More often than not, we’ll tell you that the money you save buying a used luxury car, after it’s already lost half its value in the first few years, will be spent on maintenance. A used Mercedes-Benz at a new Nissan price is attractive, but if you want something low-maintenance, we’re more likely to recommend a used Toyota Camry.
Well, in the case of the 2009 BMW 3 Series, specifically one with an N52 engine under the hood, you’re getting the best of both worlds. Fair market prices come in at around $3,525 for an entry-level sedan, compared to a minimum of $4,650 for a 2009 Camry, and the straight-six powerplant is more dependable than some Toyotas.
The BMW 3 Series Is A Worthy Reliability Rival To The Camry (If You Buy The Right One)
Silver 2009 BMW 328i frontBring a Trailer
2009 BMW 328i Sedan Performance Specs
Engine
3.0-Liter NA 6-Cylinder
Power
230 hp
Torque
200 lb-ft
Transmission
6-Speed Manual
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
If you want a 2009 BMW 3 Series with a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six N52 engine, you’re specifically looking for a 328i from the E90 generation available in North America from 2006 through 2012. The 328i actually introduced the N52 engine for the 2007 model year. However, early versions of the engine were infamous for valve-lifter tick, especially on cold start-ups. The problem typically resulted from frequent short trips.
The valve lifters tended to bleed oil due to excessive wear, creating that anxiety-inducing rattle. Owners can correct the tick with a 2009+ cylinder head, but that’s a $2,000 fix for a problem that can be prevented by simply buying a 2009 model for about what you would have spent on a 2008 3 Series.
The 2009 3 Series sedan received a refresh, so you can tell them apart from the early fifth-gen models at a glance. One of the easiest ways to identify one of these models is the lower air intake, which wears an upswept redesign. Look at the bottom half of the front end. If it’s “frowning,” that’s a 2007 or 2008 model. If it’s “smiling,” then it’s 2009 or later. CarBuzz has a guide to identifying fifth-gen models, going over every crease, fold, and curve of the 2009 model facelift, and we recommend giving it a look before you hit the market.
Take A Look Under The Hood If You Live In California
2009 BMW 328i I6 engine topBring a Trailer
In some states, the E90-generation 3 Series was available with the 3.0-liter inline-six N51 engine as a low-emission vehicle. To make sure you’re getting an N52, pop the hood and look for the emissions label. If it says SULEV, that’s an N51. Or, check the front left of the engine block, right in front of the coolant tank. An N51 will have a big hose there, which is missing from the N52.
That may sound like a lot of steps to make sure you’re buying the right car, but part of the fun of it is that you’re “in the know.”
Routine Maintenance Is Still More Expensive In A BMW
2010 BMW 3 Series Coupe Side ViewBMW
If we compare maintenance specs between the Camry and the E90, the Camry continues to come out ahead according to the J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating, and annual maintenance estimates from RepairPal.
Annual Maintenance
Q&R Rating
2009 BMW 328i
$752
79/100
2009 Toyota Camry
$376
85/100
These numbers favor the Camry, but you have to understand how they’re calculated. The Quality & Reliability ratings are based more on the frequency of mechanical failure than on severity. This means that the score is affected not just by major problems with the engine or transmission, but also by chipped paint, finicky window switches, and infotainment software glitches.
Luxury cars tend to have more onboard gadgets and features, which means there’s more stuff that can break, so they wind up with lower Q&R ratings, almost as a rule.
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As for maintenance costs, the bottom line is that luxury cars cost more to maintain even when nothing goes wrong. A standard oil change in an E90 costs around $283. In a Camry, the same job costs, at most, $177, according to RepairPal.
This is to say that these numbers can only tell you so much. To get a clearer idea of what we’re working with, we can check the most expensive common fixes for the 328i.
- Camshaft replacement $2,629 – $3,360
- Fuel level sending unit replacement $1,248 – $1,505
- Fuel pump replacement $1,002 – $1,296
- Oxygen sensor replacement $744 – $1,084
- HVAC electronic control module replacement $522 – $579
Lifter Tick Is Less Common, But Still An Issue After 2009
2010 BMW 3 Series EngineBMW
To get an even better idea of the N52’s reliability, we can go right to the owners. A thread in the r/E90 subreddit, polling N52 owners, turned up a handful of mechanical complaints.
While the lifter tick was largely corrected for 2009, one driver reports, “I have a 2010 N52. The valve cover gasket is leaking, and the lifter does the ticking.” Another person says, “I have a 2009 with a brand-new valve cover gasket. Still has the lifter tick noise.” Yet another 328i owner reports that oil leaks are a severe problem, but it’s “either a $1,600 repair, or a two-day DIY fix with an engine lift.”
While the N52 is not without its issues, it’s worth noting that all of these owners are still driving their BMWs, at least as of the time of writing these comments. One driver blames the use of plastics throughout the engine, and states that the valve cover gasket must be “made out of chocolate.” Even so, with regular maintenance, catastrophic failure is effectively unheard of, and plenty of drivers have reported 200,000 miles or more on the original hardware.
The N54 Was Kinda Like The N52, But More Powerful, And Less Dependable
2010 BMW 3 Series Sedan Front Angle ViewBMW
The N54, a tuner classic, ran alongside the N52 in this generation of 3 Series but was the less reliable engine of the two. The powerplant was a 3.0-liter straight-six, like the N52, but it was twin-turbo and produced up to 322 bhp for the 2009 model year.
The problems with the N54 include issues with the high-pressure fuel pump, which can cause engine hesitation and entering limp mode. The fuel injectors are known for springing leaks, the plastic charge pipes are prone to cracking, and there’s a tendency toward carbon buildup, meaning owners have to treat it to a thorough walnut-blasting deep-cleanse every 40,000 miles or so.
Are the N54’s maintenance hiccups worth it for all that extra power? Maybe, but we’re specifically looking for a low-maintenance BMW here. A naturally aspirated inline-six simply has fewer elements that could wear out or fail.
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What Will An N52 3 Series Cost You In 2026?
2010 BMW 3 Series Coupe Front ViewBMW
A 2009 BMW 328i is surprisingly affordable, based on a search on our own CarBuzz Marketplace. Here’s what we turned up.
- A 119,429-mile 2011 model is selling for $5,995 in Florida.
- A 174,215-mile 2011 xDrive model is selling for $3,495 in New Jersey.
- A 184,882-mile 2010 xDrive model is selling for $3,495 in Florida.
- A 34,465-mile 2009 model is selling for $12,777 in Georgia.
- A 98,394-mile 2009 model is selling for $11,770 in Maryland.
- A 68,000-mile 2011 xDrive model is selling for $10,488 in Arizona.
It’s not hard to find a dirt-cheap 328i, wherever you live, but finding one with low miles may be another story. The fact that so many of these cars are hitting the market at nearly 200,000 miles is a good sign, but inconvenient for buyers who were hoping to grab this car at a lower mileage.
Note that all of these listings are only provided to give you an example of what’s out there. You’ll want to run a search of your own to see what you can get in your price range, and in your area.
Our advice: budget around $12,000, look for something with under 100,000 miles on the odometer, and ask for service records. A well-kept N52 can last for decades, but if the previous owner has been ignoring a lifter tick, you could run into complications from thousands of miles of metal-on-metal friction, chipping away at the camshaft and leading to much more expensive repairs.
Sources: BMW, r/e90, BMW Blog, RepairPal, J.D. Power.
