NJ4.2GUY

I think that i am going to try to buy my friends car that i know the history of really well. I have driven it from NJ to Altanta and back,and from NJ to FL where he is now. He just leased a new ml 350 inpiration edition which is alot cheaper of a lease than the bmw not sure why. and he has both now. 2001 350i topaz blue grey leather xenon premium. Nice car in perfect conditon never in an accident. has 42,000 miles and one year/50,000 on warantee plus i can buy an extended one from AAA later on if I think i need it. With gas the way it is the audi is not bad considering its a V8 but it still sucks alot of gas. Not sure why he got the ML with gas at like 2.50 a gallon there that thing gets like 15 to the gallon. The BMW get at least 25 i think we got 28 on the way to FL. The buyback on the BMW is 25,000 so id be taking quite a loan to get it but i just think its less car and less for me to worry about.

Egil A64.2s - S6

cost of owning any car ;-)

April

It's still a European car and as such, requires more attention and maintenance than your old Toyota. No matter the purchase price, it still has the service needs of a $40+K car. Expect to set aside around $2 to 3K per year on average to maintain the car if you don't do your own work. That includes not only oil changes, but those things that don't come up so often like major service, etc. Remember that warranties don't cover that.

To put it in another perspective, according to edmunds, it costs an average of $.64 per mile to operate a 530. It costs $.62 to operate an A6 2.7t. A non-theft recovery salvage title A6 4.2 will likely cost the same as the 6 cylinder BMW to own and operate. So in the bigger picture, you're not gaining anything by switching brands.

If you want something with a warranty and a good interest rate, I strongly suggest looking at a Subaru or Mazda. Both offer good value and driver enjoyment. Optioned correctly, they can be quite comfortable.They will have decent resale when you decide to move up to bigger and better things.

___________________

Average Replacement Cost
A/C Compressor $1,350
Alternator $780
Automatic Transmission or Transaxle $1,230
Brakes $290
Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing $920
Constant Velocity Joints $965
Exhaust System $1,130
Radiator $810
Shocks and/or Struts $870
Timing Chain or Belt $1,850<ul><li><a href="http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2258">Heads up</a></li></ul>

NJ4.2GUY

and you can have the car fixed at the dealer . they pay for it. if you dont use any claims i think that they give you some money back if you sell the car before its over.

nirad

it's a great car, but your 4.2 is better.

April

Those are things not covered under warranty. The warranty usually covers things that should not break or wear out, not those things which need attention as a normal matter of course in owning the car. Those are things that people rarely factor into the cost when they buy a used luxury car.

I just don't think you'll be ahead financially by the time you get around to fixing the A6, taking the loss on selling the A6 with salvage title, and then buying another expensive to maintain car (that hopefully has good title and trans, but still costs the same to maintain).

Have you looked into insurance and warranty costs?

"E39 BMWs commonly do lots of things:
1. Its door seals will "Creak like a wooden sailing ship", unless you replace the door seals (temp fix).
2. Its Air Conditioning will have the "aroma of a used gym sock", unless you occasionally disinfect the A/C system.
3. Its front brakes will "Squeak like a scared mouse", unless you properly lube the brake pad attachment points.
4. Has an electrical system "as stable as MS Windows", and most electrical glitches can be "fixed" by rebooting the system by removing the appropriate fuses, or disconnecting the battery.
5. The steering wheel will Shimmy like Anna Nicole Smith trying to get into a pair of Guess Jeans (most commonly affects 528/530s) unless you get just the right torque on the lug bolts and PSI in the tires, Maybe.
6. As pixels burn out the MID computer text will resemble the language for the blind known as braille.
7. Electric auxiliary "pusher" fan will make your car sound like a jet ready for take-off, but only if it works.
8. Rear Window Regulator will "let you down" only when it is most inconvenient for you.
9. Radiator Neck will break off with no warning (at driver side top hose)
10. Catalytic Converters will sound like they full of marbles when they are ready to fail, and are good for about 60k Miles.
11. The Camshaft Position Sensor (CPS) is so reliable that you should carry a spare in your trunk.
12. The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor will (need a little help here)
13. The Final Stage Resistor will have no problem varying the airflow in your car, but the problem is that it does it even when its not supposed to, until to totally quits that is, then you will have no airflow.
14. Don't even think about using the "canholders" to hold any unsealed container lest you prepare to clean your pants, the car interior, and replace any electronics that were damaged.
15. You say that you like the "Dukes of Hazard"? Well I hope so because you'll be forced to enter and exit your car through open windows like Bo and Luke Duke when the interior door handles break off in your hand. This is the true reason that BMWs can roll the windows up and down from the key.
16. With the manual transmission, no matter how quickly you lift your foot off the clutch pedal, the clutch always engages the flywheel at a constant rate. What's up with that?"

From:http://members.roadfly.com/kowached/welcome1.htm

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e39/3677051-1.html

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e39/107057-1.html

I don't envy you and the choices you need to make now. Sometimes it seems easier to jump from the fire, only to realize that you've created another totally new fire for yourself in the new spot. I would either stick with what you have, or buy a new much simpler car.<ul><li><a href="http://www.roadfly.org">Just go to the E39 forum and do a search</a></li></ul>

im_cecil

-- You have $26k ($21k + tax + license + subseqent repairs) into a car you've owned for a little over a year

-- You probably owe $15-$18k on it (let's use $16k)

-- You don't have $4k to fix the tranny, so will sell the A6 as is for $8-$9k.

-- You will still then owe $8k on the A6 that you remain responsible for.

-- You want to buy a 530i for $27k ($25k + registration, etc.) which will be entirely financed since you have no cash (remember the tranny?)

-- It will therefore cost you $35k, assuming you can get that loan to get yourself into the 530i, which even though it's "perfect" will be due for service soon and, as April pointed out, won't cost you any less to keep on the road (again, assuming the A6 really will be fixed).

I'm not trying to be harsh. We're really trying to help, here. You're in a tough spot, and we feel for ya. There's more to consider, though, if you're not gonna dig yourself deeper in.

Really, it will cost way too much to get into another European car and you won't gain much. If you're really done with the A6 and just don't want to deal with it, get what you can for it and look to something you can count on that won't eat you up -- another Toyota, Honda, Mazda, etc. You'll still have to "even up" on the A6 if you have a loan out on it, but at least it will all be up in front of you.

NJ4.2GUY

i wrote a bank check for the whole amount back then.

NJ4.2GUY

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/73864/im000117.jpg"></center><p>

NJ4.2GUY

Here are the things that went wrong on his car.
2nd week the key would not go into the ignion somthing the the barrel was broken the key would not slide in. Went to BMW and got a new one put in and never had that problem. The door seals went and were just replaced the. they split down the middle. and one time for some reason he turned off the lights and the parking lights stayed on the drivers side and went off on the passengers side. it never did that again it was just very odd why lights would be wired different left and right.