I'd agree with your comment on the lack of a secret warranty available from BMW - at least for 3 series owners. Myself, I have had both a M-B 190E2.6 & a BMW 325e. They were fairly comparable, but my next car was a 325iS. I chose it for the sportiness, and M-B had nothing like it at the time. But now I see a certain CLK that I really want ...and my Bimmer is in the shop right now with a fuel leak.