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I've seen mostly 6 second or a tad higher on the 330i manual runs. But he asked about the ZHP - that's a 5.6 car according to C & D. Even BMW's conservative estimates put it at 5.9. The guy was asking if the 325i would be adequate...not if he's driven a 330i ZHP or G35 6 MT and he likes power.
Haven't heard people complaining about 330 auto to be slow so why would the 325 5 speed be.
I'd complain about the 330i auto being slow. And before anybody questions how often you use all the power, I'll tell you: daily. Every freeway entrance is an excuse to take that sucker to right below redline. I bought a sports sedan to experience the sports side. If I wanted just adequate engine performance, I would have stuck with my 1.8T Jetta or switched to the TSX.
To me the 325i manual is the halfway there model of the 3 series. It's got the handling prowess but its engine limits the driver from really exploiting that chassis.
I am looking for input from people who have "lived" with SMG to get an idea of how they like it. Is it something that you use in "manual" mode or do you get tired of it and put it in "auto"? In auto do you find that the ride is annoyingly rough compared to step or do you like the "edge" it gives the car? I think that SMG might be a good alternative for my next car (I have a 330i sp, step) and drive in tons of stop and go so I'm not really sure I'd be happy with a stick full time. Also, my wife doesn't drive one and I'd like the flexibility to switch cars at times.
Any input is appreciated. SMG- here to stay and great improvement or fad and gimmick soon to disappear?
I have a 5 speed. While I like the feel overall, I am constantly frustrated that every-once-in-a-while the shift from 1st to 2nd gives me a "kick back" through the linkage and it is very easy to miss 2nd gear. One of these times I'm going to over rev the engine and I've already had it grind a few times (embarrassing with others in the car, since I've driven sticks for 30 years). Do you notice this?
My six speed's a nightmare. I've owned manual Fords, Nissans and VWs and I've never had a car with such an awful tranny. Quite often it flatout will not come out of a gear, even with the clutch slammed to the floor. It can't keep up with my shifts so a quick snap from 1 to 2 or 2 to 3, so on, isn't possible as when it does disengage from a gear it's as if I'm then trying to guide the shifter through a mass of tangled wires. Other times I simply can't get it into a gear - usually 3rd, so I must go to 4th. The shifter reminds me of the last ford mustang I drove, a 2001, - vague, harsh, binding, unruly, mercurial and all around awful. But the car's fun, even if the six speed's a massive pile of doodoo. Thankfully you can hold gears with the strong engine...lol
If my car had the TSX's buttery-smooth tranny I'd be in heaven. But alas, I have garbage. Oh well.
mrman:
http://blue-guy.com/images/Direct_Front.jpg
http://blue-guy.com/images/Front_Left.jpg
http://blue-guy.com/images/Side.jpg
http://blue-guy.com/images/Rear_Left.jpg
Sorry, no MSN or AIM.
Edmunds has the invoice at $34,025. Even if you add the MACO of @$360, that's an invoice of $34,385: less $1,500 incentive = $32,885. That being said, supply & demand "could" affect your price, also.
Have fun dude. Get a radar detector. I remember those MD troopers are tough. I remember they used to have a TRACTOR TRAILER, called "big mama", that had a radar gun mounted in the rear tail light! Those guys are sneeky. I think they were one of the first ones using Ford Mustangs to catch speeders also.
regards,
kyfdx
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Do you know if there is a factory to dealer incentive on the 325i or 325xi? It would surely be nice to get $1500 of the invoice on those cars. I went to a dealer in NJ and he was not willing to go anywhere lower than $1,500 over the invoice on those cars. I offered him $500 over the invoice on 03 325i and he just laughed and went into the long discussion how the car practically sells itself and blah, blah, blah.
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igor...did you consider a 525? You maybe closer than you think in pricing, especially if dealers have fewer 3ers. Unless you feel totally underpowered, you may find the extra room... nice. I started out looking at the 325xi, then the 330i (for about the same price, & finally purchased a 530iA at $40,575 ($3200 below invoice). It was only a grand more than the 330 sedans. $3500 trunk money on the 525! Good luck.
Very possible. Lots of dealers lie about MF and APR to pocket the profit. My dealer originally told me the MF on my 3 was .0019. I balked and he came down to 15, then 13. Figured it was really 12, so I could live with 13 - then I sprang the 10 multiple security deposits on him! Heh, heh, heh.
I checked with atleast 10 dealers in Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta last week and all of them said 3.9% financing. They say that 2.9% is the buy rate from BMWFS and they have a 1% markup. About 4-6 weeks back, 2.9% was almost guaranteed and I think that something has transpired between BMWFS and the dealers. But again, you can still push them for 2.9% or get a lower selling price.
You can buy aftermarket ones for a 3-series for around $300. Do a search for Daylight Demon Eyes (or DDEs). I believe the state-of-the-art variety are called Generation V DDEs. Try E46 Fanatics for a referral for a good manufacturer.
ksso
But seriously, the rain sensing wiper works but it is not perfect. It usually takes too long to start in very light rain and doesn't work fast enough in hard rain. But it works and is a good alternative to having to turn intermittent wipers on and off.
This, I understand, is to prevent the wipers from swatting you should you decide to wash the windows with the setting selected. I've found the rain sensor to work quite well, perhaps selecting a speed a smidgen slower than I would have ideally wanted, but very well nonetheless.
Tried to get another 3 Series but 330i is just too expensive. IS300 had only $33,556 MSRP and that is with tons of goodies--HID, LSD, VSC, heated seats, sunroof, 6-disc CD, foglights, leather/Escaine, Homelink, pwr seats, auto dim mirrors, compass, auto climate, 240 watt stereo, and more! She paid $13,000 and her car. Got 3.39% financing for 60 months.
New 330i just too expensive. I really, really wanted LSD and HID. Just can't beat the price. IS300 essentially comes with BMW-like Sport Pkg as standard (e.g., Sport-type steering wheel, 215/45ZR17 tires). Love the perforated Escaine seats. Bit like Alcantra.
The IS300 does cut some corners. Uses prop rod for the hood. Uses space-intruding goose-neck trunk hinges. No telescoping steering wheel. No memory seats (though that is coming out in '04).
The feel of the switchgear is impeccable on IS300. Seats very comfortable. Comprehensive gauge cluster (has 1 more than 3 Series). Some nice small touches like dual trip odometers. Standard 6-disc in-dash CD with 240 watt stereo and RDS radio and cassette. I like the look of the interior and dash. Love the metal pedals!
IS300 is a value-laden boy racer with great warranty (4/50 b-to-b and 6/70 powertrain, plus you can by a b-to-b extension from Lexus) and outstanding build quality. (Check out the CR reliability data.) But you only get first two maintenance services free.
Richard
I was going to wait til the X3 came out but my last kimchee car got flooded and destroyed pretty much everything inside and plus I have a baby on the way so I needed something that would safely transport him from point a to b ;-).
imadrone Good to hear that there will not be a price increase! My dealer was still waiting to see if there was going to be one. Heard the automatic rear sunshade is an option on the '04 (at least for the 325i) and they also included the BMW assist into the premium pkg. Does anyone know what the BMW assist consists of? Integrated phone? Shark-fin antenna?
Glad to be back,
Nobee
http://myfilelocker.comcast.net/fdmeloan/2004_3_Series_Sedan_Pric- ing.pdf
-nobee
-nobee
-nobee
Is anyone familiar with the costs/issues I will have in bringing it over the border? Is the warranty still valid?
The alternative is that I sell it. What is a realistic amount I could expect for showroom condition... 4400 miles
Taking into account the currency exchange (US$ = 1.40 C$) and sales tax, you should be able to get a 330i for the same price as a 325i. GST (federal) is 7%. The provincial sales tax would depend on the province you are moving to. For example Ontario has an 8% PST and Alberta has no PST.
The car drives and handles nicely and is easy to drive on long trips. Fuel economy reaches 29-30 mpg (calculated)during my runs to work. No problems, very reliable. Dealerships were great.
Make sure you check these cars over before purchase. I suggest a dealership and make sure you get all of the CPO paperwork. The work done in checking and preparing my vehicle was extensive. You won't get this from an independent dealer.
Once the vehicle arrived in port, there were a few problems with a broken windshield being the biggest. No problem...I got an estimate and they cut me a check. What was interesting, however, was that while all the other cars received carwashes, they refused to touch mine saying that they didn't want to damage the paint with their rough sponges! You gotta respect the paint, dude! ;-)
To make a long story short, took possession of the car in Dec '02, shipped it in Jun, sold it in Sep for ~28K. Overall, lost ~2K USD on the deal (purchased it for 30K USD) but I had to sell it quick. I think you could do better--but not too bad since I drove it for over 6 months and put over 8K miles on it.
Good luck,
-nobee