So I've had my TL for 1.5 years. Over that time I've done a lot of repairs but that's partly due to my car breaking down every month at best.

Repairs so far and what's pending (Struts and ball joints need replacement as well)

The car has been driving issue free the past 3 months but this year I've been contemplating buying a new to me car. I'd like to know what you guys think about financing a few thousand in repairs into this car at 134k, should I even bother or just buy a newer car around 60k to 70k.

 

I’d say the repairs would be less than the cost of a newer vehicle. Idk how much you’re paying for your TL per month, but the things that need servicing, I believe are less than a “new to you car payment”. Again my assumption. What year is it? Looks to be 07-08 in your avatar pic…


I’ve read the rear main seal leak, can sometimes go away.

 

well the good news is....that you're making the car brand new again!!!

every time something breaks, you're replacing it and effectively making it run for another 100k miles!

plus, this is just a fact of life...you will always have to spend money to fix shit. unless you want a janky car...

 

so, if you buy another car at 60-70k miles, you're right at the cusp of doing all the repairs again..

 

I went ahead and committed to the TL. Car prices weren’t great to begin with and interest rates were hiked. Currently all I have left to do is my LCA bushing again due to speed wobble, going PCI this time. The RMS leak is present but the trans is holding all fluid and I added on a trans oil cooler plus the original trans cooler in the radiator. This has all definitely been cheaper than financing a car for even two years so far.

 

wobble on acceleration can be axles

 

I wonder if ball joints can do that? When mine went bad, they just made a moaning sound when I would turn..


Unless you buy a new car or one that is reletively new, I would not want to replace a 3rd Gen TL with another "well used car".. Especially since you know all the work that has been done on your car and what it needs. Any other used car , you walk into it blind, and its a gamble (depends on who you buy it from and carfax can help), and will it be as reliable? (yes I know TL's are not trouble free, but they usually start and go)
SO THEN, if you want to avoid downgrading and want something equally as nice as the TL, except newer, then as you said, prices and interest is high right now.
I thought about buying a 2012 or 2013 535i or 550i.. Or an X5 35i or 50i... IMO the styles are an upgrade, but all those are about $14K TO $22K and most have 70k to 120k miles.. So, you know, I begin to wonder if I am Gaining anything! What happens if you buy one of those BMW's and it needs more work than the TL??? Well, you just wasted $14-22k ( Plus Sales Tax.).. and you still have a used car that needs work. It is tempting to buy that BMW but what if someone else already turned it in by trading it off because it was an old worn out car??
I went into CARMAX 2 years ago and looked at a 2013 X5 and the vehicle was hurting badly! Just looked like it was expired and tired.. So I did not buy it... And as I walked out, I saw several salesmen desks, and they were pretty busy. They had several families with thier children sitting there at each desk.. Looked like poor familes who needed a "new" car. I was like, "you poor people, you are buying things that someone else turned in for trade because it was old and tired"... Then CARMAX got the car, and washed it and put a Flag on the window .... hahahahah like it's new!.. PSSST Just ignore those miles!! and give me an extra $10,000.. (because the car is only worth 7k but I am asking 17k... haha

Summary: be careful not to buy another car that needs more work than the one you Got!! For Thousands... Thats a double setback.

HEY.. If you have a Black car... You got to try this..
https://www.blackmagicshine.com/prod...uick-detailer/