Max, 19 years in the family and counting.

[raljr1]

In early 2006, Mrs. Raljr1 asked me to buy her a new BMW convertible. If I did, she said she'd keep it for 10 years. Two years later she realized it was small and other larger vehicles didn't seem to notice her and she was afraid on the road.

I bought her an SUV and our son bought the Beemer from me for half of what I paid.

Aaron drove it until this month and gave it to our 17 year old granddaughter. So Max, (the car's name) will stay in the family a while longer. With only 80k miles, another half dozen years should be a cinch .

Isabel cleaning Max.

Robert

 

[collectordude]

A used German car is the most expensive car you’ll ever buy.

 

[swsig]

As a 50-year member of the BMW Car Club of America, I am pleased to see that your granddaughter is learning to take good care of her beautiful new-to-her BMW. I hope she will continue to appreciate it, and will join the Club. However, there's one small, gentle, correction to your post I need to make. BMW automobiles are referred to as "Bimmers". The term "Beemer" is reserved for BMW motorcycles, a small but useful distinction. Maybe Beemerguy53 will come along and comment as well.

 

[SMSgt]

A used German car is the most expensive car you’ll ever buy.

In more ways then one.

 

[375hh1973]

Where does the 29 come from?

 

[boykinlp]

Where does the 29 come from?

I think it was a small miscalculation.
Larry

 

[taz666]

A 17yo with a convertible BMW?

 

[collectordude]

Make sure it has turn signals/working turn signals. I see a lot of bmws without turn signals or broken turn signals driving around.

 

[M29since14]

Cars and young people. A family I’m vaguely acquainted with has, IMO, a much too coddled high school age youngster. His parents recently bought him a CTS V. That doesn’t seem like a good choice for a young male. Hope it doesn’t end in tragedy.

That young lady and the BMW look like a safe bet, to me. It used to be her grandmother’s car. I imagine (hope) that means something to her. Great picture.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Are youngest son is still driving Barbara's 2010 328xi coup.

25 and a engineer.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Our 18-year-old granddaughter got a used German car for her birthday, a 4 door Volkswagen (with a 4 on the floor), None of her friends can drive a stick, so they'll never borrow it. When the car does a good job getting her around town she praises it in German. When it misbehaves, she chastises it in English! A good car can always understand the mother tongue!

Ivan

 

[LVSteve]

Make sure it has turn signals/working turn signals. I see a lot of bmws without turn signals or broken turn signals driving around.

I find that is more zip code than model dependent. There are places I cannot live in Vegas due to my refusal to hand over the turn signal bulbs to the HOA regardless of vehicle make.

 

[raljr1]

Where does the 29 come from?

I obviously failed math today.

 

[pawngal]

A used German car is the most expensive car you’ll ever buy.

Not always. Daughter got a 318i when she was 15, drove it for 6 years, only expense was a set of tires, battery, and normal maintenance. I don't remember the exact year but thinking it was a mid 80's model.

 

[Onomea]

A used German car is the most expensive car you’ll ever buy.

I had a couple of used BMWs, and also a used Lancia, in the 1990s. While both brands were wallet drainers, I gotta say, that Italian Lancia was the wurst. (What?!)

Dumped the last one, the wife's 1987 BMW 325 convertible in 2006 for a Lexus RX. Worry free Japanese cars, Toyota and Mazda, ever since.

 

[GypsmJim]

My 16 year old son's best friend got a brand new Porsch for his 16th birthday. How do you tell your son that we can't even afford to give him a used Ford for HIS birthday?

My next door neighbor had a one year old Cadillac that he gave to his grand daughter when she turned 16. (It was an easy trade because he wanted a new Jaguar anyway). She totaled it in less than a year. To replace it they gave her a NEW Mustang convertible and that didn't last a year either.

Not saying that ALL kids are that way, but the more they have to work to EARN things, the more they cherish what they have.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I used to subscribe to Hemmings Sports Cars and Exotics until they decided it was too good for this world. I then subscribed to their
Classic Car magazine for a couple of years, but it wasn't the same.

Those magazines had plenty of articles about high mileage German cars that had lasted a long time. The best car I ever owned was a 2007 BMW. I'm having to restrain myself to keep from buying a new Z4 to ride to the end of the road in. If they still made them without turbo's it would be harder to resist. A smooth, free revving inline six is my favorite engine type.

In general young women aren't as stupid as young boys, I'll bet she'll have a blast.

 

[LVSteve]

How are these kids getting insured on these vehicles. If you are under 25 in the UK and want to insure anything with a bit of power, the answer from the insurance company is either "give us a kidney" or a flat "no".

 

[pawngal]

How are these kids getting insured on these vehicles. If you are under 25 in the UK and want to insure anything with a bit of power, the answer from the insurance company is either "give us a kidney" or a flat "no".

Cheaper for girls. Honor roll students get a discount with many companies, same for taking a Driver's Ed course.

 

[Rodan]

A used German car is the most expensive car you’ll ever buy.

I'm perfectly happy with my 29 year old German car....

It's only been with me for 2 years, but these E36 series wagons were never brought to the US by BMW and have only been legal for import for a few years now. Mine was imported from Germany in 2022.

I've found that it's no more difficult to work on, and most parts are not any more expensive than for other cars of the 1990s. BMW has a large aftermarket, and also many factory parts are still available, unlike many American cars from the 1990s.