[Stopsign32v]

Looking to get into a 3 series and I think the 2018 model year is really the one I want. I really like the traditional gauges and don't care for digital screens so 2018 seems like the ideal year to get.

When will they really be hitting the lots and what will a decent mileage be for one by then?

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

Looking to get into a 3 series and I think the 2018 model year is really the one I want. I really like the traditional gauges and don't care for digital screens so 2018 seems like the ideal year to get.

When will they really be hitting the lots and what will a decent mileage be for one by then?

Generally a lot show up 3 years later due to lease turn-ins

[Stopsign32v]

Originally Posted by ooshnoo

Generally a lot show up 3 years later due to lease turn-ins

So are we talking 2020 or 2021? (Or heck, both) Reason I ask is because I know you usually can buy cars a year ahead.

Also, I'm scared of a lease car. I figure if someone is leasing it they are less likely to care about it due to them knowing they will not own it.

With that being said would buying a Msport mean I'm certainly getting one that has been beat to hell? The options and all would be nice but would buying a "normal" 340i mean in theory it could have had an easier life?

[anotheran]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

Also, I'm scared of a lease car. I figure if someone is leasing it they are less likely to care about it due to them knowing they will not own it.

maybe look now for an executive owned

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

With that being said would buying a Msport mean I'm certainly getting one that has been beat to hell? The options and all would be nice but would buying a "normal" 340i mean in theory it could have had an easier life?

get a 330i then. the enthusiast would buy a 340i instead anyways

[eddymerckx3]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

Also, I'm scared of a lease car. I figure if someone is leasing it they are less likely to care about it due to them knowing they will not own it.

I suspect the opposite is true as proof of required maintenance is required on lease vehicle, besides, maintenance is free for first 3-4 years. And because most dealers have serviced off lease vehicles they sell they will know vehicle history. That doesn’t mean u can predict how previous owner treated car, but at least u will get peace of mind that it was properly maintained.

[Wires]

You are asking a bizarrely subjective question. Mileage can be between 1 and a million miles. A 2018 can be on the lot now, and maybe not for another 3 years.

[Stopsign32v]

Originally Posted by Wires

You are asking a bizarrely subjective question. Mileage can be between 1 and a million miles. A 2018 can be on the lot now, and maybe not for another 3 years.

Well then feel free to pass on posting a reply to it.

[Wires]

The question is aligned with "which lottery ticket will finally pan out for me?" If people like their 2018's and don't want the newer dash, there will be less on the lots. Mileage depends on how people driver them.

Just confused what you expect as an actual answer to your question since the answer could be almost anything.....

[Stopsign32v]

Originally Posted by Wires

The question is aligned with "which lottery ticket will finally pan out for me?" If people like their 2018's and don't want the newer dash, there will be less on the lots. Mileage depends on how people driver them.

Just confused what you expect as an actual answer to your question since the answer could be almost anything.....

You made a statement, but are still replying. Are you looking for me to clear it up for you? If so just ask "What do you mean?" Otherwise I don't understand why you are still going on.

[Elvisfan]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

Well then feel free to pass on posting a reply to it.

I agree with wires. There are executive cars. There are 1-4 year leases. There are 2018s out there now. Just go to cars.com and look. Anytime after 6 months of release they will be out there.

[MachinesWithSouls]

First, you can get a 340 with a digital dash, so double check. Second, why 2018? Any 340 is the same regardless of MY.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

Looking to get into a 3 series and I think the 2018 model year is really the one I want. I really like the traditional gauges and don't care for digital screens so 2018 seems like the ideal year to get.

When will they really be hitting the lots and what will a decent mileage be for one by then?

Your target car is spot on, the 2018. Facelifted and great technology made it for this year. I suggest looking now if you are interested because some people do 1 year or 15 month leases on these, thats how I got mine used. 3 year leases are obviously much more common but the shorter ones can happen. Also, some people break leases or sell when just slightly used, it happens. Also, I lightly suggest considering the 4 series gran couple, if you dont need a manual transmission. I was originally looking for a 340i and decided on the 440i

[Wires]

But he doesn't want a lease car, hence my confusion. With a lease, you'd know roughly the mileage, and time frame when they get turned back. I kept my '08 335 for 8 years, and it had 100k miles on it when I traded it for my '16 340. If you want cars that were purchased (not leased), it's a 100% crap shoot of when they come back and how much mileage.

If you want a 340, why not a '16 or '17 then? (LCI started in '16) You're not buying new, so why are you narrowing your search so tight to '18 when they would be hard to find on a lot right now?

Are you just putting this out as "Future me wants to by a '18 340, and that's my dream car.", or are you actively looking right now? It's possible that the G20 M340 is so amazing that you wouldn't even consider the F30 platform, but who knows since it's barely at dealerships.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

So are we talking 2020 or 2021? (Or heck, both) Reason I ask is because I know you usually can buy cars a year ahead.

Also, I'm scared of a lease car. I figure if someone is leasing it they are less likely to care about it due to them knowing they will not own it.

With that being said would buying a Msport mean I'm certainly getting one that has been beat to hell? The options and all would be nice but would buying a "normal" 340i mean in theory it could have had an easier life?

I disagree with the fear of a lease car because you will likely reduce your options of few years used cars, I believe most of the cars bmw sells new are as leases and not finance-to-own. Its a paradigm shift due to higher car prices compared to lease rates and people's general preferences. Also some new car owners are business/exec owners. I dont think there is a good reason to believe leasers abuse cars more than owners - since they are turning in the cars they should at least be mindful of the condition of the exterior/interior of the car. Do they drive the car harder? Maybe but not necessarily. As for an M sport being more abused than non-m sport, not sure about that either. Sometimes the reason for buying the non-m sport is purely budget concern, people have limits even when buying or leasing the car new.

If you are set on buying a car from a dealer which was an outright purchase, I agree that the turn-in timing of those cars is less predictable because the owners are not tied to a lease deadline. Their decision will be because they want to trade up to a newer car or if they have a lifestyle or financial change. Maybe 3 F series owners will want to trade up to 3 G series but not always

[Stopsign32v]

Originally Posted by Wires

But he doesn't want a lease car, hence my confusion. With a lease, you'd know roughly the mileage, and time frame when they get turned back. I kept my '08 335 for 8 years, and it had 100k miles on it when I traded it for my '16 340. If you want cars that were purchased (not leased), it's a 100% crap shoot of when they come back and how much mileage.

If you want a 340, why not a '16 or '17 then? (LCI started in '16) You're not buying new, so why are you narrowing your search so tight to '18 when they would be hard to find on a lot right now?

Are you just putting this out as "Future me wants to by a '18 340, and that's my dream car.", or are you actively looking right now? It's possible that the G20 M340 is so amazing that you wouldn't even consider the F30 platform, but who knows since it's barely at dealerships.

No, I'm currently not looking. Wife needs a SUV and is dead set on a new Explorer so that has to come first. Then my car. And a BMW certainly isn't my "dream car". Get real. It is just the best option for a 4 door performance car right now. I like Audi's more but the transmissions give me nightmares thinking about them failing.

And I said I'm scared of a lease car, that doesn't = don't want a lease car. It means a lease gives me concerns, rightfully so or not. I think a lot of your confusion could be cleared up by re-reading what I posted. Maybe you skimmed by it all.

[Stopsign32v]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

I disagree with the fear of a lease car because you will likely reduce your options of few years used cars, I believe most of the cars bmw sells new are as leases and not finance-to-own. Its a paradigm shift due to higher car prices compared to lease rates and people's general preferences. Also some new car owners are business/exec owners. I dont think there is a good reason to believe leasers abuse cars more than owners - since they are turning in the cars they should at least be mindful of the condition of the exterior/interior of the car. Do they drive the car harder? Maybe but not necessarily. As for an M sport being more abused than non-m sport, not sure about that either. Sometimes the reason for buying the non-m sport is purely budget concern, people have limits even when buying or leasing the car new.

If you are set on buying a car from a dealer which was an outright purchase, I agree that the turn-in timing of those cars is less predictable because the owners are not tied to a lease deadline. Their decision will be because they want to trade up to a newer car or if they have a lifestyle or financial change. Maybe 3 F series owners will want to trade up to 3 G series but not always

I agree with you. I also have (and work with) the largest BMW plant in the world about 30 minutes away so all you really see around here are new BMWs due to their employee lease program. HOWEVER I do not see many 335i and 340i, they are mainly 328i.

[Stopsign32v]

Originally Posted by SoManyBlueCars

First, you can get a 340 with a digital dash, so double check. Second, why 2018? Any 340 is the same regardless of MY.

I do not want a digital dash. Give me a good ol physical needle sweep.

[ndx6spd]

I think this is very subjective. What's your budget? If it's sub 30k, you'll need to wait longer (3-4 years), probably higher mileage/non CPO. I recently saw a 2014 7 series (loaded) for under 30k, but 75k miles. Repairs and maintenance might bankrupt you.

If you're thinking 40k, you can find nice ones now with low mileage and longer warranty/CPO coverage (i.e. exec demos, etc).

50k, you can get a new one. Find one you like and start haggling. Dealers are discounting them and BMW is kicking in some discount, too. I saw a fully loaded 340i xdrive 6MT (MSRP 63k) that I can probably get for about 50k or less.

If buying used, I would make sure I have warranty for at least 1.5 to 2 years. This should be enough time to see if your car will be a money pit down the road.

I've leased 5 cars in the last decade or so (WK2 Jeep, ATS4, CTS4, Q50 S, Big Horn v6) and have never "abused" any. I will say, though, I didn't care about the car as much. Small scratch? Eh, whatever. Broken windshield and they won't use OEM replacement? No biggie (unless leasing co decided to charge me later). Car wash? Cheap automatic is fine if that's whats near by. Never hand washed or detailed my leased cars. All maintenance was done on time because I don't want to be blamed for any problems.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

I do not want a digital dash. Give me a good ol physical needle sweep.

Yea that's what I'm saying. Make sure the 340 you find does NOT have that.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

No, I'm currently not looking. Wife needs a SUV and is dead set on a new Explorer so that has to come first. Then my car. And a BMW certainly isn't my "dream car". Get real. It is just the best option for a 4 door performance car right now. I like Audi's more but the transmissions give me nightmares thinking about them failing.

And I said I'm scared of a lease car, that doesn't = don't want a lease car. It means a lease gives me concerns, rightfully so or not. I think a lot of your confusion could be cleared up by re-reading what I posted. Maybe you skimmed by it all.

Audi uses the same 8 speed transmission as BMW does, so I'm not sure "all the transmission failures" they are having. I'm still confused with being scared of a leased car. If a person is buying and flipping it every couple of years, it's probably more abused than a person leasing and returning. That's the person that has the money to flip and take the loss and is willing to drive it like he/she stole it.

It's highly unlikely that any company leases high end models for the worker employees, hence the reason it's all 328's there.

[quikM2]

OP - You can still get new 2018's and they are absolutely blowing them out as the redesign is now out in 330 guise with the 340 shortly to follow. I just picked up a brand new 2018 340i loaded to the max with both M packages and premium everything down to adaptive LED's. they found it at a dealer in kelowna on the west coast and brought it over for me and still took $13k off at a loss for the dealership as I absolutely wanted a 6MT as they are almost impossible to find. It was the last 'new' one in the country from a dealer. If I was okay with AT they had one on the lot for in the same color with identical options so essentially the identical car and as it was on their lot they would have done somewhere around $15k off. essentially right now you can get a 'new' 2018 for the price you are probably looking at in the used market.

One comment for the concerned about lease returns. Do you know how strict lease returns are? Incredibly strict for touching the car up and condition it is returned in with large $ penalties to fix it up. As to how it's driven it makes no difference at least for my perspective as I've leased and bought a number of cars. i drive them the same no matter what. why would someone lease a car and abuse it and then turn it in vs. a car purchased and then abused and then sold or traded in??

[Zanity]

I never thought about M sport models are more abused, but it makes sense, mine is a 428i without M sport and it was a lawyer lady who bought it new, she didnt abuse the car at all and serviced on time at dealer.