BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

brave1heart

I take my "girly" comments back then. Grocery shopping is a lot easier when you live in the suburbs but FWIW, the quality of products we've been getting through Peapod has been remarkably consistent.

How's your Bimmer running, how many miles did you put on it?

tcn2k

Use Mequiars all purpose cleaner, it does the job for excess wax on black trim. I had the same problem.

genie1

I think its a "foodie" thing rather than a "girly" thing. I rarely visit the central aisles of my supermarket, my focus is the fresh food section. I visit the Chinese grocery stores on Spadina sometimes because of their selection. The Indian stores in the burbs aren't too bad for spices and ethnic snacks when I have cravings.

On a car related note: I've tried Crisco/peanut butter on the textured trim to break down the wax residue. It does the job, but don't use it on door handles

nobee

because I just blew $700.00 on those puppies. If they are, I'm hosed!

dave330i

how they can be illegal. Doesn't Porsche use single xenon for high & low beams?

hippo168

my car has been running great, after 5K miles, no problems whatsoever... touch wood. I think I missed the "bad fan" by a couple hundred productions.

I scratched the edge of my front wheel few weeks ago. I guess there is no way we can "fix" it?

nyccarguy

what I was told when I was at MBUSA's Product Training for MY2000 cars. Maybe the laws have been amended by now. Like I said before, I don't know what bi-xenon lights are.

brave1heart

I have a few scratches on mine too. Those are easy to get with the SP wheels (that's what you have, right?), especially if you park on the street in Boston. I have read that there is a polish that matches the color of the alloys but it would be better to sand them first before the polish is applied. I figure I'd be getting a lot more of these anyhow and I've decided not to worry about them. If the rims get too beat up in a few years, I'd bring them to a specialty rim shop (the Rim Master in Newton is good) and pay them to fix the wheels (about $100 a wheel). Living in the suburbs is looking increasingly more appealing )

kominsky

In this month's Roundel magazine, there is a letter to the editor in which everything I thought to be true about this issue was countered. The person who wrote the article states that BMWNA is aware of the problem and is fixing it on a case by case basis... my service manager told me there is a service bulletin. The letter's author also states that they are replacing the faulty part with the same part and that the fix is considered temporary... my service manager told me that the problem had been identified and the new pedal assembly should be a permanent fix. I'm not sure what to believe. The letter's author recommends that you call BMWNA customer service and get your name in for if/when they come up with a permanent fix.

dave330i

It doesn't hurt to make a phone call. Is this prolem only in 325? I've never experienced this in my 330i

kominsky

I've tried a very similar product from STP called the VisionBlade. It seems to apply easier and last longer than RainX. I think it is considerably more expensive, but a coworker of mine bought a couple of cases of the things at 'dollar' store for $0.50 each. One applicator is enough to do all of the windows on my Ci, plus the front window on my wifes van.

kominsky

The problem occurs on both 325's and 330's. I had my (330Ci) pedal assembly replace this past summer. It's kind of funny since I hadn't noticed it on my car until I heard about it. Once I took note, the notchiness drove my wacky. When the new pedal was installed, the difference was immediately apparent and the problem has not yet returned.

dave330i

Thanks for the info. I haven't had that problem , so maybe I lucked out.

shipo

The networking folks here at Fuji are running around with some serious twists in their knickers right now. All gateways (other than port 80 (http)) are totally bunched up at the moment. Anyway, I got your inbound message a couple of hours ago and all is well.

Talk to you tonight.

Best Regards,
Shipo

brave1heart

Thanks for the heads-up on VisionBlade - I will try it out next time.

Wondering how I can tell if my 325 has the sticky pedal. I've noticed a small hesitation when letting off the pedal in the last 3/4 inch or so of pedal travel but not sure if it's unusual. Does the replaced pedal seem to release faster than before? Does it feel any heavier?

nyccarguy

I sent you an email, abd it seems like you didn't get it. Since you live in the NY Metro area, can you tell me which BMW dealer you deal with? Do you recommend them? I've stated before on this board that my 'rents will be looking for a 330Xi in April so any advice on dealers in the NY area will be appreciated. Thanks.

gurumike

On the high beam, both xenon and halogen bulbs are used, which is why they tend to have more of a yellowish color if you shine them on a wall and compare the high colors to the dip beam. Porsche offers bixenons (Bosch's Lightronic) lights on most of it's cars (standard on turbo). To the best of my knowledge, there is no law against xenon high beams. The DoT did look at HID lighting about six months ago to consider the all round safety of these products but no action of any type was taken. I'm unfamiliar with the MBZ CL500 xenon high beam swap story. We are also a MBZ dealer so I'll try to remember to check today. As far as high beams go, if the concern is dazzling other drivers by accidently leaving your brights on, surely the regular brights on most decent cars are a hazard to oncoming traffic anyway!

kominsky

What it feels like... hmm... Where I noticed it most was on very small pedal adjustments. Initially when letting off the pedal slightly, I could feel the pedal hanging up a little, as if there were detents in the travel (like a stereo volume control). Once I was tuned into it, I could feel it during acceleration also and during all pedal applications; slight, large, fast, or slow.

shipo

I heard from somebody a couple of years ago (from div2 maybe??) that a good place to buy BMW parts (Oil filters and such) was from the Ultimate Garage http://www.ultimategarage.com located in Emerson, NJ. I called over there yesterday and talked to Steve who owns the business. I arranged to pick up a couple of oil filters and a 36mm six-point half-inch drive socket (for the oil filter housing) from him last evening at his house. Having done so, all I can say is that I am green with envy.

His story goes something like this; Steve somehow found himself unemployed after a stint with IBM (Itty Bitty Machines), and turned to his first love for his next career, cars. His primary business is helping folks setup their “Ultimate Garage” so they can do all the wrenching they want on their high priced machinery. His sideline business is BMW parts and brake system upgrades for a number of cars (he was just finishing up a conversion of some HUGH four piston calipers from a Porsche 911 destined for a brake upgrade project on an Audi A4). His basement is all parts and tools, and if you have a BMW and need either, he has it.

In his back yard, he has two garages, the first, he calls his “20th Century Garage”, totally spotless, packed with well organized tool racks and chests packed to the gills with (you guessed it) tools. Rounding out this image, there was a silver MB E55 (which he got in trade from an MB dealer for doing some work) sitting impatiently in it looking very restless for some exercise.

The second garage (his 21st Century Garage) is currently under construction and will have the following goodies:
-Complete climate control for both temperature and humidity
-Natural Gas fueled Kohler electric generator (to be upgraded to a fuel-cell ASAP)
-Full vehicle lift
-Complete 4WD vehicle dynamometer
-More floor and storage space
-More computer driven electronic goodies than I can mention here

All in all, not a bad home based business, to say the least.

Best Regards,
Shipo

ccotenj

on the ultimate garage...

i have the ULTIMATE ENVY for the ultimate garage... plus he sells bmw stuff cheap...

-Chris

shipo

Hmmm, no E-Mail yet...

Anyway, I use Prestige in Ramsey, NJ on Rt. 17 South. I have been fairly pleased with them for both sales and service.

Best Regards,
Shipo

dave330i

The Ultimate Garage is featured in Nov issue of Roundel. I'm envious you got to see it in person.

Weren't you talking about going to 0W-30 vs. 5W-30 for your engine oil? I was thinking about this a while back, and wondered why the European 3-series gets 0W-30 while we get 5W-30. Only difference I could come up with was they have higher octane fuel across the pond. Does anyone else have better reason?

shipo

Thanks for the lead Chris, if you ever get up here to Northern NJ (I think I remember you live a little south of me), you should give Steve a call and check his "Ultimate Garage" out.

Best Regards,
Shipo

shipo

I saw the pictures too, Steve told me that they were "Only of my 20th Century Garage". I should be so lucky to ONLY have his 20th Century Garage. ;-)

I just got a shipment of Mobil 1 0W-40 from Park Place Motors of Dallas, TX (I believe they are a Mercedes-Benz dealership). Apparently both BMW and MB use 0W-40 as the factory fill, however, Mobil only retails 0W-40 in Europe. Now all I need is my "Overton's Oil Extractor" to show up, and I will be in business (thanks to who ever posted that link).

Best Regards,
Shipo

jhox85

Guru, I sent you a mail on your email a few days ago. I do not know if you recieved it or not. I would greatly appreciate a response, if you have time.

brislance1

Brave, in one of your posts you mention contemplating getting a trunk net for your 325. I would like to get one! Tell me where I can get it, if you know. I had one in my last new car and miss it. Thanks

brave1heart

The oil grade in Europe is higher but I think this is because they use a different formula to calculate the AKI number. Anyone have a conversion link?

brave1heart

I was actually saying that I was considering getting a cargo net till I found out that the trunk mat is reversible and its rubberized side would be good enough for my needs, so I don't have to get a cargo net any more. I have seen the cargo net on Circlebmw.com and PacificBMW.com and the price was around $60-70.

shipo

On another topic, when Steve told me that he had just taken delivery on a complete 4WD vehicle Dyno (still in its shipping crate, sitting in storage), I remembered a discussion we had here a few weeks back about the CAI system from a company here in Long Island (ECIS?).

One of the theories that I put forward to explain their testing anomalies regarding HP at the wheels of the 325i vs. the 330i was that they did not program in the proper gear ratios. While this theory seemed logical to me, I had no basis of knowledge as to how these vehicle dynos work. So, there I was face to face with a very knowledgeable guy who actually owned one, I had to ask.

Steve told me that you ABSOLUTELY have to program in the gear ratios (tranny and rear end) and wheel diameter to get accurate readings. Further more, he told me that you need to eliminate as many environmental variables as possible, hence the MASSIVE HVAC system on his 21st Century Garage. When I mentioned the test results from ECIS, and that the 330i was tested in July or August, and that the 325i was tested in November, he just laughed and said that the tests were meaningless as a comparison between the two cars. Their only validity would be in the Before/After testing on the individual car.

Best Regards,
Shipo

mcnal01

Can someone please explain the different adjustments available on the 6 way PP seats verses the 10 way SP seats? Also, am I correct in understanding 3ers are delivered with synthetic oil? I have never used synthetic oil but have always been told to use dino 1st to break in the engine before changing to synthetic, is this not necessary?
Thanks

shipo

While I cannot (yet) speak about the 325i Sport Seats, I will take a stab at the Synthetic Oil thing.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche (and I am sure there are many others) all put Synthetic oil in the crankcase as the factory fill. Unlike older cars, these vehicles are specifically designed to run on exclusively synthetic oil.

In days gone by, there was general agreement that piston rings would not "Seat" properly on a new engine lubricated with synthetic oil, simply because the synth would not allow the proper carbon deposits to stabilize the rings. Starting the engine’s life on Dino Juice to allow the rings to seat and then switching over to Synthetic Oil was SOP if you wanted to enjoy the benefits of Synthetic Oil.

Having said that, if your new car calls for Synthetic, use Synthetic.

Best Regards,
Shipo

nyccarguy

Thanks for the info Shippo. While we don't have anything against Prestige and their sales & service department, their location is out of the way (for us anyway). My parents live in Rockland County (NY). We've bought 3 of our current cars on RT. 17S (Saab 9-3, Jetta GLS VR6, & Infiniti QX4). It is such a PITA to get there from Rockland. We were discussing the different dealers last week and my Dad proclaimed..."SHoot me if I ever decide to buy another car from a dealer on RT 17!"

vinerman

Purchased a 1999 E46 Certified BMW from John Roberts in Austin. Two months after delivery the paint is cracking on the rear bumper. BMWNA has refused to warranty this because they claim the car has been re-painted. John Roberts also refuses to pay for the repair. I thought once the car was certified everything was covered under the new car warranty. Has anyone else had a similar problem. John Roberts has stopped taking my phone calls.

brave1heart

325 SP manual seats adjustments:
- slide back and forth
- adjust seat height
- adjust back tilt
- tilt the whole seat
- thigh support
- headrest adjustment of course

I think the power seats do not have thigh support and I am not sure whether you can tilt the whole seat. They have adjustable lumbar support, which the manual seats do not have, though.

shipo

Two things:

1) I have heard less than stellar things about the John Roberts dealership(s) in Texas, I would read the fine print on the warranty to see if you have a case.

2) In my experience, if the paint is cracking on a bumper, it has been repainted. A proper paint shop will add stuff (a very technical term that) to the paint to make it more flexible and to properly adhere to the flexible material of the bumper skin.

Good luck, I hope you can come to some agreement with them.

Best Regards,
Shipo

dave330i

"A proper paint shop will add stuff"

Are you talking about a primer or something else?

brave1heart

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines01/11/s7535.html

You really need a fast connection for this but it's all worth it. BTW, I read that of all F-1 teams, BMW and Ferrari are the only ones that make their own engines.

shipo

Stuff is a catchall phrase to describe the additives to the actual paint (I am not sure if there is a primer coat on bumper skins). I am sure the technology (chemistry) has changed since I did paint mixing in a NAPA store in the late 1970’s, however, back then, we added acetone (which helps the paint bleed into the soft material of the bumper skin) and I cannot remember what else. When a customer came in for paint, we made up a large batch for the sheet metal and a small batch for the soft surfaces; the formulas were basically the same with the exception of the added “Stuff”.

Best Regards,
Shipo

mcnal01

Shipo and Brave
We're looking at ordering a 325xi and trying to decide if SP is worth it since the xi SP is cosmetic only. $1100 seems pretty high for a couple more seat adjustments and 17" wheels.

brave1heart

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines01/12/s7757.html

Ralf Schumacher caused a road accident and will be fined. He also got a speeding ticket earlier in the year. I guess it could happen even to one of the very best drivers in the world...

shipo

Don't forget the 3-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel.

Best Regards,
Shipo

ccotenj

bmw doesn't have a "team". bmw makes engines for the williams team.

the only team in f1 to build the whole car is ferrari.

-Chris

genie1

The BMW magazine I received last month had an article about the Frank Williams facility in rural England. It talked about one guy who builds the pipes for the qualifying rounds and races. Thats all he does...creates each pipe by hand, all day long, every day.

V. impressive

brave1heart

I stand corrected. I meant to say that BMW and Ferrari are the only F-1 engine manufacturers that build their engines in-house.

P.S. Seems like the board is training for the olympics with this rate of posting today )

dave330i

Mercedes built theirs in-house as well. Tough to follow F1 when you don't have Speedvision.

dave330i

At least he can say that stuff he builds works. I can't say that about the stuff I work on all day.

genie1

They also had pictures of Ralf at the Advanced Driver Training in Montreal. Maybe that had something to do with his speeding ticket

ccotenj

mercedes bought out the rest of ilmor and moved it in house this year to be able to take advantage of their research facilities... honda factory engines are made by honda... mugen honda is an engine builder... asiatech's are old ferrari engines...

need i go on?

-Chris

kominsky

The power sport seats (non-PP) DO NOT have lumbar adjustment and they do have the adjustable thigh support. I think the adjustments between the power and non-power seats are identical, again, not including the PP which does include lumbar adjustment.

brave1heart

I'm not making this up, bud. I read this probably on the formula1 site that I quoted above. M-B just bought Ilmor and I am not sure if Mugen is considered an in-house Honda tuner. I trust that you know better, no need to go on.