[idk6]

Hey guys! New to the forum and it’s amazing to finally have a place I can go off on tangents about carts and people will actually understand me! Anyways, I currently have a 2014 Mini Cooper countryman bass. Zippy as hell and handes like a champ but it’s come time for me to part ways with it and pursue my dream car. I always had my eyes set on a faster car, and after my first convertible ride, I knew I was hooked on the idea of a convertible. So many many months later I arrived at the e93 335i and I knew this was the car. I considered a 4 series for a long time (probably a 428i cause Imma broke high school student and a 435i is a lotta money)

Anyways I’ve been looking forever and In the process of selling the Cooper and I think I’ve finally found the one. It’s a black 2010 e93 335i pre lci with the infamous n54. 78,000 miles, sport package, paddle shifters, new 19in m5 rims and beige interior. Not the biggest fan of the interior but the guy is asking 10,500 for it, and if I really can’t stand the interior I can do an interior swap. Major criteria for me is the warranty on the car, as I’m well aware the HPFP and the Water pump are basically time bombs that will empty my bank account. This one is still under the 10 year warranty so I’m not nearly as concerned as I would be if I went with a 2007/2008. Plus I’ve heard reliability of the 2009/2010 is considerably higher than the 2007/2008. Obviously I’d treat the car like a queen and maintain it well.

Should I pursue this e93? Can’t wait to hear what you guys have to say and super excited to be on the forums!

[6ixSpd]

Welcome. If you think you're broke now, wait until after you buy this car.

There are a tonne of maintenance items and common failures on the N54 cars that require serious $ (injectors, countless gaskets that are labor intensive, the inevitable turbo failures, etc).

Search, and you'll see this has been asked countless times regarding N54 cost of ownership.

[srey]

If you are willing to learn to diy things, go for it. Cost-wise, maintenance isn't horrible for the level of performance you get if you do all your own wrenching. If you're going to pay someone else to do it then steer clear.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Does the water pump have a 10 year warranty? I don’t think I’d heard that before. Also I would caution taking too much comfort in a warranty that expires this year...my ‘07 is still on the original hpfp.

Besides...if you DIY neither of those repairs are that expensive. The injectors and turbos is where this car will take its pound of flesh...

[Sayek]

Wish I could have afforded a high powered twin turbo BMW when i was a student.

You not even aiming for a lower maintenance NA engine but the legendary N54.

Unless you can DIY maintain these cars a basic NA 3.0i can sting. Seen a few people in another forum buy a NA N53 and pay garage to replace 6 injectors. The bill was eye watering. And that's without the worry about the double turbo.

As a student i would stick to the Mini otherwise the N54 will distract you from studies.

[idk6]

Thanks for all the feedback! In terms of maintenance, I’m already semi mechanically inclined (I work on the mini but it’s still under a manufacturers warranty plus it’s a NA i4). Maintance on the e93 doesn’t scare me too much, as there are plenty of diys posted here and all over the internet. Money wise I’ve never had a job (yikes) but I’m a semi successful youtuber with over 150k on YouTube, and I’ve been saving the majority of the money I’ve made on their for this.

I don’t want to let maintenance deter me from such an amazing car, and working on it every weekend and going on spirited drives are what I live for. Thanks for the input everyone!

[n2siast]

e93, at least stock, and spirited drive doesn't go well together...lol... I went from a couple of tuned E90 335i to an e93, all with the same N54 engine.

After driving the e93 for the first few days, I was disappointed as it felt like a tank that didn't want to accelerate, however, after doing some bolt on mods and a tune, the car felt like it lost that extra convertible weight instantaneously. So, something to consider if you want the spirited drive sensation.

At least this has been my experience.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by srey

If you are willing to learn to diy things, go for it. Cost-wise, maintenance isn't horrible for the level of performance you get if you do all your own wrenching. If you're going to pay someone else to do it then steer clear.

This.

Unless you have warranty and free repairs on everything, it will cost an arm and a leg if you do not DIY.

If you DIY it's affordable.

[idk6]

Performance and modification wise, can’t see myself doing anything more than a few Bolt ons and an mhd stage 1 tune. Test drove an e93 and the dealer was super cool ab letting me open it up and I was blown away by how fast I could pull from 60-100. Compared to a 121 Na i4, the n54 feels plenty powerful to begin with. Can’t wait to see what I can do to it!

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by idk6

Money wise I’ve never had a job (yikes) but I’m a semi successful youtuber with over 150k on YouTube, and I’ve been saving the majority of the money I’ve made on their for this.

As an old man I for one am shocked every time I hear something like this...if you can afford it on your own though...then good luck and more power to you. There's a single turbo thread on here where a 17 year old bought a run down 335 with a single turbo kit, took the engine out and refurbed a lot of it...he put the engine back in and found out it was low on compression so he took the single turbo kit and put it on his 1 series...

[Efthreeoh]

I'm an old codger too. What does "Money wise I’ve never had a job (yikes) but I’m a semi successful youtuber with over 150k on YouTube" mean?

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

How much are you getting in net per month with just your channel? Did you mean you racked up 150k $ or 150k subs? If the latter, it can't be nearly that much.

If you don't pay any expenses (living with parents) I can see it being possible but tbh 150k subs it can't even be near 1000$ a month? or is it?

[idk6]

It's been a wild journey, can't lie being a youtuber entails many high and low points. As of now I'm lucky to get a video out once every 2 months and I have a constant cash flow of around $300-$400 a month before taxes. However, being a youtuber, I have a 1099 and not a W2. So my paychecks do not have taxes subtracted, meaning come tax day, I owe around 40% of my income to taxes. In my prime I was making over $4k a month.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

FWIW if I only had $400/month in disposable income I’d stick with the NA Mini Cooper with the warranty...

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by idk6

It's been a wild journey, can't lie being a youtuber entails many high and low points. As of now I'm lucky to get a video out once every 2 months and I have a constant cash flow of around $300-$400 a month before taxes. However, being a youtuber, I have a 1099 and not a W2. So my paychecks do not have taxes subtracted, meaning come tax day, I owe around 40% of my income to taxes. In my prime I was making over $4k a month.

I see. Here my opinion since I am somewhat in in similar situation.

Depending on your age also affects this. I suppose you would also outright buy the car? And you say a water pump failure or HPFP would empty the bank account and warranty is 10 years so it would run out this year or next.

Do you see yourself having your job career you are studying for in a few years? I am lucky enough to be set for life and a bi weekly paycheck that can easily afford 2 of the of the most popular parts that breakdown with these cars, so that doesn't worry me.

But in your situation if you just rely on youtube that's worrisome as you can't expect how much comes in. Albeit you won't have car payments, I do.

You also have to think about your future (again, depending on your age) and saving up for a place to live or rent in the upcoming years or depending on your plan for study to, unless you parents help you with that or you already have something planned for that.

Personally with just 400$ coming in per month I wouldn't be comfortable to be able to have that car. But I have payments so that's another story. But still, you also have to think about other things you will spend insurance, gas and when you go out and stuff. Unless I misunderstand and that's already covered by your current savings?

There's just to much variables but hope this gives you an idea.

And I'm no financial expert it's just my opinion I'm 20 and bought a car like this but I have a concrete plan for the upcoming years. Take as you will and anyone critique this as you will.

[mecheng77]

I would say stick with the N55, much less headaches. Or N52 which is still a sweet engine. Even if you can DIY, N54 parts will be expensive if Turbo or injectors go.

Link your youtube channel.

[idk6]

Would also like to note I have a considerable amount of money saved away from brand deals. Product placement has definitely became the bulk of my income, as the payouts are considerably higher than the measly $300 a month. Not that im complaining about seemingly free money, but I'd say I have at least $5k tucked away solely for this car. When I sell the Cooper (asking around 16k) Id buy the car outright and be left with somewhere around $10k to play with. This would be my only real expense, and my mom splits insurance and gas with me, so not to concerned from that standpoint.

Link to my channel (don't make fun of me pls ) youtube.com/gavinmay

[idk6]

Here's a proper link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw-...T3_pz1rOkdgzbA

[Torgus]

You are in highschool, unless mommy and daddy are paying there is no way you can afford to own an N54 all things considered.

N55 is weak sauce, N52 is weaker. You will prefer the n54, it's the only solution other than an S65 or S55 IMO.

[idk6]

My main concern is maintenance. Insurance and gas are somewhat covered by my family (lucky enough to have a pretty financially stable family) but anything other than that is on me. Obviously it's gonna be my car and I would buy it outright over financing (assuming I go through the private seller Ive began to contact through craigslist). I feel with thousands in the bank reserves solely for maintenance/mods and not having the mounting payments for insurance (300 hp turbocharged convertible will be a field day for a 17 yr old driver to insurance) guessing somewhere around 300 a month. Youtube is not my sole form of revenue, especially since I don't make nearly as many videos now compared to 2 years ago (education first ) broke the $10k mark last year from brand deals alone.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

It sounds like you’ve already convinced yourself...at this point there’s just one more thing to say...

Go for it!

[Efthreeoh]

What money are you going to have left over to spend on girls?