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BMW 3-Series 2006
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Comments
That is true but if you have 4 tires turning instead of just 2 then you will have greater traction. Let's forget about acceleration for this discussion. If I am sitting on an ice patch with the rear tires and packed snow with the front tires, I will take an AWD car any day of the week (well assuming it's wintertime
I completely understand all of you guys that find the RWD cars with winter tires acceptable. However, there is no dispute that an AWD car with equivalent tires is better in the snow in terms of traction and not getting stuck.
I often find myself shifting my Jeep GC into 4WD driving to work on a particularly snowy day to prevent the back end from sliding out on me. I also have extensive snow driving experience from growing up in Shipo's new home state as well as living in Colorado where they don't seem to know what a snowplow is at times.
The local dealer has a non-sport 325i which I will try when time permits.... I'm not sure how I feel about ordering a sport version sight-unseen, if I get to that point.
My friend got a ZHP which has a tighter suspension and that was a bit too stiff for me.
Is that a special option?
I might add that the Prelude ('95 VTEC) is faster off the line in dry conditions than the xi.
Yikes, that's scary. Here I want to move from a Prelude to a 325i thinking that it would be an upgrade! :surprise: Seriously, maybe the AWD is sapping the performance a bit.
Oh and it also has some dorky cosmetic upgrades.
paule: '95 VTEC...nice car:) I went back and read my post and agree with you. If you have a RWD car and an AWD car both equipped with proper snow tires, the AWD car will have better traction off the line. But when it comes to emergency braking and accident avoidance, the extra weight of the AWD car will be the difference between stopping a inch short of the guy's bumper in front of you and rear ending him.
I believe AWD gives most people a false sense of security. There are many cases where it is necessary.
Most people buy an AWD car and don't put snow tires on it, they feel the all season tires are adequate.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
DL
And considering the crappy, pot hole filled roads in my area (NJ), the extra sidewall height is actually a plus, since it tends to make a the ride a bit better, but more importantly, they are less susceptible to damage. I have 215/45's on my car now, and someitmes it's a full-time job being paranoid that I might catch a hole.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
It actually felt nicer, and almost as roomy, as the '01 525i I had briefly.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Yikes, that's scary. Here I want to move from a Prelude to a 325i thinking that it would be an upgrade! Seriously, maybe the AWD is sapping the performance a bit.
It didn't come as a big surprise to me. Before we purchased the BMW I did a weight to horsepower comparison and the Prelude had the advantage on paper.
So when I finally got a chance to compare the two (wife driving the Prelude; me in the Bimmer), she beat me off the line.
Unfortunately for me, both cars are automatics but at least that gave a fair comparison. The BMW loses in the weight department. The Prelude is a very light car. I did not compare a RWD automatic 325i to the Prelude but I still think the Prelude would take it but it would be a closer contest.
Little sidenote: the Prelude is a little unhappy today because a coyote decided to become intimate with the bumper while I was traveling about 60 mph.
Most people buy an AWD car and don't put snow tires on it, they feel the all season tires are adequate.
I agree with everything you wrote. An AWD car with the all season tires definitely gives you a false sense of security. If you really need an AWD car, put snow tires on it and then you have something!
Besides, if it really is slippery, you will only be able to go about 2 mph anyway (from the traffic)!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The circumstances for the test drive were great. My son's friend's father is a technician at a BMW dealer in Greenwich, CT. He was able to persuade the sales manager to let him take home a new 3 for us to test drive at our leisure. It sure was nice to be able to take a long test drive on familiar twisty roads, without having a salesperson along for the ride. We spent more than an hour driving the car and looking it over.
We both liked the car very much, and I think that we will end up getting either this car (though equipped somewhat differently) or the new IS 250 which is coming out in September.
Fortunately, we are among those that find the car's design to be attractive. So no issues there.
I would say that acceleration was adequate but not great, in the context of the sports sedan segment. The engine has a real nice sound.
I found the steering to be precise and the handling to be very good. The handling would be even better with 17 inch wheels/tires. This car somehow comes standard with 16s and it seems that the only way to upgrade to 17s is to take the costly sports package which gives a harsher ride.
I found the brakes to be just right, not too grabby as complained about in many previous posts.
The run flat tires are a bit noisy, which detracts from an otherwise quiet car. I want to hear the sound of the engine, not the tires. This car comes standard with run flats and there is no option to "downgrade" to non-run flats. Also, never having had run flats before, I'm not totally comfortable with the idea of having no spare tire.
Run flats are another gripe.
I found the interior to be pleasant and surprisingly roomy. There is now actually sufficient legroom for rear seat passengers (well, at least for 2 of them anyway - - legroom for the middle seat occupant is obstructed by the protruding air vents).
The driver's seat is comfortable, firm but not too firm. IMO, the leatherette seats in my father-in-law's 2004 325ci are way too firm.
Some minor nits. The cupholders must be a joke. The location (perched above the radio controls) is scary. And geez, could they have made these things any flimsier? Very thin flexible plastic. Come on. And the stereo is just OK at best. Sounded tinny and distorted when I turned up the volume.
But back on track here.. I have had 6 BMWs since 1984 and I will never get one again without the sports package...A BMW without the sports package is like Pam Anderson in a suit and tie. If you want a car that has luxury, and decent to drive buy Lexus or Mercedes. If you want cheap buy a Chevy. However; if love to drive for drivings sake....BUY a BMW with sports package and Xenons..
Me... I did add H&R sport springs to my 2004 525 and WOW it did make a big difference! But I cannot seem to solve the Xenon problem, again I did not order them because I never had them in the past. Of course I never had a cell phone until 1994 and now I cannot live without one. Also one of my friends has a M5 and it has Xenons..once I drove it at night..., and now I am hooked...BUY XENONS folks, if your over 40 like me .....it helps at night!!
But if anyone know how to convert my headlights to Xenons ..please feel free to respond ...!!!
I got the non sport package and it is great no complaints.
Mind you if you get the 17 inch tires for those rims the replacements will cost you 250+ (tires). compared to 165 (tires) for 16 inch versions.
The cons for the car.
Terrible cup holder, all german cars need a crash course in cup holders.
Bluetooth, ok +/- not the greatest, cant scroll throught he phone book from the steering wheel controls, only the radio controls, I think thats more dangerous then playing with the cell phone.
adjustable pedals, should have made this optional. I got flong legs
sound system, although it has a million speakers, something is missing, and you cant get the speakers changed bmw, specially modified them so you cant change um out.
I would rank this car a 9.8/10
If you get the car serviced at different dealer from where you purchased it do you still get a free loaner? Where in the agreement does it say free loaner.
Ok all If you have any other comments please post um (I know I have to tell you guys about this)
Or what i did purchase some brand new 330i 17" take off's for a fraction of the cost. I realize there is some hassle involved however.
Now, after reaching break in i decided to take a little road trip to see what kind of highway mileage i could achieve and visit the family. 1st off compaired to my former 323i (170) it pulls like a tank. Yeah its not 700hp or what ever infiniti, acura advertises but its useful power, not torque steer boredom.
The specs 266 miles, 9 gallons used, 80mph cruise speed. So roughly 29 mpg. I am pleased my E46 never got 29 on the same trip . Dallas TX to Tulsa ,OK. I75.
Also the OBC is lifetime total Im assuming ? it says 24.7 mpg right now and a average lifetime speed of 40.1. I wish it had two trips like most cars do now days.
For the Bad, i got a small window "scuff" not chip from a nice tractor trailer thanks pal! So its not going to be repair able, but its not in line of sight. Sigh*. Also i noticed my right front wheel lip had a battle scar as well.(not from a curb) but looks like from a rock or something as well.
DL
Ya, 7 week wait is over today 6/29/2005
Monaco Blue/Terra
Automatic
Navigation
Satellite Radio
Sport Package
Premium Package
Cold Weather Package
Rear Power Sunshade
Park Distance Control
Alarm
Carpet Mats
All-Weather Mats
Truck Liner
Wood Shift Knob
6 Disc CD Changer
anyway, this is my first bmw and i notice that the steering is ALOT harder, meaning it takes an "effort" to steer the steering wheel, than i was used to. is that normal? or is it part of sport package? thanks!
Oh, this one is just too good to pass up!
Shipo, your response please!
But OEM stereos and stereos installed by dealers seem overpriced. I remember years ago, someone I knew was getting a Civic but the dealer wanted $600 to install a basic cassette player with a couple of speakers.
I agree, xenons are the way to go. Adaptive lighting is incredible!
There are sites for converting to xenon, but don't know of any right off hand...
-Paul
Well, I have had 89 325ix (In Germany), 02 530i and now 03 M5. Wife has the 04 Sienna, which I usually end up driving with the kids on weekends. So there's at least one more, other than Shipo.
Sienna Rampvan
Was I really that out of line with my last post?
Feel free to remove it.
I was just trying to show that minivans aren't always boring.
Pro - handles great with plenty of power. Fit and finish is outstanding.
Con - Road noise. Possible cause are the run flat tires.
Whine from the transmission in road gear. Drove two both have the same noise.
Service dept did not think there was a problem.
No daytime running lights and no behind the front seat storage nets.
Called BMW USA with these results.
Dealer will program running lights at no cost.
I was placed on the list to have my seatbacks replaced when the part becomes available.
They have been receiving a lot of complaints about road noise.
All in all not a bad attempt at re designing the vehicle.
Well, I drive a 330 convertible AND a Toyota Sienna. Wife drives a Lexus RX330. Sometimes I need oil and sometimes I need water. :P
I bought my car & paid full MSRP of $48,850.00.
Where I believe I did well, got $2,000.00 more for my trade in.
Hmmm, well, as mentioned by a few other folks, up until a couple of months ago, we had a 530i and not one but two minivans. Do I wish they were BMW minivans? Yup. To me, the perfect combo would be a sweet little 330i with at least the 6-Speed manual, PP and SP, and a similarly optioned BMW minivan. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Best Regards,
Shipo
In other news:
- I saw my first E90 on the road yesterday heading south on I-355 near Addison, IL, unfortunately I was heading north so I just caught a glimpse of it, and couldn't determine its configuration.
- As a general observation, I see considerably fewer BMWs around here compared to the NYC or New England areas, and so far at least, I've yet to see a single one that I could clearly identify with the Sport Package. In fact, the bulk of the E46s that I've seen here have been of the "xi" ilk. Hmmm, I lived here in the Chicago area for nearly 13 years and maybe it's just my aging memory, however, I don't recall there being all that much snow around here, and certainly not enough to cause me to want AWD. Go figure.
- My business partner here in Illinois, a staunchly "Buy American" kind of guy, recently saw the movie "The Transporter" and fell in love with the 1999 E38 735i 5-Speed, even to the point of saying, "Hell, I'd go back to driving a stick shift for that car." Unfortunately my response to him was, "Uhhh, my friend, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, however, that car came over here equipped with either a 4.4 liter V8 or a 5.0 liter V12, both of which were connected to the wheels by an automatic transmission." In any event, as soon as our new venture starts turning a profit, he is going to be in the market for a 2001 740i. It seems that after driving my 530i 5-Speed a number of times he's primed to revert back to the dark side. ;-)
Talk to y'all soon.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Thats all i can say. WOW. Im just overwhelmed. This car is definitely the ultimate driving car. Im soooooo happy im driving one i still cant believe im driving it. I got the Titanium on Black leather with sport package. Those 18 inch wheels make the car look super hot. The Xenon lights are hot too.
This car is out of control
I think it is definitely a WOW car. The next three weeks are going to go awfully slow! Also, I think the Titanium is really a great color. My E46 is that color and if I hadn't lived with it all these years, I would have considered it again. Next one after this. The Sparkling Graphite will be a great alternative for me with the grey interior.
More of our roads are being rough topped to provide better wet traction, guess I will turn the radio up a little more!!
Yes I know its so annoying. I have ordered my 325xi last month and I have been waiting to hear from the dealer with my production #. I think the wagon will be released after the sedan,however. I have been quoted ~$44,000 for my 325xi with all options including the cold weather package and premium package. I did not want the advanced cruise control system though. So along with you I will be waiting for September to arrive. Hope that helps!
325xi wholesale price of: $29,300
MSRP price of: $32,200
with all of my options I have chosen all the options except the dynamic cruise control and he quoted me $44,415
Hope that can help!
DL