[StephenInLA]

Hello everyone. After driving my beloved 2006 Mazda Miata for more than 10 years and 140,000 miles, it was time for a grown up car. Yesterday, I bought a 2015 428 Grand Coupe in Estoril blue. It is ridiculously fully loaded: Harman Kardon stereo, cold weather package, driver assistance plus, tech package, premium package, etc. I don't think there is one option that isn't on it. I have only driven it a dozen or so miles, but it is the best driving car I have ever had. I am going to Asia for a week for work and will really dig in to the car when I get home.

This forum has been a big help while I lurked and read the posts. Looking forward to a lot of happy miles. Thanks everyone.

One picture for now. More when I return!

Stephen

[Noelified]

Welcome! Love that color with black trim. When you return from travel...First things I'd do is 20% tint, Estoril or smoked front reflectors, and maybe M performance rocker decal. After that and a few thousand miles, you'll you'll get the itch for performance mods Beautiful ride, I'm happy for you!

[Fuller]

Congrats. Great car. You'll love the 4 series gran coupe.

[sspade]

Welcome.

35% tint and black exhaust tips (if you dont already have them). Then on to performance mods.

Safe travels!

[cfm56d7b]

Great car and especially great choice of wheels. Enjoy it!

[maku]

Congratulations on the car and beautiful color (I also have EB2)
I wish you the joy of driving and the car's uptime

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats

[StephenInLA]

Thanks everyone. Since I'm out of town, my wife gets to enjoy it. Which is good since it will be my daily driver. Looking forward to driving it and participating in the forums

[StephenInLA]

I'm a little delayed in responding but work and jet lag are taking their toll!

Here are a few photos of my car receiving its first of many baths. I bought a foam cannon to make the wash more efficient.

It has been a real blast to drive.

[gds52]

Beautiful car...congratulations...did u sell the Miata? That's one hell of fun car!!!
I drove my friend's 2006 and loved it..he was asking me if he should sell it because he bought
a Cayman...I told him to keep the Miata.

[Elvisfan]

Great car. Leave it just the way it is. Or better yet,do what you want to do.

[RIOBLAST]

Looks great. How do you like the engine? Performance wise and sound?

[CalCarNut]

What were the miles on it when you purchased it? Approx sales price?

Congrats!

[lfepro.g]

Yeah!!!! I went from Miatagang to Bimmergang too 3 months ago!

[StephenInLA]

So I have kept the Miata for now. My wife has taken to calling it her second car. The bmw is really an amazing car. I find it to be very fast - certainly more than I need on the crowded Los Angeles freeways. The performance is head and shoulders beyond the Miata, although it is not as pure an experience, as would be expected. The ride is sporty but not rough, as I had wanted.

The car was just under $28k with 29k miles. CPO. Basically flawless condition. It is fully loaded with everything but adaptive suspension and leather dash - it even has lane departure and blind spot monitoring. Price wise it is consistent with comparable models if you accompanied by for all the options. I think I got a reasonable deal considering the equipment package. I am very happy with my decision. Thanks to everyone for the positive comments!

[maku]

Originally Posted by StephenInLA

I'm a little delayed in responding but work and jet lag are taking their toll!

Here are a few photos of my car receiving its first of many baths. I bought a foam cannon to make the wash more efficient.

It has been a real blast to drive.

You should not wash the car in full sun.
The whole washing step is best done in a shady place, because it significantly reduces the risk of undesirable drying of the foam / shampoo on the paint.

[.BMW.]

Beautiful GC!

[StephenInLA]

Originally Posted by maku

You should not wash the car in full sun.
The whole washing step is best done in a shady place, because it significantly reduces the risk of undesirable drying of the foam / shampoo on the paint.

Originally Posted by maku

:
You should not wash the car in full sun.
The whole washing step is best done in a shady place, because it significantly reduces the risk of undesirable drying of the foam / shampoo on the paint.

You are right and I usually wash in the morning before the sun is up too high. I'm careful about my car wash technique (2 buckets, grit guard, etc.). The paint on my Miata still looks nearly brand new, except for the poor front end that had taken the beating of road debris!

Can't wait to do a full poly sealant (in the garage) in the next week or two.

[maku]

Originally Posted by StephenInLA

You are right and I usually wash in the morning before the sun is up too high. I'm careful about my car wash technique (2 buckets, grit guard, etc.). The paint on my Miata still looks nearly brand new, except for the poor front end that had taken the beating of road debris!

Can't wait to do a full poly sealant (in the garage) in the next week or two.

I also use the method of washing the car "on two buckets"
Washing and drying from the outside of the car, it takes me about 3 hours.


It is simply safer to wash the car in the shade or on a cloudy day / evening.
Will you get rid of these (ugly) orange flares?

[Noelified]

Originally Posted by StephenInLA

You are right and I usually wash in the morning before the sun is up too high. I'm careful about my car wash technique (2 buckets, grit guard, etc.). The paint on my Miata still looks nearly brand new, except for the poor front end that had taken the beating of road debris!

Can't wait to do a full poly sealant (in the garage) in the next week or two.

Originally Posted by maku

I also use the method of washing the car "on two buckets"
Washing and drying from the outside of the car, it takes me about 3 hours.

It is simply safer to wash the car in the shade or on a cloudy day / evening.
Will you get rid of these (ugly) orange flares?

You shuold also make yourself a set of these for washing and dressing the tires with ease.
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1520219

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by StephenInLA

So I have kept the Miata for now. My wife has taken to calling it her second car. The bmw is really an amazing car. I find it to be very fast - certainly more than I need on the crowded Los Angeles freeways. The performance is head and shoulders beyond the Miata, although it is not as pure an experience, as would be expected. The ride is sporty but not rough, as I had wanted.

The car was just under $28k with 29k miles. CPO. Basically flawless condition. It is fully loaded with everything but adaptive suspension and leather dash - it even has lane departure and blind spot monitoring. Price wise it is consistent with comparable models if you accompanied by for all the options. I think I got a reasonable deal considering the equipment package. I am very happy with my decision. Thanks to everyone for the positive comments!

Nice. Doesn't give me hope as to the value of mine. Not quite 23K miles but not half the options you have. Car is basically a flawless minimally equipped (won't say stripped because it has everything needed except leather and nav, which I didn't want either) model probably worth $21k if I'm lucky lol.

[IH8I405]

Looks great! I picked up a 2015 428i coupe not too long ago as well! LA over here too.