Random BMW craigslist & ebay finds

The Beast

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May 24, 2004
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South beach
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Go Go
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Yaj Yak

Gladys
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May 24, 2007
122,148
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Niche score of 2,363

bimmer4life

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Feb 18, 2008
5,262
8,330
Wheaton, Illinois

bimmer4life blueoval4life buy this so i can buy it from you in two months
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Ron Vogel

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Jul 12, 2007
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Aurora
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Ron Vogel
These sub 8K BMW's are enticing me. Would be cool for a gas saving DD, fun car.
Except when they enter a flaming hot turd phase and you end up throwing major money at them. I love my wagon, but owning a BMW can test your patience. Later v8’s and turbo cars being the worst offenders. I was lucky and had 2 trouble free years on mine, but just to give you an idea of problems...at 80k my car is on it’s forth (yes 4) alternator. 3rd HPFP, 2nd LPFP, and roughly 25th injector. Had to fix broken gears in the seat motors and oth minor annoyances.

It’s great when it’s sorted, and a pleasure to drive...but the problems can lead to anxiety driving it.
 

Ron Vogel

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Jul 12, 2007
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Aurora
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Ron Vogel
I drove a sport package 540 with automatic transmission, and the 18:1 steering ratio was really off-putting; it also uses recirculating ball steering versus rack and pinion on the six cylinder. The 530 had a much tighter 14:1 ratio. So the car just felt really lazy in corners, and also I was driving one with 100,000 miles that had no history of shock replacement. For something mags claimed to be a mini M5, I wholly disagreed. The M5 had a much tighter steering ratio.
I had a 530 e39 with the rack. I never connected with the car. I did stiff springs and struts, but never felt comfortable pushing it to the limit. When you get close to the edge it felt like it was going to bite you if it let go. I get the similar feel in my e61. I can’t rave enough of how well the e34 handled this. You can push as hard as you want and know it would come right back if asked. I haven’t driven an M5 e39, but I would expect there’s more feel than the regular chassis suspension.
 
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Pressure Ratio

....
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Nov 11, 2005
20,302
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Glen Ellyn
Except when they enter a flaming hot turd phase and you end up throwing major money at them. I love my wagon, but owning a BMW can test your patience. Later v8’s and turbo cars being the worst offenders. I was lucky and had 2 trouble free years on mine, but just to give you an idea of problems...at 80k my car is on it’s forth (yes 4) alternator. 3rd HPFP, 2nd LPFP, and roughly 25th injector. Had to fix broken gears in the seat motors and oth minor annoyances.

It’s great when it’s sorted, and a pleasure to drive...but the problems can lead to anxiety driving it.
Damn. How long have you had that car? And how many miles have you put on it?

I bought my 2009 335xi in October of 2016 I believe. It had index 12 injectors done, intake blasting, VANOS cleaned, and some other small things. It had 100K miles on it. It had a leaky oil pan and valve cover gasket. But I worked out a deal to cover that cost. Willizm gave me a great deal on the car. I fixed these issues, a questionable axle hub, added lowering springs, and the horsepower mods. Since I have had it the only part that failed and needed to be replaced was the battery. Which looked like the original battery. It has like 130K on it and is solid. Not even rattles or noises in the interior. Such an enjoyable car.

It's crazy to see such different owner experiences. I know Offshore Drilling had plenty of issues with his 335 as well. But like you, he said he enjoyed the car. Buyer beware for sure. It is a car for someone with mechanical skills.
 
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Z28Camaro

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Jun 25, 2015
2,177
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Metamora
I can attest to the 335i lack of reliability. I had a new 2007 E90 335i and it was in the shop more than any other car I have ever owned. HPFP, LPFP, brake service light coming on over and over while the dealership threw parts at it, replaced nearly the entire exhaust system due to a rattle with the exhaust valve, and lots of check engine lights in below zero cold weather starts.

Car was a really fun ride when it was running well but I can relate to the anxiety aspect. Got to the point where it was just a waiting game for the next problem to appear. BMW ended up paying me for the last year of the lease. Swore off BMWs for a while until I couldn’t resist anymore and picked up an X5M.
 

Ron Vogel

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Jul 12, 2007
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Aurora
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Ron Vogel
I knew what I was getting into with this thing, I am using the massive maintenance as a tool to keep active.
Did front struts today, got my workout. Good timing too, both my front strut mounts were collapsed . I found a 1/2” shorter mount and glad I did, since now it sits the same as my collapsed mounts

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Yaj Yak

Gladys
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May 24, 2007
122,148
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Niche score of 2,363
if this didn't havea rebuild title it might be worth something.


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The Beast

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May 24, 2004
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South beach
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Go Go
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Ron Vogel

TCG Elite Member
Jul 12, 2007
5,173
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Aurora
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Ron Vogel

RedBeard

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Apr 19, 2009
3,944
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Windsor, CO
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bimmer4life

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Feb 18, 2008
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Wheaton, Illinois
bimmer4life blueoval4life had me looking around after posting his latest purchase.

Edit: I see this was already posted a few posts ago...

Thats a damn good price if title is clean. They only brough 400 manual wagaons in the LCI models (2008+) to the states. They sell on BaT for 18K and up. Maybe ill buy this one tooooooo
 

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