Honest car question

[Mecca]

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.

[TambaBerry]

I don't know what your budget is, but if you worried about cost and you still like performance of the car. Try out an infiniti G37x. It's made by Nissan and is classed as a performance luxury car. It will be my next car I buy when my 10 year old car finally craps out. It's a V6 with 327hp and if you can find one get the G37xs it's the sport model.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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

I'd check the cost of parts that are destined for failure. Water pumps, Alternators, Fuel Pumps, O2 Sensors etc, because you WILL have to replace one or another at some point in a 2006.

Last time I purchased a car i had to fight temptation and not pick up a used BMW or Mercedes. You can find those cars to cheap, and they still look great and drive great. But the cost to maintain in the event of a failure is generally substantially higher than that of their American/Asian counterparts.

Be weary of ANY high mileage car, especially German ones.

Remember that every car is an expense until it's paid for, then it's an investment if you take care of it.

I got over my desire for the fancy things in life after realizing how much more money they cost for very little satisfaction. Having the money in my pocket is far more desireable.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

How would you compare your Z3 and Z4?

I really like them both, but I think they're fundamentally different cars.

Z3 - Classic roadster feel. Smallish car, though it did have a big enough trunk for a road trip. It had good acceleration at highway speed if you needed to pass someone. It also had a lot of road noise, though, due to the soft top. I couldn't really listen to the radio on the highway.

Z4 - Unlike the Z3, the Z4 feels and drives like a sedan that happens to be a roadster. It's a six-speed and I don't drive much, so if I'm on a two-lane highway in the mountains I always seem to overestimate acceleration and end up gearing down. The real power gears are 3rd and 4th, so when I go down to 5th to pass it doesn't do much. Interior access is actually quite difficult compared to the Z3, because it's got a really deep floor well. I feel like I have to contort a little to get in. It's a retractable hardtop instead of a soft top, so it has no road noise issues at all, and I really like that. The trunk space for road trips is great when the top is up, and is probably less than the Z3 when the top is down.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Grim

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.

IMO, it's not worth it unless you have ample expendable income. I love my Mazda SUV. It's big, roomie and has all the goodies. I also paid $450 a month for it and dropped on average $60-$80 a week in gas.

I picked up a little Nissan Sentra for $500 (great deal from a friend), it runs great, i don't pay shit on it and now i spend about $30 a week on gas. It isn't much to look at and it doesn't have leather, but damn i love having all that extra money back in my pocket every month.

Also, if you do go this route Mecca, stay on top of the maintinance. Don't wait for something to break before you fix it as it will cost you more than to simply replace something before it breaks. Be ahead of the car so you can repair it on your terms. I.e replacing old radiator hoses before they go bad. Changing plugs/plug wires before you start getting mis-fires etc. It will save you in the long run and you can spend the money under your planned budget as opposed to "Surprise! Fix me now or have no car!"

[Simply Red]

I've owned:

07 335i
09 335i
08 135i
10 M5


and now my baby girl - 2010 M3.

Oddly (unlike the Audi's I'd owned) - it's generally very minor stuff such as turn signal bulbs blowing and annoying things like that. Aside from the pricey oil changes, things aren't too rough. I always had worse problems w/ the two Audi's I had.

Here's my little girl (which most of you have seen in the cars thread):

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I really like them both, but I think they're fundamentally different cars.

Z3 - Classic roadster feel. Smallish car, though it did have a big enough trunk for a road trip. It had good acceleration at highway speed if you needed to pass someone. It also had a lot of road noise, though, due to the soft top. I couldn't really listen to the radio on the highway.

Z4 - Unlike the Z3, the Z4 feels and drives like a sedan that happens to be a roadster. It's a six-speed and I don't drive much, so if I'm on a two-lane highway in the mountains I always seem to overestimate acceleration and end up gearing down. The real power gears are 3rd and 4th, so when I go down to 5th to pass it doesn't do much. Interior access is actually quite difficult compared to the Z3, because it's got a really deep floor well. I feel like I have to contort a little to get in. It's a retractable hardtop instead of a soft top, so it has no road noise issues at all, and I really like that. The trunk space for road trips is great when the top is up, and is probably less than the Z3 when the top is down.

Those Z's are little firecrackers in their lacking of weight.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

I've owned:

07 335i
09 335i
08 135i
10 M5


and now my baby girl - 2010 M3.

Oddly (unlike the Audi's I'd owned) - it's generally very minor stuff such as turn signal bulbs blowing and annoying things like that. Aside from the pricey oil changes, things aren't too rough. I always had worse problems w/ the two Audi's I had.

Here's my little girl (which most of you have seen in the cars thread):

You bought/leased all of your cars new though, didn't you?

That's quite a bit different than purchasing an 11 year old used car.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

You bought/leased all of your cars new though, didn't you?

That's quite a bit different than purchasing an 11 year old used car.

no no, they were all used.

[Simply Red]

and true Detoxing - let me ask this (sorry if it was covered) but how many miles are on it Mecca?

[ModSocks]

Water Pump for a 2006 BMW 525 XI http://www.autozone.com/cooling-heat...bmw/525xi/2006

Water Pump for a 2006 Mustang GT V8 http://www.autozone.com/cooling-heat...rol/water-pump

Just sayin' man, something to consider.

[Rain Man]

That's a nice looking car, Red. I don't usually go for the monochromatic look, but you pulled it off well with those wheels and things.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

That's a nice looking car, Red. I don't usually go for the monochromatic look, but you pulled it off well with those wheels and things.

thanks! Yeah the hood was already on it - it's a custom CF hood. It really sold me on the car. Thanks - So is yours!

[Chiefnj2]

If it doesn't come with a warranty, then have someone who knows BMW's inspect the car. At the very least go to Harbor Freight or some cheap auto shop and buy an OBD2 reader and scan it for problems.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

At the very least go to Harbor Freight or some cheap auto shop and buy an OBD2 reader and scan it for problems.

Places like Autozone etc will scan it for free.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

I've owned:

07 335i
09 335i
08 135i
10 M5


and now my baby girl - 2010 M3.

Oddly (unlike the Audi's I'd owned) - it's generally very minor stuff such as turn signal bulbs blowing and annoying things like that. Aside from the pricey oil changes, things aren't too rough. I always had worse problems w/ the two Audi's I had.

Here's my little girl (which most of you have seen in the cars thread):

Sweet ride.

How often do you get pulled over in that thing?