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Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series - What to do when the CPO period ends?
19 messages, Last post on Jun 02, 2009 at 12:34 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: skgolfer (Dec 23, 2008 7:41 pm) Your dealer is trying to skin you. Bad. Pads and rotors for all four wheels of my wife's 2004 X3 cost less than $1000 at my dealer. And the Inspection II cost less than $400. They might be trying to scare you into a newer car. That's not unheard of. Now it could be that this dealer is trying pad his profit. That's the understatement of the year. Grand Larceny is more like it. What kind of discounts do the BMW clubs actually provide There is only one BMW Club in the US- the BMW Car Club of America. Many dealers and indie shops offer discounts of 10%-20% on parts and/or labor. Note that some unscrupulous dealers and shops charge 20%-30% over MSRP for parts, so the "discount" is really no such thing. I suspect that your dealer plays the same game. |
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Replying to: roadburner (Dec 23, 2008 7:29 pm)  The '98 3 series of one friend got very squirrely around 80K, with the typical cooling system issues, another friend's 325is is pretty good at 110K but eats fuel pumps and has its share of electrical gremlins. My buddy's 7 series has been a disaster. The '99 5 series of my friend's parents has been the best of the bunch at about 105K, but did have AC issues and again electrical glitches. I have incredibly good "luck" with cars too but I don't call it luck. I'm really diligent and I head off trouble before it starts. I spend a lot of time with my cars, looking 'em over. Also have a great network for repairs and parts. So I give credit to anyone who can run a modern car at such low cost. |
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I'm currently on my 4th 3 Series. I've followed "sell-before-this-date" rule on three of them.... and I think that's the way to go. They're desirable cars that are easy to sell while still under CPO and command a (slight) premium because you can tell the buyer "If you have any problems, you're still under warranty". After that's gone, you're dependent on having all your stamps in your service book. Otherwise people are leary of high milage old BMW's. Additionally, my E-46 had several interesting problems that were no big deal under warranty but would have been annoying if I'd been paying. All four window regulators  $500 a pop. Four of six coils. No thanks. Having said that, I bought my wife a 328i in 1998. She has driven it 51K miles in the last 10 years. It's a wonderful car, and she doesn't want to replace it, and frankly, it's just fine and will be for years to come. However, it is still comparatively expensive to own, if one does (and I do) all the required maintenance ( regular oil changes regardless of milage, brake fluid, antifreeze flushes), and takes care of (and I do) every even minor thing that needs attention. Thoes little things ain't cheap. A Harmon-Kardon tweeter got old and failed - that was $100 or so for the speaker itself and another $150 or so to have replaced.... and there are 8 or 10 speakers. By the way, it also required a new radiator when the original failed for no particular reason. Oh - and I almost forget that I had to replace all the suspension bushings recently.....another $1500 for no reason except age. Me? I'd sell and get another one.
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Replying to: lokki (Dec 24, 2008 10:31 am) My own personal rating for BMWs "bell curve" is "average reliability", nothing too bad, nothing too great. A bit "iffy" IMO. so your post-CPO experience is most likely going to be "iffy". In terms of driving experience, styling, resale, etc., they are tops. |
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I'd agree that the reliability is average..... and that the repair costs are perhaps above average. As a former Alfa owner, I view the repair and maintenance costs as part of the price of ownership - the price you pay for the rest of the BMW experience - but worth it. Having said that, the maintenance costs are the reason I'll probably never have a Porsche. I can afford the entry costs easily.... I'm not so sure about the ownership costs. My pockets are deep enough for BMW ownership (helped by their built-in maintenance program or the CPO) but a Porsche! You're talking boat money when you talk Porsche repairs!
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Replying to: lokki (Dec 24, 2008 10:39 am) |
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Replying to: skgolfer (Dec 23, 2008 7:15 am)
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Replying to: JunkOwner (Jan 07, 2009 7:12 pm) I will run it by my mechanic for a once over before I make a final decision. Its been a great car for my 3 years/40,000 miles. |
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| I own a 2007 328xi with about 40K miles. Its certainly had a few minor problems that have been fixed under the original warranty. What do people think of getting BMW's extended warranty when the car hits 50K? What should it cost? Is it negotiable? What's generally covered? What are the down sides? | |
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I just got a 2003 325i, with 69,000 miles on it, for $12500 out the door. It looks great and runs fine, to me. I took it to an indy BMW guy, who checked it out and told me I got a good one. I figured for the price, I could spring for the maintenance, but as I read people's laundry lists of problems, I find myself wondering if it's worth it. Do most people have these fuel pump, bushing, tail light issues or do some, many, or most, and do they happen to be the ones that hang out in web forums? Are these typical maintenance issues or exceptions? I'd never get another VW, because they seem so problem prone, yet I know others who get them and drive them to death. Basically, what I'm asking is this: Are BMWs with more than 50K miles just hobby cars, better left to those who enjoy working on them, or can they be somewhat practically enjoyed and relied upon for transportation?  Thanks so much.
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