It's time for a new car. Is this a good buy?

[Evan]

I was shopping for something in this market of cars last year.
my impressions

IS250 awd: overall the best fit and finish, best seats, looks nice. good handling but a little slow
BMW 328/325: pure shit inside, was falling apart even at 30k miles, sluggish throttle response. VERY dissapointed and surprised how bad it was.
07 G35x: a little bigger, by far the best engine, handles great, throttle touchy, not quite as polished interior or as good options as the lexus. best overall if you want the hp. my wife's fave, ended up buying this one. (I actually preferred the lexus)

all these cars were in the ~$25k range last year, should be sub $20k by now

[mrbaggio]

Oh I'm liking the E90 idea.

What about the E46 M3. Looks to cost a bit more than the 330i listings I was looking at and rarer. Anything else I should worry about if I look at that car?

[Dave]

I like the 540i. The major concern is the typically higher mileage on those cars and the size. Is there a respectable 3 series that won't blow up and force me to sue BMW?

Believe it or not, the E90 3 series and E39 5 series are damn near the same size.


And the E39 is mo betta.

[.RJ]

I'd take an E46 M3 coupe over the E39 or E90. Fantastic looking car.

My $.02

[D_Eclipse9916]

Weak rear subframes and avoid anything till after '02 as the earlier models had bearing issues. Gorgeous cars tho.

[Beej]

Long time no post, but I figured I'd chime in - I picked up an e46 M3 ('05, 44k miles) about a month and a half ago, and I have about 3k miles in it so far.

Absolutely love the thing. I wouldn't get anything earlier than a MY03.5+ (difference in model years here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://m3.madrussian.net/modelchanges.shtml">http://m3.madrussian.net/modelchanges.shtml</a><!-- m -->), though they're all pretty solid. The bearing issue is pretty much a moot point by now - most, if not all, have been fixed. I'm still learning about these cars, but here are some random things to know about:

1) Rear subframe mounting points have been known to tear (supposedly only on abused cars), but there's a class action lawsuit...dealers were (maybe still are?) inspecting and fixing for free, but I don't know when that ends (I'm still CPO'd). Get a PPI.
2) Inspection I's ($500-800) every 30k miles, Inspection II's every 60k miles ($1000-1500).
3) Oil changes are expensive - about $90 or so just for oil (Castrol TWS 10w-60) and filter kit. BMW recommends every 15k miles, but most shoot for at least half that.
4) Rear tires don't last long.
5) I've read the usual forum bit about vanos and coil pack issues - don't know if they're anecdotal/internet-y or widespread.
6) Lotta guys that drive them are douchebags.
7) Coupla good stickies here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9">http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9</a><!-- m -->

I've rented an e90 328i and the e46 is just much more everything - faster, louder, better looking, harsher, more fun. I've been surprised by the rawness of it, but it's still a BMW, and way nicer than my S2000 and STi were.

Oh, and get a 3 pedaled one.

[PDenbigh]

4) Rear tires don't last long.

Ha ha....

I tend to have that problem with anything I drive too...

[Ole]

Get a truck. When some moron hits you in an accident, you laugh it off. Haul all your crap in the event you need to escape town (zombie attack, hell just run 'em over....will that work? I haven't read the Preparedness thread). If you get a diesel you can be green and use Hunan Chef's old oil if you can stand the smell of kung pao chicken all day. People avoid you in traffic like the plague. Chicks dig trucks (at least mine does). Then get a dedicated track car and get your jollies in a facility that has all the safety requirements in case you introduce your front bumper to a tire wall....

[Goodspeed]

http://jalopnik.com/5673678/bmw-recallin...fuel-pumps

[mrbaggio]

No truck and no track car.

I had settled on the 330i as my top pick at the moment.

What does this recall REALLY mean? They have been replacing the pumps now without finding a working solution. Is this different? Does it make sense to now start looking at the 335, or is it not worth the gamble?

[D_Eclipse9916]

nope, they "think" they have the right fuel pump now but its still speculation. They also flash the car (to make it slower) because the turbos blades also like to asplode. Why would you ever want a turbo car from BMW? NA for the win in BMWs. (and no hating on turbos too much cause I still eye Evos every now and then.)

[WRXtranceformed]

That HPFP issue is no secret, it's been covered up by BMW from day one. I've heard about cars driving right off the lot and going into limp mode. I guess I just don't get folks infatuation with BMWs...the older ones I can see the allure of but newer models are so played out. Every other dickhead yuppie and his surguried-out wife drives one. And don't get me started on the new M3s...I swear every time I see someone driving one of those around here they automatically feel entitled to drive like complete assholes.

[mrbaggio]

I assure you I will drive like an asshole regardless of the badges on the car. (i kid...kinda)

[WRXtranceformed]

Haha I feel you, I'm the first to admit that I'm no passive driver but I definitely don't do stuff that could cause an accident like I've seen a lot of people in NoVA and NC do.

[mrbaggio]

I went the BMW 330i route. Got a good price and it had all the goodies I wanted. Thanks for all the help.

[G.Irish]

I went the BMW 330i route. Got a good price and it had all the goodies I wanted. Thanks for all the help.

Got any pics?

nope, they "think" they have the right fuel pump now but its still speculation. They also flash the car (to make it slower) because the turbos blades also like to asplode. Why would you ever want a turbo car from BMW? NA for the win in BMWs. (and no hating on turbos too much cause I still eye Evos every now and then.)

Yeah that's kind of how I feel. I don't trust BMW turbos just yet. Like the 1M for instance. If it had a NA engine pushing 340 hp I'd be much more interested in it. With the twin-turbo I'm not sure how it'd hold up. Then again when the E46 M3 came out with its high power NA-6 that didn't turn out so well...

[mrbaggio]

I have a few on my cell. Hosting suggestions?

[Apoc]

Facebook

[mrbaggio]

Does that work?

[Mike]

you did it. that thing broke my douchemeter. buy it. now.