Used 2008 Bmw 3-Series Used Manual Coupe Sport N54L Gasoline

Seller Description

General
BMW claims to make “the ultimate driving machine”, and this Dinan-modified 3-series is that rare case where marketing and reality converge.
A RWD 6-speed coupe with an inline 6: this is one of the last (mostly) analogue
driver’s cars that can also handle daily driving when needed. It’s fast, nimble
with direct steering that lets you feel the car and the road under it. The
clutch is performance-oriented, so you may need a few miles on it to get used
to the minimal friction zone.
The car runs and
drives great and has been dead reliable, with comfortable front seats, and two
coupe-sized back seats. I’ve had 2 adults in the back for short trips, but if
those adults are particularly statuesque or you’re going for a longer ride the
back seats will be insufficient. The rear does have hooks for child seats which
I have transported along with children without problems. There is a ski pass-through with an integrated pocket in the center console of the back seat,
and the seat backs fold down, so you can transport longer items.
This is a sports car first though: it’s relatively light, on
new low-profile tires and BMW sports coil suspension. Don’t expect it to ride
like your grandma’s Buick. I have driven it daily for a couple of summers in
Chicago and Minnesota, and the harsher ride didn’t really bother me. In my
opinion it’s stiff, but acceptable for daily use.
Some highlights of the options and equipment: adaptive HID headlights,
3.5mm (aux) input, Bluetooth (phone calls only), heated front seats, chilled/heated
cup holder in the center console. It has
the cold weather package which includes heated seats, ski bag, and headlight
washers; premium package (lumbar support auto dimming mirrors, BT…), sports
package with the upgraded seats, the 18" wheels were upgraded to the 19" 2-piece wheels you see on there now.
The car is ideal for weekend road trips and excursions through
winding country roads. Depending on your cruising speed you can get 28-30 mpg
on the highway; comfortably fit two people and their luggage; put a kid in the
back seat; all in a true performance car package.
Performance upgrades
This car started its life as a 2008 335i. The first owner
took it to Dinan where he spent 14k on upgrades. I don’t have a detailed
receipt (only the total figure), but here is a list of the Dinan-upgraded
components I know of for sure:
ECU tune is a Stage 3, I believe based on the hardware upgrades
below.
Carbon fiber intakeIntercoolerOil coolerExhaust Carbon BraceFloor mats and pedals
All that should add up to 406hp and 450lb-ft of torque. I
never bothered to measure it: basically the car is fast. The company and its
mods are well documented and discussed online, so I encourage you to research
the aspects most interesting to you. If you want a quick rundown of a Dinan 335
and a comparison with an M3 from the same era see the Shoot Out - BMW "Sibling Rivalry" Dinan 335i vs. M3”
video on youtube.
Outside of the above the only thing I changed was the charge
pipe and BOV. The stock re-circulation system has well-discussed issues with it,
so I went with an aftermarket HKS BOV. It is audible, but the throttle response
is significantly improved. The stock charge pipe is included, but the valves on
it will need to be replaced if you wish to reinstall it.
Maintenance
Spark plugs and coil packs were done last summer. For some
reason I got sent 7 coils, so one extra is included with the car.
Just did an oil change. I do these religiously using Ravenol
5w-30. I used Mobil 1 the first oil change of my ownership, but then BMW
discontinued the LM-001 certification for it. I’ve used Ravenol since. Castrol
has LM-001 oils, but I couldn’t bring myself to put Castrol in the car. I’m
sure it’s fine oil, but I couldn’t do it.
I did brake/clutch fluid and a coolant flush at like 23k.Just got 4 new Michelin Pilot 4 S. 235’s on the front and 275’s
on the back. Less than 100 miles on those as of writing this.
Got the airbag recall taken care of last fall at Perillo BMW
in Chicago.The car runs and drives flawlessly. No warning lights on the
dash.
Crash and repair
The previous owner crashed it into a utility pole. I bought
the car as a salvage title and fixed it. The car is therefore sold with a prior
salvage (rebuilt) title. Work was performed by PZ Global Auto in Minnesota. The
pole sliced diagonally through the driver side headlight cutting the wires to
the airbag sensor. The airbags did not deploy. Major components replaced were:
fender, hood, bumper cover, and headlight. There was no damage to the frame;
the car drives straight, nothing shakes or rattles, paint matches great.
Cosmetic condition
I will let the pictures do most of the talking, but here are
some things that may not be obvious from the pictures. There is a small dent on
the corner just below the passenger side mirror. The rear bumper has some
scratches from being parked in Chicago. If they bother you I can get it
repainted for an additional $375. The rear bumper is not stock, and the tow
hook slot cover was missing when I bought the car. I looked, but never found a
suitable replacement. There are scratch marks on the tint of the front passenger
side window. The kidney grille insert is cracked as shown on the pictures. They are cheap and come in a wide variety of options and only take a few minutes to install if you want to. Never bothered me though. Other than that I would describe the condition as very good with
only minor chips and dings here and there. Again see pictures, or come look for
yourself.
The car was stored in winters and is therefore very clean
with no rust. If you wish to drive it in the snow, you’ll need a second set of
wheels to put winter/MS tires on. I can include a set of 19” Bayern wheels for
an additional $600. Message me for details if you are interested. The 19" 2 piece wheels have mild curb rash on them along with some fading of the finish on the edges. They still look great though.
I do not smoke or own pets. The car had a hint of new car
smell when I purchased it, so I can say the same of the previous owner. This is
reflected in the condition of the interior.
Ownership and usage
I have owned the car for about 4 years, putting about half
of the 36k miles it has on it. I live in Chicago but travel to Minneapolis
frequently. Most of the miles I put on the car came from the 1000-mile round
trips between the two cities. I used it as a daily in Chicago during summers,
but as is the case for city dwellers my daily driving was limited. I used an A4
wagon for most of my daily and winter driving needs. Due to space constraints
the two-car system is no longer viable, so I got a large sedan as my year-round
all-purpose car. Shipping and pick up
The car is currently in Minneapolis if you want to inspect
it in person. I can help arrange shipping of the vehicle at buyer’s expense. I
travel between Minneapolis and Chicago at least once a month and can arrange to
meet you somewhere in between if needed. I can meet you at either airport if
you are flying in to pick it up. These arrangements would have to be subject to
mutually acceptable timing. Please note that picking it up in Chicago means
there will be an additional 400-500 miles on the car.