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Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier
30002 messages, Last post on Oct 06, 2008 at 9:07 AM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
I own a 2003 BMW 325i. Took the car to the dealer for the 60,000 miles service. Dealer says that the front Lower Control Arm and bushings are worn out and needs to be replaced. Quoted me $1200. Was thinking of going to an independent mechanic. Any recommendation on a mechanic in Fairfield County Connecticut / Westchester County NY? is $1200 reasonable for this repair?
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Replying to: memphis10 (May 21, 2008 7:52 am)  $700. Labor costs depend on the local area. If you are a BMW CCA member I would check with local chapter members and see who they recommend
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I need to replace my wifes `92 volvo740T wagon. It has 175Kmiles and I'm not going to mess w/ the AC repair (aka money pit) and that is a deal breaker for the little lady. I found a $10K 2000 323iT auto w/ 65K, premium pkg, all maint. records included, good shape, etc. that seems to fit our needs but it is 500 miles from my home. What should I watchout for when I go test drive it?
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| I've seen this '05 E46 325xi with 49K & a stick for sale in the paper by one of these mega dealerships....They're asking $10,995 for a BMW still under factory warranty! | |
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Replying to: peterock (May 22, 2008 8:29 pm) If you don't know BMWs, you should really have the car inspected by a qualified BMW tech. At 65K you are probably looking at a water pump in the near future, but that job is pretty simple. Check to see if all the power windows work. As for the maintenance history, was the DOT4 brake fluid changed evert two years? Coolant every three, using BMW Coolant ONLY? Has the ATF ever been changed? What were the oil change intervals and what oil was used? The E46 3ers are pretty durable overall, and they are common enough that you should only consider well-maintained cars. |
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I did some digging on the NY Chapter's BMWCCA website and found a place to have my '90 E30 325iA checked out & serviced. The place used to be a BMW dealer and was actually where my BMW was originally purchased (I know because they're badge is still on the back of the car). I had AAA come and jump the car and it fired right up. I'm going to have the indie shop align the car, take care of the electrical problems, and check the car out to make sure it is safe for me to start driving on a regular basis. I'll let you know what they come up with. |
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So I'm thinking of aborting project BMW. As I posted above, I drove my 1990 E30 325iA to a very reputable indie mechanic to deal with its alignment, electrical issues, and general well being. Well, I got a call this morning. They told me the power steering pump (leaking) and hoses (cracked & leaking) need to be replaced, the driveshaft is cracked, the radiator is leaking (new radiator plus flush & fill)... and this is before they even tell me what's wrong with the electrical system (alarm?). $2500 + tax. I knew that I was going to have to sink some money into this car, but not this much right away. If it was going to be more of a gradual thing, then it might be easier to swallow. I was a little bummed at first, but I am proud of myself that I actually went out on a whim and bought this car (not my style at all) in the first place. I'm trying to sell my condo and buy a house, so every last dollar counts. There will be another car one day down the road.
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Replying to: nyccarguy (Jun 05, 2008 7:34 pm) |
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Replying to: nyccarguy (Jun 05, 2008 7:34 pm) |
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Replying to: nyccarguy (Jun 05, 2008 7:34 pm) Well you could do most of this work yourself--the radiator for instance, and the power steering lines. The pump might be a bit tougher. I don't remember whether you said this was a pristine car or not. At the 1990 level, a BMWs value is based primarily on how it looks, not how it runs. If you had a battered 325 sedan that you paid $1,500 for, with dents, ripped upholstery and dinged up trim, and you put a brand new factory engine and transmission in it, you'd get about $1,500 for it.  So I'd base your decision on the current cosmetics, if you don't mind my two cents. visiting host |
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