"superdave847" (superdave847)
03/23/2019 at 22:30 • Filed to: BMW E90, BMW 335i, Carmax, carmax warranty, M2, E30, Wagon, Bimmers R Us, Doug DeMuro
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"superdave847" (superdave847)
03/23/2019 at 22:30 • Filed to: BMW E90, BMW 335i, Carmax, carmax warranty, M2, E30, Wagon, Bimmers R Us, Doug DeMuro | 10
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This is a review of my experience following the advice of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and buying a German Car from CarMax. I think it was good advice.
On Thursday I sold my BMW back to CarMax after putting 113,000 miles on it. It was a 2010 LeMans Blue 335i, with the N54 twin turbocharged inline six, and the M-Sport package. It was a truly fun daily driver for my 70-mile-per-day commute. I thought I would share my thoughts on the ownership of an “unreliable German car” from CarMax.
I decided to sell it because of the high miles and unpredictability of an automatic transmission in that mile range. Service to flush the ZF transmission is $900 at an independent shop (BMW says it is a “lifetime” part). I’m not sure how any component with a filter can have that type of maintenance schedule. I kept my E46 until 168,000 (if I recall), so I moved this one on a little sooner. But, honestly, except for a few things, I think if you are attentive these cars can be driven as long as most.
Oil changes are much expensive than the Japanese sedans, the M-Sport has a staggered layout from front to rear with different tire sizes which makes the tires more expensive, and you’ll need to buy cheap wheels with snow tires to rotate if you’re in the midwest or the mountain states. But, I love the balance of rear-wheel drive with an engine that runs parallel with the travel of the car. I think the best thing BMW does is make sports sedans and they are a delight to drive. The best BMWs are in the 2, 3, and 4 series sizes.
I bought the car for about $29,000 with the longest CarMax MaxCare Warranty. It had 36,000 miles at the time of purchase and I sold it back at 149,000. Back in January 2015, I sold my E46 325i to them for $3,300, put down about $13,000, and financed the rest at 2% APR, which is an incredible rate for a used car.
CarMax MaxCare is basically insurance underwritten by CNA Financial Corporation. At around 90,000 miles I had my first claim with a fault in the fuel injector. I took to Autohaus BMW and the repair bill was completely covered minus my deductible. Unlike other extended warranties, the MaxCare simply requires you follow the maintenance schedule of the manufacturer. A previous one I had was voided unless every oil change was 3,000 miles apart—which is expensive, wasteful, and unnecessary, with 7 odd quarts of synthetic oil. So that is the benefit of MaxCare—no silly hoops to jump through to maintain coverage.
The BMW was a very good commuter car. It was comfortable and very fast. It handled like it was on rails, especially in summer tires. Every bit of the road transferred to the steering wheel, including the groves in the highway lanes. I just felt connected. For such a long commute it was a nice compromise because running up all those miles on a 335i does not feel like a crime like it would be putting them on an M3 or M2. I loved the color, the simple black interior, with the orange LEDs, and I love the wheels.
The warranty ended at 120,000 miles. For all the repairs and service during the warranty, I went to Autohaus BMW in Maplewood, Missouri, which included a well appointed waiting room with televisions, snacks, and a voucher for the gift shop. I also received nice loaner cars, like an Estoril Blue 435i coupe, a black 335i sedan, and on one occasion a garden variety X3. The service was excellent and I like the detailed reports on the maintenance of the car after each trip to Autohaus.
After the warranty finished, I serviced the car at Bimmers R Us in St. Louis, which is an independent shop with a strong reputation & some very cool classic BMW inventory. Below is my E90 at Bimmers R Us.
Please note that I accidentally put my Oppo sticker on backwards. I realized the mistake right away but decided it was meta-opposite.
When I sold it back to CarMax, I forgot to take a Mix Tape CD of classic blues out of the Business CD Player. I also forgot to take off the Opposite Lock decal. So I need a new decal for my next BMW if anyone is selling them.
Here are some photos of the cool cars that Bimmers R Us. I kinda want all of them. Especially this E30 xDrive Wagon in green.
I think the fire extinguisher should an option in more BMWs frankly. You can never be too safe.
My car in a St. Louis snow dusting. I grew up in Chicago and Minnesota so I have a natural experience driving rear wheel drive cars in snow, but I failed to appreciate how insane an ice storm is until I moved to St. Louis.
I love this E46 ZHP coupe at Bimmers R Us. I would love this car for a daily driver.
Above are a supercharged 2002 and below it a brand new M2 Competition at Bimmers R Us in St. Louis.
My E90 was a 2010 335i, which was the second fastest E90 at the time, slotted under the M3 obviously, and the 335is which introduced the DCT transmission to the chassis. At the time the 328 was still naturally aspirated. The N54 had direct fuel injection, double VANOS, and an electric water pump. It had an aluminum engine block with twin turbo chargers.
For my long commute, I don’t think I need this much power. I want to get a sports car to work on and drive for fun, but not rack up all the miles. For my next daily, I’ll probably look at a F30 328i or 330i to save money on fuel. I’ll keep you posted.
I’m also not sure if I will buy from CarMax again for the next car. I essentially bought a low mileage BMW for the price of a Camry, which was cool. But, CarMax is expensive for their used cars. And now it will be more competitive because both BMW and Mercedes Benz offer unlimited mileage warranties for the CPO cars, which is even better than CarMax MaxCare.
Currently, I am thinking I will just buy a car from Bimmers R Us. CarMax was good, but an independent shop dedicated to keeping old BMWs on the road is probably even better.
Derpwagon
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 19:33 |
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Were you AudiVWDave on Eurowerks?
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superdave847
> Derpwagon
03/23/2019 at 19:38 |
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No, not me. Ha, why do you ask?
KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 19:54 |
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Nice! The E90 335i still remains one of my favorite all rounder cars ever. If I were aware of the Carmax warranty and if I knew I’d have your luck with just one claim in over 100K miles I would totally go back in time and do it, instead of buying an e90 328i back in 2011. The N55 is supposed to be way more reliable but regardless of warranty, if the car leaves you stranded on the side of the road it’s not good.
the F30 doesn’t even come close to the feel but even in 328i/330i it’s very capable.
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 19:58 |
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Glad to see that the N54 wasn’t too much of an issue. I’m currently looking for BMWs of about that era and the N54 worries me...
...but not as much as the N20. I’m trying to find a nice N55 535.
CarMax is great to find rare cars or to test drive them, but every one I’ve ever sat in has been TRASHED and sticky and gross. Idk if that’s a function of just letting anyone wander in and sit in them or if their detailers are just the cheapest they can hire.
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superdave847
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
03/23/2019 at 20:16 |
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What I liked for this car was that I used the nationwide search to get the exact options I wanted, which was LeMans blue with the M-Sport package. Even back in 2014 there weren’t many of them.
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superdave847
> KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/23/2019 at 20:19 |
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It was a great car! I think the N55 is a better engine by quite a bit, but I was pleased with the N54. The E90 was light years ahead of my E46.
arl
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
03/23/2019 at 21:52 |
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Funny you say that. When I first went to CarMax about 10 years ago, their cars were clean and detailed, inside and out. I went back about a year ago and the interior of every vehicle my wife and I test drove was gross and not detailed at all. Not sure if the cars were so new to the lot that they hadn’t been cleaned yet, but if I were the manager there, I sure as hell wouldn’t let cars out on my lot that were dirty and obviously not cleaned up.
CompactLuxuryFan
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 22:15 |
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Whaaat I didn’t know my car had an almost twin on Oppo! Mine’s a 2009 with Saddle Brown interior and manual transmission.
Mine’s like at 91k now and one of the VANOS solenoids is going. It’s been pretty cheap to maintain in general.
Out of curiosity, how much did CarMax give you? I’m guessing it’s going to auction.
I agree about the power being too much for a highway commute. It’s addicting, though! I’d look at 335s again. They’re probably not too much more than the 28s.
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superdave847
> CompactLuxuryFan
03/23/2019 at 22:24 |
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DUDE, your car looks great! If I had bought a manual, I would have kept it for another 50,000 miles.
CarMax gave me $3k. I probably could have got more on Craiglist, but here in St. Louis that’s a dicey game.
I love your car.
My plan is to get a cheap daily and buy either an M2 or 997 911 for a third car .
itranthelasttimeiparkedit
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 22:31 |
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lol shit I would have bought it for that much in a heartbeat =(
Also I bought my 535ix wagon from bimmers r us and had them ship it to me. Was a little pissed, they did not disclose as many of the problems as they could have...
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superdave847
> itranthelasttimeiparkedit
03/23/2019 at 22:32 |
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Sorry man. I wish I could have sent it your way.
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superdave847
> itranthelasttimeiparkedit
03/23/2019 at 22:34 |
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Good to know. That’s a great wagon. Did you do a Pre-Purchase inspection?
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 22:40 |
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I had been shopping for an E91 MT for a few years but found myself frustrated and the prices astronomical. I am pleased to hear of your lack of problems with an x35i, considering its reputation compared to the x28i.
Even today, I occasionally daydream of an E91 or even a 128i, but I just can't stomach the cost of entry plus then maintenance. It hurts.
DipodomysDeserti
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 22:53 |
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I have 117k+ miles on my wife’s X1. Bought as a CPO from my local BMW dealer. Free maintentance through 50k miles (got me oil changes and a whole brake job) plus zero deductible repairs up to 100k miles/7yrs. Car Max’s prices were higher than my local dealer with a worse warranty. BMW has now shortened their CPO warranty , so it may be more worth it to go with Car Max now.
jminer
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 23:26 |
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Carmax ends being good to trade in cars that aren’t worth a lot. The $3k for yours definitely seems low. That’s what they gave me for my 2012 Focus 5 speed that was in very rough shape (needed bumpers, windshield, dent repair, tires and a cat). That was $800 more than any other dealer wanted to give me for it but that seems like way too much when compared to a sharp looking BMW.
Hell I’d have probably given you $3k for it and then driven the hell out it for a year until it needed something expensive repaired.
On a related note I found my focus listed for $10k the other day on their site. I only paid $7k for it 2 years ago with 60k less miles on it. They’re nice to deal with for some t hings, but priced way too high on others.
PS - Hello from another STL Oppo!
my car smells like crayons
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 23:32 |
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I have a similar experience to yours: e91 ZHP 6MT pre-LCI from CarMax. I am exactly 2 years in and even-money to the extended CarMax warranty (OFHG, VCG, fuel sending unit, both washer pumps ). Now I have an issue with the vapor canister, and with 2 years and 15k miles left I am sure it will work out in my favor. The key is having a shop that will go to bat for you as well.
Similarly, the shop I trust is a BMW specialist; it is pricier than the corner gas shop, but they know their stuff. Their advisement on the oil-filter housing gasket was to replace the accessory belt and coolant hose, as oil-seepage could potentially degrade the components. From that they identified a faulty pulley, saving me from a catastrophic engine failure down the road. This shop also has some really cool customer cars come through- last time there was a low-mileage clownshoe M.
For the mileage, condition, and model, I actually felt I paid slightly less tha n other e91s, but all that evened out once conditional improvements were made. Nevertheless the perks of the MaxCare are better than managing it all on my own. I lack the expertise to identify adjunct issues to the main problem, and with 2 young kids I can’t afford to lose valuable family time to DIY repairs (been there, done that with my Saab). Also MaxCare has provisions for a rental car if the repair takes longer than a day ($40/day gets you in a base Corolla, which is no BMW, but it’s better than hoofing it).
For those considering a CarMax vehicle with MaxCare, the Doug Demuro maths kicks in- how reliable is the model, how costly the repairs, and that uniqueness or x-factor comes into play. A turbo e-series with all its complexity falls into a very smart play for MaxCare.
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my car smells like crayons
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/23/2019 at 23:38 |
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If you are interested, the Sdrive28i is comparable. Although there is no MT, it can be had with the sport transmission with paddle shifters.
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CompactLuxuryFan
> superdave847
03/23/2019 at 23:51 |
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Thanks! I wish I’d had mine since as young a mileage as yours. I hardly drive so approaching 100k isn’t really a concern for me. I’m probably a year and a half away at least.
Unfortunately, one of the things that makes it so rare (LeMans Blue) is kinda shot. It looks good going down the road, but not up close. The whole exterior is like that (rubber especially). However, that (and knowing that you only g ot $3k out of yours ;-p) makes it a very stress free ownership experience. Whatever happens to it happens It drives incredibly well, can handle most road trips, sounds good, gets good mileage. Just an awesome car in general. You’ll have to let me know how your transition to an f30 goes! Sounds like you’ll get your steering kicks elsewhere so you should find plenty to like.
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itranthelasttimeiparkedit
> superdave847
03/24/2019 at 00:00 |
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I did not. Half of it was because they have a good rep. The wagon had a bunch of big issues (busted tailgate wiring harness and badly leaking valve cover) they did disclose, so assumed it was thorough. I also don’t PPI near as much as I should. I have a good enough eye now and don’t mind a medium project. Car beat to shit == walk away, otherwise wrenching is my hobby.
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superdave847
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/24/2019 at 00:39 |
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From 36k miles until 149k it was a solid car. I did the brakes, tires, and belts, but that’s all.
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superdave847
> jminer
03/24/2019 at 00:43 |
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I wish I sold you my car! Also, glad to know an STL dude. I’ll follow you.
PG; the scalpel wielder
> CompactLuxuryFan
03/24/2019 at 04:01 |
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I didn’t know we had a secret Le M an’s blue n54 crew. Mine is now sadly a garage queen. Around 75 k miles in American metric. Sunk too much time and money in it to let go of it now. It’s heavily tuned with a perfect suspension set up at the moment, such a nice car to drive. Never left me stranded, but it’s had its fair share of issues haha.
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superdave847
> my car smells like crayons
03/24/2019 at 07:32 |
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Well said! Send a photo of your car!
fourtitude
> superdave847
03/24/2019 at 11:47 |
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I just moved to St. Louis and almost broke my neck the first time I drove by bummers r us. Neck snapped so hard looking back as I drove by.
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jminer
> superdave847
03/24/2019 at 12:38 |
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You’re follow ed too - I live down near Arnold and work Downtown.
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my car smells like crayons
> superdave847
03/24/2019 at 15:51 |
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Here is a somewhat recent pic...
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superdave847
> my car smells like crayons
03/24/2019 at 16:36 |
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Great looking car.
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superdave847
> jminer
03/24/2019 at 16:37 |
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I’m in south city and commute to Edwardsville.
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> superdave847
03/25/2019 at 11:59 |
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My brother and his family live in Edwardsville - north of town with some land and horses, etc.
MrDakka
> superdave847
06/01/2019 at 14:46 |
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When did BMW and MB start offering unlimited mileage warranties for their CPO cars? And are they exclusionary warranties?
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superdave847
> MrDakka
06/01/2019 at 14:53 |
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Mercedes did it first. I noticed it last year. It’s a good deal. I’m not sure what you mean by exclusionary.