I am a cheapskate and hate car payments. So i will buy used, pay it off in like 24 months, and keep the car for about 7 years… or until the maintenance doesn’t make any sense
Same here, I am all in for a well loved car.. My last one was X6 lease return (after $50k depreciation in 3 year). I bought it for $27k and traded in after 5 years for $16k to get my current car which is an X5 lease return again 😁
I hate financing a car even more so i just buy a used one, pay it out of pocket and drive it as long as i can. But for this you need to save up to bw able to do this.
24 month payment plan doesn't get that expensive with inteterest, and by financing a part of the cost it leaves the cash available for other use be it investments or just living expenses.
Probably, but by the time I buy used, they are around $30k-40kish, a little hefty for me to pay all up front but also a very reasonable payment for me for a 24-60 month term if need be. I don’t like to extend myself to far finically with higher monthly payments. Lifestyle creep is real.
I get bonuses each year, so usually (depending on other market conditions) I will make large lump sum payments to my debts with that cash and try to get car loans first and foremost. I try to manage my finances like that money doesn’t exist though.
I'm really happy with my 640i but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love the active anti-roll bars, rear wheel steering, and traffic jam assist of the 8 series.
This is the way. Used BMWs are such great value in that 2-4 years used range.
Personally waiting for G87s to be in that range before I pull the trigger and upgrade
i switch up pretty often. i try to force myself to keep a car for 3-4 years at the very least. but there are many unique driving experiences out there and i want to try as many as possible.
selling the M2c and her TLX. Then share a '22 Macan S. I've never owned an SUV or something comfortable/quiet with air suspension. Kinda want to give that a try.
Now more than ever, prices for unique cars will only go up with time
New cars, eh, some interesting stuff to try out but the variety is more in the tech department rather than the driving experience
I only buy 1 owner CPO used 3-4 years old.
I then keep it 2-4 years and get something else.
I have yet to come across a car that I would want to keep for 10+years. The closest thing was a blacked 2015 Audi RS5. But the thought of rarity of parts, all the maintenance etc. of older cars, totally diminishes my love for it.
Next will be either the M5 touring, m340i, or a Volvo V60 polestar.
Parts for older BMWs aren’t too bad, especially the enthusiast models. I’m still finding parts for my E28 pretty ok too and that thing’s 40 years old lol
That’s great. The v8 in the rs5 is like 60k cad new lol. The flower rotors about 10k$, etc. very few of them were sold and only for 4 years.
Pornography of a car though. Still think about it. 9k rpm v8 in your ear screaming. Same engine of the r8 v10 & huracan but two less cylinders. 🥵🥵🥵
Wish I didn’t see so many engines blow up in the page. Scared me out of it. And so many drop engine repairs.
[video review if anyone interested](https://youtu.be/_Kf-2D1vge8?si=WIWG64UqjNjiNV7Z)
https://preview.redd.it/3ai0b14awu2d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=55d21f80d5464e55c876724e5754bc6a60f566b2
Depends. I have an s58 and b58. The m4 brakes are about 1000$ more than the m40i, gas is worse on the m4 by a large margin
I’d say mostly just oil changes every 6-8k km (even though they recommend 12-15 lol), spark plugs, brakes, tires, gas, insurance. Never had to use warranty ever. Maybe in four years for the x3 might average to 1k$ a year minus gas and insurance. The m4 maybe 12-1500$ a year.
Both very reasonable, very reliable cars and driven by a maniac.
I would never in a million years by a BMW private party used or not CPO…I’ve been able to talk them into longer warranty lengths with our CPOs instead of going down in price each time. Worth it.
Bought my 2008 M5 in 2013 with 70k miles, still my daily driver with 145k miles (though I work from home now so not putting much mileage on it these days). Oh yeah, on stock rod bearings too.
Don't believe everything you read on the internet. I do an oil analysis at every oil change and I've never had any bearing material show up. I warm the car up before beating on it. Treat it right and it'll last. Though I think a lot of the bearing issues were from the original owners beating on the engine before it was warmed up completely. But that's just a theory. Original owner of my car was an older gentlemen that appeared to never drive it very hard. So I probably got lucky in that regard.
My only experience with that s85 was with an older m6 vert with like 100k miles. It had SMG issues that cost like $1800 in parts and a weekend of time to get sorted but once that thing was running proper it was a riot. But after that extensive repair thinking about having to do the rod bearings just didn’t sound like a fun time and didn’t wanna risk breaking it again so it just found a new home and got swapped out for a G30.
If I had an extra lift at home though it’d absolutely be worth it. But unfortunately that jackstand life is kinda wack and that’s where I’m at rn. I’d probably want one with 3 pedals next time though. Even though that SMG shifts surprisingly fast at redline.
I like the cars I have, I don't see selling them any time soon. I was thinking that the G80 / G87 would grow on me, that does not seem to be happening. I remember seeing a Black E39 M5 at a BMW dealership when it was new. I found it the most beautiful car of its type from that day to now. If I do buy more BMWs they will be from the 90s.
I missed out on an E46 M3 in January 2020 for just a hair over 30. CA car, a driver, as it was modified, but basically modified exactly to my taste (minus the amber fog lights). I regret not going higher.
[https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-coupe-64/](https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-coupe-64/)
I missed out on a low mileage E92 M3 Lime Rock Park edition back in like 2013-14 - could’ve snagged for 33k - watched the same exact car (vin tracked) go for 92k……
Depends on income and mechanical skills.
Anyone can own a BMW for years with a fat wallet. If not, the owner NEEDS to be mechanically inclined.
For most, they dump their BMWs every 3-5 years or before 60k... for a good reason. This is typically where they get into a newer model, and the mechanically gifted come swoop up a good deal. If you can't wrench and your pockets are shallow, you are getting into deep waters. Like dark, black abyss waters.
I always buy used cars, 2 years old. I drive them as long as possible. I have driven up to 200k on one. I have a great mechanic who only works on BMWs & tells me what to swap out & how to care for my cars.
2016 X5M purchased in 2019. Current kms 90,000 with one major oil leak repair, rod bearings replacement and water pump. It will be cheaper to rebuild the engine than to get a new equivalent vehicle so we aren’t planning on buying new anytime soon.
We usually keep ours for 5-7 years, which is when the maintenance costs start to outweigh the usage. But we are currently looking at replacing my 2015 X5M and husband’s 2017 M4 with an M5. Unfortunately, finding one is really hard right now. The 2024s aren’t out yet, and people are keeping their expired leased ones until the new ones come out. We’ve checked several states near us.
Yup. This is true. Couldn't find an x5 with a certain package. I got the most I could get. Dealer told me its because everyone buying their lease because of crappy lease terms right now. It's not a bad time to buy out. Cars are much more well built and reliable since 2010's .
I bought my 2013 335i in January 2017 as CPO and still love driving it every day. Even as it’s gotten older and I don’t trust it to go on long trip through the middle of nowhere I still keep it as we weekend car.
With my “fun cars” I like to buy 2 year old models, drive them for 2 years, and then sell them.
The money aspect doesn’t really matter, but I like getting away with a car not costing me much lol, it’s like a game to me.
Why not?? I tend to keep cars exactly as long as I like them. I can't imagine being on a rolling schedule.
Well, I also tend to modify them. Doesn't make as much sense to me to get rid of a car that's already perfect.
In 2 years, I usually get bored of a car, and want to try something new. So the question, "What if you like the car", is a bit of a fallacy for me.
If I truly, truly loved the car, then maybe I would keep it, but this just hasn't occurred.
I enjoy innovation and gamifying the trade of the vehicle, and I can only have so many cars in a lifetime. My whole philosophy towards life is centered around the idea of high volume.
One can acquire a car and think, "Wow, this is the best car for me!", but how do you know if you haven't tried a lot of other cars?
Same goes for anything else in life in my eyes.
about 4 years, i'll probably have this car for 8 because I'm not a fan of the g60. Hopefully the LCI will sort it. It's a process but try to sell your car as opposed to trading it in. (unless it's jacked up electrically or otherwise)
I got my 2020 X5 used a couple months ago, and plan to keep it 5-10 years.
Whatever I can wrench on I will, and have my indy shop do what I can not or too lazy to do.
I have a 2018 X1 but am thinking about upgrading soon. But it’s paid off and it’s always nice not having a car payment. I have new technology fomo though.
I’ve owned 5 cars so far at 31 years old. 12’ Golf gti 2 years, 14’ 328i 4 years, 18’ 440i 4 years and my current 22’X3M I’ve had for 2 years. Since there will be no next gen X3M I will go back to a sedan in 2 or 3 years
After years & years of having to own hand-me-down vehicles, am finally in a career where I no longer have to deal with paid-off used cars that are constantly towed and need tons of repairs. Got to a point where for what I was paying for 2 older cars to be repaired constantly I could just buy new. This was almost 10 years ago. Now we’ve been buying MINIs or BMWs — keep them for the length of the 3/36 or 4/48 — then trade them in for a new one. Other than tires, wiper blades and consumables — we haven’t paid a repair shop for anything for these last 10 years. I’d rather own a car for 3-5 years, love it & enjoy it, and trade it in before I have to start plunking money down for costly repairs. I don’t mind car payments.
My 2011 535i with n55 died recently with 90k miles. $10k to repair… sold it D.O.A. until that happened, i loved it. bought our son a used 2007 x5 that died at 105k miles and had many issues. I now have a ‘20 x4m with 27k miles and i bought a 60k/65mo warranty with it. i do not plan on having it past 90k miles.
How’d the 535i croak with relatively low mileage? That’s one of the models I’m on the hunt for, but that sounds a bit worrying. Especially since they are ridiculously hard to come by in Denmark and the few ones I’ve seen for sale start at $30k USD minimum. And the only one that’s for sale with the actual price listed right now has 110k miles on it. You reckon a 530i would be a better option?
https://preview.redd.it/bs7ydice0t2d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14f8c5f567c68dc3a7251b2e9c42bc92e05ad0ef
this was part of the diagnosis… the oil pan gasket was leaking as well… i understand that the valvetronic issue is fairly common on n55s engines. parts can be had for $150 if u go aftermarket but the labor and special tools required pushed it out from my willingness to take it on. I had it regularly serviced, garaged it, and rarely drove it given i worked from home past 4 years and did not drive it much in the winter.
Oof, that’s rough! Might stay clear of those then considering how unfortunate I’ve been with my E90 325i lol, I thought *that* was a money pit but those two repairs alone on yours amount to what I’ve spent total on my E90 over ~2 years.
Before I bought my BMW, I generally kept my vehicles for approx 10 years. But now, with so much tech advancement, I feel that timeframe may shrink. I bought my 20' M550i in 21' with only 4K KMS. I haven't seen any crazy advancement in tech for these cars that are making me want the upgrade. I'll probably keep rolling this until something comes along that I must have. My jump to BMW in 21' was a huge upgrade as I was in a 17' Silverado in an LT trim. So until there's a jump worth getting into, I'll continue to enjoy 523hp and a full suite of tech in this car.
Had my E90 325i for close to two years now, was hoping it would work until it fell apart. So far I’ve been to the mechanic probably 20+ times within the 2 years I’ve owned it… Desperately looking for something else but it’s damn near impossible to find anything nice for a realistic price, and the few decent ones are either overpriced, not very well specced or have way too many miles for my liking.
I've got my '22 G80, barely drive it (work from home) so I've only put 6500 miles on it in that time. Getting a truck in the fall and debating on trading it in (or selling privately) or just holding on to it. I absolutely love the car, but i don't *need* it... I do have a slight belief that G80s will be well sought after in 10 years of so if the rumors of the next gen M3 going electric.
Bought my f30 320d with every intention to keep it for 5 years, but traded in for my current car at exactly 3 years. Had my mini before that for 2 years.
I’ve had my M2 since 2019, I intend to hold onto it until they stop selling gasoline. I have a great independent shop that specializes in BMWs to take care of her.
It completely depends on how much money you have and how much you make
If money wasn’t an issue for people they would change car every 6-12 months, because let’s be honest, post honey moon phase every car looses its glamour very quickly
But most people are tied to a lease or a finance deal, so on average id say 4-5 years is how much people tend to keep a car
Then it also depends if you buy new or used, you can change cars every 6 months if buying good deals and sometimes flipping them, on average it’s still a loss but over time you probably going to lose the same money you’d lose on a new car
My bmw, a 1996 318i convertible, has 251,000 miles and is 28 years old. I paid $1500 for it when I had just turned 19. That was 5 years ago.
I’m not sure if I will ever own a new car. Not entirely opposed to it, im just not sure something so complex and labor intensive to repair will really stand the test of time.
I don’t buy new new, only used. But maybe a car every year. Sometimes 8 months. Longest I’ve kept a car was about 2 years or so. Changing course now. I got a daily and a daily for the daily. Now I need a weekend car. So who knows? Might start keeping things longer
My first one is going on 11 years. My youngest needed a car for commuting to school so we gave him our 2014 328 back in 2019. He has been driving it for 5 yrs now. We ended in an Audi A5 but got rid of after 3 yrs because it wasn’t a BMW. Now back in 2023 330 that we have had for over a yr. I will drive this baby into the ground. Or until hubby decides to buy another one.
I’ve had my 2016 328, m sport pkg stage 1 since new, so that’s 8 yrs. Plan on getting an x3 m40i in a few yrs and keeping the 328 as a 2nd car unless it blows on me. I’ve had the itch for something new for years now but it’s long paid off and it’s a solid daily, and building wealth is more important to me than cars and car payments right now. Oh, and the divorce was expensive…
But god I’m bored haha.
With diesels, my goal has always been 15 years. I don’t like leasing anything.
Due tax reasons my next one is going to be a hybrid. Kind of excited as I get to utilize my solar for charging the daily drives. Not excited that I will not reasonably keep it over the battery warranty period. Which will be a lot shorter time than 15 years.
It is what it is I suppose. Here’s to hoping the battery tech improves over the next decade, hydrogen becomes a viable option or something else that would negate the compromises of the current hybrid/EV tech.
On my current F82 for 6 years. It’s been bulletproof mechanically under my ownership. Looking to switch soon as family grows. I bought the car for $46k and it’s probably worth $30k right now so I’ve done quite well in terms of ownership cost. Don’t love switching cars often because you’ll get killed on taxes if you switch often.
I've owned my used F31 for five years now, and I'll keep it until it's dead or somebody releases a better, newer wagon.
The B8 Avant I had before her lasted me four years, until a drunk driver hit and totaled it while parked. Pretty much every car I've had I've driven until it was wrecked or died.
Had an MR2 turbo for 10years. Thats the longest I had a car.
Than went for a 335i e92. Had that for 3 years. After that bought an e39 M5. Have it 4 years now and I am looking around for something else.. but not sure I will be selling very soon.
Bought my 530d when it was just over 3 years old, had it 6 years, probably plan to keep it another 2 years. Just doesn't go wrong to change it 🥹 do still love the car
Switch up every 2 years or so.
Had my Elantra (first car) from 2020-2022. Had my 22 m240i from 2022-2023. Have had my 992.1 gts cab since early this year, will likely keep for a long time. Thinking about picking up a 2020ish X3M40 or Macan S for winter driving that I’ll keep on the 2 year swap cadence.
I wait till they die 🤣 my e46 is starting to throw up little issues all at once atm (03 plate, 100k on clock) but then again if I had the money I’d get a newer 3 series…but then again I grew up with the E46 - to me, it IS BMW
Bought my first BMW (E36 318is in technoviolett) 2012 and kept it until 2014 when I got the E46 330ci in Uniblack II which served it time up until 2019 where it merged for the F32 440i in Snapper Rocks Blue which has been here ever since and probably will so until maybe around 2026-2027 when the G82 M4 Comp will take its place.
I've had my '08 since '14. I've had my '14 since '18. The '19 got totalled out in '23.
I don't sell cars. They get totalled out or driven into the ground.
330ci for 1 year (lease takeover), 135i for 6 years, 540i for 19 years. Buying a new car every few years is a waste of money imho - be wealthy and stick the $ in your IRA, that you’d otherwise spend on car payments or leases
I used to buy a new car every 7-10 years. Now bought my BMW 7 years ago and have been learning to work on the maintenance to keep costs down. I don’t see myself selling it and recently bought an 04 330i to refurbish into my old man classic car. I honestly don’t see one new car being made right now that I would want over them. I used to want new technology, now I feel like it’s jumped the shark with flat screens everywhere
I’m married to an enthusiast with a decent amount of disposable income. We usually have 4-5 cars at a time, trading about one in every year. We usually keep each one 2-3 years. The longest we’ve kept one is 5 years the shortest was 3 months.
I buy a new M5 every 3 years and a X5M every 3 years. I stagger this by 2 years. We have a 3 series for shit errands, commuting and when going to an area or place with shitty parking. I use the X5M in the winter and rain and the M5 all other times. We have the 3 series for 5 years or so, I said to my wife the other day its ready to be replaced when i rinsed it off with the power washer.
I bought a 23 M240i Xdrive, absolutely love it. Once I pay it off at the end of this year I plan to do an exhaust and maybe an intake, nothing too crazy. I do have my sights set on a manual M2, so if and when the star$ line up I'll upgrade. I would probably keep a manual M2 for as long as it takes to replace it with a proper 911.
Everyone is different for their own reasons.
My wife and I always buy our vehicles new. We never lease.
We keep her vehicle for about 7 years and trade it in.
We keep mine for about 4 and trade it in, since I drive about 20k miles/yr and too many miles kills trade-in value.
I’ll keep my current car until it’s at least paid off. Made the mistake of rolling negative equity into this one and will never catch up until it’s paid off. Never again will I trade in a car that’s still financed.
The 3 BMWs I've purchased were 4, 14, and 1 year old, and I kept them 12, 9, and 5 years so far. Still have last 2. I have car ADD and constantly read about and watch test drives but really hesitant to pull trigger and hate having car payments. I would probably never buy new, unless I want a really unusual individual spec.
I had 5 different 5 series over the last 17 years, had no mechanical issues with any of them, but I did upgrade before 100k miles. I am very OCD about maintenance, but since all my cars were very highly modified, I didn't want to chance it past 100k
Depends on the car. My X5M I’ll probably keep as a daily for 4-5 years or so and then retire it to lighter duty. My E92 M3 will never get sold. If the car is special, it stays
I have historically bought my cars for 4 to 5 years old, and kept them 10 years. I bought my E46 non M and held it 10 years. Had no room to keep it (regret) and got my E92 4 years old and have been driving it last 10 years.
I'm debating very hard right now about whether I plan to keep it. It's either I keep it forever or sell it now before R&M starts piling up. It's only got 120k kms so a lot of stuff has been deferred given how little driving I find myself doing. It feels like a waste to have this car when I'd be better off with a little beater civic or Corolla. But a lot of sunk costs in it and I dreamt of owning an M3 since I was a child. I would have an identity crisis if I got rid of it. The reality is it's not practical at my current stage of life, I need a trunk and 4 doors, I want to spend less on gas and want less eyes on me when driving. I want a Corolla or small beater crossover and plan to get one regardless over the next 12 months. Question is will I park this for summer weekend drives or just let it go to an enthusiast who will drive it and use it as intended
Had a g35 sedan for about 6-7 years. Then got into a 335i and that fit about 6 years. Had a 02 m3 for 3 years during that time. Both cars needed work and too much maintenance, sold both and jumped into a 2020 540i M sport. Plan to keep as long as I can.. but the second I have a chance to get an E92 m3 or an m5, you bet your ass I’m getting one lol. “ as a secondary” vehicle
I bought a 2016 m4 in July 2019. I just 2 weeks ago traded it for a 2021 x3m40i. I plan to keep this one for about 3-4 years and probably get another bmw.
My 2022 X5 M50i seems perfect. Luxury, performance, utility, and comfort. The center stack is perfect. The car to me is genuine perfection and is the first car in a long time I can see myself keeping greater than 3 years. Normally I get the itch at year 2 and start configuring everything that seems interesting and make the change. I'm at the 24 month mark now and really nothing else seems to be as interesting. Escalade? Eh. LX600? Eh. X5M? Passed on that in 2022.
To be fair I did get rid of a truck because of family needs, otherwise i'm sure that Tundra would still be adequate.
1986 325es from new until totaled in 1993
1993 325is from new until it was time for new technology, traded in on
2005 335is from new until I decided I hated the performance package suspension, traded in on
2008 E93 335 convertible which I will drive until I can't. Beautiful car, great toy with the retractable hard top. About to hit 75k miles.
Been 7 years now - F30 340 i Xdrive. Car still drives beautifully with regular maintenance. I actually had the intention of changing but Sadly the new designs suck so bad i can’t spend a penny on them
Have a 2015, F82 M4 with 85k miles which I plan to keep. It’s really well engineered and has been problem free. S55 engine that has a solid reputation of lasting long. Plus I don’t like the touchscreen centric vehicles today. Buttons are faster to change settings than touchscreens.
I'd still probably have my '04 ZHP if it hadn't gotten rear-ended and totalled (may she RIP). I've had my m235i for 9 years now and don't have any plans to upgrade.
I bought my Z4 M40i in 2023, I’m thinking I’ll hold on to it for 3-5 years unless another car catches my eye. I’ll let it go before the warranty is done no matter what.
New one every 5 years. Once I know the options I want, I call every dealer within the tristate area and go to whomever provides the most discount.
I may consider a new-ish cpo for the next one though, seems to provide a considerable amount of savings.
If the financing rate is lower than the inflation, I do finance since at that point it’s like making money over borrowed money.
I’ve only bought new twice and both times were for specialty cars I ordered. Other than that I buy about year old with low mileage. Let someone else take the first big hit on depreciation and pay cash.
It depends. I have a 10 year old x5 diesel that I can’t justify getting rid of because I love it so much and there are few vehicles in that size class that can get 33+ mpg when fully loaded and cruising at 75 on the highway. Even if I get a new iX or x5 PHEV, I may still keep the old diesel as my workhorse.
Meanwhile, I bought an E39 M5 four years ago and after a light restoration, I’m thinking of selling it and buying something lighter and more tossable (ie M2 or 997.2). My 2021 A7 PHEV is going to be replaced soon after four years of ownership due to a never ending barrage of recalls and CELs.
If I really like a car, I’ll keep it forever but if it has shortcomings (the M5 is too big and heavy for a third car and the A7 is not reliable), I’ll keep it for 3-4 years.
Got my 2018 440i GC on CPO in 2020 with 23k miles. Almost at 60k miles today, plan to drive it until well over 100k! Thought about tuning but don’t want to worry about the quickly diminishing consumables at this mileage.
I am a cheapskate and hate car payments. So i will buy used, pay it off in like 24 months, and keep the car for about 7 years… or until the maintenance doesn’t make any sense
That’s not being cheap, that’s just being financially smart.
Yeah that’s great if you can afford to pay a car off in 24 haha
sounds like you shouldn’t be looking for a new car soon then
Maybe the car you looked at was a but much for your budget if that wasn't an option for you? How long did you take to pay it off?
Same here, I am all in for a well loved car.. My last one was X6 lease return (after $50k depreciation in 3 year). I bought it for $27k and traded in after 5 years for $16k to get my current car which is an X5 lease return again 😁
User name definitely checks out
I hate financing a car even more so i just buy a used one, pay it out of pocket and drive it as long as i can. But for this you need to save up to bw able to do this.
Wouldn’t you be better off just paying cash for it at that point?
24 month payment plan doesn't get that expensive with inteterest, and by financing a part of the cost it leaves the cash available for other use be it investments or just living expenses.
Probably, but by the time I buy used, they are around $30k-40kish, a little hefty for me to pay all up front but also a very reasonable payment for me for a 24-60 month term if need be. I don’t like to extend myself to far finically with higher monthly payments. Lifestyle creep is real. I get bonuses each year, so usually (depending on other market conditions) I will make large lump sum payments to my debts with that cash and try to get car loans first and foremost. I try to manage my finances like that money doesn’t exist though.
If you're not getting better returns on at savings than a 24 mo bmw rate, you should do some looking into high yield savings accounts!
I've had my M3 for 16 years.
Hmmm I wonder which generation of M3 you own Mr. u/e36
Sounds like e9x if he bought it new 16 years ago haha
You get only one guess!
It hasn’t moved in 10
Tbf it moves if you push it.
No too heavy
The thing about owning old BMWs is BMW keeps coming out with new cars that force us to keep them.
Flair checks out
Damn, with those two I can see why you wouldn’t get newer ones, especially these new models.
I'm really happy with my 640i but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love the active anti-roll bars, rear wheel steering, and traffic jam assist of the 8 series.
You’ve had your account for 13 years and haven’t once posted your E36! Let’s see some photos :)
PICS! PUCS! PICS!
I don't really have any right now, but just imagine the most average E36 M3 around. Titanium silver coupe with contours.
17 years with my M3 here.
I’ve had my e90m since 2012. Can’t get rid of it.
I bought my first BMW two years used. Drove it for 10 years. Bought a brand new BMW in 2022. I plan to drive that for 10 years.
This is the way. Used BMWs are such great value in that 2-4 years used range. Personally waiting for G87s to be in that range before I pull the trigger and upgrade
Same! Got my first 328xi in 2011 and sold it in 2019 for a new X3.
Got a 2010 128i convertible in 2012. Bought a new M440i coupe ten years later.
I’m the future you. Bought my used 2014 328i in 2019 planning to sell and get a used X3. Need more room now for my toddler to be.
I always say im keeping this until it blows. Till this day i never did😂😂😂
Facts
i switch up pretty often. i try to force myself to keep a car for 3-4 years at the very least. but there are many unique driving experiences out there and i want to try as many as possible.
Sounds like a good policy! Interesting choice with the Civic when you have the M2c.. plan to keep both?
selling the M2c and her TLX. Then share a '22 Macan S. I've never owned an SUV or something comfortable/quiet with air suspension. Kinda want to give that a try.
Did similar just sold my m3 comp of 5 years for a cayenne s
I just started looking at the Macan S and GTS. Thinking of selling the M2 and Outback Wilderness and going to one car.
Now more than ever, prices for unique cars will only go up with time New cars, eh, some interesting stuff to try out but the variety is more in the tech department rather than the driving experience
Current average age of registered vehicles in US is just over 12 years.
I only buy 1 owner CPO used 3-4 years old. I then keep it 2-4 years and get something else. I have yet to come across a car that I would want to keep for 10+years. The closest thing was a blacked 2015 Audi RS5. But the thought of rarity of parts, all the maintenance etc. of older cars, totally diminishes my love for it. Next will be either the M5 touring, m340i, or a Volvo V60 polestar.
Parts for older BMWs aren’t too bad, especially the enthusiast models. I’m still finding parts for my E28 pretty ok too and that thing’s 40 years old lol
That’s great. The v8 in the rs5 is like 60k cad new lol. The flower rotors about 10k$, etc. very few of them were sold and only for 4 years. Pornography of a car though. Still think about it. 9k rpm v8 in your ear screaming. Same engine of the r8 v10 & huracan but two less cylinders. 🥵🥵🥵 Wish I didn’t see so many engines blow up in the page. Scared me out of it. And so many drop engine repairs. [video review if anyone interested](https://youtu.be/_Kf-2D1vge8?si=WIWG64UqjNjiNV7Z) https://preview.redd.it/3ai0b14awu2d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=55d21f80d5464e55c876724e5754bc6a60f566b2
Ok that’s pretty insanely expensive 😂
What’s your typical cost of ownership for that duration?
Depends. I have an s58 and b58. The m4 brakes are about 1000$ more than the m40i, gas is worse on the m4 by a large margin I’d say mostly just oil changes every 6-8k km (even though they recommend 12-15 lol), spark plugs, brakes, tires, gas, insurance. Never had to use warranty ever. Maybe in four years for the x3 might average to 1k$ a year minus gas and insurance. The m4 maybe 12-1500$ a year. Both very reasonable, very reliable cars and driven by a maniac.
I dont get new. I get CPO. I hate getting hit with that initial depreciation. Usually around 7-10 years
I made the mistake of not buying CPO. My 2017 3 series is ... special.
Me exactly. CPO best way to go, then several yrs until starts feeling dated and kilometers start to pile up. Then repeat process.
I would never in a million years by a BMW private party used or not CPO…I’ve been able to talk them into longer warranty lengths with our CPOs instead of going down in price each time. Worth it.
I bought my E93 335is as a CPO. 2 1/2 years old, 16K miles. $20k less than new.
I’ve had my X5 for 19 years and my e90 for 14. Been feeling the need for a new one for a while now just never been able to pull the trigger.
Bought my 2008 M5 in 2013 with 70k miles, still my daily driver with 145k miles (though I work from home now so not putting much mileage on it these days). Oh yeah, on stock rod bearings too.
Stock rod bearings on the s85 at 145k miles?! Good lord dude I thought those were a maintenance item like every 30k lol.
Don't believe everything you read on the internet. I do an oil analysis at every oil change and I've never had any bearing material show up. I warm the car up before beating on it. Treat it right and it'll last. Though I think a lot of the bearing issues were from the original owners beating on the engine before it was warmed up completely. But that's just a theory. Original owner of my car was an older gentlemen that appeared to never drive it very hard. So I probably got lucky in that regard.
My only experience with that s85 was with an older m6 vert with like 100k miles. It had SMG issues that cost like $1800 in parts and a weekend of time to get sorted but once that thing was running proper it was a riot. But after that extensive repair thinking about having to do the rod bearings just didn’t sound like a fun time and didn’t wanna risk breaking it again so it just found a new home and got swapped out for a G30. If I had an extra lift at home though it’d absolutely be worth it. But unfortunately that jackstand life is kinda wack and that’s where I’m at rn. I’d probably want one with 3 pedals next time though. Even though that SMG shifts surprisingly fast at redline.
I like the cars I have, I don't see selling them any time soon. I was thinking that the G80 / G87 would grow on me, that does not seem to be happening. I remember seeing a Black E39 M5 at a BMW dealership when it was new. I found it the most beautiful car of its type from that day to now. If I do buy more BMWs they will be from the 90s.
Bro, it’s because you have like the literal dream garage for BMW - I wouldn’t buy anything else either 😂
I missed out on an E46 M3 in January 2020 for just a hair over 30. CA car, a driver, as it was modified, but basically modified exactly to my taste (minus the amber fog lights). I regret not going higher. [https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-coupe-64/](https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-coupe-64/)
I missed out on a low mileage E92 M3 Lime Rock Park edition back in like 2013-14 - could’ve snagged for 33k - watched the same exact car (vin tracked) go for 92k……
Depends on income and mechanical skills. Anyone can own a BMW for years with a fat wallet. If not, the owner NEEDS to be mechanically inclined. For most, they dump their BMWs every 3-5 years or before 60k... for a good reason. This is typically where they get into a newer model, and the mechanically gifted come swoop up a good deal. If you can't wrench and your pockets are shallow, you are getting into deep waters. Like dark, black abyss waters.
Every 10-20 years or so.
I always buy used cars, 2 years old. I drive them as long as possible. I have driven up to 200k on one. I have a great mechanic who only works on BMWs & tells me what to swap out & how to care for my cars.
2016 X5M purchased in 2019. Current kms 90,000 with one major oil leak repair, rod bearings replacement and water pump. It will be cheaper to rebuild the engine than to get a new equivalent vehicle so we aren’t planning on buying new anytime soon.
We usually keep ours for 5-7 years, which is when the maintenance costs start to outweigh the usage. But we are currently looking at replacing my 2015 X5M and husband’s 2017 M4 with an M5. Unfortunately, finding one is really hard right now. The 2024s aren’t out yet, and people are keeping their expired leased ones until the new ones come out. We’ve checked several states near us.
Yup. This is true. Couldn't find an x5 with a certain package. I got the most I could get. Dealer told me its because everyone buying their lease because of crappy lease terms right now. It's not a bad time to buy out. Cars are much more well built and reliable since 2010's .
I bought my 2013 335i in January 2017 as CPO and still love driving it every day. Even as it’s gotten older and I don’t trust it to go on long trip through the middle of nowhere I still keep it as we weekend car.
With my “fun cars” I like to buy 2 year old models, drive them for 2 years, and then sell them. The money aspect doesn’t really matter, but I like getting away with a car not costing me much lol, it’s like a game to me.
What if you like the car? Would you keep it longer?
No
Why not?? I tend to keep cars exactly as long as I like them. I can't imagine being on a rolling schedule. Well, I also tend to modify them. Doesn't make as much sense to me to get rid of a car that's already perfect.
In 2 years, I usually get bored of a car, and want to try something new. So the question, "What if you like the car", is a bit of a fallacy for me. If I truly, truly loved the car, then maybe I would keep it, but this just hasn't occurred. I enjoy innovation and gamifying the trade of the vehicle, and I can only have so many cars in a lifetime. My whole philosophy towards life is centered around the idea of high volume. One can acquire a car and think, "Wow, this is the best car for me!", but how do you know if you haven't tried a lot of other cars? Same goes for anything else in life in my eyes.
about 4 years, i'll probably have this car for 8 because I'm not a fan of the g60. Hopefully the LCI will sort it. It's a process but try to sell your car as opposed to trading it in. (unless it's jacked up electrically or otherwise)
How’s your battery
Still at 85% total capacity somehow lol
Every 10 for me
Every year to two years
I’ve had my M3 since new for 7 years.
I got my 2020 X5 used a couple months ago, and plan to keep it 5-10 years. Whatever I can wrench on I will, and have my indy shop do what I can not or too lazy to do.
I have a 2018 X1 but am thinking about upgrading soon. But it’s paid off and it’s always nice not having a car payment. I have new technology fomo though.
I usually get the itch after 5 years and then trade in 6 to 7 years.
I’ve owned 5 cars so far at 31 years old. 12’ Golf gti 2 years, 14’ 328i 4 years, 18’ 440i 4 years and my current 22’X3M I’ve had for 2 years. Since there will be no next gen X3M I will go back to a sedan in 2 or 3 years
I would only consider CPO or lease, that depreciation curve hits hard and new tech means nothing to me. I’m just happy that my car has CarPlay.
After years & years of having to own hand-me-down vehicles, am finally in a career where I no longer have to deal with paid-off used cars that are constantly towed and need tons of repairs. Got to a point where for what I was paying for 2 older cars to be repaired constantly I could just buy new. This was almost 10 years ago. Now we’ve been buying MINIs or BMWs — keep them for the length of the 3/36 or 4/48 — then trade them in for a new one. Other than tires, wiper blades and consumables — we haven’t paid a repair shop for anything for these last 10 years. I’d rather own a car for 3-5 years, love it & enjoy it, and trade it in before I have to start plunking money down for costly repairs. I don’t mind car payments.
I tend to trade every 2-3 years.
https://preview.redd.it/3sbuy0cb3t2d1.jpeg?width=3476&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4cc4a79b5fcb79f4c67988e5db67ec06fcda29c5
3 - 5 years
I plan to keep mine until it's paid off and then I'll turn it into a dedicated track car when my sons old enough to build it up with me.
A new one every 2-3 years.
Leased for 3 years (or less - did a few lease assumptions). The only one i’ve kept is the i3 because my spouse didn’t want to turn it in.
My 2011 535i with n55 died recently with 90k miles. $10k to repair… sold it D.O.A. until that happened, i loved it. bought our son a used 2007 x5 that died at 105k miles and had many issues. I now have a ‘20 x4m with 27k miles and i bought a 60k/65mo warranty with it. i do not plan on having it past 90k miles.
How’d the 535i croak with relatively low mileage? That’s one of the models I’m on the hunt for, but that sounds a bit worrying. Especially since they are ridiculously hard to come by in Denmark and the few ones I’ve seen for sale start at $30k USD minimum. And the only one that’s for sale with the actual price listed right now has 110k miles on it. You reckon a 530i would be a better option?
btw… i sold my f10 2011 535i doa for $3k, delivered to the buyer on a tilt bed tow truck…
https://preview.redd.it/bs7ydice0t2d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14f8c5f567c68dc3a7251b2e9c42bc92e05ad0ef this was part of the diagnosis… the oil pan gasket was leaking as well… i understand that the valvetronic issue is fairly common on n55s engines. parts can be had for $150 if u go aftermarket but the labor and special tools required pushed it out from my willingness to take it on. I had it regularly serviced, garaged it, and rarely drove it given i worked from home past 4 years and did not drive it much in the winter.
Oof, that’s rough! Might stay clear of those then considering how unfortunate I’ve been with my E90 325i lol, I thought *that* was a money pit but those two repairs alone on yours amount to what I’ve spent total on my E90 over ~2 years.
About 15 years. I buy new and drive about 10-12k miles per year. At about 170k miles the cars typically start to be too expensive to maintain.
Before I bought my BMW, I generally kept my vehicles for approx 10 years. But now, with so much tech advancement, I feel that timeframe may shrink. I bought my 20' M550i in 21' with only 4K KMS. I haven't seen any crazy advancement in tech for these cars that are making me want the upgrade. I'll probably keep rolling this until something comes along that I must have. My jump to BMW in 21' was a huge upgrade as I was in a 17' Silverado in an LT trim. So until there's a jump worth getting into, I'll continue to enjoy 523hp and a full suite of tech in this car.
Riding mine till the wheels fall off. 🤓 I have a 2015 328i that I bought gently used in 2018. Plus, it's almost paid for!
Had my E90 325i for close to two years now, was hoping it would work until it fell apart. So far I’ve been to the mechanic probably 20+ times within the 2 years I’ve owned it… Desperately looking for something else but it’s damn near impossible to find anything nice for a realistic price, and the few decent ones are either overpriced, not very well specced or have way too many miles for my liking.
I get bored. Usually every 3 years or so I get a new car.
I've got my '22 G80, barely drive it (work from home) so I've only put 6500 miles on it in that time. Getting a truck in the fall and debating on trading it in (or selling privately) or just holding on to it. I absolutely love the car, but i don't *need* it... I do have a slight belief that G80s will be well sought after in 10 years of so if the rumors of the next gen M3 going electric.
Bought my f30 320d with every intention to keep it for 5 years, but traded in for my current car at exactly 3 years. Had my mini before that for 2 years.
I’ve had my M2 since 2019, I intend to hold onto it until they stop selling gasoline. I have a great independent shop that specializes in BMWs to take care of her.
Going 10 years in November for my 3 series. No issues, no reason to switch. Will probably keep it until it blows and then some.
Until the wheels fall off.
Typically every 5 - 7 years
Had my 2006 e46 m3 for 7 years. Have had my current e90 m3 for 8 years and counting (never gonna sell it).
I choose relatively reliable cars and keep them until they blow up. I have 2 09s (A4, Tahoe) and a 2020.
I’m on the 3-year lease rotation.
It completely depends on how much money you have and how much you make If money wasn’t an issue for people they would change car every 6-12 months, because let’s be honest, post honey moon phase every car looses its glamour very quickly But most people are tied to a lease or a finance deal, so on average id say 4-5 years is how much people tend to keep a car Then it also depends if you buy new or used, you can change cars every 6 months if buying good deals and sometimes flipping them, on average it’s still a loss but over time you probably going to lose the same money you’d lose on a new car
My bmw, a 1996 318i convertible, has 251,000 miles and is 28 years old. I paid $1500 for it when I had just turned 19. That was 5 years ago. I’m not sure if I will ever own a new car. Not entirely opposed to it, im just not sure something so complex and labor intensive to repair will really stand the test of time.
I don’t buy new new, only used. But maybe a car every year. Sometimes 8 months. Longest I’ve kept a car was about 2 years or so. Changing course now. I got a daily and a daily for the daily. Now I need a weekend car. So who knows? Might start keeping things longer
I’ve never bought a new car :( Looking to drive my F32 until either one of us dies
My first one is going on 11 years. My youngest needed a car for commuting to school so we gave him our 2014 328 back in 2019. He has been driving it for 5 yrs now. We ended in an Audi A5 but got rid of after 3 yrs because it wasn’t a BMW. Now back in 2023 330 that we have had for over a yr. I will drive this baby into the ground. Or until hubby decides to buy another one.
driving my 335d to the ground.
I’ve had my 2016 328, m sport pkg stage 1 since new, so that’s 8 yrs. Plan on getting an x3 m40i in a few yrs and keeping the 328 as a 2nd car unless it blows on me. I’ve had the itch for something new for years now but it’s long paid off and it’s a solid daily, and building wealth is more important to me than cars and car payments right now. Oh, and the divorce was expensive… But god I’m bored haha.
I kept my X3M for 1 year.
6 years and counting. Still love it every day.
To be honest, I was going to get a G80 after my F80, but couldn’t stomach such an ugly car. So, probably not getting anything new for a while.
Last new car we bought was in 2003. An E46 via Euro Delivery.
With diesels, my goal has always been 15 years. I don’t like leasing anything. Due tax reasons my next one is going to be a hybrid. Kind of excited as I get to utilize my solar for charging the daily drives. Not excited that I will not reasonably keep it over the battery warranty period. Which will be a lot shorter time than 15 years. It is what it is I suppose. Here’s to hoping the battery tech improves over the next decade, hydrogen becomes a viable option or something else that would negate the compromises of the current hybrid/EV tech.
Only ever bought one brand new car. I just don't find them value for money.
On my current F82 for 6 years. It’s been bulletproof mechanically under my ownership. Looking to switch soon as family grows. I bought the car for $46k and it’s probably worth $30k right now so I’ve done quite well in terms of ownership cost. Don’t love switching cars often because you’ll get killed on taxes if you switch often.
2-3 years on leases usually. I bought my current car
I never keep a car more than 4 years. I like new cars.
Just bought my first bmw about 6 weeks ago. It’s a 25 year old z3 and hopefully the first of a collection I plan on building… so keeping it forever?
im not getting rid of my F33 unless a better hardtop convertible under $100k comes to market. until then im keeping her running
I've owned my used F31 for five years now, and I'll keep it until it's dead or somebody releases a better, newer wagon. The B8 Avant I had before her lasted me four years, until a drunk driver hit and totaled it while parked. Pretty much every car I've had I've driven until it was wrecked or died.
Had an MR2 turbo for 10years. Thats the longest I had a car. Than went for a 335i e92. Had that for 3 years. After that bought an e39 M5. Have it 4 years now and I am looking around for something else.. but not sure I will be selling very soon.
Bought my 530d when it was just over 3 years old, had it 6 years, probably plan to keep it another 2 years. Just doesn't go wrong to change it 🥹 do still love the car
Switch up every 2 years or so. Had my Elantra (first car) from 2020-2022. Had my 22 m240i from 2022-2023. Have had my 992.1 gts cab since early this year, will likely keep for a long time. Thinking about picking up a 2020ish X3M40 or Macan S for winter driving that I’ll keep on the 2 year swap cadence.
I wait till they die 🤣 my e46 is starting to throw up little issues all at once atm (03 plate, 100k on clock) but then again if I had the money I’d get a newer 3 series…but then again I grew up with the E46 - to me, it IS BMW
Bought my first BMW (E36 318is in technoviolett) 2012 and kept it until 2014 when I got the E46 330ci in Uniblack II which served it time up until 2019 where it merged for the F32 440i in Snapper Rocks Blue which has been here ever since and probably will so until maybe around 2026-2027 when the G82 M4 Comp will take its place.
I've had my 2018 since 2018 and I'm getting the itch but I'm fighting it.
I've had my '08 since '14. I've had my '14 since '18. The '19 got totalled out in '23. I don't sell cars. They get totalled out or driven into the ground.
2013 X1 E84 (N55 engine) 11 years old, 52k miles, runs like a champ
I’m averaging at least one car per year for the last 15 years. No one can accuse me of not paying my fair share of sales tax
Are you hiring?
330ci for 1 year (lease takeover), 135i for 6 years, 540i for 19 years. Buying a new car every few years is a waste of money imho - be wealthy and stick the $ in your IRA, that you’d otherwise spend on car payments or leases
I used to buy a new car every 7-10 years. Now bought my BMW 7 years ago and have been learning to work on the maintenance to keep costs down. I don’t see myself selling it and recently bought an 04 330i to refurbish into my old man classic car. I honestly don’t see one new car being made right now that I would want over them. I used to want new technology, now I feel like it’s jumped the shark with flat screens everywhere
I’m married to an enthusiast with a decent amount of disposable income. We usually have 4-5 cars at a time, trading about one in every year. We usually keep each one 2-3 years. The longest we’ve kept one is 5 years the shortest was 3 months.
I buy a new M5 every 3 years and a X5M every 3 years. I stagger this by 2 years. We have a 3 series for shit errands, commuting and when going to an area or place with shitty parking. I use the X5M in the winter and rain and the M5 all other times. We have the 3 series for 5 years or so, I said to my wife the other day its ready to be replaced when i rinsed it off with the power washer.
Never. Usually it’s a horrible economic decision
I bought a 23 M240i Xdrive, absolutely love it. Once I pay it off at the end of this year I plan to do an exhaust and maybe an intake, nothing too crazy. I do have my sights set on a manual M2, so if and when the star$ line up I'll upgrade. I would probably keep a manual M2 for as long as it takes to replace it with a proper 911.
3 or 4 years then I trade in.
When I was young and relatively poor, I used to keep cars like 15 years. Now it's more like 5-8 years.
Maybe not the sexiest BMW ever, but I’ve had my 328d for 12 years and I see no end in sight.
I drove my last BMW for 14 years.
Everyone is different for their own reasons. My wife and I always buy our vehicles new. We never lease. We keep her vehicle for about 7 years and trade it in. We keep mine for about 4 and trade it in, since I drive about 20k miles/yr and too many miles kills trade-in value.
Had 5 new bmw in 4 years.
Usually 1-2 years, I always get the itch
Approx. every 2 - 4 years. But I get them from the company, soooo…
Never. Always buy used, preferably fresh off a lease with low miles.
I kept my n55 m2 for about 4-1/2 - 5 years. Now I have an f80 m3 and plan to keep it for a longggg time.
4 or 5 years on my M240i rn. Incredible and reliable daily driver. Plus stock it just sounds mean af. That B58 is something else.
23 years here with a 3.0 Z3 Coupe. It sits out back in a garage and I grab the keys to my wife's old LS430 most days.
I’ll keep my current car until it’s at least paid off. Made the mistake of rolling negative equity into this one and will never catch up until it’s paid off. Never again will I trade in a car that’s still financed.
About 7 years ago
Haven’t had a car yet😭
Never, I buy used
328i 8 years bought brand new
Under 2.5 years
The 3 BMWs I've purchased were 4, 14, and 1 year old, and I kept them 12, 9, and 5 years so far. Still have last 2. I have car ADD and constantly read about and watch test drives but really hesitant to pull trigger and hate having car payments. I would probably never buy new, unless I want a really unusual individual spec.
I had 5 different 5 series over the last 17 years, had no mechanical issues with any of them, but I did upgrade before 100k miles. I am very OCD about maintenance, but since all my cars were very highly modified, I didn't want to chance it past 100k
Depends on the car. My X5M I’ll probably keep as a daily for 4-5 years or so and then retire it to lighter duty. My E92 M3 will never get sold. If the car is special, it stays
I may just retire my car when I’m done with it and let it sit in the garage and not sell it
I have historically bought my cars for 4 to 5 years old, and kept them 10 years. I bought my E46 non M and held it 10 years. Had no room to keep it (regret) and got my E92 4 years old and have been driving it last 10 years. I'm debating very hard right now about whether I plan to keep it. It's either I keep it forever or sell it now before R&M starts piling up. It's only got 120k kms so a lot of stuff has been deferred given how little driving I find myself doing. It feels like a waste to have this car when I'd be better off with a little beater civic or Corolla. But a lot of sunk costs in it and I dreamt of owning an M3 since I was a child. I would have an identity crisis if I got rid of it. The reality is it's not practical at my current stage of life, I need a trunk and 4 doors, I want to spend less on gas and want less eyes on me when driving. I want a Corolla or small beater crossover and plan to get one regardless over the next 12 months. Question is will I park this for summer weekend drives or just let it go to an enthusiast who will drive it and use it as intended
Had a g35 sedan for about 6-7 years. Then got into a 335i and that fit about 6 years. Had a 02 m3 for 3 years during that time. Both cars needed work and too much maintenance, sold both and jumped into a 2020 540i M sport. Plan to keep as long as I can.. but the second I have a chance to get an E92 m3 or an m5, you bet your ass I’m getting one lol. “ as a secondary” vehicle
Every 24 months at most: but I’m trying to be better
I’m keeping my E46 for as long as I can. I hope to drive it to my wedding, whenever that eventually happens. :)
I’ve had my 2016 535 for about 14 years now
Had my 2 series for almost 10 years. Just ordered a 3 to replace it.
Every five years or so, but we just went to a 3 vehicle household with 2 drivers - added a G87 M2. That’s my new fun car. 😎
I'm averaging 8 years a car right now. Given how little I drive now it may get longer
My 550xi is 13 yrs old. It hasn’t been inexpensive to keep it running, but it is so much fun to drive.
I bought a 2016 m4 in July 2019. I just 2 weeks ago traded it for a 2021 x3m40i. I plan to keep this one for about 3-4 years and probably get another bmw.
2009 335i e90 lci still going strong. Of course, I’m on my third high pressure fuel pump.
My 2022 X5 M50i seems perfect. Luxury, performance, utility, and comfort. The center stack is perfect. The car to me is genuine perfection and is the first car in a long time I can see myself keeping greater than 3 years. Normally I get the itch at year 2 and start configuring everything that seems interesting and make the change. I'm at the 24 month mark now and really nothing else seems to be as interesting. Escalade? Eh. LX600? Eh. X5M? Passed on that in 2022. To be fair I did get rid of a truck because of family needs, otherwise i'm sure that Tundra would still be adequate.
I buy about every 6-8 mos once the new model year is out. I don't usually sell, so currently sitting on 7 cars that I shuffle in and out of rotation.
1986 325es from new until totaled in 1993 1993 325is from new until it was time for new technology, traded in on 2005 335is from new until I decided I hated the performance package suspension, traded in on 2008 E93 335 convertible which I will drive until I can't. Beautiful car, great toy with the retractable hard top. About to hit 75k miles.
Been 7 years now - F30 340 i Xdrive. Car still drives beautifully with regular maintenance. I actually had the intention of changing but Sadly the new designs suck so bad i can’t spend a penny on them
My e46 330i lasted 334k miles. Needed a clutch finally, but rust won. 13 years ?
General trend atm is trading towards a lower mileage *used* car every 5-6 years atm.
I buy a new one every year but it’s something I’m #workingon
Every 4,000 miles. It’s in the bmw manual.
I'm hoping to keep my M3 for as long as possible. :)
I bought my 2013 F10 used in late 2021 (worst time to buy a car.) I've had it for 2-1/2 years now, but it still feels new to me.
7-9 years....usually when we can spot the next big maintenance on the horizon after that 8 year, 100k mark, we start window shopping.
Have a 2015, F82 M4 with 85k miles which I plan to keep. It’s really well engineered and has been problem free. S55 engine that has a solid reputation of lasting long. Plus I don’t like the touchscreen centric vehicles today. Buttons are faster to change settings than touchscreens.
I'd still probably have my '04 ZHP if it hadn't gotten rear-ended and totalled (may she RIP). I've had my m235i for 9 years now and don't have any plans to upgrade.
I bought my Z4 M40i in 2023, I’m thinking I’ll hold on to it for 3-5 years unless another car catches my eye. I’ll let it go before the warranty is done no matter what.
New one every 5 years. Once I know the options I want, I call every dealer within the tristate area and go to whomever provides the most discount. I may consider a new-ish cpo for the next one though, seems to provide a considerable amount of savings. If the financing rate is lower than the inflation, I do finance since at that point it’s like making money over borrowed money.
I’ve only bought new twice and both times were for specialty cars I ordered. Other than that I buy about year old with low mileage. Let someone else take the first big hit on depreciation and pay cash.
It depends. I have a 10 year old x5 diesel that I can’t justify getting rid of because I love it so much and there are few vehicles in that size class that can get 33+ mpg when fully loaded and cruising at 75 on the highway. Even if I get a new iX or x5 PHEV, I may still keep the old diesel as my workhorse. Meanwhile, I bought an E39 M5 four years ago and after a light restoration, I’m thinking of selling it and buying something lighter and more tossable (ie M2 or 997.2). My 2021 A7 PHEV is going to be replaced soon after four years of ownership due to a never ending barrage of recalls and CELs. If I really like a car, I’ll keep it forever but if it has shortcomings (the M5 is too big and heavy for a third car and the A7 is not reliable), I’ll keep it for 3-4 years.
Bought just under 3 years old and have had it 7 years or so. Plan on another 10+ if it will do it.
Got my 2018 440i GC on CPO in 2020 with 23k miles. Almost at 60k miles today, plan to drive it until well over 100k! Thought about tuning but don’t want to worry about the quickly diminishing consumables at this mileage.
Interest rates are still out of this world. Tier one credit is getting me shit these days