[selo]

Just picked up a CPO 2013 335i Conv.
It's a bit of an oddball car, but it has very low miles. It's a manual as we wanted, and it's a great color (bright red.)
Any advice, words of caution, or recommendation for light mods that could make it more enjoyable? Please keep in mind, my wife will be driving it too, so I can't make it too hard core.

[Game]

Most guys are going to suggest new tires (non-runflat) and a tune (JB4/MHD).

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by selo

Just picked up a CPO 2013 335i Conv.
It's a bit of an oddball car, but it has very low miles. It's a manual as we wanted, and it's a great color (bright red.)
Any advice, words of caution, or recommendation for light mods that could make it more enjoyable? Please keep in mind, my wife will be driving it too, so I can't make it too hard core.

Look up Maintenance schedules for the 335i w/ an n55 motor find one that is in the middle of either extreme and lean just over the middle to the side of "really anal"

These are great cars, but they are not Hondas. You can't beat the crap out the car, do very little maintenance, and then expect the car to work really well for 200,000 plus miles.

[Eddien123]

Pics?

[selo]

Originally Posted by Eddien123

Pics?

No pics yet. I barely laid eyes on it. My wife picked it up today and I barely got to glance at it as I rushed to the airport. Will provide pics this weekend.

[selo]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Look up Maintenance schedules for the 335i w/ an n55 motor find one that is in the middle of either extreme and lean just over the middle to the side of "really anal"

These are great cars, but they are not Hondas. You can't beat the crap out the car, do very little maintenance, and then expect the car to work really well for 200,000 plus miles.

You mean follow the maintenance schedule religiously? It's still under the factory warranty, and then CPO for another two years, so we plan to dealer maintain by the book.

[selo]

Originally Posted by Game

Most guys are going to suggest new tires (non-runflat) and a tune (JB4/MHD).

We did a wheel swap with the dealership, for a set of 18" that came off a 2009 car with the sport package, and they reconditioned them. Just got a quick look but I don't think they're run flats. The original wheels were 17" base wheels, non sport pack or premium pack, so would they have had run flat OEM by 2013? If so, it sounds like I'll need to get a spare kit for the trunk. But is there room for a donut or such?
I'm hesitant to flash due to the fact that it's still under warranty. What about a short shifter? It's feeling like a pretty long throw. And what about any suspension mods, maybe lowering springs?

[sea6speed]

Originally Posted by selo

We did a wheel swap with the dealership, for a set of 18" that came off a 2009 car with the sport package, and they reconditioned them. Just got a quick look but I don't think they're run flats. The original wheels were 17" base wheels, non sport pack or premium pack, so would they have had run flat OEM by 2013? If so, it sounds like I'll need to get a spare kit for the trunk. But is there room for a donut or such?
I'm hesitant to flash due to the fact that it's still under warranty. What about a short shifter? It's feeling like a pretty long throw. And what about any suspension mods, maybe lowering springs?

I'd be very surprised if the dealer fitted an E9x with non-run flats, especially if the car is covered by warranty and BMW roadside assistance. These cars don't come with a spare, so runflats are seen as 'required' by a lot of tire shops.

[selo]

Originally Posted by sea6speed

I'd be very surprised if the dealer fitted an E9x with non-run flats, especially if the car is covered by warranty and BMW roadside assistance. These cars don't come with a spare, so runflats are seen as 'required' by a lot of tire shops.

Hope you're right. Reading through other posts on Bimmerfest and now realize the vert has no room for a spare. Duh! Very unlike me to not do my homework, but here I am! If they aren't run flats, I guess I'll be looking at a compressor and a goo kit. But Roadside assistance comes with CPO, right?

[sea6speed]

Originally Posted by selo

Hope you're right. Reading through other posts on Bimmerfest and now realize the vert has no room for a spare. Duh! Very unlike me to not do my homework, but here I am! If they aren't run flats, I guess I'll be looking at a compressor and a good kit. But Roadside assistance comes with CPO, right?

Yes, CPO includes roadside. I have non-RFT and carry a slime kit in the trunk just in case.

[BSM n54iS]

MHD stage 1 tune with a k&n

....then one random day scare the shit out of your wife and put the exhaust burble option up to hard and 5 sec.

[F22_Raptor]

Words of wisdom you say?

My dad told me this today before my trip to Vegas.
"You can eat your betting money but don't bet your eating money."

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by Black n54is

MHD stage 1 tune with a k&n

....then one random day scare the shit out of your wife and put the exhaust burble option up to hard and 5 sec.

N55 though...

[Jozy]

flash the free ppk lol

[selo]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

N55 though...

Is N55 less desirable?

[John 070]

Kid Rock offered some in Cowboy...those were the days!

[summilux]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Look up Maintenance schedules for the 335i w/ an n55 motor find one that is in the middle of either extreme and lean just over the middle to the side of "really anal"

Congrats on the new purchase. Middle road for me is changing the oil twice as often as the schedule says. You can DIY for fun and save some cash but a good indy should do it well for well under $100.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by selo

You mean follow the maintenance schedule religiously? It's still under the factory warranty, and then CPO for another two years, so we plan to dealer maintain by the book.

Your CPO warranty runs out after 6 years from the date the car was first made 6 years ago, or 100k which ever comes first. It sounds to me like your gonna be out of warranty sometime in 2019 depending on what month the car was made.

No BMW is ever warrantied beyond its 6th birthday, unless it was a CPO elite car. In that case, it would be 7 years.

If you bought the Maintenance package or got it free as part of an incentive, then that too will run out when the car reaches its 6th birthday.

My first suggestion would be to change the power steering fluid, when your car hits 50k. BMW says it's a lifetime fluid (meaning it's good for 100k), but 99% of service managers at a BMW dealer, who are worth their salt, will tell you to do it every 50k.

Beyond that you should just ride out the transmission, differential fluids and coolant until 100k.

Look up the life expectancy of the spark plugs on an n55. On an N54 motor, they need to be changed every 45k for example. At 100k, do your car a favor and change them and the coils too.

You should figure out how to change out the brake fluid, for that needs to be done every 2 years. Also, if you plan on sticking to the 17k intervals for oil, at least change out the filter 1/2 way into that interval.

I would spend the next couple of years and research local shops that specializes in European Autos, that has a great reputation. This way, you know where to take it for a repair you don't feel comfortable doing on your own.

Once your out of warranty, in a few years, never take it to the stealership....

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by selo

Is N55 less desirable?

N55 is a great motor, but it's not the N54. Your car has 1 turbo charger that has a twin scroll in it. Meaning each scroll kicks in at certain rpm's.

The N54, has two separate turbo chargers that do the same thing, for the most part. However, because it has 2 turbo chargers it can be modified for a lot more horsepower very easily.

[selo]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

N55 is a great motor, but it's not the N54. Your car has 1 turbo charger that has a twin scroll in it. Meaning each scroll kicks in at certain rpm's.

The N54, has two separate turbo chargers that do the same thing, for the most part. However, because it has 2 turbo chargers it can be modified for a lot more horsepower very easily.

Got it. More upside in terms of power;. More downside in terms of maintenance.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by selo

Got it. More upside in terms of power;. More downside in terms of maintenance.

I wouldn't say the N55 motor has less maintenance. The only thing that would be less maintenance would be replacing 1 turbo vs two once you get to that point. That might be over 150,000 miles for a daily driver. If you track the car, then much less then that.

Once your car hits 75k:

1) better start saving $500.00 for a water pump and thermostat, if your car is out of warranty. Also, have a $100.00 tucked away in the wallet for the towing bill to your house

2) Shocks and struts will be gone by then. Those won't be covered by warranty. Probably $600 to $1000.00 depending on what you put on it.

3) Also, brakes are covered under a maintenance plan but not CPO. Brakes will run you $500.00 for parts; this would cover both axels.

[BayMoWe335]

Sell your car.