Living elsewhere, driving in the United States, the BMW 428i is with me

Unlike many car fans who have been interested in cars since childhood, I have not had much feeling for cars since I was a child. When it comes to my love for cars, I started to learn to drive in 2009 when I was a sophomore in college. I was immediately interested. Because I was not good at studying, I had always been a poor student in school and was never restless. In order not to become a thorn in the teacher's side, I decided to drop out of school in my sophomore year. After taking a break from school, I happened to sign up for a driving school at the urging of my mother while I had nothing to do. It was summer when we practiced the reverse pile, and the summer in Nanjing was extremely hot. Many students avoided the scorching sun for fear of heatstroke. Learning to drive started very quickly, and I got my driver's license in one go. Before I knew it, winter came and I started itching to buy a car to practice my driving. I started paying attention to Autohome, and I felt happy imagining myself driving every day. But the income I earned from doing Taobao at that time was not enough to pay for a domestic car. I remember that the reason I paid attention to the launch of the new Alto at that time was because I had heard about the old Alto. I had no money at the time and thought that as long as the car was cheap, it would be fine, even though I had no idea about the comprehensive knowledge of car displacement and space at that time. Now that I think about it, that was really the time when I first came into contact with cars. Later, I not only worked on Taobao but also changed several jobs. In 2011, I finally bought my first car: Chery Fengyun 2. The down payment for the whole car was more than 50,000 yuan, and my mother supported it with 20,000 yuan. Then my monthly salary was 1,600 yuan and I had to repay a loan of 800 yuan, so I was frugal and frugal to maintain the car. Then my work gradually improved and Taobao stopped. In the past three years, I felt more and more that the 1.5L displacement could not meet daily needs. In the summer, when the air conditioner was turned on, the car would not move even if I stepped on the accelerator, let alone a full load. During this period, I also drove several of the company's cars: the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG. It made no noise when accelerating. It felt so big and overbearing on the road that even small cars didn't dare to jump in line. The disadvantage was that the car was too heavy and the accelerator was extremely heavy. This car was not suitable for girls. Too cool; the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG is a good car, much more comfortable and stable than the big G, and the ignition sound is still charming; the Mercedes-Benz S500 four-wheel drive has a luxurious interior and the most comfortable rear seat, but the driving experience is slightly worse, not too like. After getting in touch with some good cars, I started to choose my second car in 2014. After being introduced by a friend, I bought 11 models of BMW 325 fashion models with 60,000 kilometers. The car is in relatively good condition except for severe carbon deposits in the engine. I got it and played around with it. As BMW's last 2.5 L6, I think it has commemorative significance. It was the first time that I stepped on the accelerator to 6,000 rpm in the suburbs late at night, released the handbrake, and started off. I experienced the weightless feeling of my heartbeat in the car. It made me have a deeper need and desire for a car for the first time. After driving the 325 for two years, the heaviness of the steering wheel was no longer reflected in the later 428, but it made me miss the unique feeling of operating machinery. Because my mother immigrated to the United States in 2009, I was unwilling to leave my grandparents and a group of friends and insisted on staying in the country. In 2012, I traveled to the United States for the first time and began to gradually develop a good impression of this strange country. The strong car culture in the United States has also opened countless horizons. Then in 2014 and 2016, I would go to the United States to stay with my mother for two months every two years. After returning to China in 2016, I finally decided to give up everything at home and move to the United States! Because of the rush of time, I returned to China in June 2016 and went to the United States in August. Before I could sell the car, I temporarily kept it with a friend, thinking that I could still drive it when I returned to China. Unexpectedly, it took two years after I left, during which time I had someone sell the car. After arriving in the United States, I didn't get used to it at first. I couldn't speak a word of English and I was afraid to go out and communicate with people. My mother is a very brave and strong person, and her English is better than mine. After coming to the United States, I traveled frequently with my mother, almost driving myself. When I first came to the United States in 2012, my mother’s car was a 1999 Ford Taurus. I drove this old car more than 3,000 kilometers back and forth. At first, I was not used to driving in the United States. Every time the light turns green in the city, the speed is 60 yards, and some can go 70 yards. On the highway, you have to step on the accelerator to accelerate to 120-130 yards. This gave me an initial understanding that the speed here is very slow compared to that in China, and the road conditions are mainly battery-powered cars and bicycles. To this day, I still remember the first time I drove my mother’s car at a high speed without slamming on the accelerator to merge. She urged to hurry up. My mother later changed to a Mitsubishi Lancer and then a RAV4. When I started to settle in the United States, I chose a 2008 gasoline-electric hybrid Civic, which cost 3,500 (about RMB 24,000). It's very fuel-efficient. It doesn't seem to have any advantages other than being fuel-efficient and easy to drive. Generally speaking, it has enough power for transportation, but it is very difficult to run long distances. An unexpected traffic accident happened because I was concentrating on looking at my phone while waiting for a traffic light. I rear-ended a Kia SUV. The other car's Civic was completely unscathed and its front end was damaged. The insurance company felt that the cost of repairing the car was equal to the value of the car itself, so they compensated. I paid 2,900 for the car, which meant I had no loss. Before I choose my next car, I will temporarily drive my mother's RAV4. I can only say that it is a very durable car. The 2.5L car in the United States can only be said to be sufficient, with no excitement and no control at all. One day I passed by a used car dealership owned by a Mexican and saw a car parked at the front of the dealership: the 2008 Acura RDX. I paid 8,000 in full (about RMB 56,000). The exterior and interior are still very new. It has a four-cylinder 2.3T turbo with 245 horsepower. I bought it after a test drive. I still have this car to this day. In terms of stability and handling, it is much better than the RAV4. Especially in winter when the snow is thick, I feel more confident driving it than the RAV4.

Due to work reasons, I need a fuel-efficient car. The only disadvantage of RDX is that it consumes fuel, so by chance, I bought this 2006 Nissan Altima for 3,600 (about RMB 25,000), which is called Altima in North America. Even though it is 2006, it is not completely old in every aspect. The 2.5L four-cylinder engine accelerates very linearly. The leather steering wheel feels better than expected. The steering is light and heavy. The car starts running with a light touch of the accelerator. The driving vision is wide and the seats are comfortable. Although the seats are not leather, they are completely wide and thick, which is why I like this car. When it comes to second-hand cars in the United States, one is that the road conditions are better than in China, the other is that the gasoline refining technology is better than that in China, and the third is that the paint quality of American cars is very good. Unlike in China, the paint of Japanese cars is thin and will bottom out after scratching it. Here Many cars have been flattened but their paint has not been peeled off. Therefore, combined factors determine that American second-hand cars will not suffer too much wear and tear, and the engine compartments will still look clean without even needing to be cleaned. Another very important point is that the car market is very regulated, especially second-hand cars. The country is too deep and many people are easily deceived when choosing second-hand cars. There is a very powerful system called Carfax, and every car is tracked. The Carfax record contains all detailed maintenance and repair records, including the car's accident and even the location where the car was used. If you want to buy a used car, the car dealer will provide Carfax records to know the entire history of the car. Coupled with the integrity of American sales, they will honestly tell you which car has been in an accident or which car has a fault. With this system, every car is transparent and you can feel more confident when buying it. In fact, up to this point, I still have the BMW dream in my heart. One time I drove the M235, and I was immediately impressed by the 3.0T L6. This was completely different from the 325 back then. He was tightly clamped by the seat, and when he stepped on the accelerator and threw the car out, he was not shaken. The sound of the original factory lingered in my mind for a long time, but it was a pity that it was a rear-wheel drive car. Our place is close to the snow-capped mountains. When it snows in winter, a four-wheel drive is necessary. Later, I found a four-wheel drive M235. I happened to be in China at the time. , waited until the second week in the United States to order, but it was already sold. There were not many cars, so I went to several car dealerships one after another, but they all didn’t like the black color, and I felt that I might really miss the 235. Sure enough, I drove a friend's 2019 BMW 440 next time. Although the throttle response is not as fast as the M235's quick acceleration and speed, it is half a beat slower. However, I believe that if a friend who has not driven a 235 directly drives the 4 Series, it will still feel sporty. So I started searching for the 2016 435. There was one in the BMW 4S store, and the price was not expensive. The price was 26,000 (about RMB 182,000). I went to see it once, but I was in a hurry and didn’t make up my mind to pay the deposit. I didn’t think I would sell it so quickly. We were told to pay a deposit on the Saturday of the reservation. We arrived at 10 a.m., and at 9 a.m. another uncle had paid the deposit for the car. Seizing the last glimmer of hope, I called sales to see if I could win over it. After running around, sales finally said sorry. I was in the lobby eagerly watching the scene where the uncle signed the contract and shook hands with the salesperson, and they were happy to work together. Another car passed by, and I felt all sentimental all at once. After a while, I didn't see a 435 that suited my liking, so I bought this 428. It's more than an hour away from my city, so I decided to go see it so as not to miss it again. The car price is 21,000 + car dealer fee 500 + tax 2,500 + 500 front windshield insurance (because the front windshield is easily broken and cracked due to the fast speed of American cars, considering that the price of BMW glass replacement is very high) 1*** 23,000 (RMB Around 161,000). In terms of power, it is definitely much worse than the 435, but it is completely sufficient for daily needs. With my favorite 8-speed transmission, the response is quick. It can be used for drifting and occasionally driving wildly in S gear.

2011 Chery Fengyun 2

2011 BMW 325

1999 Taurus, equipped with 3.0 engine V6. The gears are shifted up and down on the right side of the steering wheel. It should be that many American models from the 1960s to the 1990s have retained the gearshift design.

I bought a brand new RAV4 in 2014

It has a lot of space, and I relied on it to support my two moves in the United States

I didn’t have time to keep the 2008 Civic Here are some photos of a car that was hit after 10 months of driving

I found a squirrel under the car and a rabbit next to it

Because I was chatting with someone on my cell phone and didn’t pay attention and rear-ended someone. The other party’s car didn’t even have a mark on the butt, so they each left their insurance company information and left

Welcome to the 2008 RDX

The snow is getting heavier and heavier, Honda SH-AWD four-wheel drive technology It makes sense and has never trapped me

In the United States, there is at least one car per person, and there are almost no people in the back seat

4-cylinder 2.3T, the battery should be replaced

2006 Nissan Altima

From the Carfax report, we can see that this car was bought by the second owner within three months of 2006, and was driven until sold in October 2019. After 13 years, the original trunk mat and well-preserved interior show that this is someone who took good care of it.

Both fabric and leather seats have their own advantages. In winter, fabric seats are easier to warm without seat heating, while leather seats are cooler in winter.

Although the seats are fabric, they are still equipped with electric adjustment.

After 13 years of use, the driver's seat still has no deformation or stain.

This is the norm for front windshields in the United States. If a stone jumps up and hits the middle of the glass on the highway, luckily there will be only one pit that will not crack. But if you are unlucky and hit any four corners of the glass, it will crack. . It only cracks a little at first, but then it will continue to crack when the weather is cold or hot, or it rains or snows.

Fortunately, it is cracked horizontally and does not block the view, so I don’t plan to replace it. The cost of replacing the front windshield of an ordinary car ranges from 200 to 400 US dollars (RMB 1,400 to 2,800).

M235, L6 3.0T, 320p horsepower. Little M2

There are only two types of 2 Series available in the United States, the low-end 228 (new 230) and the top-end M325 (new M240)

A friend’s four-wheel drive 440

The interiors of the 2 Series and 4 Series have not been revised yet

The four-wheel drive 435 passed by

The latest four-wheel drive M340 passed by. The little M3 is also equipped with a 3.0 L6 and 386p horsepower, which is only 46p less than the M3. The price is not expensive? 56,000 (about 400,000 yuan). You can only buy 330 at this price in China, and the domestically produced chassis has been reduced in configuration.

Little M5. The salesperson said he liked this car the most and took me for a test drive. Like the M5, it is equipped with a 4.4T V8 with 523 horsepower, which is 77 horsepower less than the M5. A new car costs US$80,000 (approximately RMB 560,000)

An M6 convertible came to the parking lot, and the driver was a young blonde. The same 4.4T V8 engine with 560p horsepower. The new car price is 123,000 (around RMB 860,000)

Low-key luxury - M760. Little M7, 6.6 V12 BMW's top engine configuration. A new car costs RMB 160,000 (around RMB 1.12 million), which is still half the price in China.

The driver is a young Chinese couple, but rich second-generation international students are too common in the United States.

The flagship convertible M8 is not equipped with a V12. It is still a 4.4T V8, available in 600 and 617p configurations. The new car price is 143,000 (about 1 million yuan). There is no convertible version in China, and the price is very cheap compared to that in China.

Did the protagonist appear? No. A friend's 328 crashed and he bought a 17 model 4WD 430. The price is only 170,000 RMB

Then I changed all the BMW logos to pink

This is my final protagonist, the 2016 428. Although there is no use in the back row, I originally considered two doors. Because I often travel with my friend’s 440 and sometimes it’s troublesome to crawl around in the back row, I chose a four-door.

Share the prices in the United States. The price of the current 430 rear-wheel drive bare car is 44,750 (around RMB 314,000), and the four-wheel drive version is 2,000 more (14,000 RMB).

Due to the epidemic, I didn’t go out to stop the car.

It must have been broken by a stone while running too fast on the highway

There was a period of time in winter when the car was cold and I only drove 5 kilometers a day. No, carbon deposits are definitely there

Although they are also imported from Germany, domestically imported 4 Series brake pads do not seem to have the BMW logo.

The 4 bars represent 4 cylinders.

The 12-way wrapping adjustment of the seat must be praised. When the S gear is started, the whole car is thrown out without shaking at all, and the person is firmly clamped on the seat.

The co-pilot is also equipped with 12-way electric adjustment.

The steering wheel is heated, which is very practical in winter and heats up quickly

SOS will automatically alarm when the airbag deploys in a car accident. After the 328 driven by a friend was hit, the steering wheel and paint airbags deployed. After the SOS, the artificial computer intelligently asked: "Are you OK? Don't worry I called police already." Fortunately, the person was fine at all, and the ambulance was still there in 2 minutes. Arrived

Three garage buttons are installed on the rearview mirror. Cars here in the United States are equipped with a garage button. After buying the car, you only need to match it with your own garage key computer, then put it into storage and press it directly

I don’t know how many times it will be used to heat the rear electric seats

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The most profound feeling of driving this car is the feeling of having fun on the snow. Both the 4-wheel drive RAV4 and RDX did not feel confident and safe when turning in the snow. Once it was snowing heavily, and I deliberately did not slow down when turning, and the car did not feel out of control. The rear of the car was not thrown out, but immediately stopped. Keep up, the whole vehicle is integrated. Fun to the point of addiction.

I still think Angel Eyes is classic and good-looking

Sometimes I try to turn off the anti-skid.

In S mode, lighten the accelerator and turn 5300 rpm at 130 yards in the urban area. Fortunately, there is no traffic police.

Back to the day when I first picked up the car, it was getting late after completing all the formalities

The next day I drove into the mountains

The sun shone into the cab, How happy it is to be on the road with my little 4

The second BMW, blue sky and white clouds

The key has one more button than in China. It is easy to forget where to park here, so set up a horn.

Whether it is a BMW 1357 or a 2468 series, each one has a different positioning, which can only be understood by driving it. Driving a 4 Series after owning a 3 Series obviously has a different feeling, but this one will definitely not be my last BMW.

I hope that in the future, whether I am at home or abroad, I will have the opportunity to understand them better and better.