Stevens Creek BMW repaired a few items to the tune of $3K. True, I didn't actually pay any money for the car, but still that's a pretty steep tariff.

See the full maintenance report including actual costs by clicking here.

My loaner (which I had for three days) was a 2003 325ci. It's such a different car than the coupe that I can't give much of an opinion on it, other than what I've said in the past. True, the automatic transmission is VERY convenient if you're dating and want to hold your girl/boyfriend's hand without jumping to shift every 30 seconds, but other than that I can't recommend it.

This car had the performance package, so handling was nice and sharp. The engine isn't appreciably different than the 330 except when getting on the highway, and the automatic is very fast taking off from a signal on city streets.

New Tires - Bridgestone Potenza RE750
Went to get new tires. Bridgestone Potenza RE750 (see review on Tirerack.com) which were recommended by Jose at Wheel Works in San Jose. Got four for $144 each, which is about $8 per tire more than Tirerack.com, but they had them in stock. Also got an alignment for $99.

I test drove the new tires on Highway 280 just as the first of two huge storms were hitting the San Francisco bay area. Traction was fine on wet pavement, even though these are "summer" tires. The tires are also significantly quieter than the Michelin Pilot Sport All Seasons I had previously, which is a pleasant surprise for Ultra High Performance tires.

Is a BMW worth it?
An email came in that basically asked if I thought it was worth buying a 2-4 year old E46 or waiting for the all new 2007 3-series convertible to come out. My answer...

"The answer really comes down to cost vs. enjoyment. It would be practical enough to have a cheaper car and avoid the large maintenance bills (avg. $1000/visit) but it's a lot like choosing which shoes you wear or what you order at a restaurant. If you can cut back on other items, then it may be worth buying an expensive and very fun car.

Every time I pay out the nose for service on my car ($3K on the last visit) I question whether it's worth it. Likewise, whenever I hop on the highway with the top down on a sunny day, I think how could I not drive this car.

What you might consider is how you plan on using the car. If it's just that you want a convertible with some performance and smart engineering built in, there are probably cheaper models. I needed a four seater convertible with a quick-to-fold automatic top and a strong engine. The 330cic was the only choice at that time."