What to expect going 128i to E90 335xi

[Lucky1]

I love my 2008 BMW 128i 6MT w/ sports package with 136,000 miles on the odo. Since purchasing it I've added some other very nice vehicles (Z4MR, 911 C4S) which satisfy the performance itch but do not have near the comfort nor practicality the 128i has.

Lately been thinking of getting a 4 door vehicle with better performance, more rear seat room, 6MT and AWD for better winter performance (as this is now my defacto winter car). Tried the F30 335xi 6MT but while the engine was incredible the steering and shifting inputs felt a bit soft and floaty to me.

Thinking now of going back to same era and looking at a 2011 335xi 6MT sedan with N55 engine, maybe of similar mileage or a bit less if my budget can swing it.

Anyone have experience between these two cars to advice what I'll experience overall including driving dynamics if I make this switch? What would I love about the new car and what if anything would I miss dearly on the 128i?

[vt100]

Not 128i -> 335xi but I used to have a 335iS (with N54 engine) for 3 years and my wife had (and still has) a 128i at the same time.
I loved my 3 serious - it was quick, responsive, and very comfortable. But every time I was driving it _after_ driving my wife's car I felt for a moment it was way too big Even though there was no that of a big difference size/weight-wise I still felt that 128i was more lively, more agile, and simply more fun to drive.

And reliability - ugh... so many things I got replaced on 335iS. 128i has been way more reliable in the long run (3x- knocking on wood).

Once I found my Z4MC it was no doubt that the 3 series had to go.
Almost zero regrets ever since..

PS: but every time after I've driven my wife's 128i I spend some time online searching for a 135iS or 1M

[BMWCCA1]

My wife recently totaled her 2008 128i Sport and we replaced it with an extremely well-kept lower-mile 2007 328xi Sport. At first she liked the extra comfort, especially after her wreck. Now with a couple of months on it, she really misses the 128i. At least I still have mine!

[vt100]

BTW, forgot to mention, steering on 128i feels better than on 3 series. It still provides lots of feedback (good old hydraulics of course ) but it's much lighter on 3 series.

[F30lolz]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

I love my 2008 BMW 128i 6MT w/ sports package with 136,000 miles on the odo. Since purchasing it I've added some other very nice vehicles (Z4MR, 911 C4S) which satisfy the performance itch but do not have near the comfort nor practicality the 128i has.

Lately been thinking of getting a 4 door vehicle with better performance, more rear seat room, 6MT and AWD for better winter performance (as this is now my defacto winter car). Tried the F30 335xi 6MT but while the engine was incredible the steering and shifting inputs felt a bit soft and floaty to me.

Thinking now of going back to same era and looking at a 2011 335xi 6MT sedan with N55 engine, maybe of similar mileage or a bit less if my budget can swing it.

Anyone have experience between these two cars to advice what I'll experience overall including driving dynamics if I make this switch? What would I love about the new car and what if anything would I miss dearly on the 128i?

Nice garage list. Regarding the N55, earlier versions have had rod bearing issues, especially the first MY 2011’s. If your heart is set on getting one, get a PPI. AWD adds weight and IMHO RWD with snows will probably do just fine. In Upstate NY in my younger days I used a e28 with snows and handled great w/o traction control or any other assistance that newer cars have today. When I’m driving in the Midwest I throw snows on my f36 RWD and it handles great.

Edit: just saw that you’re in Toronto. But hey, use chains!

[Germanauto]

Dude nice garage.

[wdb]

No direct experience with the turbo E9x but I'd personally lean more towards a 328. Even though they have their own special issues (oil leaks, water pumps) they tend to be less expensive to keep. The N51/2 is also a lightweight rev-happy darling of a motor.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by wdb

No direct experience with the turbo E9x but I'd personally lean more towards a 328.

Agree. I'd probably try to find a 330i but 328i can be modified to the same power level easily.

Originally Posted by wdb

Even though they have their own special issues (oil leaks, water pumps) they tend to be less expensive to keep.

Hehe, N54 has all these issues plus a huge pile of turbo related problems.
To name a few..
- because of higher engine operating temperature the water pump tends to fails much earlier (@60kmiles in my case) on turbo engines,
- PCV and the entire crankcase ventilation system gets clogged for the same reason and much sooner than on N51/2,
- this leads to higher crankcase pressure which in turns causes valve cover leak and oil pan leak (and potentially main seal leaks) also much sooner vs N51/2.
- plastic charge pipe tends to crack over time,
- turbos themself go out rather quickly - 70kmiles for me (wastegate stopped to close properly causing boost leak),
- then direct injection forces you to do valve cleaning @60kmiles - 80kmiles (and I was just replacing the valve cover on N51 and all the valves are clean and shiny @80kmiles).
- also IMO high low end torque wears out clutch and the entire drive train much much sooner. I replaced the clutch @75kmiles, and driveshafts 5kmiles later on 335iS. Maybe I got unlucky and the first owner abused the car before handing it over to me - that I dunno

Originally Posted by wdb

The N51/2 is also a lightweight rev-happy darling of a motor.

yep, I love this engine. High low end torque from N54 was fun and addictive but not even close to fun I get revving N51 getting out of turns and ramps

[Lucky1]

Didn’t care for the 335xi. Bought an E90 M3 instead. Needed an F10 M5 shifter and some clutch spring removal and bronze bushings added in but now feels like a nice car.

[pbonsalb]

E90 335xi has traction and the potential for decent power. N54 are fantastic engines but all are old enough to require extensive maintenance. Often it has been deferred.

N52 is a great engine in a light car. If you like NA then you give preference to it. I have had an N52 and an N54 and would take the N54 twin turbo I6 any day. Great torque, easily modded to way past stock power.

Had an E90 M3 6MT for 10 years. Fun high revving V8 with short gearing to multiply the otherwise weak torque. I modded mine and used an 8600 rpm limit. But eventually I found the long, gradual pulls across the rpms less than thrilling and I did not mind sacrificing a little handling and steering feel for a more comfortable car with AWD and auto. Bought an F90 M5.

[Rafichicago]

Other than N63 TT V8 I am hard pressed to find other BMW engine that has worst track of reliability. It’s loved for its tuning potential so some accept its issues. List of problems is rather extensive. I wouldn’t touch N54/55 platform with 1 mile pole. B58 is much better platform.

[pbonsalb]

Sure, if your budget allows, buy a B58 car. No one has said the N54 is superior to the B58. I’d take a B58 over an N51/52/53, N54, N55.

I owned an N54 for 10 years and still maintain it for the person gave it to. Did almost all the work myself — rid bearings, pan gasket, turbos, water pump and thermostat, walnut blasting, valve cover gasket, oil filter housing, etc. it’s a great motor.