Dilemma On What Car To Choose!!!!

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lestat832

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#1
Ok guys, I do not know under what category to put it under so I will place it on both the E46 and M5 Boards.

Here is the dilemma. I currently have a 1994 318I Jet Black which is my baby. I am in the process of buying a new BMW. Now my dream car is the M5 and I actually have the means to get it (2000-2003). But for practicality's sake, as in insurance and worrying about parking and people f*cking with it, I am leaning towards buying a 2004 330Ci with the works.

Should i give up on my dream and go with the "safe" 330CI or just go for the M5.

Speaking of the M5, does anybody know what I should look for in terms of mileage for 2000-2003 M5s and the costs that would correlate with it. For exampe, I saw a 2000 M5 with the works with 30K selling for $62K.

Hope I can hear some good advice from you guys/girls.
 
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Big Daddy

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#2
Go with your dream. I have no experience with either the 330 or the M5, but I know the owners of each love their cars. If you settle for less than your dream you will never be throughly happy!
 
N

Nelson330ci

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#3
Completely different cars of course! I think you know the answer to your qusetions...

1. Take the part of parking and people screwing with your car out of the equation, since that could equally happen to either car.

2. The cost of operating and owning a used M5 is way higher than a new 330ci (which has a warranty & Free scheduled maintence). So you can either afford it or not, when I say afford I don't mean owning an M5 and eating taco bell's 99 cent tacos for lunch and dinner!! Afford it with your lifestyle. Gas mileage is not a question you ask when looking at a 2+ ton high performance V8 sedan. Insurance on any M BMW is sky high 3X what you probably pay on your 318.

3. What don't you buy a new M3 for $55K VS looking at a used M5 for 60k+.

4. If you only want to choose between a new 330ci and a used M5, then drive them both and do what you can afford. Coming from a 318, I vote you buy new 330ci, you'll love the car and you can buy the new M5 next!

I do agree with the "dream" argument above though...
 
MrElussive

MrElussive

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Get the M5. I think that 2000 M5 is insanely overpriced and I would suggest going with the latest model year your budget allows. They started the angel eyes on the 2001 model year along with some other minor exterior changes (new tail lights, etc.). And if you want one with navigation system, for the 2002 model year and on, BMW started using the wide-screen navigation setup which looks a lot cleaner and is more intuitive to use.
 
codex57

codex57

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#5
Go for the M5. Get a CPO one so you have more warranty if possible. Insurance will suck, but go for your dream man!

Where are you in LA? I'm thinking, but I really can't think of any place around here where the general public would respect an M5 more than a brand new 330. You'd have to worry about door dings everywhere.
 
flashinthepan

flashinthepan

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lestat832 said:
Ok guys, I do not know under what category to put it under so I will place it on both the E46 and M5 Boards.

Here is the dilemma. I currently have a 1994 318I Jet Black which is my baby. I am in the process of buying a new BMW. Now my dream car is the M5 and I actually have the means to get it (2000-2003). But for practicality's sake, as in insurance and worrying about parking and people f*cking with it, I am leaning towards buying a 2004 330Ci with the works.

Should i give up on my dream and go with the "safe" 330CI or just go for the M5.

Speaking of the M5, does anybody know what I should look for in terms of mileage for 2000-2003 M5s and the costs that would correlate with it. For exampe, I saw a 2000 M5 with the works with 30K selling for $62K.

Hope I can hear some good advice from you guys/girls.
Click to expand...
If you want an M-car, you will always want one until you get one imo.

Good Luck !
 
dzervit

dzervit

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#7
You answered your own question with:
Should i give up on my dream and go with the "safe" 330CI or just go for the M5.
Click to expand...
If an M5 is your dream and you have the means, get it. Otherwise prepare for years of "Man, what if I had got that M5?" running through your head. I'm not knocking a 330 by any means, but it sounds like your heart belongs in a M car...
 
F

Frosty Power 323CI

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#8
I agree, my dream car is a M3 and if I could at all afford one, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. That's why I picked up the 323CI. It's my dream car on my budget. I love the M5 and the 330 but if the M5 is your dream car, LIVE OUT YOUR DREAMS!!!!!
 
C

commander_crash

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#10
Definitely go with your dream. The world might end tomorrow - at least you'll have nothing holding you back. If you decide down the road that you wanted another 3-series - you'll have more to trade with.
 
O

outpost22

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#11
Go for the M. We just traded our 330CI with 2750 miles on it for a new M3. The difference in the two cars is amazing. Going form a 318 to an M is a big change. I don't think going to a 330 will be THAT big of a change from your 318.

Our motto was "you only live once".

BTW our insurance went up a whoping $100/year form the 330 to the M3 [:o)]
 
flashinthepan

flashinthepan

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#12
outpost22 said:
Go for the M. We just traded our 330CI with 2750 miles on it for a new M3. The difference in the two cars is amazing. Going form a 318 to an M is a big change. I don't think going to a 330 will be THAT big of a change from your 318.

Our motto was "you only live once".

BTW our insurance went up a whoping $100/year form the 330 to the M3 [:o)]
Click to expand...
I did the exact same thing & agree the performance characteristics are night & day-even though the 3 and the M3's look so similiar [headbang]
 
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lestat832

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#13
Thanks for all your replies guys. I am going for the M5 and am currently in the process of looking for one. I will post pics once I get it. :)


BTw, I am in SilverLake
 
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