Dilemma Of Buying Used : E46 vs E90

[anxious]

My present ride, E36 325i would have been with me for 3 years in April 2010. I have sorted out what needs to be sorted out and the last year has been pretty much uneventful...thank God. However as 2010 approaches, I begin to itch again. I cannot come to terms to paying RM300k on a brand new 325i. Therefore I am left with the following choices in 2010 or 2011(if I can wait that long):- 1) 10 year old E46 for RM80000 vs 2) 5 year old E90 for RM150000 I should have about RM80k cash for the car and another RM20k standy for repairs. So its eiher I buy the E46 cash and change whatever needs to be changed or take a 50% loan on the E90, paying say RM1.3k monthly for 6 years. I may keep the E46 for 5 yrs or the E90 for 10 years, ie until I'm almost 50 and then I'll probably get a 5 series, a 4-5 year old F10.

 

[enkil]

Good planning bro. Go and test drive both car so u can get a feel coz ur planning to drive it for long term.

 

[Ennui78]

While the first choice may seem a bit more prudent, wouldn't you think that an E90 might be a more 'enduring' decision? One that you wouldn't necessarily get bored with as quickly? Design preferences are subjective - but there is a greater design difference between the E36 and the E90. As opposed to an E36 and E46. And depending on the previous owner, the repair issues and the associated heartache and inconvenience(budgeted or otherwise) may be a bit tedious.

And as Enkil noted, you'll have to take both for a spin and see which you'd be happier with. It's pretty difficult to choose when both ideas seem more than reasonable.

 

[mizhan]

anxious, if your monthly disposable income allows you to commit 1.3k monthly without affecting other obligations & savings, i'd go for the newer car.

 

[fabianyee]

getting anxious again??? as with your other "To be or Not to be" questions, will u take the plunge?? Have fun deciding...

 

[anxious]

getting anxious again??? as with your other "To be or Not to be" questions, will u take the plunge?? Have fun deciding...

What to do, every now and then I get a bit "anxious" over what to buy next and bug you guys with my thoughts. Hopefully others reading my thread who may have a similar delimma may benefit from the discussion here.

 

[anxious]

anxious, if your monthly disposable income allows you to commit 1.3k monthly without affecting other obligations & savings, i'd go for the newer car.

I should be but I have been loan free since my E30 days that ideally I wouldnt want to be tied down. But that's definitely a point to consider. Thks.

 

[anxious]

While the first choice may seem a bit more prudent, wouldn't you think that an E90 might be a more 'enduring' decision? One that you wouldn't necessarily get bored with as quickly? Design preferences are subjective - but there is a greater design difference between the E36 and the E90. As opposed to an E36 and E46. And depending on the previous owner, the repair issues and the associated heartache and inconvenience(budgeted or otherwise) may be a bit tedious.

And as Enkil noted, you'll have to take both for a spin and see which you'd be happier with. It's pretty difficult to choose when both ideas seem more than reasonable.

Well, I had been gearing towards an E46 until my wife suggested to me to wait a bit until I can get an E90 325i for RM150k and then keep the car longer. She feels that appearnce wise to her there really isnt much difference b/w a e36 vs e46 wherelse the E90 is a totally different looking car. Well she does have a point there.

I have test driven a E90 325i and also tried out my freind's E46 325i. The newer car certainly is better but I wouldnt say it is twice better.

Well I had the E30 for 4.5years. I should be having the E36 for at least 3.5 years. If I get the E46, it would probably be with me for 4-5 yrs but I would have to keep the E90 for at least 8 years. Hmmmm.

Having said that, I must say I am quite happy with my E36 for now but this what's next Question keeps haunting me as it does most of you guys I am sure.

 

[astroboy]

if I have 80k cash, I would go for a GTR.. principal of "leverage".. :wink: of course, doing my bit to fuel the economy.. imagine if all buy car with cash.. Ambank can close shop lio..

When I bought my E90 for RM220k, I only had RM10k cash, balance of the down payment was funded by my trusty HSBC Mastercard.. :wink: If I'm like anxious, I would probably riding a kapchai now..

 

[anxious]

if I have 80k cash, I would go for a GTR.. principal of "leverage".. :wink: of course, doing my bit to fuel the economy.. imagine if all buy car with cash.. Ambank can close shop lio..

When I bought my E90 for RM220k, I only had RM10k cash, balance of the down payment was funded by my trusty HSBC Mastercard.. :wink: If I'm like anxious, I would probably riding a kapchai now..

Well that's why I'm driving a e36 and ur driving a e90.

 

[Ennui78]

If you look at the subtle changes in the evolution of the 3-Series, there are unmistakably beautiful qualities in the each one of them. I am sure you will be very happy with either model. The question is, which would give you better peace of mind. The potential repair bill notwithstanding, I say an E46 without the burden/noose of a loan is a better idea.

This is the first time I am servicing a car loan for my E90. And it's awful, LOL. The loan, I mean....the car, I love to bits.

 

[elixir]

maybe if you stick to your E36, you can change to F10 much sooner.

 

[selvahraje46]

In the next 5 years the E46 could no longer be loaned anymore and the price may dip to another 30% lesser, where else the E90 could still have its value as it is more newer in the market, and still,it will be an option for resale sooner then you thought...and later could own your F10 as you hoped for..

A piece of advice from my old man, "do not dump all your money on a machine, unless you are super rich, so its safer to take a temporary loan to fullfill your temporary dream" But the thing that you have to realise is how long in life you are willing to have a lease???

But then again, life is short, so I would trade in the E36 for an E90 and keep it for the next 3 years and later get a F10 and retire...
yeehaaaaaaaaaa

 

[astroboy]

haha.. I'm using tomorrow's money to fulfill today's dream.. :wink:

Now I have to figure out a way to get my grandchildren's money for my children's education.. *pening..

 

[erica34]

go with whatever your heart and wife says. imo, there's very little rational consideration involved when choosing a bmw.

 

[ALBundy]

My present ride, E36 325i would have been with me for 3 years in April 2010. I have sorted out what needs to be sorted out and the last year has been pretty much uneventful...thank God.

However as 2010 approaches, I begin to itch again.

I cannot come to terms to paying RM300k on a brand new 325i.

Therefore I am left with the following choices in 2010 or 2011(if I can wait that long):-

1) 10 year old E46 for RM80000

vs

2) 5 year old E90 for RM150000


I should have about RM80k cash for the car and another RM20k standy for repairs.

So its eiher I buy the E46 cash and change whatever needs to be changed or take a 50% loan on the E90, paying say RM1.3k monthly for 6 years.

I may keep the E46 for 5 yrs or the E90 for 10 years, ie until I'm almost 50 and then I'll probably get a 5 series, a 4-5 year old F10.

Here we go again.....

Simple rules that I follow,

1) Buy what you can afford

2) Since you can afford either one, get the newer one

3) Buying a car is not an investment, so buy what you like and something that will satisfy your itch for the longest time

4) Last but not least, life is short so live life to the fullest, GET an E90.

 

[erica34]

1) Buy what you can afford
+1

2) Since you can afford either one, get the newer one
unless you've always hankered after a particular e46 like say the 330ci which i think still looks the business

3) Buying a car is not an investment, so buy what you like and something that will satisfy your itch for the longest time
+1

4) Last but not least, life is short so live life to the fullest, GET an E90
definitely an e90 over the e46 for a saloon. if you don't mind an 'old' bmw, perhaps consider an e39 instead of the e46 at the same price point. that'd show the e90 a thing or two on build quality. keke

 

[tomgadgets]

Three factors:

1. If you buy E46, deep down you would have wondered and wish you could have gotten the E90 instead. If you get the E90, you would never look back and wish you could have gotten the E46.

2. If you buy the E46, after a while, you would have itched and wanted to get the E90

3. If you buy the E46, the depreciation + repair costs could possibly cost more than the extra cost of interest + depreciation + insurance premium of the E90, making the E46 even more expensive to own in the long run

Conclusion:

Get the E90

 

[kitt]

anxious i will be waiting for you to sell your e36 to me in 3 years time

 

[anxious]

Kitt, you may not need to wait that long.

On a lighter note, lately my E36 has been a dream to drive. Touch wood.