[johnhva]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

Thanks. The sticker price point is a good analogy, haven't heard that one. I also read somewhere on here that a good way of thinking about it is that they are fine-tuned machines that need pampering. You can't just go 20,000 miles without an oil change and 50,000 miles without even looking at your fluid levels. So I get that.

I'm located in Ohio. I went on to that certified pre-owned website from BMW and they were all in the mid thirties for price. I did find a few black or blue 535 with around 50,000 miles for about 25k. So I'll look there and see what I can find. There's just not a lot of cars right now since they got gobbled up I think

BMW's USA website for pre-owned listings of all their dealers nationwide is a good resource. That's how I found my CPO (it also shows non-CPOs) that was 400 miles away from me. There are filters you can apply for options/colors you want.

https://cpo.bmwusa.com

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

...
I'm located in Ohio. I went on to that certified pre-owned website from BMW and they were all in the mid thirties for price. I did find a few black or blue 535 with around 50,000 miles for about 25k. So I'll look there and see what I can find. There's just not a lot of cars right now since they got gobbled up I think

Expand your search to nationwide, or any distance.

Honestly I'm just looking for a very quiet ride, I drive all day for my job , and would love some technology thrown in there

Have you looked at or considered the diesel??

[WoodButcher1980]

Are you suggesting a nationwide search since they would deliver it or something to a local dealer? I've never heard of this before. Then again I always buy cars from private sellers since I love knowing the history of the vehicle, which is why it was hard for me to turn down that 2012. Also Diesel doesn't bother me. I own a tractor so I like the smell of it are they a reliable engine? I don't think I've seen too many of them around. I can always add it to my search on the cars.com app

[wcr3d]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

Are you suggesting a nationwide search since they would deliver it or something to a local dealer? I've never heard of this before. Then again I always buy cars from private sellers since I love knowing the history of the vehicle, which is why it was hard for me to turn down that 2012. Also Diesel doesn't bother me. I own a tractor so I like the smell of it are they a reliable engine? I don't think I've seen too many of them around. I can always add it to my search on the cars.com app

Just to give you a frame of reference. Also I purchased it in 2016.
My current one has a number of requirements.
It had to be Space Gray, M Sport, 535i XDrive.
Nav, hud, summer winter packages and cpo minimum.
It took me 6 months on a 500mi search before I found it.

[WoodButcher1980]

So did you pick it up since it was far away? I know I can always get a one-way plane ticket, and then drive it home. I didn't know if they had something cool where they send it to your nearest dealership for a small price.

The M sport package is nice since it has that pretty skirting around it. I think it spruces the car up a good amount. The suspension stuff that comes with that package would be nice but isn't mandatory for my freeway type driving. I think heated front and rear seats, adaptive cruise, Lane departure, and head up display would be great to have. But if it costs an arm and a leg to ship it I'll just find something within 250 miles honestly. Don't really have time to drive cross country

[Damage Inc]

1. BMW's are hit or miss on reliability. It will not be as reliable as a honda. Things break more often and cost more to fix. I've owned over 10 BMW... ask me how I know

2. I would spend close to your max budget to get the newest car possible. Get under 50k miles so you have time under the original warranty. You will get your money back on resale, get to drive a newer car, and spend less on repairs.

3. 5 series will make a nice DD. Its not a sports sedan any longer, which is good for you. Comfy DD and well built.

Just a quick search on auto trader shows you can get a 15 40k miles 535i for low $20k's. check car guru, cars.com. Call on the one you like and lowball them.

good luck

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...Type=spotlight

[wcr3d]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

So did you pick it up since it was far away? I know I can always get a one-way plane ticket, and then drive it home. I didn't know if they had something cool where they send it to your nearest dealership for a small price.

The M sport package is nice since it has that pretty skirting around it. I think it spruces the car up a good amount. The suspension stuff that comes with that package would be nice but isn't mandatory for my freeway type driving. I think heated front and rear seats, adaptive cruise, Lane departure, and head up display would be great to have. But if it costs an arm and a leg to ship it I'll just find something within 250 miles honestly. Don't really have time to drive cross country

I live in Indiana and it was located in Greenville SC, which is between Atlanta and Charlotte. I had worked out my plan with the dealership down there. I drove my 2006 530xi down there and traded it in on this one. Drove this one back.
They will for a price, don't know how small, basically sell your dealership the car and transport it there. Others can chime in on this as I have read it done numerous times. I chose to take a weekend and drive, one, my old car was a very pleasant drive and the trip back was to get to know the new one, again a pleasant drive. The only negative thing I can say is my old one I had non runflats and the new has runflats, fair amount of difference.
As far as M Sport goes, the XDrive is all visual, which I knew and wanted.
I also wanted the XDrive. I have driven both and it is what I prefer personally.
As far as the distance and such, be patient. For me what I wanted didn't come within that range so I had to widen, as I said all the way to the east coast.
I had seen mine listed for months but the price was a bit high, so I waited and continued my search. Like I said CPO was a requirement and it paid off later on. So they slowly dropped the price and finally I sent an offer a bit lower and they accepted. Since it sat for awhile and then my drive back, the brakes started squealing from the dust of sitting. So a week after I got it My dealership has to put on all new rotors and brakes, all around. One of the benefits! Good luck

[WoodButcher1980]

Thanks. Yeah I am in no crazy Rush. My Honda is running fine. As for resale, are you saying just because it was certified pre-owned that the resale is higher when I sell it? That isn't really a parameter on Kelley Blue Book so I wasn't sure that it would matter after you sold it years down the road after buying it certified pre-owned

[WoodButcher1980]

Also is there a difference between a 535xi and a 535i xDrive? I thought they were the same. All I need is all wheel drive, especially in my Winters

[johnhva]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

Also is there a difference between a 535xi and a 535i xDrive? I thought they were the same. All I need is all wheel drive, especially in my Winters

Same.

[Damage Inc]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

Thanks. Yeah I am in no crazy Rush. My Honda is running fine. As for resale, are you saying just because it was certified pre-owned that the resale is higher when I sell it? That isn't really a parameter on Kelley Blue Book so I wasn't sure that it would matter after you sold it years down the road after buying it certified pre-owned

Figure 10% depreciation a year. Over the course of 5 years, if you average monthly depreciation, you're not spending much more at all to drive a newer car vs. older one.

[WoodButcher1980]

here is one sexy diesel mama... too bad it was a corporate vehicle... that kills it for me.

honestly the more i look the more i want the m sport due to the styling. it sets it VERY far apart with aesthetics from other bimmers in my opinion. i like the lesser-spoked rims as well on the m sport. . it really sets this series apart from the A6's and the E classes of the world.

https://cpo.bmwusa.com/certified/201...5652?zip=44086

[johnhva]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

here is one sexy diesel mama... too bad it was a corporate vehicle... that kills it for me.

honestly the more i look the more i want the m sport due to the styling. it sets it VERY far apart with aesthetics from other bimmers in my opinion. i like the lesser-spoked rims as well on the m sport. . it really sets this series apart from the A6's and the E classes of the world.

https://cpo.bmwusa.com/certified/201...5652?zip=44086

Looking at this listing, I definitely recommend multi-contour seats as essential whether you get MSport or not. Ventilation and massage options are no joke for long interstate drives. I've also been spoiled by LED headlights, auto highbeam, HUD display, HK sound, rear shades, and driver assist+.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

here is one sexy diesel mama... too bad it was a corporate vehicle... that kills it for me...

Curious why? I would think that, as corporations usually have their own mechanics or a contract with a dealer, a corporate vehicle would be a good purchase. Just check the history and make sure the scheduled maintenance was performed.

[WoodButcher1980]

I just thought it would be best practice to stay away from any rental, corporate or fleet vehicles since, well if you don't own it, you're going to treat it like you stole it. At least that's what I do when I have to travel out of state and get a rental car

[wcr3d]

No CPO won't raise resell.
But it does extend the warranty.
They have changed it somewhat now.
It was a couple year extension, I think they dropped to a year now.
They would also cover about everything, they dropped all the wear and tear stuff now.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher1980

I just thought it would be best practice to stay away from any rental, corporate or fleet vehicles since, well if you don't own it, you're going to treat it like you stole it. At least that's what I do when I have to travel out of state and get a rental car

I have a theory about that...

I learned from my dad to return borrowed items in better condition than I got them. I do the same with loaner/rental cars. I even refill with premium! I can't even bring myself to put in regular.

[WoodButcher1980]

Yeah I definitely would put the proper grade of gas .. that would be just cruel. But I do have a lead foot when I'm in a rental ...normally I wouldn't.

[WoodButcher1980]

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...elCode1=535IXD

Okay okay I know I said I would take my time with searching, but I looked on auto trader's app which I never do and I found a couple private sellers. This one doesn't have all the bells and whistles like Comfort Seats and Lane departure warning, but it seems like a pretty good value. He said he would take if it 16000. But it is my favorite combo of colors though, blue exterior Brown or light interior..

Boy am I glad I went on this website and got your advice since this 535 is essentially the same prices that 528 I was looking at, plus one year newer.

https://www.mdecoder.com/decode/d532711

[n3985]

OP if you are used to Honda level maintenance and already acknowledge a BMW will be more costly, I think more context is needed.

The cars you've reference cost ~$15K, how do you feel about spending ~10% of that to replace...one leaking gasket? The oil filter housing gasket is common on all BMWs and a dealer will easily charge you $1,000 and an independent shop ~$600.

On the Xdrive cars the axle boots wear and leak, getting it repaired about $700 or a new axle cost installed cost ~$2,000.

If you can DIY and have all the special tools and bits needed for a BMW above examples are moot. Just keep them in mind as someone above already stated, a $70K new car that is now worth $15K still has maintenance cost of a $70K car.

[WoodButcher1980]

Thanks. These a real solid points. If there is access to a service manual that I can download online, and I can get help from this forum, I don't have any problem figuring out most repairs. I've done CV axles on Toyotas and Hondas since they typically go somewhere around 125 - 175 K miles. Probably the most complicated thing I've done would be a timing belt since you have to take off a bunch of stuff to do that on either a Honda or Toyota. Plus rotating the crank so it's TDC . Long process but not that hard.

I guess the gray area for me is exactly how different they are to work on. Is BMW notorious for creating proprietary tools and parts to do basic things like CV axles? For example, if I was going to replace a knocking CV boot joint, I would go up to AutoZone, and rent whatever size metric nut I would need for the axle nut, I think it's 34 mm, and whip out the service manual PDF and maybe YouTube and go to town. Plus I have a car lift so that helps. Maybe I'm just too darn practical to own these elegant German machines.

[n3985]

you are going to need a whole lot more than a 10mm socket to take apart a BMW

expect to buy a variety of new sockets, torx, e-torx, allen, and uncommon metric sizes