About $1,000

That's what I hear from the independent BMW shop every time I bring in the 328i for anything. About a thousand dollars. Every time. Oil change; tire rotation; brakes; tail light out, doesn't matter. What is it about German cars that makes their parts so expensive? Though I can't answer that completely, I know that the car brings me a degree of happiness that didn't happen in other cars.

It's a visceral machine that needs just a little more work to be close to perfect. The 2.8 liter inline 6 starts with a "whomp" even through stock mufflers. That sound alone engages a connection between man and motor. The engine was rated at 190 hp when new, though with nearly 140,000 miles on the clock, it may be producing a bit less. If so, I don't notice. The thing pulls strongly from stops and always feels in the power band. Where the car really comes into it's element is through the curves. My morning commute is dull except for one or two onramps. One of them is a two-lane loop onto the interstate where I can take the inside line and keep my foot on the accelerator through the whole thing. It feels as if it may want to plow at first, but keeping the pedal down brings the car to a neutral bearing around the loop, and I'm flying by people by the time it's over. What fun! That such a routine drive brings this kind of joy to a 45-year-old wannabe racer is testament to the quality of the BMW. At $1,000 per shop visit, I hope to at least get a few thrills along the way!

Next stop: M3? What will my wife say if this turns up in the garage tonight?