LM: E91 Bimmer

Unfortunate turn of events - my car/daily driver (ford fiesta) got hit by a brand new driver on Thursday.

Sadly, it moved the radiator support and it seems one 'option' that I have is to total it.

I like my little econo crapbox car. Love hatchbacks.

Well, before I got my MR2 I was looking at SW 2s and E91 wagons. I found an awesome deal on a turbo 2 and it's in my garage now.

Now Ive found a white (what I want) E91 with 183k and meticulously maintained (SO many records). It's and Xi, so AWD and has the 6 speed AUTO tranny with no paddle shifters (though a quick google search shows I may be able to add?).

I love the looks, it should be less than the amount I'll get from insurance company, so that leaves extra money.

What do you guys think of them? ANyone have first hand experience?

It'd be my DD, usually traveling about 35miles total a day, but some days I have hockey and that goes up to 80 on those days, mostly highway.

Real world MPG?

Talk me into it out out of it.

What model/engine is it?

Hey Hybrid, hope you're alright after the accident. I have been looking at E91s as well, and they seem like a great option for a fun hauler. I've been primarily looking for manuals, which really narrows things down, but if you're open to ATs (as it sounds like you are), you have much more to work with.

I think my primary concern would be the Xdrive system, which ups the ante maintenance-wise. At 183k, the usual wisdom applies - and I think at that mileage, you're really buying into the previous owner's maintenance. I'd want to see a service history of the AWD system, typical N52 stuff (oil filter, valve cover, etc). Beyond that, I will defer to the others. Is AWD a necessity for you? I know that RWD cars are far and few between, just wanted to ask.

Good luck with your search - I love E91s and think that one with a solid maintenance history would be a great choice! All the best.

This has had a lot of stuff done to it (maintenance), but I dont know the extent. There was something about the transmission, I think it was some seals.

I would prefer a RWD, dont need AWD necessarily, but this is clean and a great price.

I understand the milage (I think he said a M52 for the engine, ZF trans), but I also know how well it's been maintained. IF i get it I'll post a pic of all the records...it's wild. EVERYTHING is accounted for.

ONE issue - the remote fob doesnt unlock doors. It has to do with a broken wire to the antenna, apparently.

Yes, I am fine, it was more of a glancing blow, but due to his rapid speed (he was FLYING into/through that roundabout, and then tried to occupy my lane...he said it was his 4th day driving by himself) it pushed my bumper and messed up things. But, no, Im not injured at all, barely felt it.

Good maintenance records is huge bonus and those engines are much simpler than the turbocharged variants. Btw, M52 should have the GM transmission; only N54/N55's got the ZF 6 speed. As for Xdrive, you can toggle between RWD and AWD using X-Delete. I use their XHP programmer for the ZF on my E90 and it's neat piece of software... 

https://shop.rbttuning.com/products/xdelete

newold_m (Forum Supporter) said:

Good maintenance records is huge bonus and those engines are much simpler than the turbocharged variants. Btw, M52 should have the GM transmission; only N54/N55's got the ZF 6 speed. As for Xdrive, you can toggle between RWD and AWD using X-Delete. I use their XHP programmer for the ZF on my E90 and it's neat piece of software... 

https://shop.rbttuning.com/products/xdelete

How easy is that to toggle between and what do you do to change?

I have only used their transmission programmer (XHP Flash) as my 335i is RWD only but I've never had issues with the software itself. Uses Bluetooth dongle and iOS/Android app to communicate with the car and I suspect Xdelete is similar. 

Oil pan gasket on the x-drive are supposed to be quite the job.

N52

The gm auto tends to get some torque converter shutter, most can be fixed with additives.  The x drive transfer case can cause chattering when turning or accelerating.  N52 e9x cars tend to be fairly reliable, they will leak oil, the oil pan is a lot of extra work with AWD. RWD sport is the one to find, but they are almost as rare as the manual transmission cars.

The basic platform is quite good and well-supported if you want to upgrade things, and the N52 (not to be confused with the earlier and completely different M52) is solid if maintained, which doesn't seem to be an issue here. AWD would not be my choice, as it exacerbates the understeery tendencies of the stock setup, and complicates work on the drivetrain and front end. The non-sport seats are not terribly comfortable, but you can find a set of sport seats and retrofit them easily.

The one modification I think is absolutely necessary for these cars is to stiffen up the rear subframe bushings. I used poly inserts, which are the cheapest and easiest option, but there are full poly bushings available if you want to go further. Without something back there, the rear end feels detached from the front. Other than that, and maybe upgraded dampers - I had Bilsteins and swapped them for Konis, which proved much better-suited; there's not a lot of front end suspension travel available, and the Bilsteins were crashy - it sounds like this particular car won't need much initially. They do have their needs, though, so plan to keep up with the maintenance if you want a good ownership experience.

The car already has bilsteins on it

Would RWD get better mpg?

hybridmomentspass said:

The car already has bilsteins on it

Would RWD get better mpg?

Mine came with Bilsteins too (and Eibach springs). It was worth changing them out, though if yours is on stock springs it might be a little better.

I doubt you'd see much difference in MPG with RWD. On flat highways, my RWD manual E82 (same platform, lower weight) barely touches 30, and mid-20s is normal for mixed driving. They're all pretty close to those numbers.

How common is oil pan gasket failure?

When saying, 'keep up with maintenance,' referring to regular oil changes or more?

Pan gaskets all leak to some extent at this point. Could be anything from a little meaningless seep around the edge to dumping down the side; mine was the lesser sort, though mine also had a steel pan that rusted out, so the gasket was sort of secondary. The oil quality/level sensors also fail frequently, and there's no dipstick, so....

Maintenance is more than oil changes. If you're being thorough, it's brake fluid every two years, plugs every 50k, all your other fluids at maybe 5 years or so (trans is supposed to be lifetime fill - don't believe it). Along with the common failures you may want to address preemptively, or while they're minor - oil filter housing gaskets, a plastic coolant fitting on the front of the head, the electric water pump, the valve cover gasket - there are certainly things that go wrong enough to be aware of; my latest was the evaporator developing a minor leak, which took ~11 hours of labor to remedy.

Not trying to scare you off, and it sounds like the previous owner was very thorough, which is very much in your favor. But proper care and feeding of these things is demanding at times. They can be...needy.

If you can, go through the records carefully and see the sorts of things that were done, and when. That may give you some idea of what to expect.

hybridmomentspass said:

Would RWD get better mpg?

On an e83 X3 with the N52 I have seen improved mileage after disconnecting the 4wd. About 2-3 mpg. So I would say yes. 

This is with a car loaded to the max and driving through mountains. 


 

In reply to Slippery :

Was that physically disconnecting it, or using an app to do it via the computer?

In reply to 02Pilot :

I unplugged it at the transfer case, all the parts are still there just spinning along. The X3 has a ZF6HP, not sure if the transfer or the transmission are the same as the e91 though. 


 

I bought a 2011 E91 X-drive with 87K miles in November 2018, it has the auto trans. The car was dealer maintained (I bought it from the 2nd owner who had bought it as a CPO with extended warranty). The body had some blemishes but I got a great deal and was able to overlook those! The valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets were changed. The oil pan gasket was slightly leaking and it's still leaking as we speak, it's not bad enough in my opinion to spend 2K to fix it. 

I'm now at 125K miles and have done the following:

- Brakes all around (Calipers, Rotors and pads)

- Shocks, Struts, mounts and new springs in the front (both cracked due to top mount seizing)

- Front torsion struts

- Front wheel bearings

- Fixed leaking headlight washers

The pano roof is problematic on mine and I've heard that it's common, binds when closing (I only use the tilt now).

All in all it's not that bad and it's a real great car. 

The panoramic (?) sunroof has had the seal replaced

I dont know, guys. Searching for a car SUCKS. I like this. But it IS 17 years old with close to 200k. 

I dont know

Im about to start my MBA program, so Im not trying to spend a lot of money. I dont know

Hell, maybe I call fafsa today and find out about my financial aid package and then go higher and newer with something. I do have to call them today. I just dont want a car payment. 

A good friend of mine has been a BMW tech for a long time. He dailies an E46 M3 so his threshold for pain is pretty high. I posed a similar question to him a while back and his recommendation was a port injected e9x. He said the last "reliable" modern BMW was the port injected 328 (IIRC) and to avoid the DI and turbo motors as a daily, for toys or projects they are great if you know what youre getting into, but if you just want a lower maintenance car thats nice and works, they arent the ones. He also recommended against the awd cars.

His wife dailies a 328 e9x. Said its been incredibly reliable by BMW standards.

I think its the N52 he recommends.

Opti said:

A good friend of mine has been a BMW tech for a long time. He dailies an E46 M3 so his threshold for pain is pretty high. I posed a similar question to him a while back and his recommendation was a port injected e9x. He said the last "reliable" modern BMW was the port injected 328 (IIRC) and to avoid the DI and turbo motors as a daily, for toys or projects they are great if you know what youre getting into, but if you just want a lower maintenance car thats nice and works, they arent the ones. He also recommended against the awd cars.

His wife dailies a 328 e9x. Said its been incredibly reliable by BMW standards.

I think its the N52 he recommends.

This mirrors exactly what my indy has told me. In my 6 years and ~50k miles with mine, it has needed things, but nothing compared to what the DI/turbo cars demand.

For my money, you're unlikely to find a better combination of wagon and performance, with extensive records, within your price range. If I was looking, I  wouldn't hesitate to buy this car. Frankly, if it was a manual RWD car, I would have already asked for the contact information if the OP passed.

Hey Hybrid, any update? I am still on the search too and wanted to see if you had any luck with the one you were checking out

Just put 7k miles in 4 weeks on an N52 I bought sight unseen. Its a really smooth and powerful engine (I got the 268hp version). Passing at 10k feet of altitude was no problem on an X3. 

Used zero oil. 

I also daily an e46 M3, so my pain threshold is quite high, lol. 

Wizard_Of_Maz said:

Hey Hybrid, any update? I am still on the search too and wanted to see if you had any luck with the one you were checking out

Here's the very boring update - Im not getting the E91 right now. I really like the car, and it checks SO MANY boxes...but Ive decided that, inmy opinion, the best option for me right now is to keep the car I have already. 

So when my car was wrecked I was given options - fix it the 'proper' way meant totaling the car OR I could have them touch up a small chip on the A-pillar without all the blending of paint ont the door and fender and it'd NOT total car.

Im going that route. 

Again, the E91 looks amazing, felt good to drive, has plenty of space. But I dont really want AWD and the idea of that oil pan leak is scary. And it'd be going from a 185k mile car that I know (bought it brand new) to a 182/183k mile car with plenty of records but I dont know as well.

College is weeks away, having a huge repair bill would be hard. So maybe the E91 jut comes in a few years. Or maybe by then I have more money and go for something nicer and checks MORE boxes. 

The future is unwritten.