Ask the Car People.SM


Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16087 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 9:32 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Acura TL, Lexus IS 350, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60, Audi A4, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1556 of 1609

#15548 of 16087 Re: 320i [flightnurse] by habitat1

Jan 18, 2013 (10:42 am)

Replying to: flightnurse (Jan 18, 2013 9:12 am)
Flight,
 
You conveniently avoided my previous post with an excerpt from Dinan's own website that forewarned that, essentially, there is no free lunch and "reflashing" will result in greater engine stress and wear. Go back to my previous post for the direct quote or read through their homepage.
 
And Dinan's willingness to match BMW's 4/50 engine warranty is not much consolation when modern engines should easily last 150k+ miles. Hell, I could probably do fine over the next month or two having a 5 hour energy drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But I don't think that would be a wise long term solution to just eating right and getting exercise.
 
I don't know the percentage of daily driving 3-series buyers that go to their local Dinan store for a pick me up to try to turn their 328's into 335's and their 335's into M3's. But my guess is the percentage can be counted using less than the fingers on one hand - and a thumb isn't a finger. I do know that the resale value of an everyday BMW that has had the "reflash" or other engine modifications is significantly reduced. And I suspect that it's not permitted in a lease. It certainly will never qualify for a BMW CPO warranty.
 
So the idea of reflashing a 320 might be an option for you and a handful of your buddies, but that's really not comparing factory apples to factory apples for 96%+ of the market. Maybe 99%.

#15549 of 16087 Re: 320i [nyccarguy] by stickguy

Jan 18, 2013 (11:41 am)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Jan 17, 2013 9:02 pm)
I was checking out the website at the local BMW dealer recently. Some nice 2010s (maybe 11s also?) and the service loaners looked like a particularly good deal.
 
I really want one. Someday. I guess 6 years from now when I might be able to buy myself another car, I may be able to afford a 2010!
 
I had such a great plan. Get me wife the 2007 X3 I found for a good price, then get me a slightly used 328 for every day duty, and something cheaper for my daughter. Would have been the same price in total of what we ended up getting (3 cars), but I would not be stuck with the cheap old one!
 
she just got hung up on having to have a brand new car.

#15550 of 16087 Re: 320i [stickguy] by andys120

Jan 18, 2013 (5:14 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 18, 2013 11:41 am)
Stickguy, I resisted the siren call of BMWs for most of my adult life because new ones always seem just a bit too expensive. I passed up on the 2002s, 320is and the wonderful E90s until one fine day I stopped in at a BMW reseller near my office and priced second-hand E39s.
 
I ended up getting a 4 y/o 2000 328ia for about half the original MSRP. I've put 100,000 miles on it in the eight years since and it still looks and runs great. That strategy was so successful that I decided last winter to get a 2001 330Ci Cabrio to serve as my winter ride while I'm in Arizona for the cold months. This particular car had just under 80K on it and cost about what a new Focus would. It has given me no problems at all thus far.
 
BMWs have a pretty steep depreciation curve. Why not take advantage of the fact that so many of them are leased (with strict limits on yearly mileage)
and grab a lightly used one.
 
Buying used is the best way to enjoy Bimmers IMO.

#15551 of 16087 Re: 320i [habitat1] by flightnurse

Jan 18, 2013 (6:10 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 18, 2013 10:42 am)
Simple you have the money to spread around multi dealership trying to decided what you want to buy, we all get that. There are people who can not, so that is why turner companies are out there and have done very well. Dinan works with BMW, anytime Dinan does any work, whether it is stage 1 suspension kit or supercharger kit, the VIN # is sent to BMW. The failure rate for Dinan engine work is very low, about the same as BMW themselves. So having an Dinan or just go to your local BMW dealer and buy a B7 from ALPINA. Turners today are the what they were 20 years ago, I would only work with turners who have a working relationship with the manufacture, i.e Dinan.
 
So I understand you don't like tuners, that is fine, others do. There are many guys on Bimmerfest who would tell something else, I just love watching the videos they post of 335i's playing with 911S on the freeway and the 911 guys doesn't get it... A couple of guys have 90K on their 335i that are making 440hp RWHP they have been from day one of ownership (original owners.) havn't had any major engine problems.

#15552 of 16087 Re: 320i [flightnurse] by sweendogy

Jan 18, 2013 (6:16 pm)

Replying to: flightnurse (Jan 18, 2013 9:12 am)
Funny but a loaded ford focus could have a boatload more tech then a 180 hp BMW- and also be cheaper and very close in performance -
 
Shark has been jumped -

#15553 of 16087 Re: 320i [flightnurse] by habitat1

Jan 18, 2013 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: flightnurse (Jan 18, 2013 6:10 pm)
I didn't disagree that Dinan is one of the best, most reputable tuners around. And they can be a relatively good bang for the buck in performance. I simply restated what they stated on their website: asking more out of a smaller engine will besult in more engine wear. So my take is that somebody that is very performance minded, goes to the track on occasion or regularly and doesn't care about shaving some life off the second 100,000 miles on the engine, the Dinan option is a viable one. But for those that are counting on the car being a daily driver for 8-10 years and do not want to take the risk of Dian's admittedly increased engine wear, might think twice.
 
I have a friend who took his 996 Turbo to over 600hp/650 ft lbs at the wheels through a Porsche approved tuner as well. The car has been timed at under 10 seconds in the quarter mile, putting him a few tenths and a couple million dollars ahead of a Bugatti Veyron, so yes, I understand the economics. I just still don't see you acknowledging the increased engine wear factor - whether or not that is of importance to you, it will be to many.

#15554 of 16087 Re: 320i [andys120] by stickguy

Jan 18, 2013 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (Jan 18, 2013 5:14 pm)
oh, if I get one, it for sure will be used.

#15555 of 16087 Re: 320i [dino001] by nyccarguy

Jan 18, 2013 (10:03 pm)

Replying to: dino001 (Jan 18, 2013 6:37 am)
You had to say "I told you so?"

#15556 of 16087 Re: 320i [stickguy] by nyccarguy

Jan 18, 2013 (10:08 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 18, 2013 11:41 am)
You probably could have sold your wife on that used X3, if she didn't test drive her RDX.
 
I've never bought used before (for a daily driver/primary car), but if my next ride is a BMW (whether I buy out my lease at the end or buy a lower mileage E90), I'm going to dip into the used market.
 
I LOVE my 328xi! It is truly a fantastic car that suits my needs perfectly.

#15557 of 16087 Re: 320i [stickguy] by kyfdx HOST

Jan 19, 2013 (8:20 am)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 18, 2013 7:55 pm)
If I buy a coupe, I can go as late as 2012 on a BMW, and still get the straight six.... So.... buy one of those in 2016 and drive it for six years... that gets me to 64 yrs old...
 
So, I'm not worried about the 4-cyl turbos.....

Messages Page 1556 of 1609

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement