And you think ZR-1 prices are down?

[WARP TEN]

Originally Posted by A26B

I owned 1 BMW, 750i Sport. Cool in some respects & lacking in others. Last one I will ever own.
Both front window motors went out at the same time, $900 to fix. Alternator too small & wont charge adequately unless driven every day for at least 30-45 minutes. All to add a tenth or two to overall fuel economy. Not all German engineering is practical.
Couldn't even monitor individual tire pressures or oil change usage. For a Sport model, a basic tool.


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Actually Jerry, the real reason the battery doesn't charge adequately is even more interesting. In order to achieve the noted tiny improvement in gas mileage, they set up the cars so that the alternator only charges the battery when the car is coasting or braking. In Europe, no problem--lots of hills. In the US, especially in states like Oklahoma, it doesn't work so well--long flat trips. BMW was regularly replacing batteries once a year under warranty on a number of 5 and 7 series cars especially with the twin turbo V8s, and maybe some others. Might have started with 2011 F10 series, or a couple of years into that series. Once you are out of warranty you are on your own. And they couldn't fix the problem directly because then they would have had to re-certify all the models affected with the EPA, a prohibitive undertaking. I have an old 2010 535xi (with only 40,000 miles) which is not one of the years affected, so I am happy with it. But when the Z06 is off the lift and the BMW up for a week or more I the summer, I put the BMW on a float charger. --Bob

[A26B]

Thanks for the info. It got so I didn't trust the car & I won't have my wife out in an unreliable car.
She now has a Lincoln MKS with eco-boost. Great car with lots of nice & useful options + very comfortable.
We had a Lexus SC400 many years ago. Loved it until some of the lights in the center console went out. $1800 for new panel or $1400 for rebuilt. Dumped it too.
I won't own another foreign car, certainly not out of warranty. Getting bad enough with domestic vehicles when shop rates are $135/hr.


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[WARP TEN]

Originally Posted by A26B

Thanks for the info. It got so I didn't trust the car & I won't have my wife out in an unreliable car.
She now has a Lincoln MKS with eco-boost. Great car with lots of nice & useful options + very comfortable.
We had a Lexus SC400 many years ago. Loved it until some of the lights in the center console went out. $1800 for new panel or $1400 for rebuilt. Dumped it too.
I won't own another foreign car, certainly not out of warranty. Getting bad enough with domestic vehicles when shop rates are $135/hr.


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Local BMW dealer rates are $170/hr. And not owning a foreign car out of warranty is a good idea. Even my good friend and used car manager at a local BMW dealer tells me not to buy a used one. Mine is well out (4 years regular+2 years Certified) but I haven't had any major work needed. I am tempted to get a new one just for the warranty but my wife won't let me. She thinks that a ten year old car is just fine for me. And after owning a couple of now 20 year old cars, it's hard to argue with her. Oh, well.--Bob

[XfireZ51]

Come on Bob! Put your foot down sir.

[WARP TEN]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Come on Bob! Put your foot down sir.

Great advice from someone who wouldn't dare put his foot down ....Bob

[ZR-1 Franz]

As I told you, I wouldn't drive a German car, even if somebody would give me
one!
I am happy with our cars: '90 ZR-1
'91 L-98 Coupe
'64 Impala SS 409 / 425 HP
'01 Blazer S-10 ZR-2
'12 (Fiat) Abarth 500
and for working '78 Blazer K5 (still a fine 4x4 for towing trailers)
'92 Chevy Pickup K3500 (workhorse)
'94 Mazda E2000 (dumping truck, 3.5 ton)
'97 Land Rover Discovery V8

you see, no German car, never! Most of our cars are American cars.
I like them.

[BigJohn]

What for transmission does your ZR-1 use???

[Bob Eyres]

Originally Posted by ZR-1 Franz

As I told you, I wouldn't drive a German car, even if somebody would give me

one!

I am happy with our cars: '90 ZR-1

'91 L-98 Coupe

'64 Impala SS 409 / 425 HP

'01 Blazer S-10 ZR-2

'12 (Fiat) Abarth 500

and for working '78 Blazer K5 (still a fine 4x4 for towing trailers)

'92 Chevy Pickup K3500 (workhorse)

'94 Mazda E2000 (dumping truck, 3.5 ton)

'97 Land Rover Discovery V8



you see, no German car, never! Most of our cars are American cars.

I like them.

How's that Fiat Abarth holding up?


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[ZR-1 Franz]

Well, my wife always wanted to have a small car, something like this
new Mini or one of these small Japanese cars.
For years she had a Chevy Beretta GTZ (great car!) and then the Blazer ZR-2 (she still owns the Blazer).
I never could agree with
this idea (driving such a small car), but then, in 2008 when you could buy these new Fiat 500s
my wife bought one. Unfortunately in 2012 she was involved in an
accident with this car and I have to say that these cars are really solid built.
This was good luck for my wife as for me too.
Then she bought this Abarth 500. Great little car, I have to agree. No
problems.

Have a good time,

Franz