Longest you've owned a 3 series?

username604 · 10-04-2010, 03:00 PM

What's the longest you guys owned/driven a bmw 3 series?
i plan on keeping my 335i for about 10 years if that's possible. (through the rest of high school and college/med school) Do you guys have any tips on keeping a car this long?

Cosmop · 10-04-2010, 03:16 PM

I had my 1982 320i for 10 years and it was already 10 years old when I bought it in 1992. My friend who bought it from me kept it running for another two years after that before he totaled it on the highway. The old E21 was a tank.

roundle · 10-04-2010, 03:19 PM

I talked my parents into buying a new 328i back in 1998. While they've owned several cars since then, they've yet to give up the 328i.

The car now has 160K, has followed BMW's (then) 7500 mile oil change interval (non synthetic Castrol GTX 20W50, I believe) and still has the original ATF in the 4spd ZF. Aside from a water pump and thermo, valve cover gasket, shocks (at 150K), brakes (rotors and pads every 40K), and front control arms (nearly every 40K miles, too), the car's been a tank and is still a pleasure to drive. The car stopped going to the dealer after 100K, now goes to a boutique shop.

username604 · 10-04-2010, 04:58 PM

Thats nice to know that i'm not crazy wanting to keep my car seeing that alot of people sell their BMW's after a couple of years.
Hopefully there's gonna be a fix to the HPFP or its gonna get very annoying when i'm far away from home at college.

Rafstar · 10-04-2010, 06:07 PM

92 325i for 1.5 years
99 323i for 2 years
08 335i for 2.5 years

hipnotic · 10-04-2010, 06:33 PM

06 330ci so four four years.

Eric335xi · 10-04-2010, 06:37 PM

E36 M3 for 5 years and 30 laps on the Nurburgring
E46 M3 for 3+ years
E90 335xi for 2 weeks

e90pilot · 10-04-2010, 08:17 PM

I've my '06 325 for 5 years and 143k miles. I'd be worried about fuel pump issues and dirty intake valves for 335 guys.

cb4 · 10-04-2010, 08:25 PM

My last car was an e36 m3. I bought it new and kept it for ten years. Hoping to get that from my 335.

Bakeme521 · 10-04-2010, 08:25 PM

I got my first 3 series when I started driving in high school, 96 318ti with 160k on it. I drove it for 4 years and now I got my 335 after saving while driving my 318 up to 204k. I still have the car and i am currently turning it into a track rat. I plan on having this car for at least the next 7-8 years.

Philm35 · 10-04-2010, 08:27 PM

5 weeks... and counting.

gary88 · 10-04-2010, 08:32 PM

My 335i is my first 3 series, and I've had it for almost 17 months now. Planning on keeping it until the wheels fall off.

J02 335i · 10-04-2010, 08:34 PM

E46 330xi 3 years
E46 M3 3years
E90 335i 2 months and counting

401FlaGATOR · 10-04-2010, 10:38 PM

4 years on October 16th.. 2006 325i.. 60k

Bobble · 10-04-2010, 10:47 PM

E30 - 8 years 140K
E36 - 6 years 105K
E46 - 10 years 154K
E90 - 2 years 23K

Might be my last one as I'm getting old

scrufy · 10-04-2010, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric335xi

E36 M3 for 5 years and 30 laps on the Nurburgring

+1
best answer I could imagine.
...and I hate You! lol

zamboni · 10-04-2010, 10:55 PM

01 E46 for 9 years sold it got an E82 as replacement.

doggiedog · 10-04-2010, 10:56 PM

E36 325i 4 door 5MT - 10 yrs, 120K miles.

It was on its last legs though. Everything was breaking down on it. Clutch was going and the heater didn't work. Luckily I sold it in the summer and they didn't check the heater. I fixed the AC twice on it before. Sold it for $4K back in 2005.

chromisdesigns · 10-04-2010, 10:58 PM

We got 145K miles from our '97 E36 M3, which we sold last fall to buy the 335.

SilverII · 10-05-2010, 06:41 AM

19 days so far

BRAISKI · 10-05-2010, 10:02 AM

4 months.... so far

Tom K. · 10-05-2010, 12:56 PM

'99 E46 328i driven for 11 years & 97,000 miles with the only major out of warranty items being Control Arms and multiple A/C leaks - both around 60k miles. Oil (OEM synthetic) was changed at 7,500 mile intervals, overall gas mileage was 24.4, and the engine ran very strongly when I traded it in.

Although it was always parked outside as my garage was reserved for a series of BMW convertibles, the E46 Bright Red paint held up very well, which I attribute largely to an application of Zymol Carbon wax every 4 months.

Tom

10-04-2010, 03:00 PM	#1
username604 Colonel 124 Rep 2,554 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: repair shop iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [10.00]	Longest you've owned a 3 series? What's the longest you guys owned/driven a bmw 3 series? i plan on keeping my 335i for about 10 years if that's possible. (through the rest of high school and college/med school) Do you guys have any tips on keeping a car this long?
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10-04-2010, 03:16 PM	#2
Cosmop Private First Class 38 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	I had my 1982 320i for 10 years and it was already 10 years old when I bought it in 1992. My friend who bought it from me kept it running for another two years after that before he totaled it on the highway. The old E21 was a tank.
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10-04-2010, 03:19 PM	#3
roundle EXPAT 65 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 18 VW GTI;18 CX9;11 E91 N52 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I talked my parents into buying a new 328i back in 1998. While they've owned several cars since then, they've yet to give up the 328i. The car now has 160K, has followed BMW's (then) 7500 mile oil change interval (non synthetic Castrol GTX 20W50, I believe) and still has the original ATF in the 4spd ZF. Aside from a water pump and thermo, valve cover gasket, shocks (at 150K), brakes (rotors and pads every 40K), and front control arms (nearly every 40K miles, too), the car's been a tank and is still a pleasure to drive. The car stopped going to the dealer after 100K, now goes to a boutique shop.
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10-04-2010, 04:58 PM	#4
username604 Colonel 124 Rep 2,554 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: repair shop iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [10.00]	Thats nice to know that i'm not crazy wanting to keep my car seeing that alot of people sell their BMW's after a couple of years. Hopefully there's gonna be a fix to the HPFP or its gonna get very annoying when i'm far away from home at college.
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10-04-2010, 06:07 PM	#5
Rafstar Captain 91 Rep 776 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Montreal iTrader: (15)	92 325i for 1.5 years 99 323i for 2 years 08 335i for 2.5 years __________________ E92 M3 Clubsport JRZ \| TE37SL \| AR1\| Stoptech BBK (ST60/40) \| Recaro SPG XL + Schroth 6 point \| Raven Roll Cage \| \| Alex Alpine Tune \| Turner Test Pipes \| AFE Carbon Intake \| Bimmerworld Solid Bushings and more...
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10-04-2010, 06:33 PM	#6
hipnotic Major General 149 Rep 6,604 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [7.00]	06 330ci so four four years.
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10-04-2010, 06:37 PM	#7
Eric335xi Enlisted Member 2 Rep 46 Posts Drives: '10 335i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	E36 M3 for 5 years and 30 laps on the Nurburgring E46 M3 for 3+ years E90 335xi for 2 weeks
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10-04-2010, 08:17 PM	#8
e90pilot Freight Dawg 104 Rep 2,103 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oakland, CA iTrader: (3)	I've my '06 325 for 5 years and 143k miles. I'd be worried about fuel pump issues and dirty intake valves for 335 guys. __________________ --Marcelo '06 Arctic Metallic 325i \| Sport Package \| 6MT \| Dinan Stage III suspension \| Dinan exhaust \| 330i manifold swap! Click here! \| Active Autowerke tune \| 135i Brake Calipers \| Deiselboost caliper brackets \| E46 M3 front rotors
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10-04-2010, 08:25 PM	#9
cb4 Captain 60 Rep 910 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	My last car was an e36 m3. I bought it new and kept it for ten years. Hoping to get that from my 335.
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10-04-2010, 08:25 PM	#10
Bakeme521 Some say... 239 Rep 4,296 Posts Drives: Fresh Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Baton Rouge n NOLA iTrader: (12) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [8.24]	I got my first 3 series when I started driving in high school, 96 318ti with 160k on it. I drove it for 4 years and now I got my 335 after saving while driving my 318 up to 204k. I still have the car and i am currently turning it into a track rat. I plan on having this car for at least the next 7-8 years. __________________ I have exhaust and an intake...
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10-04-2010, 08:27 PM	#11
Philm35 Private 0 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335d Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH USA iTrader: (0)	5 weeks... and counting. __________________ 2011 BMW 335d•Space Gray/Black•Sport•Premium•Convenience•Cold Weather•Nav•HK•iPod
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10-04-2010, 08:32 PM	#12
gary88 Ikea enthusiast 334 Rep 8,140 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [7.96]	My 335i is my first 3 series, and I've had it for almost 17 months now. Planning on keeping it until the wheels fall off. __________________ garyhebdingjr.com \| flickr \| Instagram
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10-04-2010, 08:34 PM	#13
J02 335i Lieutenant Colonel 39 Rep 1,558 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ontario iTrader: (1)	E46 330xi 3 years E46 M3 3years E90 335i 2 months and counting __________________ Sport pack, JB3, Dci, factory oil cooler, 18" M3 reps, Michelin PSS, painted trim, black grills, smoked side markers, LED plate lights, H&R coils, Borla catback
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10-04-2010, 10:38 PM	#14
401FlaGATOR First Lieutenant 70 Rep 328 Posts Drives: E90 325i ZSP, F30 320i ZSP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pembroke Pines, FL iTrader: (0)	4 years on October 16th.. 2006 325i.. 60k
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10-04-2010, 10:47 PM	#15
Bobble Major 56 Rep 1,232 Posts Drives: Whatever POS the wife leaves Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	E30 - 8 years 140K E36 - 6 years 105K E46 - 10 years 154K E90 - 2 years 23K Might be my last one as I'm getting old
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10-04-2010, 10:55 PM	#17
zamboni I want to drive a Zamboni 1131 Rep 5,557 Posts Drives: 13 E93 M3 18 F80 M3 16 K71 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monte Sereno, CA iTrader: (7) Garage List 16 K71 F800GT [10.00] 2018 F80 M3 [10.00] 2013 BMW E93 M3 [10.00]	01 E46 for 9 years sold it got an E82 as replacement. __________________ 18 F80 Imola Red 6MT 16 K71 F800GT Montego Blue 13 E93 M3 Melbourne Red 2000 E46,2006 E90,09 E82,13 E93 328i,14 F30 335i,18 F80 M3 My next vehicle would be a Zamboni
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10-04-2010, 10:56 PM	#18
doggiedog Captain 36 Rep 757 Posts Drives: 09 E90 335i 6MT SG/BL Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Lee, NJ iTrader: (0)	E36 325i 4 door 5MT - 10 yrs, 120K miles. It was on its last legs though. Everything was breaking down on it. Clutch was going and the heater didn't work. Luckily I sold it in the summer and they didn't check the heater. I fixed the AC twice on it before. Sold it for $4K back in 2005.
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10-04-2010, 10:58 PM	#19
chromisdesigns Lieutenant Colonel 45 Rep 1,754 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i sedan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	We got 145K miles from our '97 E36 M3, which we sold last fall to buy the 335.
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10-05-2010, 06:41 AM	#20
SilverII Colonel 40 Rep 2,334 Posts Drives: '11 335IS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335IS [9.66]	19 days so far
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10-05-2010, 10:02 AM	#21
BRAISKI Colonel 135 Rep 2,517 Posts Drives: '11 335xi e92 M-Pak Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: GTA/KW, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 BMW 335xi [7.00]	4 months.... so far __________________ My 2011 ED @ BMW Welt, one of the best days of my life! Full front PPF!
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10-05-2010, 12:56 PM	#22
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	'99 E46 328i driven for 11 years & 97,000 miles with the only major out of warranty items being Control Arms and multiple A/C leaks - both around 60k miles. Oil (OEM synthetic) was changed at 7,500 mile intervals, overall gas mileage was 24.4, and the engine ran very strongly when I traded it in. Although it was always parked outside as my garage was reserved for a series of BMW convertibles, the E46 Bright Red paint held up very well, which I attribute largely to an application of Zymol Carbon wax every 4 months. Tom
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