[NorCalAthlete]

Judging by the age thread(s), there's quite a diverse group of owners in here ranging from 20-74 that I saw. Someone stated an average salary of $140,000 for 3 series owners...hah. Way off in my case (for the moment anyway). It got me wondering though what you all do for a living. No need to post salaries unless you really want to, I don't care how much or how little of your income you spend on your car. Just curious on careers, previous jobs, etc.

Me? 10 years in the US Army, back in college now studying Computer Science, will be a software developer/software engineer/something along those lines shortly (within the next year). I didn't waste all my money on booze and women while I was in, had a good job as a valet at a Ritz Carlton before the military (where I first drove and developed a minor crush on BMWs).

How about you guys? Gals?

[AweSam8]

Male registered nurse---no jokes please :/

Still in school, aiming to be either a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant.

I used to work as a medical assistant, nurse assistant, Fry's Electronics in sales, Circuit City, Fedex/Kinkos, UPS, Seattle's Best Coffee as a barista, some Thai restaurant as a waiter, and KMart in checkout.

I'm 30 y/o.

[YeahVirus]

I'll probably fall into the young category. Age: 23
Going to school full-time studying Information Technology and Digital Cinema.

Worked part-time at a major hardware store chain(the one with the big orange logo)and recently just quit. Before that I worked as waiter/host/busboy at a variety of Chinese restaurants.

[S1LV3RSAMURA1]

Teacher for 6 years,
Just promoted to a High School Assistant Principal. That's how I am now able to afford a BMW :-)

[hanszilla]

Originally Posted by YeahVirus

I'll probably fall into the young category. Age: 23
Going to school full-time studying Information Technology and Digital Cinema.

Worked part-time at a major hardware store chain(the one with the big orange logo)and recently just quit. Before that I worked as waiter/host/busboy at a variety of Chinese restaurants.

That's pretty impressive. 23 owning a F30; whether fully loaded or not a lot of 23~ years old own some sort of a ricer or a beater now.

I'm a NAM that's thinking of a career transition =(.

[YeahVirus]

Originally Posted by Hansiepooh

That's pretty impressive. 23 owning a F30; whether fully loaded or not a lot of 23~ years old own some sort of a ricer or a beater now.

I'm a NAM that's thinking of a career transition =(.

Thanks!
We'll I've been working since 16. And saving since then, haven't had a weekend off in about 7 years and I don't even know what a summer break is. LOL

After totaling my 2010 Scion tC, decided it was time to upgrade and get a car that was more "age" appropriate. And also a car that will aged nicely. Always been a fan of BMW and what better way than a 3 series!

[Sleepwalker]

I am 25 y/o and work offshore in the northern sea as an electrician an a FPSO ship(Floating Production, Storage and Offloading)

[X2 Monstah]

I'm in the "older" category - 51...but, my car keeps me young! Retired from the U.S. Air Force; currently working as a civilian for the Navy in the DC area.

[nick1212]

I am 33 and am a sales director for a finance company in Toronto. My BMW passion started when I owned a 06 325i briefly. Love my F30 335i and hope to upgrade to a M3 in the next year or so.

[BMRGUY]

38 --- Director of Enterprise and Solution Archectute (in IT) for a very large consumer electronics company (that's not on the verge of going out of business)... It does puzzle me why so many live above their means...(or maybe I am living way below my means)

[Pauleebe]

24, Tax Accountant CPA

[Marckymarc305]

33, merchant mariner working in the Gulf of Mexico on tug boat as a Mate. Not home as often but when I am I drive as much as I can and back at sea. Two years old f30 and 17k, thanks to my brother he keeps on adding miles lol, oh well.

[Fanitron]

30 yr. old currently a lower level supervisor in Supply Chain Management (Logistics) for a large Consumer Electronics retailer (exists in U.S. and Canada in case anyone wants to guess).

Been working all kinds of jobs since late teens in retail, restaurants and land-scaping before going to school. Was driving an 05 Accord until June, sold that and financed a F30 328i. Also just got my first condo sooooo... bills bills bills. lol

[Alan_NJ]

Isnt the 140k average salary a combined household income number?
That would make a lot more sense.
(especially when you consider how very affordable a no line F30 can be)

Me, Ive been in the IT field in one capacity or another for the past 15 years and am currently an IT manager.
Previous to that I was an auto detailer for many years.
(great skill to have!)

[punjabimd]

34, physician. Faculty practice at a top ten academic institution for two years and just transitioned to a position at leading US News & World ranked institution. And yes, that means I started my career only about two years ago.

That's the problem with this field... you don't enter the workforce until your 30s. The only reason I can upgrade from my 02 Camry to an F33 is that we can manage to save $$ to meet our future and retirement goals (and my wife is letting me spoil myself since she made us move across the country). Otherwise we are quite frugal. I think once this car becomes more impractical I'll be downgrading. *sigh*

[James550i6spd]

Haha yeah the 150k is combined household income.

I'm in the middle at 35. Commodity buyer/manager for a subsidiary of Toyota so my job basically makes sure we are using the best production parts suppliers. The cool part of my job is I work on projects for cars that are for the next and subsequent generations so I have to keep an eye out for future technologies in the auto market.

Bought my first BMW (2001 330) in 2001 right after college. It was my first boy boy purchase and been hooked to BMW since then...

[G30 B58]

me = 47 telecom

wife = 38 administrative assistant

[northern_435GC]

34 year old power engineer for an oil company in Alberta's oil sands (believe it or not these companies really do care about the environment).

Got and undergrad degree right out of highschool but changed career paths after hearing how obscene these oil company salaries are, so took a 1 year course and now loving life.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by BMRGUY

38 --- Director of Enterprise and Solution Archectute (in IT) for a very large consumer electronics company (that's not on the verge of going out of business)... It does puzzle me why so many live above their means...(or maybe I am living way below my means)

+1. To each their own, but does seem like a lot of F30 owners are either subsidized by their families or spending a large amount of what they earn on their cars. Not necessarily anything wrong with that if it works for you, but does seem to expand the market for these cars even further.

I'm 38, in IT and bought my first BMW at 23, just as I was starting my first "real" job. But I had very little bills and the car was well within my means, didn't stop me from maxing out my 401(k), etc. I eventually cancelled an order I had for an E46 M3 after that first BMW ('99 328i) lease was up because, at the time, $700 a month for a car I would only drive on weekends (was traveling during the week) seemed silly. Now, I will admit I regret that to this day, as it was still within my means and I had no kids or real need to be as practical as I convinced myself I needed to be at that point in time. But you do have to draw a line somewhere and save some money for your future too.

Now, 15 years later, a fully loaded 3 series is both bigger and more expensive (my F30 was $20 more than that E46, which itself was the larger engine and fully loaded at the time!!). So I'm surprised to see how many college students and people just starting out are getting F30's, fully loaded 335's and 435's in a lot of cases. The 2 series is probably more the equivalent of my E46, both financially and the size and fun factor. And at $500+ / month for that E46, I certainly wouldn't have had it while still in college or had I started out with a lower income (again, not judging, just agreeing that it's a bit puzzling, outside of those that are "subsidized…").

[bri1042]

43 y/o IT sys admin...I used to do management but I let go of ambition in order to preserve what soul I had left. I'd rather only be able to afford a 328 than to suck up to the sociopaths in upper management.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by bri1042

43 y/o IT sys admin...I used to do management but I let go of ambition in order to preserve what soul I had left. I'd rather only be able to afford a 328 than to suck up to the sociopaths in upper management.

lol. That same feeling has always kept me more in the trenches (and making more money anyway) than going the middle-mgt route. I would rather do the work and/or be entreprenurial than aspire to be upper mgt and have no time for my family, so what's the point of middle management…..

But don't worry, your 328 is more fun than the 5 or 7 those sociopaths would have you believe is more appropriate anyway! I have this recurring discussion with a friend of mine who thinks at our age, a bigger car is more "grown-up." I say it's just less fun and that bigger car has gotten so big, it's not grown-up, it's more like what my grandfather drove (who decided both cars and cell phones had to go from enormous to tiny and back to enormous again?? I do love the 5 and 6GC, but they are so much bigger than I need or want). The 3 series has also gotten so much bigger, it's not a little sport sedan anymore.

[NorCalAthlete]

Agreed. 7 series is massive for a car I think. At that point if I *needed* the space I'd go back to an SUV like a Tahoe or something.

The 435 is what I'm going for because for the once in a rare while that I'll need the rear seat, it's actually usable for people and not just luggage or something unlike the rear seat in the M235. The visuals are far more appealing to me. And it has plenty of space without being bloated - it's just the right size I think. Some think it's a bit big for a 2 door coupe, but coming from a full size truck I still feel like it's tiny. The trunk has enough space for golf clubs, snowboards, etc with the folding rear seat. I think it'll work perfectly for an all around daily driver.