synapse dude, use castrol 5w-30 full synthetic. no pentosin crap and what not. there are like 3 oils i think which adhere to BMWs LL-01 and LL-4...i think others are mobil 1 (0-40), Valvoline SynPower 5-40, Castrol 0-30. stick to first one.

9/22/2011 12:54:55 AM

Can I use those on the m3 instead of the 0-60w?

9/22/2011 8:15:30 AM

it should say that in your owners manual

9/22/2011 9:07:55 PM

^^E46 M3 uses only one and no other oil. castrol 10w-60. do not put anything else in it.

9/23/2011 4:47:05 AM

i some advice for 335 owners.
1. buy down pipes
2. buy larger fmic
3. install cobb S2+
4. Smile all day!

9/23/2011 9:46:12 PM

I know it is not really apples to apples but rolled an E60 M5 today. He looked a little surprised at the next light.

9/23/2011 10:02:24 PM

haha. i bet you're < 50hp down on him, but with what, 400-500 lbs less weight, and maybe better gearing. other than the lack of LSD on the launch, that sounds about right.

9/23/2011 10:38:12 PM

is this a good deal?


BMW 335i Convertible Red Lease - $570

Your chance to lease this amazing Crimson Red 2009 BMW 335i Hard Top Convertible, twin turbo.

15K miles left on lease. Run Flats. Tire warranty will transfer. BMW Lease transfer is $500.
6 Speed Manual

Lease expires August 2012. Lease is $570/month.

Email me to make an appointment to see your next vehicle.







The buyout at the end of the lease is 36k. It has 35k miles on it now..Its fully loaded except adaptive cruise.

9/24/2011 8:45:33 PM

fuck no it's not a good deal, it's a lease.

9/24/2011 9:02:56 PM

fuck no it's not a good deal, it's a lease.

9/24/2011 9:46:47 PM

God damn all you bmw fags are all the same. All money and no brains

9/27/2011 1:30:39 AM

What's the consensus on the best BMW shops around Raleigh. Bonus points for being near to campus, but I'm interested in all options at this point.

I see European Performance and Import Motor Werks are right down the road. They any good? Who else should I consider?

11/28/2011 3:14:39 PM

When I priced some e30 repairs European Performance was notably high compared to other indy shops. Ended up driving it to Shadetree Garage and saved $60 or so for the one task I couldn't do myself.

That was several years ago. YMMV.

11/28/2011 4:28:50 PM

///M powered automotive off cary parkway is another

west german garage is another

discovery automotive on maynard is where I would go

11/28/2011 4:38:39 PM

import motor werks = ///mpowered

11/28/2011 4:53:21 PM

what are you trying to have done?

11/28/2011 6:30:57 PM

Well, I know we've done 5? air oil separators, at least 6 window regulators, 4 oil stand gaskets and 2 oil pan gaskets in the last 2 weeks on some sort of BMW inline 6.

It's astonishing how few things break on a late 90s to late 00s BMW outside of the few token issues like waterpump/thermostat/window regulator/control arm/radiator and little trinkets.

11/28/2011 7:48:45 PM

Anyone have tire recommendations? I was thinking DWS but I'm open to suggestions...

11/29/2011 3:23:51 PM

I love the DWS I put on my wife's IS250.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=UHPAS

11/29/2011 8:17:44 PM

gf has pole positions on her car. Great tire.

11/29/2011 8:25:09 PM

^ I would have opted for the PP, but I had picked up a pair of DWS on sale... I have to replace the rear Bridgestone Turanzas. I'm wondering if I should stay consistent or replace them with the PP. Decisions decisions... We don't get hardly any snow in Raleigh, so I probably should opt for the PP... But the PP are 3lbs/tire heavier (nearly 10% heavier) than the DWS. I kid about the unsprung weight but seriously, I wonder... which tire to get?

[Edited on November 29, 2011 at 8:47 PM. Reason : .]

11/29/2011 8:45:15 PM

yeah my dws do better then the bfg geforces sports did in the dry and trounce them everywhere else.

12/1/2011 6:58:13 AM

pilot

12/1/2011 12:29:54 PM

Albert,

Don't be a pussy. Nitto NT-05 all the way.

12/2/2011 2:15:49 PM

Sheeeeeeit man, I burned through my brand new [CPO provided] run-flats in like 9k miles...and those Nittos sound like $texas. I don't think like the way that equation works out.

12/2/2011 2:48:42 PM

nah, they're cheap. I think a set for my Z06 was about $750, shipped to my door.

now, I make no guarantees regarding how long they'll last. Comparing a C5 Z06 with me driving it and several days spent on the track (along with a couple of autocrosses) to you in a 335i isn't really a useful comparison, either. I can't imagine you'd wear them out faster than 9k miles, though, unless you track it.

12/3/2011 12:15:24 AM

I let Leith BMW do the brake fluid service since they only quoted $125, and I went ahead and had them do the oil (even through it wasn't "due" for 4-5k more miles), mostly because I was cringing at how nasty it must be after 10-11k miles, and they only quoted me $125 for the oil change this time (versus $160 last time I called). I plan to do the interval oil changes myself, but I'll probably still have them do the 15k oil changes every 12+ months, unless I Cobb it then I'll do it all myself.

I do have to say the whole experience was awesome compared to any other service I've ever had done. Dropped it off in the morning and picked up a 2011 328 loaner, all within like 5 minutes tops. Drop off of the loaner and pickup of my car took the same amount of time...and it came back with a detail job that usually runs me about $20.

Funny thing was they call me during the day and ask me if I want an inspection and also to let me know that the [cabin] microfilter is due to be changed...and did I want that done. When I asked how much for the cabin filter job would cost she said $180 . I bought an OEM Mann filter off ebay for $25 and it's literally five screws to install. Not sure how they justify that price...I was going to ask what the breakdown was but forgot about it.

12/8/2011 10:23:38 AM

Quote :

"Sheeeeeeit man, I burned through my brand new [CPO provided] run-flats in like 9k miles...and those Nittos sound like $texas. I don't think like the way that equation works out."

I met someone who switched from the run-flats to normal tires because of this. He does keep a spare in his trunk most of the time, but he leaves it in the garage when he is going to have to carry a lot of stuff. It will save thousands of dollars over the life of the car. How often do you really get a flat?

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 10:57 AM. Reason : s]

12/8/2011 10:57:26 AM

Yeah those run-flats are stupid expensive...BMW quoted me something like $1150 for a pair of rears. They'd be $800ish through tire rack plus installation ($25 a wheel at discount tire maybe).

I guess depending on the situation, getting a flat and potentially getting a tow could be a pain in the ass if it happens in BFE...but I'm willing to risk it. Ntm they ran past the wear bars in 9k miles...I'd like to get something more than that out of non-run flats, but that might not be possible with me living in the boost.

Not sure I'll carry a spare either...how much would that thing weigh?

12/8/2011 12:22:04 PM

~40 lbs?

Keep a plug kit in the car and you'd probably be fine in 90%+ of the situations you'd find yourself in and those situations are admittedly rare. You could keep a portable air compressor in the trunk too.

Most of the time even if a tire does start to leak you can go a long way just by pumping some air into it every hour or two. With the plug kit on board you'd be set for just about anything you might run across short of a full blowout or sidewall tear. I've plugged one on the side of the road and it ended up being easier than swapping the spare on would have been. I might consider getting the plug replaced with a patch the next time I went to the tire shop if I were driving it like a performance car, but this was on my old e30 beater that rarely saw 90 MPH.

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 12:44 PM. Reason : l]

12/8/2011 12:39:59 PM

Wow, the OEM runflats have a treadwear rating of 140...the DWS's that are replacing them are 540, so I'm thinking I'll get a lot more miles this time around. - http://tinyurl.com/7jj4wyu Plus they have a 50k treadwear warranty on them so that will make replacement *much* cheaper than the 500OTD I'm about to pay for two of them.


^ cool thanks for the info.

12/8/2011 2:10:52 PM

I want to know how you burned through a set of tires in 9k. Do you floor it at every light?

12/8/2011 6:38:00 PM

tires with a UTQG rating of ~160 only lasted 5-8k

never breaking traction

they're just that soft

grip like a bitch though

12/8/2011 6:45:46 PM

^^ it's been many (prob 6-7?) years since I got more use than that out of a set of tires on a sports car, and sometimes havent even made it that long.

Trucks and Jeeps are obviously different.

12/8/2011 10:12:17 PM

Quote :

"I want to know how you burned through a set of tires in 9k. Do you floor it at every light?"

Quote :

"treadwear rating of 140"

These tires are closer to tar than rubber.

[Edited on December 9, 2011 at 4:58 AM. Reason : s]

12/9/2011 4:45:18 AM

I'm wondering how much of a difference I'll feel with the DWS versus the tar tires when I'm screaming around corners...I'm hoping not a lot?

The fronts will still be the 140 for a little while so maybe that'll help.

12/9/2011 9:18:21 AM

Got quoted $675 for a front brake job at Leith including rotors and pads.

Can't I just throw a set of pads on there and save the rotor exchange for when it's actually needed? The dealer acts like the rotors have to be changed every time.

Also any recommendations on pads (and rotors for when the time comes)? I'm thinking I need to get on this soon if I want to get out of buying rotors.

2/1/2012 5:38:44 PM

that's ridiculous

just go online and get the pads you want and get your rotors turned, or worse case, go to rockauto.com and get new pads and rotors and do it yourself for ~$300 with new parts

do you have to go to the dealer still? looks like your warranty ran out in September of last year

2/2/2012 10:49:37 AM

I'd definitely check with Carquest and see what OEM equivalent rotors cost through them.

On my e30 the OEM Brembo rotors were only $30 or so. They charged $15/rotor to turn them, so you barely saved anything for the extra effort. I'm sure the brakes on your car are a lot more expensive, but $675 for a pair of rotors and pads is ridiculous.

[Edited on February 2, 2012 at 10:58 AM. Reason : s]

2/2/2012 10:56:46 AM

Quote :

"do you have to go to the dealer still? looks like your warranty ran out in September of last year"

I don't, I just use them as a baseline for how much $ I'm going to save doing the work elsewhere/myself

I read you have to change the sensors too...anyone have experience with that? Or is it like the tire pressure sensors which you don't have to change under normal circumstances?

Also I'm wondering about turning the rotors...if that's required in this car. I'm doing some reading on e90post but figured I'd get some opinions here too.


^ thx for the lead on carquest...they have oem pads for $73/$77 (raybestos/textar, the latter being what was actually shipped on the car)

2/2/2012 11:24:34 AM

Hey synapse Im looking at buying a pre-owned 335 in the near future (probably an 08 or 09 but close to the same mileage as yours). Mind telling me how much you have spent on maintenance in the year you have owned the car?

2/2/2012 11:42:37 AM

^ Sure.

Oil change - $125 - Though only due every 15k miles, so not that big of a deal. I'll do the interval 7.5k changes to make me feel better, still might let them do the 15k though.
Brake fluid flush - $125 (every two years)
Rear tires - $500OTD for DWS tires (came with 50k mile warranty so the next set will be much cheaper)

Now I need front brakes and I'm hoping that'll come in at ~$100 doing the work myself.

2/2/2012 11:55:28 AM

was the oil change done at the dealer?

2/2/2012 1:43:50 PM

^ yes. after some research, they weren't any more expensive than the local euro shops, plus i got better service, a loaner and a wash

2/2/2012 5:46:55 PM

The loaner and wash are nice.

I always want to take my car to the dealer, but when I consider the option of arranging rides there and back or waiting for hours in a waiting room it just doesn't make sense to do so. I can change my own oil with synthetic and a good filter for $30 in 30 minutes including cleanup. It's just hard to deal with all that other mess while paying more money.

That's also part of the reason I like letting folks like zxappeal work on my ride. Much easier to deal with than a dealership IMO and Jeepman's garage isn't too far from the house.

2/2/2012 6:52:19 PM

Quote :

"I always want to take my car to the dealer, but when I consider the option of arranging rides there and back or waiting for hours in a waiting room it just doesn't make sense to do so"

Well with BMW you don't have to worry about those things, but otherwise I feel ya. I don't plan on taking it there much.

2/2/2012 6:58:02 PM

my coworker got a loaner X5 when his 335 was getting the HPFP recall work done. i think he just told them he needed to drive clients around for the day or something. not bad at all.

2/2/2012 7:13:18 PM

first gremlin in the 335 today. running cobb2+ i am getting a misfire in #3. i had plugs done 12 ago as part of the maintenance pkg at the dealer. running stock map right now and changing all plugs this weekend. i went ahead and ordered a coil pack as well since they are commonly fucked in the 335. i will report back this weekend if it is fixed. 12k is pretty weak for plugs but running 18lbs all the time may be part of it.

for cost, the 6 plugs, bmw plug tool, and coil delivered was 180 bucks. it should not take more than 1.5 hr to change plugs. i find this super cheap considering the vehicle. still love this damn car. i still have not talked myself into needing to go e92 either. good value for me in the e90.

2/2/2012 8:58:23 PM

could be injectors

2/3/2012 7:29:20 PM

changes plug 3 to see if it was coil or plug. ran great then misfire #2. so tomorrow i will fishing changing them all and back to floggin molly.

2/3/2012 9:09:36 PM