I'd like some BMW info..

[galopede]

Always wanted a bubble car!

Many years ago when I was but a nipper in the 50's, my uncle bought one of those Front opening bubble cars, may well have been an Isetta.

It was his first car. Now the thing is, they only had forward gears like a bike, which is what they were really, bike engines powering them.

He collected it from the supplier and proudly drove it home mid afternoon and pulled up in front of a wall outside his house. This is where his problems started as he was too close to the wall to open the door! No reverse gear and he didn't want to scratch his pride and joy!

He was stuck there for two hours until his wife appeared to pull the car back from the wall!

Last one of those little cars I saw was in the BMW museum in Munich. A good afternoon out if you are ever there.

Gareth

 

[82R100]

Over here now Subaru shouts chav/boyracer......... sad but that's all that seem to buy them.... also insurance in the UK is nigh impossible ot get on Subaru's now thanks to aforementioned idiots...

You're going to have to post a definition of "chav". I've run across it before, but it's a totally foreign expression in the States.

- Chris

 

[Unknownsoldier]

Sorry, forgot it's not totally UK site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav

Tom

 

[rickw]

I was working on second hand but yeah, the 335 is pretty close to the M3 in performance but gives better MPG and is cheaper to run service and insure, plus you don't get the d***s wanting to race you all the time as you do in an M3. Oh and you can tune it to be faster than the M3 with a remap and a few subtle tweeks

Over here now Subaru shouts chav/boyracer......... sad but that's all that seem to buy them.... also insurance in the UK is nigh impossible ot get on Subaru's now thanks to aforementioned idiots... it's like the 80's phenomenon of charging more to insure golf GTI's than you actually paid for the car new!

ATB,
Tom

The older M3 was around 340HP. New version is around 420Hp. I have a 2008 328 Hard Top Convertable. Great driving. However BMW North America is not user friendly. Took six months to get them to change out a bad bluetooth system.

 

[psychlopath]

Oh, I'm looking used. I dont much care for the idea of new cars. I dont thin the M3 is quite what I want. It's a little flashy. After reading here (and again, no test drive yet..perhaps on leave in a few weeks...) I'm really sniffing around the 325.

As for the Subarus, I've checked into those. The only I'm interested is the Impreza STI. I test drove it. It was probably the fastest thing I've ever touched in my life.
I fell in love with it. BUT, with the BMW, a used one (around 06 is what I'm looking at) is cheaper and...it's a BMW. Though the thought of having a boxer engine is appealing.

I have checked out the Boxters as well but figured that the lack of storage and the cost of regular maintenance was not what I wanted to get into. I tend to be somewhat of a cheap bastard in most areas. Initial purchase seems about the same on the Boxters and the 3 series, for the most part.

As for the comment on the bikes: I have a Triumph that has never let me down.

 

[82R100]

Oh, I'm looking used. I dont much care for the idea of new cars. I dont thin the M3 is quite what I want. It's a little flashy. After reading here (and again, no test drive yet..perhaps on leave in a few weeks...) I'm really sniffing around the 325.

As for the Subarus, I've checked into those. The only I'm interested is the Impreza STI. I test drove it. It was probably the fastest thing I've ever touched in my life.
I fell in love with it. BUT, with the BMW, a used one (around 06 is what I'm looking at) is cheaper and...it's a BMW. Though the thought of having a boxer engine is appealing.

I have checked out the Boxters as well but figured that the lack of storage and the cost of regular maintenance was not what I wanted to get into. I tend to be somewhat of a cheap bastard in most areas. Initial purchase seems about the same on the Boxters and the 3 series, for the most part.

As for the comment on the bikes: I have a Triumph that has never let me down.

If you find yourself close to a purchase, be sure to get an insurance quote or two. The difference between one car model and another can be substantial.

- Chris

 

[letterk]

Oh, I'm looking used. I dont much care for the idea of new cars. I dont thin the M3 is quite what I want. It's a little flashy. After reading here (and again, no test drive yet..perhaps on leave in a few weeks...) I'm really sniffing around the 325.

As for the Subarus, I've checked into those. The only I'm interested is the Impreza STI. I test drove it. It was probably the fastest thing I've ever touched in my life.
I fell in love with it. BUT, with the BMW, a used one (around 06 is what I'm looking at) is cheaper and...it's a BMW. Though the thought of having a boxer engine is appealing.

I have checked out the Boxters as well but figured that the lack of storage and the cost of regular maintenance was not what I wanted to get into. I tend to be somewhat of a cheap bastard in most areas. Initial purchase seems about the same on the Boxters and the 3 series, for the most part.

As for the comment on the bikes: I have a Triumph that has never let me down.

Don't think the maintenance is cheap on the BMW. It's far from it and the main reason I went with another car (my mechanic talked me out of it).

 

[Unknownsoldier]

Don't think the maintenance is cheap on the BMW. It's far from it and the main reason I went with another car (my mechanic talked me out of it).

I have spent virtually nothing with all three of my BMW's, most was around the 500 mark with a sensor in the five. However pads and discs arn't cheap and should a fault occur it can be expensive, however this can happen with all cars, get things done at non dealer BMW spe......ts and the cost can be reduced (I do my brakes etc. myself ).

Tom

 

[Tanksfurnutin]

As an aside, I'm also considering a BMW purchase soon...

I'm thinking about doing a European Delivery of an E92 335i with the M Sport package and performance suspension.

I'll most likely wait to get an M3 for a few years, but I'm not too crazy about them moving back to a V6 in 2012/13. Love the grunt of that V8.

Royal, I would definitely recommend doing European Delivery. I did it a couple of years ago with my 328i coupe and it was a blast. Nothing like picking up your car at the Welt and driving it around on the Autobaun doing 120 mph. Or enjoying the winding mountain roads in a new car. Finally dropping it off and track it coming across the ocean for delivery.

My wife was disappointed to find out the X3 is made in the states. Now she has her eye on the X1.

Bimmerfest has a great section devoted to this.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

My 320d SE in Connemara..

Nearly 60 miles per (imp)gallon of diesel

 

[MasterP]

I have spent virtually nothing with all three of my BMW's, most was around the 500 mark with a sensor in the five. However pads and discs arn't cheap and should a fault occur it can be expensive, however this can happen with all cars, get things done at non dealer BMW spe......ts and the cost can be reduced (I do my brakes etc. myself ).

Tom

I agree, the only real maintenance is oil and filter, the air filters (engine/ac), and spark plugs for the major service.
If you go to the dealer the major service is $800+, they don't really do anything other than spark plugs and oil change, and check a bunch of stuff. So I only get the spark plugs and oil change done. So at the dealer it would be $300-$450.
The intermediate service is the same costing $500+, it's just an overhyped oil change. $100 at the dealer for me.


I don't think maintaing an BMW is more than a Honda, with the exception of tires on the M3.

Heck an new V6 Honda Accord cost almost $30K.
Also my family keeps our cars for a long time, so I think we save $$ in the long run.

 

[PedroNavaja]

Whoever wants to save money on car maintenance, should buy a Hyundai.

If anybody likes the status and pleasure that comes with driving a BMW, then maintenance will be more expensive, but you can either do the scheduled maintenance yourself or through an indi mechanic.

I own a 1998 E39 and at 135K it runs and looks like new.

Things we (my son and myself) have done to the car:
Inspection I and II
Spark plugs
Rear axle oil
Passenger side rear window regulator
Complete cooling system replacement, including serpentine belt, a/c belt, rollers, hoses, radiator, water pump, thermostat, cooling fan, etc, the cost of the parts was $950.

Not everything has to be done by the dealer.

 

[mretzloff]

Forget the 3 series. The interior does not look stunning at all and there is nothing under the hood.

 

[Unknownsoldier]

I agree, the only real maintenance is oil and filter, the air filters (engine/ac), and spark plugs for the major service.
If you go to the dealer the major service is $800+, they don't really do anything other than spark plugs and oil change, and check a bunch of stuff. So I only get the spark plugs and oil change done. So at the dealer it would be $300-$450.
The intermediate service is the same costing $500+, it's just an overhyped oil change. $100 at the dealer for me.


I don't think maintaing an BMW is more than a Honda, with the exception of tires on the M3.

Heck an new V6 Honda Accord cost almost $30K.
Also my family keeps our cars for a long time, so I think we save $$ in the long run.

BMW is cheaper (in some cases) than maintaining my honda (my everyday car) costs loads to service! One member had his third service charged at about 1000 pounds!!!!!!! Though it did get contested! Bmw works out about 15% more expensive on average at main dealers, not a big jump really. But the bits you can do yourself outside warranty are quite a bit, worthwhile to keep your running cost low, but on an M3 it will need to be done by a BMW garage to retain resale price.

My Honda new (57 plate) cost 21.5k so about $45K give or take I think.... not a cheap brand (but a basic 3 series 318i costs 25K/$50K, so definitely cheaper, but my hondas fully loaded with every extra, the BMW would be a basic SE at that money, if you were lucky) and I prefer my BMW for build quality but not for style or wow factor.......... My 3 series gets looks, my RR gets looks, my Civic gets proper looks and the occasional gawp.... although that may have something to do with the DNB playing lol.

Hate talking money, but it is a big consideration, it was a toss up for me between a golf GTI and a Honda Civic, the Civic won hands down for being better kitted out, for a far smaller price. Talking money may be crass, but it's damned important when you're spending you're own. If you look for second hand motors you can grab some bargains, my 5 series BMW after I got her repaired from the oil tanker incident.... sold for less than it cost me to repair her and she had 8Ks worth of Xenons fitted to her... not worth that once fitted to the car it seems :-(

Look around and big bargains are to be had at the moment.......

ATB<
Tom

 

[MasterP]

$45K for a Honda? That's insane, thank god I live in the US. Here a decent Accord costs about $20k (4 cyl). If I spend more on a car, it will be a BMW or a Mercedes. I paid $42K for my M3 in 1998 brand new, out the door after taxes/tags, etc. I think I'll keep it for another 10 yrs, its in great condition. I just have to pay for gas/maintenance/insurance. It's still nice and tight. I have 170K miles on it.

 

[mretzloff]

$45K for a Honda? That's insane

It is like that in the US too. The prices of BMW and Mercedes is insane here. In Germany, they are much cheaper and are driven by everyone. Police officers in Bavaria have BMWs and some others have Mercedeses.

 

[letterk]

It's interesting to hear people here that say their maintenance costs are no worse than other cars. I hear the opposite over and over again. I'm in southern CA and every other car on the road is a BMW. All I hear is groaning over costs. Oil changes, brakes, electrical faults, etc... My own mechanic, a friend of my wife's for her entire life, begged and pleaded with us not to get one. He said maintenance costs are easily 2x than say a Lexus or Infiniti, never mind a Honda. He had a recent model himself and sold it after a couple years because he couldn't handle the costs and he was doing all the work himself! I recently had two friends offer to sell me their 2006 5-series because their 4 year maintenance coverage is about to end and don't want to deal with the costs. Not trying to argue with anyone, and I'm sure there are people that don't deal with a lot of costs, but hearing this goes against everything I read and heard when I did my research a couple months ago. None of this means you shouldn't get one...shoot the 335 sport I drove was amazing...just need to think about these things going in.

 

[Unknownsoldier]

It is like that in the US too. The prices of BMW and Mercedes is insane here. In Germany, they are much cheaper and are driven by everyone. Police officers in Bavaria have BMWs and some others have Mercedeses.

Quite a few British police cars are BMW's (a lot of 545s and X3's etc with a few Rangy's too).

$20K thats insanely low! Wish I could have paid that :-( However a lot of my US friends have been "bitchin' " about costs for the last year saying how expensive it is to fill their tanks etc. and I just point out to them that a 45 litre fuel tank costs me around 40-50 (going on my rule of roughly doubling pounds to dollars, thats about $100 for a tank, closer to $200 on my Rangy) quid to fill on my Honda, hows that for insane when they could fill a tank with a dollar and get change! (I know slight exaggeration... but they didn't realise how lucky they were on fuel prices). Also noticed they seemed to suffer on fuel quality and Ron rating though, we get 95 Ron as standard and 99 Ron as premium, one friend claimed 90 Ron is standard and 95 hard to find?

So it's swings and roundabouts really... pick what you want grab it and hang on for the ride at the moment with the economy the way it is........... One reason for only getting my honda in a 1.8 Vtec, it is the least thirsty of my work cars.....

Tom

 

[Leche]

and I just point out to them that a 45 litre fuel tank costs me around 40-50 (going on my rule of roughly doubling pounds to dollars, thats about $100 for a tank, closer to $200 on my Rangy)

How much of that is taxes? I understand England taxes the hell out of fuel.

 

[Unknownsoldier]

How much of that is taxes? I understand England taxes the hell out of fuel.

Not 100&#37; sure as tax is levied on each part of the production/refinement process and on the final product, but from the net:

roughly 81.5% of the price of our fuel, so if we say 80% for arguments sake, then with fuel costing 101.9, rounding down to 100p per litre, that 80p in the pound of our fuel bill is tax.... so at roughly 100 pounds to fill my tank on my rangy, 80 pounds of that is tax, and 20 pounds is actual "fuel".

http://www.petrolprices.com/fuel-tax.html

Disgusting huh!

That's without the near enough 500 pounds road tax (my Honda and BMW are about 155 pounds per year), we pay a hefty penalty for driving a 4X4 vehicle.......

Tom