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BMW 3-Series Sport Wagons
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thnx
zig
HiC
Some dealers have a temporary glut of 328s, especially now that all of the buzz is on the 330s, but that is the only car I know about in the 3er line that is standing for any serious discounting right now. Can you do better than $100 off? Yeah, almost certainly...the online buying services are now having to exist in the real world since the stock market fell out of bed, so the giveaway deals are a thing of the past...I haven't had a price quote from them in weeks [I check regularly on about a dozen benchmark cars of different makes] that couldn't be beaten by any urban dealer in a heartbeat. But don't look for much more than 2-4% from MSRP, and in the case of a wagon, not that much. Supply and demand...
midwest and east coast 323iTs are not selling well
and the standard price is $1500 over invoice.
You do not have to buy them loaded, if you can
wait, special order one as I did. If you check bimmer.org,
there is a dealer there - in Virgina, right out
of D.C. - who advertises his wagons for $1500
over invoice. This may be a bit of a treck for
you people in the west coast. However, when I
had checked prices for the wagon (here in the
midwest) on carorder and cardirect (a month or two
ago), I also got the same high prices as the one
you are quoting, which led me to believe that it
was not such a good idea to use these sites.
One last point, if you can wait, you may want
to wait until sept and buy the 325iT (with an
increase in hp from 170 to 190).
I hope this helps.
The problem as stated previously, is supply and demand. The dealer in Jax did not have any 323iT in stock and all he had on order, through August, had already been sold.
The economy is still red-hot in Calif, notwithstanding the stock market's recent traction problems, and all "lux" makes are moving pretty briskly. Certainly no one is advertising discounts of any real $ on 3ers, much less prices like $1500 over invoice. Sounds like a trip to DC and a Smithsonian visit might be in order...
front wheel of the bike taken off of course. With both seats down there is absolutely no problem.
If you get stiff-armed by these guys, try East Bay [Pleasanton] - they have a big internet presence and have satisfied a lot of people...good buzz...
any deposit without an agreed-upon price.
2. The consensus on bimmer.org is that the change
in performance with the bmw 325 is not going to be that drastic. Also, several people in that site
that live in the bay area are purchasing their
car in Santa Barbara from John Shafer (I think
at Cutter Motors).
With the seats down and the cargo-net bar detached (this bit is better left at home before you go off to ferry stuff because it can get in the way) it swallows a decent load of katunda, and we only made one trip. The furniture obviously goes later ... this was just all the boxes, suitcases, clothes, books, bedding, lamps etc etc.
Anyway, I feel the extra utitlity of the wagon makes it that much easier to justify the extravagance of getting a BMW. And a chance to take the car out makes the tedium of such normally mundane tasks that much easier to bear.
Still have yet to see another one in Manhattan. Only one I have seen besides mine was on the Pallisade Parkway about 2 months ago.
1,056 miles and very happy .....
Also, for those of you concerned about price - some folks have gotten the wagons for 3% over invoice - in Atlanta, GA. I spoke with a guy here in Chicago and he was willing to know $1700 off of a $36K wagon. They aren't moving fast in Chicago . . . .
is interested here are a few observations. First,
even though it is a relatively large and heavy
car it drives as if it was a small car. It reminds
me of driving my old Mitsubishi Mirage in terms of
how nimble it feels. Second, the car is impressive in terms of how quiet it is. Third, the most impressive thing was how much the (non-xenon) lights illuminated the road. I just did not expect that there could be such a big difference with headlights. Fourth, there are countless number of clever simple things in the
design, such as a key that recharges itself in the ignition.
Here are a couple of things that some may find as
a drawback. The inline 6 gives you a very smooth
acceleration so you won't realy feel that power surge that will make you feel like you are driving a sportscar. Also, the rpm is quite high
when you get to highway speed.
http://e46fanatics.com/faq/#intro
I hope you're enjoying your new car!
Thanks for your comments.
+
$700 cd changer
I ordered the car right after it came out, and
the car has not done all that well, so I would
think that if I were to buy it now, I should be
able to get a better price.
I am very happy with my salesperson (price and
service). If you give me your email address,
I will give you his name and phone number. Getting
the car in the midwest will be pretty far for you,
but for an extra $200 he can arrange for you to
pick it up at you dealer of your choice (I asked
him this question for someone else I know).
So, if I were you, I would try to get the car for
the same price as the one I got (the extra $200
offsetting the fact that the car is not as popular as it once was). If you want more options
that then ones I got, add them to the price at
invoice. Note, here I am talking about pricing
of a car that you would special order, which means
that you have to be willing to wait. Also, I
don't know if they still have cars that you buy
before the change to the 325.
I would be curious to know why you are more interested in this car than the other wagons (avant, passat, volvo v40, saab 9-5). I found
it to be a very tough choice!
paint and floor mats. (It is hard to believe
that they would do not come standard...)
I just recently purchased a 323iT and absolutely love it. My husband and I race for our keys to see who will drive when going on errands. The bimmer's replacing a Miata which became impractical since we have a one-year-old. For us, it's the perfect blend of fun-to-drive, reasonable functionality, and budget considerations. Heck, if we had all the money in the world, we would consider the BMW 540 wagon or the M-B equivalent.
I also own a Subaru Outback which, while it has been a completely reliable and competent car, is completely outshone by the bimmer. Well, to be fair, the bimmer was much more expensive.
The 323iT handles beautifully and carves every curve with complete aplomb. It has plenty of power (for me anyway. Remember I'm used to the Subaru). The interior touches are lovely. Yes, you do have to pay for metallic paint, but you generally do at the luxury end of the market (M-B charges extra also). It doesn't have the cargo capacity of the Subaru, but it handles groceries, stroller, shopping etc. just fine.
If you'd like to know anymore about this car, just let me know. I could brag on it for hours! Oh, we also considered the Passat (didn't handle as well), Volvo (Consumer Reports said unreliable), and Audi A4 (back seat is smaller).
I would go for the 323 because most dealers(depending on market) have several because they aren't hot sellers right now. When you add the AWD of the X5, then all the ski bunnies will want to hop on the band wagon, potentially making demand high and supply small. If you order early you should be okay.
Since you live north of NYC, I would definitely wait for the AWD. It is awesome. Go test drive an X5, then imagine a vehicle with a better horsepower to weight ratio , better turning radius and you've got the 325. that is why I have delayed my order.
Thanks
What state did you make this deposit in. Do you have the specs.
Is anyone experiencing a click sound in the seat belt height adjustment on the drivers side?
Also... I need a car detailing tip... I messed up and got some Polish on the black rubber molding. How do I get it off????
Thanks for any help?
Either way, I would try a thinning liquid. If you mess up, shoe polish ought to fix it. If Polish sausage, a dog will lick it off.
Whatever you do, don't use the belt sander. Take a lot of shoe polish to cover that up.
HiC
I test drove the bmw 3 series last weekend. I know that lots of time has passed since the earlier posts in this topic, but the 2 dealers in Mpls have plenty of 3's, the one I didn't visit even has 4 sport wagons. The dealer I did visit has an unsold one coming in this week. I haven't talked price but you'd think they would be flexible.
I really need more room than the sedan but I am gun shy about making another dumb move like the van. But everything I have heard and read about the sport wagon is as good as the sedan reviews, which are pretty fantastic.
I did drive the 323 5speed, the 328 auto and even a 330 coupe auto. I am all for more power but I just can't justify the price difference between the 323 and the 328 for a measly 20 horse or so. Pushing against $40K makes me look at a bigger car, which is really what I need. Its hard to believe that BMWs can price the way they do yet still be in such high demand. But once you drive, ya gotta have one I guess.
Not a great comparison given the different transmissions, but the 323 5 speed seemed very tolerable to me. I know the wagon will be a little heavier but if I wait for the 325 with more ponies and stay with the 5 speed (if you can drive a stick, paying extra for the auto seems criminal to me in such a car), I think I could live with the wagon.
Anyway, I am interested in hearing from anyone that has compared the wagon with sport package to wagon with out. Swapping out the tires and wheels for snows is not very appealing to me, but I really want to get the right suspension. I know that the sport package has very strong backers in the coupe and sedan worlds, if you have one or the other on the wagon, let me know if you are happy with the decision you made.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maguires (sp?) step 2 car polish.
Can't get if off the rubber!
P.
Jared
I agree with Jared that the 325 wagon will be too small for you. I have the 323, and while I absolutely love it, it doesn't have the rear seat room or cargo capacity of my Subaru Outback. With three kids, you may have to be resigned to a no-fun-to-drive SUV or minivan. Have you thought of having a large family vehicle (for the kids, trips, etc.) and a fun-to-drive second car? If you want to use the Bimmer as a commuter car that is only occasionally used for shuttling kids, that would work. The MB M-Class has an optional third seat, but it has very little cargo room with that third seat. Ditto Volvo and Audi.
What do you guys think?
In terms of 323 or 325, I think that 323 has plenty of zip. I drove our old Subaru Outback (165 hp) today after weeks of driving only the bimmer. I nearly got run over merging on the highway because the I had grown used to the BMW's acceleration (although horsepower numbers are similar). I'll bet that you can get a good deal on one of those remaining 323's, so that may be a factor too.
The cargo area is small for a wagon. However, the rear seat room is sufficient (bigger than the 3-series sedan and the Audi A4). Cargo room is fine for the everyday stuff that I carry: stroller, groceries, Tonka dump trucks. I wouldn't use it to haul lumber though!
Gena
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=Station_Wagons&f=0&t=489
- Since the 325 AWD Wagon is a new model, are my hopes of getting a discount from MSRP slim?
- I also have a dog. Is getting the leatherette the better option over leather?
- How much slower will the AWD be over the 2WD wagon?
- The right side rear view mirror doesn't tilt down every time (yes, mirror switch is in correct position). Other than this, there are no defects. I will have this fixed at 1st scheduled oil change.
- Braking, steering, road holding, transmission, cruise control are all fabulous. Engine power good, but occasionally I would like more.
- Seats "breaking in" now and fairly comfortable even on 6 hour trips. Note that sports seats are difficult for some elderly folks to slide over while getting in/out of car.
- Sports steering wheel is needlessly hard and uncomfortable to grip. I am planning to install a padded cover. Steering response is positive, but could use a little more assist, IMO.
- Rear hatch doors (door and glass panel) have to be closed VERY firmly, else in-dash warning light will be on though the door seems to be closed ok.
- Not enough driver legroom on right side! Gas pedal is almost directly under steering column, so body position is actually twisted a bit to left. This is my major complaint with an otherwise fine car. Can't adjust driver's seat so right and left feet are equally supported with knees at same angle.
- Excellent fuel economy. Average 22mpg around town, 29 highway, with moderate sporty driving.
- Audio system better than I thought, especially since speakers have broken in. I don't plan to upgrade anymore.
- Would like more cargo capacity every now and then, but overall there is plenty of room. Typically only 1-2 adults including driver, but occasionally 1-2 adult passengers. I have to remove cargo cover from behind rear seat when carrying taller items. Rubber straps on cargo floor are very handy. Haven't used roof rack yet.
- Sports suspension and tires are awesome. Everybody really digs the looks, even my grandmother!
- My 9-year old G-20 with 5-speed feels more nimble and responsive than the 323iT, though it isn't actually faster, is much noisier (engine!), and the suspension isn't nearly as refined. (Note: the G20 weighs nearly 500 pounds less.) The G20 seats, steering wheel and legroom are all superior, IMO. I think the feel of the steering, with more assist, is what makes for most of the difference. My wife actually prefers driving the G20 -- which is fine with me.
- The 323iT is definitely a keeper. I think my daughter has her eye on it for when she gets out of college in 4 years!
Cheers, Ken
I'll tell you why: weight. There is just no substitute for the lack of it. I am always amazed by folks who say they want a sports car and end up with 4k-lb sleds that accelerate like the wind (courtesy of big powerful engines) but make corners feel like you are tap-dancing with a hippo. The G20 (and similar Sentra SE) are very well-engineering lightweight cars with nifty four-cyl engines and great handling. They don't have that great a suspension control, but when you start out with 500-lbs less to control, you don't need that great a control.
That is why I'm going for a 325i over the 330i and being careful on the options list. Stuff like sunroofs, electric seats, etc. adds up. Even worse is stuff like AWD. I'm not happy with adding another 140-lbs for my wagon vs. the sedan, but the utility is just so much better.
If handling is what you're after, less is always more.
- Mark
"The handling
benefits of a good AWD system far outweigh (no pun
intended) the drawbacks."
True, IF (and only if) you have enough power (torque) to overcome the disadvantage of additional weight. The 911 has that in spades. The 325 is a bit weak to begin with. Now a 330ix wagon might be just the ticket - but of course, they don't make one.
HiC