Mrs Dunderhi plans to stay home next time...
 

... we go car shopping.

So, last week I noticed an ever so minor squeak coming from somewhere just behind my left ear in the 550. I've checked my safety belt mount, the door frame, checked the plastic bits, the rubber bits, and I just can't seem to find it. After a few days Mrs Dunderhi confirmed that it actually existed and that I wasn't making it up. So the obvious next step was to think about a new car. ;)

Since we currently have two sedans in our garage we figured we might due for a change to something more utilitarian like an X5 and something less utilitarian like a Z4. Best of all, a fully loaded X5 5.0 and a Z4 35is would combine for a lower total lease payment than my current 550 loan payment. Heck, there would even be an extra $30 of equity we can cash out of the deal. Well, if it lowers the monthly payments, then Mrs. D is all for it, so she said let's go car shopping.

I recommended we start with the competition, as we enjoyed our previous MB SL & GL. At the MB dealer, I started to check out the SLK and it wasn't even 30 seconds before a CA swooped down to start telling me about obvious factoids, like "it has a folding hard top". Geez give me a break! After a few minutes, Mrs D grew weary of the CA and ventured off on her own. I'm a bit more tolerant and let him hover over me as I checked the car out. When I was done with the SLK, I decided to check out the SL550. Mrs D intercepted me and declared that there was a car that I really needed to see. I told her I really wanted to check out the SL550 that I had in my sights. She followed me to the SL, but she kept saying that there was something I really needed to see. Well after I got done with my thorough inspection, I indulged Mrs D and followed her over to a diamond white SL63. It had the carbon fiber tidbits, 19" front/20" rear wheels, the performance pack, and other options giving it a healthy sticker price of $168k. She has good taste in cars; luckily there wasn't an SLS vert on the showroom floor. I was sold, but she wasn't done, because she wanted me to follow her to a GL450. Although I was still drooling over the SL63, the CA started drooling in overdrive and he asked me if I wanted to buy an SL63 AND a GL? I rolled my eyes, thought to myself, well maybe, but not from you. :rolleyes:

After I had enough of the annoying CA we ventured over to the BMW dealer around the corner. I went straight to the Z4 and wouldn't you know it, Mrs D found the M6 vert and wanted me to see it right away. The M6 was very nice, but I had to remind her that she was there to check out the X5! Eventually we made our way to an X5. We met with a very helpful CA who knew his BMWs and quickly realized I knew my BMWs. We got along. After some good exchanges we ended our discussion about when we thought the ED M6s will no longer come out of allocation and a good deal can be struck. He was eager to strike a good deal ASAP, but I am hoping to be patient... well I guess it depends on whether or not I can find that squeak.

Anyway, I started the day, thinking that we can get a X5 for Mrs D a not too expensive toy for me, but now I can't decide between an SL or an M6. If only Mrs D stayed home. :rofl:

P.S. Tomorrow morning, Mrs D plans to ride in the back seat of the 550 to locate and silence the squeak, so she doesn't have to listen to me say, "but honey, you told me I just had to look at the SL63" for the next 39 months. :D

good luck on the car hunt dunderhi. i'd stay away from MB due to their quality problems. one F10 squeak is minor in comparison to MB. My most recent W212 MB 350 4matics w/sport (had a 2010 and a 2011 rattled like crazy). dealer did not step up.

i had a 2011 ML350 that was was a miserable piece. after my time with several MB cars, I'm convinced that BMW is pushing ou a better vehicle. take care!

It happened I was shopping for a Z4 a month ago, there was a nicely priced january build 2011 35is at my dealers, new, with only 28 km on the clock.
It happened that I had a squeack in the back of the F11 at the time, so it was quite the right time for a car swap.
The only drawback of the presented Z4, that is still on offer, is the completely black interior; the car is a black hole.
Otherwise this Z4 is exactly right (fully) configured.
Sadly my CA has not phoned yet to make me an offer I can not refuse, so this toy, with all its impracticallity, is still sitting in the shop.
The good news is that a little silicon spray on the righthand rollerbearing of the rollo in the F11 has stopped the squeak, so my family members can still enjoy the practicallity of this car in an oasis of spacious room and silence.
This story is not fully over yet, normally I do not visit the dealer a lot, there seems no need
But being at 80.000 km it becomes time to change the brakepads around the car, so a visit to the dealer will be made before february is over.
Maybe the Mille Miglia Z4 will still be standing in the showroom in all its tempting glory, but allready two years old, there are a lot of these cars on offer at the moment, maybe the upcoming new Z4 has something to do with that?

That is interesting - a lot must have changed since 2008. My wife's 2008 E350 has been solid - in contract my E60 has been far from perfect.

Dunderhi - you have great taste in cars - why not look at the Audi S6/S8 :) or perhaps a nice Cayenne? You can just park your car and walk around the Silver Spring auto mall.

Decisions...decisions.... Have fun!:)

My wife complains that I start shopping for the next car as soon as I've bought the current one. I told her she's wrong.

I start before that.

Two years ago I was looking at buying a new E63 AMG and ended up buying a GT3 RS because of my wife. She has good taste also.

Enjoy your hunt!!

Rs6?

No, but maybe a F32?

MRS D like the SL63, and the M6 - I don't think an F32 is going catch her eye like those other vehicles although the F32 is VERY NICE.

Sure, but wasn't there an X5 lurking in the shadows, for her. :eek:
Knowing the MRS as we do, the F32 seems the best way to go.
Any sixer will be the toy for D, putting all kind of strait going performance enhancements on it for a while.
Oh well lets hope the squeak will stay for a bit longer...
Maybe his eye cathes a glimps of the all new quattroporte, a worthy successor for any serious BMW. :p

Funny how stuff like that happens, choose well and enjoy.

I'm not a fan of z4s (just my take since I'm an integral part of this process :rofl: )

Ever consider the S5 or even the RS5? Sweet rides if you like Audi that is...:eeps:

My 535i is due for an oil change soon, I should start my car shopping :) :)

No squeaks? :dunno:

Too many comments to reply to them all. I'll get a bearing check with Mrs D tonight, but I think we'll go back to Silver Spring to visit the adjacent Porsche & Audi dealers this weekend. I told her that if she steers me towards an R8 or a 911 Turbo, I'll buy it the spot. She has been warned. ;)

Anyway, I joined USAA today and I'm trying to figure out how their BMW & MB incentives work. I think I'll change my auto insurance over to them. Anyone have any issues with USAA?

No one, no one beats USAA customer service. Occasionally someone may beat them on price by a small amount, but never enough to justify changing.

Porsche?
Maybe this for Mrs. D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzdDf...e_gdata_player

And this for Mr D?

http://www.justluxe.com/mobile/ipad/...hp?cid=1861774

Two class leading rides and relative bargains, kind of, sort of.

I cross shopped the R8, F430, and the Gallardo before deciding on the 997 911 Turbo. If you can, I would highly recommend the Turbo. Best car I have ever owned, hands down. Unfortunately with 3 small kids and the role as family man, it was time to move to a more family friendly ride, but I miss my 911 every day. I told my wife that I am buying a 997.2 Turbo S on my fortieth birthday. She agreed, but it's going to be a long four year wait.

No love for the 458?

have you considered a used 335i xdrive that is about to end its 4 yr program :rofl: That is currently at the shop getting its 7500 oil change and free spark plugs!

Great taste in cars! I just had a similar experience, let's just say "the might as well's" did me in :) BMW was taking back my 550 for reliability issues and I was contemplating what to get. I drove a 650 vert and that conversation was over! I would seriously look at an M sport 650-especially the 13's with 445 hp. They sound and perform badass. I went with a loaded 650 and was totally happy for a month or two until the cold weather came. Then my wife said something so stupid, I mean brilliant, and said " you really should get a truck to drive in the winter". I literally had the speed dial for the dealer going before she finished the sentence. She said what are you doing, when I said calling the dealer- she just laughed.

Originally I was going to lease a fairly loaded leftover X5 diesel, $71k sticker, for $589 a month with about $2k out of pocket. Then I accidentally asked him if they had any ridiculous deals on a 750, to which he replied "yes". In the end I got a 750iL X drive nicely optioned for the same price. My wife said "but I thought you were getting a truck" to which I simply explained it would be an insult to not get a 750 for the same price lol.

Now I am left with a desire to do something with her ESV. Too bad BMW doesn't make a full size truck, if the X5 was a little bigger I would do it. I think I might look at the new GL. We shall see.

I really do have a problem.

Good luck with whatever you decide, but I would go for a 6 over an SL- I just don't like the look of the new car....

I love the 458, but I am but a man of limited means.

By your post I would agree you have great taste in cars!

Then I read your footer: Escalade ESV Platinum?

Now I'm confused... ;-)

-Corey

Gotcha lol I didn't think the price was all that different I just looked :rofl: not too bad, but defiantly far from an apples to apples.

If maseratis didn't tank in value and spend so much time at the shop I would love to get the MC the exhaust note alone is to die for :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNSG0bPyEzE