Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

I have not been on these forums in a long time because I got out of my MDX and got a 2013 535 xi.

I currently have a BMW 535 xi \ M-Sports package White on Black. It has a lot of toys all OEM but I need to reduce my overall debt. I owe 20500.00 for it and my monthly payments are 504.00. I was considering on switching back to an Acura.

Found me a 2012 TL SH-AWD Advance package Silvermoon on Black with 34K miles for 28,600 @ 2.49 for 36 months.

What do you guys think? Should I stay or should I go?

The Bimmer is an awesome ride equipped with rear shades, rear heated seats, HUD, DVD movie play-back on dash, Navigation, upgraded OEM speakers, heated steering wheel and the full carbon fiber OEM kit. I owe 20,530 for it.

The TL is an advance package with 35 K miles and it runs strong. I was offered this car at 28,600.

Please tell me if I should switch back to an Acura just save a few thousands.

SilverJ

How are you saving money if you buy a car for 28k ? And isnt your BMW a manual ? Silver Moon/Ebony is a great color combo, I am about to purchase one myself

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

I owe 20,530 for the Bimmer but I am getting 36250 for it. The equity is going towards the TL. I would be financing about 13,500.00.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Look at it this way....with the TL, your maintenance costs will be cheaper!

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

True for the long run but right now I am enjoying the free maintenance that the Bimmer comes with. I just gas it and go.

SilverJ

170.00 a month savings is nothing to sneeze at. You can drive the TL forever and pretty much only pay for basic maintenance. The BMW after 50,000 your screwed.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

True that Silver J.

jpsaab24

How many miles are on the Bimmer? Time left on warranty? How long do you plan on keeping the 535 if you keep it, or how long would you keep the TL if you go in that direction? I would not want to own your BMW out of warranty (as much as I love them). Where the TL could be paid of quick and have a low operating expense.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

How many miles are on the Bimmer?
-- Currently there are 19800 miles on the BMW.

Time left on warranty?
-- I have until 50K or 5 years. That's the full maintenance but the power train i think it's up to 70K.

How long do you plan on keeping the 535 if you keep it, or how long would you keep the TL if you go in that direction?
--I was thinking about getting rid of the 535 in about one more year or so. The TL I was going to make it a keeper.


I have 3 deals waiting on my decision. Check them out and let me know which one would be the best option for me.

1.) 2012 TL FWD Tech 37K miles @ 23K
------ Getting 36,250 for mine

2.) 2012 TL AWD Tech 35K miles @ 27.5K
------ Getting 35,500 for mine

3.) 2013 TL AWD Advance 34K Miles @ 28.6K
------ Getting 36,250 for mine

I am not sure which car to pick. The FWD TL is a steal and I will be left with the least debt. The others are ok and will be left with little debt as well.

SilverJ

Search around man. There are TONS of automatics 2012 AWD TL's on the market. You should be able to negotiate heavily.

ncxvtguy83

iTrader: (1)

That fwd seems like the best deal of the 3. But like SilverJ stated, there's tons of cars and room for you to bargain. Are these TL's you're looking at come CPO? You should be able to find a fwd w/ 37k miles for abut 20-21k.. Based off value sources, trade in value is like 39k for your 535.

amill

Coming from your 535 you'll want the SH-AWD model since it will have a better overall driving experience. Don't go fwd.

weather

MrSkytech....after owning many Acuras and other brand, my 2012 TL SH-AWD has been my FAVORITE vehicle thus far!! Wish I would have kept it....

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Weather!! I remember your TL. It was white with the body kit. What did u do?
I love my 535. It does and has toys that the TL could never have. I am going for the SHAWD but i am hesitant in pulling the trigger because of the MPG's. I have a 3.0 inline turbo and its great on gas. The TL not so much. If i take the FWD TL then i would be left with a 7,500 dollar debt but the others are a little more. One is 11k and the other is 12.5 k. So i am on the fence.

dvd2012tl

SkyTech, I just transitioned from a 97 BMW 528 to a 2012 TL Advanced FWD. I test drove a 335 and almost purchased it. But the potential turbo maintenance scared me. BMW extended the turbo warranty to ~80k because of problems (at least for the model year I was looking at). I keep cars for 10+ years and 200K+ miles. Didn't see the turbo lasting that long. I do miss the rear wheel drive of the BMW. So I am suggesting you get the AWD vs FWD. Your info indicates you are in Queens, NY. The AWD will come be handy in snow storms (which we rarely get here in SC). Seems like cost is a factor to you. That is why I went the Acura route. The only way I could afford my BMW is that I did most of the maintenance. Still love BMW's. My two cents.

weather

Mr. Skytech....I was leasing my TL and it was coming due later this spring so back in Sept, the dealer bought my lease back in preparation for my spring replacement. I was planning on getting a 2015 TLX SH-AWD in white with the body kit but some of the issues are keeping me a bit on the fence at the moment.

As you know, I don't drive my vehicles in the rain/snow so it was not worth for me to keep the TL all fall/winter when I had a chance to get rid of it way sooner and save the lease payment (rather than sitting in the garage). It is only afterward that some of the issues with the TLX surfaced and that I test drove the SH-AWD and was disappointed with the throttle response. So now I am screwed! *lol* Actually, I have another vehicle on order arriving at the end of March as a backup but all this to say, this may be the first time in 8 years that my main toy will not be an Acura. We still have the ILX as another vehicle but still...

My advice...DO NOT SKIMP...get the SH-AWD over the FWD. The difference in fuel is not enough to even let that affect your decision.

SilverJ

you don't buy a car even used that used to cost 45 thousand dollars and then worry about a couple hundred dollars a year additional gas expenses.(if that) Buy what you love to drive it will be part of your life for the next few years.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Thanks guys! I am leaning towards the AWD with the advance package but if i can save over 2K with a AWD tech i will go for it. The fwd is strong and will get me out of debt sooner but i see what u are saying. I am going to post some pics of these cars soon.

C8N

I see that the OP is in Queens and is concerned with mpg.
I am in NJ and I go out to Queens quite often as my mom is still out there and I can say that the 3.7L is a pig on gas. Don't get me wrong, I love my SH-AWD but I am glad I am out in NJ where the gas is cheaper. Out in Queens, I would expect about 18mpg avg with all the traffic out there.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

When i had my SHAWD i only got an average of 11 mpg in mixed driving. Scary how gas prices are said to go up to almost 5.00 per gallon.

arpypat

I hope you're kidding! I just bought a 12' 3.7 TL advance today and 11 mpg does not sound too appealing! My buddy has a 2009 sh-awd and gets around 18-20 average, and I thought the new 6-speed automatic helped with the mpgs..?

Heracles

I have been desiring a 335xdrive- see my thread on the bottom of the page..

I had a 2013 TL SHAWD for 5 days before returning it to carmax. Returned it for no good reason- the car was awesome. I was so impressed how it handled! Flat as a pancake and on rails. Really firm sporty ride.

If carsense didnt have the 5 day return policy i wouldnt of had buyers remorse and turned it back in to keep looking for a 335xdrive. I just wanted something a little faster, and more fun/ wow factor to drive.

Im 40, and have been driving a honda accord for last 12 years- before that i had my fair share of fast cars- and i miss that. Im kinda wanting to treat myself to something special

The TL SHAWD is hands down wiser choice down the road, reliable, smart sport sedan. Who knows, if i dont find that perfect 335 like i passed up on a few weeks ago- i might just go for a TL shawd again. Definitely has to be black with the umber interior- or silver with black interior.

Since it sounds like your bmw fever is over, i think you will be more than happy in the tl- and not thinking "what if" after you save a ton each month and still drive a car equal to your 535

the only think i didnt care about, was at parking lot speeds how light and electric the steering feels- but at highway speed it feels a little heavier. I did love how when you place your fingers under the 3 and 9 oclock positions of the steering wheel, there are little grooves under there for your fingers- i dont know why but for some weird reason I LOVED THAT haha.

I didnt like how the high beams werent HD.

I didnt like the cheap key fobs. the car was a 2013, the key fobs looked like shiet. my wifes 2007 MDX sport has nicer key fob.

rest of car awesome.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

All of this sounds good and true. Tomorrow is D-Day for me and i am a little in between about the whole thing and which TL i should get. I will get the SH-AWD but i am inbetween the advanced and the tech.

Has anyone here have the advance one? Worth it? Not worth it?

dvd2012tl

Skytech, I just got a 2012 TL Advanced FWD.
The Advanced model has everything the Tech model has plus 3 additional items:
1) Larger wheels (18 inch vs 17 inch in my case, don't know if this will be different for the AWD)
2) Cooled front seats
3)Blind spot proximity sensors
I could have done without any of these but I wanted the Tech package and the Advanced model was the only 2012 TL on the lot that had the Tech package where i live.
Larger wheels means more expensive tires
I have not gone thru a summer yet so haven't used the cooled seats
The blind spot sensors are helpful. But you still better look. These sensors also render useless most modern day radar detectors. It sets them off. There is a thread on this. Don't know if you use a radar detector.
Having the Advanced make your re-sale value a little higher. It is the top of the line Acura TL

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

I did it. I got the TL. I got the silver on black with the Advance Package.

The total finance was 14k but that included an additional coverage for a total of 100k miles of bumper to bumper via Acura Care. The care has 34k miles.

Heracles

i personally dont like the look of the advanced package. the wheels look so big , making the TL look like one of those DUB toy models. Maybe its just me. But they overpower the car visually it seems

SilverJ

Congrats ! Silver on Black is my favorite color combo for the 4G. I didn't think so before I owned it, but once I saw it in person I was like, Wow.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Yeah Silver J, you are correct. I am planing on putting the body kit and tints. I will be posting pics.

This question might not be for this post but i do have a M5 20" staggard wheel set that is 5x120. I am going to de a test fit to see if i can use it.

weather

Mr Skytech...Congrats my friend! You will be njoying this car with every single miles behind the wheel. Just think of me as you press the accelerator in an on-ramp and feel the vehicle grip the road and put that smile on your face....

SilverJ

definitely go with the tint. It looks badass on the silver car. I think the previous owner of my car had 20% tint put on maybe 25, but it looks pretty dark to me. Much darker than the 35% I had on my previous TL Type S. But I love it. I usually just open the moon roof so it lets a little bit more light in so hopefully they won't give me a hard time. just out of curiosity, when you get a chance run your finger over the bottom horizonal seam inthe seat by your lower back and tell me if you feel like a smooth line or you feel uneven metal parts underneath the seam. this is my one and only issue with this car that otherwise I love.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Ok Silver J, will do. I am currently in a FWD adavance TL. The drive is horrible. Something for like a teen. I am way to use to a AWD car. More control, comfort, just over all good ness. I find the TL cabin to be too small compared to the BMW. However the seats are sporty and the sound is great.

The dealer gave me a loaner until my TL is ready. It had some scuff marks on the wheels so they will have to restore the wheel.

Pgr1990

I have a similar situation, I dropped the hammer and sold my '15 Jaguar XF for a '12 Acura TL sh-awd advance. The car was a fantastic deal 25,000 miles and I got it for $27,000.

I guess it depends on your financial situation and what your goal is. In 2014 I bought a left over '13 Jag XF that turned into a lemon so I was given a '15 Jag XF on the same finance plan which was a godsend because all my negative equity disappeared.

In the end I needed AWD and after spending a crap load of literally wasted money on depreciation I went used for the first time. Even though it is in the shop because some idiot smashed into me the first day I owned it, I have to say going to sleep at night feels better as I feel I made a responsible decision instead of the superficial one ive been making for 9 years.

arpypat

Great choice! I myself just purchased the same exact car last week, '12 TL 3.7 advance silver/ebony, and I am in love with it!

About the bimmers... the maintenance alone is worth staying away from them. I have a buddy with an '09 335ix and he was crying about how much the costs were to fix em. Another friend with an '11 335i and his water pump needed to be replaced after less 50K miles.