Is it worth shipping my car?

[lancerr]

I moved to Boston from California leaving my baby, a 96 328i with 100K miles on it back home. I would really like to have it here in Boston but I am not sure if it's worth the cost

Currently, the car needs about $1K+ worth of work (Cat, Sec Air Pump, Tires, Brake Pads)

This in addition to the shipping cost (which I heard could be anywhere from 1K - 1.7K) seems alot of money to bring the car over

While I love my car, paying 2-3K for a car that's worth about 10K blue book seems stupid.

I need advice.

[BimmerSport]

road trip

[lancerr]

However, I just started my job. I cannot take a week off. I am not sure I trust someone else to drive my car though if it was someone I knew, I might consider it.

[themadhatter]

Originally posted by BimmerSport
road trip

damn right - first thing in my head too.

---

where are you getting your freight quotes from? I did the math once and the bill was only $700 for a car of mine coast to coast.

also, why are you bothering with your secondary air pump? I pulled mine out all together (no it's not for sale :)). also how did you kill your cat? are you sure it's toast?

tires, brake pads etc shouldn't be considered as "work to the car" since they are regular maintanence and should already be assumed when you own ANY car.

'96 328i w/100k is still a great car, I wouldn't hesitate to ship it over to you. you are already familiar with the car and I always consider shopping for a used car a major headache since you're essentially buying someone else's old problem.

-Ron

[SilverBeam]

If it needs all that work, I'd keep it at home for now. Go buy a beater that is better capable for driving in the snow. Plus, I don't know how true this is, but I've heard horror stories of Boston streets. Narrow, many potholes, and generally ding and bent rim city. Save up a little, and when you start making more money at your killer new job, you can bring your car over, and not feel bad about it.

[coqd_dzl]

Originally posted by lancerr
Currently, the car needs about $1K+ worth of work (Cat, Sec Air Pump, Tires, Brake Pads)

This in addition to the shipping cost (which I heard could be anywhere from 1K - 1.7K) seems alot of money to bring the car over.

What else could you drive, after you have been stung by the Bimmer Bee... I would definitely have it shipped. If the reg. is current, wait till it's close to expiration before changing to MA (this saves on the NEED to do the Cat and 2ary Air Pump). Do the Brakes yourself and change the tires. They're gonna need that at the very least...

[lancerr]

All of you make good points..

The only need I feel to fix Cat and Sec Air Pump is that my car is currently unregistered (registration was in Jan, I moved to MA in Jan so I never registered it figuring I'd need to reregister in MA anyway). This also precludes me driving it here.

ABout brakes and tires, I've already changed my brake pads myself so it's no problem but now I'll need all my tools etc. Tires I need, so that's a non issue.

Main reason I want to bring the car over is that it's an amaziing car to drive and it feels more like a 30K car than a 10K car. Bringing it over, I would avoid car payments, and would have sweet car.

Not bringing it over, I could buy a new (used) car but I am a big proponent of not getting into long term payments etc and I just started the job so i wouldn't be able to pay for it completely for the next couple of months.

Anyway... I asked for a couple of quotes from some shipping companies. let's see what they come back with. Worse comes to worse, I fly over there, get the car fixed over a weekend and get someone to drive it over.

We'll see.

[clumpymold]

Yeah, I had my car shipped from NC to CA and it only cost me about $800. I would expect to pay around there. ;)