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Updated With Photos: "Loaner" Cars

T

Tsaar

Guest
Well, I wanted a pony car, but I just found a great deal at the local BMW dealer.

328i
5500 miles
5-6 months as a loaner car

It is NOT certified pre-owned (BMW CPO has to be over 6000 miles or 6 month in use). The dealer says the car is in "perfect" condition. I am about to head any and potentially purchase it.

Should I be wary? It will still have 44000 miles of warranty.

Update:

After my wife leaves sometime I will try to get some better pictures. Couldn't even take a picture of it with her car next to mine so I uploaded some of the quick snapshots we took at the dealer for the exterior.

Old:

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Old and New:

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New:

100_0890.JPG



100_0894.JPG


100_0893.JPG
 
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328's are poser BMWs, you'd be better off with a stang or camaro for that price really. Plus being a BMW loaner it was probably beaten the shit out of by people who could care less about it. My friend at VW said they stopped using Passatts as loaners because no one would put premium gas in them and it caused them to run like shit.
 
Even if everyone that it was loaned to drove the snot out of it, it should still be fine.

If it's something you like and the price is right, there's no reason to hesitate just because it was a loaner.
 
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Leap of faith... Either buy it, or don't. It could have been beaten up, but you may also get lucky. If it feels right, do it up!
 
With the length of warranty left plus free maintenance during that time I'd say buy it if that's what you want.
 
Every time I bring my bimmer in for service, I get a brand new 328i as a loaner. I... beat... the living snot out of it, just to see how far I can push it. And also because I'm mad that the non-sports seats give me a backache.

Unless they give you fantastic deal on it, I would stay away from personal experience.
 
PhoKingGuy said:
328's are poser BMWs, you'd be better off with a stang or camaro for that price really.
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FACT
Plus being a BMW loaner it was probably beaten the shit out of by people who could care less about it.
Click to expand...
Agreed.
My friend at VW said they stopped using Passatts as loaners because no one would put premium gas in them and it caused them to run like shit.
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Ah, nope, it ran like sh*t because it was a Passat 🙂

If OP doesn't plan on keeping car forever anyway any "abuse" may not really matter. And like said above even if it was driven hard it's hard to say how much real difference that's going to make to it.
 
Skoorb said:
FACTAgreed.Ah, nope, it ran like sh*t because it was a Passat 🙂

If OP doesn't plan on keeping car forever anyway any "abuse" may not really matter. And like said above even if it was driven hard it's hard to say how much real difference that's going to make to it.
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If it placates you the BMW dealer my friend takes his 335i to asks you to sign something saying you will put premium fuel into it when you fill it up. No idea if it works or does anything, but thats what they do.
 
PhoKingGuy said:
If it placates you the BMW dealer my friend takes his 335i to asks you to sign something saying you will put premium fuel into it when you fill it up. No idea if it works or does anything, but thats what they do.
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Not a bad idea. I am placated, although I suspect people put in premium for the most part unless they are pissed at the stealership in which case they put in 87 and maybe if they are really pissed try and squeeze in a few drops of diesel, too 🙂
 
AFAIK cars today that require premium fuel have a knock sensor so if you get a bad batch of fuel or someone puts 87 in the tank the engine will compensate. You will notice a reduction in performance but the engine will survive and be fine once you fill up with premium.
 
woodie1 said:
AFAIK cars today that require premium fuel have a knock sensor so if you get a bad batch of fuel or someone puts 87 in the tank the engine will compensate. You will notice a reduction in performance but the engine will survive and be fine once you fill up with premium.
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Yeah it should be fine. I would be surprised at long term damage but maybe some premium cars are less tolerant.
 
mb said:
Even if everyone that it was loaned to drove the snot out of it, it should still be fine.

If it's something you like and the price is right, there's no reason to hesitate just because it was a loaner.
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beat to shit in the first 5k ? NO TY!

Unless it was a lease, then maybe it'd be ok.
 
ViviTheMage said:
beat to shit in the first 5k ? NO TY!

Unless it was a lease, then maybe it'd be ok.
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Meh, I've owned 2 new cars and drove the shit out of both of them from day 1 and didn't have a problem with the first one after 55k miles and no probs with the second one so far at 28k. The engine/transmission/brakes can take it. And if there was to be a problem because of the way it was driven during the first 5,500 miles it's not like it would suddenly pop up 44,500 miles later right when the warranty ends.

It's not like it was a rental car from Hertz with 30,000 miles of abuse.
 
KIAman said:
Every time I bring my bimmer in for service, I get a brand new 328i as a loaner. I... beat... the living snot out of it, just to see how far I can push it. And also because I'm mad that the non-sports seats give me a backache.

Unless they give you fantastic deal on it, I would stay away from personal experience.
Click to expand...

This.

mb said:
Meh, I've owned 2 new cars and drove the shit out of both of them from day 1 and didn't have a problem with the first one after 55k miles and no probs with the second one so far at 28k. The engine/transmission/brakes can take it. And if there was to be a problem because of the way it was driven during the first 5,500 miles it's not like it would suddenly pop up 44,500 miles later right when the warranty ends.

It's not like it was a rental car from Hertz with 30,000 miles of abuse.
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I drive rough too but there's driving the shit out of something and then there's driving the shit out of something you don't own. The difference is massive.
 
I did buy it, it was a great deal (sticker was $35.4k, they had an internet special EXACTLY one month after it was on the lot for $29k...I assume it wasn't popular being a stick shift...they also gave me nearly $7k for an '03 Ranger that was worth less than $5k). Since it is a stick, and I am inexperienced in a stick enough to stay away from Atlanta interstate traffic for a test drive. So I brought my dad along and we drove it all over the area including the interstate. It drove like a charm.

The car appeared flawless, and also, I have the option to extend maintenance and warranties out to 100k miles at anytime.

The only "flaw" with the car in my opinion is the wheels. They are the stock 16s, and every other BMW on the lot had 17s. Without breaking the bank, what do you guys suggest for 17s that look very close to the BMW 17s (I assume I can just put my current BMW roundels on the new wheels).
 
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Tsaar said:
I did buy it, it was a great deal (sticker was $35.4k, they had an internet special EXACTLY one month after it was on the lot for $29k...I assume it wasn't popular being a stick shift...they also gave me nearly $7k for an '03 Ranger that was worth less than $5k). Since it is a stick, and I am inexperienced in a stick enough to stay away from Atlanta interstate traffic for a test drive. So I brought my dad along and we drove it all over the area including the interstate. It drove like a charm.

The car appeared flawless, and also, I have the option to extend maintenance and warranties out to 100k miles at anytime.

The only "flaw" with the car in my opinion is the wheels. They are the stock 16s, and every other BMW on the lot had 17s. Without breaking the bank, what do you guys suggest for 17s that look very close to the BMW 17s (I assume I can just put my current BMW roundels on the new wheels).
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You can put the roundels on almost any wheel with center cap. I'd suggest going to E90post.com and check their FS forum. Bunch of people ditching their OEM 17 sets to upgrade their own. You can probably pick one up for real cheap. I wouldn't buy OEM 18 sets if you don't have sport suspension. It will look like ass without it being lowered.

What options did it have?

Congrats on the car. $29k (and $7k trade-in) for a new 328 is a great deal.
 
KIAman said:
You can put the roundels on almost any wheel with center cap. I'd suggest going to E90post.com and check their FS forum. Bunch of people ditching their OEM 17 sets to upgrade their own. You can probably pick one up for real cheap. I wouldn't buy OEM 18 sets if you don't have sport suspension. It will look like ass without it being lowered.

What options did it have?

Congrats on the car. $29k (and $7k trade-in) for a new 328 is a great deal.
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Well, it isn't exactly NEW. 🙂

I actually thought the 17s struck a nice balance between style and classy look.

With kids in the near future, my Camaro dreams weren't practical. I am hoping I really love this car, as I thought it was stylish for a 4 door (there aren't many).
 
Congratulations Tsaar, you should have years of good service in an enjoyable entry level BMW.

As mentioned above, search the many BMW Forms and you'll find people selling their stock wheels cheap.
 
As far as features:

-usb connector
-bluetooth
-power seats
-sunroof
-white/beige
-manual

There is still a lot I am learning about it. Like when I got out of the car last night and the door handle had lights on them to show the ground.
 
Here is the thing. Most getting that as a loaner were driving even nicer cars. Most were not like the rugrats above thinking that anyone in a $19.95 rental is redlining it at every opportunity.

Chances are you are going to get a fully inspected car and the full warranty.

If you like the car, it's a great way to buy.

As far as the 328 being a wannabe BMW, I disagree unless you are just buying it to say you own one. Fit and finish is going to be miles ahead of the Mustang and Camaro most are recommending. Not everyone wants a 'fast' car (and the mustang and camaro at that price point simply are also wannabe muscle cars).

There are a ton of features that BMW's have that simply are not found in most domestics. Like you have found out.
 
alkemyst said:
Here is the thing. Most getting that as a loaner were driving even nicer cars. Most were not like the rugrats above thinking that anyone in a $19.95 rental is redlining it at every opportunity.

Chances are you are going to get a fully inspected car and the full warranty.

If you like the car, it's a great way to buy.

As far as the 328 being a wannabe BMW, I disagree unless you are just buying it to say you own one. Fit and finish is going to be miles ahead of the Mustang and Camaro most are recommending. Not everyone wants a 'fast' car (and the mustang and camaro at that price point simply are also wannabe muscle cars).

There are a ton of features that BMW's have that simply are not found in most domestics. Like you have found out.
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Really?
I call bullshit on that...these features would pretty much be found any domestic around the same price, and probably for many half the price of this BMW. I can spend 17k on a Ford Focus and get these features....

-usb connector
-bluetooth
-power seats
-sunroof
-white/beige
-manual
 
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