BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

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Comments

  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,550
    Thank-you denk!

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    Hmmm, I just checked the 3M web site, after reading the all too brief blurb about the Hand Glaze, I would avoid using that prior to the Klasse.

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • luonghluongh Member Posts: 12
    Wow this is great, I dod not expect to have a response that quick. Thanks a mil. ddblue. I accidently use it on the dashboard, is it going to hurt my dashboard. I won't be using it again on the dashboard. I know Lexol also have a product for vinyl, is it as good as their leather product. Thanks again. This forum is a great help.
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,550
    Thanks for the tip! I'm sure I'll find another use for it (on another car). Worse comes to worse, I wasted $12.95...oh well! I'll check out that website too!

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    One year, 18K miles, and a million smiles.
  • abcnycabcnyc Member Posts: 101
    I noticed that the Klasse All-In-One comes in a variety of sizes. How much is needed for a complete application ? I just have the 16.9 oz. Is that enough to finish the car ?
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    According to what I have experienced, the half liter size (well, a little more actually) should last for a year or two, depending on how much you slather it on. ;-)

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • vkwheelsvkwheels Member Posts: 218
    But the rest are great! Esp. Cinqueterre & Switzerland. How daring of you to get that dashboard shot! What kind of vehicle is that little weird-looking thing? An updated Renault LeCar?
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    It is a "Smart" car, which was a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and the Swatch watch company, and now completly owned by Daimler-Chrysler (if I am not mistaken).

    Said Smart car is powered by a turbocharged 600cc inline 3 engine, producing about 50 HP, and mounted on its side below and slightly to the rear of the seats. The transmission is a sequentially shifted 6-Speed manual with an electronic clutch (no third pedal), with acceleration of about 18.0 seconds to 60mph and yielding 46mpg in the city and 66mpg on the highway.

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,550
    I've learned to take shipo's advice because he's a bright & knowledgable character. After I sought the advice of the board here, I took it upon myself to email our friends at classic motoring regarding with the very same question. Here is their prompt & informative response:

    Hi Bradd,
    3M Hand Glaze is designed to be used prior to a pure wax or protectant, not
    a cleaner/protectant such as Klasse. While I know people use a polish first,
    it is redundant. The cleaner in Klasse will remove any fillers left by the
    Hand Glaze. The Hand Glaze may help in rounding over the top edge of swirls
    and certainly will not hurt anything. I'm just not sure what kind of return
    you're going to get for the effort of this extra step. If you want to try an
    experiment, do 1/2 of the hood with the Hand Glaze followed by All-In-One
    and the other half with just the All-In-One and see if there is a
    difference. If there is, continue using the Hand Glaze on the rest of the
    car. If you can not see a difference, then just continue with the
    All-In-One.

    This is a funny business and sometimes things do work together that
    logically should not. If you do try the above experiment, please email me
    the results so I can advise future customers on this issue.
    Have fun.
    Terry Freiberg
    Classic Motoring Acc

    Like I said, I'm going to try this out on my Saab (which has a lease that expires in Decmeber). If it is worth my effort (I don't think it will), then I'll try it on my Shiny Red Prelude. I'll let you know the results. The 3M won't go totally to waste because my Dad still uses conventional paste wax on his 1966 Corvette Roadster.

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,550
    As many of you know, my Prelude that I picked up a week and a half ago is equipped with a manual transmission (my 1st of hopefully many). I know many of you BMW 3 series (staying on topic here) owners have 3ers with a stick shift. Can anybody offer me some pointers? I seem to have trouble shifting from 1st to 2nd smoothly. Am I not letting the clutch up quick enough (or too quickly) or am I not matching revs? All help is appreciated as always!

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • vkwheelsvkwheels Member Posts: 218
    I drive manual & used to have a Prelude, but that first shift was the trickiest piece of learning how-to for me. I'm in & out of 1st/2nd fast enough to avoid worrying much about it. I'm sure others here will be able to offer more, for you & for me too. After spending the better part of 20 yrs driving stick, I doubt I'll ever forget. I might miss it a bit, but am looking forward to the ease of auto in my new car. Speaking of which, I'm going to order the Klasse products & try it out on my SE-R. Won't wait for the new wheels.
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    Hmmm, probably both. When learning a new car, smoothness is not always easy to accomplish right off the bat. In fact, the only car that I could shift smoothly from day one on was my 1979 Scirocco, which in retrospect, was probably because it had a whopping 76 HP, and as a result, did not have enough power to cause jerky shifts with the slightest timing error (in other words, you really had to try to execute a rough shift).

    Smoothness takes practice, even for many experienced drivers, sure, all experienced stick drivers can hop into a 3-Pedal car, and perform neck-snapping, red-line shifts first try, however, smooth "Tooling around mode" might take a few weeks/months depending on your experience and the "Twitchiness" of the car.

    My best advice to you, prior to executing a 1-2 shift, roll off the power as you smoothly press in the clutch pedal, shift smartly, and then ease the clutch back out as you slowly add power. Once you get a "Feel" for things, you can start practicing combining smoothness with more aggressive shifts.

    Have patience, I have been driving a stick shift for almost 30 years, and I still occasionally botch a 1-2 shift (especially when SRV is on the Harman Kardon). ;-)

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    My how quickly they forget...

    It just occured to me that even though my old 328i is still parked in my garage, I cannot drive it, hence the fact that I can no longer botch a 1-2 shift with SRV on the Harman Kardon. Well, maybe next week I can botch a 1-2 with SRV on the "Premium DSP Audio" system. ;-)

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • seivwrigseivwrig Member Posts: 388
    I've been driving a manual since '91 and I blotch many 1-2 shifts. Just practice, it will smooth out eventually. Maybe you are not providing enough gas. Someone will probably be able to provide you more information on manual shifting. I actually learned manual on a '85 Nissan Sentra and '88 Honda Prelude Si (sounded like a motorcycle).
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    What do they say about getting to Carnegie Hall? ;)
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,550
    Practice makes perfect! I don't think I'm doing half bad for a novice though! Driving are is something that I really love and WANT to get better at it. Friday night I went to the Yankees game with my Dad. After the game we drove to his hardware store to pick up our dogs, and then drove home. We got home around midnight, walked the dogs. I passed by my car in front of the house and just HAD to go for a ride. I made myself be home by 1:00AM because I had to get up at 5:30AM to go to work with my Dad!

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    That's pretty funny, my Mother and I have a small business that teaches an esoteric form of exercise in a studio in Carnegie Hall. Said exercise discipline requires the students to "Pulse" their muscles in very small (1/4") movements. So, for us, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? You Pulse, Pulse, Pulse!" ;-)

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • vkwheelsvkwheels Member Posts: 218
    I know it's o.t. but as a dyed in the wool californian who must keep up with the latest of all fitness trends, I gotta ask what muscles are being worked.
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,550
    Usually I just take the subway;)

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • wrjohnsonpghpawrjohnsonpghpa Member Posts: 53
    What does everyone have on their front license plate bracket? I know that not all states require a front license plate (perhaps even most don't); PA doesn't. I tried to get the plain black molding strip to replace the bracket and Circle BMW told me that the strips don't fit 2002s properly!

    Is this a BMW plot to sell more fancy (and expensive, at nearly $40[?]) "roundel logo" plates? (Not only are these pricey, IMHO, but are redundant with with hood ornament.) I personally prefer the plain bumper look, but that doesn't appear to be an option at this time. The empty license plate bracket doesn't cut it either. My dealer didn't even give me plate advertising the dealership--not that I wanted one anyway (I'd ask them not to put any advertising on my car).

    I guess I could go with the locally obligatory "Steeler" plate, but although I bleed black and gold like most people around here, that solution seems just a bit too tacky for this car (steel blue, BTW, definitely not a "chick color").

    Has anyone else heard, or learned from experience, that the replacement molding strip doesn't fit the 2002 3ers?
  • ddblueddblue Member Posts: 117
    I finally posted some photos of my 3. Hopefully, this will work. The first couple of shots are from the day I took delivery last year. The rest are after a fresh Xymol this past weekend.


    http://community.webshots.com/user/ddblue

  • vkwheelsvkwheels Member Posts: 218
    The properautocare.com site has nice simple black or white ones available, made from a special plastic, not metal. Check under the Accessories link.
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    Well, ummm, let's see, I used to drive the 328i that I used to have to Carnegie Hall (see, now we are on topic) every Thursday evening and every other Sunday morning to teach a form of exercise called Callanetics. Said exercise is really HOT over in Europe right now (who knows if it will ever take off over here in the States), with almost 100 studios.

    The positions that we teach are designed to isolate two different muscle groups at their extremes, and then when you pulse, you stretch one group and contract the other, thus using your own body for resistance. As the class progresses, we keep changing positions, thus working most of the body (I have yet to figure out an exercise for the ear lobes, and the tip of the nose ;-)). As such, once learned, an individual can do them in their homes, businesses and even hotel rooms. The only catch (good for us teachers) is that as you get better at doing the exercises, and stronger/more flexible in the process, you need continual adjustments made to your position so that you can continue to develop.

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • lamplamp Member Posts: 20
    Anyone has recently purchased 2002 325Ci in Southern Cal.? I would like to know more about the pricing info.

    Thanks,
  • hgeyerhgeyer Member Posts: 188
    I think you're being fed some BS. For my 330i, non M-aerodynamic front (there is a different part for M-package cars), I got the straight trim for $22 at my local dealer. P/N 51-11-7-030-611.

    The part fits fine. I should point out that the guy at the Parts counter wanted to be sure whether the car was built before or after 10/01. The above part number is for post 10/01 vehicles.

    When installing the trim, pull loose about 3" of the existing trim on both sides of the center. The center piece sits under the two side pieces. Be careful to properly align the center piece in the middle before re-attaching the side pieces. It's really pretty easy. I just hope that the dealer didn't screw the existing plate-holder into your bumper.
  • tcn2ktcn2k Member Posts: 277
    I am about to order the all-in-one, does the sealant all-in-one necessary? Does it make that much of a difference?
  • vkwheelsvkwheels Member Posts: 218
    Shipo, your experience with all things BMW is impressive. ;-) Yes, have heard of Callanetics but have never tried it. There's a video on how-to.

    I'm getting a wee bit impatient to get my 325i. This message board only adds fuel to the fire, it's like a bad itch you loooove to scratch.
  • silverprincesssilverprincess Member Posts: 75
    http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4435


    Anyone know how much this course cost and the duration?

  • sunnybrooksunnybrook Member Posts: 74
    Nice pics? It's hard to tell because of the shadows and lighting, but is your car color steel blue metallic?
  • silverprincesssilverprincess Member Posts: 75
    Anyone know whether these are legal in Califonia? Anyone ever been ticketed for having one? I ordered on from bavauto.com and plan on installing them in the front; and it's customized so it doesn't match my regular plate.
  • ddblueddblue Member Posts: 117
  • vkwheelsvkwheels Member Posts: 218
    Nice pics of your car. "Lena"--as in Lena Horne or Lena Olin? Either way, the name fits.
  • ddblueddblue Member Posts: 117
    Went through name choices after some post-ers encouraged me to pen one for the beauty. I thought that something powerful & sexy at the same time would fit the bill. Lena just came to mind--no one in particular. But I am a jazz fan, so I guess Lena Horne would work. Not that Lena Olin doesn't...pretty sexy in her own right.
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    Front license plates: getting rid of them would help the airflow to the radiators. I believe they aren't required in CA, but it's been a while since I've checked.

    Car name: never got around to naming mine. I might get too attached if I do.
  • brave1heartbrave1heart Member Posts: 2,698
    "...once learned, an individual can do Callanetics in their homes, businesses and even hotel rooms." My wife started exercising while watching a Callanetics videotape last year just before she got pregnant and the results were pretty good up to that point. She got back into it in the past couple of months and I can testify that her figure is better now than it was pre-pregnancy because of the exercise she's been doing. This stuff must really work, I dunno - I would not have the patience for it...She has been so encouraged that she just ordered a set of 3-4 tapes from Amazon.
  • pap5pap5 Member Posts: 144
    Automobile Magazine's take on IS300 vs. G35: The battle for second place.
  • dave330idave330i Member Posts: 893
    Too funny. I would have thought it'd be a battle for third, since Audi usually have second place locked up.
  • postoakpostoak Member Posts: 537
    Well, having read all 16,000 odd posts here I can tell you that WAY back there was some complaining among our California members about the police ticketing for no front plate more vigorously than before due to the new cameras set up to catch red-light runners.
  • leenelsonmdleenelsonmd Member Posts: 208
    Shipo: I have read all of your posts, but do not remember everything. Your lease on the 328 was done and you went with ED on the 530. Why did you step up to the 530? Did you need a little more room? Some wife pressure? Just felt like it? I was wondering because as I think about my next purchase I really want a 3 series and maybe the purchase after that to be an M3. I did not want to get the bigger car. I ask you these questions, because I know you loved your 328 and so I wanted to get the answer from an enthusiast. Did you lose anything with the step up?

    Seivwrig - Live in houston too. Haven't joined BMWCCA, but I gues I will. I love these things. I think when I retire I will try to sell them (my friends already think that I do sell them).

    DDBLUE - Can you beat the front end view of that car? Unbelievable, it is ominous. I love it.

    So I went to Austin on Sunday to help out the in-laws. Drove my E36 325 up in the morning and had a great time. Not too many cops, but the speed limit has fallen down to 55mph for a good ways out of Houston (they are trying to clean up the air -- probably won't work -- I think they ought to make gas $4.00 a gallon to deter SUV driving and this would help the pollution more IMO). The new speed limit is painful. I drive 80mph regardless and haven't had any probs. (Remember this is Texas -- 2 months ago you could drive 80mph right beside a police officer and he would ignore you).

    Austin is great. It has some twistie fun roads that my car lives for and I definitely lost a fair amount of rubber up there. It was great. Coming back I took a small 2 lane road for about 20-30 miles and had a terrific time passing and cornering. It made me ache for a manual transmission though...Which is funny because a month ago I thought an automatic was more practical, but after listening to Dave330i, I can hardly wait to go back to shifting for myself. How could anyone honestly think otherwise? ... Seivwrig - I feel for you, because I am a recent convert and had I purchased a 2002 I would have gotten the steptronic too. Waiting till next year has helped me really fine tune my choices.

    So here is a random question -- Say you are driving down the interstate in your new G35 (just imagine it ok) and the speed limit is 65mph and you are going about 62mph. Traffic is going about 78mph. You are young and not handicapped. Do you think that after about eleven 18 wheelers pass you (going uphill) and another 30 or more cars you might get the picture that you are going TOO SLOW? I always wonder about people like that. Of course the elderly, the handicapped, and most purchasers of american cars are exempt from such ponderings, because they have to drive that way.

    The other thing that you see all the time here in Texas is two or even three people traveling the same speed in each available lane so that no one can go by. They should pull these people over and put them on the next plane to Europe so that they can see how to drive with some courtesy -- at least in this regard. It is unbelievable.
  • rshaw11rshaw11 Member Posts: 52
    Here's the long answer on front plates in California. The California vehicle code states:

    Section 4850. (a) The department, upon registering a vehicle, shall issue to the owner two partially or fully reflectorized license plates or devices for a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, and one partially or fully reflectorized license plate or device for all
    other vehicles required to be registered under this code.

    AND

    Section 5200 states: When two license plates are issued by the department for a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear.

    So, you can be ticketed for not having a front-plate attached, sorry.
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    Why did I jump from the 328i to the 530i?

    Here are the reasons, not necessarily in any order:

    - My children who are now 8 and 5 routinely complain that they do not have enough foot room. Given that when they sit in the back seat of a car, their feet hang right at the narrowest point between the front of the back seat and the back of the front seat. Oddly enough, even though the specs for the 5er show it to have 0.1" less total leg room when compared to the 3er, the later (read 2001 and later) E39 cars seem to have more than the 1999 version I tested back in 1998, and more than the E46 as well.

    - With ED, I could swing a nicely equipped 530i 5-Speed, PP, SP, Xenon and Premium Audio for a lower lease payment than a similarly equipped 330i 5-Speed, PP, SP, Xenon (and a negotiated price of only $2,230 more than said 330i @ MSRP).

    - I have always like the look of the E39, and with the 2001 face lift, I like its looks slightly better than the first version of the E46 (when I say "slightly", I mean like, "Its a toss up"). On the other hand, the 2002 face lift of the E46 does not please my eye as much as the un-lifted car, so, for the 2002 model year, I like the looks of the 5er better, period.

    - At the time that I placed my order for my 530i, the spy photos of the new E60 5-Series were Butt Ugly. I will temper this a little by saying that the latest round of photos are a little better (read, not quite so objectionable).

    - Status. Yeah, I know, call me shallow like a puddle after a 0.001" rain.

    - Given that I ordered my 328i sans SP, and I ordered my 530i with SP, the new car Feels like it handles better than better than the old one.

    - Similarly, given the extra power and torque of the 3.0 engine over the 2.8, the 530i Feels just a hair faster than the 328i.

    - Given the last two points, in answer to your question "Did you lose anything with the step up?", all I can say is that Maybe I lost a little "Tossability", but that would be REAL hard to quantify.

    - For me and my business/family needs, the M3 is totally out of the question. Not only will my family not fit in it for anything more than a trip to school, and given that the M3 does not qualify for an ED discount, its MSRP (assuming that I could find one for MSRP) is $9,400 more than the 530i. For that kind of money, I could have gotten a 540i 6-Speed via ED.

    - Last but not least, I wanted it. ;-)

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • jonnyjjonnyj Member Posts: 15
    The lease on my 2000 328 expires in August. Will I be receiving anything from BMW to encourage my loyalty to their brand?
  • ddblueddblue Member Posts: 117
    You're right. Something about the 3 series coupe front end that is just plain menacing. But if it looks that good, the M3 front end is instills downright fear--wider stance, bigger/wider hood bulge, monster air dam. If that's not enough, note my license plate reads "O2B-ANM3." Ha!

    BTW, for all you who have not joined the BMW Car Club of America (http://www.bmwcca.org), here's a great reason: There is a raffle ticket sale ($25 each, limit 5) for a 2002 BMW M3 Coupe. To qualify, you have to be a paid member up to April 23, 2002. But you'll be eligible for next year's drawing if it's too late for this year's. Even better news: to boot, it's not a raffle for just one car. Each ticket purchased gives you a 1/2800 chance of winning. The number of cars given away is determined by the number of tickets purchased. Last year, they gave out 13 M3 Convertibles. Two went to people who only bought one ticket. Membership does have its benefits
  • megrdhmegrdh Member Posts: 34
    Hi:
    My brother's friend lives in SF and was pulled over because of no front plate. He told the police officer that he received only one plate from the DMV. In order not to get a ticket, he had to go to DMV and obtain a front plate. At DMV, he was instructed to remove the back plate and there were two, stuck together. He did not do this on purpose, but my point is without the front plate, you can be pulled over or get a ticket. Hope this help. Meg
  • leenelsonmdleenelsonmd Member Posts: 208
    The reward for owner loyalty with BMW is being able to continue driving one.

    SHIPO - Thanks for the answer. I see that you put some thought into it. On the BMW evolutionary tree, I am still stuck down at the 3 series, but I was wondering what the view from "up there" was like. I imagine that as my family changes and my life needs change, I too will make the transition. The 5 series is a beautiful car. (I hope they will have a 530 wagon in '03 or '04 that I could talk my wife into getting). I would be in hog heaven then.
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    A 3er and a 5er in one family, certainly the best of both worlds. ;-)

    During our recent ED experience, my wife said "I want one too." So, I suggested that if we make a move up the New Hampshire this summer, and she starts commuting, maybe a smart move would be to pay off our Mini-Van, keep it as the family hauler, and get her an ED 325xi (5-Speed only for her) as her commuter car. ;-)

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • mschukarmschukar Member Posts: 351
    The application tips states that you should use less than an ounce per application so that a 16 ounce bottle should last 8 years for one vehicle and two applications per year.

    I wish I had known that before buying the 33 ounce bottle!

    I also bought the Viper microfiber towels. They worked quite well with the enclosed applicator pad.

    -murray
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    I read the same thing on my bottle; however, a single ounce is much easier said than done. I am sure that I have used at least 3-4 ounces each time I have done an application of Klasse to my car.

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • castinstonecastinstone Member Posts: 12
    I've owned a 5sp Integra, 5sp Vigor and a 5sp 325. The Vigor and the 325 I owned at the same time, which made finding reverse interesting.

    In general, I find Honda's shift more smoothly at higher RPM. In 1st, if you rev slowly to 3.5 to 4k, depress the clutch to the floor, shift, then engage, you could get the best RPM match for the gears. The jerkiest shifts occur at lower RPMs, for me anyway.
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