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Moving to an E92.. maybe

3K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  AWCoupe 
#1 · (Edited)
I'm considering buying a 2009 328i xdrive E92, which has about 9 months of warranty left, and about 21k on the odometer. It has an N52N engine.

Is the N52N one of the engines that can experience the noisy valve problem which BMW sometime fixes with a new head?

If so, how common is this problem, and when does it begin to show up?

BTW, the car will replace my E39 touring. I welcome comments from anyone who's gone from an E39 to an E92. Before the E39, I owned two E36's - a sedan and a convertible.

The car I'm looking at has an auto trans and paddle shifters - are they a gimmick, or do people actually use them? How quickly does the transmission respond? (is it painfully slow?)

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I'm considering buying a 2009 328i xdrive E92, which has about 9 months of warranty left, and about 21k on the odometer. It has an N52N engine.

The car I'm looking at has an auto trans and paddle shifters - are they a gimmick, or do people actually use them? How quickly does the transmission respond? (is it painfully slow?)
You may not like the GM auto so much - sucks mojo from yer ride.

Don't expect to do big performance mods on the engine.

335i's the ride for moddin' and Step's not bad, not exquisite; is better'n GM.

I lust for DCT....
 
#3 ·
Transmission is fine once it learns your driving style. While it is learning it may seem like it confused now and again, but the more you drive it, the better it gets.
 
#6 ·
I'm considering buying a 2009 328i xdrive E92, which has about 9 months of warranty left, and about 21k on the odometer. It has an N52N engine.

Is the N52N one of the engines that can experience the noisy valve problem which BMW sometime fixes with a new head?
The problem only existed in 2007/early 8. Should be fine.

People use the paddles - they're ok and add to car control. They're not a replacement for a MT by any means.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for the feedback

So, I pulled out my Sept 2006 issue of Roundel and re-read the raves about the twin turbo and the quick ZF auto. They loved it.

My inclination toward the normally aspirated engine is prompted by what I perceive as superior reliability. I don't want to get bled to death by the dealer's service dept. The downsides? - it's not as quick as the 335, and the ZF trasnmission is more responsive. No, it's not a DCT, but I don't want to spend the $ for an 335is with DCT and I don't want a rough ride.

Part of me says if I'm going to give up the utility of a Touring, I may as well go big or stay home, and buy a 335, but the other (rational) part says, "hey, you want relatively trouble-free - the 328i is fine."

On a related note - aside from the ease of a built-in Nav (love it on my Porsche), does the idrive on the E92 offer other pluses, or is it regarded as a PITA, aside from the convenience of not messing around with a portable Nav (cord, hiding the unit when not in use etc. )

Last, I think I'd prefer the cream interior over the black, which I find a bit, well, dark, but cream is scarce as hen's teeth. That aside, does one wear better than the other?

TIA.
 
#8 ·
On a related note - aside from the ease of a built-in Nav (love it on my Porsche), does the idrive on the E92 offer other pluses, or is it regarded as a PITA, aside from the convenience of not messing around with a portable Nav (cord, hiding the unit when not in use etc. ).
Pre-2009, yes.

Nav is drab, all years - $150 Costco beats it, but can never be built in. Also no 10" screen, Costco.
 
#10 ·
I've just passed the one year mark of ownership on my '09 and I love this car. I have the paddles and honestly, I rarely use them. I usually just hop into sport mode and let the tranny do the work. I've put 11k on the car (current odometer:43k) with nary a problem except some minor A/C issues. This is my first non V8 powered car in 30 years of driving and I still miss that low end torque but this engine does pull pretty hard from 4k to redline and will quickly get you beyond the posted limit.:D Decent gas mileage as well. I just averaged 28.6 on a recent highway run of 160 miles.
I have the iDrive and think it is pretty good. Easy to use, iPod integration was no problem. No bluetooth for me but no big deal. I say for go it!:thumbup:
 
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