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Also, I believe the steering on all 325's is the same: boosted pre-April01 and unboosted after...
Gurumike may be able to offer more substantiation.
1. Yes, the front armrest does come standard with any 330s.
2. The power seats don't come with the sports seats, they are already a standard item for post-March production cars. So if you don't order the sport seats, you will still get the power seats.
3. The "M" aerodynamic package for a 330xi includes a slightly modified front bumper with round fog lighs(instead of the rectangular-shaped ones) and a rear air diffuser for the rear bumper. And no, it doesn't include the rear deck spoiler (I wish it does...:-) ) If you are really so anxious to see what it looks like, go to www.e46fanatics.com, there's a poster over there who has some pics and a very detailed writing of his 330xi pick-up from the BMW's South Carolina plant.
Your car, with the exception of the NAV system, has the exact same specification as mine. Congrats on the purchase, I've put about 1300 miles already in 2 and a half weeks and believe me when I say this, the car won't disappoint you!
When I went to pay for it 3 weeks later, they already had a VIN for the car, even though pick-up date is 6/18.
When I checked mid April the car was listed on the BMW site as being on order. When I checked yesterday, it said production was complete and it was awaiting transportation. How long does it take to build one?
Can one tell from the VIN which week it was built in?
Thanks for any input. I guess the car will sit in a parking lot in Munich for 6 weeks till I get to drive it in mid June.
I just wanted to say that everything went smooth with the delivery on Friday. Driving the 325i is addictive and I've been out driving all the time. I am still pinching myself trying to convince myself that I actually OWN this incredible car but it's hard to believe it. I feel like I'm only renting it for the weekend and I am terrified at the thought of having to turn it Monday morning. So in the meantime, I'm driving it as much as I can. We are off to another day trip (great weather today) in a couple of minutes. I will share my experience with you in great detail soon. So far, it's been all miles and smiles.
According to what I have read, the Xi AWD system only increases vehicle clearance and height by .67 inches. After several test drives of Xis and "i"s, I detected very little additional (if any) body roll in the Xis. That's why I decided to buy one.
Roc50-
I extensively test drove several different versions of the three series with and without the sport seats and found the sport seats to offer only marginal additional performance on tight turns. I actually made a point of having my wife concentrate on the seats' effects on passenger comfort and jostling in high-G turns, and she and I agreed that there was minimal difference. Did you find that these seats offered significant additional lateral support?
i was bumped from week 22 to week 18 as per BMW NA
have not spoken to dealer yet.
not complaining, but if its true, why is my status still "on order/111": any ideas what the deal is???
I've been lurking on this board consistently for about 6 months, and I finally ordered my 325i on April 15, week 21 production. On April 26th, the car went into production according to OC. I was told to expect a July 1st delivery, but now anticipate a few weeks early, perhaps mid-June.
Of course, I've experienced a bit of second guessing re: color choice, not going with SP, 325i vs 330i, etc. But in the end, I feel comfortable with my choice: 325i, steel blue, grey, PP, CWP, Xenons, CD.
The one thing that's got me a bit concerned is that I didn't go with HK. Having had a pair of MB Quarts in a previous vehicle, I was convinced that their speaker package for the 325 would be the way to go. I even have a 100 wpc Orion amp sitting around that I figured I'd slap in there.
Recently, though, I read an article on e46fanatics.com in the faq section, I think, about upgrading the audio system in a BMW. The article was written by a guy who spent mega hours installing some equipment in his bimmer, and explained the problems he encountered. Since most of the stuff was way over my head and to make a long story short, the problems appeared to be associated with installing a new amp. I don't know if the head unit has preamp outs or not, and replacing the factory amp seemed like an undertaking fraught with difficulty.
At any rate, my question is this: Alpine325i, have you installed an aftermarket amp in a 325i and if so, any suggestions? I've heard that there is a shop outside Philly that specializes in installing audio systems in bimmers. I live in Baltimore, but would drive there for the expertise if necessary. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks,
Lewis Parker
1) Is it true that current box being placed in new orders is that of last year with a lesser boost?
2) If so, what is the production cut off date for the change.
I'm ready to order, but want to make sure of the stearing box change or will wait until next year. Thanks so much for any input.
Part I - Pickup
Everything with the pickup went pretty smooth. I picked a day when my salesperson had no other deliveries scheduled for the afternoon. I took a tad over two hours. There are plenty of details to check and I'd strongly recommend to anyone to take their time and set aside 2 hours for the delivery. Preferably, the delivery should be done when the service department is open - this will likely save you a second trip to the dealer. Go in prepared and do not expect your salesperson to know and remember everything that she has to do. Thanks to Jerry's Pickup List from e46fanatics.com and the Test-drive List from the Motley Fool, I was much better prepared for the pickup than my salesperson. Jerry's list is a total overkill, so what I did is underline all the things on the list that I wanted to check. The car's condition met all of my delivery requirements. However, not all of the key memory options that I had specified were set up correctly. The service department was still open, though, and they took care of it in no time. It saved me an additional trip to the dealer. Also, the financing of my car was for a longer term than the one that I had specified. It's OK with me, at 5.9% I really don't want to pay it off any time soon but just keep in mind that it's better to provide these details to the dealer in writing, so they'll have no excuses for screwing up. Another important thing to remember is to tell your dealer in advance that if they want an excellent review, they will have to earn it. My dealer treated me a lot better ever since I mentioned that to her. She even got me a BMW T-shirt as a present to make up for some mistakes that she had made in the pre-delivery process. She said that the review is the single most important thing for her and that she could lose her job due to a poor review. Good to know that you have a lot of leverage over the salesperson and you shouldn't allow them to push you around. I gave her 'excellent' on everything because she is a very nice person and she tried hard in the end. Off the record, I was less than impressed with her overall knowledge of the product. However, I always felt that she is trustworthy and if she's not sure about something, she wouldn't BS me and she would try to find out the answers. Trust is most important to me.
Gotta run watch the Sopranos. This is the only regularly scheduled program I watch on TV and I will continue with the other parts later.
Congratulations!!
Sounds like you are having a perfect weekend!!
When you have more time, be more specific about the whole process: eg: how would you prioritize Jerry's e46 pick-up list and so on......
Have fun!
Question for others: anyone have any experiences to share with oil consumption during and around the break-in period? My 330i now has about 4,500 miles and should be sufficiently broken-in. Today I added about 2/3 of a quart of oil to top off the reservoir (really just moved the level to the low marker to about mid-way between low and high markers). The engine could have consumed the 2/3 of a quart over and beyond break-in, or the reservoir may not have been 100% topped-off from the factory, or operating temperatures may have caused a 2/3 quart variation in levels, etc., etc., etc. Any input is appreciated.
After 4,000 miles, I have noticed a significant increase in mpg, which indicates to me that the engine is finally settles in and is approaching its optimal efficiency point of operation. In a 120-mile trip yesterday, averaging 70-75 mph (actually 61.8 according to the OBC -- includes some in-town miles), the 330i turned in an impressive 31 mpg. This is by far the highest to date, by a significant margin (3-5 mpg). Any others have input as to when their engines finally hit their respective "sweet spots"?
BTW, I'm conducting a little experiment regarding oil change interval/frequency. In my previous cars, I've changed the oil at 500 miles, then at 1,500, then every 3,000. This regimen yielded extreme engine longevity and minimal (none) oil consumption. This time, I plan to follow the OBC's recommended services (roughly every 15,000 iles for oil/filter). This is a debatable topic always, but I certainly cannot see any engineer allowing such a frequency unless it's been proven, and proven by a significant safety factor. The risk of losing potential repeat and additional buyers because of poor engine longevity is far too great, and certainly does not outweigh any "marketing" gains to be had by BMW.
FINALLY...anyone see my previous post regarding the "Ultimate Driving Experience"?
All for now...
Well, the key thing about the 325i SP is that you will LOOK and FEEL like a great driver. The only thing you gotta watch out for is other drivers who can't focus on the road from staring at your car :O)
Currently I drive an Audi A4 2.8 Tip -- after test-driving both a 325i and a 330i (sport, Steptronic) yesterday, I'm totally sold. It's going to be the 330i... love that growl when you give it gas.
I'm considering Titanium Silver, because I think those black rubber side stripes really MAKE the car, and they don't seem to show up as well on Steel Grey or Black. However, there are a LOT of silver BMWs on the road, here in Houston. So I was thinking of ordering a Tanin Red interior, with aluminum trim, as a way of making it a little less anonymous :-)
I THOUGHT I had seen this color in person, on a Z3 at the dealer. I even asked them "Is this the same red leather as on the 3 Series" and they said yes. But bmwusa.com calls it "Dream Red" on the Z3. Ooops!
So... I'm wondering if anyone here owns a Tanin Red interior with aluminum trim -- and has any strong feelings about it. Are there any caveats? Will it lower the resale value? Does it turn pink after a couple of years -- or a few months -- of summer heat and sun?
Any replies would be wonderful! This board is a tremendous resource -- thanks to you all for making it what it is.
I had arranged with my dealer to drive back-to-back my week 12 325i SP and a '00 323i with the pre-controversy steering. Subjective as it is, I will try to quantify the steering weight on some cars that I am familiar with (1 is lightest, 10 heaviest)
'97 Porsche 911 ==> 10.0
'00 BMW 323i ==> 8.5
'97 Jetta VR6 ==> 7.5
'01 BMW 325i ==> 6.0
'01 Audi A4 ==> 6.0
My week 12 325i has the patched up steering that is supposed to be heavier than the first '01 cars. All I can say is that the steering in my car is incredibly light and it just doesn't seem to belong in an otherwise athletic, almost masculine car. The steering in the '00 323i felt much heavier with better on-center feel. However, compared to a Porsche 911, even the 323i's steering feels relatively light and it could benefit from a slightly heavier feel. The road feel is only marginally better with the old steering. However, the new steering acutely lacks an on-center feel and esp. cornering feel. The old steering gives you the feeling that even if you let the car straighten its wheels out coming out of an aggressive corner, it will bring the wheels back to their straight position by itself. The new steering simply doesn't let you feel what the car would do by itself and esp. how far you have turned the wheels. The new steering doesn't belong in an otherwise great performance car. It would probably be more appropriate in a whaleboat. BMW sales are up almost double-digits worldwide for '00 and 22% in the U.S. alone. Obviously, most buyers don't have a problem with the light steering. But no true motor sport enthusiast would put up with it. If BMWNA insists on keeping the light steering on future models, it should at the very least offer the heavier, more BMW-esque steering as a no-cost option to its sports enthusiasts. And it should never forget that the sport enthusiasts are the core group that brought recognition and respect to the brand in the first place. Offering retrofits on ALL '01 models that have the patched up light steering would be a good start.
My 325i has 1300 miles on it and I just went down and checked the oil level and it was fine - close to the max indent on the stick. I'll let you know when I approach the 4500 mark.
Any help will be appreciated.
I've ordered a steel grey / tanin red 330i for July delivery. I picked this combo partly because I think it will look great, although I've never seen it "in the metal", & partly because BMWs are abundant in my neck of the woods (a NYC suburb) & I wanted something unusual. Resale value doesn't concern me because I plan on keeping this car for many years.
In any case, I don't see how you can guess today what colors will be in or out of fashion 2, 3 or 4 years from now. Choose a combination that excites you today.
I hope your BMW motoring experience is a trouble free one. If mine didn't have to go to the shop once a month this would be a love affair.
Glad to hear that you like the stick & clutch. My salesman couldn't find a 330i with stick anywhere in the NY metro area, which forced me to go the special order route. Reading your post convinces me that I did the right thing.
Please keep driving & posting.
Lewis
So the time had arrived last Friday and I was called to pick up by new 325i. Last minute, as I am walking down to my soon to be previous car, I get a phone call from the salesman. There has been a problem. After running all the disgnostics and checks on the car, one of the computers was malfunctioning. To make a story short, they need a new part so I will not have the car until Tuesday. Man, that really ruined all the excitement for me. This is a brand new car!! I know that glitches do happen, even with brand new cars, but I was really bummed. After all I am buying a BMW. Well, I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else.
brave1heart: thanks for the input on the steering. It sounds as if even the retrofit is still lighter than the '00 and earlier models' steering. I'm sure my 330i has the lightest steering; I would probably not opt for a retrofit (assuming BMW offers one) unless it's comparable to the original.
burrsr; Go to the Ultimate Drive and enjoy yourself! Different sponsering dealerships handle the events slightly different. Two years ago the one I went to at Otto's (I think... somewhere down near Philly), they had a big lot with an auto-cross circuit set up. They also had some displays of traction control and DSC that were pretty impressive. Last year I went to Horrigans event. All they had there was a chance to test-drive the car(s) or your choice on a pre-determined course (16 miles in my case). The roads were a mixture of city, highway, and farm roads which was a great way to see what the car does on varying road conditions. By the way, you don't need to be a BMW owner to 'play'. Anyone can sign up (owners may get first chance at reserving cars) and, at Horrigans at least, people could walk in with no reservations. Anyone interested can go to bmwna.com, I think they have registration info there. Be sure to take a friend/spouse who can appreciate a spirited drive. I had my wife with me last year and after our first drive (323Ci) she didn't want to join me in a test drive of an M-coupe. Rather than let her sit alone in the van and feel her wrath for days (weeks?), I passed on the chance to drive it... :-(
They are pretty hard to negotiate with but with some efforts a decent deal could be made.
As far as auto door lock above at 10 mph, I am convinced it is well worth it. It provides better security from intruders at traffic lights and most of all, you definitely want all your doors locked in the unfortunate case of an accident. It might protect you much better that way. I even like hearing the 'click' at 10 mph - it gives me extra sense of security.
Kominsky: thanks for the input on the Ultimate Drive. I'm looking forward to it as a chance to *really* test drive some other models. I picked two cars that I'd potentially upgrade to in a few years: the 530i (although the 540i approaches my "ideal"), and the 740i (at least I get to try out the V8 -- it may be 25 years or so until I fit the 740 demographic a bit better...).
At first they said the didn't have a loaner available, but once my wife tracked down the service guy who promised it to her, when she called earlier, as well as the salesman who sold the car everything was staightened out.
The service guy said he has heard of the problem and will have it checked and fixed sometime today. We'll see what they say later today though. Overall experience, as rated by my wife, has been very pleasant with little hassles.
I'm kind of hoping that they do not have it ready tomorrow so I can drive the wagon and see how it compares our manual 325i sedan.
I'll give another update later with the final and official particulars.
BTW, Congrats on the new ride Braveheart.
At first they said the didn't have a loaner available, but once my wife tracked down the service guy who promised it to her, when she called earlier, as well as the salesman who sold the car everything was staightened out.
The service guy said he has heard of the problem and will have it checked and fixed sometime today. We'll see what they say later today though. Overall experience, as rated by my wife, has been very pleasant with little hassles.
I'm kind of hoping that they do not have it ready tomorrow so I can drive the wagon and see how it compares our manual 325i sedan.
I'll give another update later with the final and official particulars.
BTW, Congrats on the new ride Braveheart.
SoapBox
I personally am not opposed to the concept of DRL's, however; I am very critical of how the U.S. has decided to implement them. I think that some safety committee tucked away somewhere in Washington D.C. came up with the "Brilliant" idea of using low-powered high beams. The problem is that said high beams are just that, high. Even low powered ones are aimed right into the eyes of oncoming drivers and I personally find them VERY annoying. As such, I decided not to add to the problem. On the other hand, if DRL's were low-powered low beams, I would be all for it.
On the subject of the auto door locks, I absolutely cannot stand driving cars that automatically lock their doors. I suspect that it is a very deep seeded irrational emotion; nonetheless, I refuse to drive a car with them. As far as safety is concerned, I was reading something from BMW back in 1998 about the then new E46 and it's safety features. In a crash, the doors cannot open regardless of whether the doors are locked or not, so there is no safety benefit to having them locked. That suited me just fine, my car has both the locks and the DRL's deactivated.
/SoapBox
I hope this helps.
Best Regards,
Shipo