Much more convincing argument or proposition if you had gotten your car from PI and then advised against buying from PI. There is perhaps more merit if your argument is against PML.
It makes me wonder what's your agenda making a claim against PI in general, or a pro-authorised agent statement, without a basis, unless you've had a bad experience with a few PIs.
What did you get this information? Which PI told you so?
I bought from a PI, and this did not happen. I know a cluster of forumers here who has bought from PI, but I have not heard anyone paying initial fees. Is this a fact across the board, or just a hearsay? If such initial fee has been priced into the selling price, then it is irrelevant.
I think it is logically flawed to assume that seeking any quantum saved from a PI car tantamounts to tight financial status ("comfortable", "expensive", "correct commitment") or leveraged situation ("heavy financing") of the buyer. I bought my car from Vincar at 203K in 2007. PML model was doing $245-248K. I saved a huge sum and ploughed savings into my miniscule mod funds, a little at a time. After I spent on my mod funds, I realise I could have paid for a PML 335 coupe now !!!
It is about valuation, and how much savings you can derive from the deal. I bought used watches as well, but of course I have heard the argument that I should buy new when I can afford. I think that's crap. The valuation model in every buyer's mind is different. You wanna pay premium for peace of mind/insurance, be my guest. But it does not mean that those who can sniff out a better deal are doing so because of their presumed shallow pockets. It might make you feel good that you could "afford" a PML car, but it is simply fallacious from a discussion standpoint.
Do your homework, given the influx of PIs around. You do your homework, you will find your good deal. Else the PIs would not have grown in penetration. Your last sentence is indicative of your lack of research, hence landing on PML for a lazy sense of comfort.
That does not tantamount to a correct decision on a PML car, nor does it discredit a PI car.
PML service is an oxymoronic phrase. I cannot agree that PML is top-notch. This is my third BMW, but first PI. I did not have good experience with PML, and I believe if you have read this forum long enough, many have felt the same. Still, this should not a generalised opinion that PML's service is necessarily bad. But the reverse cannot be said to be true as well.
Your COE example is so flawed. Try to compare in timeline perspective - a PML car (example E92) in 2008, in 2009 and in 2010. It is so obvious that OMV has dropped drastically against rising prices. Why so? COE prices embedded? Is that necessarily a plus point on your COE availability issue? You could well be paying more to secure your COE, not a "service factor" from a distribution standpoint. You pay more, but ignoring the fact that these are priced in. You think you need these - COE securing, transportation/hotel stay in cases of breakdown, pay for it. I would not call you a sucker for choosing to do so. But if other could sniff a better deal from the PI market, perhaps from a no frill angle, do not black-label them too.
Disagree, unless you wanna sell your ride in 1-2 years time. You buy high, you try to sell high. I buy low, I can sell low. After 3 years, when the warranty lapses, what's the difference between a PML car and a PI car? I see many older PML car owners going to BVO, J4C and Boss for maintenance.
So if you could do the same instead of relying on PML, your security factor will last as long as only three years !!!
If your PML F10 has persistent issues within the 3 years, you will be hammering BMW instead of kissing the feet of PML.
Wrong, again !!! Over the years, I am amazed by the numbers of PI cars in this forum. It has grown so much I could not fathom. Statistics, if you have any, and intepreted you way, will probably show PML holding majority market share on BMWs. That's not the point. I bet my organ with you inch-for-inch that over the last 3-5 years, the PI BMWs have grown, if not exponentially, at the expense of PML. In the E46 days, hardly any M3 was under PI scheme. Now, the E92 M3, there are plenty. The 335 was another example.
I can assure you few years back, there are hardly any PI BMW here. Now, a handful of the active forumers are PI car owners. You will be surprised.