been thinking about buying a luxury car
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12-24-2009, 12:49 PM
#26
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Don't forget about the $700 door latch on the Benz if it breaks and you don't have a warranty.
12-24-2009, 04:26 PM
#28
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An IS300 would be a good option, but still over $10k.
335i's can move, however, I wouldn't want to own one without warranty. Any german car for that matter.
335i's can move, however, I wouldn't want to own one without warranty. Any german car for that matter.
12-24-2009, 04:32 PM
#29
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Funny how people throw in these 1000 dollar "wiper transmissions" and 700 dollar door latches, leaking wheels etc. I just wonder in how many cars those go bad?
Not saying things wouldn't go wrong with $10K Benz, BMW etc., but, like I already said in my earlier post, there are resources to find DIY tips and tricks for the said cars. BUT, if you need to take the car to a dealer, or some other shop, every time something happens, that will of course mean big bucks.
Earlier this year I had a 94 Lexus LS400 w/220K+ miles as a DD and it was awesome. It had its issues and if I would've taken it to somebody else to work on, I would've been out big bucks. Example: It had leaking air struts in the rear. Cost @ dealership: $1000+. Instead, I ordered a conventional strut conversion kit online and installed it myself (very easy install). Cost: $400. And the list goes on. Same goes for other brands mentioned.
Anyway... OP, you might want to check out at least bimmerforums.com, mbworld.org and clublexus.com. LOTS of good info on those sites.
Not saying things wouldn't go wrong with $10K Benz, BMW etc., but, like I already said in my earlier post, there are resources to find DIY tips and tricks for the said cars. BUT, if you need to take the car to a dealer, or some other shop, every time something happens, that will of course mean big bucks.
Earlier this year I had a 94 Lexus LS400 w/220K+ miles as a DD and it was awesome. It had its issues and if I would've taken it to somebody else to work on, I would've been out big bucks. Example: It had leaking air struts in the rear. Cost @ dealership: $1000+. Instead, I ordered a conventional strut conversion kit online and installed it myself (very easy install). Cost: $400. And the list goes on. Same goes for other brands mentioned.
Anyway... OP, you might want to check out at least bimmerforums.com, mbworld.org and clublexus.com. LOTS of good info on those sites.
12-24-2009, 04:44 PM
#31
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[QUOTE=Texfinn;12663023]Funny how people throw in these 1000 dollar "wiper transmissions" and 700 dollar door latches, leaking wheels etc. I just wonder in how many cars those go bad?
Not saying things wouldn't go wrong with $10K Benz, BMW etc., but, like I already said in my earlier post, there are resources to find DIY tips and tricks for the said cars. BUT, if you need to take the car to a dealer, or some other shop, every time something happens, that will of course mean big bucks.
Really no comparison on parts when comparing Japanese and German parts as alot of times Japanese parts are found at your local parts houses whereas German parts are typically found through the dealer. I do agree that alot of money can be saved by DIY, but I think Jaysan will have a tough time finding a luxury car for his 10k price.
Not saying things wouldn't go wrong with $10K Benz, BMW etc., but, like I already said in my earlier post, there are resources to find DIY tips and tricks for the said cars. BUT, if you need to take the car to a dealer, or some other shop, every time something happens, that will of course mean big bucks.
Really no comparison on parts when comparing Japanese and German parts as alot of times Japanese parts are found at your local parts houses whereas German parts are typically found through the dealer. I do agree that alot of money can be saved by DIY, but I think Jaysan will have a tough time finding a luxury car for his 10k price.
12-24-2009, 05:10 PM
#32
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Really no comparison on parts when comparing Japanese and German parts as alot of times Japanese parts are found at your local parts houses whereas German parts are typically found through the dealer. I do agree that alot of money can be saved by DIY, but I think Jaysan will have a tough time finding a luxury car for his 10k price.
Last year I had a 92 MB 190E and all parts I ever needed were always available from O'Reilly's or AutoZone. Sames goes for my current DD: 95 BMW 325iS.
Also, there are LOTS of good sources for foreign (yes, even German) parts on the net. FCP Groton being one of the biggest, and most reasonably priced. Especially compared to any stealership.
So, I'd say there is no excuse to go buy anything from the dealer.
10K will get lots of luxury, but he just needs to be ready to buy something with over 100K miles, for example. You can't find 30K mile under 10-year old luxury car for that price. Depending, of course, what the definition for luxury is.
Just my 2 cents again and I'm sure many people will disagree and that's just fine.
12-24-2009, 05:21 PM
#33
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Yeah you are right but the parts that I have tried to find for my Mom's previous Mercedes E320, 300D, 300SL were not found at any of my local parts houses, and they included everything from foglight housings, radiators etc. Thankfully she has bought the new Bluetec so I think I'm saved for the next few years from having to pitch in to keep it running! 
12-24-2009, 07:29 PM
#36
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As stated before most German parts will have to be found either thru the dealer or internet; fine for a secondary car but pain in the *** for a daily driver like my mom's car was. If she had the time to wait I'm sure she would have been happy with me finding the parts as resourcefully as possible.
12-24-2009, 10:59 PM
#38
I would say an E46 330i are pretty quick & fun cars to drive. The cars are extremely easy to work on unless you have to replace a major control module that requires programming.
12-24-2009, 11:35 PM
#39
Wow, most if not all of you are dumb as ******* bricks. First, the Mercedes are JUNK BOTTOM LINE. Brake pedal/ gas pedal blow, handing is sloppy and poor; ride quality is SOFT at best. Parts and maintenance are a PAIN IN THE NECK! Now let me move on to the Audi, much better driving feel and overall tightness. But they are a NIGHTMARE to maintain with expensive parts and some RETARDED engineering. Buddy of mine has a A4 manual that has been through 3 transmissions in the last 3 years. And finally that brings me to the BMW's, the smart choice of the 3 auto manufactures. Once again PARTS for these cars usually aren't available at your local Pepboys. At the price point you are looking at go with others advice of the E39 (or 5-series from 97-03 if your dumb). Comes in many different configurations and also is available in a manual trans. The inline 6's are decent on power and reliability, with the v8's being less reliable but having the power advantage.
Please don't tell me about how "oh the s4's or amg's or this and that" are FAR Better, I've driven all these cars as a valet and can tell you for the money the BMW is a much better choice as a daily driver. My huge gripe with BMW is that they usually OVER engineer easy ****. Automatic this and that, stuff that usually fails after say 100,000 miles or 5-8 years...alot of these items are Dealer only and come at a premium price. My buddies auto company has several corporate accounts with all the local DFW BMW dealerships, the most they can offer him is 20% under retail on almost all major parts. Most of the domestic and Japanese auto manufactures usually offer parts at 50% or more below retail to others in the auto industry.
And finally, the 3 series are OVERPRICED, not really luxury, and gay. Unless your going to swap a ls-x into that 3 series I say run from those crap boxes like hell. They are a dime a dozen and nothing special.
Please don't tell me about how "oh the s4's or amg's or this and that" are FAR Better, I've driven all these cars as a valet and can tell you for the money the BMW is a much better choice as a daily driver. My huge gripe with BMW is that they usually OVER engineer easy ****. Automatic this and that, stuff that usually fails after say 100,000 miles or 5-8 years...alot of these items are Dealer only and come at a premium price. My buddies auto company has several corporate accounts with all the local DFW BMW dealerships, the most they can offer him is 20% under retail on almost all major parts. Most of the domestic and Japanese auto manufactures usually offer parts at 50% or more below retail to others in the auto industry.
And finally, the 3 series are OVERPRICED, not really luxury, and gay. Unless your going to swap a ls-x into that 3 series I say run from those crap boxes like hell. They are a dime a dozen and nothing special.
