My trans-am is well over 130,000 without any repairs I would consider "major"... The 3 worst mechanical parts I've had go bad were a leaky diff (subject of a recall and repaired under warranty), a power window motor that quit (common problem with camaro and firebird but not too expensive to fix) and a water pump that started leaking at 132,000 miles. None of those repairs were too expensive. For electrics, I had an ABS module go out that was replaced under warranty, a traction control module that got killed by a high pressure car wash (not under warranty) and the radio has a known defect that makes the display unreadable sometimes. The most expensive of those to fix was the traction control module but I saved a few hundred by finding the part myself. A dealer or GM sponsored mechanic must do the part install because it requires a computer reset by their proprietary computer gadget, but that's not unique to GM.
Not bad for 10 years of owning a car that consumer reports consistently called a reliability nightmare... My only problem with the car right now is that it won't die so I have no excuse to replace it other than putting a car seat in the back makes the front passenger seat unusable, but the resale price is maybe $6000 so replacing it with ANY other car is essentially paying tens of thousands of dollars for a larger back seat. Heck, the car still gives me 18mpg around town and 28mpg on the highway so it's not even all that bad of a gas hog.
I hope you have good luck with your beemer 
They sure are nice cars and like I said, a nice 3-series has been super high on my list of cars I might buy if my firebird ever dies. I just think that considering the kid and the fact that I want more power than the 328i offers, I'd have to spend an awful lot of money to get a BMW with the interior room and power of the G8 so I'll just have to make do with another pontiac that will hopefully also last at least 10 years and 130k+ miles.
Of course, my firebird has to die first and it's not showing any signs of that.
Kids....thats the differance.
I had an SUV. Midsize one. It was a great car and to be honest I havent had one lick of trouble with it. It was a Mazda Tribute loaded up and was really a good vehicle. But , last year my wife and I bought her a new mini van. We have grandkids and all. We take trips to Iowa 2 to 3 times a year as well and have dogs. So , the mini van was a good purchase and it's what she wanted.
Since we have that now , I decided I wanted to get back in a car. I looked at alot of em. But , and this is no dig and US cars , there wasn't hardly anything that I really liked the looks of that got decent mileage. The Tribute did pretty good but I figured I could get better with something else. So I started looking at nissans , toyotas , mazdas. There were a couple I liked ok. My wife and I decided we would like some luxury but with some sport for me. Acura , and those types looked pretty appealing. Then , I just thought what the heak. I wonder what BMW's are going for. I went and looked at them at a local BMW dealer and since I liked the looks anyway I figured what the heak. I spent 3 months reseaching differant models and stuff.
This 328i by all accounts from people I have talked to gets over 30 on the highway without dogging it. It performs so nicely. It will be expensive to fix. I'll give ya that. But with the way they have the current warranties set up that will be a while. I only had 63 k on my 4.5 year old Tribute. So , I don't for see putting all that many more miles on this. PLUS I wont be taking it on 3 or 4 2k round trips to Iowa. lol
ANother thing I find are simple things that go along way. On this Bimmer when you unlock the doors little lights pop on to alluminate the door handles. Heated mirrors...rain sensing wipers....Easy to reach controls....simple things that go along way. Yet on US cars they are definate upgrades. Yes you pay more for the BMW.....But there are deals to be had on them. They are very safe.
So , I get Luxury for the wife when I take her to her favorite Mexican place...and sport for me to get there fast as I want to.
And Hey....Pontiac is a fine car...had 2 of em. Just now , that I am older...no kids at home...just the wife and I and I drive 25 miles one way to woprk a day and most of it is highway....just wanted gas mileage...and the bells and whistles to go with it.
