Summer car hunting

mcgsxr · « **on:** 3 May 2017, 08:03 pm »

I may be looking to get into a mid sized sport sedan.

Having owned a BMW 318Ti I have some experience with what the maintenance can cost as an import ages.

But I know little about the 535i turbo motor. Anyone have a recent one that can comment?

I am not sure I want the XDrive, but the majority of 2012 and 2013's I see in my budget mostly do have that setup. A few have the M Sport package too.

Kids are early teens. They fit in my 2009 Ford Fusion fine so I expect it will be good for taking all 4 of us as required. My wife's 2014 Acura RDX is the main people mover, but we all have to fit if needed.

I most often commute by train or plane these days so annual mileage will be very low, likely around 5-8K miles a year.

I have even seen the odd 550i in my price and mileage constraints. But they are all 2011 and I worry about the first model year of any car as a purchase vs a lease.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 May 2017, 03:09 am »

I've heard that the non turbo 328s are more reliable.

For some seriously fun driving: GTI.

Folsom · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 May 2017, 07:29 am »

Any 3 series is going to be more reliable. Non-turbo anything is always more reliable. But BMW hasn't been making non-turbos...

mcgsxr · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 May 2017, 01:20 pm »

Sure, there are many sports car options for the same $.

Not looking for a sports car. Want a sedan.

I will have to go see a 335 and see if it is large enough in the back.

Oddly, for the same $ I see 335, 535, 550, and 750!

I will assume that as you go "up" in car, the maintenance woes increase.

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 May 2017, 01:41 pm »

Quote from: mcgsxr on 4 May 2017, 01:20 pm

Sure, there are many sports car options for the same $.

Not looking for a sports car. Want a sedan.

I will have to go see a 335 and see if it is large enough in the back.

Oddly, for the same $ I see 335, 535, 550, and 750!

I will assume that as you go "up" in car, the maintenance woes increase.

FWIW,

I have/had a 2011 335 and 2009 M3 sedan and both had plenty of room in the backseat for adults of a good size.

That said, the 5 series will obviously have more room.

For both of my 3 series cars, I have had zero issues and have performed only scheduled maintenance.

George

Gopher · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 May 2017, 02:05 pm »

What kind of plans do you have for the car? Are you the type of person who would get into modding the vehicle? The N55 platform does have some potential which is recently starting to be tapped.

I weighed a similar choice of an e60 535i and f10 535i and ended up going the e60 route. For me the e60 felt like a more connected car to the road. Others have described the e60 as feeling like a slightly bigger 3 series with the f10 feeling like a slightly smaller 7 series.

If you want a luxurious cruiser with solid get up and go and don't plan to mod or do much more than a tune I say go for the F10. If you want to beat on the car and try to hit big power numbers on the n55 motor, understand reliability (and modder support) won't be great and you'll encounter some frustrations on your journey.

nc42acc · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 May 2017, 04:37 pm »

Stay away from the 550i unless you can get a CPO vehicle. Several major engine weak spots could cost you big league. I have a M235i with the N55 engine. Only issues I know about is a weak charge pipe prone to blow off and break. With the Dinan P3 kit on my M235i it makes the N55 a beast. YMMV.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 May 2017, 04:44 pm »

If not CPO, look at CarMax cars and get their warranty. Carmax charges a premium but that warranty may make it worthwhile.

nc42acc · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 May 2017, 05:28 pm »

I agree on the Carmax warranty. If you are unsure about it and its coverage please watch this video.

https://youtu.be/FvJCCoLoKRA

Quote from: roscoeiii on 4 May 2017, 04:44 pm

If not CPO, look at CarMax cars and get their warranty. Carmax charges a premium but that warranty may make it worthwhile.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 May 2017, 05:46 pm »

Appreciate the advice and sharing of personal experience guys.

I grew up riding and racing motorcycles. I know what fast really is. I am not looking to do any of that stuff anymore. It was fun in my youth, but I am looking more for a sport/luxury sedan these days.

The only potential "performance" mod for me these days would be better bass! I am likely to play a little with cosmetic mod, but nothing to engine or powertrain of any kind.

As per usual, I will have to get off my hump and go see a 335 in person to see if it will fit the bill. I know the 535 will, there is one in the neighborhood. I know that the 335 has about 2 inches less rear legroom than my 2009 Fusion. The 535 has roughly the same as the Fusion. The girls are more than comfortable in the Fusion.

It will be hard not to buy the 8 when it "appears" to cost the same as the turbo 6. But I do note that there is little performance advantage, and I recognize the potential for a LOT more $ in maintenance with the larger motor.

I will keep the Fusion for winter and also for the girls to learn to drive in when that happens in the next 2-3 years. The T Bird is on the chopping block to free up garage space and a little $.

Thanks!

nc42acc · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 May 2017, 06:16 pm »

If your budget allows it sounds like you would definitely appreciate the 5 series over the 3 series. If you can find a CPO 550i in your budget I would definitely go take a test drive.

gbaby · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 May 2017, 06:34 pm »

I've owned 4 brand new BMWs and found them to be the worst cars I've own as far as reliability and depreciation.

Dieterle Tool · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 May 2017, 08:27 pm »

^ Damn, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...

Pretty weird first post too.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 May 2017, 08:44 pm »

Quote from: gbaby on 4 May 2017, 06:34 pm

I've owned 4 brand new BMWs and found them to be the worst cars I've own as far as reliability and depreciation.

I've bought 5 used BMWs after they've depreciated out from under the original owners, and all have been great. Maybe they just had to be burned in...

rif · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 May 2017, 09:14 pm »

Do you have your mind set on BMW? Personally, I would avoid the 3 and 5 and 7 series just because everywhere I look, there's another one.

DaveC113 · « **Reply #15 on:** 4 May 2017, 09:15 pm »

My friend just scored an '02 540, M trim with 6sp manual, it's a really nice car. Interestingly enough, it's nearly the same size as my '16 Subaru Impreza STi. I think the new 5 series are too big and the 3 series is about the same or larger than the older 5 series. So for me I'd be looking at the 2 series, imo it's big enough and they are fun to drive and don't cost as much. The new M2 looks pretty sweet imo.

The STi is a bit tightly wound for most but it's well worth a test drive!

As far as a driver's car with great feel, it's hard to beat. Excellent hydraulic steering, amazing transmission and super-stiff chassis... 0-60 in 4.6 and 13.1 in the 1/4 isn't bad but it's not a real fast car by today's standards. I've owned and built some ridiculously fast vehicles before, more power is always better but I also like my 7/100k bumper to bumper warranty these days.

ClefChef · « **Reply #16 on:** 4 May 2017, 11:04 pm »

The N54 direct injection turbo engine has known and well documented problems. The direct injection causes intake manifold carbon deposits that have to be soda (or walnut shell) blasted and that can be costly. Electric water pump and thermostat lasts about 50k and costs a bunch as well. And those damned aluminum stretch bolts everywhere...

Been driving and working on BMW's for quite a while, now driving 2003 540i-M 6sp which I highly recommend - the best engine, period. Also keep low mileage 2004 330i 6sp in the garage...

TomS · « **Reply #17 on:** 5 May 2017, 12:58 am »

The E39 2000-2003 540i 6sp sport is IMHO one of the best cars ever made. Other than a radiator (stupid plastic neck on the stock one) and the occasional O2 sensor (x4), I never had to do much to it. I wish I'd never sold mine or better yet, they still made something like it

DaveC113 · « **Reply #18 on:** 5 May 2017, 02:01 am »

Quote from: TomS on 5 May 2017, 12:58 am

The E39 2000-2003 540i 6sp sport is IMHO one of the best cars ever made. Other than a radiator (stupid plastic neck on the stock one) and the occasional O2 sensor (x4), I never had to do much to it. I wish I'd never sold mine or better yet, they still made something like it

My friend just paid ~$13k for his, it's in excellent shape in and out with 60k miles. I drove it and thought it was a really nice sporty luxury sedan, a bit on the soft side and slow by today's standards but still a really nice car. My friend says there's a nice supercharger kit for about $6k he wants to install but I told him he should have $10k ready to spend before spending the $6k as I imagine that V8 isn't cheap!

Gopher · « **Reply #19 on:** 5 May 2017, 05:23 am »

2003 540i was the best car I've ever owned, but it's getting a bit long at the tooth now. $13k is big money for that car today, even with lower milage but I do see some people asking top dollar for m sports.

The problem with that car isn't just radiator, but the entire cooling system. I'm not sure if this is a frolic or an actual consideration, but if it is, look into zionsville for aftermarket coming system upgrade.