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I sold my 2001 330i last week.
Ordered in May of 2000, I drove it home on August 20th, 2000 (that was a long wait). The MSRP read $41,700 - it included SP, PP, HK, CD, and Xenon. I paid $40,000 for it.
I owned the Titanium/Tanin Red car for 578 days, and during that time I put 27,375 miles on her. With an average seat-time of over an hour a day (47+ miles), I was able to make some observations, and form some impressions.
First, my car was absolutely reliable. It started flawlessly at least 1,500 times. In never failed to run (or stop) when asked. Twice, in those nineteen months, the “Check Engine” light illuminated – both times for insignificant reasons. Those were the only dealer visits beyond the “Oil Service” at 14,504 miles. So, with that in mind, the car was at the dealer 3 out of 578 days, or .52% of the time. In comparison, my 1994 Acura Integra GS-R was at the dealership .85% of the time (and my 1998 328i was in the shop 1.28% of the time!).
Above the cost of lease payments, and fuel, the car cost me a total of $128.22 (two oil changes with Mobil 1, ATE Super Blue brake fluid, and tire installation – the tires themselves were free).
When the car had 4,862 miles on it, I installed RD Sway bars. At 12,835 miles, the Tri-Flo Exhaust was installed. The suspension required too much maintenance, and the exhaust was too loud. At 17,765 miles, the car was returned to stock (both the exhaust and sway bars were sold). Four new Sumitomo HTR-Z II tires went on at 18,491 miles.
I am a true automobile enthusiast. I really love to drive. I loved my 330i, but it didn’t fit the bill anymore. It was too nice to track, too expensive to commute in, and too quiet to aurally get my blood pumping. I realized what I needed was a “track/weekend” car, and a “commuter” car. For the money I was spending on the 330i, I could have both. The car was put up for sale late last year.
After several months on the market, I sold it last week for $32,000. It had 27,375 miles on it, and not a single scratch or door ding. It looked brand-new.
For now, I borrowed an old Acura Legend from the parents while I look for my new cars. The Legend (at 16-years-old) is slow, sloppy, and tired.
The blank space(s) in the garage will be filled soon. The “track/weekend” car will be a clean Porsche 911 Carrera (1984-1988). It has always been my dream car (I caught the “Porsche Bug” many years ago).
The “commuter” car will be either a Honda Accord or VW Passat. I haven’t made up my mind as of yet. It will have an automatic transmission (my first ever).
I will miss the 330i. It had the perfect blend of speed, comfort, size, and safety that is unmatched by any other car on the market… today.
Ordered in May of 2000, I drove it home on August 20th, 2000 (that was a long wait). The MSRP read $41,700 - it included SP, PP, HK, CD, and Xenon. I paid $40,000 for it.
I owned the Titanium/Tanin Red car for 578 days, and during that time I put 27,375 miles on her. With an average seat-time of over an hour a day (47+ miles), I was able to make some observations, and form some impressions.
First, my car was absolutely reliable. It started flawlessly at least 1,500 times. In never failed to run (or stop) when asked. Twice, in those nineteen months, the “Check Engine” light illuminated – both times for insignificant reasons. Those were the only dealer visits beyond the “Oil Service” at 14,504 miles. So, with that in mind, the car was at the dealer 3 out of 578 days, or .52% of the time. In comparison, my 1994 Acura Integra GS-R was at the dealership .85% of the time (and my 1998 328i was in the shop 1.28% of the time!).
Above the cost of lease payments, and fuel, the car cost me a total of $128.22 (two oil changes with Mobil 1, ATE Super Blue brake fluid, and tire installation – the tires themselves were free).
When the car had 4,862 miles on it, I installed RD Sway bars. At 12,835 miles, the Tri-Flo Exhaust was installed. The suspension required too much maintenance, and the exhaust was too loud. At 17,765 miles, the car was returned to stock (both the exhaust and sway bars were sold). Four new Sumitomo HTR-Z II tires went on at 18,491 miles.
I am a true automobile enthusiast. I really love to drive. I loved my 330i, but it didn’t fit the bill anymore. It was too nice to track, too expensive to commute in, and too quiet to aurally get my blood pumping. I realized what I needed was a “track/weekend” car, and a “commuter” car. For the money I was spending on the 330i, I could have both. The car was put up for sale late last year.
After several months on the market, I sold it last week for $32,000. It had 27,375 miles on it, and not a single scratch or door ding. It looked brand-new.
For now, I borrowed an old Acura Legend from the parents while I look for my new cars. The Legend (at 16-years-old) is slow, sloppy, and tired.
The blank space(s) in the garage will be filled soon. The “track/weekend” car will be a clean Porsche 911 Carrera (1984-1988). It has always been my dream car (I caught the “Porsche Bug” many years ago).
The “commuter” car will be either a Honda Accord or VW Passat. I haven’t made up my mind as of yet. It will have an automatic transmission (my first ever).
I will miss the 330i. It had the perfect blend of speed, comfort, size, and safety that is unmatched by any other car on the market… today.
