Buy a Used BMW; Become a Better Human Being!
You hear that right! Out of all available ways of self-improvement, buying a used BMW could be the best and most efficient. It can help improve you as a person, make career progress and improve life at large. It may sound funny, but it’s true, and in a recent video by Content with Cars, the host explains how.
- You’ll be more committed to work because a timely raise matters as your pre-owned BMW can be more financially demanding than your wife! Result- productivity gains.
- You’ll take up side hustles and explore every way to earn more because parts are expensive.
- You will scale up your patience and tolerance. If you can put up with all the ‘Check Engine’ light drama of a BMW, you can put up with anything in life!
- You will be too broke for alcohol or substance addiction.
- And finally, if you aren’t God-fearing yet, just buy one- you’ll be fixed!
If these do not kill your desire to own a BMW, you probably deserve one. In that case, let us take you through some great options which can be bought for less than the price of a top-spec Baleno! The video discusses the ups and downs of these:
Buying A Used BMW: Generic Guidelines
If you will have a pleasant ownership or not depends on what you buy and how you buy, if you are opting for a pre-owned BMW! The best piece of advice would be to go for the best example available. Trying to reduce the initial cost and thinking to fix things as time goes, will only invite expenses. Like he says ‘ The cheapest BMW you buy, is the most expensive BMW you own’!
Let’s face it- parts are expensive. Even the non-OE parts aren’t cheap. It would thus be the wisest to find the best example. Prioritize vehicle health over money while shopping. Use negligible low-cost niggles to negotiate and bring the price down. Never compromise on the mechanicals.
Soon after the purchase, replace all worn-out bushes and fluids. Avoid skimping on parts, as doing so will spoil the drive experience. Life advice: If you’re someone with ‘trust issues’, compromise on your BMW’s maintenance, and you’ll be left with just ‘issues’!
What BMW To Buy Under 12 Lakh?
There are several BMWs you can get for the price. For around 15 lakh, you could get a 5 series, or for a much smaller sum, an E90 3 series. The 3 is the recommended one among the two for two key reasons:
- The E90 3 series is compact and more fun to drive- truly a driver’s car.
- For approximately 12-15 lakh, you’ll likely get a pristine example of the 3. Remember, the better car you buy, the more peaceful it is to own.
The E90 had all possible types of body styles available in the global markets- sedan, coupe, convertible and estate. There was a range of powertrains available back then- smaller petrol, diesel and the mighty V8s on the M3. This was also the only generation of the 3 series that used to offer a V8 on the M3.
You can buy the E90 in either the petrol (330i) or diesel (320d) avatars. The 330i E90 is a quintessential car offered with the naturally aspirated straight-six petrol engine producing 255 hp. The transmission on offer is a ZF-sourced automatic unit. 0-100 kph comes in just 6.6 seconds. This car fails to comprehend the concept of fuel efficiency! It loves to be revved hard and delivers good fun while doing so.
The 320d on the other hand, delivers better efficiency without compromising much on the performance and fun offered. It is powered by a 2.0L, 4-cylinder engine that produces around 184 bhp and 380 Nm. Despite being a diesel, it is still very fast.
What Would Excite You In An E90?
Apart from the thrill of owning a ‘luxury’ or ‘German car’, there are a number of things that would get you excited, in an E90 BMW 3 series. In the 330i, the first would be the performance. The linear way of getting access to all the horses is enjoyable. Dynamics is the next big strength. With a 50:50 weight distribution and a precise hydraulic steering mechanism, the way it goes around corners is brilliant. It also gets brake vectoring, adding to the overall experience.
Even on the diesel, the way it drives is beautiful. You get to feel the turbo lag, but will never regret having it. The mid-range punch is great and the road and corner manners are brilliant as well. This generation had a manual handbrake that would let you have as much fun with the RWD as you like!
The suspension and braking ensure that the driver gets an immersive experience while behind the wheel. The setup offers an extremely engaging drive overall.
Common Issues With The E90 3 Series:
Common fails with the E90 include those of the fuel injectors, oil pumps, VANOS solenoids, ignition coils, valve cover gaskets, CCV, spark plugs (Iridium) and oil filter housings.
The VANOS has two solenoids in it- one for the intake and the other for exhaust- these cost around 13,000 – and need to be changed every 90k km. The Valvetronic motor could also develop issues, and a replacement will be expensive. The coolant hoses are also vulnerable and need to be replaced periodically.
The diesel (320d) versions often develop issues with their turbochargers. Interior plastics are also vulnerable to the hot climatic conditions of our country.
Summing It Up
If you still want to become the expensive better person that we’ve been talking about, keep these points in mind, analyze each BMW that you get test drives of carefully, and buy the best of the lot. Afterall, owning a pre-owned BMW is still less expensive than raising a kid! (Before you take offence, think about the fee at Candor or Stonehill!)