Owning A Used German Car Doesn't Always Have To Leave You Broke And Penniless

"Torque Affair" (torqueaffair)
11/13/2015 at 10:08 • Filed to: GERMAN CARS

You might be thinking that this is the biggest lie of all.

Owning used German cars has got to result in declaring bankruptcy. At the very least, it must be one of the dumbest financial decisions you can make, correct?

Surely, it must be the same as taking all the cash you have in your bank account, draining your spouse’s savings account, pulling the money out of your kids’ wallet and flushing it all down the toilet.

For instance, take a look at this guy who spent $39K in 2009 on his E39 M5.

$39,000!!! Unbelievable! You could pay for a fiftieth of your kid’s college education with that money or buy a 2006 911 Carrera S!

True, it is usually the case that with many of fine pieces of German machinery, you end up paying the same amount of cash that you would to buy a first class ticket on an international Emirates Airlines flight, complete with your own room and a shower (with accommodations like this, you would want to be stuck on a 20 hour flight ). But, there is still a way that you can drive these cars and have money left in your bank account by mitigating the risks of financial disaster as much as possible.

Who knows - with a bit of luck you can not only break even but make money in certain scenarios. But that might be a bit ambitious.

Don’t get me wrong. In general, cars are usually the worst things you could be spending money on. You’re better off taking that $30,000 and putting all of it on black in Vegas. At least that way, you have a 50/50 shot at doubling it.

There is no question that cars are depreciating assets. However, if you buy something that is generally in high demand for a great price, it’s highly possible that you can drive it around for a while and then sell it without incurring a significant financial hit. Of course, that’s easier said than done but here is an example based on my most recent experience.

A few months ago, while I was on my 5th hour of continuous Craigslist “cars-for-sale” browsing, I came across a fantastic deal. It was a 6-speed, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that I only ended up paying $17.5K for. I knew that 6-speed manual transmissions for 335’s were rare and judging by the demand out there for one I figured I could drive it for a while and sell it quickly close to what I bought it for. I would enjoy the car for a few months and then let it become someone else’s maintenance nightmare.

The 335i I found on craigslist was an even better than usual deal since it had more power than what came from factory. It had an output of roughly 350 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque which is a big increase over a stock 335i. I also recently compared my car with my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and although I prefer the M3 over the 335i, there was no denying the fact that the 335i, in general, is superb value for the money.

But there’s a catch to being able to buy all these used German autos for so cheap. The reason they plummet in value the way that they do is because the repairs on these cars cost so much. For example, here are some typical problems I could expect with the E9x BMW 335 and how much it would cost me to get them fixed.

Replacing Injectors: $2950 to replace all 6
Oil Filter Housing Gasket Leak: $800
Transmission Oil Pan Leak:$ 1800
Wastegate Rattle: $ 2,158
Valve cover gasket replacement: $ 1097
Alternator: $850

You might be looking at this list thinking: “ You are an idiot to even think about buying a used 335i without a warranty. ” Yes, from a financial standpoint it is risky but I compare it to buying stocks. Any stock you buy could always go down, but if you do enough research and buy stocks in a company with great fundamentals, you would lower the likelihood of losing your money.

It’s a similar concept when buying German vehicles without a warranty. Although, in most cases, buying German cars is like buying penny stocks with no upside, if you are thoughtful about what you purchase and have it inspected, then you minimize your chances of throwing away all of your hard-earned cash.

So, to try to make sure that I wouldn’t regret buying this car, I had a pre-purchase inspection done on it by the dealer. They probably took a look at the car for all of about 5 minutes and then proceeded to fill out the checklist in 5 seconds.

“Sir, your car is ready”.

They did mention that there was some oil around the gasket, but when I looked at the area myself, I couldn’t tell if it was dirt or oil. Was this a stealership I was dealing with?

Knowing that I would only keep the car for a few months, I thought I’d just live with a problem that didn’t really look like a problem. The service advisor tried to get me to fix it but when I was pushing back he didn’t show any indication that there was a serious issue here (he probably just looked at forums and thought, well it’s going to fail anyway so I might as well try to convince this guy to take care of it now ).

It didn’t work and I just decided to keep an eye on the oil level and set aside some money for repairs. Worst case scenario: $800 to get the problem fixed.

Tires and brakes were fine. They weren’t great, but at the very least, they wouldn’t need to be replaced during the time that I would own the car.

Owning The 335i For Three Months

The 335i was an amazing daily driver to own. The power was great and the handling was tremendous. If it only looked like the M3, then I would have liked the car that much more.

Fortunately, over the three months I owned it, I didn’t get stuck with a huge repair bill. Here is where the pre-purchase inspection was helpful. The brake fluid replacement light came on and so I got that done for $133, but that was it.

All the necessary niceties were there like a fantastic sounding Harmon-Kardon stereo, bluetooth, navigation, sunroof along with gobs of torque. Keyless entry was such a huge convenience: I don’t think the keys ever really came out of my pocket other than to lock the car. It was a really nice feature to have especially if you’re lazy like me and want to move less than a turtle.

Even in the back, the passengers in the rear seats had their own A/C vents. For being a relatively small coupe, it was fairly roomy and spacious inside the car.

I didn’t plan on selling it so soon but I just thought I’d put up an ad and see what happens. I knew I wouldn’t have much trouble selling it and I was right! People love a manual 335i and so I immediately started getting some responses. It only took a few weeks to have someone pay me $18K for the car, $500 more than what I paid for it initially (without sales tax).

Cheap BMW Ownership

Saying “cheap BMW ownership” is like saying “Donald Trump’s hair is real”. Those words just don’t belong together. In my case, luck played a factor but also buying a car that was highly desired meant that I was able to enjoy this car for only $274 a month (not including gas + insurance).

I should say that if you go through the buying and selling process of used cars long enough, there will be cases where you have to end up paying for a large repair bill. But that’s part of the journey. My goal is to continue buying, enjoying and selling used cars and hope that I don’t lose a whole lot of money in the process. But even if I do, I won’t complain because that’s what I signed up for.

It’s kind of like gambling, but the fun kind - the kind that I love.

But I’ll probably regret it some day when I’m really old and all I have left in my bank account is $2.53.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is about exploring my fascination with cars; I’m always on the lookout for things that interest me in the car world.

Follow !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (100)

sumfoo1 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:22

owning a *new* german car outside of warranty does though.

Hernandez `45's > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:24

I own a 2000 ML320, bought used almost 10 years ago. It now has almost 170K on it. With regular maintenance it has been unbelievably reliable. The parts are ridiculously expensive, normally double (or more) of a similar year domestic vehicle, but I have to say it has never left me stranded in my decade of ownership.

drock905 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:26

The thing with German cars is you have to do preventive maintenance. You can’t wait for something to break, go on a forum and find out what consensus there is on what and when equipment should be replaced. If you stay ahead of it you should be much better off.

I previously owned an e39 540i wagon and had zero problems over 5 years.

VW-Guy-R32 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:27

Wouldn’t put my money on the 335i. I got really lucky with my 3 VWs so far :) They have been a joy. Common theme you ask? All purchased from private parties.

Tripper > drock905
11/13/2015 at 10:28

THIS! German cars are just as reliable as any other if you keep up with the maintenance. Neglect will cost you.

dixy2k > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:28

They always break down and they are always expensive to fix. I would suggest reading a forum for the car of your choice before buying the the deal of your lifetime.

drdude > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:29

I am willing to take that bet. I sold my Wrangler Unlimited, and bought a 535i. Works better for the pregnant wife and for the upcoming kid.

Sure, its going to suck to work on. It needs the dealership computer to change the rear brake pads... the Vanos or throttle sync will someday have issues... but I expect years of minimal issues from it... and I am ahead of the depreciation curve.

Too many M's > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:29

Great write up. I’ve owned many used German cars and have had similar experience. I was nearly paid to drive my first E90 M3 for the year I owned it. Good luck with the search for the next toy!

golfball > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:29

Owning old German cars is for people who don’t have the phrase “Service Adviser” in their vocabulary. Learn to turn a wrench or send it on to someone else.

Damasconian > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:32

Owning a German has done a lot for me. More friends, more girls, more fun & more better than you.

Suck it poors!

Opposite Locksmith > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:32

How in the fuck does a rattling wastegate cost 2.1k. Flat out retarded

krobert > drock905
11/13/2015 at 10:32

540 wagon? mmmmmmm.

what kind of money did you spend on preventative maintenance?

mxer1 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:33

Can you truly assess the validity of your claims by only owning it for 3 months? Also any car really doesn’t go down in value in 3 months. If anything, someone only owning a car for 3 months is a red flag.

Kind of a worthless article and a waste of time.

Schraderbrau > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:33

Replacing Injectors: $2950 to replace all 6
Oil Filter Housing Gasket Leak: $800
Transmission Oil Pan Leak:$ 1800
Wastegate Rattle: $ 2,158
Valve cover gasket replacement: $ 1097
Alternator: $850

Holy hell, those prices tho - dealer prices? I just had the VCG and oil stand gasket done on my 2006 325 for less than $1,000. That 335 engine really that much tougher to work on?

julienjj > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:33

Just an important head’s up: You WILL need new injectors at some point.

They are available from “standard motor product/intermotor, part FJ1050” for about 130$ on rockauto... and they are the OEM ones from siemens VDO with intermotor stickers over the BMW logo (lol)

They take about 1hour for a novice to replace. The coding is done in a minute with a D-can cable.

Source : I own a 135i :)

edit: A water pump too xD

TractorPillow > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:33

Be careful. It’s an addiction. I’ve made on average 3k more than I paid on the last 4 cars I’ve owned and sold (in the last 9 months). The trick is to always have two cars in the stable so you're not in a rush to ever sell. I'll keep doing it, great way to own lots of cool cars and not pay anything for them in the long run.

Mailbox Cancer > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:33

PPI +

Good Indie BMW Mechanic +

$2500 Emergency Fund +

Not driving/maintaining it like a Toyota

= Entirely reasonable BMW ownership experience.

Torque Affair > Mailbox Cancer
11/13/2015 at 10:34

I agree...but what’s even better is to not have to use that $2500 at all!

Torque Affair > TractorPillow
11/13/2015 at 10:35

You’re right, I’m addicted! I’ve seen so many ads where people are in a rush to sell for whatever reason and those can end up being the best deals since the sellers need to unload quick.

mxer1 > TractorPillow
11/13/2015 at 10:36

Except for taxes and registration each time.

Torque Affair > julienjj
11/13/2015 at 10:36

Yeah, fortunately I don’t own the car anymore!

Torque Affair > Schraderbrau
11/13/2015 at 10:36

Yeah dealer prices I found on the forum

Pending Approval > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:37

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Kinja'd!!!

Torque Affair > Opposite Locksmith
11/13/2015 at 10:37

Dealer pricing

dagibby > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:38

I bought a used 1988 735i in 1997 for spare change, dropped an new transmission in it and drove it for 8 years with out an issue. Only regret is not dropping a manual in it and keeping it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:38

What’s the new ride?

Torque Affair > Damasconian
11/13/2015 at 10:39

lol, more friends, more girls, more fun? How do you figure? Would love to hear some stories.

Honesty > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:39

Bimmer 3:28 - And lo, BMWs are cheap to maintain, expensive to repair.

barreto > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:39

Having owned a dozen BMW’s and currently have a 2008 135i and a 2008 535xi Wagon, I can assure you that these cars/engines can be excellent and a nightmare. We bought the 135i for my wife about a year ago from the original owner with 65k miles on it. It has been an amazing car and extremely reliable.

I bought the wagon with 80k miles on it expecting it to be the same experience. Right off the bat it needed the valve cover gasket, oil filter gasket and some pan bolts replaced. Almost $3000 within the first few months. I drive my car about 1500 miles a month for my job, so having it be reliable is my #1 priority. About a month ago it started having a grinding noise and all the AWD/ABS lights started showing up. Turns out, the transfer case took a dump and had to replace it with a used unit to the tune of $1600 (a new unit by itself is $3500).

All of this to say, be thorough and do all the research before buying any car, but particularly the N54/55 bmw’s.

TractorPillow > mxer1
11/13/2015 at 10:39

Except for I’ve still always made a profit. 3k is more than taxes or registration. But thanks guy.

Once I made 5500 on a car I paid 5k for. Taxes on it were like $300. Pretty sure I won that.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
11/13/2015 at 10:39

Where you can fail to change the oil in a Camry for 200k and it will probably keep running - ha!

Pending Approval > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:39

you’re also forgetting the need to use premium gas, full synthetic oils, special specific coolants and other fluids, and that shit adds up quick.

Party-vi > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:40

133

You owned it for 3 months. In the grand scheme of things, that is like you were a cashier at McDonalds for a week and then wrote an article about how easy it is to manage the place.

Torque Affair > barreto
11/13/2015 at 10:40

Man, that’s crazy. Yeah it can be a toss-up with these cars.

bananahammock2 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:40

This is changing. The more complex the German car, the more items will break. We bought a cpo X5 earlier this year, and we’ve had a number of problems - water pumps, parking sensors, AC blowing cold on one side of the car, keyless fob not opening the hatch.

I’d say stick with basic German cars not larded up with options and you might have better luck, but as a BMW owner for the last 17 years, this one will be my last.

By the way, the items listed that needed repair were covered by the warranty except the parking sensors. Time is worth something to me and since it’s my wife’s car, breakdowns are no longer acceptable.

sklooner > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:41

It’s true sometimes you just end up suicidal and despondent

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Too many M's
11/13/2015 at 10:41

I’d love to be able to use the phrase “my first E90 M3” one day - ha!

I can’t help but browse through the lightly optioned ‘11s with ZCP...

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/13/2015 at 10:42

I know someone who went over 20k in a p38 range without changing the oil...it did not keep running lol

SprungColossal > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:42

e36s are still cheap as dirt, simple to fix with cheap parts, and e46s aren’t much more expensive. still they’re getting a bit long in the tooth now unfortunately, and a reliable, cheap 20-year old german car just isn’t appealing to many people. but if you can deal with the minor issues of having a 20 year old car, it’s a great way for cheap, rwd fun.

Torque Affair > Too many M's
11/13/2015 at 10:42

Yes, I’m looking at the E92 M3!

TractorPillow > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:42

Yep find good deals on cars that have hit their lowest depreciation and might even be going up. Takes a while to find the right one. I feel like I’m playing “trading up” with my life.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:42

Yes! Although it does depend on what used German car you buy, they are generally pretty reliable... Apart from the ABC breaking in my merc once it has been pretty reliable . And at the ending of the day, it’s worth fixing because it is such a great car.

God help allroad owners though...

duurtlang > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:43

If a car is out of warranty, you don’t want to take it to a dealer.

Dealers are for cars with warranty and leased cars. You obviously do want to take it to someone who’s at least somewhat specialized in the type of car you’ve got, but don’t let it be a dealer. Furthermore, in my experience, dealers only know how to replace . They don’t know how to repair . Add that desire to replace to the inflated hourly rate, and it quickly becomes expensive.

Juice_13 > Mailbox Cancer
11/13/2015 at 10:43

Quadruple your normal tire allowance. Well, if you drive it like you ought to be.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > julienjj
11/13/2015 at 10:43

I keep seeing Rockauto mentioned. What’s the deal? Best prices? Obscure parts?

Torque Affair > Pending Approval
11/13/2015 at 10:43

True! That’s I didn’t keep it for long.

Sethism > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:43

My e92 would have set me back over $6k a year in repairs if it weren’t for the warranty. In the year I owned it, I had the oil filter leak, the VANOSS repaired, the valve cover gasket leak, the ignition coils replaced, the battery cable replaced and the battery “reprogrammed”, and then the steering column started clunking (a common problem on E92s). I had enough, and traded it in on a Mkvi GTI.

That GTI has set me back a whopping $20 for an ignition cool outside of gas and maintenance, and currently has 68k miles on the clock.

Rockchops > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:44

Lol lets circle back in a year or two....

If I didn’t have the warranty on my 135i it would have been 8-9k of work in one year. For a 2011 with a spotless history and full records up to my purchase.

Also you forgot a high pressure fuel pump on your list ;) although t should be covered by the factory, you'll still need it replaced.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
11/13/2015 at 10:44

Hahaha - BMW’s 15k recommendation is crazy, too. I do mine around 7.5k. Cheap insurance (even with the liquid gold 10W60)!

EL_ULY > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:44

meh, there are too many variables to give out any advise on any make or model of car. One of the questions I find irritable as “the car guy” in the family is, “Is a ____ a good or reliable car?” Nothing I think or say will ever be true (and this coming from someone in the field and that has owned 8 german cars) So my answer to that will forever be, “well, some are good, some are bad. If it needs something,let me know and i’ll fix it.”

Jared > Party-vi
11/13/2015 at 10:45

This. 99.99999999% of people who try to get out of a car after 3 months of owning it lose their shirts, I would take this article with a large grain of salt.

Humpty-D > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:46

Nice write up- that engine scares the hell out of me too, but I think you did it right with the PPI and limited time of ownership. What did the dealership charge you for the inspection?

A friend of mine had to do his injectors and he got hit for about $5k after having them do a few other items as well. That would completely ruin a car for me, no matter how great it was.

MTY19855 > Party-vi
11/13/2015 at 10:47

Owning a used German car doesn’t have to leave you broke... provided you get rid of the damn thing after ninety days. It’s like dipping your toe into a shark tank and proclaiming it perfectly safe.

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/13/2015 at 10:48

Yea I go every 5k in the E46 because it’s not driven as much as it should be. I’ve never known an enthusiast to let it go the full 15k without changing. However I bet the person that owned my E90 first did:/

skeffles > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:48

I know someone that had an 80s VW Jetta, she had it for over twelve years and spent not a single dime on it; not even a service. She only got rid of it when the engine caught fire; which I assume is related to the lack of spending a dime on servicing or changing the oil...at all.

Torque Affair > Humpty-D
11/13/2015 at 10:48

They charged $189. With these cars, you just never know. The longer you hold onto it, the higher the chances that something will break.

The LS is WAY OverRated > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:48

Kinja'd!!!

When Chrysler products are considered more reliable, you’re buying a money pit. http://www.tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/BMW.ht…

T off the New > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:48

Good read, I’ve only ever owned German cars VW, Audi, and now BMW. It’s like anything if you properly maintain it, even preemptively replace things you research are prone to go wrong it can be a really enjoyable experience. It sucks how they are becoming a lot more difficult to work on(dealership dependent) but I’ve never had any major issues that I couldn’t immediately place the blame on myself, as anecdotal as that may be...

PartyPooper2012 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:49

you wait till VW’s Dieselgate shakes out. After that if you haven’t made mandatory repairs, government will go after you and make you broke and penniless

TractorPillow > mxer1
11/13/2015 at 10:50

You're kind of a Debbie downer aren't you? It was anything but a worthless article. Your comments on the other hand are worthless.

jlnbos > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:51

My wife drives a C-class Mercedes. She is on her second one. First was a 2002, which was horrible. Her current one is a 2010, which has been pretty good.

But we won’t own a Mercedes unless it is on a factory extended warranty. The extended warranty on her 2002 paid for itself right after the standard warranty was up, when the engine CPU bit the dust.

Torque Affair > bananahammock2
11/13/2015 at 10:51

You hit the nail on the head - more than the money is the time factor. How much time do you really want to waste taking your car in over and over again?

mxer1 > TractorPillow
11/13/2015 at 10:51

you must be buying some crap cars then.

The LS is WAY OverRated > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:51

“There is no question that cars are depreciating assets.”

You’re still thinking of it wrong.

“There is no question that cars are depreciating liabilities.”

There, fixed it for you.

mxer1 > TractorPillow
11/13/2015 at 10:52

Not really just being realistic. A 3 MONTH period of owning a car? Gimme a break.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
11/13/2015 at 10:53

My car was a lease return, and I’ve got the records. I think you’re right - the guy stuck with the suggested change for the first 3. Blackstone report at 77k was very healthy, though!

llamaguy > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:53

I hate your car so much. But only because I bought a near identical one for more and it doesn’t have the options that yours has plus it’s a stupid x-drive.

BuckyBronson > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:53

I’ve got a 2005 Mini Cooper S (does that count as German? I think so..), and in the last two months it has decided I don’t need money any more. I might as well shove hundred dollar bills in the gas tank and run it on that. Every day I drive it to find something new failing or on it’s last legs. What’s worse is I still owe a little money on it, so I can’t rid myself of it.

mxer1 > TractorPillow
11/13/2015 at 10:54

I’m sure you’re documenting the “actual price paid” when you go in to register it.....

Le Monstre > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:54

Theres a snag with those repair prices, thats if you drop it off at the dealership, dress up like Fry from Futurama, and say shut up and take my money. Wanna know the real secret to owning a German car on the cheap? Know how to work on it yourself. Sure, it may take days what a shop can do in an hour, but the amount of money saved doing your own injector job alone could buy you a beater while you fix it. I do all my own work on my R53, and not only has it been fun and cheap, but it’s been damn reliable. We’re talking from oil changes and strut replacement, to in-tank fuel filter replacement, and supercharger inspection, which literally involves removing the entire front end. Theres a reason when going by your local one owner car dealerships they’re flooded with Mercs,BMW’s, and Audi’s, they were leased cause the owners don’t want to deal with a headache down the road, and often aren’t well maintained by them.

barreto > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:54

Kinja'd!!!

The 135i has been a great car. The guy gave me a big binder with every service/warranty issue it’s ever had. It’s exactly how I would have ordered it from the factory with the right color, 6-speed, black interior with silver trim and no nav. We’re keeping this car as long as possible.

The LS is WAY OverRated > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:55

“Yes, from a financial standpoint it is risky but I compare it to buying stocks. Any stock you buy could always go down, but if you do enough research and buy stocks in a company with great fundamentals, you would lower the likelihood of losing your money.”

Uh yeah, but stocks can also go UP. Used cars NEVER go up, especially if you include the money you spend on maintenance and repairs.

Nuh Uh _ B6 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:55

What? $1100 for a valve cover gasket? The part is about $100 from the stealership and its about 2 hour job from an indy mechanic 80$x2 hours (higher end quote) = $260 in the real world. Sure the valve cover on a 335i is a little harder to do due to the fuel rail being in the way, but its still pretty doable.

Also just and FYI the dealership is not always the best place to go for an inspection, as they do not catch a LOT of things. Countless times i’ve heard people say “i took the car to the dealer for an inspection before i bought it and they didn’t catch x y and z”.

2 years ago i had a early 2000’s c280 for sale. The kid who was buying it really wanted to take it to the dealership for a full inspection, he was paying for it him self (side note, WTF Mercedes 280$ for a full inspection that took 20 minutes?) I told the kid not to waste his money as i knew everything that was wrong with the car, but he took it anyway, the dealership only caught about 70% of the things that were wrong with the car.

theshinobi01 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:55

I think it all depends on the owner. Certain people are just used to 90’s Japanese cars that were just supremely reliable (the normal ones anyhow), then they go buy an Audi or VW. I’m sorry but European cars should only be purchased or leased while they have ironclad warranties and quickly sold/traded in before that warranty expires. If you are handy with wrench, then buying one that needs some TLC can be a great way of getting a nice luxury car without paying an arm and a leg. But I would never get one as a daily driver and I would avoid any new luxury car, the electronics and sensors will eat your children alive.

shurkon93 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 10:56

If you buy from a private property is there any way to get a warranty?

TractorPillow > mxer1
11/13/2015 at 10:56

Never once lied. Plus in AL you must have a notarized bill of sale. Helps sales tax is 3 percent.

Torque Affair > llamaguy
11/13/2015 at 10:57

Yeah, you know where you can really find them for a great value? On the forums! Surprisingly the cars just don’t move so the sellers keep dropping the prices.

Torque Affair > jlnbos
11/13/2015 at 10:58

Yeah, good call on the extended warranty.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Pending Approval
11/13/2015 at 10:59

I do run full synthetics, but I only need to change my oil every 10,000 miles.

Torque Affair > T off the New
11/13/2015 at 10:59

Thanks for the compliment! What BMW do you own now?

OmerCarrothers333 > Sethism
11/13/2015 at 10:59

How old is that Gee-Tee-Eye and how long have you owned it?

TractorPillow > mxer1
11/13/2015 at 10:59

Mazdaspeed, lotus elise, 86 MB sec, 72 classic mini, 02 viper.

taylor192 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/13/2015 at 10:59

But you have to drive a Camry.

Torque Affair > skeffles
11/13/2015 at 11:01

VW needs to hear that story! It will help them feel better as they navigate the mess they’re in.

Torque Affair > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/13/2015 at 11:02

Great question! Working on that...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 11:03

I’ve actually been happily surprised with how reliable my ‘98 M3 has been. Now, $1300 needed to be put into it initially to get the suspension and a few other things road worthy after years of abuse (hey, it was a $3,300 car that usually goes for double that) but other than that I’ve had no issues aside from my auxiliary cooling fan failing and my steering wheel lock getting stuck on and both weren’t bad/expensive to fix. It’s put a little more faith in me for the reliability of German cars.

I hoon, therefore I am > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 11:04

C’mon PG, have some higher standards for what gets shared to the front page. I had a 3-month period in my E46 where I had nothing to fix. That doesn’t accurately reflect my overall ownership experience, though.

CalBearsFan99 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 11:05

Have had my 2010 E60 535i for 2 years now, not one problem so far. CPO warranty, ending next May...thinking about buying another aftermarket warranty at that time, not sure if it’s worth it.

chris209 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 11:05

Earlier this year I purchased my first German vehicle, a 2011 X5 diesel. Only money I’ve spent was on new tires, brake pads, and an oil change.

I hoon, therefore I am > luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln!
11/13/2015 at 11:05

Best prices, if shipping isn’t egregious. Great selection, too.

Torque Affair > Sethism
11/13/2015 at 11:06

Ouch! What year was it?

Stephen > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 11:06

“transmission oil pan leak - $1,800”

While eye-wateringly expensive, this shouldn’t apply because your car had a manual transmission.

Pending Approval > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 11:07

you really should have started out with that. Sure anyone can buy a used german car and not spend a penny on it for 3 months, but try that over 3 years, or a more typical 6-10 year ownership and you’re boned.

Torque Affair > CalBearsFan99
11/13/2015 at 11:07

That’s great to hear. How many miles?

Torque Affair > BuckyBronson
11/13/2015 at 11:08

Ouch! Sorry to hear that. Good luck getting rid of it soon.

PavelMatsyuk > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 11:09

I have owned four used German cars and don’t regret a single moment. I started with a 97 A4 1.8T Quattro. I had no business buying that car, but somehow I made it work. I learned how to do a lot of the maintenance myself out of necessity (brakes, cam chain tensioner, coolant flange...) and was never stuck with major repairs. Sold it years later for a great price.

I never had a major issue (that wasn’t self inflicted at least) with either of my E36 M3s. I did a ton of PM on them myself (Vanos, cam chain guides, fluids, valve cover gasket...) and I found them very enjoyable to work on.

My E39 M5 was the only one that really bit me, but in all fairness it was kind of my fault. I enjoyed two years with zero issues. There was the constant fear of “what was that rattle? are my bearings shot? was that one/both of the vanos units??” but it was just owner paranoia. When I decided it was time to sell, I stirred the pot by putting in the listing that it was a trouble-free two years of ownership. The next day my battery died. When I tried to start it there was just enough charge to partially engage the started and free my nav unit. Shortly after replacing the nav unit, I started getting hesitation anytime I touched the gas. The shop identified several vacuum leaks, but that didn’t fix the issue. It turned out to be a bad fuel pump, but during the repair the in tank fuel pump hose was damaged which then needed to be replaced. All in all it was just under $2k for that and a couple other things.

When I finally went to sell the car, the PPI revealed about $8k in items that could be replaced. This ship was notorious for having ridiculous labor rates. I knocked out most of the list by spending a couple hours on Pelican Parts and the better part of a weekend in the garage.

Owning a used, high end German car can be very rewarding but also a little stressful. Every morning I would pull out of my driveway half cringing when checking for a puddle of fluid. Always wondering “is it supposed to be making this noise” and just hoping that the headliner in my E36 wouldn’t start to sag.

finn's arm > SprungColossal
11/13/2015 at 11:11

Spot on. My latest E36 was $1200 (I’ve dumped way more money than that into it, but not because I had to). You can’t buy a running Chrysler Barron for that.

Torque Affair > barreto
11/13/2015 at 11:11

Nice! Glad you found what you wanted.

Torque Affair > theshinobi01
11/13/2015 at 11:11

The new cars are insane...I can’t even imagine the cost of repairing things after the warranty is over.

CalBearsFan99 > Torque Affair
11/13/2015 at 11:12

Bought it with 5x,xxx, sitting right at 73k currently. I was a sucker and added in pre-paid maintenance, but just having the rear rotors/pads replaced for $0 was quite nice!

I did tell them to flush/replace the transmission fluid when I bought it, I at least know the BS that is “lifetime fill”.

I also got a Cobb Accessport, the mild “sport” tune is unbelievable, makes the car really wake up.