[UNCbigM]

Am I crazy? I'm going to be putting 25-30k/year on whatever I buy. I'm considering used 325/328 and 330s (would love a wagon if I can find one without too high a premium) and am looking at cars with <50k miles, though mostly looking at 20-40k.

As I said, am I nuts to be putting that kind of mileage on a bimmer?

My rationale is I'm a car guy. I'm driving about an hour each way four or five days a week and I want to enjoy that drive, hence the desire to own an e90/e91. However, my rational side says consider something that either gets great mileage (Jetta TDI?) or is known for reliability (Honda/Acura) and may actually cost less.

I want the bimmer and I can rationalize it, but am I being dumb to put that kind of mileage on one? Will it cost me a fortune?

Also, anything in particular I need to watch out for in certain model years or one configuration over another? Any issue with the '06s being the first model year? I'm lightly considering 335s but am concerned with putting that kind of mileage on one seeing as I'm reading about some issues with them.

Thanks for the help!

[jopa489]

I put 25k on my E90 the first year. My daily commute is similar to yours - about an hour each way, almost all highway (65 miles). I do have another vehicle I drive sometimes though. You're not crazy, and they really don't cost much more to maintain than other similar cars. Consider buying a CPO with the extended warranty, skip the extended maintenance plan.

And welcome!

[mike3000fl]

the car can handle it, question is whether you can financially. mileage kills the resale value and no one is going to want a bmw with 100,000 miles because of the fear of expensive repairs. Value will also drop when the new 3 comes out.

if you plan on driving it into the ground then go for it. that's what i am doing with my 330i, i have 112,000 miles, bought it in 07 as a CPO with 25000 miles. spent 2009 in iraq without it and still managed to run the miles up, i love driving.

mechanically no issues, couple headlight issues and power seat failure, airbag sensor went out, all covered under warranty.

i would get the 100,000 extended warranty, save the money and dont get the extended maintenance plan (it's just oil, brakes, plugs), use it to do your own fluid changes. anything big will be covered under warranty.

if you plan on keeping it.... increase preventative maintenance.... change the oil more often that 15,000 miles... i do 7500mi changes. if it's an automatic don't listen to the lifetime fluid hype, change it out at 50k and again at 100k.

by 112,000 i was expecting to have a water pump, thermostat, starter, alternator or ac compressor go out at least. so far nothing.

wanted to add... driving conservatively i get incredible gas mileage

[Chriztofor]

Better enjoying your car and using it than putting 5,000 miles a year on it and staring at it. What is your other choice? Buying a beater and kicking yourself every time you see a BMW?! Go for it! My e46 lasted 10 years and 184,000 miles and it is still on the road. That's why it was a no brainer for me to buy used at 48k. For e90s look for engine ticking and broken head bolt(s). No ticking for me but I did discover a broken headbolt (thanks to this board) and repaired for free by BMW. Welcome and good luck!

[mike3000fl]

and its a safe ride, i have airbags everywhere. seatbelts that snug up in a wreck, a battery with a pyro charge. there is a lot of safety built into these.

if you don't care about safety... you also get attention from the wimmenz in stop and go traffic.

[kurtural]

I put about 25K on mine per year. So far, nothing to complain about. I got mine CPO in 08. I am in the grape and wine business these days, so it doubles as my office, jeep etc. It knows every pothole on freeway 99 in central CA. Excellent mileage to boot. No, you are not crazy. Beats the drone of a diesel truck on the freeway any day. lol!

[JayKay335i]

CPO extended warranty 328/330. Go for it.

[phistyle]

nothing wrong with that....after deciding on buying new vs. a used CPO...I decided on getting a used CPO 335i for my daily commute to work...about 70 miles a day and plus an additional 600 miles for business travel a month so getting a new car to put so much miles on it so soon wouldn't be worth it...plus I saved a chunk of cash so I can save some money to buy the new 3 series facelift when it rolls around....

[Dumb Bass]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

CPO extended warranty 328/330. Go for it.

[slowSwede]

Putting on a lot of miles, you'll spend a lot of time in your car.
Since you don't want to suffer during those miles go ahead and buy a Bmw.
I wouldn't buy a Toyota if I had to spend a lot of time in it, perhaps if I lived in the city (parking problems) and used it for shopping purposes only.

[DarkRider23]

335d is the answer here.

[lux.sh]

Honestly, get yourself a toyota or honda.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Honestly, get yourself a toyota or honda.

Agreed. The OP is not "crazy" per se, because if you're going to drive a lot, why not drive a car that's fun to drive, and one that you enjoy? However, reality is also a factor--the standard mileage rate went from 55 to 50, but if anything, the 335 (as an example) cost 93 cents per mile to operate when new, probably even more today. The more you drive, the more you lose.

Since with a BMW the warranty or extended warranty has such a great (inherent) value, to eat up 25 to 30k of it in one year, have it expire in about two, just isn't practical imho.

On the other hand, with a Japanese car, at least from my experience, 190k and 12 yrs. on the road, nothing broke. That's a practical vehicle for putting lots of miles on.

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by John 070

because if you're going to drive a lot, why not drive a car that's fun to drive, and one that you enjoy? However, reality is also a factor

It's like you read my mind.

[UNCbigM]

I'm looking for a compromise. I know I'll have lower maintenance costs with a less expensive car (read: Honda, possibly Acura), but I can trade some (not all) reliability and costs for enjoyment. Yes, my drive is 55-65 minutes, approximately 60 miles, half highway, half high speed back roads (boring ones unfortunately).

For those that said good mileage, how good are you seeing? I would say on an average tank 85-90% of my driving will be the commute so I'll get hwy mileage mostly.

For the poster who said 335d, I considered it, but, honestly, for the price premium, its not worth 5 or 6 mpg. I would love one, but it doesn't make sense at this point. Hell, I'm still kicking around the idea of a tune on a 335 for increased mileage (with some extra HP/tq as the perk!).

I pretty much do plan to run the car into the ground. I have an '06 Miata that is prepped for autox and pretty much does weekend duty now that I'm traveling so much. Since I began commuting I have been driving my wife's '07 Camry for the past couple of months. There is a reason I'm looking at BMWs... I hate it. Its so dull. It gets me there, but, being a car guy, it sucks out my soul. Frankly, I considered continuing to drive her car (she's been driving my old '96 Grand Cherokee w/146k) just to save money and eventually get a 335d in a year or two, but then I realized that we would then end up with a really high mileage Jeep and a Camry with 125k on the clock. I would rather get a BMW now, pay it off and put 200k on it while I buy her a new car once the BMW is paid off.

I have looked at CPO and on CPO cars. One of the last posts is similar to my line of thinking. If I buy a car with 33K on it and put 30k year on it my warranty is only good for about two years. The premium for a CPO is about $2500.00. I would have to have some serious problems to get my money's worth. I know that CPO provides some peace of mind, buuuut... Also, keep in mind, a CPO warranty does not cover nearly as much as the standard warranty, it basically only covers major issues.

BTW, I also have a trusted shop that specializes in German cars to work on my car, so I'll never set foot in the dealer once my warranty is out.

Any wagon drivers have a comment??

Way more than you wanted to know, eh?

[Chriztofor]

I would stay away from 335 because of the hpfp issues also high mileage and twin turbos sounds like a maintenace nightmare. Compromise and get the 325/328/330

[UNCbigM]

That is the way I'm leaning for exactly the reasons you stated.


Also, anyone have any idea what a reasonable price premium is for the wagon?

[rothwem]

I'd go for the Golf TDI. I drove the 2009 jetta TDI, but didn't really like it due to the squishy suspension, crappy leatherette and lack of HIDs. The 2010 Golf fixes all those problems. Admittedly, its not a BMW and doesn't drive like a BMW, but its a decent place to spend time in at 80 mph, and you get good mileage also. If I was buying a new car now, I would probably get it due to my long commute that I didn't have when I bought my Bimmer (90 miles round trip)

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by UNCbigM

That is the way I'm leaning for exactly the reasons you stated.


Also, anyone have any idea what a reasonable price premium is for the wagon?

Oh, and finding a used wagon is tough, I've found that there really isn't many of them out there, and most of them are auto/awd, which you don't really need in Wilmington.

I bought my car at Shaffer BMW in Wilmington, BTW. I was happy with the dealer experience.

[Bcube]

Yes, using a BMW as a combat commuter is quite insane. The one upside is every time you drive the car, you think, "Thank God, I don't drive a Toyota"

Seriously considering my next commuter being a 2002-2004 Maserati Coupe. Purchase price is similar to a new Toyota Camry or CPO 328i. Fuel economy is comparable to a M3, but maintenance pitfalls are rear tires every 10K miles and clutches every 20K. One upside is every time you drive the car, you think, "Thank God, I don't drive a BMW"

[sam2428]

Originally Posted by DarkRider23

335d is the answer here.

My thoughts exactly

[2M]

Originally Posted by DarkRider23

335d is the answer here.

i second that..thats why the diesel was brought here!!! not for just being cool and actin european