Just bought an e39 530i sport touring auto and now....
Discussion
I am starting to regret it. Although I knew all of these things when I went to look at the car:- I know it will not be cheap to maintain, already own a 245bhp v6 (albeit one with 7 seats) and this is SUPPOSED to be the car for the school run.
Sure - it was a nice drive - but I was being a little ginger and paying too much attention to avoiding dinking or scratching the car in any way to get a proper feel for it. This is my first rwd and my first BMW.
I am hoping that somebody out there can reassure me that I have bought the best £4k estate car out there so that I can relax over dinner and look forward to paying the balance!
Sure - it was a nice drive - but I was being a little ginger and paying too much attention to avoiding dinking or scratching the car in any way to get a proper feel for it. This is my first rwd and my first BMW.
I am hoping that somebody out there can reassure me that I have bought the best £4k estate car out there so that I can relax over dinner and look forward to paying the balance!
In terms of maintenance, it's all relative - the car that I am selling is a 3 cylinder diesel. Premium tyres cost £40 and it does 60mpg. Would you believe that after a trip to Red Dot Tuning it has virtually the same acceleration as the 530i. It is too small for me which is the only issue!
I will let you know how I get on!
I will let you know how I get on!
You have bought a great car.
But as already posted, these were expensive cars new and those running costs don't go down (if anything, on an older car they go up but are easily offset by using an Indy as opposed to a dealer).
Keeping on top of the running costs is key. It won't be cheap as chips, but better than letting the car fall from grace and ending up with a dog that starts to let you down.
But as already posted, these were expensive cars new and those running costs don't go down (if anything, on an older car they go up but are easily offset by using an Indy as opposed to a dealer).
Keeping on top of the running costs is key. It won't be cheap as chips, but better than letting the car fall from grace and ending up with a dog that starts to let you down.
matt uk said:
You have bought a great car.
But as already posted, these were expensive cars new and those running costs don't go down (if anything, on an older car they go up but are easily offset by using an Indy as opposed to a dealer).
Keeping on top of the running costs is key. It won't be cheap as chips, but better than letting the car fall from grace and ending up with a dog that starts to let you down.
Remember that if it has a FBMWSH then its worth keeping that up, if not to preserve some value come resale time, it will make it far easier to sell. All BMW dealerships I've dealt with give a 10% discount on parts and labour too (for vehicles over 4 years old) and, as a result Independant garages are only just ahead on price. But as already posted, these were expensive cars new and those running costs don't go down (if anything, on an older car they go up but are easily offset by using an Indy as opposed to a dealer).
Keeping on top of the running costs is key. It won't be cheap as chips, but better than letting the car fall from grace and ending up with a dog that starts to let you down.
For example an Inspection 2 on an E38 @ BMW Dealer £488 inclusive...
Local Independant - £450.....
No contest.
Good luck with the car. You can still enjoy it whilst being pedantic about its appearance, believe me

Mark V8 said:
matt uk said:
You have bought a great car.
But as already posted, these were expensive cars new and those running costs don't go down (if anything, on an older car they go up but are easily offset by using an Indy as opposed to a dealer).
Keeping on top of the running costs is key. It won't be cheap as chips, but better than letting the car fall from grace and ending up with a dog that starts to let you down.
Remember that if it has a FBMWSH then its worth keeping that up, if not to preserve some value come resale time, it will make it far easier to sell. All BMW dealerships I've dealt with give a 10% discount on parts and labour too (for vehicles over 4 years old) and, as a result Independant garages are only just ahead on price. But as already posted, these were expensive cars new and those running costs don't go down (if anything, on an older car they go up but are easily offset by using an Indy as opposed to a dealer).
Keeping on top of the running costs is key. It won't be cheap as chips, but better than letting the car fall from grace and ending up with a dog that starts to let you down.
For example an Inspection 2 on an E38 @ BMW Dealer £488 inclusive...
Local Independant - £450.....
No contest.
Good luck with the car. You can still enjoy it whilst being pedantic about its appearance, believe me

Also, not sure if FBMWSH makes much of a difference byt the time the car is that the £4k mark. I'd be more impressed with a well respected Indy on an older car than the official dealer network.
jboy72 said:
I am hoping that somebody out there can reassure me that I have bought the best £4k estate car out there so that I can relax over dinner and look forward to paying the balance!
If you are having second thoughts, I guess there is a reason for that....?I think you should buy whichever car makes you happy reagrdless of the opinions from anonymous posters on an internet site.
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