I have ever owned
This is the best car I have ever owned. The handling is better than any car I have ever driven. Great gas mileage. Very reliable. Powerful smooth engine. Fun and safe car. I understand why this is the benchmark.
The Benchmark: Best Car I've Ever Owned
If you enjoy driving and see it as more than just getting from A to B but still want everyday usability and pay less than $50K, this is hands down the best car you'll ever own. Its power delivery is absolutely sublime and there's so much of it. This car does so many things well. It handles like it's on rails, balances ride quality with road feel, and delivers so much fun while doing it. I shopped several competitors including the IS350, G37, S4, and C350. Each of these cars had their high points but I always came back to the soul-stirring 335i. The run-flat tires are definitely the weakest point, offering great grip and reasonable tread-life, but somewhat unforgiving on rough surfaces
Fun Car!
Traded in '04 Lexus ES330 for a used '08 328xi. Lexus is definitely more comfortable with better build quality. BMW is much more fun to drive. Driving in Sport mode is fun, driving in Manual is ridiculously fun. Haven't had to do any repairs, but 4 new Continental Pros cost over $1,000. Seats are okay, can get uncomfortable over a long drive. Complaints: cup holders are useless if you have a large front seat passenger, headlights aren't that bright, side view mirrors are too small, brake dust. If Lexus made a more competitive, sportier car (IS models don't cut it for me) I would go with them, but for now I'm enjoying the BMW experience.
The Ultimate Repair Machine
Don't believe the advertising hype and signage at the dealerships about how "cheap" the cost of ownership is and "inexpensive" the repairs are. (My favorite is a placard outside the dealership that says "this landscaping costs more to maintain than your BMW!"). The stereotypes are true, these things are a money pit. My 2008 335xi is a pleasure to drive, super fun, super comfortable, the perfect balance of power and luxury: The Ultimate Driving Machine (TM). Unfortunately, that comes at a severe cost in maintenance and repairs. Many of the parts used on these have very short life spans, and cost thousands to replace. My vehicle has less than 60,000 miles and currently needs a $1200 waterpump. The warranty for 2008's was a 4y/48k, so this one is out of pocket for me. I've had vehicles that go three times as long without needing a water pump, let alone such an expensive one. If you assume the waterpump will only last another 55,000 miles that's $2400 in waterpumps just to make it to 100k miles! *whistle noise* I'm 6 months away from having this paid off... I think I'm going to put her up for sale as soon as I have the title in hand and look for something more reliable.
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Fun to drive when not in shop
Loved it when new. After 45000 miles I wish I had never heard of BMW. This car is continually having issues. It started with the antilock brake light coming on intermittently, about once a month. It was at the dealers at least 4 times for this before the problem was finally fixed. Similar problem with engine light coming 3 visits to fix this. Recently my clock has been clearing the time. Engine now stalling out occasionally while I am driving the car. Happens after driving from a few hundred feet to about a mile after I have begun driving it. Extremely dangerous. Diagnosed bad battery . Not covered under warrenty. They also did a programming update on the engine.
Fun to drive, but expensive to own
The car is truly the Ultimate Driving Machine. Fast, handles like it’s on rails, great steering feedback, just fun to drive. However, it is expensive to maintain. The car was very reliable up to 90,000 miles. After that it started to fall apart. The repairs and maintenance are extremely expensive. Last year I spent an average of $310 a month in repairs and maintence.
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Picking right options is key
I recently bought used 328i, auto, prem package. I drove a 335i w prem and almost bought a 328i w sport package, manual trans (drove it for several days). My thoughts: forget the sport package unless you have lots of open road for high speed cornering etc. The standard suspension is very good & sporty enough for most of us - and the ride is noticeably better. 335i is overkill (and unreliable it seems) - the 328 is actually very fast. Also, 6-sp manual is a bit clunky and auto is very good (esp when shifted manually). Finally I do not have run- flats; got the M Mobility pump and sealer instead. Thought I had to have sport and manual, but am much happier with standard suspension and auto.
There R more reliable cars out there
I always admired BMW'S, kids gone I was finally able to buy one. I found a very nice one owner 328XI with 60k on the clock. I had the car one week before the troubles started. The car decided to Randomly start, Hot ,Cold it didn't matter. Took the car to a certified BMW repair facility and was told it was a fuel pump, and or possibly fuel relay. Cost $1500 to replace both components. I declined bought both parts offline and put them in ($300). Problem was it didn't fix the car so back on the wrecker it went. (Did I mention Car spends lots of time on a wrecker). New shop new diagnosis, bad DMI Board. The DMI board fixed the problem. Nothing on these cars are cheap to fix, this repair with reprogramming was $1300.00. All was good for about 2 weeks and the car literally quit running at 50 MPH (no power steering -no brakes to speak of) Again on the wrecker it went. Diagnosis bad battery and programming issues. Ok, a Battery no big deal $240 for the battery $100.00 to program it (No, you can't just swap batteries in newer BMWs ) and of course $100 to put battery in (Labor) so roughly $450.00 for a new battery. All was good for about 3 months. The car was excellent in the snow a pleasure to drive. performance unequaled to anything else I've owned. Gas mileage is excellent fora performance car. I'm thinking finally got the bugs out of it,really enjoying it AND BAM total shutdown AGAIN at 45 MPH. On the wrecker again 3rd time in less than 7months. Diagnosis the computer decided it didn't want to talk to the car. To fix the car needs to be completely reprogrammed another $500 with towing. The repair shop did tell me though BMW is aware of cars losing communication with the ECU. (service Bulletin) They seem to be aware of a lot of the problems their cars have. They like the word "service bulletin" basically we have a problem(s) with such and such, but you will have to pay to have it fixed. Recalls? this car has 3-- one major that could result in a fire (Heater Motor) I guess it will burn as BMW in my area has no parts to fix recall, unknown when they will receive them. These stories are all over the web like mine. Remember this is a 60k one owner car that is about as reliable as a watch with a dead battery. Sad that in my opinion they have "trashed their reputation with sub standard un reliable cars . My first and definitely last BMW
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Good Buy?
I have owned this vehicle almost one year now and I really do like it. My biggest concern revolves around, when does technology outpace the needs of the average driver. Building a car that requires the buyer to only frequent BMW for service is smart on their part but when does that backfire ? That being said, the car has been problem free and is still the best handling car I've ever owned. To do it all over again... maybe Audi A4 next time. After an exhaustive search for a new vehicle it was neck and neck with the BMW.
Nice RIde
Hands down the best car I've ever driven. Bought this car new almost 2 years ago. Still loving it and I'm averaging 24.2 MPG! (and I drive it hard). Had a few minor electrical issues that have been fixed for free, but I'm a bit nervous about the cost after the warranty expires. Definitely a small car though and not ideal for families if this is your primary ride. Run flats are stupid, but I've had no problems with mine. AWD in the winter is insane!
Great performance...
A very well engineered and well thought out car. The engine is sublime - almost too powerful for most uses, but nice to have that kind of acceleration on the highway. The all wheel drive works well, however i wonder if four snow tires would work just as well without the loss in mileage. Seats are comfortable, but keep in mind that it is a smaller car - and meant to be a sports sedan.
Run Flats ruin the ride
I've been buying BMW's since 1994, and this is one of the best models that BMW has ever built. BUT BMW ruined it with those horrid run-flat tires. The smallest of bumps make the car shake because the run flats are so hard. I've bent the front rims 4 times in 3 years so bad that the steering wheel shimmied like crazy. When BMW starts building cars with the Sport Package without the run-flat tires, the I will buy BMW again. The fuel pump went out at 30K and BMW replaced it, no problems. The run-flat tires ruin the ride, so I have put BMW "on-hold".
ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE!!!
I own my black 328i for over 6 months now. Bought used with 32K miles. Incredible car, step on the gas and you are in heaven. Power is unreal, I only felt this way once in Infinity G35. I can't help myself when driving this car, often I push it over 100 Mph on hwy that has a speed limit of 60 or 70 Mph. At 100 Mph you hardly feel any shaking or noise. Car is grounded and planted like it has roots to the highway. Passing is a breeze and exhilarating!!! And when you hear that engine growl - like a surge of nuclear energy is passing to the wheels. Steering and handling is top notch!! 100% German engineering. Love it!!! No sports luxury car matches this car. I tested them all. BMW rules!!
BMW has to stand behind their errors!
Just traded my 330i for a 335i. There was no other cost effective way to get that next 50 HP out of the engine (which was fast enough for most folks, but once you get that bug). This car is incredible (Incredible!!) And if you are older than 45, this car is more like a sci-fi transporter out of a comic book. It's so smooth and goes so easily 30mph over the speed limit that you'll think it's a set up by the Klingons to get your money. However, three problems remain in the 2007 and up, 1: subframe/serpentine belt damage 2: wastegate failure in the turbo/turbos 3: high pressure fuel pump failure. To some extent BMW has addressed two of three. So do your homework, the 335 will smile on you.
Great Value In A Sport Sedan
I never thought I would describe a BMW as a great value but boy was I wrong. After shopping Audi, Infiniti, Acura and Lexus I found the 328i to offer a great driving experience for the money. While the competion often out horsepowered the 3 liter 230 hp BMW powerplant, none offered even comparable handling or ride. To allow owning 2 cars (my second is a Boxster S) I kept the options on my BMW everyday driver at a minimum (leather/power seats). The standard features offered provided plenty of luxury for a sports sedan with the interior offering beauty through simplicity. Most importantly, I really enjoy driving this car! Do yourself a favor, before buying another sports sedan drive a BMW.
Worth the cost if you can afford it
This is one great car. I had owned a 2006 CTS and test drove the new CTS, a G35x an A4 and the entry level Lexus. Here's the thing: you need to know what you really want. If you really want the driving experience, you have to get the 335 if you can afford it. I was skeptical, but the reviews really are right, there's no comparison. Other cars (CTS) are bigger, others are maybe better value propositions (G35x), but none match the driving experience. I had high hopes for the G35x since its close on paper, but its much less civilized in real life and I feel still a ways behind. BMW downsides are price and the back seat is bit tight, but I have two kids in car seats and it works ok.
It's all about the performance
After waiting over 20 years, I finally purchased my first BMW and it has been everything I've ever wanted. The turbo charged engine is what ultimately sold me the 335 over the 328. Living in a city with steep winding hills I wanted a car that I could depend on to deliver the necessary power and handling and the 335xi delivers. I bought the car for the driving experience it provides, nothing more! If you want fancier gadgets then buy a lexus, but if you want the top of the line driving car, then you have to buy the BMW!
it's ok - not the best.
Just turned in an Audi S4 sedan for this 335xi sedan. Have been driving it for 4 months. After hearing about how great BMW is for it's superior "driving experience" I have been somewhat disappointed in this car. The steering and handling are average at best. The car does not corner well - there is significant body roll and the steering is not tight. I am not sure if this is due to the runflat tires or maybe I should have gotten the M3, but then no AWD. The engine is great, probably quicker off the line than my Audi, but not as strong once you're at speed and need to accelerate. The gas mileage is also good. The cup holders are a joke. The stereo/electronics are glitchy. Seats are bad.
Better with every mile
This is my first BMW and my only regret is that I waited this long to buy it. I think of it as a jewelbox: small and compact, but very well constructed. It's the perfect personal luxury car for those who like to drive. There's nothing flashy about it, other than the badge, yet it still gets looks. Although some of the controls appear counterintuitive at first, most of the driving-related controls are well thought out, and make sense after you understand the reason behind their design. I'm very pleased with the quietness and comfort for the front seats, although if you are a large/tall person, you might need to look at a 5- series. The back seats are for kids and people you don't like. Buy one!
The Ultimate Trap Machine
I love the twin-turbo power and handling but it gave more misery than joy of driving it. It was more expensive repairing it than raising my child. A piece of German crap!!!!
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Great performance, expensive repairs
I absolutely loved driving this car, but I highly recommend a repair warranty. When something breaks, and it will, the warranty will pay for itself. Sports seats are great for the front seat, but the back is slightly cramped.
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The best BMW bang for your buck
If you want a good looking car that performs as well as cars that cost twice as much, look no further then the 335i. This engine is amazing, handling is crisp. After 10 years of ownership I just wish the warranty wasn't about to expire. These high end parts are expensive!
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Dream Car
I have owned my 335xi for almost 2 years. (6 speed manual, platinum bronze metallic, cw package, adaptivelights) It has 44K miles and my total maintenance cost has been an oil changes, a set of tires and a set of spark plugs (turbo needs them replaced at 45K mi). Agree with other posters, this just a downright FAST car. High speed merge, no problem, pop it down into 3rd and "engage".
BMW stands for BREAK MY wallet(i didnt believe it)
what i can say is that I love this car looks great handles very well good performance, not too big not too small, just perfect. always bring me great smile on my face and i cant wait drive it over and over again, every time is like the first time. But when it comes down to reliability oh GOSH, one thing i will say so far My BMW never let me down on a road never. But broke down like nothing else to compare with... I got the car used with 60k miles on it and now 2017 have 145k drove it all over the place snow, ice , water, mud, dust great great. now when it comes down to repairs changed Coils twice (12) valve gasket cover also, new fan, headlight like 6 times within 3 years. Pulley, Oil gasket housing, 2 termostats, 1 starter, 2 hoses from coolant system $75 a piece, something had to do with transmission it was not shifting higher then 3rd gear $900 and did the flush of the transmission fluid, few other stuff here and there i dont remember the name of it, and you know i said its ok man you got 110k miles on it something normal standard maintance.... Thne soon as i got the car to 140K water pump goes bad, doesnt show the overheating and thankGOD i wanted to change the oil and i saw Milkshake coming out.... figured out blown head gasket.... with that been said it needed 1 new radiator, all new hoses new pump new coolant reservoir new valve gasket cover oil gasket housing and the entire part (cracked when overheated) and all other stuff needed to fix this damn job, started with $4000 and ended 7400 ended up fixing it but honestly is this BMW? I have a friend with 325 since 2000' and didnt repair that car 20% of mine and has almost 300k on it and still runs. i am very disapointed. And i took care of that car every 5k oil change and break fluid every 40k been flushed coolant once a year everything like on the books...... either my bad luck or damn BMW
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Reliable! Sporty! Luxury and low prices right now
I bought a 2008 328xi pearl white with chocolate interior in June 2020 and it is now August 22nd. I have not had 1 problem. I drove it from Pittsburgh to ocean city Maryland the first day i bought it and 0 problems. I have put over 4 thousand miles on in in the few months i had it. I bought the car for $7,500 with only 65,000 miles on it. Don’t tell the police on me but i went 130 mph on the highway down to ocean city just to see how fast it could go... perfect handling around sharp corners. I can’t wait to see how it drives in the winter time with AWD. very luxurious and sporty... 1 thing u don’t like is the cup holders..... they suck. I love everything else so i guess that makes up for it.
Great car
I’ve had my 2008 335ix 4door since 2010. 110,00 miles. Dinan upgraded intake, exhaust and computer. I even ran her on the track once - flat out at over 150mph, slid through the curves like an Olympic skier! Always runs great, minimal maintenance but for the basics: water pump, coils, brakes, shocks. I’ve owned other BMWs, Porsche, Mustang and Mercedes and this is the best of them all.
best first car
I got this car when I was young and it was the best decision I have ever made. As of now, it has 104,000 miles on it but still runs like a gem. I've had a couple problems, like the starter going and the speedometer staying at 0, but nothing that the dealership can't fix in a couple days. Next, this car has a very good air/heat system and seat warmers. Also, the speakers that come with this car are unreal. You can feel the bass all over. Overall, it is a high quality car that really changes the way you drive. I recommend the 2008 328i for any young or older driver.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
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- Reliability
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ULTIMO Commuter Sedan
Have had the car for more than an year and have had ZERO mechanical issue. Only problem I had was with a ticking noise from the b-pillar but it mysteriously disappeared after the dealer replaced the seat belt mechanism. The fit and mechanics in today's BMW are so intricate that just a small thing out of balance will cause some annoying thing like a ticking noise. Various dealers tried to deal with this noise but nothing resolved it until the solution listed above, again the noise was there immediately after the repair but now it's not there anymore. Something must have expanded inside the b-pillar or fit into place? Now I can truly/fully enjoy my Ultimate Driving Machine!
BMW it is!!
I was considering the following cars Accord V6, Lexus IS 250, Audi A4 2.0T Quattro and the BMW 328i. I'm an engineer by profession and have studied these cars extensively. My suggestion to anyone that is looking for a performance oriented car looking to purchase one, don't go by the bhp, rather look for torque and the rpm it is generated at. No regrets buying the BMW, its immaculate. No wonder it is the benchmark of its segment. Rear wheel drive gives a great sporty feel, avoid the all wheel drive. If you want AWD, buy the Audi. The quattro is far better than the xi models of BMW. BMW's got amazing gear ratios, an engine that responds at cruising rpm to accelerations and it sure turns heads!
Failed tensmission 54,000 miles
I trusted BMW to stand for quality. Who needs (7) year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty those are for compromised American brands or new Korean ones without a track record. O boy! I was wrong to learn that BMW does not give a crap about quality and customers. With a car just out of the 50,000 mile warranty failing the transmission is normal thing you are on your own.
335i is great when it runs
I bought my cpo BMW 335i last year with only 2,800 miles on it. What a great and fun to drive car. However, I start to have cold start up problem after 1 yr and 2 mo. Took it to dealer last week. They reprogrammed the car got it back in two days. Ran great over the weekend. Today, I have no power. After doing some research, this car has problem with its high pressure fuel pump. Called dealer today and they will provide free rental and replace the fuel pump. However, many blogger claim that replacement pump won't solve the problem. We'll see. I can't recommend this car at this point.
Great sports sedan for enthusiasts
This is a well balanced sports sedan. The engine, transmission, suspension, steering, seats and controls all work together to provide a great driving experience for an enthusiastic driver. I always feel like I'm in touch with what's happening and in total control of my car. But this car isn't for everyone. The ride is too stiff for most people, especially on rough roads.
Nothing better out there!
I've just finished breaking in my 2008; this car is a thrill to drive. And this coming from a guy that used to drive only as a necessary evil! From front bumper to rear bumper, this car is first-class. It may cost a bit more than some, but trust me, the first time you accelerate to 130 mph on the Autobahn (or I guess you can't do that in the States) or take a tight corner, you'll be glad you spent the extra dollars! This is easily the #1 car in its class with US military in Germany, and that's against some stiff competition from Audi and the like. Throw in the warranty, and you can't go wrong!
Why BMW?
I hesitated before purchasing the 328i. In fact, I opted for a 2007 MB C230 Sport for my wife after test driving the then-new 335i in 2006. Realistically, I do not see how a daily commute needs 300+ hp. The 328i provides adequate handling even w/o the sport(y) package when compared to the RX8 I traded in. Unfortunately, the 16" runflat all-seasons are a poor compromise. Highway expansion joints are much more noticeable than the MB. The MB has 17" performance tires w/ lower profile. BMW also worked diligently on cost-cutting when packaging the E90. Where is the standard alarm? Where is the jack? How about a real cup holder? Still, the 328i puts a smile on my face every morning.
No Test Drive Needed - Just Do It
Bought it without a test drive. And already over 4K miles on it after just 3 months of driving (can't put the keys down). My first BMW, and I'm very satisfied. Found out after buying it that the wife wasn't going to drive it so I should have gone for the 335xi or the coupe (but there's always next year). Handles very nicely even with the run flats (see note below). Nice solid feel while in motion. Power is good for my driving environment (mostly city). So the extra horses of the 335 would go mostly unused except for the occasional weekend drive.
Runflat tires
As you can see above, I like the car. That said, I feel the dealers take advantage of the customer. This is a lease, and I need their approved service. They charged by $309 for a wheel alignment which could have been sold with poor alignment. Who's to know. Also, I was charged $483.00 for a tire replacement (simple nail). This is outrageous. According to the dealer, run-flats cannot be repaired. Again, I was stuck with the dealer recommendation. Run-flats are a poor excuse for "saving" the weight of a spare and "peace of mind" to be able to go 50 miles at 50mph (try that on an L.A. freeway). One must use secondary roads if one does not want to get rear- ended.
Not Impressed
I have had four Audi A4 sedans for the last six years. I purchased a BMW, hoping for the same or better performance. I'm not impressed. The transmission is sluggish, jerking around corners when accelerating (tech says it's normal), run-flat tires and NO SPARE and the tires are not good, the value for the money isn't there and not sure what the buzz about BMW is. I can't wait to trade this one for another Audi!
Love It
Just received my car, have had it in my possession for 48 hours and I cant leave it alone! I read the reviews on this car daily before I bought it and I couldn't be happier. The Germans make a fine machine. It handles like a dream, has amazing pick up, very quick little car and is just everything I hoped for. The leather soft and not sticky, the interior is beautiful. A lot of comments were made regarding the run flats- they are for purpose and safety but I think they make for a smooth ride.