BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

alpine325i

I was at a Chevy dealer the other day and I met a guy from Bavaria. When he saw me get out of my 325i he says:"now thats a fine automobile". I said thanks, I just bought this 5 months ago. Then he says: "see all these cars? these are just "cars", but a BMW is a fine automobile, you can't even compare the two". I thought that was great. )

novcenthusiast

you posted a link featuring 2002 3-series pics and said to note the SMG option.

What is SMG? I apologize if this is something really obvious.

I'd have to agree they do look less aggressive than the '01s. Don't think the changes are enough to make me reconsider possibly buying one.

hippo168

I don't post much on this board, but I truely enjoy reading all the good info from the good people.

What I don't understand is, why would people post nonsense like aculex does? I guess they just can't realize we have a large number of intelligent people who know so much about BMW's, and we will not buy the "GMW" crap...

Can we put a ban on this guy?

platypus

I will offer my high-level understanding of SMG - perhaps the more mechanically inclined members can explain the technical details. In essence, SMG is a true manual transmission, but without a clutch pedal. (Not all all to be confused with steptronic.) Gears are shifted via paddles on the steering wheel - one to upshift, and one to downshift. You can see the paddles just behind the wheel in the photo - they're silver in color. The clutch is controlled electronically.

I believe the only cars currently offered to the US market with SMG are certain model Ferraris. The racing enthusiasts can correct me if I'm wrong - but it's my understanding that F1 race cars use SMG transmissions. Rumored pricing for this option on the M3 is ~$4K.

shap1

I guess I have sort of the opposite situation of most others here. I make lots of short trips in stop and go suburban traffic (i.e. to and from work, kids' carpool). Never get much above 45 MPH (YET!!!). Should I take the car on the expressway from time to time at higher speeds during break-in?

FYI, have the car (325i) one week, 200 miles so far.

denright

As a prudent car owner, I make it a habit to extend the factory warranties on my cars as long as possible. Paying a few hundred dollars to entend a warranty is essentially an insurance policy, and it gives me a lot of peace of mind. It also makes me MUCH more likely to run into the dealership as soon as I detect any problem, rather than wait while a problem potentially gets worse.

I intend to extend the factory warranty on my ordered 330xi as long as possible -- hopefully for the entire time I own the car. Quite simply, such an extension is a great hedge against the unforeseen, and it makes me much less fearful about the alleged reliability problems spouted by Aculex and the like.

trejos28

I find your posts so informative (and descriptive when it comes to your cars and the driving experience) that with a month still to go before my car arrives, I don't think I'll be able to make it!

denright

Please provide me with the name, phone number and location of the dealership you reference above. I would love to call the service manager there and inquire as to your conversation.

aaron330i

Uugh. Was hoping for tomorrow. Was so much wanting it before the holiday.

denright

You claimed to have just called the place. What, don't you have the information handy?

novcenthusiast

ah..
I hadn't noticed the paddles in the pic.

Thanks

Speaking of these transmissions is there any thread in the townhall that discusses them in detail? Just been curious about how they work.

Do they only operate manually? Is the only diffence that the paddles replace both the clutch and shifter action with one electric signal?

I take it Steptronic and Acura's SportShift are based on auto. tran. torque converters...

denright

Interesting how you becoming highly insulting and rude so quickly. Your behavior raises all sorts of questions. However, I will forego any ad hominem attacks and simply address the substance of this matter.

That bmwlemon site is incredibly disorganized. I honestly don't know which testimonial I was supposed to reference for the purposes of determining exactly what dealership you purportedly called.

I simply asked if you could assist a fellow car shopper in finding information by providing me with the name and phone number of the dealership that you purportedly called. I am at a loss as to why, exactly, you are unable and/or unwilling to provide me with this information.

I will endeavor to locate this information without your assistance. Once I have done so, I will take appropriate steps.

denright

Stop removing Aculex' posts, you're making me look like a lunatic talking to himself.

errickson

What MY do you have? 2001? 2000? 1999? I wonder if this was a subtle change that they made between MY's or something. My dealer said he sold another vehicle with SP and no PP, and his did not work either....Which leads me to my second question...

I wonder if the button to adjust the mirrors has to be in a certain position for it to work? (I am purely guessing at this point)

pat

... "don't feed the trolls".

It generally works out pretty well. Just a thought.

Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards

errickson

was a piece of cake!!!! Took all of about 15 minutes to install. Cut out the plastic trim piece with an exacto knife and joila! So glad I did not pay the dealer to install! Thanks to all of y'all that posted your comments on the install process / requirements, etc.

next project - armrest...anyone have experience with installing this jewel? I printed the instructions from Circle, but I would like to hear first hand? Pain-in-the-a*@ ? Piece of cake?

denright

Well, at least you have some sense of humor. However, I think our fellow board-readers might have a different opinion than yours regarding who, exactly, is the lunatic here.

Incidentally, why not just admit that you made up the story about calling the dealership? I have the name here now... why not spare me the trouble of calling over there and stirring up a pot of trouble?

platypus

I know that it only works when the mirror position switch is on one side (can't remember if left or right)

denright

Oh, the humanity.

aaron330i

manure.

errickson

I will play with the mirror button when I get home...actually, that sounds like a project right up my 2 year olds alley....

denright

My car is STILL waiting at the dock for a ship... has been since thursday.

Any sense on how long it usually takes to get loaded on a ship once a car is at the port?

bmwagonmaster

Try this link, and when you get home page click on "articles" at top of screen. On the next screen that comes up, scroll the left hand column. There's an article dated 4/30/2001 about SMG. Hope this helps!

http://www.bmwnation.com/home.html

bmwagonmaster

There's also a feature article about the 2002 "redesign" at the same link I posted above.

burrsr

What the hell happened to our beloved board today???

Anyway...

Shap1 -- the key to break-in is varying the engine speeds and loads within the given parameters. It doesn't get much more varied than in-town driving. A few highway jaunts wouldn't hurt, and they would certainly decrease the time required to reach the magical 1,200-mile milestone. I'm currently breaking in a Z3 2.5 and constantly make up excuses to drive it. I drove it to work today just to decrease the overall break-in time...

Steptronics, Shiftronics, Tiptronics, Sportshifts -- call them what you will but they all have one thing in common: they are all automatics, and they all have a conventional torque converter. The only difference between these and "conventional" autos is the user interface -- the ability to control the tranny with the gear selector. I'm no SMG expert by any means, but I do know that they have NO torque converter (and hence no power loss associated with it) and they do have a clutch, albeit an electronically controlled one that engages and disengages so quickly that you can't detect any hesitation between gears. Therein lies the theoretical advantage of SMGs over traditional manuals and why most racing circuits employ this technology. It's also expensive, as seen by the roughly $4,000 option on the M3 and something like 10 grand(!) for the Ferraris on which it's an option.

carpevino

I read through your posts and was hoping you might of gotten an explanation. You are correct in stating that it only happens when it is hot and I think it is related to the interior car temperature or outside temp. We just went through a heat wave and the pedal felt sticky for the pass two days. Now it is 65 degrees and it works just fine. Nice and smooth. I would describe it to being similar to a tacky sensation as if someone spilled soda on the floor and you walk on it after it has dried. The hotter it got the worse it felt. I am going to call my dealer and see if they have a response.
If I were to make a guess, something is expanding and causing friction or something is heating up and becoming soft and moving when it shouldn't.

Anyway, your not alone and I'll let you know what the dealer says.

tenet1

Looking to order a 2001 325i with premium package, leather, Xenon, heated seats, 6CD, Mettalic paint, Automatic. Does anyone know what the fair price over invoice is for such a car in the Virginia/DC area?

If so is there any dealer you can recommend in this area that is good to deal with??

Any help will be really appreciated.

Thanks

tchoo

My dealer says I can't pay, do the paperwork and pick up the car on the same day. He says that need the payment before they can register the car and I have to come back the next day to pick it up. I'm bringing along a certified check for goodness sake, what's wrong with these people? Deepdarkblu, looks like I won't see my car till after the 4th!

aaron330i

adam68

Recently purchased a 325CI. My dealer is a little too far to go to for service. If I use a different dealer for service, Should I expect
to not be treated as well?