BMW Car Owners, How many

[tourer]

I was wondering, How many here own a Bimmer ( BMW car ) in addition to a BMW bike?
If you do, do you find the cars as rugged/versatile as the bikes?

[DJ Downunder]

I wish.. ..I'd love an X5...btw..the new X7 looks amazing...meanwhile I'll keep buying lotto tickets.

DJ

[R4R&R]

My brother-in-law has two mid-80's 3 series. One he bought new and it has close to 300,000 miles on it. But it hasn't been problem free. He's replaced the head gasket a few times, rebuilt the head, and eventually rebuilt the bottom end (all unrelated). Suspension and steering, he's gone through that too. I'm not talking 'upgrades', but OEM replacement parts. Considering the miles, it's been a good car. He picked up another 318 since he knows how to work on them so well.

I wouldn't mind getting a 5 series, but out of my price range. I like the old 2002's and wouldn't mind picking one up to restore, but I don't have the extra money at this time.

At least in my area most people seem to buy them as a status symbol, not for a 'sports' car. I look at most people driving them and wonder if they are a true auto enthusiast.

[yjleesvrr]

I bought an '02 325i new back in October of 2001. It's been great so far. It drives like no other car and is almost as much fun to drive as it is to ride a motorcycle. It's had no problem thus far.

I recommend them.

[Caroanbill]

I know lots of BMW riders who are BMW drivers - 'cept we tend to buy new bikes but (very) used cars.

My current drive is a low mileage 2000 528i (E39), bought six years old with 58,000 km (36,000m) on the odometer (and a factory warranty). I've had an older, higher mileage E39 too. I used to have a high mileage 1985 323i (E30). Old Beemers drive very well, provided you look after the suspension. I looooove the striaght six motors (my current M52 is my all-time favourite)

A few mates have observed that high mileage (250,00km / 150,000m) Benz motors and gearboxes seem to require less work than do Beemer ones - probably true on my experience. Beemer sixes seem to need real work around 150,000 miles. Beemer systems also get very old at that mileage - you can either do without them (if they're luxuries) or spend lotsa cash refuribishing them. Expect new discs every 60,000m (about $1,000), suspension bushes about the same ($500-$1,000) and a variety of struts, pumps etc. None will be cheap if you keep the car original and dealer-serviced.

The great thing is that you get a serious drive for the price of a new medium car. Best buys are end of lease company cars, and 5series here are about the best value second hand - their depreciation from new is spectacular, and unlike 3series they tend to be neither runabouts nor substitute sports cars. Here, 5 year old 3series six is the same price as (or more expensive than) a 5series six - and the 5series is a lot more car. I use mine as a touring saloon, and get better fuel comsumption than any comparable medium car .. with some serious oomph if I want, a simply fabulous ride and plenty of sports cars get surprised by the handling.

A mate runs two lonmg wheelbase 735s - 1984 and 1993. Both run very reliably, have only reasonable cost to run with non-dealer doing servicing. For roughly the purchase and running cost of a 5year old family sedan, you get a seriously (seriously) competent touring saloon. A few years ago, some mates were taking the 1984 to meet him and argued about the distance they'd come until one realised it was a UK-spec car with a speedo in miles (not km) ... and they'd been doing about 120(MILES per hour) around some very twisty and bumpy roads - not bad for a 20year old car.

I'd love a lwo-mileage 3 litre diesel X5, but they're out of my price range as yet.

Old BM bikes seem a lot cheaper to run ...

[TonyT607]

I have been the happy owner of a 1996 328is since March 1996. Bought the car new and love it. I took it to the UK when I moved there in 1998 and brought the car back to the USA in August 2000. The car has had zero problems other than a couple of small things, and the rear subframe mounts were reinfoced. Although the car has been heavily modified, it looks almost bone stock; like a million other 3 series out there... the only visible changes are the 17" M3 wheels. NO wings, spoilers, blacked out windows, etc. The lighting (white lenses, rear fog lights) was changed to comply with UK reqs. The car was factory-ordered with every available option and since it has so much Dinan content it was re-badged by Dinan Engineering as a " DINAN 3 ". It currently has 122K miles:

And yes it is as almost as much fun to drive as the ST....I have no plans to replace this car ( I only drive a couple of times a week) but if I do it will be with another 3 series coupe.

[1stBeemer]

My wife is currently driving a 2007 X3si, previously she had a 328i sedan.
I have a 2004 X5 3.0i 6-speed manual and my lease runs out at the end of September. Seing how BMW royally screwed me with the new X5 (no more stick-shift), I am looking at the new turbo-engine the *35i series. Test drove the 3 and the 5 and, oh man, those things go over speed limit on IDLE, but what a blast!!!!! The closest (affodable) cage to our bikes.
I'd love to get an M5 or at least the 8 cylinder 550, but that is seriously out of my budget.
You know what they say........once you go German..........

[deilenberger]

Sure... I've had more of the 4 wheel ones than the 2 wheel ones..

Current is a E46/M3 convertible (mine) and a 525i"Touring" (wagon) - SWMBO's. The E39/525iT we leased new and then bought it out, the M3 I bought used about 2 years ago. Others that I owned: E36/M3 convertible, E39/528i, the original M-Coupe (very special car..), E34/525i, E28/535i.

As someone else mentioned - the I6 BMW engine is really special.

[boxermania]

Had the pleasure to own the following:

1985 BMW 535 - The wife's, great car, the exposed fuses were a pain for her to deal with when some of the car functions stopped suddenly. Traded for a 1991 Acura legend.....need to keep the better half happy

1988 BMW E30 M3 - Black with red interior, 40 K miles, a fun car, still have.

1986 BMW 635 CSI - Red with black interior, 196,000+ miles, lowered and suspended, chip and exhaust, great car, runs like a top....correction ran like a top. Haven't run in 2 years.

1988 BMW 740I - White with black interior, best highway car ever owned, you could take a nap at 110 mph.......excessive maintenance forced retirement......tired of paying tickets.

Loved all those models, truly, I don't care a bit about the new BMW models they look like krap.....the little C Series Mercedes are the best looking new models, the Pontiac GP takes a well deserved second and the Toyota Camry third, in my book.

[ken k]

I can only afford two BMW wheels......

Someday when I grow up perhaps. I would love a 3 series convertible.

ken k

[sweatmark]

Had a much-loved '95 318ti, philosophically the Bimmer equivalent to the R1150R. Went to a good Bimmer home when it started collecting dust in the garage, but only after I'd driven the car enthusiastically at local club track days (highly recommended).

Don't care for the recent trend in BMW car design. Confident the Driving Machine heritage is being faithfully served, but the cars are looking sketchy compared to 70s-80s-90s restrained design.

[Caroanbill]

Don't care for the recent trend in BMW car design. ... the cars are looking sketchy compared to 70s-80s-90s restrained design.

Abso-blinking-lutely. My favourites are E28 '80s 5 series (yes, no accountin' for taste); E30 '80s 3 series (so well balanced and restrained) and of course E39 late '90s 5 series (though the nose does 'droop' a bit too much. the E53 X5 kind grows on me

Funnily enough, the E46 (late '90s 3 Series) is growing on me - never thought it would. Don't mind a few views of the E90, but it'll never be a favourite (well, maybe a well-used 330dT, if ever ...). The E34 5 series looked OK to me until the E39 showed what a clunky design it was.

Hates: E36 3 series, E60 5 Series (interior is worse than exterior), E65 7 Series, Exx (anything) 1-series (blech) E83 X3 (just a 'nothing' design).

Annuvver gripe: tyre too low profile and run-flats. I couldn't use any E60 aroudn my town - 50 aspect ratio run flat tyres are just too impractical and too uncomfortable.

Wishlist ... a 530d touring with AWD and a slightly higher ride height, and maybe less claustrophobic cabin than the E60. Never, and I could never afford it anyway. So maybe a 3.0d X5, one day ...

[OU812]

Owned a 84 528E when I got married, as I had a 87 K100LT also. Sold both. STUPID!

[hirsty]

We have an X5 3.0D, which is excellent - bought half price at 3-years old I hasten to add ...

I also had a '99 728i for a while a few years back, again, an excellent car & a bit quicker than I expected.

[fnfalman]

Z4 3.0i here. Should have spent the money on more motorcycles.

[tourer]

I've been looking at the 3 series used, something like 1999 to 2004.
Alot of these cars, in my price range ( up to $23,000 ) have 65K to 85K miles on them.
Has anyone here ever bought a Pre-Owned Cetified car?
If the car has 75,000 miles on it, is it really worth ( $18,000 ) as a daily driver over a new domestic brand ( GM, Ford, Chrysler )?

[KevinB]

I just picked up a 328xi at the Performance Center. That is the best kept secret. I got a chance to drive the new twin turbo 335i on their test track and skid pad. Very sweet. Also a new X-5 on their off road course and a new 650i with sequential manual gearbox. All very nice. My daily ride is an 04 1150r, that is until yesterday when I got a rear flat on the slab. Now I'm waiting for new sneakers!

[Caroanbill]

Has anyone here ever bought a Pre-Owned Cetified car?
:

My 2000 528i Exec is certfied - a little extra peace of mind, but you forgo the lower non-dealer prices to get it. FWIW, I have found that Aussie premium brand dealers aren't really trying to squeeze cash from their used cars. Sure, the price is high, but then they'll do so much more for you that the car winds up being reasonable value - and you get fantastic service (same experience with my partners' used Volve XC70).

Also, look for the point where price plummets - such as the difference between the 530 and the 528 because of the 530's new motor - you see them same between a 325 and a 323 or even between a 330 and a 328. You get much the same car, much the same mileage, for significantly less.

BTW, you'll get far better value buying 5 or 7 series. 3 series value stay up for a longer.

As for daily driver, these cars have complex systems and they cost $$ to maintain. Also, as they pass through 100,000m you see (i) further price drop and (ii) fewer dealers or private buyers want anything that long in the tooth.

I solved the problem by buying with 36,000m: the lowest mileage 528 on the market at the time. Even if I sell after 5 years, it'll still be under 100,000m and I'll have more flexibility (dealers will handle the car) and better price. I'll probably trade to a dealer on another low mileage used car (even though I know they'll wholesale the 528 anyway).

[MartinW]

I have owned several BMWs over the years including 2 x 2002 cabriolets. I love them. Currently 'my other vehicle' is a Fiat Panda 1.3 Turbdiesel although I'm hoping to add a K1200S to the stable soon.

[daveysew]

2 years ago a shift in work required me to carry equipment with me while on the road for work... enter the need for a Z4. A wonderful toy for both the road and the track with a pinch more storage space than the bike, but you can fit 2 sets of golf clubs in the trunk. As it would be irresponsible to drive such a car in the snow I also picked up a 1988 325iX. A great car with 200k km on it and I just replaced the stock starter last November.

There not cheap, but they do make products that are fun to drive.

dave