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BMW 3-Series 2006
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Needed 4 doors and have a 2003 e39 SP and agree that it is a timeless design with performance to match. Definitely a keeper!
The Jag Mk.II sedan, which like the E39 was a compact sedan with good performance and I've never tired of looking at them. It was a pretty good race car in it's day too.
--A fellow E39 owner ('00 528iA)
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Best Regards,
Shipo
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2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Shipo-If you don't mind my asking, when are you planning to get yours?
Regarding a new E90 im my future, hmmm, given that my current priority list goes something like this:
1) Turn in (or sell) the 530i next spring.
2) Start driving our spare car, a 1998 Dodge Caravan.
3) Launch a new business that has been in the planning stages for quite some time (with all of the associated reductions in income for a while -- errr, I hope).
4) Finish my flying lessons.
5) Buy a small plane (probably something like a 1968 Cessna 172).
6) Upgrade the avionics (same price as a 330i).
7) Get my instrument ticket.
8) Take the family on another ED trip and pick up a new E90 330i.
I'm figuring that I won't actually get the new car until sometime in 2006. :-( Until then, I'm going to have to live vicariously through y'all. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
Wonderful to drive/own but not exactly eye candy IMO. I think the E36s were the first small Bimmers to really look good.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Now, if the pattern at BMW continues will the E46 convertible go on with the older style for 2006 as the E90 comes on line? (My guess is that it most likely will)
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Salesmen at dealerships are usually the last to know the correct info.... but, stranger things have happened..
regards,
kyfdx
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hopefully the E90 wil not follow suit IE Audi A6, LandRover LR3, and have had enormous new model price increases.
DL
Actually, the sales person called me I believe to entice me into a x3; talked about new pricing for the 3.0 for 2005. I drove a 2.5 at his dealership a couple of months ago (2004) and just was not impressed. He then stated that they would "probably" have the new 3 in the showroom to "look at only" but could begin taking orders about then.
Anyhow, how do people think the new 3 will compare to the new body A4 (audi). I am partial to the BMW, but don't want to be set on the 3 if the a4 has comparable equipment and performance for a perhaps lower price. Any thoughts?
but the fact remains that audi is always better equipped, and comes w/ better material quality. engines on both cars will be practically the same, somewhere around 250 horses, the thing is a4 is heavier (current ones), making it slower in acceleration, so im looking forward to see if the new a4 will use lighter frame.
and since the new a4 is more of a facelift id say the price wont rise as much, compared to bmw w/ its complete redesign.
one thing thats gonna be a real pain is 330is will come w/ i-drive, itll make me think twice before buying it, though i think its quite easy to use its still a distraction the road.
Kind of subjective, and also depends on the specific models of cars being compared.
"engines on both cars will be practically the same, somewhere around 250 horses,"
On paper maybe, however, stat for stat, the BMW engines have always seemed to significantly out perform similarly rated Audi engines (except for the blown versions at altitude).
"one thing thats gonna be a real pain is 330is will come w/ i-drive..."
It is my understanding that iDrive will be an option on all E90s. Left to my own devices, it would make sense to me that BMW would only require iDrive on cars equipped with NAV.
Since I certainly can live without NAV (unlike my directionally challenged wife), that would leave me with the option of not ordering iDrive, assuming that after a test drive or two I decide that I don't like it.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
People kept saying how superior the Tourareg interior is to the BMW and competition. When I test drove it I was totally underwhelmed both inside and out. If people think of that as being heads and shoulders above the competition, I'm going back to cloth seats.
I now do not believe Audi interiors are better than BMW interiors.
The new 5 series interior has been hit with the cost cutting pen also compared to the previous model. The new 3 series surely is not going to top the 5 series in materials since the 5 's a more upmarket car. Sorry, others don't live in the perfect utopia, find nothing at fault with BMW because your an owner of one. BMW has learned that I-drive has to be optional or they will be in deep doo-doo.
But after driving a Tourareg and hearing about how people rave about the interior I was not impressed. To me the VW/Audi/BMW interiors are on par, with the BMW being the most driver oriented.
The X3 is in a different market. To me BMW wanted people to thing the interior could take some punishment. There is absolutely nothing worse than buying a vehicle such as a SUV and being afraid to rip the leather. There are no such worries with an X3 and I can appreciate that due to the "tougher" interior. The worse punishment an RX330 could have is a cold yogurt container on the leather.
So, I would say there are some major changes happening on the A4, the first being the 2005.5 A4 for the March/April version but to compare directly to the 2006 330i, you should wait and see all the available changes for the 2006 A4.
I will look at the 2006 A4 if available at the time of release of the 330i but prob. will lean towards bmw for interior and exterior looks as well as performance etc.
my 3 cents worth
In this performance segment of the market, not having a manual is a big flaw for the A4 3.2 FSI. This market is defined by the many who love their stick shifts. Definitely prefer the manual BMW E90 over the new tiptronic Audi A4.
Also I am awaiting the e90s equipped with x3. I am sure the new x3 system is superior to Audi's quattro system.
As far as I've read only the A6 will forgo the manual.
The new A4 offers a 5 or 6 spd manual with all engines, a CVT for FWD and an optional 6spd auto sport tiptronic for quattro models.
unfortunatly doing a inventory check of Dallas area BMW and Audi dealers they stock less than 1% manuals and for the most part require a special order, which is fine with me.However i can see where 95% of buyer are not driving enthusiast , but rather status buyer types could care less about a manual availablity.
DL
I recently "took" a 330 from a rolling start in my 03 Accord I4 5spd. It was a mutual semi-race...he just couldn't shift into second properly. I felt embarrassed for him.
I’m not delusional to think the I4 Accord should be mentioned in the same sentence as a 330 just to illustrate that for some people, a reality check is in order, and an automatic should have been.
I was at a BMW dealer here in chicago, and there wan't a manual 3-series sedan in stock to test drive. The saab and merc dealers had 'em though (9-3 aero, 9-5 aero, and c230SS )
I think the next a4 will have DSG instead of a 3-pedal arrangement. DSG is like SMG.
dave
Is it mere coincidence that Lexus realized their mistake by belatedly introducing a manual IS300, the Infiniti's delay with a manual G35 and Acura's delay in providing a manual for the previous TL model.
Germans listen to the Japanese! Dont be contrarians to the Japanese and remove stick shifts . Once the enthusiasts get disgruntled they will flee elsewhere.(Japanese competition)
Although a minority of drivers are enthusiasts, they tend to be opinion leaders. If their opinions turn negative---many of the followers(majority of the population) will follow their lead and buy automatic versions of whatever manual models enthusiasts buy! This is why the Japanese provide tranny options for this specific performance segment of the industry. And this is why hisorically Germans were famous in this segment of the industry(it would be stupid if German automakers change and remove manual versions)
I like the way BMW is giving us a lot of choices. If I could have my cake & eat it too, I would like the very early E90s to have the DSG style trans.
true, cos audi weighs a couple hundred pounds heavier than the bmw
ivan99: well what can i say, stick drivers are minorities nowadays, even lots of teens have no clue on how to drive w/ stick.
2000 A4 vs. 2000 3-Series sedan weights (manual transmission):
2000 A4 1.8t: 2998
2000 323i: 3153
2000 A4 2.8: 3164
2000 328i: 3197
I just chose these two models and that year at random, however, it seems that at least in this case, the BMWs were heavier.
Best Regards,
Shipo
So my point was they only offer the Tiptronic for the 3.2 FSI quattro. And comparing that specifically to the 2006 330i.
That would peak my interest and would be a fair direct comparison to the A4 2006 3.2 FSI quattro.
Jason
PS I have a 04 325xi fully loaded and wouldn't trade it for the world! Only regret is not getting the extra hp. (330)
ill stay on topic next time,
DL
Along those lines, BMW will most likely not retool all of their engine factories at the exact time so as to keep engine production up as much as possible during the change over. That means that some cars will initially get the new motor (the E90 and maybe something else new like the E60 AWD version), while others will soldier on with the current engine until some later point (like maybe the beginning of the 2006 model year).
As I said before, I have no specific knowledge regarding the change over, I am just speculating here. Anybody have any more current information? Div2?
Best Regards,
Shipo
I bought my 99 323 bmw during intro year and am very satisfied. Sometimes waiting is not worth it. If you waited since 98 for Passat to improve its reliability, your 6 year wait is not worth it.
Other secret is do not buy a BMW with electrical/electronic gizmos options( More gizmos, more likely to have problems).
Other than the new engine, which I don't see failing (odd for modern engines to fail), I think the new model may only suffer from rattles etc. not a show stopper in my book.