[StradaRedlands]

Aaaaaand it looks like we have a third wagon... hopefully it stays around for a while (RIP first two)!!! I found this one in San Francisco last week, with the only problem being that I live 400 miles south of said city. Emails, texts, and phone calls made it seem like a good find... enough to take a chance buying sight unseen. For $4,500, a solid plan I hope! A bad thermostat, worn front brakes, and substantial faded paint are the major faults. A basic build with my least favorite interior color, but one of my favorite exteriors! It has heated LCI seats and rest of the LCI changes, along with CIC and factory aluminum interior which is a huge plus! New tires, oil change and a decent repair history from the owner who has had it since 2014.

Lots of hoops to jump through in buying it remotely, but Middle Child is close by at UCSC, and hopped on the chance to go get it! She and some friends turned it into an adventure and took a couple of buses, Caltrain, and BART to get to SF, buy it, and drive it back to Santa Cruz. She doesn't have a car up there, so she's been driving it around town, living her best life! Pretty good chance she ends up with it next year if it proves to be a good one.

Tomorrow is the drive back down to SoCal... the seller's mechanic says it should make it even with the problems noted. We have AAA with a hundred mile tow option if needed, but hopefully no drama for the next seven hours of driving it! SC->Soledad->Paso->Lost Hills->Lebec->Pasadena->Redlands after topping off at Costco today!

I'm going to do the brakes, accessory belt, t-stat and pump, trans and diff right away, and then I think it's good to go!

[Hoody007]

You lucked out! Hardly a basic build I’d say, it’s just missing the sport pack and active cruise to make it a fully optioned example! Given you’re in Cali I’d highly suggest retrofitting the OE alarm, especially since you’re prewired.

Is it covered under the Vanos recall?

[Cal122]

Congrats! Don't think you can go wrong at that price point!

[lordnikon]

Sweet E91.

Safe drive back home!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

You lucked out! Hardly a basic build I’d say, it’s just missing the sport pack and active cruise to make it a fully optioned example! Given you’re in Cali I’d highly suggest retrofitting the OE alarm, especially since you’re prewired.

Is it covered under the Vanos recall?

Ha, good point... I guess no sport = basic in my mind! I'm already trying to find some sport seats and 17" wheels for it! I almost wish he didn't have new (02/23) tires on it so I could better justify it!

And definitely agree on the alarm... do E91s have the same alarm sensor as E90s have? Where does it go without the dome light housing?

I looked up the VIN and only the heated hose problem showed... I think it was a month or so outside the new range. I guess that's good, but seller said VCG is getting to the point of replacing. Would have been nice to have BMW cover it!

Originally Posted by Cal122

Congrats! Don't think you can go wrong at that price point!

That's my thinking on it... as long as MC can make it home, the rest is easy! Hopefully no hidden problems, but I really think seller was upfront with the problems and condition. I'll know soon enough...

Originally Posted by lordnikon

Sweet E91.

Safe drive back home!

Thanks, it's all down hill driving south!

(Ron Howard's voice: It isn't)

Most important upgrade for the drive has already been purchased:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XRGBG2H/

[caldep]

3rd e91!!!
Congrats on the latest purchase/adventure.

Enjoy!

[jsunma]

Congratulations! Looks like a nice car, and the price can't be beat. The aluminum trim (the best!) is a real plus. You had me particularly excited for a moment as one of your links to the VIN decoder site listed this as a RWD manual. If that had been the case, you'd have the buy of the year. Even with the auto, this is good. It's not an x-drive, right?

It cracks me up that the seller notes the need for front brakes and a thermostat and then says it's "priced accordingly". Right. If one subscribes to dealer pricing. Otherwise, $200 worth of brakes and $500 for a water pump/thermostat (and those are generous allowances) and you're still way out ahead. Again, great deal.

Assuming your car is pre-wired for the alarm (my 2008 is, so hopefully BMW didn't cheap out the following year), you don't need to worry about the sensor as it's already there. It's in the housing where the map lights are.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by caldep

3rd e91!!!
Congrats on the latest purchase/adventure.

Enjoy!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by jsunma

Congratulations! Looks like a nice car, and the price can't be beat. The aluminum trim (the best!) is a real plus. You had me particularly excited for a moment as one of your links to the VIN decoder site listed this as a RWD manual. If that had been the case, you'd have the buy of the year. Even with the auto, this is good. It's not an x-drive, right?

It cracks me up that the seller notes the need for front brakes and a thermostat and then says it's "priced accordingly". Right. If one subscribes to dealer pricing. Otherwise, $200 worth of brakes and $500 for a water pump/thermostat (and those are generous allowances) and you're still way out ahead. Again, great deal.

Assuming your car is pre-wired for the alarm (my 2008 is, so hopefully BMW didn't cheap out the following year), you don't need to worry about the sensor as it's already there. It's in the housing where the map lights are.

I'm working off the assumption it's RWD... could be in for a surprise! Price is great for the mileage with history... I paid the same for our second E91 with 180,000 miles on it, although it was impeccably maintained. Owner wasn't an enthusiast, but he definitely kept up on maintenance. And great to hear on the alarm, I'll start getting the other parts!

[Hoody007]

Regarding the alarm system: look for a motion sensor out of an E84 X1. Should be the same part. The siren and hood switch should be shared with any E90/91/92.

See that flat piece of plastic right after the sunroof/SOS/airbag stuff? The module goes there - has a different cover with the alarm slits.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

Regarding the alarm system: look for a motion sensor out of an E84 X1. Should be the same part. The siren and hood switch should be shared with any E90/91/92.

See that flat piece of plastic right after the sunroof/SOS/airbag stuff? The module goes there - has a different cover with the alarm slits.

THIS ^^^ is good content! I've wondered this for a while, but haven't had the need to track it down for a while now!

[Mike K]

Hey great pickup!! I hope you get it all sorted for her and that she loves like we all love our e91s!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Hey great pickup!! I hope you get it all sorted for her and that she loves like we all love our e91s!

I think it's going to be a good one! Low mileage and only two owners... pretty rare in itself there!

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

way to go strada!!!!
and to your knowledge, the history is a cali car, correct?

the MC looks very happy with dad's find!

@ 123k miles....lots ofl life left!

i saved the passenger side pic and enlarged it, looking for exterior badging to ID if it is xDrive but didn't see it and both "rear" pics just miss the tailgate badging!

with your DIY skills and tools, you'll have the Blue Bomber whipped into shape in no time.

a thought: i think your post states MC will drive home to redlands? when i flew down from seattle to san jose to view/buy my 2013 335is e93 a yr ago, my wife followed my northern commute via the Find My app on our iPhones; it gave her peace of mind (and me) to know someone could "see" my location.

with your parts procurement and tech skills, perhaps you can trade your wheels/tires for the 17's you want??

[Hoody007]

FYI, since it’s a point of interest in this thread. This is not an XDrive car as it does not have the hill descent control button in the console. Which makes this an even better buy!

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

strada's link to the vehicle vin description info states:"Transmission: manual".

PO's sales post states the transmission is an automatic.

wowie!
if a MT, is it a 5 or 6 speed??

[StradaRedlands]

Oh, it's 100% GM automatic... Trust me y'all would know if I bought a MT wagon!!!!
I was poking around in the garage last night and came across a box with all the oil cooler parts in it that I built up for a previous car. Looks like I can do that when I have the cooling system drained for the water pump and 'stat. Going to have to acclimate it to that inlamd Southern California lifestyle!
Wheels and tires are a low priority, just would have been nice to have some 17s. Bigger priority is finding some LCI sports seats that will hopefully be a plug and play upgrade!
Everything else is really just general and deferred maintenance.

Status update: Paso Robles in the rearview mirror!

[BRG_N54]

Nice addition to the stable, same price I paid for my green monster, also from SF craigslist. ROAD TRIP!!

[eljay]

Very nice find! And yes, great exterior colour.

RWD since there are no xDrive badges under lights on the fenders.

[StradaRedlands]

Checking in from Lebec/Frazier Park... All systems are go go go!
Big protest in DTLA shutting down the freeways, so she's being routed out to the desert. That's a nice drive, but no services...
Dad stress level elevated!

[eljay]

Sent you a PM with a lead on grey LCI Sport seats. 😉

[Cal122]

Factory Xenon's in the latest photo... nice!

[jsunma]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Agree. Rare find.

In 2006 I would have bought a long roof had it not only been offered in xDrive trim. Was it 2010 when BMW offered the E91 in RWD with the sport package? Maybe it it was 2009. I can't remember.

Not sure when it started, but my 2008 E91 is RWD, sport package, and 6MT.

With aluminum interior trim :-)