Buying son a car?
05-17-2006, 12:10 PM
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My Ride: 2005 Black Sapphire Metallic 545i
I offered my son who is in love with cars and especially mine 20,000 to get whatever he wanted, he's about to graduate from college and I wanted to help him out. So now he's in the hunt for a 3 series BMW. My question to all of you guys with knowledge out there is if that is a good choice. Now I love my car but compared to some of the nice japanese cars out there ex. Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, it isn't as reliable, now should I get him a BMW and hope nothing breaks or get a japanese car for less and have the warranty etc. He's looking at a guys 2002 325Ci with sport package right now for 24k or best offer, the car only has 25k miles but I'm weary about getting it because it has no warranty because back when he bought it was the 3 year 36k mile plan. Let me know what you think, I just want him to have a nice car but something that is going to be reliable.
05-17-2006, 12:18 PM
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A 2002 E46 should have 4yr 50k mile plan. He might be just out of warranty. The 3yr/36k mile thing may have been the service. Is this a CPO car? You might be able to extend the warranty. If not you can always get a 3rd party coverage on it but I have no experience with them. A late E46 is good but to be honest I would go for a late E39.
05-17-2006, 12:24 PM
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The car is not a CPO and no it's not his first car, he has a 95 Infiniti Q45 that is at 200k miles. Thats why I wonder what to get, he really wants the BMW, it looks amazing, drives amazing, as we all know there is nothing like that but I don't know if I want that to be his first real car, I want to teach him that people don't just get handed these cars, you have to work for them. Then at the same time he really has a passion for them so I'm torn, but mostly I'm just worried about the thing breaking down on him.
05-17-2006, 12:31 PM
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My Ride: 530i
If I were in your position, I wouldn't get him a car. He's old enough to buy his own. Helping out a little it fine ($5k).
I don't know about getting a BMW out of warranty. I've always had little things go wrong which always cost a lot.
Good luck w/your decision
I don't know about getting a BMW out of warranty. I've always had little things go wrong which always cost a lot.
Good luck w/your decision
05-17-2006, 12:34 PM
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My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i, Silver Grey, Sport Package, R. Shades, Cold Pkg, Sat. Rad., Prem. Sound.
Originally Posted by 05E60Black545i' post='283815' date='May 17 2006, 03:24 PM
The car is not a CPO and no it's not his first car, he has a 95 Infiniti Q45 that is at 200k miles. Thats why I wonder what to get, he really wants the BMW, it looks amazing, drives amazing, as we all know there is nothing like that but I don't know if I want that to be his first real car, I want to teach him that people don't just get handed these cars, you have to work for them. Then at the same time he really has a passion for them so I'm torn, but mostly I'm just worried about the thing breaking down on him.
05-17-2006, 12:39 PM
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My Ride: MY RIDE is DA real .-) HAMANN 5 aka BLACK MAMBA born on 16/06/2005/delivered on 05/08/2005 as following:
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I hope my Dad wud have done the same but too late, I bought mine 
sorry mates in the US you seem to have probs with cars, is it the ship or the distance, we also have some gimmicks with BMWs here, but not that often and seriou, really besides some stuff which is screwed already in the factory. Buy him his Bimmer he will be satisfied, and buy hims guarantee if you can, buy him a new one, even E46 if you get one, here we have some stocks, good luck!
sorry mates in the US you seem to have probs with cars, is it the ship or the distance, we also have some gimmicks with BMWs here, but not that often and seriou, really besides some stuff which is screwed already in the factory. Buy him his Bimmer he will be satisfied, and buy hims guarantee if you can, buy him a new one, even E46 if you get one, here we have some stocks, good luck!
05-17-2006, 02:20 PM
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I would be a little reserved about purchasing a BMW without a warranty. At your price range, you can probably get a 2-3 year old Acura TL or Infiniti G35 with some warranty remaining and the possibility of extending it for about $1.5K. With the TL or the G35, you get a more reliable car with some warranty left, plus most of the handling capabilities of the 325i, especially when talking about the G35.
05-17-2006, 02:29 PM
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I have owned several BMWS over the years and including my current one I havent really had any problems with them. Alot of my friends have had other japanese makes and models and on average they all seem to have about the same amount of problems. The 2002 BMW he is looking at should be a great car, ESPECIALLY if all the sevice maintenance was done on it. The 2002 BMW didnt have so many electronic gismos as todays BMWS, if your willing to give him $20,000.00 he should at least LOVE the car he is driving...
05-17-2006, 03:26 PM
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I just bought a 2002 330xi for the family stable as we now have another driver in the family (daughter just turned 16). She works and needs wheels to get herself around as both her parents work. We paid $25,000 and it has just 14,500 miles on it. 
The only hesitation I would offer is that repairs can get very expensive. I immediately put about $1,500 into the car for Service Inspection II and new tires all around. :'( The only service work required since 2002 had been annual oil changes.
But now it's in tip-top shape and I don't expect to need to put much into it for a couple of years. The 4 year mark in-service date is actually tomorrow, so after that we're off warranty. 
These are great cars. We all love driving it around and in some ways is even more fun than the 550. I think it would be a great car to get for your son.
The only hesitation I would offer is that repairs can get very expensive. I immediately put about $1,500 into the car for Service Inspection II and new tires all around. :'( The only service work required since 2002 had been annual oil changes.
But now it's in tip-top shape and I don't expect to need to put much into it for a couple of years. The 4 year mark in-service date is actually tomorrow, so after that we're off warranty. These are great cars. We all love driving it around and in some ways is even more fun than the 550. I think it would be a great car to get for your son.
