BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

bbell4

I don't know about the costs for maintainence overall, but I went through the same thing. Decided on the 325i. I didn't necessarily like the look of the bigger tires on the back, the spare was smaller, I probably would need to replace the backs more (right?) and as Dave330i told me I wouldn't really use/need the extra power. I would think the 325 might be less in maintaince but I don't know....

I think for me it was the more practical choice but as most people told me, if you have the extra money, go for it. I "could" have but it would have been a stretch so I decided not to.......

stgreen

Two weeks ago, I attended the 2-day Skip Barber 2 day Driving School. For those two days we used Dodge front-drive Neons (braking, heel and toeing, avoidance techniques, autocross, etc..) rear-wheel drive Ram Trucks (skid-pad - specially equipped with bald rear tires to induce fish tailing) and the awesome Dodge Viper on the autocross.

12 people total - 2 groups of 6 - 1 driver just passed his drivers test last month and one was a retired gentlemen with a brand new 540i-6 speed and an M coupe.

In sum, an excellent course and well worth the money. We did everything from turning off the ABS and 'modulating' the brakes of the Neon, then worked on doing the same but rounding a corner and turning as you modulated the brakes. Then we did avoidance techinques getting the Neons up to 40 mph.

On the skidpad, we induced the ram trucks into a wicked fishtail and the instructors taught us how to effectivley get the car right and get out of the fishtail/powerslide correctly. a very fun and informative activity.

On the autocross course we were all timed using the Neon's using all those skills and then got to do laps with the Viper.

The real treat was being a passenger in the Viper while a young pro driver for Porshe took me on the autocross course. He was INCREDIBLE, and really showed just how much skill is needed to really drive well.

they have racing schools, and all sorts of different programs, and the 2 day driving school has really opened my eyes to whats around me.

I jacked up my 2002 330xi tires to 45psi and took it on the autocross a bit. Really fun.

In sum, very worthwhile and very educational. I really feel much more aware on the road and feel im a much better driver...

stg

bbell4

Also, I got mine for about 1500 under MSRP - but I'm getting it in Phoenix and I live in Tucson..... tucson didn't go down nearly as much....

bmw323is

stg - what was the cost of the SB driving school?

ED question - Does the shipping company (Harms?) prep your car for shipping over the ocean just like an American delivery? The shrink wrap stuff, the suspension blocking, etc? Or do they just put it on the ship as you drop it off?

Tires - Wow, someone wearing out rear tires at 13,000 miles!!! Do you have any clutch left? I rotated my Conti's at 12,000 miles (front to back and vice versa) and hope to get at least 25,000 miles out of them. This one simple rotation would alleviate the two or four tire purchase debate. I know that the 330 comes with different sizes front and back so this wouldn't work. But for anyone with same size tires - spend the $15 for a one time rotation and then buy four new tires when they all are evenly worn out. This is one place I don't agree with BMW - when they recommend not rotating tires - not even once. I have not had any handling or balancing problems since I rotated my tires.

denk

The driver's seat(non-sport) on my new 325xi is about one-half inch lower on the driver's door side. This has the effect of making me feel like I'm sliding towards the door a lot of the time, but what's worse is that it is causing a lot of discomfort in my left hip after only about 10 minutes of driving. None of the power seat adjustments seem to affect the off-level condition. The passenger-side seat is dead-on level. Has anyone out ther experienced this problem? Is there possibly a seat leveling adjustment that could be made?

mschukar

Just curious, how did you measure the level of the seat?

-murray

brave1heart

I am going to a high-speed advanced driving school next week and my instructor advised me to bleed my car's brakes. My '01 325i SP has 17K miles on it. I do a lot of downshifting and I think my car's brakes are in a very good shape. How often do you guys bleed your car's brakes? Does it depend on age, miles driven, and type of driving?

kominsky

Sounds like a great time! I'm trying to convince my wife that it would make an excellent birthday present for me this year. I'm thinking I'm gonna pull it off since she lived up in CT for a few years and would like to go back for a visit. How'd the 330 feel after driving the Viper?

kominsky

I've never heard of bleeding brakes unless there's a problem or at brake pad/fluid changes. I know that if you do a lot of driving schools it is recommended that you change the fluid regularly (I do the motorcycle at ~4000 miles). Let us know the reasoning when you find out. Thanks!

1pierce

Where is the driving school you attended? I wonder if they have one in western Pennsylvania or nearby. What was the cost?

I'd love to attend something like this - especially where they supply the cars. I could never bring myself to torture my own car with those kinds of maneuvers. What happens if you wreck one of the cars, or get hurt? Does your insurance kick-in or are you covered by theirs?

kominsky

One more question - Did the instructor drive your car before making the recommendation? If he did, maybe he thought the brakes felt a little spongy.

By the way, how did your new helmet fit inside the car?

brave1heart

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46/forum.php?postid=587351&page=1

brave1heart

The fit is great - I got size 7 1/2 and I'm glad that they didn't have 7 5/8 in stock because that's the one I wanted and it would have been a little big for me. I read on the Bell web site that the most common mistake made by first-time helmet buyers is getting a helmet that's too big for them.

I think the Bell M2 fits better inside the car than the two bike helmets that I tried out. It is tough to say without a back-to-back comparo, though, because I got used to it now and it doesn't bother me at all.

kominsky

Seems like my definition of bleeding brakes is the "unofficial" one. ;-) I always thought it was the act of getting air out of the lines but it seems that others use it to mean changing brake fluid... definitely a good idea for hi-po driving. I once cooked the fluid on the bike and it was an unforgettable experience. That's when I decided on the 4K mile changes.

stgreen

Some answers to posted questions:
1) there are many driving and racing schools around the country. the one I did was www.skipbarberracing.com because it's only 1 hour from my home in western mass.

2) there really is no chance of wrecking their cars. its very controlled but still tons of fun. on the skid pad for example, the instructor is with you helping you and there are no other cars or trees around to slam into. Insurance was never brought up cause it just doesnt happen.

3) viper vs. 330xi - absolutely no comparison. the viper is truly awesome, and my 330xi felt actually slow. to be honest I drove the Dodge Neon's much more aggresively than my own car because the neon was someone elses. i actually did a 360 with the viper on the autocross course when i "got greedy" as the instructor put it and tried to find some speed (i.e. hit the gas) before the car had a chance to complete the turn around one of the hairpins...

this course was really good. it was NOT a racing school - although that school was going on during my two days there.

by the way it was $1360 for the two days. in some states you can get a lower insur. premium after completing the course.

stg

derprofi

The link above took me to some 100% advertising site. This link worked for me, though:

http://www.skipbarber.com/racingschool/

If only it were closer to where I live
It looks like it would be a hoot!

nerd

Just wondering how many of you use a nose mask when traveling on the highway. My wife got the factory nose mask with her 2002 325Ci. It does have some drawbacks, namely:
- it does not fit particularly well (not nearly
as well as the one on her '97 Integra GS)
- there are no places under the car to attach the
two tabs in the front
- the hood does not close properly even though I
adjusted the hood latches per the instructions
- the velcro pieces that are put on the inside
areas of the headlights don't have much area to
stick to.

I am wondering if the nose mask is really worth the trouble. I have had some vehicles that picked up lots of bugs and rocks and others that seemed almost to be immune. Don't know about this BMW.

Regarding tire pressures, her car has the sport package (she wanted the sport seats)with the 225/45R17 tires. The tire decal says to run 30psi in the front and 35psi in the rear for normal loads. The dealer service manager said to run 35psi all around. What advice did you get from your dealers?

shipo

During my bleary eyed scan of the 250+ messages that were posted during/shortly after my trip, I think I remember you asking about the "Growl" of my 530i vs. my 328i. While I have not had the RPMS above 5000 on the 530i yet (if I remember correctly, the Tach was showing about 4900 at 132.5 MPH inticated), I can definitely say that the Growl up to that point is certainly more pronounced than my 328i. That said, Stroumpf has an even sexier voice than the 530i, so, if you remember the difference between out two 3-Series cars, just split the difference and that will be about right for the 530i.

Brakes, I am personally a bit dubious about bleeding brakes once a year. If moisture is a problem, then by all means, perform a complete fluid replacement, however, simply bleeding them does not (in my mind) offer much benefit. On the subject of "Cooking" the brake fluid, while I am not saying it cannot be done, I have never heard of that happening on a street vehicle (even if it is occasionally AutoXed). That said, last Tuesday, shortly after I passed the magic 1,200 mark, I was blasting along the Autobahn at 120 something when some Idiot on a CAFE bike changed lanes right in front of me without even looking (my best guess is that he was moving at something less than 80 MPH at the time), and I literally stood on the brakes, so much so, that the ABS kicked in (interesting feeling at 120 uphill on a long right-hand sweeper). I got within 2' of his rear wheel before our relative speeds switched to his favor, at which time he moved back over to the right and waved me past. Had it not been for the PRODIGIOUS braking of my 530i SP, that rider would have had a VERY bad day. If my brake fluid is susceptible to cooking, that “might could well” have done it, maybe I should have the fluid replaced when I get the car in a couple of weeks.

Best Regards,
Shipo

denk

Murray--I just laid a level across the top of the seat..I had to raise the end nearest the door about a half inch to get the bubble centered.

bmw323is

Today, I picked up a tiny piece of metal in my rear tire that is causing a slow leak. I'll get it fixed on Monday. However, this is my third flat in five months. Is it just bad luck or do the Z rated tires have a tendancy to pick up more road debris becasue of the soft rubber? Anyone else have more flats with these tires than with other tires?

derprofi

I feel for you. I call my right rear tire on my 330i SP the "screw magnet" because every stray deck screw in our development seems to end up embedded in it :-)

The only thing that really irks me about it is that I'll have to have it replaced before I can do a BMWCCA car control clinic. No patched or plugged tires are allowed.

primalscream

I don't mean to be contentious nor do I want to be a troll within your Bravarian community -- this is a serious question for 325i owners because I just don't understand why anyone would want the 2.5 engine...

What's the point of buying a luxury sports sedan if you're going to opt for the weak 184 hp engine that can't even hold its own against V6 Aleros? I mean, isn't the engine the soul of the Bimmer give the company's reputation for performance?

No offense, but when I see a 325i on the road it seems to me that the person behind the wheel is trying really hard to be someone he/she is not.

plutonious

to something I asked in the sports car forum: Is the 330ci worth about $7K more than the 325ci? The cars are pretty much the same, except the 330 gets the 3 liter, while the 325 gets the 2.5. That's an awful lot of money for .5 liters (probably why you see 325s on the road, primalscream). So my question still remains: Is the 330's engine worth that extra $7K, or is the difference between these cars barely perceptible?

seivwrig

Owning a 325i is not about brute power. It is about handling and performance. There are alot of stock cars with more than 184 HP but they may not be as refined as a 320i, let alone a 325i. In the hands of a adaquate driver, on good German roads, the Alero might not have a chance. One might say, why buy an Audi TT versus any cheaper Japanese roadster? The Audi TT is a more stylish and well engineered. I think if money was not object to most consumers, I believe alot would buy German, British and Italian cars, the exception would be lovers of American and Japanese cars.

Since, you drive a Cadillac. You may have probably wanted the 330i but figured why pay the money especially given that the price you paid was close to a 325i. I like the CTS but I am waiting to see how it does in three years. The luxury sport sedan market has a lot of good cars and I think a lot of the cars are good. What is not good is when people want to question why an individual spent their money on less HP in the likes of BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Saab or Volvo. A car is more than HP.

brave1heart

Is your CTS 5-spd or auto? The 220-HP CTS manual does 0-60 in about the same time as the wimpy 325 manual with 36 fewer ponies. Same goes for 0-100 times. I have the 5-spd 325, which offers more than adequate power for everyday spirited driving, IMO. What's wrong with 0-60 in 7 sec flat or better and 0-100 in 20 sec or less? There are a lot of cars with more horsepower but very few of them are efficient enough to beat the 325. Of those that could beat it, there are very few drivers that would know how to drive a manual which is needed for best acceleration. I've never felt like my 325i manual lacks power to run against the best cars in everyday driving. And fwiw, some of the best times on the track are achieved by 318's - just go and check the results for any CCA event and you will see 911's, M3. etc. way behind those wimpy 318's. What I'm saying is that in the end, it's about the driver and the overall performance package (acceleration, handling, and braking) more than sheer engine power. It's a little like women - if the size of the boobs is all that mattered, Anna Nicole-Smith would have been the standard of beauty ;0)

shipo

john01

vkwheels

When I checked out the 325, it just happened to meet everything I was looking for. It was a total pkg type of thing. Will people see me as trying to be someone I'm not...I dunno. Hey I surprised myself in picking that car. Funny thing, something having an image is often perceived as a negative, but something having cachet is always perceived as a positive. That certain "je ne se quoi" element, ya know. Mysteriousness. Stuff dreams are made of. Bogie & Ingrid in Casablanca, Betty Davis eyes. Am starting to ramble, time to go.

jluftig

the 0-60 thing anyhow, is 330i wimpy, get an M3, is the M3 wimpy, get a new Lambraghini (How so you spell that), Is the Lambo to wimpy, well maybe you should be looking at motorcycles that are often faster. Once you realize 0-60 is not the top item, handeling becomes more important and the 325 handels excellent, nimble, sure footed, quick.

mschukar

Just wondering, have you driven a 325i? I can't imagine someone who's driven a 325i manual saying it's "weak". Simply put, it's the most fun I've had in any 4 door I've ever driven. You could put a ton of horses in an Escalade, but I would never call it "fun".

I'm not "trying really hard to be" anything, I simply wanted a 4 door sedan that puts a smile on my face when I get to work. As far as I'm concerned, nobody can match the fun and luxury of a 325i anywhere close to $30k.

Go push a Miata down a curvy road sometime and you'll understand there is more to driving a car than horses.

-murray

kdshapiro

Having driven both cars the 3L is much more spirited than the 2.5L. However, the 2.5L is no slouch. To echo some sentiment from the above posts, to the people where 0-60 and HP matter there are many choices. Vette, Cobra, M5, M3, SL6, Porche on the top end. On the less expensive end G35 (for luxo-performance), WRX (for performance) for much less. Of course, there are many, many options and opinions about options in between.

The BMW 3 series, for entry level luxo-performance is about the total package. A refined sophisticated ride through-out the whole RPM spectrum. European luxo and refinement on the inside. As the 330i is my first BMW I fell in love with the car on the first test drive. Signed the papers and never looked back. You have to drive it for a while to get used to it. A 5 minute test drive going max of 30 miles an hour on a straight road will leave you without any true feeling for the car.

yalesom

Anyone have any luck with the Costco Purchase Program? If so could you provide details of deal offered (model, amount over invoice & etc.).

thanks!

div2

Another victim of Bimmer Envy. But I gotta admit, if I spent had $30K+ and ended up with a car that looked like the illegitimate offspring of a Saturn and a Chevy Avalanche in my garage, I'd have a lot of unresolved anger as well...

brave1heart

<<<Bogie & Ingrid in Casablanca>>> - that's my favorite movie ever!! And I don't stick my neck out for nobody, you know...

tenet1

Funny how some of these trolls never come back.

Like div2 said, Plunking down you $$$ into a horrible/ugly/nasty/POS looking car will get anyone upset.

wabends

I have been reading postings at this site for several months now and my family has finally decided that we are going to buy a 325 iT. This is going to be our first bimmer; we plan to put about 600 miles per month on the car. After shopping around for the past couple of weeks, we have narrowed down our choices to two cars. I would appreciate any suggestions that afficianados and/or owners can provide:

Car 1: Jet black exterior and sand leatherette interior with premium package, automatic trasmission and 1070 miles. This car was used as a loaner by the dealership. Final price agreed upon with dealer: $31,800.

Car 2: Seina red exterior and gray leather interior with premium package, automatic transmission, xenon lights, cold weather package, Harmon Kardon sound upgrade, park distance control and full size spare tire with 6200 miles. This car was used by a BMW exec as corporate car from June - November 2001. Asking price $32,500.

Both cars are 2001. We don't really get much snow in our area and the exterior color is not a factor. My question is which of these two is a better deal? Need to make a decision very soon.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Wabs

shipo

Personally, I would go for the red one. Those 1,070 miles on the dealer demo most likely came from MANY test drives where the tester drove out of the dealership and NAILED it all of the way to the red-line (quite contrary to the recommended "Break in Procedure", which lasts for the first 1,200 miles). The BMW Exec car on the other hand, was most likely driven by a single person (or his/her family) and was probably treated much better than the dealer demo.

Best Regards,
Shipo

wabends

Thanks for your swift response. I tend to be leaning towards the red one too but my wife is more concerned about the mileage. Your explanation will help me to convince her. I will keep you posted.

Regards,
Wabends

tenet1

For $700 and a few more miles, you are getting a lot more options and probably a well maintained car. So if color is no problem, go with the red. I personally would never buy a loaner that people beat up just for the hell of it.

leenelsonmd

The Mitsu Lancer Evolution VII will soon be released in the US as the Evo VIII. The current specs are 275 hp and 0-60 in 4.3 secs and cost est $35k.

Maybe I will wait and get this instead of an '03 330 with PP, SP, and MONSTER 18" wheels.

Have you seen the Lancer Evo VII? The bottom line is we buy the BMW because it is a beautiful car that is street tested, drives great, and has yes an air of quality that the WRX and the Lancer lack. Any 18 year old in either of these cars will probably smoke us, but I doubt that it will make you feel awkward about your car purchase.

I may just give up waiting and buy the Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. It has 600hp and goes 0-60 in 2.3 secs and 0-100mph in 4.4 secs. IT GOES 1/4 MILE IN 9.3 secs! It is a tough decision. (Cost $650)

sybele

Finally, I called BMW customer service, and to my surprise they are no longer offering the retrofit kit for the 325i. It is only offered for the 330i. Bummer!!

By the way, has anybody experienced problems with the A/C. Today my A/C stopped blowing heated air.

primalscream

I test drove a 325i and a 330i before buying the CTS. The 325i's engine delivered the type of performance I'd expect from an economy car rather than a premium sedan.
I really liked the 330i but two things sent me down the road to Cadillac: 1) The BMW sales staff was supercilious 2) The 3 series is as ubiquitious as the Honda Accord.
I agree that a car is more than horsepower, but then again, when I think of luxury cars the only make that strikes me as synonymous with performance is BMW.

shipo

I just leased a new 530i after three plus years with my 328i. I considered the CTS, I really wanted to like it, however, to my eyes, inside and out, that car is FUGLY. I am glad that Cadillac is trying, and the CTS is a bold statement, however, performance isn't everything. For my tastes, BMW offers a car that has an extremely good balance between performance, luxury, reliability, looks and even status, much more so than the CTS.

Best Regards,
Shipo

nyccarguy

Did you drive a 325i with a manual transmission and Sport package? It drives almost like a completely different car than a 325i equipped with the steptronic and standard suspension? Is your CTS a stikc pr Automatic?

nyccarguy

I picked up my Prelude on Saturday! I love driving stick and hope to never (I know, never say never) buy another car in automatic again! I even got stuck in traffic and didn't mind!

sunnybrook

I was wondering if anyone here has information or has ever taken the train from Paris to Munich. I am scheduled to pick up my car May 17th and am trying to figure out the best arrangements getting between the two cities. Thanks...

nyccarguy

Drive you car!

shipo

Congrats on the 'Lude (I remember when those weren't cars ;-)) and the stick shift, maybe your next one will be a BMW. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

nyccarguy

stay on topic, I saw a BMW 3 series on the way home from the dealership!

Shipo: Hopefully it will. I plan to keep the Prelude for as long as I can, then retire it to become a 3rd car at which point I will look at BMWs (Stick Shift & Sport package Please).

shipo

Go to:

http://www.eurorailways.com/

They list the Paris/Munich trip for $126 USD.

Best Regards,
Shipo