[QUiKSR20]

Whats up guys,

Been searching for an E90 for quite some time and think I have it narrowed down to 2 cars.

The only reason for this post is to see what the general consensus is on why you would choose one over the other.
Ill detail the differences below that I see , maybe there's more that meets the eye that I dont see but thats where you guys come in
as im still new to E90s and learning as I go. Im pretty sure Ill be happy with either in the end, Whichever I settle on will have to be
shipped to me after passing a BMW PPI which both dealers agreed to do at my expense.

Both are 1 owner cars with clean car-fax history and have been looked at in person by a friend / forum member for me.

First Car - Silver 2009 6MT Sport Package 328i

• 55k Miles
• Located in Florida ( further than car two will cost a little more to ship )
• Sport Package ( real leather ) Coral Red
• LCI ( nice refresh )
• NO Heated Seats
• NO HID Headlamps

Second Car - Black 2008 6MT Sport Package 328i

• 40k Miles
• Located in North Carolina
• Sport Package ( real leather ) Black
• Heated Seats
• HID Headlamps

Prices are both almost the same around $22k and ill try to get a little lower within reason.

[DKNYATLANTA]

I say go with the lower miles, if the warranty is still in effect.....

[QUiKSR20]

Originally Posted by DKNYATLANTA

I say go with the lower miles, if the warranty is still in effect.....

Silver car = No warranty / Black car = Warranty till 50k miles or the next 4 months. ( can still CPO I think )

Had a friend who works at a dealer review both VIN's and whichever I buy will get a PPI before I agree to buy.

[shata]

I would shoot for one if your buying used with all packages on it personally, that will really help sell the car down the road. When I bought my e90...I didnt settle for anything less then everything haha...Go big or go home. Idk just kidding - With these low miles thinking my way would cost you alot more.

If I had to choose between the two I would go with Black one cause the interior is also black plus you have the HIDS and cold weather package atleast.

[USC2000]

I say the black one. Lower miles and HID lights.

[Zoraster]

#2 is the winner.

[redlinedbimmer]

I have pretty much base e90 and I had to add a suspension kit to make it like the sport package minus the seats and wheels, I really wish I would have shopped around more but I'm slowly getting the car to where I'd like it. That said I think LCI tails look way better than non LCI and would choose those over HID/angel eye head lights if its a one or the other type choice. I also think the red interior looks amazing. I'd choose the first car, I also have a silver car and it does looks so much better not showing all the swirl marks and fine scratches. 15k miles really isn't a big difference especially if you're out of warantee anyways.

[M340i Pride]

being all similar, more options (heated seats / HID's ) and 15K lower milege makes me want to go toward the black one. however, the color combo of the silver one looks cool so for some people color might be the factor. purely economical stand point, black one for sure.

[SWFan]

Neither really. I like the options on #2 better, but I don't like the pre-LCI grills. Personally I'd wait on an LCI optioned out like #2.

[BOBKUR]

#2 for the low miles and color combo and HID'S. Good Luck.

[QUiKSR20]

Originally Posted by shata

I would shoot for one if your buying used with all packages on it personally, that will really help sell the car down the road. When I bought my e90...I didnt settle for anything less then everything haha...Go big or go home. Idk just kidding - With these low miles thinking my way would cost you alot more.

If I had to choose between the two I would go with Black one cause the interior is also black plus you have the HIDS and cold weather package atleast.

Makes sense, I like the Red but most people ( outside of car fanatics may not ).

Originally Posted by redlinedbimmer

I have pretty much base e90 and I had to add a suspension kit to make it like the sport package minus the seats and wheels, I really wish I would have shopped around more but I'm slowly getting the car to where I'd like it. That said I think LCI tails look way better than non LCI and would choose those over HID/angel eye head lights if its a one or the other type choice. I also think the red interior looks amazing. I'd choose the first car, I also have a silver car and it does looks so much better not showing all the swirl marks and fine scratches. 15k miles really isn't a big difference especially if you're out of warantee anyways.

I hear ya about adding everything, Both cars though have sport package ( Suspension / Steering Wheel / Seats ).

Originally Posted by SWFan

Neither really. I like the options on #2 better, but I don't like the pre-LCI grills. Personally I'd wait on an LCI optioned out like #2.

I also like the LCI, but ive been looking for almost 3 months.. Its almost impossible to wait out for every single package I want... Im pretty much only looking for 08-09s being the best for price / age / miles.. Dont want a ton of miles or some crazy $500 a month payment I have a mortgage and a baby so I cant donate every dollar I make to the car.

When looking ill find a car with HID's only to find out it doesn't have real leather or it will have no HIDS and leather but not sport package. Or its non HIDs with non sport or HIDS with fake leather sport etc.

Once you narrow your search to 08-09 then narrow it to 4 doors and then Manual your options very very small.

Sport Package and Real leather are my non negotiable options.

LCI or HID's are nice to have but not something I absolutely need.

[R608]

I'd probably wait to find an LCI with xenons too, but I get what you're saying. You're looking for the same kind of configuration that I would be if I were in the market, and they're hard to come by. A couple other factors that might be worth considering...
- How frequently did they get oil changes?
- What were the in-service dates? (I'm wondering if the higher mileage on the silver one might be easier highway driving)
- Does either car come with folding rear seats? (the trunk just isn't that big)

Not sure I could decide without knowing the answers to those questions. I'd also want to see and drive the car for myself before buying, but that's personal preference. Every car has its idiosyncrasies.

[TheTal0n]

black one! unless your in love with the first ones color scheme.

[shanecarmaster1]

I like car number one the best except for the lack of HID headlights. HOWEVER, do a retrofit and it's your perfect car!

[queensfield]

In case you haven't seen it. Story of a man and his search for a perfect bimmer

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...e-perfect-e60/

[Surf]

Originally Posted by QUiKSR20

Makes sense, I like the Red but most people ( outside of car fanatics may not ).



I hear ya about adding everything, Both cars though have sport package ( Suspension / Steering Wheel / Seats ).



I also like the LCI, but ive been looking for almost 3 months.. Its almost impossible to wait out for every single package I want... Im pretty much only looking for 08-09s being the best for price / age / miles.. Dont want a ton of miles or some crazy $500 a month payment I have a mortgage and a baby so I cant donate every dollar I make to the car.

When looking ill find a car with HID's only to find out it doesn't have real leather or it will have no HIDS and leather but not sport package. Or its non HIDs with non sport or HIDS with fake leather sport etc.

Once you narrow your search to 08-09 then narrow it to 4 doors and then Manual your options very very small.

Sport Package and Real leather are my non negotiable options.

LCI or HID's are nice to have but not something I absolutely need.

What is it about real leather that makes it a deal breaker?

My parents had an e34 when I was growing up, I was always impressed by the quality of the "leather" seats, which I didn't discover were leatherette until decades later when it became my brothers car. The leatherette looks great, is so easy to clean, and is amazingly durable - that e34s seats looked virtually new even after years in the sun.

I sympathize with your search, I too discovered that when you add specific criteria (mine were MT/sedan/sport/cold weather, pref with xenons) the car pool gets very small very fast. Just thought I'd toss that idea out there, especially with kids leatherette is awesome.

[Cb4h]

my vote is number 1, very good color combo...alot of people love the coral red. it is the LCI, and newer...I do not like the pre LCI tail lights at all. I think you will be happier having the LCI especially now that the F30 is out the prelci is a bit dated in some aspects but both are very beautiful cars

[QUiKSR20]

Originally Posted by queensfield

In case you haven't seen it. Story of a man and his search for a perfect bimmer

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...e-perfect-e60/

Just finished reading it, Thats a great read.. When I called on the black car the guy was trying to get me to buy fast and said " just have to let you know we cant hold cars and have 5 people looking at it " LOL true or false I know I have other options if it sells before I make my decision im not worried.

Originally Posted by Surf

What is it about real leather that makes it a deal breaker?

My parents had an e34 when I was growing up, I was always impressed by the quality of the "leather" seats, which I didn't discover were leatherette until decades later when it became my brothers car. The leatherette looks great, is so easy to clean, and is amazingly durable - that e34s seats looked virtually new even after years in the sun.

I sympathize with your search, I too discovered that when you add specific criteria (mine were MT/sedan/sport/cold weather, pref with xenons) the car pool gets very small very fast. Just thought I'd toss that idea out there, especially with kids leatherette is awesome.

Hey I really havent seen the Leatherette in person I guess I cant fully say its a deal breaker... Id assume and just loosely it feels and smells better. The door panels just look a little cheesy with out the stitching atleast in pics..

Maybe if I saw both in person it wouldn't be much of a problem but the pics it just looks more plasticy again I could be wrong.

[Surf]

Originally Posted by QUiKSR20

Just finished reading it, Thats a great read.. When I called on the black car the guy was trying to get me to buy fast and said " just have to let you know we cant hold cars and have 5 people looking at it " LOL true or false I know I have other options if it sells before I make my decision im not worried.





Hey I really havent seen the Leatherette in person I guess I cant fully say its a deal breaker... Id assume and just loosely it feels and smells better. The door panels just look a little cheesy with out the stitching atleast in pics..

Maybe if I saw both in person it wouldn't be much of a problem but the pics it just looks more plasticy again I could be wrong.

Yeah the hard sell gets silly after awhile, it sounds like you have a great attitude about it. You'll find your car eventually.

Def check out the leatherette in person. I actually was looking for leatherette b/c of the kid thing(I remember how much crap I spilled in the back of my parents cars ) but the car I found had prem pkg, which wasn't a deal breaker for me.

If you like it, now you have more options! If you don't, then you have reinforced that you know exactly what you want. Either way it's a win!

edit: I'm pretty sure the door paneling in all the e90s is leatherette regardless of options.

[Kid Red]

Live in NJ? Then the heated seats would make the deal hotter.
Seriously, other than that, I would never, ever own a car with halogens ever again.

But since you can retro fit/upgrade the lights, I would go LCI for sure. So comes down to the seats, and do you need them heated? If not, the LCI.

[dontburndapig]

I would choose #1. It's LCI, also newer and the color combo is killer. You can upgrade the headlights later on if you feel it's important.

[Tim_78]

# 1, LCI looks better. LED taillights are better. You can get the HID later on. Color combo is great. It will be easier to sell when time comes due to that unique color combo.