BMW ownership??

I owned Hondas, still have 2 Lexus SUVs and they all had some problems. Nothing major but annoying and I'm talking about cars that are no more than 3years old.

Properly maintained BMW shouldn't be much more expensive than japanese cars. The fun you're gonna have is well worth the extra cost.

I recently bought new 2003 steel grey metallic 325i and this is the most entertaining car I ever had.
 
The main thing to remember is to get regular preventive maintance. The 3 Cadillacs in the driveway have had no real problems in their life. Only things are waer and tear thats it, most cars really should not ever give you a problem.



Nowadays, all cars are built well, it just comes down to properitary parts/maintance. All the imports require imported parts=more $$.



Just buy the car you like, and be HAPPY!



Dont let these little things distort your vision of ownership.:)
 
Buying second hand, it does not really matter who makes it, what really matters is the previous owner and how he/she treated it. If they thrashed it from cold and used the ABS to slow down, that car will be nothing other than a nightmare.



From buying many 2nd hand cars over the years, many of the others are right, be fussy and never compromise and never ever ever take on a project car unless it is very cheap and you know how to fix everthing, I have fallen into this trap several times :( .... "I know I can fix this for $ hundred always turned into $ thousands"



As for BMW's I used to own a E28, I bought it at 50,000 miles and sold it 4 years later at over 250,000. Damn good car, I was good to it and it never let me down.



Steven
 
Yeah I agree with those who are impressed with their bimmers. I have had my 330Ci under a year, I bought it new so I cannot comment on long term reliability, but I've had no problems so far. The car is a joy to drive, I agree it is the ultimate driving machine and it looks fantastic. The bimmers hold their value better than most other makes, so you loose less when it comes to sell it.



Everytime I park it, I turn and look back several times, this time (like many other times) I could not help taking a picture of it :D :D

330ci_a.jpg
 
Choose a car as if it were your lover.

As JetBlack said, he choose his 330ci and every time he parks it he turns around to check it out. Doesn't that remind you of sneaking a peek at your girl's derriere when she doesn't know? It's a GREAT feeling of pride that I wish everyone could experience, both in their mate AND their car!



As for the car/lover comparison, what do you want:

-Model Gorgeous Primadonna, totally unreliable, pricey = Ferrari

-Very hot, yet practical, pricey but not outrageous = BMW

-Attractive, infinitely reliable, priced right = Honda.



Those are VERY broad, but you get the idea.

To each their own, but CARPE BMW!

John
 
I have a 2003 Z3. Once you drive and experience the ride of a BMW you'll know if its the ride for you. I love the feel my Z3 has going through traffic and over the open road. You don't just get from point A to point B, but the force is with you(sorry Star Warriers). As for the cost, it ain't a cheap ride to buy, you get what you pay for. But I don't regret one penny I put into the car.

I had a Toyota Avalon prior to my Z. I thought that car was fun. Little did I know. Like others, my pockets aren't deep so the value I get for my buck was and is important.

The maintenance issue has been discussed, all I can add is ask other BMW owners in your area how they like/dislike the dealership service. My dealer goes out of their way to please me. And other than replacing a burned out headlight, all maintenance has been covered by warrenty.
 
Dale,



I'm faced with the same dilemma. This thread has helped me on my decision a lot though. I would like in the near future to purchase a 2001 up M3. But like you, high maintenance costs and possible expensive repairs have made me somewhat reluctant. But, I know if I get a 330ci, Boxster S, or IS300, etc I will be settling for less and I will always ultimately desire the M3. I keep on picturing the scenario where I'm driving my Boxster or 330, temporarily content, then some lucky stud pulls up beside me in a shiny, black M3. Ahhhhh!! What a nightmare!!!! So, I plan on keeping my Civic which has proven reliable, so that if anything goes wrong I still have a way to get around, plus, I'll definitely get an extended warranty and such. I think everyone has chimed in with good advice, like mechanic inspections, maintenance records, warranties, etc to help reassure your decision. These are definitely a must, if like me, you don't have an endless supply of money to burn.
 
Most of you guys are still under warranty! ROOKIES! :D I've rebuilt my motor just to make it stronger but didn't have to, it was still running like a top. It's fuel injected, but of a different sort than yours. All original. The major parts like fuel pump, water pump, oil pump and radiator have all been replaced or upgraded. I have gone through a few sets of brake pads and am on my second set of Bilsteins. I'm also on my second coat of paint from the factory, although the same color, Verona Red. Been through a couple sets of tires, too. Re-upholstered the seats and replaced the carpets as well. But would I call this BMW unreliable or costly? Heck no!! When I decide to sell Helga I will be WAY ahead!



My 1972 2002tii

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Jake, we share a lot of common ground! (is that the way the saying goes...?!)



Hondas

Distributors (friggin' thing!)

BMWs



You dug this thread up from the ol' school, eh? I posted it almost 1 year ago! wow!

Since then, I think I am planning on going with Honda or Toyota for whatever ride I choose next......FJ40?!
 
I didn't even pay attention to the date! Wow indeed! Xterras are pretty sweet! So what made you decide to give up on the bimmer? I love the reliability that Hondas and such provide, but I just want a serious sports car now. I thought about the S2000 too, but I can barely get in and out of it. I just have my heart set on the M3. What can I say?:nixweiss
 
Yeah, I hear ya, I would feel like Donkey Kong Jr driving around in a S2000!

Gave up on Bimmer for a bunch of reasons....this thread didn't help matters much. I am still considering a Mini tho....although, there again, Donkey Kong.

So do you want something for winter/summer or just summer? What about a Supra? Maxima? Dodge Omni?
 
Donkey Kong Jr!:D This will definitely be a summer car only. One that doesn't see rain, and definitely no sleet or snow. I have only a few that I'm considering aside from the M3; Porsche Boxster S; This one is on the virge of Donkey Kong, had pretty good acceleration and handling though, 330Ci, traditional 5-speed only, I kinda like the Mercedes CLK430, though it got pretty bad reviews, and is not that fast to begin with, I don't think they come in 5-speed either. IS300 looks and rides good, but is a little underpowered too. Nothing else really appeals to me at this point in life. :) Maybe a G35 coupe, don't care too much for the interior though. :(
 
hehe, you can't win! Personally, I am a IS300 kinda guy myself. Swwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeetttt ride! I didn't know that it was underpowered tho.. Thats sad to hear!

Just get a Segway and call it a day!
 
Dale, Just go for the car that you like because in the end your the one that's going to be driving and looking at it everyday. I've always used reports and recommendations as a guide only. Yes european cars are very expensive to maintain we have a Benz, Bimmer and Audi and all are used as commuter cars with extremely high mileage. So far its the Benz thats given us the most trouble because of manufaturing defects. I drive a 2003 Audi with 33,000 miles on it currently and it still feels solid and smooth. Just ask the dealers or independant shops for prices on routine services and repairs to get an idea. Good luck- you can't go wrong with a BMW.
 
F1, that's an interesting article. It's amazing to see how much progress BMW has made in the past 5 - 7 years in the US.



Our '02 has been a model citizen when it comes to automobiles.

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It has been nearly perfect. To enhance the ownership experience, our local BMW dealer, Foreign Motors West, has been nothing short of exceptional when it comes to service - - complex or the easy stuff. They are great. Full maintainence and B2B warranty for 48 months so your only potential out-of-pocket would be new tires..I don't believe they'll cover that wear item.
 
Jake,



Porsche, There Is No Substitute!



All the cars you mention are in a different league compared to the Boxster. You are comparing luxury sport cruisers to the purest escence of a traditional sportscar. If you buy a tiptronic then disregard and lump all the cars together.



I hope to own a 330ci one day and park it next to my Boxster.



If you can afford the Bimmer then buy it. Do not sacrifice going out and doing fun things to own a car. If this means you may have to wait a while then so be it.
 
Tom, thing that surprised me the most last year was that BMW almost beat Lexus in the number of vehicles sold in US. We have to remember that Lexus was selling 3 SUVs last year to BMW's one and that their pricing is very competitive through the whole model range. I don't know what it will do to resale in 3 years though :nixweiss .
 
Bimmers are great cars. It is a well balanced car that is very fun to drive. Maintenance and parts are a bit higher (just like all imports) but BMWs are very reliable cars if properly maintained. Here is a link that will give you tons of info about bmw. Good luck.



http://www.bimmerforums.com/
 
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