Used BMW

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Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
You're referring reliability of a newer BMW to an 80s BMW?

How about saying the new Ford Explorer is a piece of junk because you knew someone who had a 1909 Ford Model T that wasn't reliable.

I'd stay away and forget about having a status symbol and keep shopping.


You realize that there are those of us that drive these cars because we like the cars, not because we need a "status symbol," right?

When people say that it cracks me up!
I never said that everyone who drives one needs a status symbol?

I recommended to keep shopping because he was thinking of a Mazda3 as well. Two completely different cars and it sounds like he doesn't have the biggest budget in the world. Somebody who is considering a really cheap car like a Mazda3 probably is looking for a reliable car with low maintenance costs.

Therefore I think they should keep shopping.

If he posted on here wanting a BMW or a Mercedes or a Jaguar, I wouldn't have posted to keep shopping. I wouldn't have said they cost too much to maintain, I'd much rather have a BMW over the other 2, and I may have thrown in a suggestion to an upscale Lexus, maybe he didn't think of that option?

For the right person a BMW isn't a status symbol, I daily drove one for a few weeks last year and it was a nice, fun car. I'll admit that. But being a college student it isn't realistic for me to own one.
 
Originally Posted By: ecotourist
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
There is no 1.8l BMW.

There is a 318i (ie 3 series with 1.8 liter engine). Unusual for BMW but there are a few around. And apparently a pretty good car.


OK Mr Pedantic, let me rephrase that. There is no BMW that you will cross shop with a new Mazda, price wise or feature wise, that has a 1.8 engine.

The 1.8 liter M42 was axed in the mid-late 90s in favor of the 1.9 liter M44.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
You're referring reliability of a newer BMW to an 80s BMW?

How about saying the new Ford Explorer is a piece of junk because you knew someone who had a 1909 Ford Model T that wasn't reliable.

I'd stay away and forget about having a status symbol and keep shopping.


You realize that there are those of us that drive these cars because we like the cars, not because we need a "status symbol," right?

When people say that it cracks me up!
I never said that everyone who drives one needs a status symbol?

I recommended to keep shopping because he was thinking of a Mazda3 as well. Two completely different cars and it sounds like he doesn't have the biggest budget in the world. Somebody who is considering a really cheap car like a Mazda3 probably is looking for a reliable car with low maintenance costs.

Therefore I think they should keep shopping.

If he posted on here wanting a BMW or a Mercedes or a Jaguar, I wouldn't have posted to keep shopping. I wouldn't have said they cost too much to maintain, I'd much rather have a BMW over the other 2, and I may have thrown in a suggestion to an upscale Lexus, maybe he didn't think of that option?

For the right person a BMW isn't a status symbol, I daily drove one for a few weeks last year and it was a nice, fun car. I'll admit that. But being a college student it isn't realistic for me to own one.


With certified pre-owned 320i's available all day in the low 20's, you certainly can cross-shop against a Mazda 3 and have a RWD car with more power that is more fun to drive WITH a better warranty than a new Mazda. BMW CPO includes remainder of new car 4yr/50k warranty; that covers everything including maintenance. CPO also includes an additional 2yr/50k after that, that covers all major systems, maintenance excluded.
 
For a person that only keeps their cars short term, sure.

But it all depends on how long he's keeping the car, and if he wants to deal with car repairs and costs associated with it. If that's what he wants then more power to him.
 
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW

With certified pre-owned 320i's available all day in the low 20's, you certainly can cross-shop against a Mazda 3 and have a RWD car with more power that is more fun to drive WITH a better warranty than a new Mazda. BMW CPO includes remainder of new car 4yr/50k warranty; that covers everything including maintenance. CPO also includes an additional 2yr/50k after that, that covers all major systems, maintenance excluded.


I have a friend that does exactly this, every 3 years he buys a 3 year old off lease CPO 3 series. He drives a 3 year old BMW for new Mazda 3 money and is happy. As soon as the warranty is up, he buys another.
 
The late non turbo Inline 6 engines were pretty reliable.
Anything with an M54, M52, N52 will be very good IMO.
 
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my adult grandson has had 2 and says they are far too complicated and have too many expensive body control modules and obscure electrical parts. He said if the Germans can attach a wire to anything they will, and if the choice is simple or complex, they choose complex seeking that last 1/2 per cent of "perfection" that maybe you can't sense.
and the new ones you are supposed to have the dealer adjust the car to accept any new battery you installed so it will charge correctly (who ever designed that?>?><
 
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I have already addressed that. The new BMWs use AGM batteries for their "EfficientDynamics" suite.

AGM batteries require registration so the charge maps are correct for the age and capacity of the batter. The coding for the battery is 0.3-0.5hrs labor depending on the dealer, It's the batteries that are expensive, and this goes. For any vehicle equipped with an AGM battery. This is now a BMW exclusive trait.

When people do not understand things they are called "too complex" or "over engineered."
 
The E36 have become a car of choice for some of the young guys to mod and thrash around the cones for autocross. They do seem pretty simple to keep running as these kids aren't expert mechanics and aren't dumping tons of money into them, and are beating the khrap out of them.
I keep looking at a 3 series as a DD/autocross toy, but the simple ones are now very old for the rust belt, and the new ones are getting stupid complicated and heavier... We don't seem to have a reputable BMW expert in town either so it seems impractical to own one for me.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
We don't seem to have a reputable BMW expert in town either so it seems impractical to own one for me.


No, we don't, and that was a bit PITA back when I owned the M5. Driving up to Oshawa at minimum or into Toronto if I wanted to get a better deal.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
We don't seem to have a reputable BMW expert in town either so it seems impractical to own one for me.


No, we don't, and that was a bit PITA back when I owned the M5. Driving up to Oshawa at minimum or into Toronto if I wanted to get a better deal.


That IS a problem. I'm blessed in that there is an excellent dealer as well as a couple of first rate indie techs located nearby.
 
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW


With certified pre-owned 320i's available all day in the low 20's, you certainly can cross-shop against a Mazda 3 and have a RWD car with more power that is more fun to drive WITH a better warranty than a new Mazda. BMW CPO includes remainder of new car 4yr/50k warranty; that covers everything including maintenance. CPO also includes an additional 2yr/50k after that, that covers all major systems, maintenance excluded.


I drove a 320i loaner last week. No hole in the roof, no power seats. I absolutely loved it. Of all the F3x 3/4 Series I've driven, the 320i was my favorite- next to a 435i M Sport equipped with every M Performance part in the catalog.
 
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW

When people do not understand things they are called "too complex" or "over engineered."


Very true.

I have been hearing the "Cars these days are too complex to work on" comment ever since fuel injection became the norm. Despite how often I hear this, I have yet to own a car that is too complex to work on.
 
Not a BMW, but my daily:



And it's actually the easiest car I've ever had when it comes to diagnostics. There's a self test, measured value, and sensor for every module and system. New car systems may not be as simple, but become much easier to repair when you understand and have the ability to properly diagnose them.
 
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Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Not a BMW, but my daily:



And it's actually the easiest car I've ever had when it comes to diagnostics. There's a self test, measured value, and sensor for every module and system. New car systems may not be as simple, but become much easier to repair when you understand and have the ability to properly diagnose them.


Really? Give me points, manual spark advance, and mechanical brakes- something I can fix!!!
lol.gif
 
If you want a used BMW research that particular model for it's weak points / recalls and see that they've been addressed. Make sure you understand the time and money maintenance will require.

My 2009 128i was a maintenance queen. The AC condenser was replaced twice (step one: remove dashboard..), the lifters in the allegedly bulletproof N52 had to be replaced, the center mounted stoplight in the trunk lid fell out, the radio was replaced due to the screen fading out, and there was a lot more that I care not to remember. Oh the coils: I had one fail at about 50,000 miles, shortly after the car was out of the warranty period. They wanted at least a hundred bucks to diagnose the problem and five hundred dollars to replace ONE coil or do all six for $1100. Needless to say I bought one online for $50 and fixed it myself but I would find these problems unacceptable in a Chevy much less a premium brand like BMW.

Also I went in for an oil change, with about 60,000 miles on the car, and it was suggested that I have about $6,000 dollars in additional work done on the car: tires, bushings, oil leak from the oil pan, oil leak from the valve cover, etc. Laughable.

All this for a car that was OK but not great, IMO. Lousy seats, for example.

So, know your car and know a good independent mechanic in your area. If you are down with all the maintenance, go for it. Or just buy the Mazda!

Rant off.
 
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I have already addressed that. The new BMWs use AGM batteries for their "EfficientDynamics" suite.

AGM batteries require registration so the charge maps are correct for the age and capacity of the batter. The coding for the battery is 0.3-0.5hrs labor depending on the dealer, It's the batteries that are expensive, and this goes. For any vehicle equipped with an AGM battery. This is now a BMW exclusive trait.

When people do not understand things they are called "too complex" or "over engineered."


OK, I'll give you that one, but expensive is expensive no matter how you look at it. It's easy to rack up a $1,000 repair on a BMW w/o doing a whole lot. If you're a good mechanic that changes everything.
 
Originally Posted By: rustypigeon
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW

When people do not understand things they are called "too complex" or "over engineered."


Very true.

I have been hearing the "Cars these days are too complex to work on" comment ever since fuel injection became the norm. Despite how often I hear this, I have yet to own a car that is too complex to work on.


The newest vehicle you own is 11 years old and to boot conservative Toyota design. It seems currently there is a mix of bleeding edge designs racing to market and some legacy designs available that still easy to DIY if you buy something from the last 5 years.
 
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Not a BMW, but my daily:



And it's actually the easiest car I've ever had when it comes to diagnostics. There's a self test, measured value, and sensor for every module and system. New car systems may not be as simple, but become much easier to repair when you understand and have the ability to properly diagnose them.


It's easier until you rub through a wire somewhere or have a corroded connection(s).
 
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