Possible new addition

[IbanezGod]

Originally Posted by SamS

N52 just feels lethargic to me. Not impressed by the mpg, either. Drive it in the 328xi, see what you think.

what engine would you suggest in a 328i?

Remember it's for my wife who wants a BMW, not speed.

Originally Posted by Koop

Many people thrash loaners. I'd stay away.

Plenty of other good deals out there from owners who took care of their car well, followed break-in procedure, filled it with correct gas, etc.

Best of luck.

Finding a white on black or saddle AND Navigation has been a nightmare.

Originally Posted by lthai

Don't buy a loaner. A 4,000 mile loaner car probably has about 30,000 miles worth of abuse on it.

What's your budget? 30k?

Yup... i already put a small deposit on this one... wonder if i should get it CPOd for assurance.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by PicassoM

what engine would you suggest in a 328i?

Go test that 328xi back to back with an F30 328i, and report back

[IbanezGod]

Originally Posted by SamS

Go test that 328xi back to back with an F30 328i, and report back

oh i know the new one is MUCH faster... but remember price is an issue and speed is not a factor.

I'm not dropping $45k on a new F30.

[WarrantyTracker]

They are tough cars. I would not worry about it, as long as the service history looks fine.

[IbanezGod]

Originally Posted by JBasham

They are tough cars. I would not worry about it, as long as the service history looks fine.

Here is the Carfax, All appropriate service for the car.


http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...BByqFw0wnjr1xg

[ES_TRADER]

Op has his mind made to get it regardless of what anyone says. Good luck brother as long as you're happy. Who cares what a bunch of OCD forum guys think? At the end of the day it's not you driving it daily.

[IbanezGod]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

Op has his mind made to get it regardless of what anyone says. Good luck brother as long as you're happy. Who cares what a bunch of OCD forum guys think? At the end of the day it's not you driving it daily.

Thanks, but my mind isn't completely made up. I'm more interested in anyone who has possibly had experience or knows someone who owns one.

Most of these BMWs are tanks so I'm not too worried.

[CD2534]

OP, All the people on the forum are very very picky, we know this. Its an enthusiast thing. But if we're being realistic, most loaners are used by people who don't have the time to beat on these cars, if its an m3 owner using it i doubt they trash it. They'd most likely say screw it, no power and drive it like a regular car, if its a house wifes car, i doubt she cares either way. If there isn't any physical problem then id say you are ok. Most people wouldn't bring a loaner back in beat to shit. Its a 3 series, not a Chevy Cobalt. Just my thoughts!



Also, awesome wife offering to take the m3 and let you get another toy!

[Chris M4CS]

I'm amazed at how many people claim they are hard on loaners! I'm in the other category. I was raised to respect other people's property and therefore I baby the cars I rent or borrow, even more than my own. No wonder the amount of dealers offering loaners is dwindling.

[S65V8]

a loaner used by multiple people who "might" of cared or not cared for it leaves a lot to chance.

If the price is really that much of a deal, then I guess it's worth it, but if the price is somewhat close - don't take it.

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by Koop

Many people thrash loaners. I'd stay away.

Plenty of other good deals out there from owners who took care of their car well, followed break-in procedure, filled it with correct gas, etc.

Best of luck.

+1

OP, it sounds like you really, really want this car and are looking for us to validate that it's a good deal.

[WarrantyTracker]

Originally Posted by PicassoM

Thanks, but my mind isn't completely made up. I'm more interested in anyone who has possibly had experience or knows someone who owns one.

There is a 2006 325xi parked in my driveway; my wife is the OO and it's her DD. She hasn't had a single problem with it that wasn't self-inflicted (i.e., numerous front and rear bumper repaints to get yellow post paint off, and a couple of suspension parts from plowing over a few too many road obstacles). I take that back - the original Bridgestone tires were turds, but they actually copped to that in a class action settlement.

NA motors - the way to go for a trouble-free future.

[Carl L]

Originally Posted by JBasham

There is a 2006 325xi parked in my driveway; my wife is the OO and it's her DD. She hasn't had a single problem with it that wasn't self-inflicted (i.e., numerous front and rear bumper repaints to get yellow post paint off, and a couple of suspension parts from plowing over a few too many road obstacles). I take that back - the original Bridgestone tires were turds, but they actually copped to that in a class action settlement.

NA motors - the way to go for a trouble-free future.

Ha, good post. The Land Cruiser was 3 weeks old when the wife reversed out of the drive and straight in to a neighbors car. Didn't look at the rear view camera once, that's tough to do.

Only thing I'll add re "trouble-free future) is Porsche certainly nailed TTs with their 996s and beyond (I put 40k on one, others have far more). Also, more than 50% of all cars in Europe are FI and many run well into 6 figures with nary an issue.

[SD-E93-11]

Originally Posted by MineralWeiss

I'm amazed at how many people claim they are hard on loaners! I'm in the other category. I was raised to respect other people's property and therefore I baby the cars I rent or borrow, even more than my own. No wonder the amount of dealers offering loaners is dwindling.

+ 1, it's not like a loaner is a rental car covered under a comprehensive one-time insurance policy. It's obviously under the borrower's insurance with an assumption of liability, which is why every dealer I know does a walkaround with the borrower. Dealers also service their loaners regularly, it's part of the cost of doing business.

I suspect people like to mix the urban legend of the Avis joyride with the typical loaner experience of driving the car to work and then returning it a couple of hours later. Lord knows when I drive a loaner I'm trying to spend as little time as possible in it.

That said, I did accidentally close an electric garage door on the back of a Merc C350 loaner and managed to touch-it up well enough to pass inspection. But that car deserved it for being such a piece of crap that sucked the joy out of driving.

[WarrantyTracker]

Originally Posted by Carl Lassiter

Only thing I'll add re "trouble-free future) is Porsche certainly nailed TTs with their 996s and beyond (I put 40k on one, others have far more). Also, more than 50% of all cars in Europe are FI and many run well into 6 figures with nary an issue.

Agreed, turbos are the future and everyone who wants a piece of the pie will get it right eventually.

Running into 6 figures doesn't impress me unless the first numeral is at least a 2. Like, perhaps, those old Mercedes turbo-Ds that are still rattling around South America.

[Titanium Silver]

Ummm, have you heard the phrase, "Drive it like a rental"? I'm not sure about everyone else, but based on how I drive loaners, I would never buy one myself.

+1 to the comment that a 4,000 mi loaner has about 30,000 mi worth of abuse.