I recently picked up a 2007 550i. Seemed like the right choice having low miles, mint condition, and substantially cheaper than new. I have read a few posts about spending "X" amount and instead having a new car(albeit cheaper model) that brings a greater sense of reliability and that was my thought process as well on my last purchase. I came from a 2008 C350 (loaded) that I bought new and grew to hate that car considering how much it cost and was not anywhere justifiable once I had a few years of ownership to speak from. I really tried to make myself like the MB brand and initially cross shopped the E550 but the seating position, layout, etc. was not my liking. After driving the BMW I get what people keep commenting on about the "ultimate driving machine".

I've always considered myself an automobile enthusiast but with age most cars are not even on my radar anymore, no matter the hp and I like hp. I'm not here to offend anyone but seeing articles on how the new Dodge Charger for example has gotten more refined or the latest Camaro or Mustang has "X" amount of hp and offers great performance. No thanks, those types of cars were great for me when I was a teenager but I wouldn't ever own one again and skip most magazine articles about them nowadays. There are a lot more enticing offerings from Europe that I can finally afford as an adult.

The problem now it where to go from here in 3 years when I get the urge for a different car as always.

Thanks to all the great contributors on past posts. Nice to buy a car and be able to modify it without being the guinea pig wasting tons of money with trial and error.

 

Well, in 3 years you can look at the current (F10) 5 series. Maybe it'll be sufficiently different in feel and drive and look to satisfy that urge (which I know so so well - I'm on car #23 now).

 

In 3 years the LCI F10 should be available!

 

But not as a 3-4 year old model, which is the buy-in point that the OP likes to go for. Something I agree with, avoiding those early years of killer depreciation. I don't think the value of having the full warranty and supposed extra reliability is worth the depreciation. I bought my 2004 545i in 2008 and my total non-regular-servicing expenses don't reach 4 figures. In those 2.5 years it's probably depreciated from 30k to 20k (compared to if I'd bought a new one and it had gone from 70k down to 35/40).

 

I completely agree, I bought my 530 in 2007, it was 2 years old and had just 16k miles on it. I got it for $29k, not bad considering an original sticker pushing $60k easily. I've had my car for almost 4 years, and while I have had to come out-of-pocket on some repairs (CCC = ARRRGGGHH!!!!), the maint and CPO warranties served me VERY well. My next car will definitely be another 5er, and will be my 38th car

 

Right you are on all points.

Another 5 is not out of the question and I do like the F10 especially the interior. I'm already thinking about wrapping my door handles in leather and upgrading my center console to the leather M5 style but then remind myself to save the money and use it to upgrade to a newer car in a few years with those features as standard.