In the grand scheme of things, five years isn’t a long time. A typical new vehicle model cycle is now seven years, Michelin recommends you replace their tires every ten years, and the average age of a vehicle on U.S. roads is now north of 12 years. Five years is about the lifespan of a pigeon, or how long a newly manufactured condom can sit before it expires, or the age of a really nice cheddar cheese. However, I’ve owned my 2006 BMW 325i for five years, making it the longest I’ve ever owned a car. I still love it as much as I did when I got it, but it’s time for me to let it go.
It’s easy to say that five years ago, I needed a car. While this is technically true, as my old Infiniti G35 just wasn’t doing the trick for me anymore, I wasn’t exactly panic-buying. I’d been searching for an E90 3 Series in a spec I wanted for months, and in March of 2020, I found it. It was, and still is, a joy. Three pedals, drive to the back, the Sport package, Logic7 audio, a silky inline-six with a 7,000 RPM redline that can still somehow manage 36 MPG on the highway, a complete package that does just about everything I could possibly want. Still, I’m selling it on.
What about all the memories attached? The first press car I ever picked up, first dates both good and really bad, road trips to press events and family events, and just for the sake of helping friends out. Late-night and early-morning wrenching, spending my hard-earned cash on making this Bavarian chariot my own. Singing, laughing, crying, ripping to 7,000 RPM with an ear-to-ear grin. Throwing the keys to friends so they can hoon a mile in my shoes. Taking the plunge of quitting my nine-to-five to do what I love, meeting new people, late-night and early-morning airport runs, amicability, animosity, five whole years of growing into someone younger me would be proud of.
Sometimes memories are made in something objectively garbage, but not only is this an acclaimed sports sedan in an enthusiast spec, it still drives better than many new cars. Taut, poised, communicative, it’s a bit tired from all the mileage but still eager to carve an apex like it’s eight o’clock, running on an empty stomach, and just pulled up to Ruth’s Chris.
Will I miss it? Yes, but not as much as you might think. After all, memories aren’t stored in the car; they’re stored in the brain. Or maybe they are stored in the car, but not all in this exact one. Earlier this year, I bought a 2008 BMW 335i, which means I’m getting to keep some of the best aspects of the car I’ve kept the longest in a package that’s objectively better. Sure, I’m not crazy about driving a black car again as black cars only stay clean for about 20 seconds, but despite sharing a chassis with my 325i, my 335i operates in a different league.
I’m going from one of the cheapest examples on the market at the time to one with exquisite history and documentation, adding nearly 100 wheel horsepower, a second pump in the manual transmission, a stronger differential, and more equipment. The body’s cleaner, the interior’s nicer, and 40,000 fewer miles on the bushings is something you can feel. Alright, it’s going to cost more to maintain, and I do feel the extra few dozen pounds on the front end, but the reward is real. It would cost an awful lot to make my 325i as cosmetically nice as my 335i, enough to pay for another full set of Index 12 injectors and replacement turbochargers, as everything wears out on a long enough timeline.
As a result of buying this 335i, my 325i has become superfluous. I always used to think that the time to let a car go was when you didn’t love it anymore. Now I have a second reason—when you just aren’t using it anymore. Generally, nothing good comes of cars left to sit on driveways and in garages, and I’m not about to be that guy who swears he’ll get around to it someday.
So, if you’re in Ontario, can wrench, and want a reasonably priced early E90 with nearly 290,000 kilometers on the clock that needs a little TLC, hit me up. It’s definitely not perfect and needs a few odds and ends sorted like pitted discs from sitting and a small coolant leak, but the exhaust flanges are now sorted, it’s a six-speed manual rear-wheel-drive BMW with clean arches, sills, and doglegs, the air-con blows cold, and it’s always got me where I needed to go. It’s time to send this thing on to hopefully a good home, and while my official asking price is $3,750 Canadian, every car deal has room for negotiation.
Top graphic image: Thomas Hundal
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At that price, I don’t think it’s going to take long to sell. I paid almost that much for a BMW Bavaria back in the 1990’s. And it did its best to bankrupt me.
Despite that, if I lived in Ontario, I’d be sorely tempted. I liked the looks of the previous generation better, but I’m sure this was better to drive. Best wishes!
It’s a pretty color, I like it. Definitely needs to find a good home!
Enjoy the 335i sir.. it was one of the best cars I owned and I felt a twinge of regret as soon as I let mine go years ago. Sure, it took a few warranty tries to get the fuel pump sorted, and the water pump is considered a consumable, but my oh my was it a blast to ride the torque band up to the redline.
I never should have sold my 2015 328i. At the time, it was the right decision. Within 30 days, I wish I had kept it.
I had an ’06 330i for about ten years. It was a great car in many aspects but having come from an E36, it felt big, heavy, and a little unwieldy. Still, it was a lot of fun and I had my latest autocross experiences in it. Honestly, I wasn’t unhappy to send it on its way to move to an M240 after it flooded badly due to clogged sunroof drains and the electronics went wonky. Still, I could feel the car saying, “Don’t let them take me!” as the tow truck driver winched it onto the flatbed.
My wife kinda went the other way. After 10 BMWs over 15 years, we can say that the m240i was our least favorite. But that may also be because we traded my wife’s 06 M Roaster in on it. She found the m240 to be boring and uncommunicative when driving it. Fast, yes but little to no involvement needed by the driver. Kept it for a year and sold it to purchase an E46 M3. She’s never been happier.
The electric steering is definitely the big issue with the M240 (and a lot of other BMWs right now). And the M240 is pretty heavy for its size. The engine is so good, though, and the car still handles well and it quite lively, so I’m good with it for the way I like to drive.And it has the added bonus of being something comfortable enough that my wife will sit in it. She hated the 330i with the sport suspension.
NP.
Huh, I’m in Ontario and handy with a wrench. However, I’m short about $3000 moose bucks.
That, and I’m sure my spouse will end me if I come home with another car I don’t need.
Are those 36 highway MPG based on British gallons? I know it’s apples to oranges, but my partner’s N51 automatic xDrive variant can barely manage 23 MPG highway.
Of course, having a RWD manual will help, but by an extra 13 MPG? Looking at Fuelly, it seems like most N51/52 E9X are getting between 21 and 23 MPG.
That’s U.S. gallons, surprisingly. If traffic’s light, I tend to see around 6.5 L/100km on long highway legs, sticking to the speed limit and maximizing off-throttle decel down hills. My all-time highway record is 5.6 L/100km, but there was absolutely zero traffic for that one.
2012 wagon, X-Drive, Auto. I get 24-26 mpg per tank. I refrain from small trips on that car, but never drive speed limit on the highways either… it’s 80-84 whenever i can. i can confirm that despite 6-speed auto, it’s shockingly good on gas if you drive the speed limit.
Impressive! My manual N52 E83 is averaging 21 MPG. I guess not being shaped like a brick helps.
Just sold my 2006 M Roadster after 16yrs of ownership. I feel you…
Second pump on the transmission?
Yeah I didn’t quite understand this. Does the 335i manual have a fluid pump for the transmission like the M3 does?
Sorta, yeah. It’s been a while since I last read the tech documents, but IIRC, the GS6-53BZ in the 335i has a separate pump for gear oil distribution through a series of tubes beyond just having a semi-submerged gearset pumping oil throughout the transmission on its own, like the GS6-17BG in the 325i.
Interesting! That’s a pretty nice feature.
Does everyone have to sell a car these days???
That said, I approve this decision based on current ownership of ’06 BMW.
E90 325i/328i / E82 128i are PEAK CAR. The last of the breed. N/A I6, MT, RWD, with hydraulic steering.
Having owned both a 335i and a 128i for reference, I think I’d go for a 328i with 3-stage intake, tune, headers, and a 3.46 or 3.64 LSD. The 335i was very fast (with a tune and downpipes) and was a great car, but NEEDED the LSD and wasn’t well suited to the track. The 128i with the mods mentioned above and some suspension work is very engaging to drive on street and track, but trades off some ride comfort and NVH. I still have the 128i, though it’s an occasional-use car for me.
The above is my opinion, but if you’ve found yourself automatically grabbing the keys for the turbo car by default, then you’re making the right choice (or the 325i needed a few mods 😉 ). Enjoy the new-to-you car!
Thanks! Really, what led me to grabbing the keys to the turbo car more often is that the Boxster does all the tactile stuff so well, and the torquey nature of the N54 car offers a different sort of experience.
I’ve got a Boxster, as well (great minds…), so I understand your point!
Shame going LSD is such an investment on the e90s, and the right ratios don’t always swap into the manual cars due to the different input flange designs.
After a turbo wastegate fix and a high pressure fuel pump replacement, I suspect we’ll see another article:
“I just spent more fixing my e90 than I sold my last one for”
I’d keep it, for that little of money.
Selling a car when you buy a car? Is it March 32nd?!
There is great wisdom in passing this along to someone who’ll get more joy out of it. And more importantly SELL IT WHILE IT’S STILL RUNNING GOOD.
That’s a steal!
That’s the spec I’m wanting to replace my e36 with – at least, N52 + manual. I’m not so picky about chassis any more, but I wish we got the 6-series in an I6 config. That is a good price and I’m sure it’ll go quick.
Naturally aspirated straight six, manual transmission and hydraulic power steering. This is as good as it gets for a BMW.
There will be a time soon enough where you won’t be using the 335i because it’s so busted you can’t… And the n52 will still be chugging along.
You can just name your writer of choice on the staff. No need to generalize it.
Look, I’ll get around to being offended by this comment someday. lol 😛
Its a steal at $2749.81 USD
(todays exchange rate before the Trump Tax)
Oh wait – that 25% tariff makes it $3437.26 USD
So much for ForEx arbitrage.