BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

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Comments

  • rmvrmv Member Posts: 1
    Hello,

    I've seen that some people think a target for a good deal would be $1500 over invoice. The model I'm looking at with options is MSRP $30,945 / DNet $27,920. What would be a good offer ? I don't need the car so I am going to be firm with my price and walk if I have to. Also, can anybody give me any feedback on the European delivery program and whether the Harmon Kardon sound system upgrade is worth the price ?

    Thanks for your help. - Rich
  • bcr117bcr117 Member Posts: 2
    About a month ago I ordered my '02 325xi. I've been tracking the order on BMWUSA but was wondering if there was a better way to go about it. I've seen people posting order status numbers and wanted to know where they got those numbers. Thanks.
  • flybertflybert Member Posts: 6
    Hi all,

    I'm new to the board here, so I'm wondering if anybody has an opinion on a purchase I'm considering. It's a 2000 325Ci with sport pkg, 5sp, loaded, etc. It has almost 20k miles on it. I want a BMW very bad but am worried about long-term maintence problems. Am I better off holding out for a 330Ci or is the 2.5L a good car?
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    Glad to hear that you had a good experience with Mary. Hope you're enjoying your Bimmer.
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    I read great things about the new 318i's steering. It's supposed to be at least as heavy as the old 3-series' and definitely faster, so it's more like a race car's. However, I have not heard about any plans to bring it to the new 3-series. It would be absolutely terrific if they did that, though!!
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    While my memory is admittedly a little hazy on this, I *THOUGHT* I remembered a snippet somewhere that indicated that the 2002 325i and 330i cars were due to get the same steering developed for the 318i. I REALLY hope that was not just wishful thinking.

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • cheekscheeks Member Posts: 67
    Has anyone noticed a faint fan noise that seems to go and off when driving? I think it has to do with the climate control system.
  • rtboonrtboon Member Posts: 21
    Interested in any comments regarding service experiences at Boston, South Shore BMW dealers. Purchased a 99 328i and looking to have it serviced. Previously had experiences at BMW Gallery in Norwell and Trans Atlantic in Hyannis. Preferred the Gallery experience but wondering if anyone has any comments.

    Thanks
    Cape Cod
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    what a difference 1/2 tank of gas and 2 psi makes in a car's handling. Participated in my 2nd autox this weekend, and this time I only had 1/4 tank of gas and upped the front tire pressure to 40 psi. The car felt razor sharp and quick (first autox, car felt slugish and dull), and my time kept improving as the day progessed. I ended up shaving 2+ seconds in 4 runs (or 4.5 if you count the first practice run), and finished in the middle of my class.

    For fun, I got a ride in a older 325 with a skilled driver. His car was ~400lbs lighter, but had ~100 less hp. His first practice lap was 6.5 seconds faster than my best time.
  • rickroverrickrover Member Posts: 601
    That's the best thing about about autox, driver skill is the deciding factor, the car you drive is secondary. There is a guy that we autox with that uses a Dodge Shadow, he comes in a couple seconds after a guy in a Z06 Corvette. Several of us meet once a month and set up a tight track in the parking lot where I work. I autox a hooked up 1.8t Passat.

    I'm on the waiting list for a 2002 M3 that should be in this spring - can I hang here with you 3 series guys? I've owned 3 3 Series in the past and look forward to getting back into the fold. Has anyone looked into the BMW Owners Choice program? That's how I'm financing my Titanium Silver/ Black interior M3 coupe with bi-Xenons, Sunroof, CD and Harmon Cardon -
    CAN NOT WAIT!
  • jhasljhasl Member Posts: 1
    A quick question regarding BWM financing rates. What are others hearing from dealers on rates for a 60 month period, traditional financing, for 2002 325xi ? Thanks.
  • derprofiderprofi Member Posts: 250
    I have immaculate credit and my dealer quoted me 7.25% on a 2002 3-er. On the other hand, www.peoplefirst.com is offering 6.19% so I'm 99 and 44/100ths percent sure I'm going with them for my financing.

    (oops, 7.75% was wrong...I guess my dealer was adding 1% to the 6.25% BMW rate)
  • millerro3millerro3 Member Posts: 136
    the BUY rate for a new 2002 is 6.25%, although most dealers will try to make a little on that rate, you might be quoted 6.75 or even 7.25%

    see what the dealer tells you, and then try your bank. This is what I always do, it makes the transaction easier sometimes if people arrange their own financing, good luck:)
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    The 325 was AA class while I was driving a stock A class, but you're correct about driver skill. The top in my class was 3-4 seconds faster than me.
  • derprofiderprofi Member Posts: 250
    ...I get such a kick out of it every time I go there, that I felt I would share. I can't remember if it was someone here who posted the link originally, so if you did, thanks a million.


    Dad's Turbo Mini Van!"

    Now for the obligatory on-topic portion of this posting... Hey, how 'bout them Bee Em Dubyah's?

  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    I'd say no.. Individual 3-series maintenance sessions will be expensive, but overall the upkeep is not horrible. Many american cars you have to take in every 3K miles or so and they hit you with $60-$100 services all the time. You might go for two years on a bimmer with just an oil change, then they hit you for $300-$650. But if you factor in just having an oil change in 2 years, it's not that bad.

    dave
  • jhox85jhox85 Member Posts: 35
    Thank you for being so healpful to me in the past. I am getting ready to place an order for 330XI. My question is, can you order the PP and replace the leather seat to a fabric? Or I must pick all the equipments separately with my fabric seat?
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    ROTFLMAO!!!

    I actually had the pleasure of driving one of those Turbo Caravans as a service loaner back in 1989 when I took my car in for service. The one I had was a 5-Speed manual with the Turbo I engine, it was mildly entertaining, however, this one looks like the ultimate of all sleepers. It would be fun to tool around in for a while, talk about some serious "Trolling". ;-)

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • tenet1tenet1 Member Posts: 354
    It seems as if the dealer is offering you $2100 over invoice for a demo car. That is no good. Most places will give you between $1700-$2000 over invoice for a 2001 325 in the DC area, and I assume it is the same for 2002's as well.

    If you like the demo model and and don't mind buying it then I would target getting the car for < $1500 over invoice, somewhere in the early $33K range. For a demo, the dealer should be willing to negotiate the price a bit.
  • cm352icm352i Member Posts: 1
    First, thanks to all the regulars (and non-troll irregulars) on this board. The discussions have been informative and helpful.

    I took delivery on Saturday of Steel Grey, Grey leather, manual, SP, wood 325i (five miles). $1000 off MSRP. Ordered July 23. Dealer offered 6.9% financing (I'll go elsewhere).

    The car is a significant upgrade for me. Am the original owner of '86 Golf (245k miles). Hope to keep the 325i for as long. The 325i is everything I'd hoped for with more than enough power and braking and great handling. Can't comment on difference in steering between '01 since I don't have enough experience with either.

    A little disappointed with dealer. Hadn't installed alarm or wheel locks on my arrival. Of course, they can't program keys or alarm (awaiting BMW software). Very quick intro to car features (maybe they thought I knew everything about the car already, since I was reasonably knowledgable from the information in this board). But, no matter, I have the car now!

    Thanks again for a great board and community.
  • jasonkureejiijasonkureejii Member Posts: 210
    Congratulations, man! I guess you were a little too quick applying for your username! I have a steel grey with black leather. Hopefully, you will find much enjoyment out of it...as I have for these last 3600 miles! I only hope mine will serve me well for the next 32400 at least....
  • cm325icm325i Member Posts: 3
    Wrong username maybe a desire for a new, more powerful engine?
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    We're financing our A4 through peoplefirst.com and I am 100% happy with their service. We got an approval in a matter of couple of minutes, the check was in the mail in two days and it's been absolutely hassle-free. Not to mention their rates are some of the best.
  • jasonkureejiijasonkureejii Member Posts: 210
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    I wonder if BMW could actually engineer a 5.2 liter V8 to be light enough to stuff in the nose of a 3-Series and still have a 50-50 weight distribution. I guess that would really be a "Small/Light Block", not to be confused with a 350 Chevy, 340 Mopar or a 351 Cleveland. ;-)

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    Congatz!! That's some serious improvement and most of all, you seem to be having a lot of fun. You mentioned your fronts were at 40 psi, how about the rears? Is the handling with 40 psi in the front faster and more responsive? does it still grip as well?
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    And fasten your seatbelt - I hear those 5.2 ltr engines are lightning fast ;o)
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    Thanks. The car felt much more responsive at 40 psi. I kept the rear the same from last time at 42 psi. The car had a much more neutral feel this time. What was interesting was, there was a go-kart race next to us at the same time, plus the CART race at Laguna Seca the next day.
  • kominskykominsky Member Posts: 850
    Here's how this scene would play out...

    Me: "Honey, I know after two years of car magazines and web-page printouts all over the house and countless test-drives, I agreed I wouldn't even look at another car for at least three years... but... um... you see... BMW just came out with a...

    Her: SMACK!! WHACK!! KICK!! SLAP!! etc.
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    ROTFLMAO!!!
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    a V8 M3 running around in LaMans series. Not sure what the displacement is though.
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    make sure you wear plenty of padding before you ask.
  • kominskykominsky Member Posts: 850
    I've got it covered... I can still outrun her! :-)
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    people are right about the Contis. Other than the 2002s, I think I was the loudest car out there.

    kominsky: she might take her anger out on your car.
  • kominskykominsky Member Posts: 850
    "she might take her anger out on your car."

    That's okay since I'll be getting that new 352Ci!!
  • woody02woody02 Member Posts: 7
    Thanks for info. I'm heading to Houston this week and will visit the two dealers there (Advantage and Momentum). The selection there dwarfs the one dealer here in Austin, plus the initial offer I got via email was 5.43% above invoice on an '01 325. May check out an '01 330 just for fun.

    I have got the fever and my '94 325 doesn't have the cure anymore.

    Anyone buy from the Houston BMW dealers recently?
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    See if you can claim some kind of political asylum/refugee status. The 352ci may not allow you to look much like a refugee but hopefully your wife's "SMACK!! WHACK!! KICK!! SLAP!!"s will be very visible on your head and thus helping this great 352ci cause ;o)
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    Thanks for your advice on the Contis. ccotenj and avjh convinced me - that's why I thanked them on the board. I really value their experience. It's good to hear the same from you. To me, the Contis seem great when compared to any non-performance tire that I've had on my Jettas in the past but you all convinced me that it's all relative and it all depends on what you compare it to. I'd be looking to replace them with the RE730's, the Yokohama AVS or the Dunlop SP8080 when I burn through them.
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    From european car's October 2001 issue:

    4-ltr engine
    444 hp @7,500 rpm
    354 lb-ft torque @5,500 rpm
    redline 8,500 rpm
    weight: 2,425 lbs min weight by regulation
    tires: Yokohama racing

    Web site is europeancarweb.com - they may have more details on this incredible M3 race car from the American LeMans series.
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    Complimentary DVD from BMW of North America, LLC

    Fasten your seat belts
    BMW's groundbreaking Internet film series is now available on DVD. As a member of BMW Owners' Circle we would like to offer you this complimentary DVD.

    *********************
    Bring it on, BMWNA
  • ashutoshsmashutoshsm Member Posts: 1,007
    According to AutoZine (can't find the exact link) (http://home.netvigator.com/~europa/Main_Menu.htm) this model has been introduced to satisfy the GTR series requirement that all cars being raced have an equivalent street-legal version. The specs don't look much better than the base M3, and the price is ridiculously high!

    Just this guy's opinion, and info from his sources, not mine - but his website (which, incidentally, is quite cool) is considered a respectable source of info.

    And did I mention, I can't find the exact link, but its a short paragraph thats part of another new article about new models - including the awesome new Lamborghini Murcielago.
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    got the same e-mail. I've seen couple of the shorts, but not all. Can't wait to get it now.
  • bmw_guybmw_guy Member Posts: 17
    Hey guys, I happened to glimpse through an official brochure for a 325, where I found that BMW is banned in F1 for some unfair advantage, it has. Is this true?? Or is it just another Mrtg strategy?
    I did not get a chance to read the article completely. But IMHO, I do not think they could ban from F1 just because of design of a car, which is making it go fast. Any ideas?
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    I just checked the ESPN site for all of the latest F1 news; not a word on any banning of anybody. They did mention a stop and go penalty that Ralf Schumacher managed to get during the race yesterday during the "Grand Prix of Japan".

    Looking forward to next year's season.

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • ccotenjccotenj Member Posts: 610
    no, bmw isn't banned in f1...

    they have picked up a few stop and go's this year because ralf couldn't keep it inbetween the lines... :)

    -Chris
  • dantlodantlo Member Posts: 106
    Got the same e-mail, can't wait. I could play it in my Home Theater System!!

    Enjoy it now, once your baby arrives you wont have merely the time to play any movie at home.
    :-)

    Dan
  • genie1genie1 Member Posts: 398
    I'm still not sure what really happened, but luckily no one came careening into me. (Thank God Canadians drive carefully in bad weather.)

    I took a v. sharp left curve (posted 20) at 60. Road conditions: wet, wet, wet! Weather: rain, 11C/50F.

    Now one of two things happened, and I'm not sure which.

    1. As I turned the steering to straighten out of the turn, the car kept on going left. I believe I tried to turn the steering to the right but then just let it go while stepping on the brakes. I ended up at 180 degrees looking at the guy in the car behind me :0

    2. The other scenario is that as I straightened out of the curve, the car went too far right. I over-compensated for this by turning the steering to the left. The car then spun to the left at which time I stepped on the brakes ending up facing backwards.

    Now I'm not sure what really happened but it freaked me out. I'd like input on what I should have/could have done in this situation.

    I do know I will be getting snow tires for winter and attending an advanced driver training class next month. :)
  • bmw_guybmw_guy Member Posts: 17
    Sorry guys...I looked into the F1 site. I was wrong that BMW is banned...BMW still rocks
  • ccotenjccotenj Member Posts: 610
    both feet in... i.e. clutch and brake...

    no sudden moves with the steering wheel...

    -Chris
  • genie1genie1 Member Posts: 398
    I can't drive a stick shift. (yet)

    I will try to learn to drive steptronic next year.
    :)
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