[2one3E90]

What makes you guys spend so much on your e90 and why?

[tcphoto]

I think that $75 a month to keep it running is a small price to pay for the enjoyment it gives. Of course, if you bought a poor example or are addicted to mods there may be a steeper price. Some are self inflicted and some are accidents but most are avoidable.

[3PedalJake]

For the same reason as my old trucks, there's nothing new that I want to own especially at the prices they're asking. Even if I did like the new ones which I don't and won't unless they bring back the MT I could have a whole fleet of cherry E9x car$ for one new bimmer, and don't even mention insurance cost.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Cause I can and cause it's an enjoyable hobby.

[Mosaud1998]

Most I've spent on my E90 was $2,600 on the normal BMW crap a year ago. Oil pan gasket is what costs the most. I could've waited on that but oh well.

Half the stuff I had my indy do, I could've done myself if I had time and tools.

Too late now

Going to try to diy everything myself now. I might have my indy do the water pump and T-stat whenever it decides to go out. Only because they charge $680 parts and labor included.

If I diy the water pump, I know that shits gonna take me weeks to do.

[relative4]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

What makes you guys spend so much on your e90 and why?

Well, it breaks. And parts cost money.

[Serf27]

Are you talking maintenance or mods/aesthetics?
Maintenance, I do it to keep the car running.
Mods/aesthetics, To make it more enjoyable when driving.

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by Serf27

Are you talking maintenance or mods/aesthetics?
Maintenance, I do it to keep the car running.
Mods/aesthetics, To make it more enjoyable when driving.

Maintenance, bout to drop $760 on two disa valves and manifold gasket from FCP euro. Just for preventative maintenance after seeing horror stories and pictures. Traumatized! And 180 for installation, since the manifold is out and the starter is right there. Isnt it good to just do it since its 3 alum bolts and my tech wouldn't mind.

[thisisMikeNa]

Porsches are expensive.

[Efthreeoh]

I don't spend a lot.

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Maintenance, bout to drop $760 on two disa valves and manifold gasket from FCP euro. Just for preventative maintenance after seeing horror stories and pictures. Traumatized! And 180 for installation, since the manifold is out and the starter is right there. Isnt it good to just do it since its 3 alum bolts and my tech wouldn't mind.

A Toyota from the E90 era definitely wouldn’t cost this much in maintenance.

I guess dropping that much on maintenance is because we would rather drive this car than another one. That’s me at least. But I am slowly starting to drive my wife’s Honda hrv more when I can.
30 mpg vs the n54 15mpg.

But the mileage on the new Honda is just about the only thing that’s better on it.
E90 definitely has more power, steering feels nicer, more features and comforts, this is why I keep the E90 running.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

I spent a lot the first year I owned the car, especially considering it was previously owned by my dad and he was up to date on all the maintenance. Since then it hasn’t been too bad...of course I don’t drive it much right now since I’m working from home. Why do I do it though??? Other than this car the only other things that get me excited are either older and more expensive maintenance wise or newer and much more expensive for cost of entry.

I checked with Carvana for a purchase offer the other day and it was $2900!!! For that kind of money I figure I’d be better off just riding the horse I’ve got...

[dmatre]

In 10 years I've done only scheduled maintenance, plus a new battery and six new coils.

I've owned Benzes, Toyota, Honda, Acura, Mazda, Datsun (Old Nissan), Chevy & Jeep. The BMW has been the 2nd most reliable I've owned. Only the Acura had zero repairs required during ownership.

I don't find the BMW expensive at all.

[neilvan]

I enjoy driving and building cars.

Funny of all the money into my 335 only about 5-10% has been maintenance and all has been preemptive. The reason I landed on the BMW was manual transmission + turbo; hydraulic steering and a great handling chassis were the reasoning.

[freakystyly]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Maintenance, bout to drop $760 on two disa valves and manifold gasket from FCP euro. Just for preventative maintenance after seeing horror stories and pictures. Traumatized! And 180 for installation, since the manifold is out and the starter is right there. Isnt it good to just do it since its 3 alum bolts and my tech wouldn't mind.

Don't forget the PCV system, at the very minimum consider buying the rear hose coming out of the engine (assuming it's your 330i).

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I don't spend a lot.

Ahem Ahem Mr 4 Beemer and nice lift guy!

[e90yyc]

My penis is extremely small, and driving a BMW is the only thing that makes me feel like a real man.

Okay... I do it for the enjoyment of ownership. I probably spend more than the average person on maintenance, but I also can’t stand not taking care of the things I own. It’s not that I fix absolutely every little thing, it’s just that I don’t judge the worthiness of maintenance from the perspective of what my car is worth. If I did that it would crushed at a wreckers somewhere.

For the DISAs, you don’t HAVE to go the brand-new route. Sure it’s the “best” way to go, but you could rebuild them for a fraction of the cost.

[E92William]

The logical answer is cost of ownership compared to how well it drives/does everything. Most stuff that has cost me more than I'd want is things that you go on a whim and decide you "need" for example I could have kept my 17 in stock wheels but went to 18s and all new tires.

One thing that's really annoying to me is when people refuse to put money into an older car because it's not worth that much but then go and blow 40k on a new one.. it makes perfect sense to keep up with this one every once in a while spending some on it on maintenance. I have never spent 1k on a repair on this car, that would have to be blowing the engine or something outrageous, you're throwing out 200 bucks by not DIYing your disa job.

I think one of my biggest expenses and one that people never seem to count is gas, I get about 19-20mpg, granted I drive like you would to be able to get that low. But thinking about it if you bought a newer turbocharged 328 4 cylinder and you pushed it like you do this car, you'd get even worse.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Ahem Ahem Mr 4 Beemer and nice lift guy!

Since you brought it up, the lift cost $3,500 installed in 2004. Now I did spend about $35K in cash building a building for it, but that's a real estate asset that has increased the property value of the building about double what it cost me to build the building (my estimate), so in essence the building was free. So for $3,500 I have another tool in my toolset that allows me to practically fix and automotive issue. The lift has let me keep my E90 to at least 4X the mileage most people keep a BMW. The $3,500 investment has added only hundredths of cents per mile additional cost for just the E90, let alone my four other vehicles.

And actually I paid the lift off by just building a porch swing bed as a birthday gift for my wife in 2018. She found what she wanted on line for $5,000, I built the swing for $500 of wood, hardware, stain, and urethane. I used the lift as sawhorses to build it. Having hydraulic sawhorses that you can lift the project in infinitesimal increments is literally priceless. Lol.

I'd have been a dumbass NOT to build a building and install a lift.

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Since you brought it up, the lift cost $3,500 installed in 2004. Now I did spend about $35K in cash building a building for it, but that's a real estate asset that has increased the property value of the building about double what it cost me to build the building (my estimate), so in essence the building was free. So for $3,500 I have another tool in my toolset that allows me to practically fix and automotive issue. The lift has let me keep my E90 to at least 4X the mileage most people keep a BMW. The $3,500 investment has added only hundredths of cents per mile additional cost for just the E90, let alone my four other vehicles.

And actually I paid the lift off by just building a porch swing bed as a birthday gift for my wife in 2018. She found what she wanted on line for $5,000, I built the swing for $500 of wood, hardware, stain, and urethane. I used the lift as sawhorses to build it. Having hydraulic sawhorses that you can lift the project in infinitesimal increments is literally priceless. Lol.

I'd have been a dumbass NOT to build a building and install a lift.

Better than those quick jacks aye

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by E92William

The logical answer is cost of ownership compared to how well it drives/does everything. Most stuff that has cost me more than I'd want is things that you go on a whim and decide you "need" for example I could have kept my 17 in stock wheels but went to 18s and all new tires.

One thing that's really annoying to me is when people refuse to put money into an older car because it's not worth that much but then go and blow 40k on a new one.. it makes perfect sense to keep up with this one every once in a while spending some on it on maintenance. I have never spent 1k on a repair on this car, that would have to be blowing the engine or something outrageous, you're throwing out 200 bucks by not DIYing your disa job.

I think one of my biggest expenses and one that people never seem to count is gas, I get about 19-20mpg, granted I drive like you would to be able to get that low. But thinking about it if you bought a newer turbocharged 328 4 cylinder and you pushed it like you do this car, you'd get even worse.

^ this.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Better than those quick jacks aye

Quick jacks have their place...