Newbie looking for an e89 35is

Fresno82 · Post by **Fresno82** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:43 pm

Hi everyone, nice to meet you!
Had an e85 years ago which I absolutely loved but stupidly sold to get something practical (an A3 which has been fantastic). I'm now looking to swap out the A3 and have decided on a 35is.

I test drove three a few months ago (before exploring an A3 and coming back to the idea of a 35is) and one at a dealership last week which was good, but didn't seem great condition considering the fairly low mileage. I've seen another one with the right spec and that I'm seeing this week but is a private sale. I'll be getting an independent review from the AA or suchlike, but are there any recommendations of what to look for/check in advance or ask for with a private sale? It has fbmwsh, but I haven't checked on warranty yet.
Many thanks!

B21 · Post by **B21** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:56 pm

The issue with the 35i or 35is is that many of the faults that appear are difficult to spot on inspection but are likely to appear as a function of time.

Also a lot of things to inspect require a lift and removal of covers and wheels

A partial checklist could be

All tyres same make, not old, tread depth, correct sizes

Check shock absorbers for any sign of oil mist / leaks

Check cam box cover for leaks, check injectors for coding number

Check oil filter housing for leaks

Check DCT sump for leaks

Use fault code reader to check fault codes

Check service records for high value items replaced under warranty

Check roof operation with engine off, cycle 2-3 times

Check rear lights for moisture / corrosion in the corners

Check battery bay for damp / wet

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:59 pm

As said in your other thread, first thing is check the MOT history. It can tell you a great deal about how the car has been treated.
An AA or RAC inspection will give a very detailed assessment, but they will concentrate on the negatives. HTH

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:02 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:56 pm The issue with the 35i or 35is is that many of the faults that appear are difficult to spot on inspection but are likely to appear as a function of time.

Also a lot of things to inspect require a lift and removal of covers and wheels

A partial checklist could be

All tyres same make, not old, tread depth, correct sizes

Check shock absorbers for any sign of oil mist / leaks

Check cam box cover for leaks, check injectors for coding number

Check oil filter housing for leaks

Check DCT sump for leaks

Use fault code reader to check fault codes

Check service records for high value items replaced under warranty

Check roof operation with engine off, cycle 2-3 times

Check rear lights for moisture / corrosion in the corners

Check battery bay for damp / wet

Seriously, Peter? How many private purchasers are going to (or are able to) do most of those?
"I'd like to view your car, can I plug in my OBD scanner and bring my car lift. Bearing in mind I am not a trained mechanic?"

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:05 pm

Welcome to the forum.

Good luck with your search - hopefully you will find a good one.

And once you have don't forget we like to see photos!

Stevo1987 · Post by **Stevo1987** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:21 pm

Same as any car. Buy from a dealer got some come back. Buy privately - not much. The first 35is I had the gearbox failed after 6 weeks and the dealer gave me my money back. Saying that, the second I bought privately off some dodgy geezer on this forum and it has been fine.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:34 pm

Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:02 pm
B21 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:56 pm The issue with the 35i or 35is is that many of the faults that appear are difficult to spot on inspection but are likely to appear as a function of time.

Also a lot of things to inspect require a lift and removal of covers and wheels

A partial checklist could be

All tyres same make, not old, tread depth, correct sizes

Check shock absorbers for any sign of oil mist / leaks

Check cam box cover for leaks, check injectors for coding number

Check oil filter housing for leaks

Check DCT sump for leaks

Use fault code reader to check fault codes

Check service records for high value items replaced under warranty

Check roof operation with engine off, cycle 2-3 times

Check rear lights for moisture / corrosion in the corners

Check battery bay for damp / wet
Seriously, Peter? How many private purchasers are going to (or are able to) do most of those?
"I'd like to view your car, can I plug in my OBD scanner and bring my car lift. Bearing in mind I am not a trained mechanic?"

When I bought my 35is I asked if I could plug my Protool in…of course said the dealer…do you mind if we put the car up on your ramp..of course said the dealer…not everyone lives in Spalding..

Pity I didn’t remove the cam box cover or the wheels…

Fresno82 · Post by **Fresno82** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:45 pm

I've checked the mots and all apart from one passed first time with no advisory (although one did have a tyre advisory). The one fail was on headlights pointing too low.

I've got an odb scanner and will work through the list above. Many thanks for all the responses!

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 11:05 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:34 pm When I bought my 35is I asked if I could plug my Protool in…of course said the dealer…do you mind if we put the car up on your ramp..of course said the dealer…not everyone lives in Spalding..

Private sale this one.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 11:11 pm

Fresno82 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:45 pm I've checked the mots and all apart from one passed first time with no advisory (although one did have a tyre advisory). The one fail was on headlights pointing too low.

I've got an odb scanner and will work through the list above. Many thanks for all the responses!

Contrary to pondweed’s acerbic comments, it should be perfectly reasonable for someone to allow you to READ codes…

The issue you may find and is more tricky that there may be ‘shadow codes’…these are fault codes that did exist but the reasons that caused them has now disappeared.

So in my case, due to the battery going flat and then faffing around there were dozens of such codes.

I asked if I was allowed to clear them which the dealer said I could.

So I cleared them, checked, re-read and there was no codes.

I then took it for a 25 mile test drive and then re-read the codes..that’s when the real issues would appear. In my case no faults.

Despite all that I did finf post sale find several issues over a 3 month period ..but I knew these issues could arise..

You have to accept that the 35i/35is can incur some big ticket items on an unpredictable basis..either put the money in the piggy bank for those rainy days or get a good warranty..IMHO

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 11:29 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 11:11 pm Contrary to pondweed’s acerbic comments, it should be perfectly reasonable for someone to allow you to READ codes…

OP. Indeed; ignore me and listen to B21 (be aware he may change his username tomorrow so keep up). If you ask nicely he may even design a spreadsheet for you, which will help enormously.

Sorry OP this is not helping you, good luck with your search and I hope you find a good car.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Tue Oct 26, 2021 9:35 am

A postscript …

If you do intend to buy a Z4 E89 come what may it would be useful to buy a code reader optimised for BMWs..

Simple OBD readers struggle with most of the non power train ECUs and even on the power train don’t give the same insights..

So reading codes on a car you are looking at with a simple OBD reader may be counter productive

Arguably Bimmergeeks Protool is the best, Carly and others are available..

Fresno82 · Post by **Fresno82** » Tue Oct 26, 2021 9:57 am

Thanks for the responses! I've got a contingency fund to allow for issues (although will try and spot them first!) So fingers crossed all will be fine.
We have Carista for the odb reader, and check and clear before test drive and then check again after (well, on the ones we can!)

2k35is · Post by **2k35is** » Tue Oct 26, 2021 11:25 am

Fresno82 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:43 pm Hi everyone, nice to meet you!
Had an e85 years ago which I absolutely loved but stupidly sold to get something practical (an A3 which has been fantastic). I'm now looking to swap out the A3 and have decided on a 35is.

I test drove three a few months ago (before exploring an A3 and coming back to the idea of a 35is) and one at a dealership last week which was good, but didn't seem great condition considering the fairly low mileage. I've seen another one with the right spec and that I'm seeing this week but is a private sale. I'll be getting an independent review from the AA or suchlike, but are there any recommendations of what to look for/check in advance or ask for with a private sale? It has fbmwsh, but I haven't checked on warranty yet.
Many thanks!

The best extra that you can get with a 35I is the BMW insuranced warranty IMO. Go and check the private sale out if looks ok get an RAC inspection on it to help with bargaining process. Will also tell you if had any paintwork done - you can take a decision on this. BUT main thing is to check that the BMW service history if full and complete. If car has done less than 60k miles the BMW insured warranty will cosy you about £41/ month with no recovery and £259 excess.or less if pais annually in full when taken out. Cant make a claim in first month but after that is covered in full and its £250 er claim so can have 2 or 3 fixes under one claim assuming BMW dealer agrees to fault,
Different dealers have different criteria for checking for full BMW service history .
Mine was showing next services due on Idrive in 2021(bought in 2020) but one dealer wouldn't put forward a claim as service book not stamped and no record of last servise on key.
Another accepted it(turned out they were part of same group where car had been serviced-the same ones who hadn't stamped the service book or programmed the key. Got the garage who did work to stamp book and program key(250 round trip).
If look on some of my other posts you will find list of all work done on my car -can be expensive but BMW warranty has saved me(and previous owner) from having wallet emptied.
Should I ever decide to sell I have documented evidence of work done since registered in Dec 2009

2k35is · Post by **2k35is** » Tue Oct 26, 2021 11:25 am

Double post deleted

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