[bmdubya1198]

Originally Posted by E92William

I guess from my point of view as a DIY guy I haven't seen that side of the story but most of the time unless you're going to a specific Bmw independent shop the prices are the same for alignment and such as they were for my Honda. Battery is gonna be a more expensive job because of obviously having to code to the car, this will pay off for itself though as it will lead to the battery lasting longer. A 325xi is pretty much as capable as any awd Subaru but nicer.

Same here, any time I've paid for an alignment it's been the same as I'd pay for any other car. I use a BMW shop for my alignments though, I avoid the basic places like the plague. Too many awful experiences with alignments.

As far as the cost of anything else, I've never even looked into it aside from what I read on forums. I do everything myself. Honestly working on BMWs, I'd charge less than what I would charge for an American car, for example. Call me crazy, but I find them to be so much easier.

[BravoJohny33]

Originally Posted by E92William

I guess from my point of view as a DIY guy I haven't seen that side of the story but most of the time unless you're going to a specific Bmw independent shop the prices are the same for alignment and such as they were for my Honda. Battery is gonna be a more expensive job because of obviously having to code to the car, this will pay off for itself though as it will lead to the battery lasting longer. A 325xi is pretty much as capable as any awd Subaru but nicer.

Trust me I try to avoid the BMW tax and I specifically avoid BMW shops. But that alignment shop was a regular old non BMW place. The thing that gets me if you ever look at tint specials they always exclude BMW. Also, lets not give anyone who registers a battery credit as a coder. Its as simple as clearing an error code and takes 2 min. Not something that warranty an additional labor charge on top of battery install.

[alfazrus]

That car looks clean. I had a water leak and ended up being the sunroof drains. Mine were clogged up front and the location is on the sides behind the front wheels. You need to take out the side cover underneath.

[tcphoto]

If you were going to nitpick it to death, why didn't you get a PPI? Those are small issues and can be corrected with minimal effort and expense.

[selo]

Originally Posted by tcphoto

If you were going to nitpick it to death, why didn't you get a PPI? Those are small issues and can be corrected with minimal effort and expense.

When I give someone my word that a car is pristine, it's pristine. If a cupholder is broken, I point out the cupholder is broken. If there is a scratch,I point out the scratch.
If you've ever dealt with BaT, the community goes to great lengths to be completely transparent. Unfortunately, my seller didn't.
That said, I don't mind sorting through a few things on used car and find it kind of fun. Unfortunately, my brother doesn't, and this car was for him. So the car will be sold.
Thanks for your constructive input, though.
Let me make a mental note tcphoto, not to buy a car from you.

[tlow98]

Wow, sorry to hear. Your brother is kind of a wuss. Hard to get involved with family members and car sometimes. They’ll pull stuff they would never do in real life with anyone else.

Ask me how I know. Sigh.

Hope he enjoys his Subaru can opener.

[redEYEjedi]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Wow, sorry to hear. Your brother is kind of a wuss. Hard to get involved with family members and car sometimes. They'll pull stuff they would never do in real life with anyone else.

Ask me how I know. Sigh.

Hope he enjoys his Subaru can opener.

I can understand his brother to a certain extent. When life and family happens, even minor repairs are a burden. I love my cars and tinkering and all, but I had to deal with some personal things and basically disappeared from the forums for awhile. Car stuff was on the back burner unfortunately.

I believe the brother is also in Northern California where there are raging fires and evacuations. Seems like timing was just off?

[neilvan]

Originally Posted by selo

When I give someone my word that a car is pristine, it's pristine. If a cupholder is broken, I point out the cupholder is broken. If there is a scratch,I point out the scratch.

The marker bulb holder I can see you being right about that.

Cup holders on these cars can go any time. When I bought my car I checked to see if they worked, they did. The first time I went to use it (2 years later) it didn't; Aparently they are just like that.

The sunroof drains sucks but he may have noticed that either. I haven't seen the car but it could have been just starting or he washed his car a different way.


Very small issues but ya for non-car people I can understand these issues being why they buy new

[Gamb1t]

Originally Posted by bmdubya1198

Shame he's bailing on it, it looks like a really clean car! These issues are very minor, and that could be a great reliable daily driver for a long time with proper care. I guess if he's not the tinkering type, it could get to be a little too much.

Some people would prefer to drive something boring that requires no upkeep than have an enjoyable driving experience. To each his own!

...a WRX wagon would be more fun than a BMW wagon. Of course the interior is horrendous. I don't mind an old bug/blob/hawkeye WRX wagon to hoon around. Alas, finding an unmolested one is like finding unicorn tears.

I don't recommend older BMWs (or German marque) to anyone who are not into DIY.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by redEYEjedi

I can understand his brother to a certain extent. When life and family happens, even minor repairs are a burden. I love my cars and tinkering and all, but I had to deal with some personal things and basically disappeared from the forums for awhile. Car stuff was on the back burner unfortunately.

I believe the brother is also in Northern California where there are raging fires and evacuations. Seems like timing was just off?

Good points - always hard to know someone's family situation. FWIW, this is not the first time I've heard of this happening from BAT. Unfortunately, it seems to have become popular enough that people are sneaking through that are misrepresenting cars.

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

...a WRX wagon would be more fun than a BMW wagon. Of course the interior is horrendous. I don't mind an old bug/blob/hawkeye WRX wagon to hoon around. Alas, finding an unmolested one is like finding unicorn tears.

I don't recommend older BMWs (or German marque) to anyone who are not into DIY.

Eh, maybe on the WRX wagon side. I owned one and moved to the E91. The handling and tossability of the WRX is fun, but it's quickly a tiring car, IMO. The things you live with every moment you're in the car are bargain-basement and, for me, ruin a lot of the experience. But that's just a personal opinion. You're trading a lot of baked-in goodness of the E91 for those short, fun moments when the WRX is on boost. 90% of the time it's slower than the N52 based car and that's saying a lot. Mine was stage II, etc. and it just always felt like a gutless tin can unless you were caning the hell out of it.

[E92William]

Not that Subaru's are the most reliable thing in the world either

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by E92William

Not that Subaru's are the most reliable thing in the world either

*cough* blown head gasket *cough*

[alpnwss]

At least you don't have bad solenoids or gaskets.
For the water, it's probably the sunroof drain, but also know the AC condenser drain can clog (somehow). I used to get a right foot bath making hard rights because that drain clogged and spilled water all over my shoes. Surprising to say the least.
Cleaned it with some compressed air. Easy.

[bmdubya1198]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

...a WRX wagon would be more fun than a BMW wagon. Of course the interior is horrendous. I don't mind an old bug/blob/hawkeye WRX wagon to hoon around. Alas, finding an unmolested one is like finding unicorn tears.

I don't recommend older BMWs (or German marque) to anyone who are not into DIY.

Agreed. I've never driven a WRX, but I'm sure it's more fun than a basic E91. The interiors certainly aren't nearly as nice as any BMW though. However I doubt he's driving a WRX, more likely a basic Outback or Forester.
Maintenance would be expensive for anyone who relies on a shop to maintain a BMW. Like I said, as a DIY guy, I've never even considered that aspect, but it's a good point.

[BravoJohny33]

Originally Posted by alpnwss

At least you don't have bad solenoids or gaskets.
For the water, it's probably the sunroof drain, but also know the AC condenser drain can clog (somehow). I used to get a right foot bath making hard rights because that drain clogged and spilled water all over my shoes. Surprising to say the least.
Cleaned it with some compressed air. Easy.

A 2006 BMW. I bet he does have bad gaskets if the previous owner did not replace the valve cover gasket, oil pan or oil housing. Whenever I get my value service done for el cheapo they stopped putting oil leak on the inspection form and started putting multiple oil leaks about 2 years back. Funny enough I never seem to lose more than a qt in 10k miles so I don't really care.

[selo]

Update:. After putting the car on the market, my bro finally got up the cojones to actually go for a joyride. It was a beautiful day, apparently, despite the fires, and it was his day off. So that night I received a phone call: "Hey Mikie, Oh my GOD! You weren't kidding! these things really are the ultimate driving machine!"
me:. " wow, after all that, now you like it? "
bro: " Dude, the roads were great, the sky was beautiful, and that sunroof, wow, I freaking love that sunroof. Dude. I just kept wanting to drive faster and faster. I think I was a danger to cyclists! "
me: "that's great!, so are you thinking of keeping it now?"
bro: " Well, I'm getting there. Let's just say I'm open to it......."

[bmdubya1198]

All I had to do to sell myself on an E90 was to drive it once. They really are great cars to drive... I don't know what there is for him to think about!

[E92William]

I remember the first time I went to test drive an e92 335i I got in it I drove through a couple roundabouts and saw how well it handled then I floored it and I'm like I'm fucking buying this thing!

I think he'll keep it

[selo]

...... He also said that while the suspension felt great overall, a couple times when he went over relatively small bumps it felt like it "bottomed out."
He's also told me he's surprised how low it sits.
The car doesn't have sport package - I'm wondering if someone put on aftermarket springs or something???

[ctuna]

Get rid of the Runflat tires if you still have them.
This is well known problem .

[E92William]

I mean it would just have worn old shocks. The non sport suspension is quite soft already as it comes

[selo]

non run flats already.