Cars keep getting sold out from under me so I'm taking decisive action

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
04/30/2016 at 17:03 • Filed to: None

The past few days, I’ve finally gotten down to the business of saying YES I WILL BUY THIS CAR, only to find a car I really like, that’s already been bought. So when I found a stick shift LeMans Blue 335i xDrive M Sport coupe, I jumped all the hell over it. I’m working out the particulars, but it should soon be mine!

A few days ago I went to my local BMW dealer for a lease turn-in pre-inspection on my 135is. I found out the tires have just barely enough tread on them to not cost me anything extra. I also spoke with BMW USA and they said that because of the Takata airbag recall, they’d waive the $350 disposition fee. Which means I’m on the hook for one more lease payment, and that’s it.

Since !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that I test drove on that same dealer visit, I started trying to find a CPO one with the Dynamic Handling package that includes adaptive shocks, a retuned awd balance that’s more rwd-biased, and brake-based torque vectoring on the rear axle. I found a gray one in Davenport, IA which is about 150 miles from me in Madison, WI. But the dealership had sold it earlier that morning of the day I called. It was $34k which is a bit more than I’ve been wanting to spend anyway. I found a white one with brown leather in Houston but I’m not a huge fan of that color combo and it’s $36k which even more over my budget.

Then I called the dealership in Chicago that had the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I had been eyeing, and it also had been sold that very day.

Feeling a bit defeated, I did some searching, and I found the goddamn motherfucking exact car I want: a LeMans Blue 335i xDrive M Sport stick shift coupe with the oyster leather interior, black carpets, and aluminum trim. In San Diego, being sold by a private party.

To make things a bit easier, it turns out both he and I are financed through the same bank, so that cuts down on the paperwork. We’ve got an agreement in place on price, he’s going to send me a bill of sale, and we’ll sort out the bank paperwork and shipping.

Hell to the motherfucking yeah!

(Fingers crossed.)

DISCUSSION (39)

Klaus Schmoll > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:10

So you bought it sight unseen?

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:14

Put my ‘88 Camry 5M wagon up for sale on Saturday morning - $6750, the fair market value. An hour in, the phone rang - the guy said he was coming over with 7 grand in cash and not to sell it to anyone else. He was there an hour later, but not until after I’d been offered even more by maybe 3 others. I kept my word though. That car was desirable then, for some reason (1994).

C62030 > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:16

That is the best color combo. Seriously. I think that’s the best looking generation of the 3-Series.

MLGCarGuy > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:16

Thanks for making me aware this car exists.

I’ll buy it right now.

shop-teacher > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:19

Sure is purdy!

Montalvo > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:20

Yes! The xdrive coupe just makes the E92 even better. I am planning on getting a Dinan stage 3 later for mine while I am still covered by the warranty

Matt Nichelson > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:27

Nice choice. Hope it works out for you! Blue is just a beautiful color on the coupe. Not that I am biased or anything...

Textured Soy Protein > MLGCarGuy
04/30/2016 at 17:27

I’ll sell it to you for a $10,000 markup over what I’m paying!

Textured Soy Protein > Matt Nichelson
04/30/2016 at 17:31

My only concern is now I need to shop for a slimmer water bottle to hold my pre-workout I drink on my way to the gym. The one I have now is a bit clunky but just fits in the center console cup holder in my 135is. I’m pretty sure it’d quickly destroy the doofy E92 dash pop out cup holders.

AM3R shamefully returns > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:35

Oh man that's exactly what I wanted my E92 to look like but I had to settle for a regular sport package and a different blue. I have the same interior, be careful wearing dark jeans in there!

Textured Soy Protein > Klaus Schmoll
04/30/2016 at 17:36

I’m buying it off the pictures he sent me. I thought about flying out there and driving it back, which I may still do. It’d save me a few hundred bucks, but it’s a 29 hour drive.

Textured Soy Protein > AM3R shamefully returns
04/30/2016 at 17:37

Really if I could get the regular sport package I’d be cool with that because I prefer the lighter headliner instead of the black headliner of the M Sport. At least the light seats make it not so monotonous inside.

AM3R shamefully returns > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:39

The lighter headliner does give a nice spacious feel, but the black just looks very good.

Klaus Schmoll > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:40

Best way to get to know the car and form an emotional bond, if you have the time.

MLGCarGuy > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:41

So…no lowballers?

You know what you got?

Toby F., Manager > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:43

$300, gas money, an address, and a return ticket home and I’ll drive it to you*

*I’m kidding. I totally would, but I’m too busy with finals, and an internship beginning in three weeks.

Matt Nichelson > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 17:45

Oh this is so true. That is the one thing I do hate. That and the seatbelt bringer thing for my side is broken. Really need to get around to fixing it. Also if your stereo gets stuck in one mode and you don’t have any volume, do you know how to make it work again? I dunno if the 1 series had the same issue so that’s why I ask.

Textured Soy Protein > Matt Nichelson
04/30/2016 at 17:54

Haven’t had that issue with mine. Not sure if it’s specific to the 3-series vs. the 1-series or I just have been lucky.

TheVicious > MLGCarGuy
04/30/2016 at 18:07

And don’t you dare kick his tires.

Matt Nichelson > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 18:11

I have had it happen to mine a couple of times. It will get stuck in aux mode and you can’t change it and there is no sound. The way to get to work again is so stupid but it works. All you do is undo your seatbelt and leave if undone until the chime starts, then it will start working again. Dumbest thing ever.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 18:29

[raises hand]

Yes, hi. I have been following your 1-series chronology, but lost on my memory is what about the 135i do you not enjoy that the 335i tickles your fancy?

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 18:48

That's a beautiful car hope everything goes through for you because that deserves an enthusiast driver/caretaker

Twinpowermeansoneturbo > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 18:51

I presume this isn’t a BMW dealer you’re buying it from because there’s a stop sale on all of these due to the Takata recall. I just bought mine a few weeks ago from private party, with a year of CPO still on it. 2011 335i Xdrive Coupe with M Sport, Nav, Harmon Kardon. It’s black over red too. I love it, but it could use about 100 horsepower more. That will be handled with a FMIC and tune as soon as my CPO expires. This is actually my second one, the last one was Dinan Stage 2 and still left a little to be desired with power.

Textured Soy Protein > Twinpowermeansoneturbo
04/30/2016 at 19:23

Yup, I’m very familiar with the stop sale. This is private party.

Textured Soy Protein > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/30/2016 at 19:27

The 135is is leased, and I don’t drive it in the winter. I’m selling my Jeep that I drive in winter and getting something fun and awd to drive year round, because right now between my fiancee and myself we have 3 cars and a 1 car garage.

Also, even if I wanted to keep the 135is, I can’t, because BMW is forbidden to sell it by the NHTSA until the Takata airbag is replaced. This 335iX is part of the recall as well but nothing stops a private party sale.

Textured Soy Protein > Matt Nichelson
04/30/2016 at 19:31

Haha that definitely sounds dumb but hey at least I know how to fix it. One thing I’d like to figure out is a way to add Bluetooth audio streaming in addition to just the phone.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 19:42

Replacing two vehicles with one AWD luxury vehicle? Good man.

Brian Silvestro > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 20:44

because BMW is forbidden to sell it by the NHTSA

LOL really????

Textured Soy Protein > Brian Silvestro
04/30/2016 at 20:53

Every BMW with a Takata airbag that’s coming off lease, BMW can’t transfer the title to anyone. The cars all have to be taken back by dealers and not sold until the driver’s airbag is replaced, and that might be a while since there aren’t any replacement parts available yet. BMW is paying subsidies to the dealers for depreciation of the cars while they sit on lots not being sold.

Matt Nichelson > Textured Soy Protein
04/30/2016 at 21:13

I’m sure there is a way to do it, but I haven’t really researched it. I don’t have the bluetooth box in mine and normally I just use the aux cable but the phone I just got created too much static, so I ended up buying a Bluetooth converter that plugs into the aux port.

Textured Soy Protein > Klaus Schmoll
04/30/2016 at 21:18

I suppose, but it’s a really big chunk of time. The shortest flight is 5 hours connecting thru Denver, then I gotta go get the car, and turn around and drive 29 hours which I’m not going to do in one shot so that means some random hotel stay along the way with two straight 14+ hour days of driving because I wouldn’t want to split it up into 3 days of driving. I can’t say that sounds very appealing. If it were more like, I dunno, 10 hours of driving, that’d be an easy choice. But 29 hours, ehh, not a big fan of that idea.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Textured Soy Protein
05/01/2016 at 09:21

Do it up...then go get yoself a Dinan tune! Trust me its worth it on these

Textured Soy Protein > banjo cat ghost of oppo past
05/01/2016 at 11:13

To me the main appeal of Dinan over the other tunes is maintaining the warranty, but since this car is out of warranty I’d more likely do a JB4 or Cobb AccessPort.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Textured Soy Protein
05/01/2016 at 16:43

They also offer a 2 year warranty (on their hardware) But I understand the JB4 is just as powerful and more cost effective. Just make sure to share it! Also get an exhaust. I was pretty surprised how nice they sound after the staple first steps of performance (intake / exhaust etc)

Twinpowermeansoneturbo > Textured Soy Protein
05/01/2016 at 16:53

Are you planning on taking advantage of the rental car program BMW is offering or are you just going to ride it out until they can replace the airbag?

Textured Soy Protein > banjo cat ghost of oppo past
05/01/2016 at 22:30

My 135is has the BMW Performance exhaust, which I really love. Going to this car with the stock exhaust is going to be a lot quieter. It’s definitely on my list.

Textured Soy Protein > Twinpowermeansoneturbo
05/01/2016 at 22:34

Not sure, might depend on the kind of rental available. In theory the parts are going to be available “this summer,” whatever that means, so it’s only a few months with the bad airbag in front of me. I’ve had one in my 135is for a couple months shy of 3 years now and I haven’t crashed it, so maybe I’ll just live dangerously for a few more months. That seems kinda stupid as I type this, but who knows? I feel kinda dumb going to BMW saying “I bought this car private party since you guys couldn’t sell me one because of the recall, now give me a free rental because of the recall.”

Twinpowermeansoneturbo > Textured Soy Protein
05/02/2016 at 00:55

I completely understand where you’re coming from. I’ll probably just wait for the fix as well. Supposedly high humidity areas should have this fix early this summer, while everywhere else should have it by the end of August. If you do change your mind though, there’s rentals available to pretty much anyone who asks. Most people have had a smoother process by calling BMW NA first, then calling the local dealership. You’ll get stuck in whatever econobox rental the local Hertz has, but at least it will be covered until the repair. The kicker is that they make you sign a document stating that you will not drive your car at all until it is time to bring it in for the recall. This is my third E9x so I’ve been behind these airbags for a while too. Just like you I don’t like the risk, but its somehow easier to justify considering it hasn’t changed, we’re just aware of it now.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Textured Soy Protein
05/02/2016 at 11:51

Oh man I am in the same boat as you. Find something good, but by the time the weekend rolls around (when I can actually go look at them), they’ve sold.