Just Spent An Afternoon With A Car Dealer (BMW)...and...

[GlenMH]

Deva Link said:

Plus, don't forget that the way this works with manufacturer owned finance companies, is that the car it tranferred to the finance company at typically 40% less than list price. That's why the finance arms of the big manufacturers have generally been the most profitable parts of the business.

OK, they're going to take a bit of hit now, but the price they "pay" for the cars means they have a lot of money to play with.

Ah - that is interesting. I can see how that would make sense for a manufacturers finance house, such as BMW Finance. I wonder how the 3rd party companies such as Capital Bank are going to compete with this? They don't have the advantage of getting the car initially at 40% off the sticker price...

Also, wasn't GMAC sold off earlier this year so GM could pay off some debt?

Glen

[Deva Link]

GlenMH said:

They don't have the advantage of getting the car initially at 40% off the sticker price...

I think you might be surprised.

Think about it...how else could they afford to do this business?

[djmojo]

In response to the Navara/L200 poster, they are regarded as commercial vehicles, and as such have a flat rate for road tax of £180 per year. They also benefit from lower BIK tax if it's used as a company car (not as good as it used to be, but still better than a car).

[mat205125]

MitchT said:

jeff666 said:

not heard of this, is big end failure common on m3s

I don't know if it's common, as such, but if it does happen then you're potentially looking at £14,500 for a new engine unless you have the BMW warranty, the cost of which was ramped into the stratosphere when the problem emerged, clearly indicating BMW's confidence in their product. It is certainly common enough to prompt BMW to do a free 'enhancement' to vehicles which they say are part of the affected batch (basically 'early' E46 M3s). The problem is that I have heard of cases of cars which were refused the work on account of not being early enough examples also suffering the failure, and cars that had had the recall work done also suffering the same failure, so the only way to gain total peace of mind is to buy the warranty, which costs silly money. I'd love an E46 M3 but I wouldn't pay such a lot of money for a warranty, but wouldn't dare be without one. In my opinion BMW produced a poor product and should shoulder the cost themselves, not lump it onto their customers in the form of expensive mechanical insurance.

So, there's why there isn't an E46 M3 sitting on my drive right now!

What is the aftermarket solution / cost to replace the bottom end?

What are the parts cost?

Does it trash the block, or is the solution "just" crank rods and pistons?

[Catherine197]

We have been looking at ex MBUK C Class and E Class cars today on 07/57 plates.

Everything I have seen so far (and they are all mint) have been for sale below what Glasses Guide say they should be worth as a p/x.

I thought the hammer blow would be on our Clio 197, but no the bid was very sensible and on book.

[BIG BAVARIAN]

MitchT said:

jeff666 said:

not heard of this, is big end failure common on m3s

I don't know if it's common, as such, but if it does happen then you're potentially looking at £14,500 for a new engine unless you have the BMW warranty, the cost of which was ramped into the stratosphere when the problem emerged, clearly indicating BMW's confidence in their product. It is certainly common enough to prompt BMW to do a free 'enhancement' to vehicles which they say are part of the affected batch (basically 'early' E46 M3s). The problem is that I have heard of cases of cars which were refused the work on account of not being early enough examples also suffering the failure, and cars that had had the recall work done also suffering the same failure, so the only way to gain total peace of mind is to buy the warranty, which costs silly money. I'd love an E46 M3 but I wouldn't pay such a lot of money for a warranty, but wouldn't dare be without one. In my opinion BMW produced a poor product and should shoulder the cost themselves, not lump it onto their customers in the form of expensive mechanical insurance.

So, there's why there isn't an E46 M3 sitting on my drive right now!

just give the reg number to a stealer to see if the recall work was done on the vehicle e.g shell bearings replaced,if not walk away

[fluffnik]

MitchT said:

simba1 said:

Quite a few new shape M3 in the low £40k. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/664518.htm

I think I saw that one when I was browsing a few days ago. Shame about the incredibly bland interior colour scheme!

When I see a grey interior I can't help but think of white towelling socks...

[Dr G]

The only things I can get 'good' (meaning close to book, rather than Pistonheads classifieds) money on from traders are £2-6k small, economical hatchbacks.

'Nice' stuff with big engines is still selling extremely well but on the proviso of keen pricing.

[Whitney-Paine]

In 2002 my 6 month old BMW M3 suffered this problem. £12K for a new engine at the time. All done under BMW warranty with no quibling.

Great car, but if buying one now I would say getting a warranty is essential.

[agentsmith]

heres the lowdown from the USA, I didnt do a re-read, but im pretty sure in the end the yanks got a big extended drivetrain warranty out of it.

http://members.roadfly.com/jason/m3engines.htm

[Deva Link]

Catherine197 said:

We have been looking at ex MBUK C Class and E Class cars today on 07/57 plates.

I bought one of those in early 2005 (mine was a 54reg C270CDi estate) and I got £3500 of the screen price even then, to make the car more than £10K under new list. That was from MB Direct in Birmingham. The car had belonged to some kind of MB regional manager and he'd used it for 4mths. The car was to all intents and purposes brand new.

[Muzzer]

Deva Link said:

Catherine197 said:

We have been looking at ex MBUK C Class and E Class cars today on 07/57 plates.

I bought one of those in early 2005 (mine was a 54reg C270CDi estate) and I got £3500 of the screen price even then, to make the car more than £10K under new list. That was from MB Direct in Birmingham. The car had belonged to some kind of MB regional manager and he'd used it for 4mths. The car was to all intents and purposes brand new.

Some of them have been driven like they've been stolen though....

MB HQ is just down the road from me. I've heard that everyone on the lease scheme (which is virtually all staff as it's dirt cheap) gets a new car every 6-12 months.

There's definitely some young lads and pikeys out there driving around in SLKs, CLKs and C-Class. I knew a guy who stepped out of his 1990 205GTI and into an SLK280. He was 22 and had a penchant for baseball caps.

[XJSJohn]

SLacKer said:

Doom and gloom.....

My number 1 criteria for a car is that it is in the highest car tax bracket. fk em all....


God an extra £240 a year and everyone runs for the hills. It is like a fiver a week - I know give up fags and drink less - simple or ditch that ridiculous mobile phone contract with more minutes than you can possibly use.

You should try paying my road tax - GBP1,300 per year. That would stop people worrying about the increased tax band on vehicles in the uk ....

(also pay 130% VID on new cars, but we do pay 70ppl for VPower)

Edited by XJSJohn on Tuesday 26th August 09:09

[Deva Link]

Muzzer said:

MB HQ is just down the road from me. I've heard that everyone on the lease scheme (which is virtually all staff as it's dirt cheap) gets a new car every 6-12 months.

There's definitely some young lads and pikeys out there driving around in SLKs, CLKs and C-Class. I knew a guy who stepped out of his 1990 205GTI and into an SLK280. He was 22 and had a penchant for baseball caps.

I think all manufacturers do this - neighbour of mine is a retired Vauxhall staff memeber and he gets a new car every 4-6mths. I've heard the kind of stories you relate about the BMW corp staff too.

In my case I got a C270CDi auto estate - wouldn't be a baseball capped chav's first choice. It didn't even have sports suspension or big wheels (neither of which I wanted as I bought it for motorway cruising).

[jamoor]

fluffnik said:

MitchT said:

simba1 said:

Quite a few new shape M3 in the low £40k. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/664518.htm

I think I saw that one when I was browsing a few days ago. Shame about the incredibly bland interior colour scheme!

When I see a grey interior I can't help but think of white towelling socks...

Good thing it's black then!

[blank]

Deva Link said:

I think all manufacturers do this - neighbour of mine is a retired Vauxhall staff memeber and he gets a new car every 4-6mths. I've heard the kind of stories you relate about the BMW corp staff too.

BMW have similar schemes, although they're not dirt cheap.

Chances are any approved used BMW, around a year old, on a Leeds plate (YG, YH etc) that isn't near Leeds will be an ex car scheme car.

[levron73]

Just spoke to a friend who went to Audi to part ex his Tourag for a new A4 TDi estate. His Tourag is 54 Plate, 50,000 miles - every option! offer was £10k - he's decided to keep it!

[Welshbeef]

levron73 said:

Just spoke to a friend who went to Audi to part ex his Tourag for a new A4 TDi estate. His Tourag is 54 Plate, 50,000 miles - every option! offer was £10k - he's decided to keep it!

! 4 years old and its worth what 20-25% of its value? Incredible

[Deva Link]

Just read on another forum that there are so many BMWs stored at Bruntingthorpe that access to the Cold War Jets Collection has had to be cancelled.

[Biggriff]

There are two things visible from space, the Great Wall of China and the amount of 1 Series BMW's at Brunters. Low spec non diesel are impossible to shift unless silly low sale prices and BMW are now in the old Rover game of keeping cars off the market to protect residuals.

Stupid really as the market decides the price.

Best trade in was the Chrysler Jeep at £27k which the guy was offered £4.5k to trade in. Unbelievably he took it and bought another!!!!!