How long do you keep your car?
Discussion
How long or how many miles are people running their (recent) BMW's for?
My 4 Series is at 3 years old now and with 75,000 miles to be honest other than the front being battered with stone chips and some corroded wheels it still feels pretty fresh.
My 4 Series is at 3 years old now and with 75,000 miles to be honest other than the front being battered with stone chips and some corroded wheels it still feels pretty fresh.
Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 15th November 11:29
Ran my 2003 540i Sport for 4 years/17k miles
I bought in July 2013 for £2,900 at 116k miles, written off on Xmas day 2016 and was paid out £5,500. Bought back the salvage for £550, fixed to a "from 10 yards" standard for £900 and sold again for £2500 in July.
Dad bought his 2008 318d in April 2011 with 14k miles on the clock, going nowhere any time soon and now has nearing 100k miles. Was stolen back in 2012 however when thieves broke in and took the keys, mistaking it for my (also silver) 335i.....abandoned in Erith and recovered a few weeks later.
We have also just got my girlfriend a 2015 M135i, only collected it on Thursday but we generally buy her cars at 2-5 years old and sell them when they're 9-10 years old to get a good balance of reliability/depreciation.
I bought in July 2013 for £2,900 at 116k miles, written off on Xmas day 2016 and was paid out £5,500. Bought back the salvage for £550, fixed to a "from 10 yards" standard for £900 and sold again for £2500 in July.
Dad bought his 2008 318d in April 2011 with 14k miles on the clock, going nowhere any time soon and now has nearing 100k miles. Was stolen back in 2012 however when thieves broke in and took the keys, mistaking it for my (also silver) 335i.....abandoned in Erith and recovered a few weeks later.
We have also just got my girlfriend a 2015 M135i, only collected it on Thursday but we generally buy her cars at 2-5 years old and sell them when they're 9-10 years old to get a good balance of reliability/depreciation.
I'm 40 and currently driving around in cars 19 and 20. I've had 8 BMWs along the way and currently have a 2005 645 that I bought as a cheaper car due to a tanking oil industry.
To be honest I don't know what I'd replace the thing with, it doesn't get driven much (another car, 3 bikes and no commute) so every time I fire up the V8 it feels special. Had it approaching 3 years now, shich is a long time for me, and I intend to keep it for the foreseeable.
To be honest I don't know what I'd replace the thing with, it doesn't get driven much (another car, 3 bikes and no commute) so every time I fire up the V8 it feels special. Had it approaching 3 years now, shich is a long time for me, and I intend to keep it for the foreseeable.
55 years old here, on cars 51 and 52; my 5th BMW, an F31 2017 335D Touring; I put over 200k miles on my E46 330D Manual from new, it only had a battery and a turbo (under £1k) in 7 years, then a used E90 330D Manual, with 50k miles, on which I put another 100k miles, nothing but a battery on that, then a F31 2015 335D Touring on which I put 67k miles in two years, no mechanicals. I love these cars.
Got 2 BMWs, and 3 other cars, and don't plan to sell any of them.
2006 E61 530d - would be nice to get a bit better economy considering it is a derv, but with 120k on it I plan to keep it until it dies then replace with a V8 estate of some kind
2006 Z4 3.0si - great car, not the last word in handling/driver involvement but a glorious engine and as modern turbocharged engines do nothing for me this isn't going anywhere either. 42k on this, only does 3k a year so hopefully a lot of life left in it as well
2006 E61 530d - would be nice to get a bit better economy considering it is a derv, but with 120k on it I plan to keep it until it dies then replace with a V8 estate of some kind
2006 Z4 3.0si - great car, not the last word in handling/driver involvement but a glorious engine and as modern turbocharged engines do nothing for me this isn't going anywhere either. 42k on this, only does 3k a year so hopefully a lot of life left in it as well
Still running a 2006 touring.
Owned it for maybe 8 yrs now. Loads of life left in it, it’s just broken into 100k.
Still feels pretty good, very practical car for my current needs. If it breaks badly I’ll consider getting rid. For another touring.
It’s 11 yrs old on the 1st December !
Owned it for maybe 8 yrs now. Loads of life left in it, it’s just broken into 100k.
Still feels pretty good, very practical car for my current needs. If it breaks badly I’ll consider getting rid. For another touring.
It’s 11 yrs old on the 1st December !
My dad had an E36 325TDS that he took from 147k to 250k where it got stolen. It was a clean car and it didn't show its age or miles!
My E36 323i I owned from Nov 2014 and sold in Feb 2015. I think I put on around 4,000 miles in that time taking it up to 136k. I'd have kept it as it was a sub £1k car with a new clutch, suspension and brightened up too. But I never gelled with it.
My E46 M3 I bought in May 2016. I still have it and have put on a few miles. That includes going to the Nurburgring, driving it to Spain and back as well as it being my daily. Still don't know what to do with it. The mileage it's on and overall running costs (as in basics like servicing, brakes & tyres) are making me consider letting go of it. But touchwood it's been spot on for 6 months.
It's only over Xmas that my W124 has come in to take it off the road for Winter.
My E36 323i I owned from Nov 2014 and sold in Feb 2015. I think I put on around 4,000 miles in that time taking it up to 136k. I'd have kept it as it was a sub £1k car with a new clutch, suspension and brightened up too. But I never gelled with it.
My E46 M3 I bought in May 2016. I still have it and have put on a few miles. That includes going to the Nurburgring, driving it to Spain and back as well as it being my daily. Still don't know what to do with it. The mileage it's on and overall running costs (as in basics like servicing, brakes & tyres) are making me consider letting go of it. But touchwood it's been spot on for 6 months.
It's only over Xmas that my W124 has come in to take it off the road for Winter.
Edited by SebringMan on Wednesday 15th November 15:27
I liked the old school BMWs, had several of each E39 and E46 - none of them keepers though. I don't think I kept any of them for more than 18 months - two years.
Currently have E89 which is a great car, but don't think I'll keep it much longer. £60 a week for my 10-mile each way 'commute' is a bit OTT.
Ultimately, I like the cars but they're invariably a bit too thirsty for my regular route, which is not conducive to economy in 'premium' cars.
Currently have E89 which is a great car, but don't think I'll keep it much longer. £60 a week for my 10-mile each way 'commute' is a bit OTT.
Ultimately, I like the cars but they're invariably a bit too thirsty for my regular route, which is not conducive to economy in 'premium' cars.
Had to think about this... 2 cars in the last 10 years since I've been back in the UK. Prior to that I rented cars in Canada 3yrs - was great not owning a car. Prior to that 3 years same car in republic of Ireland. Prior to that 2 cars in 12 months in Australia. Before that 2 cars in UK. 7 cars in 21 years of driving! All bar two were straight sixes.
Edit... is OP asking about BMW only? In which case 2 in 10 years. Not certain my next car will be a BMW.
Edit... is OP asking about BMW only? In which case 2 in 10 years. Not certain my next car will be a BMW.
Edited by bmwmike on Wednesday 15th November 23:45
110k in my e36 328 coupe over 9 years. Only stopped because I out braked someone and the insurance refused to fix the damage because it “ wasn’t financially viable “.
Current e46 330, I’ve done 30k over the last couple of years (bought with 100k on it).
Very happy with both. Pretty much routine maintenance on both. The cost of the occasional suspension bush is more than covered by what I’m not paying on finance or losing in depreciation.
Current e46 330, I’ve done 30k over the last couple of years (bought with 100k on it).
Very happy with both. Pretty much routine maintenance on both. The cost of the occasional suspension bush is more than covered by what I’m not paying on finance or losing in depreciation.
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