Need help buying my first BMW

[sukumarpant]

Hello forum members,

I'm planning to buy my first ever car and I want it to be a BMW (a 5 series preferrably). I have a decent job but I cannot afford a new one. I also prefer the pre-2012 design of the 5 series more than the new one. Just a personal opinion, no intention to start an argument.

My initial plan is to buy a 3 year old 5 series but I'm scared for high maintenance costs that could come with owning a BMW. I have heard from some friends who have owned BMW's in the past that they have to spend a lot for regular maintenance. I don't know what they mean in terms of 'maintenance costs' but that is what is the general idea I've had from BMW owners. To avoid that, I want to know what sort of checks I can/should perform before I decide to buy a certain vehicle. As if that was not enough, I do not know where I would go to find a trustworthy used car dealer (I live in Atlanta, GA). Certified Pre Owned vehicle prices on the BMW website look very high to me but if forum owners can confirm that it is a good price, that will set my expectations right.

I'm open to suggestions in terms of going for an older car (and not just a 3 to 4 yr old car). I also would like to mention that I know a fair bit about cars and engines but not nearly enough as what people know and talk about in forum discussions. I say that so that members who choose to reply don't have to absolutely break down their comments into what sounds like kindergarten talk. I know it can get frustrating some times, having to make everything broken down into super simple speech.

Please help!

Thank you,
Sukumar

[MikeAG]

My advice, don't buy it. You may have a decent job but constantly repairing a used BMW can add up to the price of a new one (over time of course). First car ever? Go for a beater.. preferably something you don't care about. Make a small budget and do your best to stick to it. Good luck!

[SearchPlz]

I would also not suggest purchasing a BMW for your first car. My first car was another German, a Volkswagen jetta, and it gave me a lot of problems.

It's not that German cars have more issues, it just takes a better mechanic and the right equipment to fix them. This is why you see BMWs and other high end or luxury cars getting a bad rap.

People take their cars in to a dealer or specialty shop to have work done, those shops charge a hefty penny by the hour and usually have a high mark up on parts. This is where the 'expensive to fix' comes in.

The other side is people wanting to avoid those high costs, so they bring their cars into franchised shops -I.E. Brakes Plus etc- that (usually) employ basically trained mechanics, who may not have the proper knowledge or take the proper time/care to diagnose and repair the car correctly.

That being said, familiarizing yourself with all the processes of owning a car (oil/fluid changes, brake work, tires, etc), with a cheaper automobile will benefit you in the long run, simply on the basis of knowledge and experience.

Owning a new BMW requires scheduled maintenance, $100+ oil changes, $$$ tires, dealer or shop work. Maybe start with an older model that you can wrench on yourself, or requires a shorter list of expensive wear/tear items. If youre making above average income and your expenses are low, maybe try leasing one for a few years to get a better idea.

Hope that helps, good luck!

[Rudolph320i]

id go with an older one and star learning DIY, because certain maintenance is expensive. Though depending on where you live, taking any car to a shop could cost a lot since most of your repair bills at a shop are labor costs.

[sukumarpant]

Thanks for all your advice guys. Just one question. When you guys say, buy a much older car first, you still mean, buying a beamer, yes?

How old is old enough. How much money should i risk for buying one?

[rchan11]

Perhaps 10yrs old with well documented maintenance records.

[Rudolph320i]

Perhaps 10yrs old with well documented maintenance records.

yea 10 to 15 years is probably best, ive been driving E30s for years and had an E21 in high school. If you are mechanically inclined these cars arent too bad. Id say grab a nice e39 if you have the money and run that around for a while if you are set on a 5 series.

[SearchPlz]

Id say grab a nice e39 if you have the money and run that around for a while if you are set on a 5 series.

Probably your best bet here. I own an E30 and love it, but do a lot of wrenching myself. As said a few posts up, be patient and find something that was owned by a responsible enthusiast, or a one owner car from an adult who kept up with the service schedule. Receipts and service records are a must!

You can really tell when someone cared for their car. A few simple indicators like documentation of the last oil/filter change, tread wear on tires, and cleanliness of underbody/interior. How many of the parts are original? Cheap aftermarket parts is something to stay away from. Carfax of course, but try to get to know the previous owner if possible and you will learn more about the cars history.

Oh and BTW it's 'Bimmer' not 'Beamer' ;) just a heads up

[OnTheFence]

Sukumar,
Are you a student?
What is your budget?

I also suggest a 2001-2003 E39 530i.
(525/528 are underpowered)
This will be a LOT cheaper than a 2009 5-series.
$7000 range, and you'll have money set aside for repairs.

Also, find a local mechanic that people like.

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Lease a newer 5 or 3 series.

[OnTheFence]

BMW lease will cost you $4000 plus misc fees that might put him at $5000 down to get out the door.

[Luftwaffe1O1]

BMW lease will cost you $4000 plus misc fees that might put him at $5000 down to get out the door.

You can make it out of there without paying 5k down.

Besides if we were to take you and your repair figures at face value, an 03 530i will cost you more in the timespan of 3 years than a lease will for the same period.

[sukumarpant]

Sukumar,
Are you a student?
What is your budget?



I'm not a student but I don't have a very large budget. I was looking to spend $20,000 (maximum. Cannot spend any more than that). Seeing what others here have been telling me, regarding maintenance costs, I'm thinking I can't afford one.:(

[Rudolph320i]

that all depends on what model/year you wanna buy. a new bmw 5 series isnt gonna be had for 20 grand, but an e39 certainly can be, probably even a few e60 models available for that price range too. get out there and look around.

[cheech1]

I'm not a student but I don't have a very large budget. I was looking to spend $20,000 (maximum. Cannot spend any more than that). Seeing what others here have been telling me, regarding maintenance costs, I'm thinking I can't afford one.:(

I'm thinking you're right.

[OnTheFence]

I'm not a student but I don't have a very large budget. I was looking to spend $20,000 (maximum. Cannot spend any more than that). Seeing what others here have been telling me, regarding maintenance costs, I'm thinking I can't afford one.:(

You can totally afford one.
Just buy one for $7k-$10k.
They are everywhere.
Be patient and read some threads.


Besides if we were to take you and your repair figures at face value, an 03 530i will cost you more in the timespan of 3 years than a lease will for the same period.


http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=24833531&postcount=13

[dreamer85]

20K is not bad if you are a DIY-er. If not I suggest NOT buying a BMW for your first car. Buy something that you can afford first, 20K can do a lot of damage elsewhere.

I personally do not have a BMW yet due to saving up more $$ for my wedding first. I know it says I only have a motorbike on my thing, but I have a 99 Camry that is serving me well.

Buy a car because you can, not because you want.

[sukumarpant]

Thought I had posted this last night but it doesn't seem to have been posted.

I just wanted to say that I won't be driving a lot. I will probably be driving about 500 to 700 miles a month. I won't even be driving it to work. Traffic is very bad and the train station is right next to the building I stay and stops right under my office building. I will just be using it on the weekends to travel within the city and may be some out of town trips (once is two months may be. that too, within a 200 mile radius)

Looking at such running figures, would one still expect expensive repair jobs? I'm not talking about scheduled maintenance etc. That is inevitable and has to be taken care of regardless.

Speaking of DIY-ing, I can (and have in the past) change the engine oil and other fluid top ups or replacements. Other than that, adding/removing mechanical parts, I have never done but I'm very mechanically inclined and willing to get my hands dirty and more importantly, willing to learn. With the help of the forum members, I might even become good at it.

I'm just trying to set my expectations right before I buy a car. This will be my first major purchase and I want to do it right. Thank you for all the help guys!

[Rudolph320i]

well with that attitude you should be just fine, just dont spend all 20 grand on a car at once and you'll have some left over in case anything should happen. my vote is still for an e39, 540 if you wanna have a little fun with it.

[pegcity]

get a low mileage 2003 530i.

[SeniorPotato]

I read somewhere on here that a good rule of thumb when buying a used Bmw is to have the price you payed for the car set aside for maintenance.

[ezbmr]

I think the Majority of us have E39 and E46, on the E60, they have the same I6 Engine/transmission of the E39 through 2005. The newer ones don't have dipsticks, and batteries that when needing to be replaced, have to have the computer reprogrammed. Now on the E46, I know there has been difficulty with Oil Level units going out, so having a dipstick is a good thing. But BMW decided we didn't need it anymore. I am sure some of the newer cars still burn a quart a month, like the old ones. My 5 doesn't burn a drop, my 3 burns a qt a month. It is nice to have a backup. I don't know how the newer (06-12) BMW without I drive tell you that they are low on oil. I have been wanting a 06-09, I just haven't pulled the trigger yet. The turbos have had issues with fuel pumps, that supposedly has been resolved. I drove one that was reprogrammed and it felt about as quick as my 330, but the chassis did feel more solid.

Any of them that you get, you will want to have a inspection done. I recommend that you have a independent BMW guy do it, they charge less and you will get to watch it being done. Do some research. Try to get one with all its records. Be patient and you will find a great one

[BoiWonder]

BMW's a good choice for a first car. But I would not go for the BMW 5er you're talking about, the e60 model. My uncle made that mistake and he enjoys the car but at the same time he has had complicated issues with it. Soon he might need to change the tranny.

I prefer an e39. and the e46 is a wonderful car. wanna go older? get an e28 I own 2 of them and love them

[Fargo13]

I recommend reading the threads here for a while. You can really learn a lot. Also, talk to Bimmer owners that you meet in public. Before I bought my wife one, I walked up to people in parking lots and asked them about maintenance costs. Everyone was happy to talk to me. What was interesting was that I had several folks tell me about a Bimmer repair shop that they really liked. They said they were much cheaper than the dealer and had been very happy with the quality work there. (I don't remember the name of it, but it's in Kennesaw right at Old 41 at the end of the runway at McCollum Airport). I still have 3 years to go on my warranty, but like you, the long term costs is what I worry about the most.

Since we got it though, I've had a lot of people approach me asking for money (panhandlers). I guess that goes with the territory though. Lol

[sukumarpant]

Hi everyone.

I'm going to look at a 2006 BMW 330i with 76k miles on it. I do not know what the optional extras on the car are at the moment but the seller is asking for $17,000. 76k miles puts it at a rough estimate of 1000 miles per month of usage which seems fair to me.

I have a link to the craigslist post but the forum rules do not allow for me to post a link.

What do you guys think. All I know about the seller is that she is a flight attendant.

What should I be looking for as red flags? I'm sorry, I should probably be going through the forum to answer all my questions but I'm at work and I will probably have 10 minutes to go through the responses before I get to go and see the vehicle today.

Thanks in advance for ya'll's help..!

Sukumar

[tnames17]

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[MrCi]

I'm not an expert on other BMWs, but I can speak from my experience. I had a $10k budget, not counting aesthetics such as wheels. I went out and bought an E38 (the one in my sig) for $4500, then spent another $3000 on maintenance, and I'm still not done. If you have $20k max, don't buy an out of warranty car for 17k. You may end up in a situation that, if something breaks, you can't afford to fix it, and that will suck.

If I were to buy another BMW from scratch, I'd probably buy an E38 again, or maybe an E34/E39. Those cars have excellent support forums on here, from what I've seen.

Also, plan on learning to DIY, if you don't already do it. I knew nothing about working on cars, and owning this one has taught me a lot. It's worth it.

[exbenz]

E39's cost quite a bit of money to keep the cars healthy. Go for a 528/525/530, the 540's have quite common and expensive motor problems.

If you can find a low mileage 530i with a manual trans for under say $9k you will be set for a happy ownership, even when it needs repair.

[bmw325i4ever]

im sick and tired of all these people on this forum saying dont get one dont get a bmw, you cant afford it or its not the right car for you or you will be hit with many repairs... it drives me nuts! i feel like bmw owners dont even like their own cars and tell other people not to buy them. everyone starts somewhere and i bought my 328i e46 for 4700$. runs great and had it for months. repairs since the half year i owned it=75$ maybe? brand new tires and brakes, new front end control arms etc.

my opinion... get a 3 series for 10-15 grand (that will buy you a nice e90 or e92) and save the other 5 grand for unexpected repairs or just a saftey net for comfort. i think bmws are good cars and i think it would be a great first car if you have the money for it!

[Rudolph320i]

ive had a few bmws for under 1000 dollars, yea they need some work but I might have 5k wrapped up in all 4 of the cars ive daily driven over the past few years.