Life Honest car question

Mecca · 03-22-2017, 08:38 AM

Considering buying a used BMW, I've driven several and love how they feel and all the features they have. I've read the motors are suppose to last a really long time.

Was just curious if anyone here has any long term experience and if the things I've read about them easily making it over 300k miles are the truth.

**ptlyon** · 03-22-2017, 08:41 AM

It's it apricot colored? If so, don't buy it.

Mecca · 03-22-2017, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

It's it apricot colored? If so, don't buy it.

Ha no it's a dark gray color with a dark interior.

MagicHef · 03-22-2017, 08:50 AM

I bought a 1999 328i about a year ago. It's had little unimportant issues like outside temperature sensor, window coming out of the track, dead speaker, etc. As far as all the things that actually keep it going, it's been rock solid.

I'd suggest not sliding sideways into a curb though. It tends to affect the suspension.

Mecca · 03-22-2017, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicHef

I bought a 1999 328i about a year ago. It's had little unimportant issues like outside temperature sensor, window coming out of the track, dead speaker, etc. As far as all the things that actually keep it going, it's been rock solid.

I'd suggest not sliding sideways into a curb though. It tends to affect the suspension.

I'm looking at a 2006 525xi the all wheel drive is a massive bonus.

**Rain Man** · 03-22-2017, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

It's it apricot colored? If so, don't buy it.

Hey, that was a great car. Great!

I had the apricot Z3 for a dozen years and now I've got a blue Z4. I sold the Z3 at 100k and it was like new. My experience was that they need very little maintenance, but when they do you get charged out the wazoo. It was worth it for the reliability, though, and I bought another one so I obviously had a good experience. At 100k and roughly 14 years old when I sold it, it ran like a brand new car.

I realize that doesn't really answer the original question, but it's the best answer I can offer.

Mecca · 03-22-2017, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Hey, that was a great car. Great!

I had the apricot Z3 for a dozen years and now I've got a blue Z4. I sold the Z3 at 100k and it was like new. My experience was that they need very little maintenance, but when they do you get charged out the wazoo. It was worth it for the reliability, though, and I bought another one so I obviously had a good experience. At 100k and roughly 14 years old when I sold it, it ran like a brand new car.

I realize that doesn't really answer the original question, but it's the best answer I can offer.

Basically what I've been told is use premium gasoline, the right oil and have any maintenance done at a BMW place and there shouldn't be to many times it needs a major repair, but if it does it'll hurt cause parts cost more.

Rooster · 03-22-2017, 09:23 AM

How do we know this isn't a dishonest car question?

DJ's left nut · 03-22-2017, 09:30 AM

Be very careful with a German out of warranty.

The motors can last awhile, yes, but they're also built towards performance which means higher precision, lower tolerances and an increased chance of something small going wrong. And when something small goes wrong, it's a big problem in a German.

They're expensive as hell to have worked on and they can just be finnicky. Again - think of them as thoroughbreds. When they're running, they're fantastic. But it doesn't take a hell of a lot to convince them not to run that day.

I'd almost always steer clear of extended warranties but if you're looking at one that you can get another couple of years added to it for a reasonable cost, I'd do it. There's a reason so many people lease those cars AND there are so many available right at/after their warranty periods. The folks that have owned several of them are understandably wary of their records after the warranty expires.

Worse still, they just made their no-cost warranty worse; from 4/50k to 3/36. Why? Because they were losing their ass on basic maintenance costs because again, it's just expensive to own one of those damn things.

Just be very very prepared to deal with the cost of ownership. You're right - there's just about nothing more enjoyable to drive on the road. I LOVED the X5 I tooled around in for a bit and every time I end up in a rental sedan or something it's a dream. I've just never convinced myself to own one because I've known too many people that have. At worst, I'd find a year old model with plenty of warranty left that's already taken the 'new car' depreciation hit.

**MahiMike** · 03-22-2017, 09:44 AM

I've owned 41 cars in my life. My 2004 X3 is top 5. Solid, solid car. Built like a tank and handles like a dream.

**Rain Man** · 03-22-2017, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Basically what I've been told is use premium gasoline, the right oil and have any maintenance done at a BMW place and there shouldn't be to many times it needs a major repair, but if it does it'll hurt cause parts cost more.

Pretty much. I am literally not kidding about this, but I owned the car for 12 years and never raised the hood. I looked at the engine when I bought it just because it seems like you should, and I raised the hood to show the next buyer when I sold it. I just took it in at the service intervals, which were priced somewhat reasonably, and never had a problem. I think I had two or three actual repairs in 12 years where something went wrong.

MagicHef · 03-22-2017, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Pretty much. I am literally not kidding about this, but I owned the car for 12 years and never raised the hood. I looked at the engine when I bought it just because it seems like you should, and I raised the hood to show the next buyer when I sold it. I just took it in at the service intervals, which were priced somewhat reasonably, and never had a problem. I think I had two or three actual repairs in 12 years where something went wrong.

How would you compare your Z3 and Z4?

Mecca · 03-22-2017, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Pretty much. I am literally not kidding about this, but I owned the car for 12 years and never raised the hood. I looked at the engine when I bought it just because it seems like you should, and I raised the hood to show the next buyer when I sold it. I just took it in at the service intervals, which were priced somewhat reasonably, and never had a problem. I think I had two or three actual repairs in 12 years where something went wrong.

For anyone who lives in this area would you recommend Baron BMW or the one on state?

**ptlyon** · 03-22-2017, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicHef

How would you compare your Z3 and Z4?

One better

Grim · 03-22-2017, 10:13 AM

A guy I work with bought a BMW M2 not too long ago. He says the maintenance on it is expensive as all hell but that's what you get when you buy a "precision" auto.

03-22-2017, 08:38 AM
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2597050	Honest car question Considering buying a used BMW, I've driven several and love how they feel and all the features they have. I've read the motors are suppose to last a really long time. Was just curious if anyone here has any long term experience and if the things I've read about them easily making it over 300k miles are the truth.
Posts: 110,968

03-22-2017, 08:41 AM	#2
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $13083829	It's it apricot colored? If so, don't buy it. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
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03-22-2017, 08:50 AM	#4
MagicHef The Seated Villain Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle Casino cash: $2450247	I bought a 1999 328i about a year ago. It's had little unimportant issues like outside temperature sensor, window coming out of the track, dead speaker, etc. As far as all the things that actually keep it going, it's been rock solid. I'd suggest not sliding sideways into a curb though. It tends to affect the suspension. __________________ With a sack in 61% of his games, SB MVP Von Miller is the most consistent pass rusher in NFL history.
Posts: 10,541

03-22-2017, 09:23 AM	#8
Rooster Draft a QB Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: JoCo Casino cash: $9961689	How do we know this isn't a dishonest car question? __________________ When Reno Hightower was a prick he was the best damn quarterback in the history of Kern County.
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03-22-2017, 09:30 AM	#9
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $2979099	Be very careful with a German out of warranty. The motors can last awhile, yes, but they're also built towards performance which means higher precision, lower tolerances and an increased chance of something small going wrong. And when something small goes wrong, it's a big problem in a German. They're expensive as hell to have worked on and they can just be finnicky. Again - think of them as thoroughbreds. When they're running, they're fantastic. But it doesn't take a hell of a lot to convince them not to run that day. I'd almost always steer clear of extended warranties but if you're looking at one that you can get another couple of years added to it for a reasonable cost, I'd do it. There's a reason so many people lease those cars AND there are so many available right at/after their warranty periods. The folks that have owned several of them are understandably wary of their records after the warranty expires. Worse still, they just made their no-cost warranty worse; from 4/50k to 3/36. Why? Because they were losing their ass on basic maintenance costs because again, it's just expensive to own one of those damn things. Just be very very prepared to deal with the cost of ownership. You're right - there's just about nothing more enjoyable to drive on the road. I LOVED the X5 I tooled around in for a bit and every time I end up in a rental sedan or something it's a dream. I've just never convinced myself to own one because I've known too many people that have. At worst, I'd find a year old model with plenty of warranty left that's already taken the 'new car' depreciation hit. __________________ "If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags."
Posts: 60,435

03-22-2017, 09:44 AM	#10
MahiMike He's Mahomie! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jax, FL Casino cash: $10023443	I've owned 41 cars in my life. My 2004 X3 is top 5. Solid, solid car. Built like a tank and handles like a dream. __________________ 99.9%
Posts: 17,387

03-22-2017, 10:13 AM	#15
Grim Starter Join Date: Aug 2012 Casino cash: $-310000	A guy I work with bought a BMW M2 not too long ago. He says the maintenance on it is expensive as all hell but that's what you get when you buy a "precision" auto.
Posts: 716