A little help for a new 1Addict

[Bougnoul34]

So I finally sold our spare SUV and have the funds to join the family of 1Addicts for real.
I own a '02 325I Sport wagon w/ 160k miles so I am familiar with BMWs.

Been spending every spare minutes for 3 months looking within 500 miles of SF.
Craigslist, CarGurus, etc....
My first question, why more people didn't get the slicktop? Sunroofs are so unused.
Maybe you guys have other links to where I can find one.

I have $20k to spend.

There is one I have been looking at for a while, 2012 128i/ 50k miles with Sport package, no technology/ navi which at the end of the day I do not feel is important. I like the blacked out trim, the leather bolstered seats (powered), paddle shifters, etc..
which it was slicktop/ MT but that's almost impossible to find.
$15k

Also found one without the Sport package for just $10k w/ 100k miles. That would leave me with $$ to spend on upgrades.
It has had all of this done at a BMW dealer at 92k miles:

Lower radiator hose replaced
Upper radiator hose replaced
Water pump gasket replaced
Auxiliary fan switch replaced
Cooling system checked
Coolant reservoir replaced
Water pump replaced
Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned
Air filter replaced
Oil and filter changed
Windshield washer checked
Idler pulley replaced
Drive belt tensioner replaced
Battery serviced



I am buying it to drive in the mountains on weekends when I take a day from riding my motorcycles.

Yes, I will be doing basic mods like suspension and exhaust.

Appreciate your time and answers.

[NorthernDancer]

Especially knowing you are a motorcycle guy, I would definitely wait for a manual transmission.
I would highly recommend buying privately and from someone who has most/all maintenance records. I've bought all 5 of my BMWs far, far from home. So, expand your search to all of continental USA
The manual transmission car will be far easier to sell when the time comes.

[Almuliman]

+1 to waiting for a manual if the AT is not a must. Not only easier to resell, but also far more enjoyable.

To that end, no on the first one (IMO), but the second looks potentially interesting. Did they not do the belt @ 92K?! What other records are there? Overall condition? Colors (of course ? VIN lookup is helpful to get an idea of whether the price is reasonable.

I bought mine locally off CL (I'm near Seattle). I had a private listing out of Boston fall through, was seriously considering another private listing back East, and had one fall through at a Toyota dealership in Portland (on the way from the airport to buy it ) before the CL alert for the one I bought landed in my inbox. I was ready to fly-and-drive for the right car, but it turned out I just needed a ride from a friend.

[Blau]

If you don't mind putting in a little work, you can always buy an AT and manual swap it. That's my plan or action. The manual tax is more than the difference of buying an AT and swapping it. You'll also have more luck finding the slick top and it won't have all the tech business, and you might get lucky and find the manual seats too, which are lighter and way faster to move into position. The electric seats are painfully slow.

AT 128i's go for $7k all day. A well maintained manual is about $12-15.

I'm not sure everyone agrees with this approach, but my AT car has been meticulously maintained and if you know BMW, maintenance on a neglected car is way more expensive than any mods, LSD included.

If you want an e46 M3, it's the same. The manual tax is crazy and getting crazier each year.

I'm not sure you're looking for a 128i over a 135i, but the price difference is the same for both.

[Bougnoul34]

I appreciate the inputs, here is one I found near me, manual, bolstered manual seats with extensive paperwork.
Don't care for the Black on Black but could live with it.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto...576969779.html

[Blau]

Originally Posted by Bougnoul34

I appreciate the inputs, here is one I found near me, manual, bolstered manual seats with extensive paperwork.
Don't care for the Black on Black but could live with it.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto...576969779.html

That's a lot of big ticket maintenance items, but no mention of cooling system maintenance. Steering rack? Clutch, flywheel, master/ slave cylinders all before 100k?

Seems like a nice car but I'd definitely get a PPI. I'd do that an any Bimmer anyway.

[Almuliman]

And price seems high for a '10 with nearly 100K miles. I paid $11.5 for my '13 which is fully loaded (MT) and had 73K when I bought it. 2 years ago and market changes, but still.

[Bougnoul34]

So I found 1 more, really, one of the only sale by owner around.

'12 with 120k miles.
1 owner (says it's his 80yo father's car) always serviced at bmw and has all records.
Just had 4 new tires (run flat sadly) Just had:
timing belt water pump belts alternator battery was over 5,200 with receipt, brand new tires run Flats, brand new brakes and rotors, and has 15 year/ 150k mile warranty
$9500

opinion?

[Almuliman]

Do you have the VIN (for mdecoder.com to get full equipment)?

[Bougnoul34]

It's a pretty basic car, here's the link to craigslist
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto...581745112.html
Sadly no VIN, asked for it, no reply yet. I'll see.
appreciate the Mdecoder.com link.

[Bougnoul34]

Originally Posted by WeShallCallHerBlau

If you don't mind putting in a little work, you can always buy an AT and manual swap it. That's my plan or action. The manual tax is more than the difference of buying an AT and swapping it. You'll also have more luck finding the slick top and it won't have all the tech business, and you might get lucky and find the manual seats too, which are lighter and way faster to move into position. The electric seats are painfully slow.

AT 128i's go for $7k all day. A well maintained manual is about $12-15.

I'm not sure everyone agrees with this approach, but my AT car has been meticulously maintained and if you know BMW, maintenance on a neglected car is way more expensive than any mods, LSD included.

If you want an e46 M3, it's the same. The manual tax is crazy and getting crazier each year.

I'm not sure you're looking for a 128i over a 135i, but the price difference is the same for both.

$7k all day!? For one with over 150k miles maybe.

[Blau]

Originally Posted by Bougnoul34

$7k all day!? For one with over 150k miles maybe.

Just gotta keep an eye out. Maybe wait a couple months till used car prices drop, but yes, they're out there.

I know enough about cars to know that 150k miles is quite alright for a BMW provided it's been serviced well. A ten year old car has ten year old plastic and rubber whether it has 60k or 120k on the odometer. If you look at the whole car, a 120k mile car that has been up kept can and is more likely to have updated cooling system parts, bushings and suspension parts, etc.

This idea that your car needs <90k to be worth it is old hat.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/t-Used...343673314/NONE

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/t-Used...345877622/NONE

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/t-Used...323400432/NONE

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/t-Used...347231712/NONE

Best of luck man. I'd love to see you get a oner, they're absolutely super fun cars to drive.

[Bougnoul34]

Sadly by the time I ship one of those to California they are $12k.
There is quite a few with 100k miles here and I agree with high mileage as my '02 325i sport wagon has 160k miles and runs great.
I found a 128I M sport w/ 75k miles for $16k, it's being transferred to my local Carmax dealer and it's only $1k more then the one I really wanted.
Will post up once I have it and get windows tinted....

[Blau]

Originally Posted by Bougnoul34

Sadly by the time I ship one of those to California they are $12k.
There is quite a few with 100k miles here and I agree with high mileage as my '02 325i sport wagon has 160k miles and runs great.
I found a 128I M sport w/ 75k miles for $16k, it's being transferred to my local Carmax dealer and it's only $1k more then the one I really wanted.
Will post up once I have it and get windows tinted....

Just want to throw it out there, you can always fly and drive! I would actually love to do this some time. I've been wanting an e46 wagon again, so I may have to fly and drive.

[Bougnoul34]

Originally Posted by WeShallCallHerBlau

Just want to throw it out there, you can always fly and drive! I would actually love to do this some time. I've been wanting an e46 wagon again, so I may have to fly and drive.

I did when I picked a motorcycle in Vegas, slept at a friend's and got up at 4am, got on it and rode 8hrs straight back to SF.