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Now that the car's broken in (according to BMW's manual) I know I'll be playing more often in the higher end of the engine's sweet spot. Considering I've been conservative I'm sorta worried I'll get 15-16 mpg when I'm really driving the car. :O
If I had been able to order the Limited Slip option that BMW used to have, I would certainly have checked off that box. To my way of thinking, BMW should look at this as just one more "ala-carte" option and just a way to add just a little more to their bottom line.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Once you drive a car with an LSD, and feel the car hook up under throttle exiting a turn, you really start to hate electronic traction control. As mentioned above, it is far too easy to spoof traction control. It doesn't know what you know and feel, all it does is sense wheel slip and apply the brakes whether you want it to or not. In my racing days I immediately took a .5 seconds off my lap times by installing an LSD in my car. That is pretty significant improvement in performance. On a wet track it was even better. It is pretty hard to have too much traction in a street car unless you are trying to rotate the rearend with a lot of throttle. So an LSD enhances enthusiast level street driving also.
For those of you who get BMW surveys asking for feedback on your cars, consider mentioning the lack of an LSD option as being a negative. Until more people start making noise about this shortcoming, BMW will happily take your money and use the brakes as a band aid in place of the real thing. Having an LSD and traction control with an on/off button is the best setup. BMW's cost for an LSD would be about 300-$500 per car; how much they would mark it up would be another question.
Supposedly a running manufacturing change eliminated this around 2001, but my 2003 330i SP 5-speed had it. I talked to the service manager and they applied the TSB (an insulating strip of butyl rubber tape) on the drive shaft mount, and it basically went away. A few others with post 2001 MY cars have reported likewise.
Here's a couple of links with more info. Read those more detailed descriptions and see if they match your problem.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2- - 759&highlight=butyl
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1- - 4622&highlight=whine
On a few long freeway jaunts I've seen probably 30 mpg but around town it's nearer to 20.
Benjminn
The service advisor asked me if there is anything else they should check for while the car was in for service. I thought about it for a couple of seconds and relied "No, absolutely nothing".
This car is solid as a rock.
Do others notice this, or do I need to take it to the dealer to check out ??
Thanks all.
Thx
My dad is turning in the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee we leased for his business. We looked at the X5 and ML, but they were too expensive...so we briefly considered the Explorer and the Murano.
We've finally decided that the BMW and MB wagons give us the best of all possible worlds: cargo capacity for deliveries/road trips, comfort/some luxe (this is my dad's semi-retirement car) and ease of handling for my mom (she doesn't drive the Jeep).
Between the two, the Bimmer has better residuals, so that's what they've picked. We got a 1/2 percent off for repeat financing thru' BMWFS, another 1/2 percent off for repeat buying thru' the dealership I purchased from and $1500 off MSRP. All MB stores are corporate-owned so they don't deal off MSRP.
So now my car will be parked on the driveway as my brother's C230 and my parent's 325 will get to sleep indoors.
I believe it's 5k down, plus taxes (15% in Ontario), freight and pdi...it comes to about 9k at signing. With the low apr and high residual, my dad's paying less per month than he is on the JGC (he was willing to spend more)...and the mileage is better and service is included.
For instance on my BMW the car had a MF of 0.0013 (actually 0.001225...but anyway)...
I bought 10 MSDs, bringing my MF down to 0.0003 (or about .7% apr). On a MF of 0.0013 my lease would have been 550 a month. By handing them 5k I dropped my payment to 480 a month. That's a $70 savings monthly - or $840 a year (2500 over the life of the lease). At the end of 3 years I get my 5k back and it had a 50% return rate over those 3 years. I can live with that kinda rate of return!
BTW, BMW is changing MSDs at the end of june to a max of 5.
j/k.
on another note, i dont know how long my client will entertain me not going to toronto claiming SARS fright....
ah such is life...
ksso
1.) What controls are located on the steering wheel, and are they lighted?
2.) I saw somewhere that there are rear heater vents located in the back for rear-seat passengers -- is this true?
Thanks to anybody who answers these, thus saving me a trip to my local BMW dealer.
supra880
Now I get it. That's a good idea. I'm not sure they do this in TO.
ksoman:
re. cargo capacity...we don't need that much...just enough to deliver three to four boxes/ plants from the garden centre/ annual xmas tree/ road trip stuff. The Jeep came in handy.
Our other two cars are coupes so a sedan was out of the question. No one wanted to be driving a minivan. Cross off SUVs coz the BMW/MB/Lexus were too expensive and the Ford/Toyota/Nissan range were too unappealing. We really wanted comfort and a little bit of luxe. So to me the wagon was the only reasonable alternative. (OK, I'll admit to being exulted when my dad picked the Bimmer over the MB...the BMW devil has me hooked)
Re. Sars...honestly nothing to worry about...we've been having gorgeous weather here.
I just purchased a 2004 330CIC about 6 weeks ago. Its fully loaded with premium, sport and cold weather package. To answer your questions, you can control volume, track number/presets on radio, cruise control, and all of the controls if you opt for a BMW phone on the steering wheel. The buttons are lightly back lit at night. Regarding the rear vents, I don't have them, however the coupe in your case may be slightly different.
Also, FYI the adaptive xenons are awesome! At lower speeds the lights illuminate the area closer to the front and side of the car, and at higher speeds they point longer to give you maximum visibility. They really do make a difference.
However on a lower note, my car has been in the shop 3 times in the past 6 weeks. EVERYTHING from cylinder failure, doors not locking, top not going up or down, to springs and plastic pieces in the car breaking, this car has been a nightmare. But when its not in the shop, its an amazing machine.
Hope you have better luck with yours than I with mine.
lukyme:
I too have noticed (my car being an automatic) that there is a delay from when I step on the gas to when the car actually picks up and goes, and I think thats just the way the engine is.
Yes the adaptive headlights are awesome to say the least. When you start upt he car in the garage in the low lights, its actually interesting to see the lights turn on in their auto mode and do the little self check dance or whatever it does...
As for the rear vents, there are vents on the back of the back seat, under the head rests and between the two headrests (convertible atleast) that i've not figured out the purpose for... maybe they are just a style thing and nothing more.
ksso #0
I am looking into a wagon as well to replace my SUV in about a year. Yes, I have come to my senses and will stick to a wagon. The 3er wagon is a bit small for me and wont be enough for the days I really need the space when picking up people from the airports or going on long road trips with kid gear. I am starting to look at the A6 wagon which I am sure is a lot roomier. Let see where my search leads.
I am still seeking opinions regarding the leg room in the back. I like the 325 and have 3 kids (no carseats). My wife also likes it but could go either way woth most cars. I like Bimmers since I grew up driving an M5 and would like to get my own and grow to a series 5 in the future.
My question is...can 3 kids seat in the back? I know that there are other more spacious cars but I do like the 3. I sometimes even put 4 (for those who are perfect and never do that because of seatbelts please save the speech----someone insulted me in a forum for doing this and then wrote about how he drove his new car at 100mph and how it felt great- no sermons).
Of course, if you are a little guy, and drive with the seat really close to the wheel, then the back seat becomes a bit more usable.
Also, the 5 has the same interior dimensions (give/take an inch here and there) as the 3.
I am not gay but I do agree. Gays do have great taste (everyone knows this). That has no impact in my decision making, gays can do and get the car they whant. Space does!
Yes you can fit 3 children.
And that was me on the TSX board and I won't back down from it. Why anyone would ever let a child (or any passenger) ride in a car without a seatbelt is beyond my ken. I call the cops when I see unbuckled kids bouncing around just as I do when I see an obvious DUI weaving down the road. According to a friend of mine in the CHP over 1/3 of the tickets he writes come from cell phone tips. People have probably reported me for speeding!
BTW, I rarely break 85 (75-80 is crusing around here) on the freeway. And when I do it's on desolate stretches and late at night so I can see the lights of other cars from miles away.
So chafe over comments. I don't mind. I think putting 4 kids in the backseat of a sedan is irresponsible and dangerous. People think speeding is dangerous too. To each his own.
Thanks,
Richard
I'm very happy that we have all of these choices. If the liberaltreehuggingpersonalcarhatingeveryoneonthebusgorebotweenies have there way, we would all be driving Priuss (what is the term for more than one Prius?) to the train/bus station. No BMW for you!
By the way speeding may be reckless, depending on the SPEED lets not get technical (feel free to ask an oficer).
Blueguy was NOT the one with the insults and then claiming to drive at 100mph...which I consider reckless, isolated parkway or not. This was some time ago.
kdshapiro- Both things are wrong and to say one is less than the other is stupid b/c it depends on the actual miles over the limit (lack of info-if ya driver does 80 in a 40mph limitt he will get a reckless driving summons pluss speeeding and anything else the officer may be able to fine him with and well deserved).
Lastly, I also call the police (I think most of us do) if we sense or see a DUI driver in action or about to get into a car so Kudos to you.
I am sorry if I disrespected anybody...my appologies. So back to cars...BMW 3's for now
Thats one thing that I should think about. As I think back I cannot say that I ride with all three every week. I need to pay attention to this as I look into defferent alternatives...but the best thing to do is to bring all the kids to the dealership...and that will show me what kind of salesman I have when he sees the whole ang!
test drive with them.
signed
anonymously (plz don't let the wife see this one!)
Rofl
There's always room Jello and strippers.
You bring up a very interesting point. And here I suppose it is necessary to insert a caveat that speeding and enforcement of speeding laws are 2 different things.
My observation is that the ‘speed limit’ is not the speed limit. Meaning: the posted limit is a starting point for enforcement to look at. Although law enforcement in some (thankfully rare) places will, in fact, ticket a driver for traveling at 1 mph over the posted limit, the vast majority of jurisdictions appear to issue tickets beginning at some threshold above the posted limit. 5 mph. 10 mph. Or even more, as I have driven through radar traps on 4+ lane, limited access hiways at close to 15 mph over the limit without triggering ‘an event’.
This has long bothered me. I would much prefer to see a higher limit and enforcement of exceeding the limit – by any ‘degree’. ‘Locals’ often know both where and by how much they can ‘get away’ with speeding. Those using the same roads on a less regular basis typically seem to ‘guess’ how much lee way the enforcement will allow. I have set my cruise control at 9 over the limit (and slowed for towns, etc. along the route – for instance from Tifton, GA to Talahasee, FL) and observed others, both in front of and behind me, doing almost precisely the same thing - and to the same degree. And watch carefully for enforcement.
I’d like to see them raise the limit(s) to the effective limit, publicly acknowledging the reality, and ticketing for any infraction.
And I believe that in this state (GA), at least, exceeding the speed limit by ‘enough’ will allow the offender to be charged with reckless driving – and spend some time researching conditions the inside of a jail.
Just my $.02.
- Ray
Rarely ticketed – and ‘taxed’ - for speeding – not in a BMW since 1974 - and never for any other moving violation . . .
In 1974 the Emergency Highway Conservation Act reduced speed limits to 55mph nationwide. The purpose was not safety but energy conservation.
It thus overnight became possible to exceed the posted limit by 20mph, get a reckless driving citation, while driving the same safe 75mph speed as the previous day.
This clearly illustrates that speed limits do not always exist for safety reasons.
Re those that think any speeding is speeding, and the law breakers deserve punishment: if you secretly put a data logger on everybody's car, you'd find the majority of people exceed some speed limit almost every day they drive. My 70 yr old mother thinks she never speeds, but if you watch the speedo, she often hits 35 in a 30, etc. Virtually everybody does this. Yet if any speeding is wrong and deserves punishment, almost every driver in the country should get a citation every day they drive.
The fact is over a wide range of speeds, there's only a very loose correlation between vehicle speed and safety. Is 70-75mph on freeways more dangerous than 55mph? If so you'd expect after discontinuing the national speed limit, that freeway death rates per vehicle mile would increase. Yet they've continued decreasing. If 100mph on an isolated, deserted road is extremely dangerous, then in Germany where such speeds are common the death rate per vehicle mile would be hugely higher than in the US. In fact it's about the same or even lower.
It's a complicated picture and there are many variables besides just speed. Although often framed as a safety issue, issuing speeding tickets is polluted by the powerful monetary incentives often at work.
If you want to vastly increase highway safety and lower death rates, institute German-style driver training and vehicle inspection programs. Fund it by diverting ticket revenue from local municipalities to a national driver training fund. You'll see a lot fewer tickets, a lot less deaths, and cops redeployed from revenue generation to more beneficial activities.