[Stinger]

I love driving my E93 and find it a great way to get to and from work everyday, but there are days I'd rather just leave it parked in the garage away from the rain and snow. A couple months back, I started searching Craigslist and AutoTrader for an used E36 or even an E30 BMW 3-series model to use as my 'winter' car.

I finally found a perfect example last weekend in a 1993 318is 5 speed manual coupe that I bought for $3,000. It is in great shape, though it has 182k miles on it. Everything runs well, it had a recent tune up about 3k miles back and was being used as a commuter car for a family in a neighboring upscale town that took good care of it. One of things I really liked hearing from the prior owner was how they replaced the leather on the driver's seat a couple years ago because it was heavily worn. Now that's someone who takes care of their cars.

Unfortunately, this nice little find may be short lived for me. I had a hell of a time convincing my wife I needed another car to keep my E93 baby even more flawless and preserved. So, the agreement was that I was looking for a car for her brother and that if he didn't want to take the car I bought then I get to keep it. My brother in-law is coming down this weekend to check the 318is out and I'm certain he will drive off with it.

So my question to you is what would you do? Should I do a little side deal with the brother in-law and possibly risk the side deal coming out and biting me in the ass if my wife finds out? Should I just let him look at it and hope he doesn't go with it? Should I rig the car to have a "problem" thus waning his interest?

Any other thoughts?

[BK]

Originally Posted by Stinger

Unfortunately, this nice little find may be short lived for me. I had a hell of a time convincing my wife I needed another car to keep my E93 baby even more flawless and preserved. So, the agreement was that I was looking for a car for her brother and that if he didn't want to take the car I bought then I get to keep it. My brother in-law is coming down this weekend to check the 318is out and I'm certain he will drive off with it.

Well, that was the deal, wasn't it? IMO if you want a winter beater, you should have agreed with your wife that you are buying a car for yourself, not for her brother.

[DenverJayhawk]

LOL. That is one heck of a funny story. Nice find! I love those older 3 series. There's something about them that is just classic.

How about telling your brother in law what a pain in the ass it is to keep older, high mileage bmws runnning and that it "may" need a lot of work in the near future?

[Stinger]

Originally Posted by BK

Well, that was the deal, wasn't it? IMO if you want a winter beater, you should have agreed with your wife that you are buying a car for yourself, not for her brother.

Fair enough. And I agree. But sometimes in marriage a car is found before the convincing has reached the outcome I am looking for.

[Gripster]

If you're using joint finances, then be straight with your wife. She'll find out some day (her brother will tell) and off to divorce court you go.

If you're not using joint finances, then be straight with your wife. She might not like it, but she'll respect that it's something that you want and are paying for.

Option 3 is to just use the E93 for winter. The thing was engineered in Germany where they have brutal winters. Unless you're keeping it for more than 10 years, I doubt it would make a difference.

Don't forget that it's $3k + insurance + maintenance + registration etc...

[nidget]

If you love her (and I suppose you do because you say you're married), don't lie to her. You'll regret it sooner or later.

P.S.: What winters do you have there ? Here, 50km away from the south of Germany, I would never consider buying an old model rear wheel car for winter: the current models are fine because they have the latest version of the technology, but the old models don't stay or move on the road very long with the winters we have here.

[matt_435xi]

dude the hood looks orange compared to the rest of the body, you got ripped off! do your best job of salesmanship and sell your brother-in-law that tangerine BMW.

ok i am just kidding, sounds like you are in a pickle. i dig the lines on your (brother-in-law's) '93 318.

but seriously spend half what you paid for that car (aside from ins. mait. etc) and get a nice set of winter tires/wheels. our cars run great in the snow, and if you are in a part of Michigan that gets feet of snow (rather then inches) the '93 318 will not do much better then your e93!

[CirrusSR22]

I'd just use the E93 as a winter car. I'm not sure why people are so scared to drive their cars in the winter; snow and ice won't hurt , even after a decade of exposure. My 318ti is over 12 years old with 171,000 and is just barely starting to show some rust after a life of Pennsylvania winters and now five Minnesota winters. I'm guessing 12 years from now you won't be too upset if your car starts to rust a tiny bit, which is doubtful anyway since corrosion protection gets better all the time.

[lipek]

+1 sell the car get good winter tires you'll be better of that way.

[BMWFM]

+ 1 on driving your e93. Forget about the old car. + Don't lie to your wife. Brother will tell anyway.


FM

[Stinger]

OMG you guys are way too serious. I was trying to be tongue and cheek with the ideas.

The idea of creative ways to make the car mine wasn't so much for a Doctor Phil session..lol. Rather, I was wondering if people in a similar situation would approach the dilemma in another way.

Apparently all of you are perfect, no lying husbands so I asked the wrong crowd.

I've been married for 13 years. Do I lie. Hell yeah we all lie a bit. This isn't the catastrophic ending a marriage kind of lie. She knows how much it costs, it's totally affordable for us, and not a big deal in the big picture. I'm still trying to get her on board with the idea of a winter car, that's all. I'm in one place and she is in another - that's marriage for you. So, let's not be too dramatic. I'm just thinking a white lie to get to keep a new toy.

Regarding winters: It's not too bad here and yes I already have winter wheels/tires for my E93, it's more about keeping mileage down and protecting the body from the harshness of winter roads and potholes. Also, I owned a '97 328i back in the late nineties and with some Dunlops it drove just as well as my E93 in the winter here in Michigan.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by Stinger

OMG you guys are way too serious. I was trying to be tongue and cheek with the ideas.

The idea of creative ways to make the car mine wasn't so much for a Doctor Phil session..lol. Rather, I was wondering if people in a similar situation would approach the dilemma in another way.

Apparently all of you are perfect, no lying husbands so I asked the wrong crowd.

I've been married for 13 years. Do I lie. Hell yeah we all lie a bit. This isn't the catastrophic ending a marriage kind of lie. She knows how much it costs, it's totally affordable for us, and not a big deal in the big picture. I'm still trying to get her on board with the idea of a winter car, that's all. I'm in one place and she is in another - that's marriage for you. So, let's not be too dramatic. I'm just thinking a white lie to get to keep a new toy.

Regarding winters: It's not too bad here and yes I already have winter wheels/tires for my E93, it's more about keeping mileage down and protecting the body from the harshness of winter roads and potholes. Also, I owned a '97 328i back in the late nineties and with some Dunlops it drove just as well as my E93 in the winter here in Michigan.

you lying, stealin, cheatin husband! i bet your avatar is not even a picture of your wife washing/waxing your car! perv!!!

[MooseCaboose]

i understand how you would want to preserve your shiny new car. but in the end youll have to understand its just a 3 series. if i were you, id just drive it and get as much out of it everday as possible. after all, its build with german engineering, get the most out of it!

[Stinger]

Originally Posted by MooseCaboose

i understand how you would want to preserve your shiny new car. but in the end youll have to understand its just a 3 series. if i were you, id just drive it and get as much out of it everday as possible. after all, its build with german engineering, get the most out of it!

+1 Cool perspective. I like what you and CirrusSR22 have posted on this dilemma of mine. Maybe it's fine just letting the car go. My brother in-law is a great guy and I'm sure he'll be excited about the car (until the first repair, that is...)

thanks

[matt_435xi]

i didn't realize they had convertibles in Michigan

[Stinger]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

i didn't realize they had convertibles in Michigan

Only insane pervs buy them here.

[simp0man]

I wish my commuter is a three. Be a man and do it.......behind her back.

[CirrusSR22]

Originally Posted by MooseCaboose

i understand how you would want to preserve your shiny new car. but in the end youll have to understand its just a 3 series. if i were you, id just drive it and get as much out of it everday as possible. after all, its build with german engineering, get the most out of it!

I agree! As much as I love my car, I've hit the point where I get more joy out of using my car for every situation I can, instead of being something to look at and wax every week. Racking up the miles wherever I can! Dirt roads, snow, ice, salt, bird poop, towing, hot sun, whatever. All-day, everyday I've also really gotten into hitting 250,000 someday! The ownership "experience" is just so much better this way.

[methodtim]

This is silly. You shouldn't try to deceive your wife. All jokes aside, that's not really the foundation of a good marriage now, is it? If you want a new car, just tell your wife what you want and if she says no, well, that's what begging and pleading are for.

[968PORSCHE]

You have a good point. As soon as it breaks he will be quick to sell it back at a discount. Then you will be doing wifey a favor by helping out her bro. Everyone's happy!

[wuufer001]

i'm liking this thead, very funny.
anyways, a deal's a deal unless you want to tell her the 'real' stoy behind this car. i don't think you should even thinking of pulling some shit on the car which in turn as you said, will bite you ass

[Orient330iNYC]

park it under a tree and feed the birds ALOT.