Decision time: keep or sell? Advice, please.

[Busterboo]

As I've noted on the 'E89 Comprehensive Problem List', I've had a BMW Insured Warranty on my 35iS since I bought it at 20k miles 7 years ago. It's now reached 100k miles and decision(s) time:

1 I like the car. Should I keep it?
2 If I keep it, should I buy BMW's 100k-mile+ Insured Warranty (just over £1k with £250 excess)?
3 If I replace it with something similar, what should I buy (up to, say, £30-35k cash)?

(p.s. This is not a covert sales post. If I decide to sell the car, I'll say so and put it on Marketplace.)

 

[matsmith749]

At a 100k miles + the current climate, how much do you reckon it's worth? £12k - £15k my guess (unknown condition, location, extras etc)

I would sell due to age old belief that all car parts are going egg-shaped by 100k / 10 years. They become one long repair bill (all of course my biassed opinion passed to me by my father, and his father before that).

What else is out there?

2016 lower miles e89 35is? £20k (more at a dealer) will buy you a nice 2016 35is with everything on about 40k miles.

For 30-35k maybe a boxter?

If you are old enough, v8 Jag f types have presence.

Go for a complete change - I'm eying up Porsche Cayenne's just for a change of pace. Options options options.

 

[Pondrew]

As above. 100k on an E89 of any description is high. You will get beaten up on your selling price if you sell.

As for 'something similar for £30-35k', the G29 M40i is the logical choice. I have had both the N54 and B58 engines and the B58 is night and day better in all departments (especially the 'worry factor').

 

[Mr Tidy]

I think given point 1 keeping it seems the obvious answer. After 100K miles it isn't going to depreciate much now!

Point 2 depends how brave you feel! But I assume if you don't renew it you'll never be able to get a BMW warranty again so that's a tough call. Given some of the N54 engine and E89 roof issues it might be money well spent.

As for Point 3 what could you get as a replacement in that budget that you'd rather have that won't depreciate anyway without throwing up some bills!

 

[Phoenixboy]

Am in a similar position to OP.
30i, not as many miles, looking to change in the spring.
Am leaning towards a G29, but depending on what they drop to in 2024, being 5yrs old on an early one, or its a 35i/s with low mileage and a good warranty....

 

[pvr]

The warranty of 1k is nothing compared to the potential costs but I don’t know what is covered under that (ie is everything suddenly wear and tear). Around that mileage the ones I have seen are around 8-9k.

If you don’t sell now, when will you?

 

[matsmith749]

£8-9k for a 35is? I don't think we are there yet.

Right now on auto trader there are 3 over 70k miles, 2 at around 95k miles.

Prices are £14k - £15k, obviously subject to negotiation etc etc.

I think the WBAC would be circa £10k.

 

[tiglon]

My first question would be, what has been replaced on it so far?

£1,000 per year for a warranty (that IIRC won't cover all of the big ticket items), plus £250 excess every time something needs doing (what's the betting that they insist on replacing just one injector each time) seems poor value for money to me.

Question 2, do you want to change cars?

35is values seemed to have dropped recently and now doesn't look like a good time to sell. I'm not sure values of the higher mileage examples like ours will get any better though. That said, it doesn't sound like whether you get a couple of grand more or less for your car is a big issue for you, so - would you prefer to be driving something else?

 

[B21]

Reverse the logic…

What is it that you want to buy? Sounds like you’re struggling on that one…F Type is what I would chose..

Prices on high miler 35i/35is are low..the last two that sold at that mileage that I know about went for around £10k-£11k.

If yiu can’t find anytime ‘better’ I’d soldier on with the car I knew..

Since you are not into mods then a decent warranty for peace of mind..

No reason why the car shouldn’t do another 100k__

Although late in the day I’d just get the oil changed every 5k / annually..

Good to go

 

[Busterboo]

Thank you all for your replies so far. Let me answer some of them (in no particular order) and then hope for more ...

1 The sale/part-ex value of my present 35iS doesn't bother me, insofar as it'll go for what it goes
2 BMW's Insured Warranty is, in my experience, excellent (and doesn't "insist on replacing just one injector each time")
3 I like the F-Type V8 engine, but not the car it's in
4 The G29 is as ugly as sin. Indeed, the whole BMW range ain't much better
5 Porsche design died with the 997-2.

 

[Pondrew]

You have just ruled out most of the 'similar' cars on the market, then.

Only two left that I can think of: Merc SL (or SLK), or Audi TT. All Yuk!

Of course there is the Mazda MX5...but that has 1/2 the grunt of a 35is E89.

Sell your E89 and buy a lower miles E89! :lol:

 

[tiglon]

Sell your E89 and buy a lower miles E89! :lol:

Problem solved. This, or keep your current car.

And get the Warranty.

 

[Nictrix]

Keep the car and stick the money you would have spent on the warranty in a savings account in case you need it.

 

[PointedMarlin]

Looking at your original post & the follow up answers

I think you’re leaning towards selling & trying to get a lower mileage e89

Otherwise I think you’ve got to completely consider a different type of car so you don’t compare what you are driving to what you were driving

For me my eyes would be wandering towards an F Type Jag or A Cayman with the budget I’m imagining you have but you have ruled both those out

 

[True-Blue]

How reliable has the car been so far and how many claims have you made on the warranty to date?

 

[B21]

Thank you all for your replies so far. Let me answer some of them (in no particular order) and then hope for more ...

1 The sale/part-ex value of my present 35iS doesn't bother me, insofar as it'll go for what it goes
2 BMW's Insured Warranty is, in my experience, excellent (and doesn't "insist on replacing just one injector each time")
3 I like the F-Type V8 engine, but not the car it's in
4 The G29 is as ugly as sin. Indeed, the whole BMW range ain't much better
5 Porsche design died with the 997-2.

Keep the car...get and keep getting the BMW warranty,,buying a slightly newer 35is is counter productive..it may well have its own box of issues, irrespective of age or mileage..nothing apart from a few obscure software changes took place on the user interface..nothing else changed..if you want treat it to some fresh tyres (not BRF), maybe abetter audio, carplay, a decent paint correction..

 

[flybobbie]

Stick with what you know, by 100k surely the known things that go wrong have already been replaced, if not, replace them.

 

[matsmith749]

I'm guessing it's an early e89 - maybe 2010?

13 years old, 100k miles. Every bearing, bush, rubber part will be close to (or have exceeded) it's lifespan. I wouldn't keep it.

As to what you change to, that's your choice.

 

[Busterboo]

I'm guessing it's an early e89 - maybe 2010?
13 years old, 100k miles. Every bearing, bush, rubber part will be close to (or have exceeded) it's lifespan.

How do you know that?

 

[Phoenixboy]

I'm guessing it's an early e89 - maybe 2010?
13 years old, 100k miles. Every bearing, bush, rubber part will be close to (or have exceeded) it's lifespan.

How do you know that
[/quote
i did wonder the same thing.
if the car has been well maintained, i would imagine you would know if every bearing, bush and rubber part was shot.
your not one of those bmw tecs that sends you a complimentary health check are you?
it could be in better condition that a lot of these low mileage, locked away for half the year toys, that only get serviced occasionally because they dont do many miles....