Farewell

[Asharus]

Farewell BMW brothers and sisters. I've only owned BMWs since I started driving in 1999, and it was definitely a great experience and a pleasure to drive each and every one of them. I went from a 1990 325i, to a 1992 525i, to a 1998 540i, to a 2001 540i (and a 1997 318ti as a daily driver for about a year).

I traded the wife's 1998 540i for a Nissan Sentra due to the issues it was having (VPG leaking, coil packs, CEL, etc) a few months ago, and sold the 2001 540i/6 this week and replaced it with a 2011 WRX Limited w/ Nav.

I was a little nervous about going from a $60k car to a $30k car, but my only complaints so far are how cheap the turn signal stalk feels compared to the 540.

Out with the old

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkHHGW2qXcw

In with the new:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE1GKrxojKU

[ALBONY]

nooo lol nice color on the 540i..

[crdiscoverer]

Somehow that red E39 looks newer than the Impreza.

[ALBONY]

go get ur 540i back

[NikosX]

Youre going to regret this.

[Mark@EAC]

Sorry to hear this, I know you loved those e39s. Happy motoring wherever the roads may take you!

[EvilWagn]

Good luck with the WRX, they're fun as hell.

But you'll be back. Just give it time.
BMWs are like crack, only more addictive.

[Asharus]

Thanks guys, but the only way I'll come back to BMW is when I can afford to lease or buy a new one. I can't stand losing sleep at night not knowing when my timing chain guide rails are going to explode or when my valley pan gasket is going to start leaking, among other things.

[ZeroR2]

That WRX is a fun car to drive, but looks so cheap compared to the BMW. I have thinking of getting a WRX (or Mazdaspeed 3) for the winters, but never been able to pull the trigger. If just our BMW's were without headaches everything would be perfect.

[Asharus]

I know what you mean. I've been thinking about it a lot the past month actually. Every single BMW I've owned required some kind of cooling system repair, engine repair, electric repair, etc. But on the rare occasion that it doesn't require something repaired/replaced, it's sheer driving pleasure.

I was tired of being worried about thinking "what's going to break next", and quite frankly, I was sick of seeing my mechanic every month or so to get something done. I just wanted something that was more reliable. The 0-60 in 4.7 seconds is just an added bonus.

[ZeroR2]

I have always liked the WRX, but after this video I was sold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BZh-7hkNe4&NR=1

The only issue is that the car puts out a lot of HP for the engine size and the longevity is questionable. Also, there have been issues with the headgaskets (search the forums) which could be a cooling problem. But I like the car having 4 doors and a little space in the back (hatch back).

[Asharus]

Amazing video, thanks for sharing

[produster]

Enjoy the new ride. This video sold me on BMW's and I have wanted one ever since. Granted what is street driven is not like this but WOW what a rush!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeUaOpqdiyA

[boondocksaint]

I used to have an 06 STi, so I hope you enjoy your Subie as much as I did mine.

[xpcgamer]

Honestly. You cannot go go from a bimmer to a subie and be FINALLY done with it. I have been driving a 987 Boxster S and as much as it handles-drives and how quick it is I still look forward to jumping in my 12 year old 132K Wagon. You just can't replicate the feeling of the car. Unless I jump into a newer F10(I can't stand the E60). Good luck!

[BimmerBreaker]

I dont get it...

I mean sure, you MAY have issues down the road, you may even have some issues now but its not like an WRX is bulletproof. It will have problems too.

Dont get me wrong, subies are nice cars; but seeing as how you are a BMW enthusiast, the rationale behind this seems fairly lacking. People who go from a $6K car with a few minor issues to a $25K new car because its "cheaper to maintain" are people who, to say the least, I would not want to manage my money.

[produster]

Dont get me wrong, subies are nice cars; but seeing as how you are a BMW enthusiast, the rationale behind this seems fairly lacking. People who go from a $6K car with a few minor issues to a $25K new car because its "cheaper to maintain" are people who, to say the least, I would not want to manage my money.

Could not agree more. The BMW I own now was bought from need, old hooptie was stolen, but I thought long and hard about care, quality and cost to maintain.

I truely love that car. Took a co-worker for a ride in it at lunch today and he had never been in a BMW. He loved it, could not beleive how nice the ride was. :eyecrazy <-- sums up how he felt. When I told him it was 12 years old and needed some suspension work he was speechless. I doubt I will ever be able to afford a new BMW but at this point I doubt I will not be without one ever again.

Oh and it is a ton easier to work on that my old 97 Merc Grand Marquis

[Maca]

My first bimmer was an e28 535i. Spent 7 years in it. Loved it. It was me. Then I got practical, bought a Lexus (hated it) and then a brand new Maxima (worst turning radius of any vehicle). I was away for 8 years. The minute I drove an e46, I knew I was going back to BMW. My e36 has been even more fun to drive. Now I'm selling my 3's, having found a well cared for 03 530i with only 47k. You and I know there will be maintenance issues and I totally relate to seemingly visiting the shop every month, but there's nothing like the driving experience of a BMW. Go away for a while, but I'll bet you'll be back.

[LuisGT]

I dont get it...

I mean sure, you MAY have issues down the road, you may even have some issues now but its not like an WRX is bulletproof. It will have problems too.

Dont get me wrong, subies are nice cars; but seeing as how you are a BMW enthusiast, the rationale behind this seems fairly lacking. People who go from a $6K car with a few minor issues to a $25K new car because its "cheaper to maintain" are people who, to say the least, I would not want to manage my money.

Having a new car does not equal less headaches... I went from an 06 Mustang GT (bought brand new) to my 02 530... I managed to drive that garbage for 15K miles (loathed it so much that I almost poured gas on it to light it up)... had a lot more problems than I've had with the 530 in 15K miles...

I do love scoobies though... especially STi's

[Kumaton]

I am a fan of the EVO and the WRX, I love their performance etc.. but im also an adult. Not to knock on anyone who drives either, but i've seen older men driving these cars, and I cant help but wonder if that is his son's car. Same is true of the Rx8, its a car that says "no one over 6 ft, or over 200 pounds should drive this vehicle.. Tis just my opinion. This is my first bimmer, never thought I would drive one, thought they were all priss etc, even now however almost a year later, I walk toward it and think "I cant believe this is my car".

[g00dwagen]

Thanks guys, but the only way I'll come back to BMW is when I can afford to lease or buy a new one. I can't stand losing sleep at night not knowing when my timing chain guide rails are going to explode or when my valley pan gasket is going to start leaking, among other things.

Sounds like you've been reading too much of the internet tubes.

Subies are fun, but you are going to grow very weary of that tin can.

[Karbon]

I'm just not sure why so many people think that the BMW's are so problem prone. If you look at any other car, they can ALL have the same amount of issues.

It's all tossed up to how you maintain and care for the car, how you drive the car, if there were any un-noticed defects in manufacturing and LUCK.

To be honest, I don't really see how the e39, which by the way gets really great reliability ratings from nearly everyone, can be more of a headache than any other car to maintain that's equally as old or new. Sure parts cost more, but in the end I'm betting the BMW overall has less problems than a lot of other cars.

Enjoy the WRX. My brother has a 2004 WRX modded to about 330 wheel HP and it FLIES.

[smader12]

You should have kept the bimmer and used the money you're paying for the WRX to fix anything that may have been wrong with it...you'd come out of it with more cash in the end. Hopefully you didn't waste your money leasing the WRX

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