Newbie in the Motor City
02-05-2009, 10:41 AM
#1
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Location: Metro Detroit, MI
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My Ride: 2006 BMW 530xi - Titanium Silver Metallic / Gray Dakota Leather / Dark Poplar Wood Trim / Cold Weather Package / Premium Package / Premium Sound Package / Lumbar Support / Xenon Adaptive Light Control / 6 speed auto - Steptronic Trans. /Sirius Satellite Radio / Voice Activation / Navigation / Moonroof
Greetings all. I am new to the forum (as of yesterday) and to the wonderful world of BMW ownership (as of January 28).
When I started car shopping just after New Years Day (to replace my leased vehicle - a Chrysler 300 Limited AWD [hey, remember I live in Metro Detroit, okay, I had Chrysler paper and the lease payments made sense]) I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams that less than one short month later I would be the proud owner of a "cherry" 2006 CPO 530xi.
How did I end up choosing BMW? In a word; providence. It was meant to be.
I spent weeks researching lease and purchase options for new domestics. I still had access to Chrysler employee paper, and was eligible for the "X' plan discount with Ford (which I used to acquire my previous leased vehicle: a Volvo S-60 2.5 AWD). The problem was the lease market is uber depressed here in the States, and with residual values down across the board and lenders being tight with money, it didn't make economic sense for me to lease a domestic vehicle in the neighborhood of > $600 US / month.
While lamenting the problems I was encountering in terms of finding suitable and appropriate transportation to one of my colleagues, he suggested that I consider a CPO and directed me to the BMW USA website. SHAZAM, and to truncate a long story, I discovered that my local dealer's CPO Internet Sales Manager lives in the next subdivision down the road from us, and we have several mutual friends. I considered and drove several available CPO (both i and ix) and ultimately decided on the one detailed in my signature below. What helped to seal the deal was the fact that with the available 3.9% financing through BMW Finance, my monthly payment to OWN rather than lease was a mere $46 more / month than the lease payment on my 300.
Several of my partners have driven or currently drive BMW's (ranging from a 2000 525, a 2006 X-5, 2006 x-3, 2007 650i conv., 2005 745i & A 2006 530xi) and they all highly recommended that I pursue my deal for the 530xi.
Other than a blip with a low battery and high battery discharge warning, resulting in the replacement of the battery under warranty yesterday, all is well. I absolutely love the car, the way it feels, handles and holds the road.
I look forward to its first extended road test; a trip to Pittsburgh to visit family and friends (I am a Pittsburgh transplant toiling for my trade in Michigan, consequently I bleed Steeler black and gold)
I believe that the CPO route may have to be the way to go later in the year when the lease on my wife's crossover expires in December.
When I started car shopping just after New Years Day (to replace my leased vehicle - a Chrysler 300 Limited AWD [hey, remember I live in Metro Detroit, okay, I had Chrysler paper and the lease payments made sense]) I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams that less than one short month later I would be the proud owner of a "cherry" 2006 CPO 530xi.
How did I end up choosing BMW? In a word; providence. It was meant to be.
I spent weeks researching lease and purchase options for new domestics. I still had access to Chrysler employee paper, and was eligible for the "X' plan discount with Ford (which I used to acquire my previous leased vehicle: a Volvo S-60 2.5 AWD). The problem was the lease market is uber depressed here in the States, and with residual values down across the board and lenders being tight with money, it didn't make economic sense for me to lease a domestic vehicle in the neighborhood of > $600 US / month.
While lamenting the problems I was encountering in terms of finding suitable and appropriate transportation to one of my colleagues, he suggested that I consider a CPO and directed me to the BMW USA website. SHAZAM, and to truncate a long story, I discovered that my local dealer's CPO Internet Sales Manager lives in the next subdivision down the road from us, and we have several mutual friends. I considered and drove several available CPO (both i and ix) and ultimately decided on the one detailed in my signature below. What helped to seal the deal was the fact that with the available 3.9% financing through BMW Finance, my monthly payment to OWN rather than lease was a mere $46 more / month than the lease payment on my 300.
Several of my partners have driven or currently drive BMW's (ranging from a 2000 525, a 2006 X-5, 2006 x-3, 2007 650i conv., 2005 745i & A 2006 530xi) and they all highly recommended that I pursue my deal for the 530xi.
Other than a blip with a low battery and high battery discharge warning, resulting in the replacement of the battery under warranty yesterday, all is well. I absolutely love the car, the way it feels, handles and holds the road.
I look forward to its first extended road test; a trip to Pittsburgh to visit family and friends (I am a Pittsburgh transplant toiling for my trade in Michigan, consequently I bleed Steeler black and gold)
I believe that the CPO route may have to be the way to go later in the year when the lease on my wife's crossover expires in December.
02-05-2009, 10:56 AM
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Nor Cal
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My Ride: 2006 550i w/ sport package: bone stock :(
2006 Yamaha R-6exy Raven: Fully Loaded Track weapon
2004 Ducati 749 Testaretta: Fully Loaded
two other family cars that I dont care to mention, lol!
Welcome!! post some pics
02-05-2009, 11:06 AM
#4
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Milky Way, Earth, N. America, CA, San Jose, 95136, Latitude N 37� 16.837, Longitude W 121� 50.461
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My Ride: 2004 530i | Sapphire Black | Sport | Premium | NAV | Logic 7 | DPE R07 Variant S Gloss Black with Polished Lip 20x8.5 front 20x10 rear | Falken FK452 tires 245/30/20 front 275/30/20 rear | H&R Coilovers | Smoked Tail Lights | M5 trunk spoiler | AC Schnitzer style roof spoiler | HID 8000K headlights & foglights | 35% tint all around | Sprint Booster | Speed Innovation ECU tuning | M5 trunk finisher | M-Tech body kit | Remus Quad Exhaust | AC Schnitzer style pedals | Euro Stickers | RPi Ram Air Induction | Smoked LED Side Lenses | AC Schnitzer style e-brake handle | AC Schnitzer style shifter | AC Schnitzer style iDrive knob | AC Schnitzer style carbon fiber diffuser | carbon fiber hood/trunk/steering emblems | carbon fiber grilles | carbon fiber door pillars | MTEC v2 Angel Eyes | Hamann style carbon fiber splitter
Welcome.. enjoy your stay... 
02-05-2009, 11:32 AM
#5
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
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My Ride: 2006 BMW 530xi - Titanium Silver Metallic / Gray Dakota Leather / Dark Poplar Wood Trim / Cold Weather Package / Premium Package / Premium Sound Package / Lumbar Support / Xenon Adaptive Light Control / 6 speed auto - Steptronic Trans. /Sirius Satellite Radio / Voice Activation / Navigation / Moonroof
Whether is cold, snowy and otherwise crappy. All I have are the pics my salesman e-mailed to me before she was prepped and cleaned, but I am happy to share:
02-05-2009, 11:42 AM
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Location: Thousand Oaks, California
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My Ride: 2008 550i Jet Black on Black Leather, SAT with Paddles, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, NAV, Sport Package, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, Trinity 12W LED Angel Eyes, RPi GT Exhaust, M rear spoiler, ACS Roof Spoiler, Tinted Tail Lights, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 550i emblem, RPi Scoop, E60 Forum Cling, Mtec bulbs in fog lights, Mtec 2W LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, K&N Filter, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Blackout roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills.
Retired Rides - 1989 325i convertible, 1995 M3, 2002 X5, 2005 545i, 2008 X5 (Lemon)
Congrats on the new (to you) car and enjoy the forums!!
02-05-2009, 04:47 PM
#9
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Location: SFV California
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My Ride: 2006 530i Alpine White on Black interior, Sport and Premium Package, Steptronic, Navigation, Xenon Adaptive Headlights, Mtec V2.1 angel eyes,Hoen Fog Lights, Full M-Tech kit, ACS pedals, LED plate lights, CF Steering Wheel badge, CF Titanium trim, OE
to the forums!! 
