New or used??

[hitmee]

If ,for example, you have 140k budget, will you buy a brand new E90 320i or a used E46 330 (3 to 5 years, 1 owner, low mileage)

I never believe in used car but seems like there are many good bargains out there nowadays. Sometimes when i see ppl driving a Z4 or 330 but pay around th same money, kind of regret. What is your take on this? new or used?

 

[Percival]

Re: New or used??

I would go for a E46 330 if condition is good and low mileage. Buying used car got other benefits too, especially when the previous owner have already done modification to the car.
The preference is base on individual. If you want to choose the body and interior colour, and wanting to smell the new leather, then new car is for you.

 

[centurion]

Re: New or used??

If there were a used model, I would go for it. Cars in the 21st century are mechanically very sound, and the electronics are the culprit of unreliability. That being said, Electronics do now wear out with age, but mechanicals do. A 3 year old 330 for example, will most probably be mechanically sound.

The changes between E46 and E90 are what I consider insignificant. The 5 series changes were huge though, so I would not consider the old 5 as the E60 is such a huge jump.

The Z4 is still the same model essentially, if a good 2nd hand exists, there is no reason to buy new unless you want the coupe.

Don't let the 1st year depreciation hit you. You'd enjoy the car much more without so much pain.

 

[TheNew7]

Re: New or used??

I think someone from here told me this.... If you intend to mod the car, 2nd hand is probably better... the dep'n is not so bad and the money you save can go into modifications....

PML/BMW ASIA often unloads their practically 'new' cars via PPSL, and I think this is a really good avenue for both buyer and seller... With the $$$ you save, you can do lots of things with it....

Anyway, there's nothing you can't do to repair the car..... respray, retune etc....

The downside of purchasing 2nd hand is, no new leather smell (which is apparently bad for your health!), no first owner feeling (subjective) and no knowing the history of the car....but other than that, should be alright....

My 2 cents....

 

[gadgets]

Re: New or used??

i voted for new. had a very bad experience with a used car once and never got a 2nd thereafter. of course this is subjective. if you know the previous owner then mayb its ok to get used. but frankly, i thot 2nd hand is not really that cheap when u add the higher loan int, transfer value and little repairs. no?

 

[TheNew7]

Re: New or used??

i voted for new. had a very bad experience with a used car once and never got a 2nd thereafter. of course this is subjective. if you know the previous owner then mayb its ok to get used. but frankly, i thot 2nd hand is not really that cheap when u add the higher loan int, transfer value and little repairs. no?

I supposed everything is subjective.... you can also get a new 'lemon', and that would hurt the most....

Remember the poor guy whose 5 series leaked? Bless his soul..... but I think his car was new.... also, another case of a woman purchasing a 7 series, car had many many problems but eventually, with the bad press, PML refunded the money.... if memory serves me right....

So I guess this is really subjective.....

At the end of the day, it all boils down to luck...

 

[hitmee]

Re: New or used??

my point of view is, if a person's income remain constant at a certain level, he or she will forever not able to drive cars like M3, E63 etc. so in order to drive such cars, the only option will be to buy used.

So, is it a good choice to buy used because you wanna "upgrade" the car you drive?

 

[hoks]

Re: New or used??

I hv been buying used cars most part of my life. Sometimes good deals do exist....many ultra rich buy new cars n keep in garage then sell it after a while.

Getting used ones also save u lots of $$ if u like to change cars every 1 - 2 years.

 

[hitmee]

Re: New or used??

I hv been buying used cars most part of my life. Sometimes good deals do exist....many ultra rich buy new cars n keep in garage then sell it after a while.

Getting used ones also save u lots of $$ if u like to change cars every 1 - 2 years.

when you wanna sell your 630 :woottt:

 

[///M3]

Re: New or used??

wa..tell u what..get the bmw E46 320 coupe..mod to M3..

 

[hoks]

Re: New or used??

when you wanna sell your 630 :woottt:

Not so fast lah....anyway I got it 2nd hand 2...

 

[fastcar]

Re: New or used??

Not so fast lah....anyway I got it 2nd hand 2...

How much u got it for ah? i looking for 1...but hard to find!

 

[mobilefriend]

Re: New or used??

yo caySman, I have recently change from my E46 320 to the E90 323 and I disagree that the changes are insignificant. (1) completely different engine, while some will argue that the new engine cannot be modded, unproven, etc I personally find it really smooth and powerful. (2) Interior of much better build quality. (3) Equipment: I spend less on the new car, but I got a lot more technlogy in the new E90. (4) Much quicker steering, I had to re-adjust my steering style to avoid oversteering. (5) Better cabin and boot space. (6) Exterior: while we have mixed feelings about the exterior, the change is significant. Also, the wheel arches are much bigger=> can slap on bigger wheels!!! Handling is still just as superb and before. Just my 2 cents & very personal view. Cheers!

If there were a used model, I would go for it. Cars in the 21st century are mechanically very sound, and the electronics are the culprit of unreliability. That being said, Electronics do now wear out with age, but mechanicals do. A 3 year old 330 for example, will most probably be mechanically sound.

The changes between E46 and E90 are what I consider insignificant. The 5 series changes were huge though, so I would not consider the old 5 as the E60 is such a huge jump.

The Z4 is still the same model essentially, if a good 2nd hand exists, there is no reason to buy new unless you want the coupe.

Don't let the 1st year depreciation hit you. You'd enjoy the car much more without so much pain.

 

[centurion]

Re: New or used??

yo caySman, I have recently change from my E46 320 to the E90 323 and I disagree that the changes are insignificant. (1) completely different engine, while some will argue that the new engine cannot be modded, unproven, etc I personally find it really smooth and powerful. (2) Interior of much better build quality. (3) Equipment: I spend less on the new car, but I got a lot more technlogy in the new E90. (4) Much quicker steering, I had to re-adjust my steering style to avoid oversteering. (5) Better cabin and boot space. (6) Exterior: while we have mixed feelings about the exterior, the change is significant. Also, the wheel arches are much bigger=> can slap on bigger wheels!!! Handling is still just as superb and before. Just my 2 cents & very personal view. Cheers!

You are right. I used the word `insignificant' wrongly. I should have said that the changes were not revolutionary, but there are significant evolutionary changes.

I was more thinking of the dynamics of the car. The E46 and E90 seem like the same drive to me, compared to the old and new 5-series.

 

[mobilefriend]

Re: New or used??

I'm cool with that

You are right. I used the word `insignificant' wrongly. I should have said that the changes were not revolutionary, but there are significant evolutionary changes.

I was more thinking of the dynamics of the car. The E46 and E90 seem like the same drive to me, compared to the old and new 5-series.

 

[ryan]

Re: New or used??

If ,for example, you have 140k budget, will you buy a brand new E90 320i or a used E46 330 (3 to 5 years, 1 owner, low mileage)

I never believe in used car but seems like there are many good bargains out there nowadays. Sometimes when i see ppl driving a Z4 or 330 but pay around th same money, kind of regret. What is your take on this? new or used?

Hitmee,

Haha..this is a good question. I didn't vote and i wished you would have put an additional vote "Based on circumstances / Depends".

Personally my family has always bought brand new cars all the way and my recent acquisition was pre-owned car. Didn't even tell my folks it was a 3rd hand when i bought it but the thing was this... i knew both previous owners to know how they treated and took care of the car.

Honestly, i felt really good to be taking over because i knew the car didn't have any problems (well nothing major). Secondly, and probably one of the biggest issues i didn't have to face was depreciation. Our last E46 318i which we brought brand new...lost 100k in 5 years. I didn't like the feeling at all after doing the maths.

TheNew7 is partly right... i didn't get a little bit of the new owner thing, which doesn't honestly doesn't bother at me at all, leather smell (err car still smells quite new. haha!) but again i put my favorite freshener in after i got it, other than that.. the price and lack of 1st / 2nd owner depre drop was prob the biggest factor too.

 

[hitmee]

Re: New or used??

i am starting to sway to buying a GOOD used car in future.

my last 2 changes had cost me 90k depreciation in 4 years. that is crazy. (both drive for 2.5 years)
that is excluding my current E46. i think will lose another 45k for now.

 

[ninja07]

Re: New or used??

I would buy a good used car anytime, but of course subject to necessary checks on condition, servicing history, reputable dealer (for peace of mind) etc.

This is my rationale:

1. Heart pain to mod a brand new car, warranty issues etc
2. more value for money eg. can get higher end model
3. avoid the early year depreciation and cost premium of owning brand new cars
4. save the money from the above for nice mods like rims and suspension (a must!) etc...

 

[centurion]

Re: New or used??

OK! I put my money where my mouth is. In preparation for my white baby, I just completed a transaction today, where I sold my year old car for S$45K loss, and bought a Honda Odyssey top spec EXV perfect condition 2.4L 2.5 year old for significantly below S$70K.

I will depreciate a maximum of S$7,500 a year.

What's there not to like about 2nd hand cars?

 

[hoks]

Re: New or used??

How much u got it for ah? i looking for 1...but hard to find!

Got it for ~30k cheaper vs new....not bad for a 6 mth old I think.

630 are rare cause alot of people who like the 6 already got the 645 when launched...give another couple of months I m sure alot will start to surface.