BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

tcn2k

Believe it or not, but i faced almost the same delema as you. But the problem was that whenever i see the 3 series, my heart just melts. I too, wanted to conserve my money, but at the end; i had to get the 325i no matter what. If i get the other, i will always look back and say "what if"..... It is not worth it!

So now i am just waiting for my delivery, i just order it over the weekend. I got 1500 off msrp here in utah. Enjoy you decision - bimmer is the way to go.

brave1heart

aFordable1 - that's what BMW just realized - hence their press release this morning. I'm going to get me an Intrepid too - those are super fuel-efficient (will save me a buck or two for 1-800-COLLECT) and I hear their electrical system is a marvel that belongs in the Museum of Science. Do the right thing, baby!
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PS: BMW-Williams placed third in last year's first F1 race in Australia. That feat was achieved after a 14-year absense from the series on a first try! They placed third overall in the constructor championship after Ferrari and McLaren. No other company has ever achieved that. Not even the mighty Intrepids, dude!

brave1heart

I am very sorry :O( I misjudged you. You do sound like a nice, sincere and reasonable person and I was wrong to judge you that fast. I wish you the best of luck. I hope you'll write back saying you got the BMW.
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bornagain

If it's ALL his money then DEFINITELY go for the Bimmer!

jk26

Can someone please tell me roughly what it costs a year to insure a 4 door 325i? I am thinking of purchasing a new bmw just out of school and am wondering if I am going to be killed by the insurance company. I realize it varies person to person, I've had no tickets and been in no accidents. I'm also 26yoa. Just a ballpark figure is what i am looking for. Thanks in advance!

JK

kimj1

Thank you for the kind words. By the way, I was not the least bit offended.

Will post again as soon as I make a decision.

Have a great day

Kim

lobs

There is a lease promotion by BMW until 4-30-01 at least in FL. It applies to several models but the best parameters apply to the 330i. Just ask your salesman and they should tell you because it is corporate. They have a preprinted sheet with every relevant detail.

I got a better deal than the sheet. My salesman is Dave Colonna at Coggin BMW in Ft Pierce, FL. The toll free number is 877 254-5948.

If you have the cash, the multiple security deposits give you a great return on investment. See my post #1334.

uofmich1

Guys, im also curious about rough insurance rates for a 325i. 22 yrs old, no marks on the record, thanks

brave1heart

You are looking at about $2,500 for full decent coverage and average driving record in bigger cities, about 20-25% less in Suburbia. Based on a new 325i, right?
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jk26

Thanks for the rough estimate. I actually called Progressive and got a free estimate with 100, 300, 100 coverage. Estimate came to $1500 roughly. But I am sure that it would be more like 2k with good coverage here in the urban jungle! Also, do you have any thoughts for a target price for a 4dr, 325i, PP, silver metallic, heated seats, in dash CD, auto. I was going to go in and hold firm at $30,500. Think they will bite?

--JK

xrgnwa

My 325i for over one month now. But I noticed that my MPG is far below expectation. There another post #1124 saying that "no matter how aggressively they drove the 3-series, they were still getting mileage in the 20-24 mpg interval". I got only 18 MPG, the best one yet is 18.2. I called my dealer and he told me that since my car is still 'fresh' (with 800 miles), give it another gas tank...
Any one with the similiar issue? How is your MPG when it was (is) a new 325? Thanks.

dhanley

Yeah, i had the same quandry.. One side of me said "buy stocks, add on to the house, etc" the other said "get the car you want."

What helped to justify it to me is i told myself if i got the car my head said, by heart would probably make me get a different one in a few years ( costing money ). While if i got the one i really wanted, i would keep it for a long time.

Maybe it's a rationailization, but it worked.

As for MPG.. I drove my manual '97 328 on a long road trip through twisty mountian road, and driving very fast and aggressively, i got 33mpg(!!!). The altitude may have helped, (5200-10000feet) but our saab only got 24mpg for the same trip. I was REALLY impressed! I pull off 24 mpg with 80% city driving. That's about what my automatic saturn used to get. I think that's pretty darn good!

dave

inaquandry

Ok Gang,

I need some advice. I have test driven Acuras new TL Type S- 260 hp, torque galore...loaded and stickers at $31.8k. I have also just test driven a 98 328i with sport package, 5 speed...loaded except for the trip computer. The price I am being quoted is very reasonable (checked it vs. kelly blue book and Edumunds). This baby has only 17k miles on it, and has a BMW certified warranty Flawless!!

Both cars are fun to drive, but I've got to give the nod to the Bimmer on the fun to drive quotient...

Finances dictate I lease either one of these. The upfront $'s I need to get to the monthly payment I want is the same for both cars (as is the resultant monthly payment).

Am I nuts comparing a 2002 Acura vs a 1998 Bimmer?? Acura is telling me that up here where the winds and snow blow cold, I will be sorry with rear wheel drive. On the other hand I have buds telling me that a set of blizzaks on steel rims are all I need...Lots to consider..

Help!

div2

My wife and I drove a 1998 3er through the last two winter on Michelin Alpins with NO problems. Our driveway is a half mile of winding gravel road that never get plowed and we had no problems in either ice storms or 8"+ of snow. I don't think the Honda is a bad car, but it certainly isn't the sport sedan the BMW is.

jng2

Hi,

I have tested both models within the past 2 weeks. I think the differences in handling are very small. The 325xi feels very much like the 325i just that I felt like it had more grip on the road during turns (Duh!). Just alittle but more. In terms of acceleration, it's the same car and you can't really tell you're driving a All Wheel drive car unless you see the "xi" symbol.
BTW after considering all 4 cars I decided to go with the 325ci with the Premium Package. The Coupe still looks the nicest out of the 325-series cars.

J

jng2

Hi,

I'm paying CAN$7K insurance premium for my BMW coupe. In case you're wondering I'm 18 this year. Anyways, the funny thing was that the insurance for the sedan was more expensive than the coupe.

J

jng2

Hi,

In case anyone is considering this car also, I've test driven it a few days ago. in terms of value this car has it all. The interior is very luxurious and the styling's pretty aggressive. The car handles pretty well for such a big car but the engine is noisier than the BMW 325's that I've been trying out. The acceleration's pretty fast, however, I felt as though the brakes were alittle non-responsive. The car is also much bigger than the 3-series sedan. The trunk space is very good, much bigger than the 3-Series sedan. The only thing that I have against the car is the finishing. The wood trim on the dashboard really looks quite awfully done. It's much worse than the wood myrtle trim of the BMW's. Also another funny thing the car does not have a parking brake.

J

alpine325i

The nissan is a decent car and is engineered ok. The BMW is an awesome car and is the ultimate driving machine. If you want a higher level of precision, smoothness, and overall fun driving your car, spend the extra money on the BMW. The nissan costs less because you're getting less car.

alpine325i

Brave1heart: Great posts, I had a good laugh, LOL!

tcn2k

I got a quote from state farm, full coverage 50, 100,50 for roughly 400 bucks every 6 months. Then again, i live in utah.

reubencahn

Mine improved significantly after about 3000 miles. Initially I got only 18-19 mpg.

bboone

Looking at buying a '99 323i and I am interested in purchasing 17" alloys for it.

I believe the standard 16" rims are the Star Spoke 45 and I would like to upgrade to the Star Spoke 44.

Any good (inexpensive) sources out there?

Thanks,
Brian

bmwow

Tcn2K: can you tell me the dealership (and name of your salesguy?

If you can post on the boards here, or email me any info you think would help, I'd really appreciate it! I want to get it all set today-!
(mythily73@yahoo.com)

kominsky

I've got about 800 miles on my 330Ci and on the current tank, I'm averaging 24.3 MPG (from on-board computer). For the 1st 30 miles of the current tankful, I was on the highway (70 - 75mph) and was averaging 28.2 MPG. The rest of the driving has been mostly two-lane highway / farm roads with NO stop-and-go city driving. I am trying to stay within break-in limits (although it revs too fast some times to keep it under 4500rpm), but am by no means 'babying' it.

tgif888

Use to drive a 2000 BMW 323I, auto w/premium package. I have had it for all the problems I encountered in the first year of ownership. moonroof rail broken, passenger's windows motor broken, ABS cover drops out for no reason, check engine lights come on time to time. And this is a new car we are talking about. Trade it in to a 2002 TL Type S. Awesome car and love it.

batlanta

Choosing the color of my new 330i is causing a nervous disorder! I've had 3 black bimmers in a row (318, 325, 328), and I'm ready for a change. However, can't decide between the steel gray and titanium silver... either exterior color with black leather interior.

Can anybody help with my decision?

jhdevoy

I went with the Steel Gray. There are so many silver cars out there today, I wanted to get something a little different.

brave1heart

In a drastic effort to reduce the numerous Autobahn accidents due to electric system failures found on popular German automobiles, The German Autobahn Authority has just announced that it is closing its roads to German-built cars. It would consider German cars partially-built overseas (as in S.A.) on case-by-case basis, but only if their electrical system has been successfully certified by the U.S. Electrical Workers Union. In a typically Germanic approach to utilization and efficiency, the Autobahn Authority and Germany's Green Party are planning on converting the Autobahn's emergency lane into a bicycle alley. This should allow conscientious German commuters to get to work on time if they leave home by 5 AM. The stock price of HelmetGezungzeitGesheft AG (world-known manufacturer of bicycle helmets) skyrocketed today on the Frankfurt stock exchange. The three big U.S. manufacturers have agreed to clone their vehicles' electric systems using an innovative new cloning technique developed by the U.S. Electric Workers Union. Its leader Dick Small stated: "Yeah, ya know, gotta help them Germans, ya know. We're gonna learn'em how to make'em *??&&&* wires, ya know."; The Union's responsiveness and readiness to help the struggling German auto industry has been enthusiastically welcomed by the International auto community.
Stay tuned for more news on this hot issue. : O )

kominsky

IMHO, between the two, Steel Gray... classy!

phenegar

I have a 325i on order and just talked with my insurance agent today. I am 32 with a good driving record. I live in Virginia and was given a price for full coverage of $990 a year with a $500 deductible. This was with extra coverage for uninsured motorist and damage. I guess Virginia must have lower rates than most states.

ds2k1

I too went with steel gray on my 330i. Originally wanted the silver but was put off by the millions of silver cars on the road and fell in love with the gray in person. I also wanted a more sophisticated look (didn't go with sport package either), figuring the car was plenty sporty without the need for a sportier color. With that said, the silver is awesome too if you don't mind having a very trendy, ubiquitous color. Frankly, you could get the car in tangerine and still not be able to wipe the smile off your face. You can't lose either way.

vesuviusii

For the car you described you're looking at about $33K (before TTL) for a "good" deal. There's a ton of recent pricing/sales experiences in previous posts if you avail yourself of that information. For the most part, people have been posting 4%-6% over Invoice deals.

V

platypus

I ordered a 330i for Euro delivery three weeks ago. Was deciding between TS and SG, and ended up ordering SG mainly because there are fewer SG cars out there. However, whenever I would see a TS e46, I really marveled at the color. Ended up changing my order to TS. Decided that it was more important for me to get the color that I really wanted (even if there are lots of other silver cars out there).

In terms of how the two colors look on the car, I agree with the above posts that TS has a more sporty look while SG has a more elegant look. Plus, I'm not one who washes his car every week, so for me, TS will look better since it doesn't show dirt as much.

You can't go wrong either way. Both look great! Just get the one that makes you the happiest.

Picking my car up in Munich on April 25 - can't wait to go!!!

vesuviusii

Woops! It's gonna be more like $31,700 for a "good" deal (I'd included leather by mistake). You never know, this coming Sunday could be the dealership's fiscal quarter end, so they may want to cut more aggressive deals at this time. Let us know what you decide.

V

dantlo

For those who own a steptronic car, how often do you play with the manual and sports mode. I hardly use it. Just curious to know!!

brave1heart

I ordered my 325i in Orient Blue (it's dark blue) with a Black Leatherette interior. I think it is a very nice combination and not common at all up here in Boston. It is a rich metallic color - it looks much lighter in the sun and almost black at night. The 3-series looks nice in silver but everyone seems to have one of those. You go to a place with a lot of BMWs and they are all silver or black. Dark gray was my second choice but I decided it looks a little oldish for my taste. My ideal choice would've been the electric blue color that the new M3 is frequently photographed with. That color was aslo popular with the Audi S4 (Nogaro Blue). Bugatti came up first with that electric blue color back in the '30s when all the sports cars were bright red - I think it's a very distinctive color. I'm wondering if they'll offer it on all 3-seris models for 2002 or just the M3
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vesuviusii

brave1heart: Yep, for me it was a toss up between Orient Blue and Siena Red. I finally went with Siena (although a more casual color) because IMO, the Orient Blue looked too dark in most lighting situations. Wish they'd brought Avus Blue back for 2001.

ds2k1

I've had my car for all of a week now (never in my life did I imagine loving a car as much as I do my 330 - my wife is getting jealous), but I find that I almost ALWAYS drive in sport mode (haven't figured out a good reason not to yet, besides mileage, which I'm not that concerned about) and almost NEVER use the manual mode. The manual mode doesn't seem that intuitive to me (certainly no replacement for a manual tranny, which I do miss) and the delay is somewhat annoying. But in sport mode the power is extraordinary and the sensation is damn exciting.

ds2k1

When I first began perusing the Edmunds Town Hall, it was because I desperately wanted to buy an Audi 2.7T. I can't tell you how obsessed I was with that car and how much I longed to have it. Until I drove it, that is. Let me back up a bit. The people on the A6 forum are amazingly passionate about their cars; much more so than those in this forum, in my opinion. They have rousing discussions about the most trivial aspects of the A6 and are incredibly well informed about every little detail and eccentricity that exists in their automobiles. They're usually on their 10th Audi and will never switch brands. With that said, you can probably understand why I was so excited to have one. Then I finally test drove the car. Certainly meaning no disrespect to any A6 owner that may be loitering in the BMW room, it simply didn't drive like a BMW. I also don't mean for that to sound snobbish now that I own one, but the 330i felt superior to me in every single way. The ride is exactly the balance between sport and comfort that I was looking for. The engine's power, sound, feel and smoothness are downright sensual. While I think the A6 delivers more car for the money, it certainly didn't deliver the driving experience, or the smiles per dollar, my 330 will. To me, the A6 simply felt like a larger car that did everything very well, but just not great. And I began to realize that many of the passionate discussions the A6 folks were having were about the annoying little things that always seemed to go wrong with them - radio drift, this squeak, that rattle, this recall, that problem with the dealer, etc. In all fairness, A6 owners love their cars so much they seem totally willing to overlook all of these nuisances, which I guess I'm not, and because of that I feel that maybe I just missed something on my test drive. However, I'm comforted that I don't see too many postings like that here and know that the car I bought is definitely better for me.

I don't know why I felt the need to share this experience. Perhaps to seek closure on my entire car searching and buying experience and also perhaps to share my feelings with others in this forum that may have gone through a very similar experience. It was a long time coming, but I am now a dyed-in-the-wool Bimmer fan and can't believe I've gone this long without owning one. Can't imagine not having at least one in my garage from now on.

Happy driving!

alpine325i

I understand exactly where you are coming from. I too was obsessed with certain cars that I lusted for, Corvette, Z28, Trans Am, etc... I've owned all these cars and alot more. I also test drove Audi, Mercedes, VW, Acura, Lexus, and so on. The BMW is the only car that I've owned that I can actually call amazing. Every time I drive my BMW I'm amazed at how smooth, precise, and fun it is to drive. I've been converted big time! Happy driving!

jhdevoy

Although my car hasn't arrived yet, I fell in love with the Sport Mode during the test drive. I do a lot of heavy traffic stop and go driving, and felt like an automatic would be best for me (although I love to drive manuals on the open road). I was still debating which to get when I tested the steptronic in sport mode. It is exactly what I was looking for. I like to see those RPMs sky high before a shift into second, and the sport mode was close enough for me, at least given my current typical driving conditions.

My car was built the week of March 10, no word yet on when it arrives in Boston MA.

jamrock4

I just noticed this year that BMW has a 3 series AWD car. Is this the first year BMW is providing that option? I was just wondering if the AWD will be as reliable as the regular 3 series and not too expensive to maintain. Forgive my ignorance about BMW vehicles, I have owned an Acura for 10 relatively trouble free years and now it is time to purchase a new vehicle.

dantlo

Thank you guys for your input on steptronic. My car now has 2000 miles, I am going to start using it more often.

jk26

Looking back I meant 31.5k, oops! Also, can you tell me roughly what TTL will cost. I know it varies for each state, but usually another 2-3K? Thanks for your help. I've never bought a new car before and I'm looking to order a 01 325 within the next month or two once my wife gets settled in her new job.

--jk

dhanley

This is the first year for the current AWD system on the 3-series. It has been used on the x5, but not for that long, obviously.

dave

goody4

BMW first offered all-wheel-drive in the 3-series in 1986. It was available in the U.S. from '88-'91. The name given to these earlier AWDs was slightly different: It was 325iX instead of the 325Xi moniker used now.

faust92

Hey, all. If anyone is leasing the new 3 series coup or sedan, what is a ballpark lease figure?

Thanx for all help

bopeep1

Want to order a 2002 325i. Orlando dealership says 80% of the sales for this model are automatics. I kind of like the sportiness of the 5 speed. Please give input on what you like best about your stick vs. auto shifts for this auto, other than the auto is better for heavy traffic. Is the 5 speed that much better performance-wise? Thanks! BOB

brave1heart

I set up a little quiz on the German cars Electrical Crisis. Here it is (I've copied the original announcement at the end to help you find the answers). If you can answer all questions successfully, you'll be allowed to compete in Regis' German Millionaire edition:

1. The Autobahn's emergency lane is being converted into:
A. A bowling alley
B. A bicycle alley
C. A pedestrian stroll alley
D. Muhammed Ali's walk of fame

2. What is the Electric Workers Union leader's last name:
A. Small
B. Compact
C. Midsize-Convertible
D. Fullsize

3. As quoted, the Electric Workers Union's leader meant that:
A. "I've no idea what I'm talking about. Pass me another RC bottle, will ya?
B. "I want a 35-hour work week and a 20% raise every 6 months".
C. "Abracadabra".
D. None of the above

4. Cloning has been successfully implemented on:
A. Sheep
B. Electric systems
C. Babies
D. All of the above

Latest Developments on the Electrical Crisis by brave1heart Mar 29, 2001 (12:34 pm)
In a drastic effort to reduce the numerous Autobahn accidents due to electric system failures found on popular German automobiles, The German Autobahn Authority has just announced that it is closing its roads to German-built cars. It would consider German cars partially-built overseas (as in S.A.) on case-by-case basis, but only if their electrical system has been successfully certified by the U.S. Electrical Workers Union. In a typically Germanic approach to utilization and efficiency, the Autobahn Authority and Germany's Green Party are planning on converting the Autobahn's emergency lane into a bicycle alley. This should allow conscientious German commuters to get to work on time if they leave home by 5 AM. The stock price of HelmetGezungzeitGesheft AG (world-known manufacturer of bicycle helmets) skyrocketed today on the Frankfurt stock exchange. The three big U.S. manufacturers have agreed to clone their vehicles' electric systems using an innovative new cloning technique developed by the U.S. Electric Workers Union. Its leader Dick Small stated: "Yeah, ya know, gotta help them Germans, ya know. We're gonna learn'em how to make'em *??&&&* wires, ya know."; The Union's responsiveness and readiness to help the struggling German auto industry has been enthusiastically welcomed by the International auto community.
Stay tuned for more news on this hot issue. : O )
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brave1heart

The 5-spd is more than half a second faster than the auto from 0 to 60 and in any range. It is more fun to drive, no comparison. Even in heavy trafiic, I like the 5-spd better, as it allows me to keep the car in the gear that would allow me to zig around in traffic when an opportunity opens up. In addition, the 5-spd actually handles better because of the direct connection between the flywheel and the wheels. The auto will never catch up on performance even on future models, because the auto torque converter sucks horse power away from the wheels. This is on ANY auto, of course, not just BMW. And you probably know that the auto is about 100 lbs heavier and less fuel-efficient. I'd actually pay money to get the manual if the auto were standard.
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