New or Used? The Schizoid BMW Owner Edition

Steve and Sajeev,

I have a 98 540 6-speed closing in on 184k miles, and I think it’s time to make some decisions on it. My commute is about 85 miles per day, 3-5 days per week. The things I replaced when I bought the car 60k miles ago are starting to wear out again (lower control arms). It has other issues as well. Some are imminent, others just looming.

I would like to spend less on cars. While repairing what you have (even an E39) is cheaper in the short term than financing (C-segment, for example), I need to break this repair cycle at some point, right?

Here are my options as I see it, and why I don’t like any of these options:

Keep fixing it. Seems to be the cheapest short term fix, but at this point the repairs aren’t going to stop. I don’t see this as a “spend a grand on it and be good for the next 40k” situation. While I still like the car, I don’t think love it anymore. Anything mechanical can be fixed, but creaks and rattles drive me nuts and are very difficult to silence. Besides, it still has the rust issue that can’t be fixed for any sane amount of money.

• Find a used car. Used car prices are beyond outrageous. For what my car is worth, I’m not going to be able to get something very nice. I don’t think I can improve on my car for even double what my car is worth. Seems all I can really do is buy someone else’s problems that will hopefully be cheaper to repair. I also think selling my car might be a PITA.

• Buy new. Focus, Dart, or Cruze all look worth a test drive. I’m anxious to see the new Fusion as well. Unfortunately, even something like a Focus SE hatch would run close to $20k. Take an optimistic trade in value of $4k and a favorable interest rate of 2.9% on a probable 60 month loan, and I think that’s about $275 per month. Almost $3,300/year in payments alone. I can repair a lot for that, even paying someone else. And this doesn’t even touch on my insurance doubling or depreciation. New cars are horrifically expensive.

Steve Says:

Stop being such a nickelshitter and fix the damn car.

Think about it for a sec. You own a legendary machine. One that if made new today, would put all the other new vehicles you already mentioned to shame. Investing in older cars is a hard thing to do. I realize that. But the outcome is infinitely better nine times out of ten.

So let’s look at this from a human perspective and examine another type of modern day legend. A true cinematic legend. A man who was the Gene Kelly of his generation A dude that dropped out of my hometown high school way back in the day.

John Travolta… did he pack his shit up and move to Fresno after a few shitty movies in the early-80’s? Hell no! He did a little middle-of-the-road time. Pretended to talk to babies, and finally found a director the would finally fulfill his talents. Before you know it, the guy rediscovered his groove and made the comeback of comebacks.

Your BMW 540i is of the same caliber.

You need to do one of two things. Ante up with top quality parts for the few inevitable bumps on the road that come with this type of machine. Or buy the $20,000+ piece of modern day compromise that would likely bring you back into the same fix, with more debt and less to show for it.

I vote for the Travolta of BMW’s. Of course, like Travolta, you may find a few other unique surprises with the 540i along the way. But at least you will have developed the healthy habits that allow you to enjoy other great automobiles to the fullest of extent.

As Samuel L Jackson would say, “Pay the bitch!”

Sajeev Says:

Reading your letter was brutal, because you are too picky. That’s fine, I am the same way: hence the brutality.

I left, kicking and screaming, the world of daily driving my Mark VIII to get something new and unquestionably reliable. The point: the Mark VIII and the E39 are quite possibly the high watermarks for styling/driving pleasure for their respective brands. Your next ride won’t give you any of the stuff you really want, TRUST ME. Abandon hope: fixing the E39 isn’t a super smart idea, if you worry about the likelihood of breakdowns on your 85 mile commute. It’s time to buy something you won’t love…at least not at first.

So, as the story goes, I bought a 5-speed DOHC Ford Ranger. I love it, even if most people think I’m out of my frickin’ mind. Perhaps I am, and perhaps that’s what I needed: the Ranger is kinda like a Mark VIII…isn’t it?

I think you, Mister E39 Man, are Kia Optima material. Yes, it drives the wrong wheels with a mandatory automatic…but it’s one of the few pure sedans that emulates the E39 in spirit. And you could probably afford it.