2000 bmw 323ci..FIRST CAR..Need Advice

[netgeek]

i m getting a 2000 bmw 323ci with 19000 miles for $2000. This is my first ever car and since its a bimmer and second hand, I am very confused.

Please answer some questions for me:

1. how bad is it in winter/rains? How much do snow tires or sand bags in the trunk help? MY BIGGEST CONCERN

2. how expensive it is to maintain the car. I am not talking about something gone wrong which needs repair/replacement but the general oil change etc.

3. is there something else i can ask the dealer to provide like dealer warranty or maintenace for a few thousand miles or a couple of months?is such thing (delaer warranty) unheard of or common?

4. any other concerns or advice.

This is the biggest purchase i have ever made in my life andI just graduated out of college so it seems like a big decision forme and i would appreciate all the help you can give.

[madhatter17]

I assume you mean that you are getting it for $20,000 or else none of your other questions matter.... *grin*

The general maintenance on it is going to be relatively spendy (compared to say a Honda Civic or something) but well worth every penny for the difference in the drive.

In order to cut some of the cost, find a local mechanic that specializes in BMW work (other than the dealer). You should have all your maintenance covered by the BMW dealership for the first 5 years or 50,000 miles, then go to the local mechanic. You can't really go wrong with 19,000 miles on a 4 year old car either. I bought a 3000 323i that had 55K on it and it's running great...

I can't tell you one thing about snow (I live in Hawaii), but we do get ALOT of rain. I had a 5-speed Civic that would slip on these roads every time they got wet because half the pavement is composed of seashells. Since I got the Bimmer I haven't accidentally broken loose or hydroplaned once. It should have Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) which helps considerably in keeping you firmly rooted to the ground in most conditions.

I hope, for your sake, you buy this car. I doubt you'll drive any other maker's car again, unless you're forced to do so,

[ironman502]

BMW's are generally notorious for being terrible in the snow. I took mine out for one day last December when the roads were quite clear. It didn't go, stop or turn. Seriously, it took 50 feet to stop from 10 mph on a flat surface. I have heard of countless other drivers with similar experiences. I am sure that if you put some sandbags in the trunk and buy a set of snowtires, your car will have adequate grip, though be careful. In the long run, though, the exhilaration of driving the car in the summer far surpasses the inconvenience of sliding through the winter.

[ec437]

What tires were you running then? Maybe you need a 325ix and/or a 325xi!

[ironman502]

I had a pair of nearly bald things on the rear and some good Dunlops on the front. Not too good, I know, but my friend with a 318i and good tires got the same results. I've replaced my rubber since then. An iX would be the way to go, but they're really pricey, and I doubt that the owners of the 4 of them in the state of MN would be willing to sell.

[suecalli]

I lived in MI with 10' of snow and I can tell you that it is best to buy winter tires if you are going to be in that mess. I'm selling my set of steel rims, 16" with neusham (spelling) tires less than 10,000 miles on them for $ 600.00 for the set, made for 3 series BMW...just a thought

As far as rain goes you should be okay...

www.tirerack.com has some really good deals on low profile tires for the bimmers