[pedro2u]

Posted this on Bimmerfest too, looking for feedback

I already have a e65 745i and an e46 ZHP vert, but I stumbled across this 2008 335Xi (automatic/no nav, premium package) with only 18,688 miles just before Christmas and finally pried it away from the original owner today.

Carfax supports the mileage/history from the elderly owner that just had this car in the building's parking garage for most of it's life. It's even still on the original tires with lots of tread left. Seller says its never even been driven in snow. Basically a new car. I'm struggling whether to keep it as a stable mate for my ZHP vert or put it on https://bringatrailer.com/ and see what it might bring

I just dropped it off at my indy so that he can look it next week while I'm out of town and give me his opinion on what if any services should be done. Seller just had the original BMW dealer run some tests with fault codes that ended up with the install of a new battery and recent oil change. No other known issues

Any thoughts from the forum on what preventive maintenance should be done? I'm thinking of at least a coolant flush, and maybe brake fluid

[F30lolz]

Good find! Tires IMHO should be replaced due to age. Have all the recalls been performed (HPFP, airbag, blower/wiring)? With that low mileage, the OEM turbos should be rattle free. I would also check the belts/hoses just in case. Brake/coolant should be changed if no known records indicating if they have been changed.

Post it on bring a trailer and see what dollar amount it could fetch with the low mileage. Keep in mind that to enthusiasts it lacks sports package but lacking NAV is a plus IMHO. Got any interior shots?

GL with whatever you do with it. Always cool to see low mileage on any vehicle beyond 10 plus years old.

[pedro2u]

Turbos are rattle free, not sure it the owner ever even pushed this car..... but they work because I punched it.....

Original window sticker was in the glove compartment along with the 2nd key which is still in the sealed plastic bag along with the flashlight

Since I didn't have a plate for it, the seller met me at my Indy and that's where it will sit until I get home next Friday and can get it registered. In the meantime he is going to flush coolant and brakes as you also suggested.

I'll get some pics next weekend

It has 2 open recalls - airbags and blower wiring. I'll get those done as soon as the dealer can get it in.

[John 070]

Nice to find these cars with BMW. They happen all the time with Lexus. I've never known the answer to this, but how many E9x's have the ABS/DSC fail? That seems to happen regardless of mileage (mine at 40k) so that would be at the back of my mind. And it's not a big deal if DIY esp given OP has many other cars. Me I'd want to keep it. And yeah tires supposedly only last 6 yrs., but I'm not positive if it's proven or it's like the old 3,000 oil change (overkill) and invented by people who change oil....brake fluid/coolant/oil are a good start. Yeah and Takata. WTH ever happened with the settlement? I never got a check and was told it had to be resolved by 1/31/19. I get we're not talking about $3 mil. like for each attorney, but I'll take $200. Or $12.

[Allmanuel]

Virgin posting-be gentle please.
Just picked up low mileage 2009 328i vert manual... currently have e39 manual (DD) and e30 manual(garaged)...
Looking for some help on verts lighting and existing mods.
1) one corona drl is dim? (Or is that the other one is non factory bright/white?) Why is this? How do I fix this ( can access lights via under hood but I have large hands and want to know what I'm getting into)..Car has factory xenons
2) anyone know what kind of wheels these are?
3) "performance edition" tags on front and rear (will be gone soon, too cold to futz with it now) but car appears to have different side skirts, front lip (paint peeling) and rear bumper with spoiler.
4) quad tailpipes say Remus...how do I know if it's really Remus exhaust?
No info from previous owner...
Thanks for your help...

[pedro2u]

Wheels look like BMW wheel style 359

http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/359

[pedro2u]

Got my car back from detailing last night and took my first reasonable drive today. This car is brand new.... I'm keeping it. now 18,744 miles

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by pedro2u

Got my car back from detailing last night and took my first reasonable drive today. This car is brand new.... I'm keeping it. now 18,744 miles

Looking good...what’s the word on the classic mustang that looks like the roof is about to cave in on it?

[pedro2u]

that Mustang has been sitting in the "showroom" of this Ford dealership that closed 40 years ago and the building is collapsing around it. There's a few other classics in there too. I've seen this car in this window for at least 30 years, and for years the locals have been trying to find out who really owns this stuff, but someone with money who just doesn't care own must own the place

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Christ...what a shame...

[pedro2u]

watch this.... it's painful to see all of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTaCoRM-HVo

[pedro2u]

Great news today. Dropped off the E92 at the dealer for the airbag and blower motor wiring recall. So I took the opportunity to ask the SA if he could tell me the service history since the mileage was so low. He went into the full diatribe of not being able to share ANY information from the previous owner. More like HIPAA laws!

I told him I really just wanted to know if the HPFP recall had been completed on the car since it was such a costly replacement being outside of the warranty, and didn't show on the Carfax.

He stared at me of a few seconds and said......it was completed in 2011.....SWEET!

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by pedro2u

Great news today. Dropped off the E92 at the dealer for the airbag and blower motor wiring recall. So I took the opportunity to ask the SA if he could tell me the service history since the mileage was so low. He went into the full diatribe of not being able to share ANY information from the previous owner. More like HIPAA laws!

I told him I really just wanted to know if the HPFP recall had been completed on the car since it was such a costly replacement being outside of the warranty, and didn't show on the Carfax.

He stared at me of a few seconds and said......it was completed in 2011.....SWEET!

Nice find man! Beautiful car. Congrats!

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by Allmanuel

Virgin posting-be gentle please.
Just picked up low mileage 2009 328i vert manual... currently have e39 manual (DD) and e30 manual(garaged)...
Looking for some help on verts lighting and existing mods.
1) one corona drl is dim? (Or is that the other one is non factory bright/white?) Why is this? How do I fix this ( can access lights via under hood but I have large hands and want to know what I'm getting into)..Car has factory xenons
2) anyone know what kind of wheels these are?
3) "performance edition" tags on front and rear (will be gone soon, too cold to futz with it now) but car appears to have different side skirts, front lip (paint peeling) and rear bumper with spoiler.
4) quad tailpipes say Remus...how do I know if it's really Remus exhaust?
No info from previous owner...
Thanks for your help...

On the corona, it appears that the passenger is factory as these were halogens. My guess is that the previous owner installed cheaper LED's and the passenger burned out quickly then slapped the halogen back in. This explains why the driver sided LED corona looks dim. Do some digging and find you a nice set of LED replacements for both. The headlights are xenon so I would try to match the color of the LED corona bulb with the same color of the headlight. LUX has some that you can change the color to match the xenons. The corona bulb replacement isn't difficult, it's one of the first things I did to mine. You can find detailed instructions on here. Keep in mind that your cornering lights may be halogen as well which will look awkward if you have xenon headlights, LED coronas and halogen cornering lights when you make turns. LED cornering lights you will not want to skimp on price as they will not be as bright as the halogens and basically pointless unless you just want all the bulbs to match and aren't going for practicality. These can also be coded out if you'd rather go that route. Also, if you go full LED on your coronas and cornering lights, you want to make sure you have LED's in your fogs as well. Once you do this you will want code out the bulb check for cornering, halo's/corona's and fogs otherwise when you start your car the entire front of your car is going to look like an emergency service vehicle with all the flashing lights. Do some research on bulb check at car start up and you'll understand what I'm talking about. Carly is a relatively inexpensive way of coding but there are better option out there, do some digging.

Wheel question looks like it has already been answered.

Yes, side skirts are not factory, the lip is aftermarket (I have the same on my E93) and the rear spoiler is not factory, but looks nice. Your side markers are aftermarket also. Are they LED?

As for quick simple and relatively cheap things you can do for appearance that will make it look better (in my opinion), wrap your window trim (the E93's are easy to do because of the small sections) and find some smoked front corner reflectors that match the color of your car.

Nice ride!

[pedro2u]

update after the dealer visit and getting the 2 recalls done. Those are all taken care of. But that 2nd key I mentioned that was still in the original plastic bag and in the owners manual..... turns out its completely dead. Dealer checked it and said it won't hold a charge....... 11 years without being used seems to be more than it could handle

so my free visit ended up costing me $206.04 to order a replacement key

[pedro2u]

and... after searching over all these years hoping to find a car like this, I decided to get a vanity plate to commemorate the journey

[Fredo]

Congrats ! That was a great find.

[pedro2u]

Fredo - Thanks..... I'm guessing this is you from the Mafia based on the ZHP's we have parked in our garages! It's an obsession

[Fredo]

Yes, sir. That's me. I also have a 2009 335i sedan.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats

[pedro2u]

5 years later, an update..... After "the Find" in 2019, I did decide to drive it, only in fair weather!. Just hit 40K miles, so still a low mileage 16 year old BMW 335Xi that drives like new! And ignore the fault, the M4 wheels I've added don't have TPMS...

Other than a diff and transmission flush along with oil changes at 5K miles, the only issue I've had in the 20K miles was a HPFP failure (even though it had been replaced in 2011)

In other threads I've shared a few upgrades I've made like sport seats, an F30 shifter, the M4 style 640M wheels, a M flat bottom steering wheel...

It did turn out to be a great car! I'm still keeping it!

[oVeRdOsE.]

cool ! nice , glad you kept it , and in a clean and original state !

tpms need to go to have a clean look !

- get some sensors
- code this out
- convert to a speed sensor tpms like