How much does one need for a BMW?

thedean786 · 10-30-2006, 03:38 PM

What is the minimum salary someone could have to comfortably afford a 3-series?

The reason I ask is because I got a job offer today

Belma07 · 10-30-2006, 03:48 PM

That entirely has to do with how much you have left after all bills, what your investment strategy (if applicable), and other personal goals / spending habits.

DFW_M · 10-30-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedean786

What is the minimum salary someone could have to comfortably afford a 3-series?

The reason I ask is because I got a job offer today

Victor does it with $350 per month in California

Jay_328 · 10-30-2006, 04:14 PM

if you have to ask ...

j/j well sort of

seriously, that's too general a question to answer and varies from each individual.

shimshimhada · 10-30-2006, 04:22 PM

$100,000,000

ScBlacksunshine · 10-30-2006, 05:04 PM

$4.25 an hour

whippersnapper · 10-30-2006, 05:06 PM

In the USA people like to load themselves up with debt so everyone can afford a 3 series, they are cheap after all.

Joop! · 10-30-2006, 05:08 PM

An E21 is also a 3-series BMW. For anyone there is a suitable BMW. You can still have some fun with an old one as with a brand new one.

Carnage · 10-30-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedean786

What is the minimum salary someone could have to comfortably afford a 3-series?

The reason I ask is because I got a job offer today

The question isn't what's the minimum salary to have one, it's after all your other bills and obligations are paid what do you have left from that salary? If the payment takes up more than a 1/4 of your remaining money than don't do it. That's just a general statement based on no true knowledge of you, it could change greatly based on the facts, debt-to-income ratio, etc.

thedean786 · 10-30-2006, 05:31 PM

Well let's see I have only school debt which is about 9K. I pay off my bills every month and live at home - I had to move back in when I lost my job.

///Matt · 10-30-2006, 05:33 PM

Look at it this way...

can you afford a $600-$800 monthly car payment, plus insurance, plus gas?

In MY case, it's $750 + $250 + $200... so, can you afford $1200/month to drive your car?

Matt

Joop! · 10-30-2006, 05:33 PM

When you buy a second hand BMW, do save some money for repairs (BMW parts and labour can be really expensive).

John · 10-30-2006, 05:42 PM

avg bmw on this site is around 38+ i would guess.

but you really just need 30+ for a base bmw

Nikki · 10-30-2006, 05:44 PM

$36,000

E91 Dude · 10-30-2006, 05:50 PM

Congrats on the job offer! What, where, and how much?

younghov85 · 10-30-2006, 05:53 PM

I always tell my friends: just save up at least 5K and then start looking. I put down 10K and I pay 500 dollars a month. But I live at home, so its not too bad of a problem. If you are trying to move back out, I would get a japanese used car, and then when I have got myself back on my feet financially, stable that is, then I would look at a new BMW.

Ninjaneer · 10-30-2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Matt

Look at it this way...

can you afford a $600-$800 monthly car payment, plus insurance, plus gas?

In MY case, it's $750 + $250 + $200... so, can you afford $1200/month to drive your car?

Matt

+1 - This is a good way to look at it. Expand on this with an itemized breakdown of your monthly food / groceries, rent, entertainment, etc.

Bear in mind your salary isn't what you're going to pocket. Let's say you get a $50K annual salary... after taxes, insurance, and if you decide to invest in a 401K, you're no where near making $50K/year.

If you're living at home, are your parents expecting you to move out ASAP once you accept a job offer? If not, and you don't mind (and THEY don't mind), perhaps you could offer to pay part of the rent and keep your costs down. Realistically speaking I don't think you'd stick to this plan till your car's paid off though. Just throwing it out there!

whippersnapper · 10-30-2006, 06:13 PM

I would feel kinda dumb if I had a BMW and lived at home but maybe that's just me

Talk about priorities.

Ninjaneer · 10-30-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

I would feel kinda dumb if I had a BMW and lived at home but maybe that's just me

Talk about priorities.

Maybe... but imagine this conversation:

Lives-Alone: man, you're 20-something and still live at home?!
Lives@Home: I may live at home, but I drive a Bimmer! What do you drive?
Lives-Alone: *speechless*

LOL

younghov85 · 10-30-2006, 06:42 PM

I mean my mother encouraged me to buy a BMW. I initally wanted a Maxima or G35, but she was like get the best thing you can because you live at home and dont have many bills. You will have to build your credit regardless, why not do it with a BMW. Plus I was 19 and im gonna be turning 21 on saturday, and im in college, so its not so bad after all.

magmd · 10-30-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninjaneer

Maybe... but imagine this conversation:

Lives-Alone: man, you're 20-something and still live at home?!
Lives@Home: I may live at home, but I drive a Bimmer! What do you drive?
Lives-Alone: *speechless*

LOL

what does girl at bar say??

ska///235i · 10-30-2006, 07:25 PM

If someone is single and just pay for rent (assuming $500-$700) with no debt....
$38000-42000 a yr salary can afford a 3 series in the USA...of course, you'll need to put some down payment

10-30-2006, 03:38 PM	#1
thedean786 A Herald of Doom 220 Rep 230 Posts Drives: A Fancy Car Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0)	How much does one need for a BMW? What is the minimum salary someone could have to comfortably afford a 3-series? The reason I ask is because I got a job offer today __________________
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10-30-2006, 03:48 PM	#2
Belma07 New Member 2 Rep 24 Posts Drives: Infiniti G35 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	That entirely has to do with how much you have left after all bills, what your investment strategy (if applicable), and other personal goals / spending habits.
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10-30-2006, 04:14 PM	#4
Jay_328 Lieutenant Colonel 121 Rep 1,595 Posts Drives: 07 e92 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 07 E92 328 [0.00]	if you have to ask ... j/j well sort of seriously, that's too general a question to answer and varies from each individual. __________________
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10-30-2006, 04:22 PM	#5
shimshimhada Brigadier General 443 Rep 4,838 Posts Drives: Portal Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portal iTrader: (2)	$100,000,000
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10-30-2006, 05:04 PM	#6
ScBlacksunshine YUGO is my dream car 144 Rep 1,564 Posts Drives: Bayerische Motoren Werke Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: LBC iTrader: (2)	$4.25 an hour __________________
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10-30-2006, 05:06 PM	#7
whippersnapper Captain 23 Rep 972 Posts Drives: people mad Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00] 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	In the USA people like to load themselves up with debt so everyone can afford a 3 series, they are cheap after all. __________________ __________________________________________________ __________________ 2006 BMW 325i, Jet Black, 6MT, ZSP, Black Leather, Aluminum, Power Seats, Logic 7
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10-30-2006, 05:08 PM	#8
Joop! Major 105 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: G29 Z4 M40i Roadster Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019/05 G29 Z4 M40i [10.00]	An E21 is also a 3-series BMW. For anyone there is a suitable BMW. You can still have some fun with an old one as with a brand new one. __________________ BMW - Maßstab für Fahrspaß
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10-30-2006, 05:31 PM	#10
thedean786 A Herald of Doom 220 Rep 230 Posts Drives: A Fancy Car Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0)	Well let's see I have only school debt which is about 9K. I pay off my bills every month and live at home - I had to move back in when I lost my job. __________________
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10-30-2006, 05:33 PM	#11
///Matt United States Marine 319 Rep 2,748 Posts Drives: 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (8) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Look at it this way... can you afford a $600-$800 monthly car payment, plus insurance, plus gas? In MY case, it's $750 + $250 + $200... so, can you afford $1200/month to drive your car? Matt
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10-30-2006, 05:42 PM	#13
John Captain 55 Rep 960 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (1)	avg bmw on this site is around 38+ i would guess. but you really just need 30+ for a base bmw __________________ E90post Project 325i www.creativeautoworks.com James@creativeautoworks.com 858.279.8900
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10-30-2006, 05:44 PM	#14
Nikki Major General 994 Rep 6,381 Posts Drives: Sepang Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: LA iTrader: (9)	$36,000 __________________ Nikki
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10-30-2006, 05:50 PM	#15
E91 Dude First Lieutenant 52 Rep 318 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Location iTrader: (2)	Congrats on the job offer! What, where, and how much?
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10-30-2006, 05:53 PM	#16
younghov85 Captain 65 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 black 325 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lanham, Maryland iTrader: (0)	I always tell my friends: just save up at least 5K and then start looking. I put down 10K and I pay 500 dollars a month. But I live at home, so its not too bad of a problem. If you are trying to move back out, I would get a japanese used car, and then when I have got myself back on my feet financially, stable that is, then I would look at a new BMW.
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10-30-2006, 06:13 PM	#18
whippersnapper Captain 23 Rep 972 Posts Drives: people mad Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00] 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	I would feel kinda dumb if I had a BMW and lived at home but maybe that's just me Talk about priorities. __________________ __________________________________________________ __________________ 2006 BMW 325i, Jet Black, 6MT, ZSP, Black Leather, Aluminum, Power Seats, Logic 7
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10-30-2006, 06:42 PM	#20
younghov85 Captain 65 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 black 325 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lanham, Maryland iTrader: (0)	I mean my mother encouraged me to buy a BMW. I initally wanted a Maxima or G35, but she was like get the best thing you can because you live at home and dont have many bills. You will have to build your credit regardless, why not do it with a BMW. Plus I was 19 and im gonna be turning 21 on saturday, and im in college, so its not so bad after all.
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10-30-2006, 07:25 PM	#22
ska///235i ***** noob 1375 Rep 10,479 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	If someone is single and just pay for rent (assuming $500-$700) with no debt.... $38000-42000 a yr salary can afford a 3 series in the USA...of course, you'll need to put some down payment __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
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