[cipriang80]

I am ready to buy and found a nice 335i with the 6 speed in Michigan. It s blk on blk and love the way it looks. 29k miles with spt/prem pkgs.

The only downside is that the car had been driven in MI for the past 3 years. I saw pictures and a carfax and everything looks cool.

Would you recommend this purchase?

[NiVeDh]

Get it checked out by an independent mechanic.

[ragingclue]

Get it inspected, but I don't expect a 3 yr old car to have become a victim of the rust belt... Regardless of what state a car is from, it should be inspected.

[cotmfk]

Get it checked out, but good luck on the purchase. Sounds like a nice car!

[dave herzog]

no cpo + no trust fund = pass

[DCP]

Originally Posted by dave herzog

no cpo + no trust fund = pass

Yeah, because the depreciation on a new one or paying a good deal more for a car from a dealer with an extra cost warranty is so much better. Or to put it another way, I disagree with your financial analysis.

[1smooth6]

Is it still under the factory warranty?

I would imagine it is...If so you can have it certified at a dealer to add an extra
2 yrs of coverage for about $1500.

Definitely get a pre-purchase inspection done at a BMW dealer.

I grew up in NY and also lived in Michigan for two years and they do aggressively salt the roads in the winter. To compare a Michigan car to a sunbelt or West Coast car after 3 years is quite astonishing. What the salt does to aluminum and steel components.....Personally I would not buy a car with that much corrosive exposure if there are other options.

Good luck!

[MSPORTWORLD]

Get it inspected, just because the car is from Michigan doesn't mean it was exposed to the elements.

My car is in Ohio and it sees ZERO snow days and I wait for a few good rainy days to wash away the salt before taking it out after the snow clears.

Plus I believe BMW's corrosive warranty is 10 years regardless of mileage, someone verify this?

[cipriang80]

Originally Posted by 1smooth6

Is it still under the factory warranty?

I would imagine it is...If so you can have it certified at a dealer to add an extra
2 yrs of coverage for about $1500.

Definitely get a pre-purchase inspection done at a BMW dealer.

I grew up in NY and also lived in Michigan for two years and they do aggressively salt the roads in the winter. To compare a Michigan car to a sunbelt or West Coast car after 3 years is quite astonishing. What the salt does to aluminum and steel components.....Personally I would not buy a car with that much corrosive exposure if there are other options.

Good luck!

In service date is 15/01/2007, so almost another year of warranty. I am planing to get the 2 years warranty, as i don t plan to keep it more than 3 years.

Thank you all for advice.

[2013E92M3ZCP]

Originally Posted by dave herzog

no cpo + no trust fund = pass

I would have to respectfully disagree. I'm selling a great car, no accidents. Solid vehicle with under 23,000 miles - virtually mint. Not having a CPO warranty doesn't necessarily mean there aren't good deals and good cars to be had. Get it inspected and pull a car fax. When I end up looking for an M3 or Cayman, I'll most likely be looking to a private party and I'll be paying much more I would assume. I'll be following my own advice above.

[zaza]

What's the asking price?

[cipriang80]

Originally Posted by zaza

What's the asking price?

I work for a car dealership, so i will be buying it off BMW Financial of North America auction, in Columbus, Ohio. It's basically an off-lease and i expect to pay about $23,500 plus auction fees, bout 24,000 all together.

The auction provides very accurate condition reports and it looks great on paper, but i will bid online, and see it only after/if i buy it.

Can't wait for the drive back)

I bought the owner of the company, i work for, a M6 from the same auction about 6 months ago. They run 500 BMW's every month at that auction.

[dave herzog]

Originally Posted by DCP

Yeah, because the depreciation on a new one or paying a good deal more for a car from a dealer with an extra cost warranty is so much better. Or to put it another way, I disagree with your financial analysis.

^ welcome to the board! great first post - you should fit right in here.

OP, glad to hear you'll be getting the warranty. good luck with your purchase!

[White_335I]

If the car checks out to be clean, I will not hesitate to buy it. Rust is not much of a concern on BMW's and if you are only going to keep it for 3 years, then it is not a concern at all.

Good luck,

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by 1smooth6

Is it still under the factory warranty?

I would imagine it is...If so you can have it certified at a dealer to add an extra
2 yrs of coverage for about $1500.

Definitely get a pre-purchase inspection done at a BMW dealer.

I grew up in NY and also lived in Michigan for two years and they do aggressively salt the roads in the winter. To compare a Michigan car to a sunbelt or West Coast car after 3 years is quite astonishing. What the salt does to aluminum and steel components.....Personally I would not buy a car with that much corrosive exposure if there are other options.

Good luck!

I agree with the point about a rust belt vs sun belt car but this is 2010 and modern cars used galvanized steel so corrosion isn't that much of an issue. If the car has been washed on a regular basis I wouldn't have any issues with it being from Michigan.

[Raikkonen]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

I agree with the point about a rust belt vs sun belt car but this is 2010 and modern cars used galvanized steel so corrosion isn't that much of an issue. If the car has been washed on a regular basis I wouldn't have any issues with it being from Michigan.

I absolutely agree. It's 2010 folks, not 1973. Why else would BMW offer such a long anti-corrosion warranty?

Did anyone else notice the OP didn't mention corrosion as the issue?

My car, as were my last e90's, is driven every day of the year here in the Detroit area; rain, sleet, snow, etc. There's more salt here on the road during the winter months than in Bonneville, but for my cars that means NOTHING.

I'm a fastidious owner who is OCD in regards to maintenance, both cosmetic and mechanical.

My car can be put up against any Southern US car of the same age for inspection, and you would NOT be able to determine whose car is from what region. It all boils down to the owner/history.

My 7 year old (by build date) 330i ZHP looked NEW when I sold it. Not even a spec of rust anywhere, and an underbody that I would have eaten off of.

When traveling for work in Southern California and Florida, as I often do, I've probably looked at a dozen or so ZHP's with similar mileage as compared to mine, and they were ABYSMAL. Granted, some were decent, but none even came close to the condition mine was kept in; and mine was in fact a daily driver.

The moral of the story is this: A car's geographic origin means nothing; it's owner however, means everything.

[jibaholic101]

PPI before you BUY

[cipriang80]

Originally Posted by jibaholic101

PPI before you BUY

You mean Pre Purchase Inspection? I am not sure you can do that. I am sure you can de a Post Sale Inspection with a 7/14 day warranty/ return policy.

Any way, it sells next wednesday, and i cannot wait.