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Comments
I personally have the SP with the sport steering wheel. I like the look but I wish it was a bit thicker, like the M steering wheel.
1) Tints tend to scratch
2) Tints sometimes buble around rear window heating
3) Tint installers may drag their razor blade across the heating element, leaving portions non functional (happened on my old Bronco)
4) These guys will stand on my leather seats
Also, I do not like the look very much.
If your reading this, please advise of your experience with window tinting.
Due to WTO agreement, current 80 percent import tariffs fell to only 50 percent on 1/1/02 and decline to 25 percent by 2006. Due to unskilled labour force, terrible supply chains, poor distribution systems, and pirated replacement parts, building cars for profit is very hard in China. But by 2010 their industry expects to have a 4-6 million car market.
The part number for the one with black stitching is 32 34 2 229 230. The list price is $359.
The part number for the one with the red and blue stitching is 32 34 2 229 500. The list price is $485.
I've heard that people have gotten discounts ordering them through Circle BMW or Cutter Motors. As far as I understand, those prices are for the steering wheel only--the airbag is extra unless you have the steering wheel from the SP.
Silverprincess--that may be why you "can't" retrofit on the early E46's, because the steering wheel that came with the sport pkg was different than the 2001-2002, and hence would have a different airbag. But I don't see why you wouldn't be able to buy a new wheel and airbag. Anyone know for sure?
Oh, and here's a link to a DIY install:
http://www.bmw330ci.com/DIY_M3_Wheel.htm
Hope this helps!
So speaking of idiots, my uncle just moved from a suburb of Cleveland, OH to Anaheim Hills, CA. He always likes to show off and I got wind from my mother that he bought a BMW Convertible when he moved out there last month. I got to his Apartment and said hello to my uncle, aunt, & cousin. I sat down to have a cold drink (2 minutes after I arrived) and he says: "Hey, come check out my Beemer!" We went down to the garage and there is a 325 Convertible there. A 1991 E30 325iC. It was White with a blue top and blue leather (5 Speed) and has 112,000 miles. It had the "BMW factory 6 spoke wheels" that are advertised in the back of Car & Driver all the time. He bought ($7500) it without having it checked out or doing a carfax. I drove it and told him it was nice. I told him he should have the airbag sensor checked out and that I heard a sqeak coming from the right rear suspension. I wished him good luck with it! He's the type of guy that says he's got a "beemer" and it makes my skin crawl!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I found out 3rd gear tops out at 90 last night. Interesting experience. Nice steady pull thoughout RPM range. Every owner should try it out at least once.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
p.s. I really wish you lived on the East Coast so we could get together and "pass a lot car together"
I am working on a full write up of the trip (complete with pictures), however here is the “Cliff’s Notes” version:
17-Apr-2002: We landed in Munich a little after 10:00 AM and made it to the ED Center just before noon, traveling via the Munich light rail system (15 Euros covers up to 5 people for 24 hours). After a quick lunch and Vehicle orientation, we were rolling by 2:00 PM, and after a few false starts, managed to find the road we were looking for heading Southwest out of Munich. We booked a room in a fabulous hotel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, ate in a Bavarian Sytle Gasthaus (sp?), and crashed (we slept 13 hours).
After just a few miles, I can tell you that, while I have always really liked my 1999 328i, it just cannot compare to my new 530i, what a car!
18-Apr-2002: We headed into Austria, heading generally west, hitting Switzerland by late after noon (the Swiss border guards did not like the looks of my tourist plates, so, it took about 15 minutes for them to make sure everything was in order). We then blasted across Switzerland ranging between 60 and 100 MPH the whole way, stopping in Basel for a fabulous dinner, and then pushing on through Mulhouse, France into Belfort, France, where we spent the night in yet another very elegant hotel.
19-Apr-2002: Given that we had Hotel reservations and dinner plans in Paris, we had to push a little, so, we drove as straight a line as possible to Paris, which included about 50% 2-lane roads and 50% MotorWay (France has a speed limit of about 80 MPH), and we averaged well over 70 MPH for the entire day (at least until we got to the outskirts of Paris). On the way, we stopped for lunch in the ancient walled city of Langres, where the Medieval roads made driving the 530i feel like I was driving a Semi with a 53’ trailer!
On to Paris, however, our timing was bad, REAL BAD, we hit the Periferique at about 4:15 PM coming in from the Southeast, and needing to be around on the Northwest side. We finally managed to get to Avenue Foch at about 5:10 and as we had to get to Boulevard Haussmann, we HAD to drive around the Arc De Triomphe at about 5:15, sheer suicide, however, I made it through on the first try without a scratch (I let a tour bus set a BIG pick for me ;-)). We found the Hotel and a SECURE place to park, and had three wonderful days “Doing Paris”.
22-Apr-2002: We headed east out of Paris at about 1:00 PM, running between 65 and 100 MPH most of the way. My wife even took a crack at it during a stretch that had fairly light traffic. She said, “Gee, at 100, I feel like I am doing 55 at home, this car is REAL SMOOTH!”
As I am a former Marine, I just HAD to stop at the “Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial”, which is located in the Bellau Wood area (near Chateau-Thierry) where nearly 8,000 U.S. Marines died in June of 1918 in a running battle with the Germans to re-take control of the area. I cannot tell you how many times I had to blink back tears just to be able to take some good pictures, what a moving place. This place is so undisturbed, that there is still plenty of evidence of the original trenches, foxholes and shell craters all over the area.
Back on the road, we had lunch in Chateau-Thierry, and then we retraced some of the route that I rode on my Bicycle back in July of 1982 through Verdun, Etain, Spincourt, Longuyon, Longwy and on into Luxembourg, where we spent the night in a very cute little hotel.
23-Apr-2002: We did some sight seeing in Luxembourg until noonish (is that a word?), and then stopped at a fairly good Curry house (the Curry content in my blood was getting a little low ;-)). Early afternoon, we hit the road again with the intent of making it all of the way back to Munich by the evening, which, if you stay on the Autobahn the entire way (we did) is something close to 440 miles. As it turns out, we made it to Munich by 7:00 PM, including numerous stops, heavy traffic and construction.
About 220 miles into the trip, I crossed the 1,200 mile barrier, and needless to say, I just had to open her up. On my speedometer, the “Top-Speed” limiter kicks in at exactly 132.5 MPH, and up to that point, the car was still accelerating very strongly. During the drive, there were literally dozens of times that I accelerated from 60ish to 120ish, given that I was still reluctant to downshift and “Redline” the motor, I would just do it in 5th gear, even still, the power this car has (especially in the 80 to 100 range) is impressive.
In Munich, we attempted to check into the Hotel Uhland, however, because I was unsure which day we would actually arrive in Munich, I did not make a reservation, preferring to trust to my luck instead. My luck held, sort of. The Uhland had just booked its last room an hour before we got there, however, the manager was able to find me a room a few blocks away in the Hotel St. Paul (not quite as nice and about 20 Euros per night more).
24-Apr-2002: We drove the car up to E.H. Harms (the drop off procedure is fairly painless), and took a taxi back into town where we spent the rest of the day shopping and sight seeing. We then arranged for a 5:00 AM wake up call, and a 5:30 taxi pickup, paid for our room, packed and bedded down for the night.
25-Apr-2002: Wake up call, taxi ride, flight to Copenhagen, flight to Newark and Limo ride home all were uneventful.
Now the waiting begins, my 328i gets dropped off next Tuesday, and I am suspecting that my 530i will be here mid to late May, I am like a kid waiting for Christmas, all over again. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
P.S.
I will now attempt to skim the 250 messages that I am behind. ;-)
Sounds like the 530 is a great machine too.
I am thinking about ED. We have a 10mo old in the house and so I go back an forth on the thoughts of taking her to Europe.
I am waiting to buy a '03 330, but I think I will try to talk my wife into an '04 5 wagon. She thinks she wants an SUV or something like that. (At least she doesn't want a truck, everyone else in Texas seems to drive one). I think she might be converted to the 5 wagon though. I would love that. I could drive my 330 and would still have some fun on the family outings.
Shipo - buying a bimmer is a lot of fun.
Schlumpf Collection) in Mulhouse in the past but it would have been a great place to visit on your way through Alsace - they house the largest collection of Bugattis in the world as well as many other exciting cars.
a) ED is a must-do sometime in my life
b) a car control course is mandatory prior to ED
Congratulations on the new car!
Arc d'Triomphe, you are better man than me. I saw, I came, I got wimpy. I would never drive in Paris again. I can tolerate driving in London but Paris is maniacal. At least your wait will not be as long as mine. Mine car was released to the carrier yesterday. Great write up!!!
Thanks in advance for any info!
I'm in Maryland and the nearest dealer is over an hour away near DC.
Maintanence is free for 3 yrs
My gas mileage is about 21 mpg with both city and hwy driving combined. 30+ on the highway.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Postoak,
The lease is up on my 328i next Tuesday, so, I will be dropping it off at a dealership, and say goodbye. :-(
Best Regards,
Shipo
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
However, if there is a backup at the port of entry, then the cars are stacked at the VPC - apparently mostly in lifo manner. Implies that your car first off the boat may be the last in to the VPC! Yikes.
But wait! There's more to it - if there are many ships coming in all at once, they might be unloaded depending on other voyage priorities. For instance, in my case, a batch of 5000+ Minis got bumped up the ladder (naturally).
Add to that in the VPC, I am told that different models go through different inspection lines (makes sense,right?) and therefore slightly different times of exit from the VPC. The VPC apparently can handle about 3000 vehicles a day, so that's good news.
And finally, recall/damage work will delay how your car exits from the VPC. And of course, the trucker also determines how long it takes from the VPC to your dealer - he/she could be making several drop-offs at dealers along the route.