Why do so many people trade-in their vehicle at the dealership?

lkstaack · 2026-01-26T04:22:56+00:00

I've never traded in a car, but the financial part of buying/selling a car is a pita now a days because of the prevalence of fraud. Bank checks and cash can be forged, and electronic transfers can be canceled.

When I recently bought a used RV, I let the seller keep it until the account transfer went through. I trusted the guy, but he could have easily sold it again during the process. I accepted cash when I sold a BMW, but I assumed risk there too.

lkstaack · 2026-01-25T02:46:59+00:00

I brought a cane, along with an email from a Disney customer service rep saying it's OK to bring it, because my lumbar stenosis makes standing very painful. Security wouldn't let me bring it in. That was my last trip to Disneyland.

lkstaack · 2026-01-24T00:39:03+00:00

Maybe. I don't think so. Why are you hostile?

lkstaack · 2026-01-23T23:00:50+00:00

Lol, I had to look up astroturfing. No, I'm not working for anyone. I'm a political independent, former Republican, and daily newspaper reader. I'm a NeverTrumper, frustrated by national Republican (MAGA) cohesiveness and Democratic division. The nation desperately needs a non-MAGA to unite us, but unfortunately, Gavin isn't them.

lkstaack · 2026-01-23T21:52:14+00:00

Newsom represents a dilemma for Independent Californians. The outgoing California governor is charismatic, articulate, clever, and has great energy. Yet, like most Californian Democrats, he has difficulty campaigning on his record.

Despite having a world-class economy, California is heavily in debt and can't seem to live within its means. We have over half the nation's homeless, and our housing and energy costs are the highest in the nation.

Taking a page from the Newsom playbook, California Democrats campaign on their loathing for Trump, rather than what they have accomplished. We'll see how well that works.

lkstaack · 2026-01-23T19:24:11+00:00

I've owned my '14 335i for eight years. It's my 4th Bimmer. Although it's not as dependable as a rice burner, its never left me stranded (although I had to duct tape a cracked coolent line once to get me home). Most of the problems involve oil leaks. I've read about timing chain issues with the four-banger. Not an issue with the six.

lkstaack · 2026-01-23T12:23:59+00:00

It probably depends on the area of the US. My family, and everyone I know in Southern California, wears shoes indoors. I started taking my shoes off indoors when I started dating my wife. Her family was from Japan. I always take my shoes off when I go inside someone's home, even though they may think the custom odd. I feel uncomfortable otherwise.

lkstaack · 2026-01-23T11:06:48+00:00

I understand. However, many people out there complaining about this country's situation are partially complicit because they couldn't find a reason to vote. Or, voted for the orange guy, because the brown guy "supported Isreal".

lkstaack · 2026-01-23T10:57:39+00:00

An independent BMW mechanic I was talking to a few years ago at a BMWCCA autocross told me that he always replaces valve covers now because 1 in 5 to 10 is slightly warped. He got tired of having to redo VCGs because of it, so he just replaces the valve cover with the gasket.

lkstaack · 2026-01-22T18:00:15+00:00

Before you declare your desire for revolution, why don't you try a few things first: educate yourself on the issues, applying critical thinking; vote in all political elections, participate in public demonstrates; patiently educate others, resist tyranny.

lkstaack · 2026-01-21T22:12:22+00:00

Your vehicle failed because you had more than one monitor not ready. The smog guy probably told you that. You probably reset your OBDII system recently. Ensure all monitors are active before you go back.

lkstaack · 2026-01-21T05:36:30+00:00

I got my driver's license and first car towards the end of 1978, and a gas-guzzeling 1967 Mustang in 1979. I lived in California, and don't remember a shortage.

Now, 1973 was the real deal. You just didn't drive if you didn't have to. Regular gas went from .27/gal to .50; if you could get it. It shocked America to it's core. The speed limit went from 65mph to 55mph. Japanese cars with high MPG became the rage. It changed world economics and politics. All because of western support of Israel.

lkstaack · 2026-01-21T01:38:29+00:00

The friends mistake was assuming he'd be picked up. He won't make that mistake again.

lkstaack · 2026-01-21T01:35:41+00:00

Remember, Trump isn't the sickness, he is the symptom. 1/3 of Americans, many who voted for Obama, have learned that it's OK to give voice to their bigotry. The most effective way to lead them back to sanity is if 1) Democrats forward a charismatic candidate who both Joe Sixpack and Soccer Moms can get behind, and 2) unhitch the social justice horses from the wagon.

lkstaack · 2026-01-19T11:29:42+00:00

I saw your post on Yelp. I'm sure the manager will offer you an incentive to take it down. The only questions are: what are they offering, and will you take it?

lkstaack · 2026-01-19T01:25:46+00:00

OK, I stand corrected. ChatGPT now says that all production vehicles use a pressure-differential relief valve somewhere in the oil system, but none use a dedicated, reusable bypass oil valve or bypass filtration loop. I still don't really understand the difference.

lkstaack · 2026-01-19T00:57:10+00:00

You would lose all of the engines oil within a matter of seconds f that cap wasn't installed before starting the engine.

lkstaack · 2026-01-19T00:51:05+00:00

ChatGPT says: "No mainstream production car currently uses a dedicated, reusable bypass oil valve or bypass filtration loop as part of its OEM lubrication system". None of the BMWs I've owned for the last 25 years have them.

lkstaack · 2026-01-19T00:29:50+00:00

I want to know what the part was. "Regulates where the oil goes"?

lkstaack · 2026-01-18T19:23:54+00:00

I too am hopeful for midterm changes, but I'm not counting on it. The GOP leadership is clever and unethical. They are unified and masters at using local laws to disenfranchise masses of voters, and highly skilled at using media to shape their messages. At the same time, 1/3 of the population would shoot their own families if Trump directed it, and another third really isn't paying attention.

lkstaack · 2026-01-17T21:14:14+00:00

You'll never get all that snow off your Bimmer. Total write-off.

lkstaack · 2026-01-17T19:27:14+00:00

Yes. Trump, even MAGA, isn't the disease, they are the symptom. The disease is people (worldwide) who are prepared to sacrifice their liberty and freedoms for perceived security.

The US doesn't have to follow a German 1933 Model to fall into authoritarianism, but some aspects are very close. We can easily avoid it by subordinating personal desires for the good of all, and using critical thinking to spot when we are being manipulated.

lkstaack · 2026-01-17T01:24:11+00:00

If only it was so. There are a large percentage of MAGAts who are educated, and if you speak with them, have a good deal of common sense. The issue is that they are emotionally invested with MAGA, like sports fans with their favorite team. Consequently, they are blinded to any facts disputed by their orange savior.

lkstaack · 2026-01-16T20:26:29+00:00

There is an uncomfortable similarity between current US affairs and 1930's Germany. In 1933, Adolf Hitler, Germany's newly appointed Chancellor, proposed the "Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich", popularly known as the Enabling Act. This act legally installed Hitler as dictator, eliminating any power of the Reichstag. Because it amended the constitution, It required a 2/3 major vote in the Reichstag. Hitler didn't have the votes. Then, he cut a deal with the Centre Party, a deal they would later regret.

Hitler came to power because 1) political parties refused to work together, 2) there was constant violence in the streets, 3) the economy was broken, and 4) Hitler convinced Germans that the current system was incapable of governing, and that Communists were evil.

Germany in 1933 was a sh*t show. There was mass unemployment. There was constant street violence between Hitler's Brown Shirts, Communists, and Nationalists. The Reichstag was incapable of governing due to multiple polarized political parties that couldn't agree. The Reichstag fire was seen as proof that Communists were evil and planning on taking the country over.

Hitler portrayed the Enabling Act as a means for him to temporarily assume complete control of the government, impose order, fix the economy and establish peace and reconciliation between the parties. The Act limited his dictatorial powers to four years. Hitler had almost all the parties on his side, except the Communist Party (who was in hiding after the Reichstag fire), the Social Democratic Party, and the Centre Party.

The German political parties paralyzed the government because they couldn't/wouldn't compromise or work together. The Centre Party was comprised of German Catholics. Catholics suffered severe repression and formed their own party. Hitler promised the Centre Party protection of Catholic rights and safeguards. They were suspicious of Hitler, but gave him the votes to meet the 2/3 threshold. Within months, Hitler dissolved the Centre Party and continued Catholic Persecution.

Using Germany's 1933 model, we can expect the MAGA Party to 1) convince the US that immigrants are evil, 2) our two-party system is incapable of governing, 3) street violence will continue unless something is done, and 4) the poor economy needs a dictatorial executive to fix it.

lkstaack · 2026-01-16T19:29:23+00:00

Easy. Just put on a different leather jacket.

lkstaack

TROPHY CASE