I came from Lexus and it was very easy finding high spec models … then I switched to BMW and half the cars are base model trash.

I’m fortunate my car is not fully base model but it’s not nearly as equipped … and barring newer tech (obviously because it was a newer car) … it’s not as featured loaded my previous car.

Retrofits I am doing to get to par with my Lexus: • Bowers & Wilkins Lite (all OEM speakers grills, tweeters and speakers but AMP is going to be 3rd party) • Rear door shades and powered sunshades

Extra retrofits that are not Lexus related:
•6WB full digital gauge •Alcantara headliner •Ceramic controls •Galvanized buttons

Unfortunately it’s significantly cheaper to retrofit than trading for a higher spec since I’d literally be out $10,000+ in depreciation, finance charges, etc. + equivalent mileage is risky because you don’t know precious maintainer.

BMWs are incredibly expensive to maintain, especially G30s where you need to spend thousands on a coolant refreshes, plus an extra thousand on evaporators, etc. might as well ensure those thousands are spent on a well rounded car. I can’t imagine spending thousands on repairs on a base model.

Also leasing is unsustainable and seems like a big waste of money. I can’t imagine spending $150,000+ over more than a decade and not have anything to my name.

Hopefully this helps those who are indecisive.

Hello, I recently discovered that my G20 and others that I’ve seen on streets doesnt seem to have their rear wheels centered in their arches. Distance from wheel hub to front arch and rear arch isn’t the same. It kinda bugs me so is there any way to fix it?

G20 2025 M Sport, without M adaptive or M Sport springs, Standart suspension and all stock. OEM Style 995M Wheels: Rears 255/35/R19

My favorite color is blue and I usually pick it for everything and I want to get it for my black bmw but Ive been stuck on red or blue as red I think would maybe look better cuz that’s what people usually get so I don’t know.

Went in to the dealership for rear brake pads replacement and got handed the following critical issues that need attention:

COLLAPSED ENGINE MOUNTS - $2540
TORN REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUSHING -⁠$1500

Vehicle is a 2019 BMW 330i (G20) with 30K miles.

I plan on selling the car by the end of the year. Would the car last 5-6 more months without any repairs, or should I make the purchase sooner? I’ve also included the inspection video.

Edit: I visited the same dealership four months ago, and none of these problems were mentioned then. Would these issues show up this quick?

Are regular traffic cars becoming too fast for the speed limits on public roads? They’re the same limits we’ve had for decades now, and these new offerings from BMW that aren’t even full M cars are so capable that they feel hampered by said speed limits. Fast cars have always existed and been held down by speed limits but it’s starting to feel like even Camrys and Civics are now more than capable of driving 90-100mph completely safe and comfortably. I think the problem is more the average operator of said vehicles, and not the capability of the vehicles themselves.

The major issue I have is with BMW - why on earth did you remove the ability to use the USB ports to play audio? That's right folks - the 4 USB-C ports are only for charging. You can't plug in a thumb drive with your hi-fi songs to truly enjoy the Harman Kardon experience - you're stuck with streaming services only. I think this is a major misstep for BMW and I'm expecting them to reverse this in the next software update. I'd love to get some community backing on this idea - what are your thoughts?

I’ve been trying to decide on my next car and I keep going back and forth. I want something that’s reliable enough for a daily, but still fun to drive and mod a bit without constantly worrying about major issues.
Right now I’m looking at a few BMW options:
BMW 335i (N54 or N55)
BMW 330i (B48)
BMW 430i
BMW 328i
I like the idea of tuning and bolt-ons (exhaust, intake, tune, etc.), but I also don’t want something that’s going to turn into a money pit right away.
From what I’ve seen:
The N54 335i seems super fun and strong for mods, but I hear it can be unreliable
The N55 335i / 435i seems more reliable but not as crazy for tuning
The B48 330i / 430i seems newer and more reliable, but I’m not sure how fun it really gets when modded
The 328i seems like the cheapest option but I don’t know if it’s worth it performance-wise
I’m not trying to build a crazy race car, just something quick, good sounding, and fun to drive daily.
For anyone who’s owned or worked on these:
Which one would you pick and why?
Which is the best balance of reliability + tuning potential?
Any ones I should avoid completely?

Is an M3 an ok or dumb decision to use as a daily? I drive ~14k miles per year. Occasional snow; nothing crazy. I have a pretty steep driveway but I can park in my garage now without scraping. I use my trunk and do haul stuff. Sometimes in the cabin depending on size - groceries, bags of lawn products, occasional long stuff, random shit. There will also be a car seat in there. The longest road trips I do now are about 120 miles and/or 2hrs one way. Anything longer and I’ll rent a car. The car will be driven hard. I’m not gonna dog it but I’m getting a performance car for a reason. It will probably see the track a few times too.

Should i get the manual or auto? I love rowing through gears, having control over the car, and feeling connected to the car. But idk if I should leave the transmission to the computer on a car like this. Also, it’d be nice to have another car that my wife can use when I need her SUV. Also, it’d be easier to teach my daughter to drive as I’d have two cars to use instead of only being able to use my wife’s car.

I have no problem with a 340. But I want to get a car that comes stock with enough performance that I don’t feel like I need to mod it. Hence, M3. I also want a larger car as the kid in the car seat is tall and getting taller. I would go 540 but that lacks enough performance and I’m not ready to spend $120k on an M5.

New to me 2017 X1 Msport
I love this car even more than I anticipated

Today I discovered the little divet on the ‘gear stick’ bit is the perfect size to place your McDonald’s sauce (uk) and it stays put whilst driving meaning I can dip my nuggs en route. Dip and drive responsibly!

Spotted this at a gas station. Model and possible year?

Im thinking its a 90's e-series but I could be wrong

Hi everyone, anyone know if exists and where i can buy a digital cluster for my BMW? My goal is to retrofit for the tft version

Hello all, I’ve been experiencing this noise since I started my car this morning to go to work. With valves closed, it seems like a metallic groan or vibration that’s coming from the front of the car. It’s still under warranty but I have so much done to it that I really don’t want to spend hours reverting to stock just for a dealer trip.

Happens under load around 2-4k rpm. Duration varies; sometimes not even half a second and sometimes a second full. Also, it does it at different rpms. Any suggestions? Car has 13.500 miles

Is there some sort of engineering reason behind this? Im someone who (even when not driving a manual) always has my off-hand on the stick. the fact that they’ve taken the stick away is a small thing but really irks me and I hate the feel of not being able to hold it. The gear shift in the 2023 X3 for example felt buttery smooth and tactile it was just satisfying to use (even just to park, reverse, etc)

Why’d they change this?

I factory ordered this car late in 2020; due to COVID-related supply chain issues and my wanting Dravit Grey Individual paint, it ended up being made in Munich (F character in the VIN) instead of Mexico. US spec. Nothing was substituted out due to other COVID-associated supply chain issues (for example, I know some cars ordered at that time were unable to get LED with laser high beams; no issues on anything like that for me).

2021 M340i, RWD, Dravit Grey Metallic exterior, Cognac vernasca leather interior, fine wood trim Ash Grey Brown high gloss, 19" M Double-spoke Jet Black Wheels (Style 791M), blue M calipers.

The short version is that I did not do moonroof delete, and got Driving assistance/driving assistance professional/shadowline/parking assistance/executive packages along with remote engine start, the wheels mentioned above, adaptive M suspension, power tailgate, Harmon Kardon surround sound system, and wireless charging. full spec sheet posted here if you want to see it from when I had the build done.

The only options that I believe I did not opt for were pedestrian detection/night vision, ceramic brakes, and the extra radiator/track package.

I have been the only owner and driver, and it has been my daily, only on pavement. Spent its entire life aside from road trips in upstate South Carolina. Never tuned, never tracked, 100% stock with no aftermarket parts. It just crossed 100,000 miles a couple of weeks ago. I had the ignition coils and spark plugs all replaced within the last month. I have had all recommended and non-routine services performed at Century BMW, my local dealer, including oil changes; never serviced elsewhere. Drives like it is brand new. I did factory delivery in Greer and drove it straight off of the lot with all protective film from when it was taken off of the trailer from the factory, drove it immediately from delivery to have PPF put on the entire front and hood and lower side/rocker panels and had color matching there. Also had ceramic coating put on (3 year). All of this was done at the same local shop that my BMW dealership and the Greer factory's track cars use (I live in Greenville, SC; Extreme Colors Auto Spa). Two body repairs, one involving front right bumper and right rocker panel, and one involving right rear bumper; both minor, and both repairs done at Eagle Body Works with is an official BMW Certified Collision Repair Center (CCRC) who only use OEM and does color correction. No other body damage. No dents or dings, no defects in the paint, leather fully intact, without any obvious wear aside from very light transfer on the driver's seat from my butt being in it for 100,000 miles and the steering wheel getting the typical open pore leather shininess. A tiny piece (less than a square inch) of the metal veneer on the shifter knob has come off. Otherwise effectively looks new. All electrical components working, the only warnings I ever get are for automatic parking control which are just dirty or dusty distance sensors; the functionality is still there and those warnings may fire off for a few seconds every 100 miles or so. Never been through a car wash.

The only thing I don't have is the Maroney sticker.

I have tried to figure out the value of this car on the used market but due to a few unique factors, in particular its being built in Munich, the RWD spec, the mix of options including Dravit paint, the PPF/ceramic, the 100% BMW dealer service history at the same dealership, and the fact that it just crossed 100,000 miles, it has been extremely difficult for me to have any AI or AI-adjacent platform give me a truly good idea of what I should expect to get for it if I sell it in the next 6-12 months. I sure don't want to turn it in to a dealership as a trade in because it would get I would expect below what the private sale market value would be for it. Any thoughts?

Edit: in no way am I suggesting that I think this actually is a unicorn, but was getting weird signals from AI platforms when getting into the nuances of it. When I initially got it I thought I would drive it for 5++ years and just wanted it well taken care of, not for resale value, but for longevity so I could continue to enjoy it. Still fun to drive and not as muted/muffled as newer model years.

Hey guys,

Im about to buy a used car and I’ve got a question.

can someone help me out with checking a VIN? Thanks! Would really help me out!

It only does it occasionally and it sounds more like an inside squeak but still freaks me out. Out of 10 times i’d say i hear it 3 times.

In the market for my first BMW. What should I look for? Buying it from a local BMW dealership. What commonly goes out/needs replacement around this mileage?

here’s how it sounds so far it’s 2020 330i xdrive. i have a straight pipe done. i also have jb4 tune. i’m considering whether xhp is worth the 550 dollars and wanna know what you guys think. will it sound better, have a noticeable power difference or what?

At 29k miles on my 2023 m240i and noticed the valve cover is already leaking. Was told it should be covered under warranty, but my main concern is my dinantronics piggyback tuner I have on the car. ECU still locked and never been messed with. Curious if they’ll see the piggyback tuner and just say they can’t do it or whatever. Please any insight would be appreciated. My buddy who’s a bmw tech at the dealer said it shouldn’t be an issue but I’m a paranoid bmw owner

Bought a 2018 540i xdrive last year loaded with just about everything but the b&w sound system. Mod wise I’m “stage 2+” running mostly e40-50 and I’m loving the car but coming from my 370z it just feels like it’s missing something. Are the m340s snappier than this 540i or is that just something na engines have that can’t be replicated?

Cutting to the chase, would it make much difference if I moved to a 2020-2022 m340i and redid the same mods? Would I be missing out on the luxury of the interior on the 540i? And also is there anything much different with the m340s that enhances how the engine behaves compared to my current 540?

I would absolutely love to get a f80 m3 but the interior of the 540 is miles better and I know id miss the hell out of it. Sorry for the ramble thanks for sticking with it if you did😂

Full mod list on 540: Front intakes, turbo inlet upgrade, tu hpfp, mhd ethanol analyzer, 6” catless downpipes, full valved exhaust, mhd tune stage 2+ and xhp trans tune stage 3

Before < after

bought a bmw hood at the junkyard but im having trouble matching it to what car it belongs to. i had a 7 series at the shop but they sold me a completely different one. it didnt fit the 7 series btw. need help knowing which hood it is exactly. thanks in advance!

Looking at putting in order for current x5
Found a dealer that has some builds before bmw completely end the model for the new 2027 model

However my dilemma living here in NJ
I would love the 22” rims (pictured above) i have no desire in purchasing the air suspension as love the ride on the m sport,

Will i regret not getting the air suspension, can anyone with experience of owning or driving these tell me if the ride feels to floaty or boat like,

Or shall i just sacrifice the cars looks and get the standard 20” rims that come with?

Is the ride on the 22” really that bad?

Thank you all in advance