The one I just sold was like that.  1999 10th AE, had 38K on it when I got it.  Prior owner - 10 years, 2k miles.  

As a 5th gen owner, this. It’s an amazing car, on the track or highway... it’s an annoying car around town, and it’s a miserable car in the city. Not super livable, pain in the ass to park, visibility sucks for tight maneuvering, and she’s got big big hips.  

Yep. Or bird poop. On a hot day. Baked into alacantra seats. You know what that stuff smells like when you start to shampoo it out?

This. I’m always the second owner on these (as someone in the class of folks who would normally do the corporate-funded leases that are the first owners). I figured out a long time ago that being a second owner, shopping carefully, and buying CPO/extended warranties got you a MUCH nicer car than the base 3-series…

Oh yes.  And they’re as stupid as they sound.  

The european sedan side - of course they exist for the leasing market.  There’s a massive market of folks running on mileage expenses or corporate leases, or car allowances (although that side is dropping fast based on newer tax rules).  That’s also why so many of the smaller ones top at 54k - that’s the tax…

I love my M550.  Best car I’ve ever owned.  Will probably own another after this one.  

This.  So much this. 

This.  Also, “can park in the city without swearing or being an asshole” which is HUGE for trucks these days and modern cities with smaller and smaller lots.  

Ditto.  I’ve stopped having conversations because of it.  

Yes. Please. Now.

Not as true anymore, thank goodness.  That being said - the <20k hybrid got me intrigued, but the AWD turbo is what I’d probably ~get~.  Altitude and mountainside winter...  AWD and snow tires are required.  

There are definitely times (other than the seats) I miss my 350Z roadster. 

This is what keeps me almost buying one over and over again.  It’s just ...  they don’t fuck with you. 

In order: CPO BMW, so it not only has a warranty, it has one arguably better than the new one (and the extended ones are cheap too, oddly enough). As long as Mazda’s new car one, in fact, depending on how old the BMW is (I’m thinking ~2 years, which tends to give you 20k on the original warranty + 2 years and another…

The issue here is simple.  I can buy a Mazda3 premium new, or a CPO BMW.  Both are auto, both are turbo, both are AWD, but one has a hellaciously nicer dealership experience and ownership experience (maintenance costs occasionally aside), while the other is a small Japanese manufacturer without the usual lux…

I had an ex-girlfriend who’s grandpa had one of these, in purple.  It was a bad car then.  It’s a worse car now.  His had 60k on it.  Eww.  

If you don’t mind blue, I’m selling my 10th AE.  43k miles also. 

Hilarious fact: I’m listing my 10th AE NB on Cars and Bids next week. 43k miles, mint condition (minus one scratch on the driver side mirror from the prior owner), all original accessories (all unopened!), original window sticker, original purchase documentation, the clear bra documentation (from 2009!), and every…

Saying “screw it” at low altitude and putting it down is ALWAYS an acceptable choice, as far as any of my instructors have been concerned.  If you don’t think you have time to fiddle, you don’t have time to fiddle.  Land first, fix second.