BMW owners let me know your story

[T2urtle]

i've been looking at a 330ci 2002 most likely within 60k miles VS a g35 which is priced more, both will have to be auto.

But i'm more interested in the BMW. always loved the look of the e46 but questioned the BMW name. obviously when they run good they are very sexy. nothing really beats the feel of a beamer on the highway.


So as i was i wondering what everyone's experirences was with these cars.

I had friends with 323i in the past had nothing but good things. It had cooling issues but was solved with water pump replacement. And it had PS belts squeeking. Has a 2nd friend with a 328i another bad water pump prematurely, but small things going wrong. DOor ajar sensor not working 100%. always saying door/trunk open. She also had to bring it in for front suspension bushings replacement. After that it drove great.

None of my friends remembered the priced they paid for them. Nor would anyone get another beamer ever again. Well except for a //M series.


So if you guy can tell me the problems you experienced with the $$ u had to pay it would be great. Just wanted to get a feel for BMW's stuff.

 

[Mermaidman]

"Bimmer"

My wife told me her dream car is a 7 series, so I'd like to hear from BMW owners as well. Tips for a second mortgage also appreciated.

 

[RGUN]

We had a 2001 BMW Z3 3.0i for 6 years, never once had a problem with it.

*edit* when we sold it we had only put 30,000 miles on it

 

[BarneyFife]

Buy the BMW and don't look back.

 

[sindows]

Buy the car you want the most, the joy of ownership usually overcomes the joy of having extra money in your pocket...

 

[Black88GTA]

I have a '94 840. I've had it for about 15 months, and it had ~82k on it when I got it. It just turned over 100k miles a couple weeks ago.

It's been a great car for me. No major issues yet. Aside from routine maintenance and upkeep, the only things I've had go wrong that I can remember is my valve cover gasket needed replacement, and my fuel pump went out. The fuel pump was a $450 part. It currently needs control arm bushings, which will probably be done next week.

I'd certainly buy it again. I was a bit nervous at first when I got it, but it's been great so far.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: sindows
Buy the car you want the most, the joy of ownership usually overcomes the joy of having extra money in your pocket...

lol, thats gotta be the most twisted logic I've ever heard.

 

[mb]

My dad used to drive a 2001 (or 2002?) 328i. Never had a problem with it. He's got a 2007 530xi right now, which has been mechanically sound too, just the OEM run flats suck.

 

[AdamK47]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: sindows
Buy the car you want the most, the joy of ownership usually overcomes the joy of having extra money in your pocket...

lol, thats gotta be the most twisted logic I've ever heard.

How about... the joy of ownership usually overcomes the joy of having your wife spend the extra money that would otherwise be in your pocket...

 

[DivideBYZero]

I have an e46 M3 and apart from regular wear items I have had coil pack failure. It's more common than you might think on all BMW's. If you can check, make sure it doesn't have 'Bremy'(sp) coil packs. The set of six only cost me £175 fitted so not the end of the world, but worth mentioning.

The manufacturer was the same one as used in VW's 1.8T's. I have Bosch now.

 

[T2urtle]

i've been working with VW for a while and i know exactly about the 1.8T coil pack failures.

overall i'm looking at a entry level used sports coupe/sedan nearing 18-20k.

styling of the IS300, e46, g35c have been my only interest. given that i have plans to lightly modd the car as well. all 3 of those cars are great. g35 and is300 have better known relibilty vs the e46. But for the most parts ppl here don't have anything serious i would imagine.

I'm got approved for the loan already. Now just looking for the right car to spend my money on. Looking for a couple of 330i coupes and sedans and IS3, g35 together so i can test drive bak to back

 

[DivideBYZero]

What mods are you going to do?

 

[sindows]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: sindows
Buy the car you want the most, the joy of ownership usually overcomes the joy of having extra money in your pocket...

lol, thats gotta be the most twisted logic I've ever heard.

Not really, if you can't put up with a few problems to own a car you love, I cannot consider you a car enthusiast.

 

[T2urtle]

simple bolt on for the bimmer. some chip/flash, intake. other minor things. lowering it


g35= intake plenum spacer, intake, lowering.

is300= headers, cam timing, lowering


I dont have the exact stuff since there are 3 cars in question. Also considering newer car as well like a GTI not sure if i can get one for for $20k with low miles.

 

[DonaldC]

The BMW driving experience is unparalleled IMO. All of the ones I am familiar with usually have their problems repaired within the first 25K so used ones tend to be ok. The ones I owned were 199X 325i, 530i and 540i manuals. If Bangle hadn't ruined the style I would still be an owner.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
simple bolt on for the bimmer. some chip/flash, intake. other minor things. lowering it


g35= intake plenum spacer, intake, lowering.

is300= headers, cam timing, lowering


I dont have the exact stuff since there are 3 cars in question. Also considering newer car as well like a GTI not sure if i can get one for for $20k with low miles.

I'd get a front strut brace and LSD for the 3er and forget the lowering. The 330ci is low enough to start with IMHO. The re-map is a moot point on an N/A in most cases but 10% extra is 10% extra.

 

[T2urtle]

yea i haven't looked at everything yet. I just skimmed thru the dinan site etc.

I have heard that price to insure a BMW would be higher then price to insure a lexus/infiniti in the same market. for instance my friend's father had a brand new x5 his 6 month prem was 2200 and then he got a qx54 2 years later and is paying 1800. now anything could affect the price he pays but that is some serious $$$ for owning a x5 VS QX54.

I'm going to my agent last because i dont want actual numbers to affect my choice. but everyone's thoughts and opinions are welcome.

 

[BarneyFife]

$2200 for 6 months is too much.

Did he have a bad record or live in a city with a high crime rate?

 

[Pepsei]

i'm thinking about getting a BMW 1 series...should be cheap.. and coming soon.. 3rd quarter 2008 right?

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
i'm thinking about getting a BMW 1 series...should be cheap.. and coming soon.. 3rd quarter 2008 right?

The 135i starts at 39k
The 128i starts at 33k

Not really "cheap".

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: sindows
Buy the car you want the most, the joy of ownership usually overcomes the joy of having extra money in your pocket...

i disagree.

i could have bought a new hyundai elantra GLS for $5k less than my new Mazda3. ($12k out the door vs $17k.)

havent had a problem w/the Mazda3, but 45k miles later i'd rather have the $5k.

Note:
i use the car to go from pointA to pointB (work, errands, etc.) i dont go drive on the highway just for fun.

so maybe a person buying a luxury car has a diff mindset.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: JEDI
i disagree.

i could have bought a new hyundai elantra GLS for $5k less than my new Mazda3. ($12k out the door vs $17k.)

havent had a problem w/the Mazda3, but 45k miles later i'd rather have the $5k.

Note:
i use the car to go from pointA to pointB (work, errands, etc.) i dont go drive on the highway just for fun.

so maybe a person buying a luxury car has a diff mindset.

But EVERYTHING in your life revolves around money.

BMW owners let me know your story

My bimmer is a freakin' joy to drive!

 

[RichieZ]

05 Z4

shoddy interior, fun to drive. 17.2K miles so far, no problems.

 

[Apex]

I picked up one for my wife. She seems to like it. I think they're nice in that they tend to be competent all-around. They're not especially great at anything, but there's nothing they do very poorly.

 

[CtK]

I had a 2002 BMW 325Ci and had nuthin but trouble with that car!!
The weather stripping came off SIX TIMES!! Had to just cut them off and leave it like that.
The sunroof broke 2 times.
The windows once
The passenger door didnt open from the inside.
Had a vibration when driving on highway, they told me i needed to get a high speed alignment. which cost $250!! still did not fix the problem.
A/C always smelled in the morning.
plain looking interior

So that is why i traded that car in and got a 2004 Infiniti G35 then traded that car in and got a 08 G37