[07E92TT]

I've been looking at used e90's and I finally found the one I've been looking for but it's 300 miles away. Is this rediculously far? Also, I'm 18 and can't rent a car, any other ideas on getting there? Other than the obvious hitchhiking

[bsamoul]

I believe that's kind of far.

[John 070]

If it's a new car dealer, I'd shop within 3500 miles, and then I'd buy it within 10 miles of my house. any dealership can match anyone's legit price, it's a question of if they want to or not. Then if they play the games where they tack on marketing fees etc. If a used car and private party, up to 90 miles. You want to be able to pay a repeat visit to the seller in-person, if something is not on the up-and-up.

[Kylekuu]

no enterprise? I believe they charge under 25 age fee, but still allows you to do 1 way rental. No family members can take you? 300 isn't that bad, especially for the "perfect" car. just don't make yourself feel that since you drove 300 miles there, that you have to buy the car incase it doesn't turn out the way you really really like it. Otherwise you'll get a bad case of buyer's remorse

edit: amtrak and call dealership if they have courtesy pick up

[FLA 335]

1100 miles... adrian avila from south atlanta bmw!

[coh4777]

If it's a reputable seller that you can trust, then you can always have the vehicle shipped to you. That's what I did when I purchased my e92. The dealer was about a 5 hour drive away and while I had the option of flying down there and driving the car back, I decided to just go with the shipping option. Was very happy with how it worked out!

[Nalod]

I bought one 4 hours away.

You got to be prepared to go back home without the car if its not what you thought.

Reasons to reject would be paint condition not up to pictures, body damage repair as not reported in Carfax (sometimes hard to detect). or evidence its been beaten on.

Low mile car will be dealer serviced in first 4 years.

Learn to read a car fax. If it needs new tires frequently there is a problem. Break squeek is comon.

Funny, a car thats been trouble might actually have it all squared by the time it gets sold. Past history is not always determinate of the future.

Drive the car with AC on, widows open, no radio! LIsten, feel. Warn passangers then slam the breaks and look for brake fade.

Take time and look at front end, underneath. Look at suspension parts. Are some pieces new? Look in tire wells. new pieces? Paint? Look for rash on wheels.

Most of all be prepared to walk away.

[ibeclueless]

farthest i would go is 100 miles

[chazzz]

I live in Southern California and I bought a previously-owned 335i at Las Vegas BMW dealer. I purchased 1 way ticket to Las Vegas airport. The BMW salesman picked me up in one of dealer's M3 car at the airport and drove me over to the dealership. Bought the 335i and drove it home (approximately 3.5 to 4 hour drive).
It was fun.

[SitDown]

Im my hunt, I almost flew to salt lake city and so. florida. Both cases were bmw dealers and cars were cpo's. Personally, I wouldnt stray more than a couple hours if the both above didn't apply. Luckily both cars sold before i could work a deal, and a gem rolled into my local dealer with all my req's and lower miles.

The guy below says it all tho...

Originally Posted by Bargamon

Most of all be prepared to walk away.

[machos]

560 miles Richmond VA to Boston MA

[canthink344]

Originally Posted by FLA 335

1100 miles... adrian avila from south atlanta bmw!

1,010 miles (almost)

I bought mine used, one hell of a deal!

[machine]

I had mine shipped from Sarasota FL ---> Blaine, WA

So 3400 miles!

[STONEY_M5]

No Limit... Especially if you are a BMW FANATIC like me...I drove 2hrs away to get mine 3 days in a row... And stayed at the dealer for a min of 4 hrs each day.

[kgb1637]

The PERFECT BMW would be one I order and pick up at my dealer, but thats just me.

[07E92TT]

Well I'm in Gainesville and it's in Miami, it's a cpo'd 335 sedan. I was looking for a manual but that's impossible to find in a sedan with navi and a manual (closest one was like 800 miles away). I think what's going to end up happening is a friend taking me down there and both of us driving back up even though I was trying to avoid two cars on the drive home.

[Kiemyster]

Originally Posted by M335i Oreo Package

No Limit... Especially if you are a BMW FANATIC like me...I drove 2hrs away to get mine 3 days in a row... And stayed at the dealer for a min of 4 hrs each day.

i like your style. not to mention your color choice. good move, and great spirits!

freude am fahren!!!

[coh4777]

Originally Posted by chazzz

I live in Southern California and I bought a previously-owned 335i at Las Vegas BMW dealer. I purchased 1 way ticket to Las Vegas airport. The BMW salesman picked me up in one of dealer's M3 car at the airport and drove me over to the dealership. Bought the 335i and drove it home (approximately 3.5 to 4 hour drive).
It was fun.

Haha i did the opposite of you! I live in Vegas and purchased from a dealer in socal (Orange county)....

[kcgman]

I bought new and was looking at buying from a dealership that was 1200 miles away. However, I ended up buying at a dealership that was only 100+ miles away. On the way back from picking it up, the "service engine soon" light came on. I was midway between the dealership and my home and was just starting to regret the decision to buy so far from home. However, the story has a happy ending. The local BMW service department was quite happy to take a look at the car, but it never got that far. It turns out that the salesman who had shown me the diesel tank hadn't closed the door properly. It must have jarred loose on the drive home.

Anyway, the dealership I ended up buying from was more knowledgeable about their cars (i.e. didn't say things that were completely wrong) and offered prices that were over $2K less than the local dealership. I'd have traveled anywhere in the country for those savings.

[kcgman]

Originally Posted by 07E92TT

Well I'm in Gainesville and it's in Miami, it's a cpo'd 335 sedan. I was looking for a manual but that's impossible to find in a sedan with navi and a manual (closest one was like 800 miles away). I think what's going to end up happening is a friend taking me down there and both of us driving back up even though I was trying to avoid two cars on the drive home.

I don't know how it works with CPO cars, but dealers can and do swap new cars from the lots of other dealers. If you find something online somewhere, you might consider asking your local dealer to see if they can swap for the car. It worked fine on the new car I bought. I don't know how the process works for CPO cars, but perhaps someone here can educate us on that score... someone always does.

[NiVeDh]

I got mine shipped to me from Costa Mesa, CA to Atlanta, GA - about 2200 miles. It was a great deal even with the shipping cost factored in.

[DiVinci]

Originally Posted by M335i Oreo Package

No Limit... Especially if you are a BMW FANATIC like me...I drove 2hrs away to get mine 3 days in a row... And stayed at the dealer for a min of 4 hrs each day.

Top Class

i personally wouldnt put a limit on how far i have to travel to look at or pick a "perfect car" It is a very very small price to pay in the end