Here Are The BMW 335i Years To Avoid

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White BMW 335i

BMW 335i by nakhon100 — CC-BY-SA-4.0

If you’re considering getting a BMW luxury vehicle, the 335i is one of the more recent and well-received options. These vehicles perform reasonably well overall, though they aren’t entirely as consistent as some other models of cars from BMW. That’s fine, though; it just means that consumers need to research the BMW 335i years to avoid. 

That’s what we’re here for. 

We’ll take a closer look at the 335i, what it does well, and most specifically, where there are some problems with this vehicle. We’ve compared model years and will provide a list of the BMW 335i years to avoid and the more consistent years, and which models are a good option for buyers that are shopping used. 

Let’s dive in. 

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BMW 335i Years You Should Avoid

Like many recently released vehicles, the BMW 335i years to avoid are mainly at the beginning of the vehicle’s release. This means that those first few years of a new model almost always have more problems than later releases. The first release can’t be tested entirely for all the stresses of actual road driving and consumers’ needs like any vehicle. 

The BMW 335i follows that pattern exactly, with almost all severe problems and consumer complaints happening early in the vehicle’s release. 

Here’s a quick list of the BMW 335i years to avoid:

  • 2007
  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2011
  • 2013

The 2010, 2012, and 2014 models almost made this list, but while there are some complaints about those model years, they aren’t as frequent or severe as the 5 model years we’ve listed above. 

Of these years, the 2007 model is consistently the worst performing and gets the most complaints from consumers. Its biggest problem is running a temperature and overheating, though that’s not the only problem. 

Both the 2008 and 2009 models improve on the problems from the previous model year’s release until the 2010 performs relatively well. The 2011 model of the BMW 335i is one of the less problematic of the BMW 335i years to avoid, but it’s only slightly worse than the 2010 and 2012 models. 

The 335i had a slight increase in problems in 2013 and 2014, though the issues were still rarer and usually less serious than the 2007, 2008, and 2009 model year releases.

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Common Problems With The BMW 335i

Here are some of the most common problems with the BMW 335i and why they matter to consumers. 

Engine Problems

There are different problems with the engine system, though the most pressing is that the engine on the BMW 335i seems to overheat during everyday use occasionally. The cooling system can be working correctly, and the engine still overheats, though there are also cooling system problems that we’ll discuss in a moment. 

335i models that come equipped with a turbo also suffer from occasional turbo failure, and 335i models seem to share a mileage issue. The problem’s origin isn’t clear, but some engines use more gas than they should, which results in some BMW 335i having much lower miles per gallon than they should. 

Cooling System Problems

The cooling system also has some problems, ranging from leaking to using coolant even without seal problems. Those issues can spell disaster if you don’t realize your coolant levels are getting low, especially in hot climates or on a hot summer day. 

For the most part, owners can overcome these problems by checking the coolant levels when they fill up with gas, but that won’t solve the issue entirely.

Unfortunately, many of the models that have coolant issues also have engine overheating problems even when the coolant system is working correctly. It’s essential to keep an eye on your running temperature if you’re driving any of the BMW 335i years to avoid it since the problem can’t be entirely overcome. 

Electrical Problems

Thankfully, the most significant electrical problem with the BMW 335i is sporadic, but it’s a big enough issue that consumers considering getting the 2007 model should be aware of. 

In some infrequent instances, the electrical system around the BMW 335i headlight causes the vehicle to ignite. The fires can be severe, and there are some cases where the car has been totaled by fire damage, even when it was possible to put the fire out, which isn’t always the case. 

THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE BMW 335i

The most reliable BMW 335i year will save you time and money while getting you safely from one point to the next. It might feel impossible to land on the ideal year, but that’s where we come in.

There are some other electrical problems, mainly with internal accessories not working the way they should. However, those problems are also rare and usually aren’t severe in safety or driving. 

Faulty High-Pressure Fuel Pump

If your BMW335i has engine problems, there’s also a good chance that the high-pressure fuel pump or HPFP is involved. The HPFP is responsible for injecting the engine with fuel with the correct pressure. When there’s a problem with your car’s HPFP, you may experience slow engine start, decreased performance, and a check engine light signal.

When the HPFP fails, your engine will not get the fuel it needs to run optimally. Replacing the HPFP can be expensive and not because of costly parts. Like in most BMW repairs, the labor will drive the price up. If you’re out of the warranty, you’re out of luck on coverage.

Wastegate Rattle

By far, this is one of the worst issues with the twin-turbo N54 engine. The “rattle” that you experience once you encounter this problem is due to the arm/rod functioning incorrectly as a result of general wear and tear. The many symptoms include rattling noises coming from the engine, loss of power, and smoke from the exhaust.

One of the best ways to combat this issue is through preventive maintenance. The key takeaway here is to simply go easy on your BMW.

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Reliable BMW 335i Model Years

If you’re looking for a more reliable BMW 335i, a few good model years are to choose from. These models have worked out the inconsistencies and bugs in the original design. Plus, they don’t have issues with any of the changes and other innovations in the design. 

Here’s a quick list of the most reliable BMW 335i years:

  • 2010
  • 2012
  • 2015
  • 2016

Four models might not seem like much for a vehicle in production since 2007, but that shouldn’t discourage you from getting a BMW 335i, especially if you can get one of these years. 

That’s because all of these model years have incredibly low complaint rates and tend to be very popular with their consumers. They also work better overall than many competitor vehicles, which is great news for BMW fans.

8 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING A USED CAR

So you’re in the market for a used vehicle?  We’ve gone ahead and prepped some essential questions to ask when buying a used car.

Which BMW 335i Models Are Good Used Vehicles?

If you’re looking for a good BMW 335i, the options are a little more limited. The most recent models perform well, but they aren’t widely available on the used market since many of their owners are still driving them. 

However, a couple of years are more widely available and perform well as used vehicles. 

Here’s a quick list of the BMW 335i models that work well as used vehicles: 

  • 2010
  • 2012
  • 2015

The 2016 model is also a great option if you’re looking for a more recent model, but there aren’t as many 2016 models since they are a more recent release, and most owners are still driving theirs. However, you might be able to get your hands on one that used to be a fleet vehicle or similar.

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