Tough choices

[Flamesofgold]

In a dilemma here. Two cars that I am interested in both has their certain flaws. Please help me make a choice.

Car 1
2011 3rd party dealer Alpine White on red extended leather with carbon fiber roof. 42k miles. Options look fully loaded but not sure



Car 1 has two owners, and owner 1 likely tracked the car as brakes were done at 16K miles


Car 2 CPO 2011 Alpine White on red interior 19 inch forged rims. 28k miles Options are limited:

Service history looks okay to me



Car 1 is $45k without any third party warranty which I will likely get
Car 2 i negotiated 53K OTD (NY 8.875% tax)

Both cars' original warranty is over. Which one would you guys choose? ALSO FYI I am not in a super rush to buy a car, however Car 1's options seems rare and I am leaning towards it. I have not done a PPI on either yet but will do it when I am ready to make the purchase.

Is the likelihood of me finding another Car 1 with the same options from now to March good?
-------------------------
EDIT
Will likely be jumping in a 2012 37k AW/ bamboo beige.
-carbon roof
-carbon trim
-zcp
-zpp
-heated seats
**original manufacturer warranty till 04/16.
Price 48k.

I am still going to check out the fully loaded red before I finalize.

[Atombyte]

If it weren't for the moonroof option on #2, I'd go with it. But since you're in no hurry, keep looking. AW w/ red interior is very common. Keep looking.

[Patrón]

I'm biased against non carbon roof cars.

[Fundguy1]

New member making a first post to activate my account. I'm shopping too. Currently I'm looking at an '09 m3 vert. 40,000 miles, loaded, $38500. First, is there anything I should look for that is problematic? I have a 335 and the high pressure fuel pumps let me down 5 times. The repair guy at the dealer said be careful of the valve springs. He's had three blown motors from failures. Second, is this a bad, average, good, or great deal price wise. It would be a preowned certified with warranty.
Thx

[BrewRifle]

Wait for the right car to come by folks, no sense in jumping on one that only has 50% of what you're looking for. The market for E9x M3's is already becoming flooded due to the new F80/82's so I'd be patient and get exactly what you want (CF roof is a requirement IMO).

[Flamesofgold]

I love car 1 but I am concerned about it's history.

Additionally I'm concerned whether another fully loaded extended leather white on red with carbon roof may come along. I haven't seen too many but then again I've only started my search about 3 weeks ago.

[Flamesofgold]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

New member making a first post to activate my account. I'm shopping too. Currently I'm looking at an '09 m3 vert. 40,000 miles, loaded, $38500. First, is there anything I should look for that is problematic? I have a 335 and the high pressure fuel pumps let me down 5 times. The repair guy at the dealer said be careful of the valve springs. He's had three blown motors from failures. Second, is this a bad, average, good, or great deal price wise. It would be a preowned certified with warranty.
Thx

If it is a bmw cpo I think the price is decent if it had decent options as well.

I think even if it's a bmw cpo, you should have them agree to take it to another local bmw and ask for a ppi.

[4M]

Isn't it funny how on dealer trade in, options are grossly devalued, but when you're looking (assuming base car is relatively equal miles) options are the thing that end up swaying you to buy the car???

[M3-S65]

1st car has too many miles...
2nd car 53K?? ...priced way too high there are 3 M3s on Carmax under 20k miles all priced under 48k...

White with red interior needs a special person to buy it. I was told by a sales rep that they sit on the lot until that special someone wants it...
So keep in mind high price on purchase and then your resale value to a smaller target market....not good.

[Flamesofgold]

Yes but manual is a must

White exterior or red exterior is a must as well. Unless I can get a steal on some other car. I don't mind the IB

[Galt?]

Originally Posted by Flamesofgold

Yes but manual is a must

White exterior or red exterior is a must as well. Unless I can get a steal on some other car. I don't mind the IB

Option 1 looks like a winner. What other features are you looking for?

[Flamesofgold]

Manual and heated seats and navigation is a must.

Everything else I can live with out but I would like to see the price reflect that as well which is why I am having such a hard time with the dealers. I think car 2 should really be cpo 51-52 k OTD with it's option list. Or am I being too aggressive ?

[Galt?]

Originally Posted by Flamesofgold

Manual and heated seats and navigation is a must.

Everything else I can live with out but I would like to see the price reflect that as well which is why I am having such a hard time with the dealers. I think car 2 should really be cpo 51-52 k OTD with it's option list. Or am I being too aggressive ?

It still looks like option 1 hits the spot. I would guess that there is at least a few thousand in room on the price of this car because it is out of warranty and above 40k miles. And I agree with an earlier post from M3-S65 that red interiors sit longer and it's at a non-BMW dealer, which scares more buyers away. What's your trepidation with this option?

Option 2 looks inferior unless you care about CPO.

[Flamesofgold]

Originally Posted by Galt?

It still looks like option 1 hits the spot. I would guess that there is at least a few thousand in room on the price of this car because it is out of warranty and above 40k miles. And I agree with an earlier post from M3-S65 that red interiors sit longer and it's at a non-BMW dealer, which scares more buyers away. What's your trepidation with this option?

Option 2 looks inferior unless you care about CPO.

I am having my doubts as I would be third owner.

Service history looks like this car has been tracked. Which makes me feel a bit iffy

At $45k will something similar with less miles show up in winter time?

I don't care too much about cpo as usually drive less than 500 miles a month. But the piece of mind would be nice. I could probably negotiate 50 OTD for no cpo on car 2

[Galt?]

Car 2 sounds like too much of a compromise. You're still spending a lot of money on a used car, you can wait for a better optioned one. If Car 1 is perfect except it may have been tracked then spend a couple hundred on a PPI and Blackstone analysis and see what comes up. Are these cars close enough for you to test drive?

[W///]

Originally Posted by Flamesofgold

I love car 1 but I am concerned about it's history.

Additionally I'm concerned whether another fully loaded extended leather white on red with carbon roof may come along. I haven't seen too many but then again I've only started my search about 3 weeks ago.

Took me almost half a year to find my perfect M3. Don't settle, take as long as you need so that there are 0 regrets afterwards.

Mine just happened to pop up on Autotrader and the right time. I was originally looking for a fully loaded MR coupe with CF roof and MT, but this one showed up.

[Flamesofgold]

I love MR, haven't seen to many of them in manual.

Car 1 would be my ideal if the service history didn't spook me. And if it was 1 owner.

I am going to visit car 1 in 2 weeks.
Just having second thoughts thinking if I can get this same car for less+better condition in a few months.

[Flamesofgold]

How long is the turn around time for blackstone ?
Is it possible to have an expedited analysis ?

[kwality]

Originally Posted by Flamesofgold

I am having my doubts as I would be third owner.

Service history looks like this car has been tracked. Which makes me feel a bit iffy

At $45k will something similar with less miles show up in winter time?

I don't care too much about cpo as usually drive less than 500 miles a month. But the piece of mind would be nice. I could probably negotiate 50 OTD for no cpo on car 2

IMO - tracked cars could be better maintained than those who are not. ultimately, if you are having the "cold feet" on it, trust your instincts. it would be better than having that nagging regret after the fact. the right car will pop up.

FWIW, i am a third owner of my car. the 2nd owner also tracked the car. my circumstance is different where it was a private sale. i got to speak to the owner and got a good vibe. also the ppi confirmed that the car was in great shape.

good luck!

[Galt?]

Originally Posted by Flamesofgold

How long is the turn around time for blackstone ?
Is it possible to have an expedited analysis ?

They perform analysis very quickly once they receive the oil sample. Call the seller and explain to him/her that you want to have them take an oil sample. This is only useful if the only in the car has a few thousand miles on it or more.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/lemonaide-order.php

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by Flamesofgold

I love car 1 but I am concerned about it's history.

Additionally I'm concerned whether another fully loaded extended leather white on red with carbon roof may come along. I haven't seen too many but then again I've only started my search about 3 weeks ago.

White is the most produced color e9xm, if not one of the most.
there will be others. and just because breaks were changed at 16k doesn't mean it was tracked. could have been owner complaining of vibrations etc...so they swapped them out.

[Flamesofgold]

Originally Posted by Patrn

White is the most produced color e9xm, if not one of the most.
there will be others. and just because breaks were changed at 16k doesn't mean it was tracked. could have been owner complaining of vibrations etc...so they swapped them out.

I agree that I see many whites for sale , however I do not see them very common with manual transmissions.