My idiot friend.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 0
From: Stuttgart
I would never buy a car that has been tuned in any way as this provides insight into the driving style of the previous owner(s).
Those Dinan modifications should have been a vital clue, in my opinion. This car was possibly used in racing (even the illegal kind) and was definitely abused and probably had some other tuning performed on it (that might not be mentioned in the car papers).
Those Dinan modifications should have been a vital clue, in my opinion. This car was possibly used in racing (even the illegal kind) and was definitely abused and probably had some other tuning performed on it (that might not be mentioned in the car papers).
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,630
Likes: 280
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Unless in this case it stands for something else, "CV" normally means "Constant-Velocity" joint......a special type of universal-joint used on the front wheels of FWD and AWD cars so they can both steer and have power fed to them from the front drive-shafts. That would not apply to an M3, a classic RWD vehicle.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
Unless in this case it stands for something else, "CV" normally means "Constant-Velocity" joint......a special type of universal-joint used on the front wheels of FWD and AWD cars so they can both steer and have power fed to them from the front drive-shafts. That would not apply to an M3, a classic RWD vehicle.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,630
Likes: 280
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
True CV joints.......or simply universal joints on the driveshafts? RWD vehicles have universal joints, but not CV joints as I understand them.
There are some AWD 3-series BMWs that have CV (constant-velocity) joints in front, but not in the RWD M-series.
RWD vehicles have universal joints, but not CV joints as I understand them. There are some AWD 3-series BMWs that have CV (constant-velocity) joints in front, but not in the RWD M-series.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,630
Likes: 280
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The big question,though, is do they learn from their mistakes? Most people (including me) have, at some point in their lives (or perhaps more than once) made a poor auto-buying decision. One reason why most of us, here in CAR CHAT, have as much automotive savvy and intelligence as we do is that we have also learned from past mistakes. Even though I bought a few lemons in my lifetime (Horizon, Citation, etc....), though, one thing I was always careful to do, though, was not to bite off more than I could chew financially....I never drove more car than I could afford.
Last edited by mmarshall; Feb 18, 2011 at 10:02 AM.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
The big question,though, is do they learn from their mistakes? Most people (including me) have, at some point in their lives (or perhaps more than once) made a poor auto-buying decision. One reason why most of us, here in CAR CHAT, have as much automotive savvy and intelligence as we do is that we have also learned from past mistakes.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
Yes, true CV joints which are different than universal joints in the model ranges I mentioned above and unique to OP's RWD car (on-topic). Btw, a CV joint is still a CV joint no matter where it's used in the drivetrain.
Last edited by IS-SV; Feb 18, 2011 at 10:09 AM.
there's a reason high performance cars depreciate like crazy. because the original and subsequent owners generally beat the snot out of them. 
so when you buy a used one, if you don't have it thoroughly checked out, or have a great warranty, or expect some repair costs, you're naive or worse.
the only used car i'd buy is one likely to have been driven very gently. and even then i'd still have it thoroughly checked out. AND get a warranty if possible.
so when you buy a used one, if you don't have it thoroughly checked out, or have a great warranty, or expect some repair costs, you're naive or worse.
the only used car i'd buy is one likely to have been driven very gently. and even then i'd still have it thoroughly checked out. AND get a warranty if possible.
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: California
I looked at a 525i in an unusual shade of factory blue once. After driving it, I realized that the engine was ragged out, which completely defeats the purpose of owning a BMW if you ask me.
Buying a car on the spot without having it inspected is the result of "instant gratification syndrome". You should never be in a hurry to buy something like a car or a house without having everything checked out. Don't let yourself be pressured into a hasty decision. Someone who tries to pressure you has something to hide.
Of course, once your friend gets out of mom's house and starts having to be responsible for his own living expenses, he's going to wish that he had bought a reliable hunk of junk like an old Toyota or something.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Ask him why. Because there's no possible financially sound reason to do so with his current financial situation. Does he have the skills necessary to rebuild a motor? Why is he so attached to this particular car? Is it the color? Is the interior in really good condition or something?
I looked at a 525i in an unusual shade of factory blue once. After driving it, I realized that the engine was ragged out, which completely defeats the purpose of owning a BMW if you ask me.
Buying a car on the spot without having it inspected is the result of "instant gratification syndrome". You should never be in a hurry to buy something like a car or a house without having everything checked out. Don't let yourself be pressured into a hasty decision. Someone who tries to pressure you has something to hide.
Of course, once your friend gets out of mom's house and starts having to be responsible for his own living expenses, he's going to wish that he had bought a reliable hunk of junk like an old Toyota or something.
I looked at a 525i in an unusual shade of factory blue once. After driving it, I realized that the engine was ragged out, which completely defeats the purpose of owning a BMW if you ask me.
Buying a car on the spot without having it inspected is the result of "instant gratification syndrome". You should never be in a hurry to buy something like a car or a house without having everything checked out. Don't let yourself be pressured into a hasty decision. Someone who tries to pressure you has something to hide.
Of course, once your friend gets out of mom's house and starts having to be responsible for his own living expenses, he's going to wish that he had bought a reliable hunk of junk like an old Toyota or something.
I think, partially, he just wanted the status of being 19 and owning a high performance car.
Yeah, he doesn't pay for anything in his mom's house, so he's basically free to dump all of his money into that car.
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