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I called them numerous times regarding pricing, options, my order status, delivery time and the answers they game me were that they didn't know, rough estimates, conflicting with other representatives, or just wrong. It's like pulling teeth to get and concret information. I felt like I was interviewing Gary Conduit.
Just what are they there for if not to answer questions on BMW sales and ownership? They don't even return you calls.
BMW Germany gets lot of the blame for not making the pricing and brochures of new models available BEFORE production. I can't believe they make you buy and get made a car before you know how much exactly the car is going to cost and what its going to look like! Ridiculous.
If BMW didn't make such great cars I would have when with either MB, Audi or Lexus. If this keeps up I may just cancell the order. I can't stand incompetent customer service representatives, especially if I am shelling out $$$!
At this point, however, I am VERY satisfied with the performance, especially at higher speeds. In the mornings, on my way to work (local stop-n-go traffic), I will pop in a CD and relax (there's nowhere to run!). Otherwise, when my girlfriend is not in the car (she has to have the radio and A/C blaring), I do find myself staying as much in tune with the car as possible...trying to get that perfect transition, that perfect start, that perfect bend in a curvy road. I mean, it's always nice when you do on occasion...it's completely satisfying. Like I said, now that it's cooled down a bit, I crack the windows, open the moon roof, and open up the throttle a little more. At near 1600 miles, I have still yet to crank'r over 5000 RPMs, purposely...mostly in the 3500-4500 range. Anyways, I'm a kid again!
BTW, anyone buy the black chrome pipe covers? How do they look?
Secondly, I have noticed a cluster of spots behind my rear tire on the painted plastic wheel well guard. At first I thought it was just dirt, but upon further inspection, the paint is smooth there and it appears to be under the clear coat. This appears to be an over spray of the under coating. Can this be brought back to the dealer for removal???
2) Sound System: OFF
3) Climate Control System: OFF
I have found that the E46's are so smooth and quiet that you MUST eliminate all other interference so that your ears can do their job. The best way to master the "Perfect Fast Start" is to listen to your car, it will tell you how to do it. Once mastered without all of the distractions, you can practice the start using your memory of how it sounded and felt and leave Led Zeppelin on full volume. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
A little "Kashmir" does sound good just about now.
So, close your eyes, go to sleep, and awake in the 2005 model year, and a 2.5 will be making upwards of 200 hp and still achieving close to 30mpg in the real world. Thus it will be, right up to the point when the IC engine bites the dust, long after I have done the same, I presume...
And the bigger-is-better syndrome for the US market is mostly a path of least resistance...to get more power, the easiest way is to increase displacement. I too admire those who resist, and in effect, make the sensibilities of their home markets at least partially dictate what they sell here. Honda and BMW have stuck to their internal beliefs about this more than most...Honda in particular resists the whole notion that a V8 is a necessary device in the automotive world, when they can get so much power and fuel efficiency out of 4s and 6s. But they have suffered in this country for sticking to their guns on this...BMW has a reasonable market for V8s and even V12s in the Home Country, so they make them, but Honda sees this as a sort of moral failure. Neither is right or wrong, just interesting...
On another note, I noticed today that when I upshift from 2nd to 3rd, that the gear did not engage as smoothly as it had in the past. In fact, when I pushed up on the stick and thought my car was in gear, it was still in neutral, accidentally giving it throttle. This happened to me once yesterday and 3 times today. The first time it happened I thought it was just a fluke and I somehow missed the shift. But today it happened 3 more times, and I was shifting just as I had over the past 5 weeks w/o a similar problem in the past. Now I have to kind of jam the stick into 3rd to make sure that it's in gear. Does anybody have any advice about this? Thanks.
I don't know if it was because I was still sleepy and missed the shift, or it had to do with the gear. But you're right, it "felt" it had already engaged, and not until the car started to slow down even though I stepped on the gas that I noticed it was in neutral...
Over time I found that if I shifted with rpm above 3500 in 2nd, shifts into 3rd were really smooth and single-motioned. Even when accelerating slowly, I tend to spin up the engine and have not felt the problem since.
The difference, I believe, lies in the drivetrain efficiency. Whether manual or auto, BMW's drivetrains consistently deliver a greater percentage of the engine's power to the wheels, making the ponies FEEL like Clydesdales. Either that or BMW drastically understates its power/torque specifications -- but I've seen hp/torque curves from Dinan, for example, that support BMWs numbers exactly. Even a 10% efficiency gain converts to a 20-hp advantage in usable power. More BMW magic at work...
I've seen a list of standard & optional equipment for the '02 3-series, & titanium headlight trim is shown as standard for the 330i/330ci. If SP-equipped 2002 cars with the trim turn up in my dealer's showroom later this year, I will then firmly believe what I now merely suspect: that BMW ran low on the trim kits & simply shipped cars without the trim. I ought to be angry about this, but my car has been flawless so far & my wife insists that steel grey looks better without the trim. Still, the jury's still out on this as far as I'm concerned, & I may yet press BMWUSA for relief if I decide that I do want the missing pieces.
What do the rest of you titanium-less 330i owners think?
I haven't had a problem getting it in 2nd or 3rd gear. Maybe 3-4 times, I've gotten real lazy and have not really popped it in there like I should (and of course, it gives me that abrupt buzzing back to neutral), but most of time, it slides in there very nicely (which is what makes me lazy).
Back to the displacement-to-HP ratio, I'm amazed at the Honda S2000 (240HP out of a 2.0L inline 4!). Man, oh, man! Does the redline of 8300 and it's extra gear make that much of a difference?
BTW, I just noticed that my wipers are speed-sensitive...kinda cool...sorry, first time it's rained this much out here....
I think that late model year 2001 was a great time to buy a 330i with SP. I think the 2001 looks much better than the pictures I've seen of the 2002, both with and without the aerodynamic package. And the late model year 2001 cars have the good steering.
http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/index2.shtml?s80&0_0_www_bmwgroup_com/7_innovation/7_2_aid/aid_home.shtml&
http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/index2.shtml?s80&0_0_www_bmwgroup_com/7_innovation/7_innovation.shtml&
Is your 330i equipped with the sport package?
joefriday -
Couldn't agree with you more about late '01 SP-equipped 330i's. I'm glad that I didn't wait until '02 to pull the trigger because I wanted the tanin red interior, & BMW has dropped that color for the new model year. And I do love that tight, meaty steering! It's as close to perfect as steering can get.
I wonder if the problem might be partially related to some other cause involving the grounding of the radio circuit.
I recall reading that some of the three series vehicles have several antennas, and that the radio circuitry selects the strongest signal. However, I believe that this applies to the FM band only.
Ultimately, I think that the BMW dealer should be the primary investigator of the problem even though the tint may have been installed by a third party. If the tint were the primary cause of the problem, the static should remain constant. Does the static change with acceleration?
Do you have any additional modifications to your car that include an electrical connection - cell phone, CD player, or amplifier?
If you end up paying the fine, I THINK Valentine will reimburse you for your ticket.
Today while I was driving into work in our Caravan, I had to adjust the wiper speed at least 20 times in as many miles, very annoying. I never really appreciated the rain sensing wipers on the 328i until today. I think it is one of those things like climate control and power memory seats (I valet park a lot), when you first get the feature, it is kinda cool, however, take the feature away, and you REALLY miss it.
For you folks who have ED, how much lead time do you need for ordering before your planned trip? The lease on my 328i is up next April, and I am still undecided as to whether I am going to extend my current lease, lease a new 330i or lease a 330i with the ED option.
Best Regards,
Shipo
anyone else got tagged using v1 or any other detector?
is there any way to avoid being hit by laser or instant on?
i just odered the passport 8500 for the 30 day trial. at least escort pays for shipping both ways if i decide to return it after 30 days. it's a real money back guarantee....not like v1 where i'm paying for the ticket plus shipping and handling twice.
i did not get the sport package...