BMW's have always frustrated me with their pricing though...they seem to always set themselves about 15% overpriced from any reasonable valuation. Oh well, I'm sure it's all part of creating that image of "exclusivity"; seems to be quite profitable for them so far!
Cant say I approve of the overpricing, but don't forget that the cost of the car will also net you the BMW ownership experience, which pays for all services (including brakes) on your car with the standard warranty- which no other price competitive car maker offers ( i.e. Mercedes & Audi)
Cant say I approve of the overpricing, but don't forget that the cost of the car will also net you the BMW ownership experience, which pays for all services (including brakes) on your car with the standard warranty- which no other price competitive car maker offers ( i.e. Mercedes & Audi)
really? I thought at least MB had that option..I could have sworn that my moms last two MB's had bumper to bumper everything covered warranty...
^^^ LOL Lookfast. Hey the truth is the truth right?
I honestly think that the smart person will buy a well equiped (just the necessary equip) 125i and mod the hell out of it. The 125i is lighter by quite a decent margin and really it's the new "reborn" E36 M3. Take a look see (not posted from factual figure but from my memory off hand)
E36 M3
3100 ~ 3200 lbs.
240 hp
L6 3.2
2 dr coupe
125i
3200 lbs. est.
230 hp
L6 3.0
2 dr coupe
You guys get the point here. The 125i w/ the optional sports pkg,which includes the suspension/wheels/6 piston brakes front. This could be the E36 M3 reborn. If you recall, the E36 M3 was probably considered the "best" all around sports car in almost any class at the time it was in production. Beat out Vettes, Porsche 911's, etc., etc.
That's where IMHO the smart money should go. Or if you got money to burn wait for the Tii (135i with more sport).
__________________ Don't fight with an ignorant because he will drag you down to his own level and beat you to death with his skills.
I fucking hate when you beat me to a good post...you say all the shit that i was going to say!!!!!
to add a few things...the car probably handles and brakes like no other car out there. But this car actually looks like a cheap BMW (it is)...something about it...weight til you see it in person. My local BMW dealership had one on their raised platform near the street as i drove by...looked cheap. Car has a small wheelbase and is really narrow. With some 19's and lowered it would make a big difference.
+1...the 135i is supposed to ge an entry level BMW that pulls the successful college graduate kid into the BMW family...how many college grads can afford a $34-$37K car? ridiculous...just in looks alone a decently modded 328i coupe looks 10x better than a 135i.
^^^ LOL Lookfast. Hey the truth is the truth right?
I honestly think that the smart person will buy a well equiped (just the necessary equip) 125i and mod the hell out of it. The 125i is lighter by quite a decent margin and really it's the new "reborn" E36 M3. Take a look see (not posted from factual figure but from my memory off hand)
E36 M3
3100 ~ 3200 lbs.
240 hp
L6 3.2
2 dr coupe
125i
3200 lbs. est.
230 hp
L6 3.0
2 dr coupe
You guys get the point here. The 125i w/ the optional sports pkg,which includes the suspension/wheels/6 piston brakes front. This could be the E36 M3 reborn. If you recall, the E36 M3 was probably considered the "best" all around sports car in almost any class at the time it was in production. Beat out Vettes, Porsche 911's, etc., etc.
That's where IMHO the smart money should go. Or if you got money to burn wait for the Tii (135i with more sport).
actually the 135i is supposed to have 302hp @5800rpm
and comes standard with M tuned suspension...
Cant say I approve of the overpricing, but don't forget that the cost of the car will also net you the BMW ownership experience, which pays for all services (including brakes) on your car with the standard warranty- which no other price competitive car maker offers ( i.e. Mercedes & Audi)
This little marvel of BMW's marketing has always griped me. It can be, and for most people is, a bit of a misnomer that BMW will pay for all your maintenance during the warranty period. In reality, BMW will only cover the maintenance that is 'due' according to the car's little maintenance computer. Often, this means that oil services can be 15K miles or more between changes.
Is that how you'd treat your little $40K+ baby? NO, you'd probably change it more frequently, but you'd have to pay for that out of pocket; since it's not 'due'. The same holds true for your tune-ups and brakes; if the computer doesn't say you're 'due', then it's not covered.
Of course your friendly neighborhood BMW dealership is more than happy to perform any additional maintenance procedures you deem necessary to maintain optimum performance of your darling bavarian bombshell...at their labor rate of $175+/hr and oh-so considerate parts costs.
That, my friend, is the "BMW Ownership Experience"! Bottom line is that the amount they overcharge for their cars far exceeds the cost of the "included" maintenance!
This little marvel of BMW's marketing has always griped me. It can be, and for most people is, a bit of a misnomer that BMW will pay for all your maintenance during the warranty period. In reality, BMW will only cover the maintenance that is 'due' according to the car's little maintenance computer. Often, this means that oil services can be 15K miles or more between changes.
Is that how you'd treat your little $40K+ baby? NO, you'd probably change it more frequently, but you'd have to pay for that out of pocket; since it's not 'due'. The same holds true for your tune-ups and brakes; if the computer doesn't say you're 'due', then it's not covered.
Of course your friendly neighborhood BMW dealership is more than happy to perform any additional maintenance procedures you deem necessary to maintain optimum performance of your darling bavarian bombshell...at their labor rate of $175+/hr and oh-so considerate parts costs.
That, my friend, is the "BMW Ownership Experience"! Bottom line is that the amount they overcharge for their cars far exceeds the cost of the "included" maintenance!
are you speaking from experience or word of mouth? as far as the 15k oil changes, i think we talked before about that. bmw has some kind of special filters or something to where 15k is totally feasible in one oil change. the computer monitors the oil quality and lubrication so that if it requires changing prior, it will let you know and the service is comp'd.
i cannot speak from experience, since i have none with bmw - but i do with my audi. and as for brakes... if they need to be changed, they need to be changed. if your rotors are worn or pads are near metal, i find it hard to believe that the bmw tech would refuse to change them due to the computer. that would be a liability on their behalf.
tune-ups are on a mileage interval and they are all covered (generally something like 15k miles, 30k miles, 45k miles).
^^^ You must have terrible service people at our Bimmer dealerships. They always change out my brake pads/rotors and bleed the fluid with new stuff whenever they felt the need to. Same goes for oil. What do I care when the car requires it? If they do something like don't change the oil and the motor blows up, well it's under warranty and they'll have to replace everything anyway. I mean these aren't appreciating cars like a Ferrari. Other than having a few motors blow up on me, I've never had to worry about service on my Bimmers. They take care of everything.
__________________ Don't fight with an ignorant because he will drag you down to his own level and beat you to death with his skills.
^^^ You must have terrible service people at our Bimmer dealerships. They always change out my brake pads/rotors and bleed the fluid with new stuff whenever they felt the need to. Same goes for oil. What do I care when the car requires it? If they do something like don't change the oil and the motor blows up, well it's under warranty and they'll have to replace everything anyway. I mean these aren't appreciating cars like a Ferrari. Other than having a few motors blow up on me, I've never had to worry about service on my Bimmers. They take care of everything.
^ what do you drive?
my audi was the same way. they had certain guidelines on the oil change intervals but if i brought it in early, they always changed it free of charge. it's nice that you can bring it in for any little thing that breaks, or goes wrong. down to worn out wiper blades - and they'll take care of it without question.
my audi was the same way. they had certain guidelines on the oil change intervals but if i brought it in early, they always changed it free of charge. it's nice that you can bring it in for any little thing that breaks, or goes wrong. down to worn out wiper blades - and they'll take care of it without question.
I'm back in a Bimmer. I've had my dealer change out my entire brake system. Pads, rotors, lines and fluid at something like 6k, because they said the pads "look" a little worn. I was umm ok, whatever, as it was all free. So what do I care whether they do that at 6k or 20k? As long as it's done and doesn't cost me a thing.
You're right about special sensors in Bimmer motors that sense how dirty the oil is. So it's not always dependent on milage that you need your oil changed. The sensors determine when you need it changed and the dealer monitors that. So no problems there. There were people like 10 years ago that raised some issues about this procedure, but seeing as Bimmer has been doing for like 10 years successfully, I wouldn't worry about it.
__________________ Don't fight with an ignorant because he will drag you down to his own level and beat you to death with his skills.
1)are you speaking from experience or word of mouth? 2)as far as the 15k oil changes, i think we talked before about that. bmw has some kind of special filters or something to where 15k is totally feasible in one oil change. the computer monitors the oil quality and lubrication so that if it requires changing prior, it will let you know and the service is comp'd.
i cannot speak from experience, since i have none with bmw - but i do with my audi. and as for brakes... if they need to be changed, they need to be changed. 3)if your rotors are worn or pads are near metal, i find it hard to believe that the bmw tech would refuse to change them due to the computer. that would be a liability on their behalf.
4)tune-ups are on a mileage interval and they are all covered (generally something like 15k miles, 30k miles, 45k miles).
1) Yes, I've owned four, still have two.(1 3-series, 3 7-series) 2) I'm sorry, I call bullshit. I can't justify oil going 18K miles (personal experience) fancy filter or not. 3) There is a soft wire sensor embedded in the pads, had to wear down pads until light comes on (personal experience). 4) This may have changed more recently, but again(personal experience) the maintenance I or II was dynamically determined by the computer, not simply by miles.
Sorry, the whole BMW maintenance thing does still get my blood boiling. That's mainly why the wife and I drive Japanese/Infiniti now.
That's mainly why the wife and I drive Japanese/Infiniti now.