[tailendcharlie]

Originally Posted by Sendmewagons

Any input from the community on the below? Kind of want to walk away but it's a decent find...

12250 out the door. Won't budge on price.... In light of the recent BaT price this seems like.an ok price, but otherwise seems high based on below.

2011 328xi, 6MT
Vermillion red metallic with saddle brown sport seats
Harmon Kardon, CA, navigation, heated seats, window shades, auto mirrors etc

Got a PPI.
- Smoked in but interior looks good. No burns or anything
- no sound on radio. Pretty sure TCU just needs to be looped out
- misfire on bank 2 at idle with O2 code. I think this is getting fixed.
- Damage on Carfax on driver's side. Texture in pictures looks like it could be painted. Color looks good
- I think it needs the valve cover done. Valve cover vacuum measured at 39.5? Can anyone chime in on if the high vacuum means bad CCV? Spec is 28-32 I believe.
- Oil pan gasket may be needed. Shop said 8/10 but honestly it didn't look horrible to me.
- No service history. Some in Carfax showing visits to BMW dealers. Have been unsuccessful in getting dealer to retrieve records.
- small tear in front axle boot. Not bad yet but needs replacement.
- front CA bushings toast

I very conservatively estimated all these repairs being $3500 at an indy shop. Honestly I'd do everything but the oil pan myself. Parts still are not cheap and that does not include all the maintenance items to do as soon as I get it.

Given the rarity of manual cars, it’s apparent we three-pedal devotees may have to be flexible....none of those items individually seem like big deals, but the sum total suggests an ignorant owner. Or, one who drove it like a Honda & when it was evident maintemeance was needed, traded it in? Is it around 100k miles?

[ppointer]

Originally Posted by Sendmewagons

Any input from the community on the below? Kind of want to walk away but it's a decent find...

12250 out the door. Won't budge on price.... In light of the recent BaT price this seems like.an ok price, but otherwise seems high based on below.

2011 328xi, 6MT
Vermillion red metallic with saddle brown sport seats
Harmon Kardon, CA, navigation, heated seats, window shades, auto mirrors etc

Got a PPI.
- Smoked in but interior looks good. No burns or anything
- no sound on radio. Pretty sure TCU just needs to be looped out
- misfire on bank 2 at idle with O2 code. I think this is getting fixed.
- Damage on Carfax on driver's side. Texture in pictures looks like it could be painted. Color looks good
- I think it needs the valve cover done. Valve cover vacuum measured at 39.5? Can anyone chime in on if the high vacuum means bad CCV? Spec is 28-32 I believe.
- Oil pan gasket may be needed. Shop said 8/10 but honestly it didn't look horrible to me.
- No service history. Some in Carfax showing visits to BMW dealers. Have been unsuccessful in getting dealer to retrieve records.
- small tear in front axle boot. Not bad yet but needs replacement.
- front CA bushings toast

I very conservatively estimated all these repairs being $3500 at an indy shop. Honestly I'd do everything but the oil pan myself. Parts still are not cheap and that does not include all the maintenance items to do as soon as I get it.

I could not do a smoker's car. But otherwise, the PPI seems typical and your estimate on repairs seems reasonable.

[Sendmewagons]

Originally Posted by tailendcharlie

Given the rarity of manual cars, it’s apparent we three-pedal devotees may have to be flexible....none of those items individually seem like big deals, but the sum total suggests an ignorant owner. Or, one who drove it like a Honda & when it was evident maintemeance was needed, traded it in? Is it around 100k miles?

Yeah forgot the mileage. It's at 100k and it was a trade in.

As far as smoker car yeah I wasn't psyched about that. Interior looks really clean though so maybe not a lot of smoking in the car. I have pictures from before they detailed it too and it looked ok. Obviously can't get it 100% clean, but I would plan on cleaning every surface multiple times, blowing out vents, etc.

It all adds up haha which is why I thought the dealer would come down some at least. The 3500 doesn't really even count the body work or the smoke.

[tailendcharlie]

Originally Posted by Sendmewagons

Yeah forgot the mileage. It's at 100k and it was a trade in.

As far as smoker car yeah I wasn't psyched about that. Interior looks really clean though so maybe not a lot of smoking in the car. I have pictures from before they detailed it too and it looked ok. Obviously can't get it 100% clean, but I would plan on cleaning every surface multiple times, blowing out vents, etc.

It all adds up haha which is why I thought the dealer would come down some at least. The 3500 doesn't really even count the body work or the smoke.

Sounds like you got a very good ppi.

Honestly this is probably par for the course. The fact it’s a manual suggests maybe an enthusiast owned it but who knows? You see these 100k-mile cars at dealers, they’re almost all AT non-sport cars. My theory, unprovable, is the typical history on these cars is they get leased for the first 30k miles & turned in, owner 2 comes along & buys it as a CPO car. More or less takes good care of the car but treats it like a Toyota, do whatever maintenance BMW proscribes in the manual. So, no PM. Car hits around 100k owner takes it in for an oil change gets handed a $4,000 estimate to fix various leaking gaskets, worn suspension, etc. BMW experiment is over; trades it in for a CRV.

[E91WAG3N]

Originally Posted by Sendmewagons

Yeah forgot the mileage. It's at 100k and it was a trade in.

As far as smoker car yeah I wasn't psyched about that. Interior looks really clean though so maybe not a lot of smoking in the car. I have pictures from before they detailed it too and it looked ok. Obviously can't get it 100% clean, but I would plan on cleaning every surface multiple times, blowing out vents, etc.

It all adds up haha which is why I thought the dealer would come down some at least. The 3500 doesn't really even count the body work or the smoke.

So you'd be into it 15,000 and it would still smell like smoke and have accident history. I'd keep looking, personally.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by tailendcharlie

You see these 100k-mile cars at dealers, they’re almost all AT non-sport cars. My theory, unprovable, is the typical history on these cars is they get leased for the first 30k miles & turned in, owner 2 comes along & buys it as a CPO car. More or less takes good care of the car but treats it like a Toyota, do whatever maintenance BMW proscribes in the manual. So, no PM. Car hits around 100k owner takes it in for an oil change gets handed a $4,000 estimate to fix various leaking gaskets, worn suspension, etc. BMW experiment is over; trades it in for a CRV.

You are spot-on! That is exactly what happened in the life of my E91 we bought 4.5 years ago now. 102k miles. It's a RWD, slushbox (horrible), non-sport (yuk) with premium package, heated seats, Comfort Access, sat radio, adaptive Xenons, etc.

I've not updated the thread in a good while, but I listed out stuff the car needed within the first few k miles in this thread. The 2nd owner bought it CPO and likely got quotes from a dealer for stuff like the blower motor squeaking (after I oiled it the 2nd time it's been fine) and radio screen pixels (cheap and easy swap fix) that blew their mind.

It's been doing reasonably well in the past year and is up to 138k miles now. We (my wife and I) have done essentially all the work on it; we just recently replaced the Valvetronic motor which was a lot easier to do than I expected. It almost stranded us twice with the prior one failing. Also had to just replace all the coils so did the plugs again too. The N52 developed "that tick" problem, but since switching to Rotella 5W40, it's been gone now for two years (fingers crossed still).

Since the time I started that thread, we have sold the E90 330i, sadly...just saw it mentioned in my write-up.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

You are spot-on! That is exactly what happened in the life of my E91 we bought 4.5 years ago now. 102k miles. It's a RWD, slushbox (horrible), non-sport (yuk) with premium package, heated seats, Comfort Access, sat radio, adaptive Xenons, etc.

I've not updated the thread in a good while, but I listed out stuff the car needed within the first few k miles in this thread. The 2nd owner bought it CPO and likely got quotes from a dealer for stuff like the blower motor squeaking (after I oiled it the 2nd time it's been fine) and radio screen pixels (cheap and easy swap fix) that blew their mind.

It's been doing reasonably well in the past year and is up to 138k miles now. We (my wife and I) have done essentially all the work on it; we just recently replaced the Valvetronic motor which was a lot easier to do than I expected. It almost stranded us twice with the prior one failing. Also had to just replace all the coils so did the plugs again too. The N52 developed "that tick" problem, but since switching to Rotella 5W40, it's been gone now for two years (fingers crossed still).

Since the time I started that thread, we have sold the E90 330i, sadly...just saw it mentioned in my write-up.

Yup, that's the exact history of my car too. Lease, then CPO, then traded at 100k after 0 maintenance.

I found the vehicle purchase paperwork in the glovebox--the girl that owned it before me bought it CPO at a BMW dealership and paid 18.95% APR on the financing.

[tailendcharlie]

I pretty much assume these dealer cars all need some work - despite their claims of “100-point” inspection ir whatever.

The dream is to find a car here or on CL with a list a mile long of all the work the enthusiast owner has done to the car....

[E92William]

You're looking at buying a forum users car then. A lot of these cars as they age they become someone's throw away crapbox and start ignoring things wrong with it

[tailendcharlie]

CL Find....Birmingham AL.....also listed on Denver CL with the AL contact...
$8800 2007 328XI wagon...AT...non sport package. 138,000miles.

Quite a bit of maintenance listed....https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/...168407918.html

[triax37]

2007 E91 l 6MT l AWD l Green exterior l 144k l $13k

Apologies if already posted, but I didn't see it. Seems like lots of appropriate maintenance for the miles, and green(!) if someone's been looking for a MT:

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...167447262.html

[drummr8]

Sure are a lot of pre-LCI, non-sport high-mileage sh!tboxes being posted for $12k and up. I haven't seen a car similar to mine (as far as specs) posted for sale yet. BaT is taking their sweet ass time listing this thing. If someone wants to buy it before they finally get back at me, PM me! Car is running great and is a beauty.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1709724

[shimstack]

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

"THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS"

Nice car though. Wish it was RWD, I'd be sending $$$.

[drummr8]

Originally Posted by shimstack

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

"THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS"

Nice car though. Wish it was RWD, I'd be sending $$$.

Those seats and other interior components look really rough... Not sure if it's indicative of the rest of the car, but damn.

[E92William]

Get it up on cars and bids dude

[Sendmewagons]

The price on that autotrader on without sport package is making me consider the red one at $12k again...


High miles but very clean. Was listed 4 or 5 months ago for $9k by the same guy. Looks to have done quite a bit of work since then to clean everything up (see list in ad).

2007 BMW E91 328i Touring 6-Speed Sport Package RWD

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/...169081549.html

Very unique 2007 BMW 3 series factory built to an enthusiast specification. At one time BMW was still making haulers that were in fact the Ultimate Driving Machine. Not the tall, cumbersome, half minivan, burdened-with-AWD vehicles that the general ...

[rjaudi]

Originally Posted by Sendmewagons

The price on that autotrader on without sport package is making me consider the red one at $12k again...


High miles but very clean. Was listed 4 or 5 months ago for $9k by the same guy.

2007 BMW E91 328i Touring 6-Speed Sport Package RWD

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/...169081549.html

Very unique 2007 BMW 3 series factory built to an enthusiast specification. At one time BMW was still making haulers that were in fact the Ultimate Driving Machine. Not the tall, cumbersome, half minivan, burdened-with-AWD vehicles that the general ...

The vermilion red one is very tempting because of the options and color. If you don't need the x-drive, I would definitely go for a rwd.

The one on craigslist sounds like they took care of it like my previous owner. He owned mine for 10 years after buying it CPO and gave me $50k in receipts.

[Sendmewagons]

Originally Posted by rjaudi

The vermilion red one is very tempting because of the options and color. If you don't need the x-drive, I would definitely go for a rwd.

The one on craigslist sounds like they took care of it like my previous owner. He owned mine for 10 years after buying it CPO and gave me $50k in receipts.

I don't need the xdrive and would prefer RWD. Harder to find the RWD though...

It does seem CL one was cared for. This owner has had it for ~1 year I think. Owner before was <1 year. I think I have the carfax around somewhere.

Edit: Added carfax to my original post.

[Sendmewagons]

White LCI, non-sport, auto, 90k miles for $12k

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...170011248.html

[triax37]

2007 E91 l Blue exterior, Gray interior l Auto l RWD l Xenons l Aluminum Trim l 158k l $6,200

Maybe not too special, but appears to have M-tech front and rear bumpers. Body looks good. Could be a good MT conversion...

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/c...167066530.html

[Sendmewagons]

lol?

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/link/278354422

[tailendcharlie]

Originally Posted by Sendmewagons

lol?

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/link/278354422

4 owners in 72,000 miles, and no sport package.