BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

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Comments

  • mmcbride1mmcbride1 Member Posts: 861
    Is that what they quoted you? Sounds pretty good to me for a $40k car. I'd take it. What does 'minimum drive-off' mean? $1,000? $5,000?
  • ds2k1ds2k1 Member Posts: 101
    I just got a 330i in SG with gray leather interior, premium package, xenons, steptronic, in-dash CD, 36/12K in the LA area. Paid $5K total drive-off, including first month's and refundable security, and have payments of $428/mo.

    If your total drive-off is pretty low, seems like a very good deal.
  • methodipmethodip Member Posts: 1
    i am about to purchase a new car. i am conflicted on which one i should buy. i really like the both of them but each have their own unique characteristics and their own flaws. with the bmw i like the power adn the awd and its just because its a bmw. but on the other hand i really like the lexus is 300, i really like the interior and exterior and the aftermarket products i could get for it, but its on 2wd. please send back any feedback or suggestions.
  • lewparkerlewparker Member Posts: 28
    Hi all
    I've been lurking for several months and I have almost convinced myself to go with a 325i. Of course, convincing my wife may be a different story!

    I was looking at the BMWUSA web site and read some info about the program where you can pick up the car at the performance center in Spartansburg, SC. Does anyone have any additional info about this program? I didn't see if there was any cost associated with the program, but with the perks they talked about, it's hard to believe that it's free. Just wondering...

    Thanks for being a great source of info. I plan to go to the dealer for a test drive this w/e. Any suggestions on dealing with the salesman? I'm a bit nervous, and this will be my first new vehicle purchase. I plan to be straightforward and tell the guy that I know what I want, and that I will be negotiating from invoice price. It sounds as if the best deal is about $1500 over invoice - I think that's what I'll be shooting for. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again,
    Lewis Parker
  • emilykemilyk Member Posts: 49
    I was in the market for a BMW 325i until I found out that many 325i's are now being assembled in South Africa, not Germany. The 330i however, is still assembled in Germany, but that may change soon as well. In any case, if I'm going to spend $35K+ for a fine, German automobile I would like it to be assembled in Germany. In any case, I'll go for the 330i. BTW, I received a quote for $1200 over invoice w/ Premium Pkg, Xenon, Auto, CD, Heated Seats and floor mats. This works out to be 3.261% over invoice. There are dealerships out there who will do better than $1500, you just have to be patient and look for them.

    Emily
  • brislance1brislance1 Member Posts: 87
    The May issue of "Consumer Report" arrived in my mail box a few days ago. It should be on the stands in a few days. You may want to read their test of the 330I and the IS300.. You will see that the BMW was their first choice and clearly beat out the IS 300. It reviews the pros and cons of both cars. You will also see that with the options added on both cars, they were almost exactly the same price. Buy the Bimmer!
  • alpine325ialpine325i Member Posts: 209
    1. Road and Track said the IS 300 needs alot more work and research to even come close to the 330I. 2. Acceleration is much smoother and precise like a swiss watch on the 330I. 3. BMW has the best resale value plus an awesome racing heritage. 3. German engineers are obsessed in making The Ultimate Driving Machine. 4. When I think of Lexus, all I think of is a glorified Honda or a Toyota type of thing trying real hard to be a BMW but can't even get close! I test drove the IS300 one week after I bought my 325I [not even a 330I, just a 325I], just to see if I was missing anything. After 1 mile of driving I said thats enough and parked it, said thanks to the salesman and drove off in my Ultimate Driving Machine and had a good laugh all the way home.
  • alpine325ialpine325i Member Posts: 209
    Thanks Brave1heart for the info about TireRack.com.! Earlier tonight I ordered a set of 4 new wheels and tires, mounted and balanced for free with no tax. I bought the 19x8 Moda R6 wheels with the 235/35YR19 Yokohama AVS Sport tires. Since I work at home, I like to cruise around after work and listen to my cd's to relax, I also like to show off my car on saturday nights and these will definitely enhance the show factor! Thanks again for the tip!
  • vesuviusiivesuviusii Member Posts: 32
    Yes, some 325's are built in S.A. If you want yours NOT to be, simply specify that as a condition of the sale with your dealership instead of buying the more costly 330. If you're having one built, I believe the order code for Germany is 0144 (as opposed to 0145 which is S.A.)

    V
  • MarkinAtlantaMarkinAtlanta Member Posts: 194
    19" wheels?
    In the case of E36, 17" wheels seems to be the sweet spot, and that is a Plus 2 sizing, up from the base 15" wheel. I know the E46 is a different animal, but 19" wheels are awfully aggressive, it may also require some suspension modifications too. Not sure, just a heads up, good luck.
  • platypusplatypus Member Posts: 192
    I researched the SC delivery option so I can tell you what I know.

    You simply have to tell your dealer that you want this option; there is no charge for it. You are responsible only for getting yourself to the Spartanburg plant. Many dealers are unaware of SC delivery; if that's the case with your dealer, have them contact BMWNA for the scoop.

    I spoke with a rep. at the performance center, and he said it usually works like this:

    - Fly in to Greenville airport the day before delivery
    - BMW picks you up in a 5-series wagon and takes you to the local Marriot
    - Room and dinner for two is comp'd by BMW
    - Breakfast is comp'd by BMW
    - BMW picks you up in the morning and takes you to the plant for a factory tour (Z3 and X5 manufacturing)
    - After the tour, you take delivery of your vehicle
    - Lunch (again comp'd by BMW)
    - Afternoon driving instruction (approximately 2 hours from 1pm-3pm)
    - Leave in your new car

    It's a great option and we were very close to choosing it when at the last minute we thought, "Hey, if we're going to do a rmeote delivery, might as well do the real thing - Munich!!"

    Anyway, good luck!
  • micgamicga Member Posts: 56
    emilyk - Who cares where the car is asembled! The Z convertibles are all built in South Carolina. Does that mean you wouldn't stand for this either? Do you think your going to receive a car that rattles, sqeecks, etc. if it comes from SA???? Most auto manufaturers have plants outside of their country of origin. It makes business sense. I almost let posters like you freak me out about my SA built BMW but then I reasoned with myself and realized that there is no real evidence of quality issues in SA.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    ... administrative interruption.

    Sometime in the next week or two, the name of this discussion will be changed dropping the "Part 5" designation.

    Now that we have moved to our new platform, we no longer have a requirement to stop and restart discussions after a certain number of posts have occurred. Therefore, this discussion can be regarded as the permanent home for 3-Series conversation. The "part number" designations on all of our discussions will probably eventually confuse new members, so we will be gradually dropping them from the titles.

    We'll also be altering original discussions in the Archives to differentiate between the first and the current.

    I just wanted to give you a heads up - and by the way, if you are subscribed to this discussion, a name change will not affect your subscription.

    Thanks.

    Pat
    Host
    Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
  • jwleungjwleung Member Posts: 8
    Hi,

    Anyone know if I will still get the 5.9% APR if I place my European Delivery order before April 30th (although pickup will be well past that date)?

    Thanks.
  • kv007kv007 Member Posts: 30
    not sure if you're in north or south jersey, but i just ordered a 330xi from devon hill bmw in devon, pa outside of philly. i got just about 4% over invoice, about $1515 on my car - 5 spd, prem pkg, sport pkg, cwp, xenon - plus the $200 MACO in pa which i don't think is there in jersey. i called about 5 dealers in pa and south jersey and that was the best deal.

    if you're thinking 325 v. 330 and lease, great lease deals on 330s right now (.0022 money factor) actually works out $5-10/month cheaper than a 325.
  • emilykemilyk Member Posts: 49
    Thanks for the tip about the German assembly code. I think I'll still go with the 330i though based on some of the comments that I read about its performance, etc. Besides, I think I got a pretty good deal on the 330i and don't want to go through the negotiation process again for a 325i.
  • mdbimmermdbimmer Member Posts: 8
    Thanks to platypus for the information on delivery to Spartansburg.

    1) How late in the ordering process can one choose SC (Performance Center) delivery? Will the factory give a fixed date for the pickup, to allow travel plans to be made?

    2) Is the airfare comped by BMW? If not, is there an inexpensive way to get one-way airfare?

    3) Does anyone have experience taking the train to Greenville? Will BMW pick you up at the train station?

    Our new 330xi is scheduled for week 19 (early May) production. We haven't selected SC delivery yet, but are leaning that way.
  • emilykemilyk Member Posts: 49
    I understand that you're speaking from a personal standpoint as you say you have a SA assembled car. My point was that if I'm going to purchase a $35K+ car and have a choice of where I want it assembled as "VesuviusII" pointed out, then I will choose the country of design origin. If you don't have to pay anymore for it, then why not specify? I'm sure your car runs fine and I'm not suggesting this to everyone. I know that lots of car companies are moving their assembly plants elsewhere to save on cost and to beef up production. I don't think I'm saving very much on a BMW regardless so I may as well have one built in Germany as they used to be. Also, I was quoted a 6 week lead time on German production vs 9 weeks for South African production. Which would you choose?
  • mcceriomccerio Member Posts: 11
    I live in New Haven, CT and have decided to buy the following (all MSRP):

    325xi $28,740
    Steel Gray metallic $475
    Leather (black) $1450
    Wood $500
    Moonroof $1050
    Xenon headlights $500
    Destination $645
    Total: $33,360

    I'm assuming cruise control and fog lights are now standard, so I haven't included the $475 and $260 for them (please correct me if I'm wrong). This was the total price I got from the bmwusa.com site after "building" my 325xi.

    Has anyone here purchased a Bimmer in Connecticut, and if so, could you recommend an agreeable dealership? Any idea of how much below MSRP I should try to bring the dealer down to? I was thinking that $1500 under MSRP would be acceptable.

    Also:

    1. Is it worth it to buy the premium package for $2700?
    2. Does MACO apply in CT?
    3. Does the 325xi come with steering wheel-mounted audio controls standard?
    4. Any other tips or hints regarding how to optimize the sale or what tricks the dealers like to pull (if any)?

    Thanks...

    - Mike
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    alpine325i - the 19x8 Moda R6 wheels with the 235/35YR19 Yokohama AVS Sport is some serious racing rubber and alloy, congratulations!!! I'm surprised you were able to fit in tires and rims that size underneath the fenders - even the 17-inch tires seem to be hugged pretty well on the 3-series. Moda makes beautiful rims and I'm sure your BMW stands out with them. That's actually one of the things I love about the 3-series - they look great in basic trim but they can look really sporty with the right add-ons. Hey, send me some pictures of your car by e-mail (see my User Profile) if you have any - I'd love to see how your car looks with these monstrous wheels and tires. I don't think I've seen that size on a 3-series around here in Boston. I think MarkinAtlanta may have a point as far as performance and 17 inch being the sweet spot, though - let us know if you notice a difference in performance.
    +++
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    lewparker - is the Spartansburg program available to all BMW models? I was assuming that it was only availbale for the X5 and Z3, since these are the only two models they make at that location?!? I'd like to know what kind of driving you can do there. I've been going to the BMW Driver Education series here in Boston for 2 years running and the instructions are OK but you only get to do autocross and only for a couple of minutes. I hope Spartansburg offers more driving than that.
    +++
  • micgamicga Member Posts: 56
    mccerio - I ordered my 325i from Countyline BMW in watertown. They took 1000 off MSRP right off the bat but would not budge after that. Take Care
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    1. The car morphs into a Trabant the second you look away but only after you've taken delivery of it.
    2. It falls apart completely and can only be re-assembled as a Pontiac Aztek.
    3. The popular S.A.-only Flame-thrower option goes off on its own when it detects bad drivers nearby. The option is set to max for Lexus IS300 drivers and acts uncontrollably in their presence.

    Happy Festivus, all. U2 says "it's a beautiful day..." and I say it's been another great Master's so far! I played my first 18 holes for the season this morning and I feel reborn.
    +++
  • micgamicga Member Posts: 56
    EMILYK - You said that a car built in SA takes 9 weeks to arrive. Is this from the day you order the car from the dealer or from when the dealer puts the order in?
  • lewparkerlewparker Member Posts: 28
    Check out www.bmwusa.com and follow the icons to choose a model and build your bmw. Once you start doing that, a tab entitled "Performance Center Delivery" will appear. That's where I found out about it. There are limited details about availability; it says to let your bmw center know that you are interested in the program and they are supposed to take care of the details.

    One advantage I see to this program, other than the sheer coolness of the factory tour and driving school, is that your ability to work with dealers outside of your local area is significantly enhanced. In other words, you can buy the car from just about any dealer in the country that will give you the best deal, as long as you are willing to go get the car in SC. Just a thought.

    I saw the dealer at Tischer in Silver Spring, MD today. He seemed pretty cool, but a bit nonchalant. I guess that's better than being pressured, but I also got the feeling that he could take or leave my business.

    Cheers,
    Lewis Parker
  • alpine325ialpine325i Member Posts: 209
    I know, I kind of went nuts with the 19's, but I talked to a tech and he said that they will work fine. He said the 19's are the largest you can safely put on the car. I wanted the largest wheels so the car would really stand out and look wild and crazy. I will definitely send you pictures! I am now designing a custom sound system with the latest equipment. 5000 watts of clear sound and pure mahem. I'm into car audio bigtime and I want to enter some competitions and the wheels will definitely help it get noticed more. I'm just a wild and crazy guy.
  • socali90712socali90712 Member Posts: 6
    Vesuviusii, I purchased my car $1500 over invoice.pretty cool huh.

    Rbuka
    good going, enjoy the car

    Mccerio,
    try going $1500 over invoice, thats what I got my car for. But then again, i'm in so cali. But hey, the market is slowing down.........

    good luck
  • alpine325ialpine325i Member Posts: 209
    I know that I'm pushing the limit with the 19 inch wheels, we'll see how it works out. I saw an very interesting show on the discovery channel about the Pitcairn Island. They said the population is about 100 people, most of whom are decendants of mutineers from the H.M.S. bounty and their Polynesian cohorts. Goods are bartered between them and no money is used, Except for the New Zealand dollar. It was officially made a british colony in 1887. [United Kingdom] Wow, very interesting.
  • holeinoneholeinone Member Posts: 48
    Thanks for the reference. I live in Freehold which is about 70 minutes from Philli so it's definitely workable. I'll see if I can go and make a deal next Sat. Thanks again!
  • alpine325ialpine325i Member Posts: 209
    Devon Hill? That's where I bought my car! Got a great deal too. Shawn Hartman was my salesman, he accepted my offer and didn't think twice, very good people. Sounds like an awesome car. If you plan to upgrade the speakers, check out MB QUART.COM. These are THE finest german made speakers and they have specific "sound sets" made especially for the BMW 3 series. These speakers are AMAZING! You will find these in most of the finest custom installs. They fit in the stock locations, [3 way system].
  • veekay1veekay1 Member Posts: 180
    Dear Friends:
    Have been researching and reading this very informative post for the past month!!
    This is the deal I am being offered in NJ; please comment if it sounds good or not:

    2001 325xi
    Steptronic Transmission
    Premium package
    Cold weather package
    Xenon headlamps
    Leather Seating

    Total: 33005 (invoice) + $1500 dealer profit + $530 Dealer prep(cleaning, detailing, mats, wheel locks, key programming etc.) + $ 200 ad fee

    Total Price: 35235 +TT&L

    Is this ok?
    Please Let Me Know Guys!!
    Thanks in advance.
    Veekay1
  • veekay1veekay1 Member Posts: 180
    Guys! Anybody has any info, comments, etc on this new color : Black Sapphire Metallic on the 3 series. Its not even on the brochure, just on the website!
    Veekay1
  • MarkinAtlantaMarkinAtlanta Member Posts: 194
    Seen this, bimmer.org wheel/tire forum:


    http://forums.roadfly.com/bmw/wheels/


    Anyway, those are some sharp wheels, and sticky rubber you have on order from Tirerack. Its all a matter of attitude, sometimes with the super fat tires, there is a clearance issue and it requires 'rolling' the wheel wells. I think thats the term? BTW, you were right about Pitcairn, it is populated by descendants up the HMS Bounty mutineers with a few of their Polynesian traitor cohorts. They make a living selling stamps and homemade island trinkets. The population is under 50 now, what a life.

  • emilykemilyk Member Posts: 49
    MITGA: 9 weeks from the time the car goes into production.
  • kv007kv007 Member Posts: 30
    sean hartman was my salesperson too. good guy --no [non-permissible content removed], great price, easy deal. thanks for the tip on the speakers - they've made the harmon kardon standard on the 330 now so i'll see how those are and then decide what to do.
  • kv007kv007 Member Posts: 30
    the price you've got seems fine ($1500 over invoice) but the $530 dealer prep seems awfully high -floor mats are $120 wheel locks shouldn't be much more than that, and you definitely shouldn't pay for cleaning, detailing, key programming etc. my dealer didn't even talk about that stuff, i'm assuming on a $35K car, they better clean it before they give to to you - for free!!

    black sapphire is a metallic flake black so like the jet black but with a shine to it. should be very similar to the 5-series, 7-series cosmos black. gorgeous color but hard to keep clean!

    veekay - i almost bought the same car as you but keep in mind great lease deals on 330s until april 30th if you're leasing.

    good luck!
  • kv007kv007 Member Posts: 30
    i ordered a 330xi today and am having second thoughts about not ordering the nav system -
    if anyone who has it has any thoughts, either way, greatly appreciated! thanks.
  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    kv007 -

    FWIW, I think that you made the right decision. I also placed an order this weekend - for a 330i - & I had no misgivings about not ordering nav. IMO, the Japanese are better at this stuff than the Germans are. If I had really wanted nav, I would've picked a Lexus over a BMW. This is still new technology. I can't shake the feeling that adding gee-whiz electronics to a complex German car at this stage of the game is asking for trouble down the road. In 5 or 6 years, when my wife's car comes up for replacement, we'll probably spring for nav. The technology will be more sorted out at that point & my wife is a Lexus fan anyway.

    My 2nd thoughts have to do with my color pick. I ordered steel grey w/tanin red leather, & I did this without seeing a car in these colors. In fact, my dealer didn't have a single car, new or used in any model, with red leather - probably because red doesn't sell well. So after I signed on the dotted line, I drove 20 miles to another BMW store, where I found a silver / tanin 325i on the showroom floor. I spent some time sitting in that car & decided that (1) it's a lot of red in a small space & (2) nonetheless, I liked the effect. I'm not worried about resale because I keep my cars for a long time, & mileage & condition matter more than color choices for cars more than 5 or 6 years old. I just want someone to tell me that I'm not nuts.

    Thanks for listening, guys.
  • adam68adam68 Member Posts: 59
    KV007-

    You made the right choice. I'd forget the navigation...at least for now. It'ss take a couple of years before technology catches up to the concept of how it should actually work.

    Jimbres-

    I think you should go with the grey leather as opposed to the red. I can assure you that in time, the novelty will wear off and you'll be unhappy with the red. The grey has a much nicer look to it, especially with the steel grey.
  • cinco5cinco5 Member Posts: 2
    My roomie has a Lexus with a DVD-based Nav System which provides address navigation and STREET-level details for all 50 States. I live 20 miles from the edge of the 5-State regional CD for the BMW Navigation System.

    So if I wanted to use more than HWY-level details to drive 30 minutes North instead of 30 minutes South, I'd have to pay $100 for an extra CD and get in the trunk to change it! Too much hassle, and talk about old technology...

    I do want a Nav System (not a lame one though), but don't want a Lexus or Acura for my next vehicle. I understand the new 7-series this Fall *may* have an upgraded Nav System (DVD? I hope), which would then become available as an option to the other models. I may let my downpayment grow awhile and order in the Fall after this does/doesn't come true.

    We just spent the weekend exploring unfamiliar turf with the Lexus Nav System. It performed pretty well...got us everywhere we wanted with no particular hassles or complaints. It CAN work well now. I just hope BMW swaps from 7 disks to 1 ASAP!

    Cindy
  • alpine325ialpine325i Member Posts: 209
    Thanks for the bimmer.org wheel/tire link, very informative. We'll see what happens, I just hope it doesn't look too much like a stagecoach! :)
  • alpine325ialpine325i Member Posts: 209
    To my ears the harmon kardon sounds alot better than the standard system, 40% more power and a better frequency range [bandwith]. At first listen you will notice mostly highs and lows. It takes about 40 to 50 hours of use to break in the speakers, then you will hear more warmth in the lower midrange [midbass]. I opted for the system because the tweeters are at dashboard level and not at your feet. The sound gets to your ears quicker with less volume. If you are not happy with the system, check out MBquart.com. they have speakers specially designed for the 3 series that fit perfect in the stock locations :)
  • bingusabingusa Member Posts: 22
    Does any 3 series owner have problems with key programming and thus car start-up? Appearantly some MBZ C class owners have.
    4murphy "Mercedes-Benz C-Class (Part 6)" Apr 7, 2001 9:25pm
    at59well "Mercedes-Benz C-Class (Part 6)" Apr 8, 2001 9:03am
  • bingusabingusa Member Posts: 22
    socali90712:
    Could you share with me your dealer/salesperson name?

    All:
    Could anybody recommend on dealers/salespersons in Southern California?

    Thanks.
  • kv007kv007 Member Posts: 30
    thanks to all for the nav feedback - i think i'm going to wait for the next car for the nav.

    is there anyone else out there who doesn't like wood trim? why does bmw force you to take the wood trim with the 330 premium pkg (which makes price sense and has some good features -auto-dim mirror, rain-sensing wipers, lumbar support, etc. and that are basically free w/the pkg if you're going with leather and sunroof anyway). i tried to get a 330 prem. and delete the wood but no love.
  • drewsky2drewsky2 Member Posts: 9
    ok...took delv sat 4/7 in NJ
    deal was, as stated, 3.69% over invoice = $1400 even
    when deal started, lease was to be $799 mth/ $1815 at inception
    36 mths @ 30k per year (as of Jan )
    when car ordered in Feb, deal went down due to March production "deals" on stand. equip and pkgs...$779 mth
    when delv'd, now got April lease deal = $759 mth/ $1775 down.
    60 days exactly from odrer to car at dealership.
    330xi
    paint
    prem/cwp/awd sport pkgs
    cd
    xenon
    $39,365
    Sussman BMW, Northfield NJ..609-641-1900
    38 mi south of me in Ocean county...not much more from Freehold
    ( easier to buy in-state...taxes, reg,inspection...)
    mike canahan x109
    pricing through on-line "autovantage" deal
    this was simple, to the point, efficient, and, profitable (for me)
    good luck
    enjoy....
    drew
  • micgamicga Member Posts: 56
    What's the deal with the fog lights on 3 series BMWs? It seems to me that the rectangular shaped fogs come standard on the 325 and the round fogs come with the sport package. Also, different round fogs come standard on the 330 while even another different set of round fogs come with the 330 sport package. Is this about right??
  • gwoodallgwoodall Member Posts: 2
    I just returned from a test drive on a 323TI. Liked it so much I can't decide on whether to buy it or just get a new one. Can anyone tell me if these cars are selling well? I think BMW had some incentive on them that expired last of February. The local dealer has only one in stock, and I don't see many around (unlike coupes and sedans). What do you have to pay above invoice. I will go just about anywere for a deal. I can get the 323IT for around 28, 500 with leather, Premium pack and HK and only 10, 800 miles. Is there much difference in the acceleration 2000 vs 2001? I know BMW added 15 hp this year, but the torque was lowered. Any help is much appreciated.

    Gene
  • errickson1errickson1 Member Posts: 17
    Contact Cutter Motors. I think they are in Santa Barbara (somewhere 30 min north of LA). I was referred to them via this msg board. They offered $1500 over invoice before I even said a word! I would have bought right then, but I live in Houston, TX and would have to get there and back. You can checkout their website: www.cuttermotors.com Good luck!
  • platypusplatypus Member Posts: 192
    You may also try and contact Eddie Yeh at New Century Motors In Alhambra. He offered me very competitive pricing ($1500 over invoice) up front with no haggling.
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