BMW Help...

[NewYorksFinest]

As you all know, I bought a 2014 BMW 328i about 3-4 months ago for $50K. But I have to drive to Detroit with the BMW. Should I be worried about leaving it in the city center for the day? How can I protect my car from being stolen, besides the car alarm.

People who live in Detroit, you know safe places to park my car?

I will be going in between 6/27 and 6/30.

 

[mvbighead]

No idea, but you may want to rent instead. I know most would prefer to be in their own DD, but if you're going somewhere sketchy, it might be easier on you to drive something a little more modest out there.

 

[Midwayman]

I think you're a little paranoid personally. Just garage it. Should be plenty of places that have limited access garages. Also Detroit isn't all bad. Just parts. Not like you're going into a warzone.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I think you're a little paranoid personally. Just garage it. Should be plenty of places that have limited access garages. Also Detroit isn't all bad. Just parts. Not like you're going into a warzone.

Looks like one.

http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1882089,00.html

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Should you be worried? Not in a 328i. :awe:

 

[rh71]

jesus even 328s go for 50k?

I don't drive my car into some parts of nyc for fear of bumper car parking, but if there's a lot, etc. I would go. I would look up parking garages online near your destination if I were you.

 

[boomerang]

Don't fall for the valet parking scam.

Where are you going to be in Detroit? Tough to give you advice when we don't know where you're going to be. If it's the downtown business area, there should be plenty of secure parking. If you're parking it on a side street off the beaten path, kiss it goodbye before you walk away from it.

 

[NewYorksFinest]

Don't fall for the valet parking scam.

Where are you going to be in Detroit? Tough to give you advice when we don't know where you're going to be. If it's the downtown business area, there should be plenty of secure parking. If you're parking it on a side street off the beaten path, kiss it goodbye before you walk away from it.

The place is in this area called "Gross Point." LOL, I wonder how "Gross" Gross Point is. However, for business I have to drive Downtown also for the day and will be parking there, so I wont be in the Gross area, only overnight.

 

[dbk]

328i? Hmmm im sure you'll see a ton of them..

 

[JulesMaximus]

$50k for a 328i? Holy crap that's expensive! You could buy a new Lexus GS350 for that. Hell, my Mother-In-Law bought a brand new Mercedes-Benz E350 for $45k a few years ago.

I'd just rent a car.

 

[The J]

Grosse Pointe is a wealthy suburb of Detroit.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

iirc, grosse pointe is the swankiest part of michigan.

 

[LTC8K6]

The place is in this area called "Gross Point." LOL, I wonder how "Gross" Gross Point is. However, for business I have to drive Downtown also for the day and will be parking there, so I wont be in the Gross area, only overnight.

It's almost Beverly Hills...

 

[boomerang]

The place is in this area called "Gross Point." LOL, I wonder how "Gross" Gross Point is. However, for business I have to drive Downtown also for the day and will be parking there, so I wont be in the Gross area, only overnight.

Grosse Pointe proper is, as was said, arguably one of the areas where the most well-heeled residents of Michigan live. Having said that, it does border Detroit and there will be some blending of good and bad at the borders. If you're in a sketchy area, which would be near the North and Northwest borders, you'll probably know it.

Grosse Pointe is outlined on this map. It encompasses only one square mile. https://www.google.com/maps/place/G...2!3m1!1s0x8824d5dcb64a8b8f:0x4ed544d15caf0bd1

Just go with your gut feeling and you and your car will be fine. The perils of Detroit are overblown to a great degree. But that doesn't mean one should let their guard down. You'll be fine.

The following is just for informational purposes: In the heyday of the auto industry, the auto execs lived in Grosse Pointe. They built their large homes there, (some are mansions) so that they could be near their place of work. Grosse Pointe borders the Detroit River so they had access to that also. A lot of things influenced the downfall of Detroit. The Grosse Pointe area was impacted by that downfall. You can't have a ritzy area in the middle of a city that is experiencing squalor on a large scale and not have it be affected. Downtown Detroit and the Pointe's (Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Farms) are by in large safe places to be.

Google images for "homes in grosse pointe mi" to catch a look at some of the homes in the area.

 

[NoCreativity]

Your car will be fine as long as you garage it at your destination. People drive nicer cars than that into the city every day. Shouldn't your work (or whoever you are going to visit) be able to give you a heads up on the parking situation? Anyway, if you want a nice drive and to see some nice houses drive north along Lakeshore/Jefferson.

 

[SearchMaster]

Just don't park in front of something like this:

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4-Lake-Ct-Grosse-Pointe-MI-48230/88381945_zpid/

 

[hans007]

$50k for a 328i? Holy crap that's expensive! You could buy a new Lexus GS350 for that. Hell, my Mother-In-Law bought a brand new Mercedes-Benz E350 for $45k a few years ago.

I'd just rent a car.

I dont know how dangerous Detroit is but I park mine in downtown LA near skid row sometimes. Poor people arent really that vengeful, its the jealous middle class suburb kids who are much more likely to key your stuff BTW.

Just pay for a parking spot if you are paranoid. Its just a car anyway this is what insurance is for , stop worrying about stuff.

Also did you tick like every single option? I have a 2013 with just m sport and mine was right around 40k including tax.

Also yes you could buy a Lexus for 50k. I don't think you could quite get a gs350. Is350 for sure, but its barely faster due to their ancient a engine at this point and its ugly . I mean look at that front end on the new Lexus cars. The Lexus designers are having way too many drugs and nightmares.

 

[halik]

As you all know, I bought a 2014 BMW 328i about 3-4 months ago for $50K. But I have to drive to Detroit with the BMW. Should I be worried about leaving it in the city center for the day? How can I protect my car from being stolen, besides the car alarm.

People who live in Detroit, you know safe places to park my car?

I will be going in between 6/27 and 6/30.

Heh your car has immobilizer, it's essentially unstealable. Also quit watching robocob.

 

[halik]

The place is in this area called "Gross Point." LOL, I wonder how "Gross" Gross Point is. However, for business I have to drive Downtown also for the day and will be parking there, so I wont be in the Gross area, only overnight.

Grosse Pointe has about double the median household income of Manhattan. The only thing i would do is debadge the car (328) so you don't look poor...

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Grosse Pointe has about double the median household income of Manhattan. The only thing i would do is debadge the car (328) so you don't look poor...

Debadge for that "is it an M3 or a 320i" effect!

 

[Midwayman]

Debadge for that "is it an M3 or a 320i" effect!

I always assume it's the 320i.

 

[Insomniator]

I can't believe 328i's are 50k

 

[Hugo Drax]

328i? Hmmm im sure you'll see a ton of them..

The problem is luxury marque inflation. 328i no longer impresses the women. minimum requirement is now a 5 series.

The says of any BMW impressing people have long gone. There are way to many of them now. So a 5 series is the minimum.

 

[hans007]

The problem is luxury marque inflation. 328i no longer impresses the women. minimum requirement is now a 5 series.

The says of any BMW impressing people have long gone. There are way to many of them now. So a 5 series is the minimum.

I have a couple friends who I'd say did just that's. Two single guys I think both of them are 30.

One guy went from an 2009 e92 328 to a 528 and the other from a 2009 a5 to a 535i.

I was just like... Why would you want to drive a car that big?. I know these guys are not car guys its just a status thing.

I really like my 328 but I suppose I could have bought a 5 series ( its what only 10k or so more ) but why. I actually think the f30 328 is a little too big to be the right size for me now that I've had it a while.... I want to move down to something 2 series sized next car.

I still don't get it honestly. If I'm spending $60k to impress girls I'm not buying a 535. I'm buying a Porsche cayman.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

The silly part is the F30s are as big as my e39.