keep after lease?

[advancedtekniqs]

Hey guys,

just wanted all your opinions on this. I have about a year left on my lease and was 100% sure i'd keep when I first got it. But over the course of the year I've had it, i've had one of my tail lamps die, my amp die (which resulted in the car being kept at the dealer for a month), bad door seals, some metal stuff falling off the convertible latch thing in the trunk, and a few weeks ago a plow truck backed up into it taking the driver's mirror off completely and damaging my rear quarter panel and driver side door.

I still LOVE the car to death and coming from a 335i which was enjoyable but not a keeper, I really would like to keep this car. I'm afraid I've got one of the bad ones though with all the problems and the accident will definitely affect resale value.

Should I just give it up and look for a used one after lease is up?

[Drjoeb]

Give it up. Just get a new one. You'll love the new one just as much if not more

[flpnout]

After the plow incident.....I'd say give it up! Get another, an M3, or 1M. Personally I like both Z4 & M3. I'd love to get one before the final close out on the V8 and keep my Z4.

[advancedtekniqs]

the only reason i want to keep is because of the N54. There's just so much tuning possibility and I'm not sure if the N55 would give the same feeling or has the same power gains with a JB3.

[Lackey]

Get a new one. Start the love affair all over.

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by advancedtekniqs

the only reason i want to keep is because of the N54. There's just so much tuning possibility and I'm not sure if the N55 would give the same feeling or has the same power gains with a JB3.

The wreck does seem to cast a dark cloud on the car after all the other mechanical problems. But the mechanical problems considered by themselves point to trouble in the future. You probably got an early one and let's face it that any make/model of car have problems with the low vin numbers while they work the bugs out of the assembly line.

As others have said, if you get a new one, maybe even a 35is if you can afford it, you'll get the same n54 engine but with a few more bells and whistles, such as slightly improved horsepower and torque, suspension, steering and appearance. Time will tell but it might even have slightly better collectible value a few years from now.

Sounds like you really like the Z4 so I recommend you keep one, but not that one.

[Wraith.]

New one, no reason to take that baggage with you. As a matter of fact it sounds like this is the ideal leasing situation..., regardless of what has transpired you can simply walk away. Personally, I'd give some serious thought to picking up the last of the M3 V8's....

[narcolo]

Don't keep it. I made that mistake after my lease on my E85. I had low miles and the car was mint. Then it literally fell apart after the warranty period was up.

If anything, maybe you could consider getting it "certified" after the lease period. I forget how much that costs, but you get additional coverage for 2 years and up to 100k miles...(ask BMWNA)

Also keep in mind that as an 09' its the first model year for the E89...who knows what problems my arise?

[Dr Stig 2]

If you were to buy a used one instead of buying out your own lease, there is always the argument of "better the devil you know".
Sort of depends on how bad your devil is compared to the potential devils in someone elses used car

[advancedtekniqs]

Originally Posted by Wraith.

New one, no reason to take that baggage with you. As a matter of fact it sounds like this is the ideal leasing situation..., regardless of what has transpired you can simply walk away. Personally, I'd give some serious thought to picking up the last of the M3 V8's....

I guess you're right. I was deciding between the Z4 and the M3 and ultimately ended up with the Z4. I guess it is a good chance to get into the M3 next year. I will miss having an open top though.