Keeping my 335i - for now.

I have been watching and waiting for the new 550 to arrive. My 335 has 42K miles on it and it's getting new one's at the rate of 18K / year. My original plan was to sell the 335 before 50K and make the jump to a 550. With the steering issues, and the fact that I love the performance of my 335, I have decided to buy an extended warranty and run it for another 50K miles or so.

By waiting this far, I have avoided the early issues of not getting the new iPod interface, which is the only thing I listen to in the car, but more worrisome is the pull to the right problem a lot of the vehicles seem to be having.

I have to buy the extended warranty by 45K miles, which means I can still easily change to the 550, but once the warranty is bought, I am out of the game for at least two years, maybe three...

Love the 5 series, maybe in the near future...

Paul

Originally Posted by melor

Love the 5 series, maybe in the near future...

Paul

Have you driven the new F10? Did you like it?

Yes, I do like them. I drove the 535 and the 550. Both cars performed admirably and I still might make the jump. Truth is I love my 335 so much, I am worried I will buy a 550 and regret the loss. What I would love to do is borrow a 550 for a week and see how I like it. If I didn't like my 335 so much, I wouldn't worry and I would just buy one. ( after September build, that is... ) And I still might.

Paul

Originally Posted by melor

I have been watching and waiting for the new 550 to arrive. My 335 has 42K miles on it and it's getting new one's at the rate of 18K / year. My original plan was to sell the 335 before 50K and make the jump to a 550. With the steering issues, and the fact that I love the performance of my 335, I have decided to buy an extended warranty and run it for another 50K miles or so.

I had a very similar situation. My new job makes me add mileage at about 18500 per year. I had planned to sell it before 50K miles. A couple of months ago I started looking and decided on the new 535i. It's ordered and will be here in 2-3 weeks. I've sold BMW's privately before, but in today's market, it was not quite as easy, there weren't many calls, and I live in the DC suburban area. I had one interested party and he bought my 335i at $1500 over my best offer from a dealer, and I had had a range of $3000 between several car dealers, Carmax being the lowest. By waiting, your 335i will eventually not be worth very much, forcing you to finance a new car at a much higher monthly cost, IMO.

By waiting this far, I have avoided the early issues of not getting the new iPod interface, which is the only thing I listen to in the car, but more worrisome is the pull to the right problem a lot of the vehicles seem to be having.

After reading so many threads about the pulling, I went to my dealer today to drive their 535i demo again. It had a very slight tendency to go toward the right, not sure I would call it a "pull". In any event, the sales manager (who I know fairly well), stated that BMW has the fix and they already had gotten "some parts" and fixed at least one customer's new F10. I seriously doubt that this issue will be left unresolved by BMW for F10 customers. The new iPod features will be in production beginning in September, next month.

I have to buy the extended warranty by 45K miles, which means I can still easily change to the 550, but once the warranty is bought, I am out of the game for at least two years, maybe three...

I'd give the two scenarios some more thought before deciding for sure.

My advice is to wait at least until you can test drive the X-drive. If it solves all the steering issues you will kick yourself if you didn't.

Originally Posted by markl53

By waiting, your 335i will eventually not be worth very much, forcing you to finance a new car at a much higher monthly cost, IMO.




I'd give the two scenarios some more thought before deciding for sure.

The car is not worth that much right now. The rate of depreciation will slow from this point on. The amount I lose to auto expense over the next two years will be far less if I drive my 335 another year, then buy a 550 v.s. sell the 335 now and buy a 550 as the new car will depreciate must faster in the next two years.

It's not only a money issue. I am not sure I will be happier with a 5 series than the 335. I want a little more room and a little more luxury, but I am afraid I will regret the "tossability" of the smaller car. The 335 is still small enough it is a bunch of fun to ZIP around a corner. In a larger sedan, I may not be happy doing that. I can't hardly take a test drive and toss a brand new demo car through the corners like I like to do...

Still thinking about my next move. Cars I am considering are 335i or is coupe or convertible, 535 or 550 ( probably the 550 ) or Jaguar 2 door, ( Can't remember the model designation on that one. ) Possibly a used low mileage SL550 or Carrera 911. So, how's that for being all over the map. What I REALLY need is a 8 car garage and a huge car budget...


Paul

Originally Posted by solstice

My advice is to wait at least until you can test drive the X-drive. If it solves all the steering issues you will kick yourself if you didn't.

What steering issues?

Ask for a test drive alone - they can do it, just a bit of a hassle for them. Worth it to really get to know a car without a salesman talking you to death.

Nothing wrong with waiting a year or two to get all the bugs worked out, see if you can get a lease assumption on something to tide you over if you really want a change. You'll also have the F30 on the horizon to consider.

I test drove a Jag. They sent me home with it to return the next day. Talk about comfortable seats... Made my 335 feel like a Hyundai... Beautiful exterior. Turn signal stalk felt like it came from a Tahoe.

Paul

Given your other options I doubt you'll be happy in an F10. You love the 335i and list a couple of other drivers cars together with the F10. Cars that begs to be driven and where you'll choose that twisting backroad over the highway every time. You leave extra space between you and the cars in front of you to be able to push the car on the on-ramp on the daily commute etc, etc. The current F10 just isn't that kind of car, at least that's how I feel. It's transportation in high comfort but it's not a car that begs to be driven hard or makes you want to do so. The E60 however is just that kind of car, a bit more space and a bit more luxuary than the 3-series but with very little if any trade-off in the fun to drive factor.

I think it is a smart decision to just keep what you are driving right now if you are not quite certain what you want. As you had mentioned depreciation would be killer plus German models tend to get continually revised during production so an F10 two years down might have all of the problem fixed of which people complain.

My lease was up on the my 335i and I opted for the F10 535i, miss the 335i everyday. The acceleration, handling and overall road feel was way way better in the 335i. The 535i is more luxurious but no where as near fun to drive.

What about an M3 vert? You said you would consider a 335 vert, and you're in SoCal so you certainly could spend lots of top down time. There's not THAT much difference in cost between a 550 and an M3 vert, and the lease deals on the M3 verts are crazy right now. If you are looking for something to "tide you over" a 24 month lease on an E93 M3 is something you may want to consider.

The 5 is not as tossable as the 3, and it never was. The 5, however, will hustle just as well as a 3 on any road on which you would likely drive. Like all BMWs, the faster you drive them, the harder you handle them, the smaller they get. When pushed, the 5 runs like a 3. However, when pushed, the 3 runs like a go-cart.

Originally Posted by melor

....By waiting this far, I have avoided the early issues of not getting the new iPod interface, which is the only thing I listen to in the car, but more worrisome is the pull to the right problem a lot of the vehicles seem to be having.
l

I believe that the pull to the right problem, if it exists, is grossly over stated. My 550i has the old iPod interface and the audio works just fine. I am quite pleased that I got the F10 when I did. You can always rationalize waiting for the next BMW rolling improvement. Given that the F10 is new from the ground up, I am very impressed that the number of issues has been quite modest.