re: New Car Purchase - BMW juice worth the squeeze?

We own an F85 X5M. LOVE THIS CAR. Smiles per mile are off the charts.

That being said, if you are a responsible driver that drives fast and aggressive but not insane, this is OVERKILL.

If you are looking at a X3 or X4, I'd buy the X3/X4 M40i from late 2019 on, I am a big fan of the 2019 X4 M40i as it still maintained the analog gages and not the new dash.

The B58 architecture is better (inline 6 vs v8), VERY tunable, better gas economy and fun as hell as you can red line it easily. This is assuming you are not red light racing every car you see or plan to track your car.

I'd buy used but pick over the CARFAX with a fine-tooth comb for anything unusual (entire wire harness replacement, computer resets, etc.)

Ours had 50K when we purchased it and the only thing in the CARFAX entries were brake replacement, tire replacement and oil changes. Had it for another 35K and 3 years and only added tire, brake and oil change entries.

We drive very fast and aggressive, but I've never had any desire to use launch control, and if we drove it at redline, I'd be in triple digits the blink of an eye. I've never tuned it as it is pretty insane as is.

I heard the stories, so I bought the warranty when I got ours. Never used it and have been to the shop 1 time as the oil filter wasn't torqued properly and there was a small drip I noticed.

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I would not do the run flat tires that come on them again. I’m always worried taking it on trips that I would get a flat.

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I’m just not a car person.

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Yeap

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We own an F85 X5M. LOVE THIS CAR. Smiles per mile are off the charts. That being said, if you are a responsible driver that drives fast and aggressive but not insane, this is OVERKILL. If you are looking at a X3 or X4, I'd buy the X3/X4 M40i from late 2019 on, I am a big fan of the 2019 X4 M40i as it still maintained the analog gages and not the new dash. The B58 architecture is better (inline 6 vs v8), VERY tunable, better gas economy and fun as hell as you can red line it easily. This is assuming you are not red light racing every car you see or plan to track your car. I'd buy used but pick over the CARFAX with a fine-tooth comb for anything unusual (entire wire harness replacement, computer resets, etc.) Ours had 50K when we purchased it and the only thing in the CARFAX entries were brake replacement, tire replacement and oil changes. Had it for another 35K and 3 years and only added tire, brake and oil change entries. We drive very fast and aggressive, but I've never had any desire to use launch control, and if we drove it at redline, I'd be in triple digits the blink of an eye. I've never tuned it as it is pretty insane as is. I heard the stories, so I bought the warranty when I got ours. Never used it and have been to the shop 1 time as the oil filter wasn't torqued properly and there was a small drip I noticed.

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I’ve got a 21 XM5 and I love it. Has about 14k miles on so it doesn’t get driven too often.

Probably get a 24 or 25 we like it so much.

I got a chance to drive the '23 X6M Comp. The performance was amazing but hate the new gage cluster and don't really like the side profile.

I was given a X3 M40i as a loner when they were looking at my oil drip and it wanted to be pushed, lots of fun to toss around as it is nimbler.

This question is always tough, and it's always based on how well you can work on an older car yourself. It's the same for VWs and Mercedes. Here are my observations:

- The german cars typically try to do normal functions with more automation than necessary. This leads to a higher probability of something breaking. It's just numbers.
- American cars are likely your best bang for your buck because they are typically the cheapest to get into, and by the time they break, the time value of money likely has you ahead. They just are very common and people typically don't love that.
- Toyota/Honda - Pricey for the amount of options you get vs American cars, but tend to not change models very often and keep the designs pretty simple (I believe they held onto roll-up windows the longest; body style/generations don't change often). They really work out the bugs this way, but you don't get the new options right away. But in the end, less stuff means less stuff to break...and higher reliability.

Of all these, if you can do simple mechanic work (i.e. change sensors, starters, intake parts, pop a door panel, etc.), no vehicle is likely to grenade itself with significant damage that you can't at worst go to a junkyard and get a part. Now, if it's diesel, make sure you do your homework on fuel cost and driver to own one before you go down that road. They are great vehicles, but HPFPs, DPFs, EGR system problems, etc. are insanely high to fix regardless of the make and model.

With that, I own two diesel BMWs (one with nearly 200k). I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Had one of each of these cars but only had to deal with E9x issues that you listed.

E36 = cooling system
E46 = rod bearings, vanos, subframe cracking, SMG trans
E9X = rod bearings, throttle actuators

E36 had issues with bushing. E46 had 6sp comp pack and only dealt with standard stuff. Sold it with 150k miles.

I would do it all again. Currently have no car so putting away funds for hopefully one day when BMW will sell the m3 touring in the US.