[SCMike]

After selling my 2006 M3 Coupe recently, I was chewing my nails as to what to replace it with (135i or TTS or …). I was on the verge of ordering a new 135i Coupe when I stumbled into the BMWUSA CPO website, and started looking at 335i Coupes. My M3 of blessed memory was Imola/Cinnamon, which I thought was a fabulous color combination for the E46. So I really perked up when I stumbled across a Crimson/Saddle 335i Coupe - awfully close to my former M3. Its specs were a bit of an intriguing mouthful:

- Late 2009 with 10,200 miles
- Sport, Premium, and Cold Weather Packages
- 19” Style 230 Alloy Wheels
- Steptronic with Paddle Shifters
- Active Steering
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Anti-Theft Alarm
- Comfort Access
- Light Burl Walnut Trim
- Power Rear Sunshade
- Park Distance Control
- iPod and USB Adapter
- Smartphone Integration
- High-Definition Radio
- Satellite Radio
- Logic7 Sound System

Whew…had I originally ordered the car, I probably would not have specified some of the options. And curiously, Navigation was omitted. Best yet, the in-service date was 9/30/2009, which means that the CPO Warranty would take the car almost into October of 2015. And the HPFP had been replaced at 3,943 miles, so maybe the car would escape any further bouts of fuel-pump-roulette.

I traded e-mails with Simon Brooker, the CA at Dave Walter BMW in Akron, Ohio. He helpfully provided a copy of the car’s BMW Warranty Vehicle Inquiry, which documented the car’s specs and service history. CARFAX showed that it was originally a one-owner California car that Dave Walter had acquired in March, so no rust belt exposure worries. He assured me that the car was literally flawless. With only minimal bargaining, the price was dropped to $41,900 (the car’s MSRP when new had been $56,072). And there is the anticipated $250 kick-back from the BMWCCA Membership Rewards program for a CPO purchase.

I jumped at it. Bought a one-way USAirways ticket to Akron, flew in, Simon picked me up at the airport, drove to the dealership, gave them the certified check, signed my name a few times, they gave me the car keys, and I was off on the 627 mile drive back home. The car was precisely as Simon had described. Without taking out my standard-issue, anal-retentive’s magnifying glass, I could hardly distinguish the car from new. But then, the car was only 9 months old, with only 10,000 miles on it.

Any fears of missing my M3 rapidly evaporated on that drive back south. This 335i was as “character-full” as the E46 M3, especially with this 335i’s ZSP suspension and the 19” run-flats - yeehaw, firm as in Morgan-firm, for which I have a soft spot. The handling is sh*t-grin inducing. And the looks...fabulous…that red outside and saddle/black inside, that stance with the ZSP drop, and the 19” wheels filling the wells. And when you hit those twin turbos: dysentery-grin inducing.

I’m a great believer in BMW’s CPO system (my M3 was also a one-owner CPO car). They have a reasonably competent database that you can search for every available car in the US, a little bit of useful filtering of the specs to narrow the search, and comprehensive information on the individual cars. The sharper dealers realize that the CPOs should be a significant part of their business plan (and the sharper CAs realize that most CPO customers are not the usual members of the herd). At Dave Walter, 40% of their turnover are CPOs, and they are building a stand-alone, special facility for just the CPO business. CPO is your friend.

Nope, I won’t miss the M3 at all, except for its happy memories.

[Rollo`]

wow...very nice...more pictures please...

[jeremicium]

Congrats on the new ride. Post pics! You might miss the M3 a little when you whip her around hard corners...but other than that you couldn't ask for a much better car for every day driving enjoyment.

[CarForHire]

Love the color combonation. I would miss the M3 though.

[RoundelM3]

Unless they've changed it recently, the BMWCCA "reward" is $500.00...that's what I got when I bought my CPO 2007 E92.

VERY nice, and a great example of how affordable something like this can be through the CPO program.

[Bimmerforlife]

Congrats, looks great. I still see your car on the BMW website for sale. LOL I really like those 19” Style 230 Alloy Wheels. Wow you got a great price, ur car is fully loaded.

I don't know why more BMW dealers don't use the BMW CPO website to advertise their used vehicles, it's a great marketing tool, especially when they list all the options that come equipped.

[Bimmerforlife]

Oh I meant to ask you, how do you like the active steering, could you comment on that?

[rideontwo]

Hotness. Sounds like a great car for a great price. Now all we need is bigger pictures.

[SCMike]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Unless they've changed it recently, the BMWCCA "reward" is $500.00...that's what I got when I bought my CPO 2007 E92.

VERY nice, and a great example of how affordable something like this can be through the CPO program.

I printed out the latest Membership Reward form and, unfortunately, nowadays the BMWCCA allowance for CPO cars is $250, except that M CPO cars are still $500. I guess everyone is cutting back today.

[Tee212]

congrats on the very bold statement red!

[WhitehawkCS]

looks sweet... and you WILL miss your M3... i miss the hell out of mine.

[SCMike]

Originally Posted by Bimmerforlife

Oh I meant to ask you, how do you like the active steering, could you comment on that?

I'm not sure if this is a comment on AS, or just a comment on myself, but I really did not notice anything unusual. Nothing intrusive - just a very nice steering response over the entire spectrum of turning motions. Remember, I am coming from an E46 M3 as my daily driver - say, maybe this IS a positive endorsement of AS? I have not driven a 335i without AS for comparison - perhaps that would feel less sharpish? Dunno.

[SCMike]

Originally Posted by BlueMan

looks sweet... and you WILL miss your M3... i miss the hell out of mine.

My philosophy is never look back. Otherwise, I would miss my Series 2 Lotus Super Seven, my turbocharged Corvair Spyder, my Jaguar C-Type (replica), my Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Coupe,....you get the idea. It's been a long road (I carry a Medicare card in my wallet). Never look back....

[xantdieselx]

Nice car, nice color combination...good luck with it!

[be1ieve1111]

great car and deal!

[hpowders]

I'm a believer in the BMW CPO system too!

In October 2008 I purchased a loaded CPO 2007 328i sedan with less than 12,000 miles, 3 years and 1 month of original warranty plus the 2 year CPO coverage.

For the 21 months I have owned it, the car has performed flawlessly; not one problem.
My wife still raves about the new car smell-the leather still smells like new!

Two thumbs up for BMW CPOs.

[Bimmerdriver17]

Nice work on the car. I'm surprised that you got a CPO for such a new car. I purchased my 2009 335i LCI in April 2010 and its a late 2009 build and I did not get offered a CPO.
Nonetheless I have Navi in my car (but its a non cpo), and paid a couple of grand less. Having said all that, (and that coupes go for $1-2k more than sedans) I think you got a stellar deal. Love the color combo, enjoy the new car!

[cotmfk]

Congrats!

[Oulixes]

Congratulations on your new car - very nice color combination.

[SamS]

Great deal on that car, your wheels are my favorite.