Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bmw

Which certified pre-owned sedan would you prefer - 2008 Mercedes C300 or

libbrichus — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:36:18 -0800

I'm in the market for a pre-owned sedan with a budget of about 20k and the 2 options that I have come down to are a 2008 Mercedes C300 and a 2007 BMW 335i. Being a total newbie about cars, I have very little idea which one should I go for. They are both certified pre-owned hence I am hoping there should not be a major problem with either one's condition. Please advise as to which one would you prefer and what are some things I should watch out for while buying them?

BMW expertise?

malhouse — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 15:33:18 -0800

What's the best source for advice/info for BMW owners? I have lots of niggling questions about my BMW - in particular with the iDrive system, which drives me crazy. I've found that the people at the dealership often know less than they should. Is there another place (online or IRL) that I can go to get really expert-level help with the non-driving aspects of my BMW?

adventures in car buying, part 3

wutangclan — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:18:36 -0800

"mandatory" options on a new, built-to-order BMW...is this a permissible business practice? I am in Vancouver, BC. I want a BMW 328xi Touring (the 3-series station wagon).

In Canada, the base price is $45,700. There are a few option-packages available, one being the "Executive Package" for $2800. The BMW Canada website let's you "build your own" as just the base model without the Executive Package. I don't want the Executive Package -- it's not just an issue of money, but rather the gizmos included with it will annoy the hell out of me for the next 10 years while I'm driving this car.

When I placed the order with the local dealership, they had no qualms with me not taking any options. We did it as a factory order, built exactly to my specification, as what I wanted (manual transmission and no Executive Package) was not in stock anywhere in Canada. The next day, the dealership called back saying that BMW was only willing to order this car WITH the Executive Package. I.e. the $2800 "option" is now "mandatory". So I told them that I don't want that shit in the car. They responded by saying that I can pay a special "customization" fee (BMW ordering code: ZSP) of $450 to exclude the items that I didn't want.

To recap, this is what BMW Canada wants me to pay:
- $45,700 - base price
- $2,800 - mandatory Executive package
- $450 - exclude the Executive package
Total: $48,950.

I have done some research and confirmed that the local dealership is not lying -- all other dealers, some inside sources, and some bimmer forum posts all confirm the same. It is BMW Canada's fault. The dealership feels a little bit sorry for me and is offering to absorb the $450 ZSP fee, but I'm still paying $2800 more than I should for shit I don't want!

So...what the fuck? Is this legally permissible? How can I get BMW Canada to play ball and just charge me the base price?

I have already spoken to the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of BC, and the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan, and neither agency deals with this specific issue. They suggested talking to the Better Business Bureau...and I just rolled my eyes.

Tell me all about owning a BMW Z3

MoonOrb — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:56:45 -0800

You own or have owned a BMW Z3. Tell me about your experience.

How do I make a career out of test-driving high-performance cars for, say, BMW's M Division and so forth?

6spd — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:52:14 -0800

How do I break into a career of test driving vehicles for the performance divisions of luxury automakers (BMW's M division, Mercedes' AMG division, Porsche, etc)? I love driving, period. My passion is cars and I could spend all day talking about them.

Nothing gets me more excited than driving a well-balanced, fast car. In fact, I have a stable, corporate job that pays the bills, but I am interested in becoming a valet driver for the sole sake of driving (parking) amazing vehicles.

I would love to be one of those test-driver technicians for a luxury car maker who drives the cars around a track, gives feedback on suspension settings, engine tunes, etc.

How do I go about doing that?

adventures in used car buying, part 2

wutangclan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:47:39 -0800

Interested in BMW 3-series station wagon. Torn between new ($46,000) vs used ($26,000, 2006, 90,000 km). Which is better value in the long term? I intend to drive it for 10+ years, if not into the ground. Both prices include a 4-year full warranty (Easycare for the used car). I test drove the used car and it is in very good condition, being resold by a reputable boutique dealer with the price already adjusted downward 6% after some negotation.

The 2006 model is a 325xi (2.5L engine), new would be a 328xi (3L engine). Not that I care.

I am new to buying a car for myself, as my parents bought my last car (2003 Golf), so I am not so financially literate for major expenditures.

This is in Vancouver, Canada, hence prices are in CAD, distances in km.

Insurance help?

kiwi-epitome — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:52:51 -0800

Deer hunting with my BMW was expensive! Insurance question from a former insurance agent who has forgotten the rules... I hit a deer last week with my pretty car causing about 3K in repairs. My wonderful insurance has covered everything including a rental for the last 10 days minus 100$ comprehensive deductible. This accident is considered "not at fault".

My concern is that my right head lighting unit was totally replaced and now make the left side cover look... faded and slightly dingy... being that the car is 5 years old so the origional part is older.

I understand the left side unit was not damaged and so not replaced but now my car looks uneven. For me to replace the headlight cover on my own is about 400$.

Any experience or advice on how to proceed?

Speedracer?

Cuspidx — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 18:29:38 -0800

Current daily driver as a future track car? I was a driver in the SoCal 24 of LeMons race this month and I want to further this exhilarating hobby.

Car is an '08 e90 M3. What can I do now and for the foreseeable future (7 years or so) in terms of maintenance? It seems that the suggested BMW schedule is rather Spartan and does nothing more than keep the car going until the warranty runs out. The car is not modified in any way now. I put about 8,000 miles per year on it.

I understand all the safety and performance mods that will have to be completed. Roll cage, stripping for weight reduction, etc.

So what if there's no seat cushion, it goes like hell!

Netzapper — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:39:02 -0800

I want to buy a fun, impractical, and unusual sports/muscle/fun car for under $5000(USD). This will be my second car, and not my daily driver. Can you offer some suggestions? (It must be available as a stick shift.) I'm looking for a fun car. It doesn't have to be safe to drive in the winter, or get good gas mileage, or be comfortable. I have no problem buying an old car. What it needs to be is fun to drive.

My interest is more in handling than in raw power. But, I kind of have always wanted a car that would plaster me to the seat.

It doesn't need to be reliable, but I would prefer that the parts, tools, and labor not be premier-import expensive. A friend has a story about the $10,000 Bentley he bought, and then $22,000 he spent on tools for it.

Cars I already have thought of and like (not necessarily in my price range): Corvette Stingray, MG Midget, BMW Z series, Lotus Elise, Audi TT. I don't like Mercedes or Jaguar even a little tiny bit.

I currently drive a Subaru Impreza, but the WRXs and STIs that are actually better than my car are all mostly more expensive than I'm willing to pay.

Looking for a BMW mechanic in Vegas

chosemerveilleux — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:15:36 -0800

A friend just moved to the Spring Valley area of Las Vegas and he needs a good mechanic for his 745i. A non dealer BMW mechanic is preferred as I've learned from personal experience that while BMW dealer shops are always more expensive they aren't always as knowledgeable. Cheers in advance for your help!

1989 Bimmer good idea?

fantasticninety — Sat, 08 May 2010 09:43:44 -0800

1989 BMW 3 Series Coupe for under 3 grand. Good deal? I really like the shape of this car, and have imagined it would be a joy to drive. It has 279 000 kilometres on it.

If not this, what would be the best BMW for under 5 or 6 grand out there? Variables in order of importance:

– cheap maintenance
– leather seats

Please help me identify this BMW.

Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:49:05 -0800

Please help me identify the approx. year and model of this BMW (another angle). Thanks.

BMW Is a No Go

slowtree — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:40:47 -0800

BMW 530I will not start. My mother owns a 2003 BMW 530I with very very low miles.
She drove the car yesterday with no Check engine lights and no issues starting it up. Today she tried to start it up and nothing happened (engine didn't try to turn over no clicks from the solenoid nothing) She called AAA who thought it may be a battery but when they got there they said it had a full charge (all lights, stereo etc all came on). She currently has it at the Shop but i thought i would do a little investigation for her. Shes older and the Repair shops tend to inflate repair costs for her generation in that area (South Florida) cause their patrons don't often know any better then to accept what they are told.

What screw do I use, and where do I get it?

Zonker — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:42:30 -0800

While changing the lightbulb in the front turn signal on my car (a 2003 BMW 330i), I managed to lose the screw that connects the turn signal assembly to the car. What kind of screw can I get to replace it? I imagine there must be some standard size to use, but if so, I haven't been able to find it. Assuming I can just buy a garden-variety phillips-head screw, what's the specified size?

I've been trying to find the reference to the original part, on the RealOEM site and elsewhere, but while I can find the page for the signal assembly and various pages for mounting parts, I can't seem to find the entry for the particular screw that I need.

Is a convertible BMW 3-series too midlife-crisis for a 20-something guy?

Anonymous — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:03:27 -0800

Is a convertible BMW 3-series too midlife-crisis for a 20-something guy? (sorry for the big wall of text - but since it's an anon question, I want to give as much context as possible - summary questions are at the end)

I currently have a Miata. I'm moving out of it mainly to get a bit more space (two more seats and a real trunk), and a bit more luxury (all the plastic and squeaking are starting to throw me off). Yet, I absolutely don't want to give up on road-feel - last time I drove a sedan (a Mazda-3, even, which is supposed to be "sporty") I was almost sleeping and felt like I was riding on a cloud. I really like convertibles too - Every time I ride in my friends cars in a sunny day I have the reflex to open the top.

I'm almost set on a BMW (I heard nothing but praise on the driving experience from everyone I asked). My big doubt is between convertible or non-convertible.

My biggest concern with the convertible is the image - My friend put this image in my head that any convertible with more than two seats is for middle-aged balding guys with aviators shades, etc - especially premium-brand big convertibles. I do see my fair share of middle-aged guys in these, but then I also see a lot of them in roadsters, so I really don't know if it's any more middle-agey than a Z4 or a Porsche.

Just to be clear, it's not for cruising with the top up and stereo blaring in front of night clubs - that is, I might do it by accident because I pass in front of them when going home, but my preference for the convertible is purely for my enjoyment, and not at all to impress people (OK, maybe friends).

I don't care that much about generic "jokey" stereotypes (the Miata is supposed to be a girly car, and BMW an arrogant douchebag car, anyway), those that generally have enough exceptions to not be taken seriously (noone will see me at the wheel of a Miata and seriously think "why, never mind the face, that's probably a girl"). However, I do have a couple white hairs, so if the stereotype is strong (and statistically sound) enough people might actually take me for a middle-aged guy. As another example of what I mean, I doubt anyone would genuinely assume a woman driving an Subaru is a lesbian (although they might joke about it) - but I think a black man in an Escalade might get labeled as a rapper a lot.

So, basically, what I want to know is:

* is the midlife crisis stereotype any stronger for a bigger/luxury convertible than for a roadster?
* is this a stereotype like a jokey "haha! you drive a convertible bimmer, you're such an old fart, why don't you get a Camaro already!", or like a genuine "wow, you're only 20-something? I saw you on your car and thought you were much older!"

*Since I can't babysit an anon thread, please stick to the image/stereotype topic (note the Society & culture category, not transportation). On-topic replies questioning my premises (like "Audis look much less mid-lifey than BMWs, you should reconsider them") are fine, but please don't derail into something like "Audis have better engines!", or "Get a real man's Mustang instead", or "Get a Civic and save your money".

BMW Turbo type?

SirStan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:19:45 -0800

What brand/type of turbos does the BMW 335i/ix carry? A friend of mine (and apparently others) are having issues with turbo failure in their 335i's from 2007/2008. I am curious what brand and model the turbos in the BMW are. Any idea where I might find such a fact?

Was I taken for a ride?

Brocktoon — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:54:12 -0800

Did I get ripped off by my mechanic? I have a 1988 BMW 535i sedan, 6 cylinder. Today he replaced the power steering hoses and the antenna. He charged me $344 for parts and $570 in labor. Service includes a hand car wash. Was I ripped off?

I must make amends

buzzv — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:11:15 -0800

How can I find the dealer's auction cost for a 2005 BMW 330ci convertible? I'm in San Francisco looking to buy a BMW convertible. Found a 2005 330ci @35K, put the VIN into Carfax that says the last transaction was from an auction in April; from there it went to a dealer's lot. So it seems like its been sitting there for 5 months, which I'd think would make them interested in moving it, particularly since they will soon be pushing the 2008's out the door.

I'd love to know what the dealer paid for it. I would think that auctions are a cheap way to get cars. Would the dealer have bought it or would there be an intermediary that buys at auctions for dealers?

Does anyone have any suggestions on finding the value of the car from the dealer's perspective? Thanks.

Hoising an M10 engine

yetanother — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:05:23 -0800

How do I lift an M10 engine (1976 BMW 2002)? Bonus points for suggestions on attaching it to a strand. Thanks to craigslist I just got hold of a replacement engine for my 1976 BMW 2002, a hoist, a leveler, and a stand.
Looking at both the engine in the car and my replacement I can see where to attach a chain to the rear of the engine (cast loop by the flywheel on the intake side), but I cant work out where to attach the chain at the front.
I've read a suggestion to just loop the chain around the front pipe on the exhaust manifold, but I'm concerned if this will stress the head too much, or worse.

I've also seen a few pictures online of engines attached to stands with 3 bolts on the exhaust side of the engine. Anyone have any experience of this?

Really not sure if this question belongs in travel & transportation or sports, hobbies & recreation ...

Can I install aftermarket iPod interfaces into my BMW?

desjardins — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:39:00 -0800

I have a 2003 BMW 325i. There is a sticker on my windshield warning me that aftermarket electronics (and cell phones) may interfere with the car's electronic system. For real? The dealer says they cannot install the factory iPod interface (it's only for 2004 and later). My fiance has a 2006 BMW X3 with the factory-installed iPod interface and I am insanely jealous. DO WANT. First off, I use my (Verizon, RAZR VM3) cell phone in the car regularly (I don't use bluetooth because it wasn't installed in the car and I'm not willing to pay for it). Am I secretly destroying some electronic component? My radio gets much poorer reception than other cars driving in the same area (I had a rental car for awhile, and I ride in my fiance's car all the time). We're 70 miles from Milwaukee and 50 miles from Chicago, and he can pick up FM stations from both cities, while I get static on many of them.

I saw this and I'm salivating over the prospect of being able to control my playlists. But, I don't want to "interfere with the electronic components," and I don't want to void my warranty (MaxCare from CarMax - the BMW original warranty has expired). Will installing the product above ourselves void my warranty?

By the way, I have Monster iCarPlay for iPod and it's intermittently staticky. I've tried the Belkin versions and they suck too. If it matters, my iPod is a 2nd gen Nano (8 gb) that I have no immediate plans to upgrade.

Yes, I realize the irony of asking the AskMe example question.

Help my friend plan an EUROventure

SirStan — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:47:07 -0800

Help plan an Euro Delivery of a new BMW trip. A friend of mine is taking an adventure for a Euro Delivery of his 2008 BMW 335IX, as he has more money than brains.

That aside; his itinerary looks like this

Arrive: Munich, Germany (5/23, 3:30 PM Local Time)

Departure Options: Munich, Frankfurt, Brussels, Rottenberg, Amsterdam

Length of Stay: ~7 days

Budget: ~5,000

Details: Mid twentys preppy friend of mine will land in Munich Germany, take a quick tour of the BMW factory, and speed off in his brand new 2008 BMW 335I. He has 7 days and $5000 to burn with his father. He has to return the car to one of the above listed locations. He would like to possibly visit Prague, Berlin, and Hamburg, but has no specific ambitions.

Any thoughts on "must sees", or awesome things to goto, or visit with a brand new 335I?

Looking after a 1996 BMW 318is?

gttommy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:38:51 -0800

Looking after a '96 BMW 318is? I just bought a 1.9L 1996 BMW 318i coupe (208 000 kms) and would like advice on maintaining this particular model. As this isn't a Toyota, I'm concerned about it breaking down, based on my general impression of non-Japanese cars.

I've already done some researching and thankfully it seems pre-1996 318 models had certain, model-specific problems. So perhaps advice on just maintenance and prevention tips for BMW cars would suffice.

Recommend a garage opener compatible with my BMW.

monkeybutt — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:16:30 -0800

Recommend a garage opener compatible with my BMW. I have a 2007 BMW 328i with a trio of garage door opener controls on the reaview mirror. They would be a lot more useful if they were compatible with my garage doors and gate! Apparently I have exactly the type of units that the car's sender/transceiver systems cannot connect to.

Can anybody recommend a 3rd party or aftermarker receiver unit i can hook into the contact closures of my garage door openers to make it talk to my car so i don't have to keep the openers in my car?

Thanks

Do I want a BMW or an Audi?

Peecabu — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:29:36 -0800

I want to trade in my SUV for a station wagon. I think I've narrowed it down to the BMW 328i and the Audi A4. Can those of you who've driven those cars (or anything from from a similar line; any bmw 3 series, any Audi A4 or TT) share your experiences with me? Both are incredibly safe, seem to have a fairly low depreciation, and have won various awards. They're within a few thousand dollars of each other, price wise. I like the performance of the BWM better, but I like some of the Audi features better.

I've no idea how much an Audi is to maintain, but it's my understanding that BMW is crazy expensive.

Share your experiences, give me your opinions, help me make a decision. (And yes, I realize that buying either car kicks me out of the "art" crowd into the "yuppie scum" crowd. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for a 5 star crash rating, rear airbags and a center LATCH for the kidlet seat. )

Is there a short course to learn for fix my old BMW?

mboszko — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:49:05 -0800

Are there any schools that have something like a week-long auto repair course? Preferably BMW-focused, and preferably in the DC Metro area, but even without those two, would still be useful. I've seen a number of adult/continuing education evening courses that take a couple of months, but with my crazy freelance schedule, I can never know if I'm going to have to work late and end up missing a bunch of the classes. However, it looks like I'm going to have a break in my freelance schedule for a solid week, and I could go somewhere for a week of day classes.

I'm not doing this to become a mechanic, but just to get better at servicing my own car. I just bought an old used BMW (1990 525i (E34/M20)), and I'm hoping to save some money on the repairs that know are coming soon, if I were just a little more confident in repairing my car.

If there isn't a week-long course, what would you recommend? Are the evening adult classes useful? Are there any other options?

Thanks for taking the time to help!