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Comments
Bing330i--I inquired about window tinting & my dealer didn't recommend it. He said that the rear defogging circuitry can get clogged when the tint film bubbles or cracks. I don't see how circuitry can get "clogged". I have tinting in my SE-R & would not use the same people because it looks crappy on the top part of the rear window. I'm reluctant to mess with my new baby, however, it does help with the heat.
That said, the Altima and the 325i are not in the same league, and are not really comparable. The subjective "feel" aside, look at technology. The 325i has stability control, brake assist, an extremely high-tech engine, all those air bags, great big brake rotors, a great manumatic transmission, and that magic BMW suspension and steering. That and the cache value are why the car costs 5-7 grand more comparably equipped. You get what you pay for.
That said, again, I'm sure if you bought an Altima (which again is not intended to compete with a BMW) and never test drove a 325i, you'd probably love it and would have that extra money to spend on something else.
My choices have been narrowed to the following:
A4 3.0 w/FWD-CVT, Xenon, Bose = +/- $33,100
A4 3.0 w/FWD-CVT, Xenon, Metallic Paint = +/- $33,100
325i w/step, PP, HK, Xenon = +/- $33,100
325i w/step, PP, SP = +/- $33,100
I have a feeling that the 325i will feel "sportier" than the A4, even w/out SP. I also know that the A4 has a more detail oriented interior, and more features/dollar than the 325i. I drove an A4 w/SP, and thought it road a bit too rough, and was a bit too loud for my taste. I hope they have a 325i w/SP, so that I can see if I find the BMW SP equally as objectionable. Note: My brother's 323i SP w/snow tires on was fine,...but that was w/out 17" sport tires.
This afternoon my wife and I are going to pick up her new 325i (Orient Blue, Sand, PP, heated seats). Can anyone offer advice on anything special to check for? Needless to say, we are excited, but perhaps will be inclined to be a bit uncritical.
Thanks,
Bob
I am cross-shopping all of the usual suspects, so I won't take your time by listing them. I am asking about long-term reliability of all of the cars that I am considering. As any smart car buyer should, I am trying to arm myself with as much information as I can get in order to make a well informed decision. Any information that you can give me about this will be greatly appreciated.
I thank you for your time and patience. Kim
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I'm totally with you on the handling and feel arguments, but unless you were mistakenly given the 330 with a 325 badge, I find this hard to believe. are these G-Tech numbers? most of the numbers I've seen for this car have been around 7 seconds. 184 hp, 3200 lbs. right?
If you would like to compare a front wheel drive midsize sedan with a rear wheel drive compact sedan, I guess you can make either the winner, depending on which criteria you emphasize. Also, most of the issues I've seen and heard with the Altimas interior are with the materials, not the build quality. The Altima comparably equipped is about 10k less, real world. If that 10k is not important, compare the 325 to the G35. or better yet, compare the 330 to the G35. or if you would like to compare midsize cars, the 525 and 530 to G35. Comparisons can be fun, but it's tough to agree on a common set of criteria a lot of the time.
The Altima is a sporty front drive midsize sedan with great power available with a manual, as is the Maxima. The 3 series is a rear drive compact luxury/sports sedan. The extra money is worth it for people looking for better handling and more luxury. The Altima is not "tronced" in it's class, though. Trounced is when the manual 4 cylinder Altima's performance is about the same as its 6 cylinder competitors (Accord, Camry, etc.).
Don't get me wrong, I like both cars, but I don't think you have to trash a car that is very competitive in its class to make the point that your car is a better choice for a lot of people.
Bob - congrats, somewhere there's a checklist (EXTREMELY extensive) on what to go over, maybe on the Motley Fool site or E46 fanatics site.
Kim - your buying history is sort of like mine, and your goals match mine. I hope this new car lasts a decade. ( & that I do too ). I see old ones running around, good omen & reason for this reasoning.
Swamped dealer. No sales agents to even greet up for over 20 minutes of looking at cars.
Does BMW pride itself on high quality customer service post purchase? The Pre-purchase service has not impressed me.
Can you recommend a good BMW dealer in the MD/DC area - and particular sales agents. Der Profi recommended Passport BMW in Silver Spring. Any other suggestions from the Board?
If you have negatives or positives - you can email me.
Thanks in advance.
Looking for used 3-Series.
If I made a dollar for every time a big, dopey grin appeared on my face while driving this car, it would be paying for itself. ;-)
FWIW, BMWs will cost more to maintain vs. typical Japanese car, but as the saying goes, "You've got to pay to play."
I was in a similar situation when looking for a new car. I had narrowed my choices down to the TL type-S or a 325i. At first, it was tough trying to justify spending a few grand more for the BMW. The major plus for the Acura was the "bang for your buck" factor--I got more for my money. I was leaning towards the BMW initially based on my individual preferences for styling. I liked the BMW much better, both inside and out. Don't get me wrong, the TL is a very nice car. However, I also have a Honda Accord, and I could recognize that Acura had raided the accord parts bin. I felt like I was driving around a very nice, powerful accord. In other words, it wasn't as "special" of a car.
What really sealed it for me was driving both cars back to back. I highly recommend doing this if you get a chance. It was tough for me to do a comparison when driving the cars on different days. But when I drove them back to back, all became clear. The Acura, while it did have a lot of power, just didn't feel as refined to me. The ride was harsh compared to the BMW and I didn't feel as connected to the road. Both my wife and I came away with the impression that the BMW was a lot more "fun" to drive.
Sorry this is so long, but to sum it all up, it really was a subjective decision. On paper, the TL-S is the way to go--much more bang for your buck. But having experienced the BMW, it was well worth the extra money that we paid.
Hope this helps!
When I stated "trounced," it was an all-encompassing statement. Read the comparo in R&T issue (two months ago?). They do love the engine in the Altima but it doesn't do well in the workmanship category. Plus there are complaints about the steering. The Camry and Accord do beat it soundly overall.
Sure, I'm biased about my car. But I did say that the Altima is a good car and that many owners are very happy with their purchase. I also think that this forum is for opinions--last time I checked, anyway.
You prolly want to review these two links prior to picking up your wife's new car.
http://www.e46fanatics.com/faq/checklist.html
http://www.e46fanatics.com/faq/faqs.php
Kim: If your number one priority is having a sporty, luxurious car that will be relatively trouble free for 8-10 years, you should probably get an Acura 3.2TL. I have a '99 Maxima SE with 39,000 miles on it, and it has had NO unscheduled maintenance. It has a wonderful power train. That said, one thing I am less than satisfied with is the seat comfort. Of course, if that is your number one priority, get a Volvo S60 - they have the most comfortable seats in the world, IMHO.
Unless you drive hard, or get a thrill just from the thought of owning and driving a German car like a BMW, MB or Audi (which everyone on this Board does) I don't think they're worth the extra investment. I love BMW's and Audi's, and I am planning to buy one real soon. But, based on my experience with Japanese cars, I'd bet a month's pay that a 3.2TL will be significantly more reliable and less expensive to own for 8-10 years than a BMW 3-series. They're loaded with options, and rate fairly high on the sport-luxury scale.
The cost of ownership of a BMW will be somewhat mitigated by the 3-year free maintenance, (Audi now offers 4-year free maintenance).
Sorry you didn't like your Maxima. Mine has performed very well,...it's just kind of boring to look at, is a little bigger car than I need, and has no prestige value, whatsoever. Otherwise, I've enjoyed owning it.
There were actually a few times when I didn't have to shift into 3rd to get to 60. The times I have, it was right around 58/59 MPH.
If anyone else has any advice(on longterm ownership), please give it. Though I am in no hurry to buy a car, I am kind of anxious. Thanks. Kim
As for the web site, I am still working on a way to post pics and descriptions. I'll keep ya posted. I am hoping to get my pictures of my 325xi developed soon.
People have been comparing in the last few posts Japanese and German cars. I was driving my Civic Si (1-60 in 7.1 or so) with my wife in the xi. I couldn't even keep up with her at all. I had my RPM's up around between 5500 and 7500 (optimal for the DOHC VTEC). It was too cool!
When I get the chance to wind up the xi, it is just like listening to a perfect musical piece. Engine singing, exhaust giving the bass, just screaming along... whoever said that if they had a dollar for every smile... that's me.
-Paul
Could the crappy gas possibly cause any other problems?
Thanks,
Brian Conneen
Get your VIN handy, follow this link: http://schedule.2wglobal.com/GLWebApps.AppTracking, select “Auto” in the Drop Down List Box (the one that has “Track By” in it), enter your VIN in the “Cargo ID” field, click the "Track" link, and wait for something like two minutes. The system will then give you a full report about the voyage that your car is on.
Conneen,
Sleep well, your car will adjust itself for the 87 gas in the tank, it just will not be quite as fast, nor will it get quite the mileage that it normally gets. As soon as you run it through, your car will be back to its old self. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
For some reason my wife isn't a fan of BMW's. She would prefer the Infiniti G35 or Lexus I-300. Both are worth adversaries, but don't have the same prestige (I know, call me a snob) and style of the Bimmer. That's ok, it's my turn to pick out the car, so I'm going with what I want. In time, she'll understand!
I will have to check out Travelocity and some others when the time is right. I would prefer to not have to make a lot of stops on the way to Munich, but that's a small price to pay for the ED discount. Since I will be traveling alone, I may find a good deal.
Thanks and happy driving!!!
When I suggested that my sister-in-law look at BMW's, she said she would feel "funny" driving a BMW. She ended up with a Lexus RX 300. Go figure!
Happy hunting!
-murray
The hardest part is that I'm still puttering about in my old '93 Sentra wishing/wondering for my new baby. At least the next time I buy a bimmer, I'll at least be driving one!
Sorry about the whining, but I had to vent a little.
Glenn
Kim: The current e46 has proved to be Very reliable, someone may have a link to tech service , but ive only had a few computer readjustments done during regular service for emissions.
considering long term cost:
FWD vs RWD cost to replace cv joints and ect on fwd and figure extra cost for tires as well .
resale value: The 3er has also had a amazing residual value , my 1999 323i is at a whopping 70% real trade in value right now, compare that with a mass produced japanese vehicle.
the best argument is your own: you love it
happy hunting
DL
DL
I'm not arguing that the camry or accord might not be better cars for the average family, but it's clear, in my opinion, that the Altima/Maxima is the best option for sporty front wheel drive midsize sedan, especially if they continue to improve the interior materials. They recently changed the leather seats to the maxima leather mid-model year, I'm not sure what else they may change for next year. I think the altima is a more compelling package with v6 and cloth, than it is loaded.
Complaints about torque steer are pretty common for high power front wheel drive cars without LSD, which I really hope they add to the altima in the near future. I've heard that the on-center steering complaints have been alleviated by changing tires, also.
I thought your numbers might be G-Tech numbers, because the Road and Track test had the 330Ci at 6.2 to 60. I still think the 325Ci should have no problems breaking 7 to 60, even with the 58 mph shift:) 0-60 isn't everything, and the 3 series cars are very well balanced from a performance/luxury standpoint, in my opinion. I'd rather have a well balanced car geared for the road then a car geared to eliminate a shift in 0-60 testing, anyway.
Have fun with your 325Ci, it's a very nice car!
That other people feel that owning a BMW would make them feel "funny" is very interesting. My guess is that it goes back to deep-seated prejudices against class-defined roles. Reasoning is something like this "since snobs drive BMW's, I'm not a snob so I'll be a snob because I'm not a snob".
I'm 50% kidding & I hope you know what I mean, I am going on personal experience. I had a jones for the IS300 for a l-o-o-o-ng time, but my eyes barely register them on the road now.
In the end, I became a BMW driver/enthusiast in large part because of VW. Prior to late 1998, I had always assumed that I would replace my (then) aging 1995 VR6 Passat GLX (which was nearing the century mark at the time) with the 1999 Passat GLX, even though the new GLX was most likely no match for the old one around a race track. Why did I want the new car? Among other reasons, the goodies (Power Memory Seats, Climate Control), and the fact that it was probably a little faster in a straight line than the old one.
Then VW pulled the plug on my aspirations, they dropped the 5-Speed version of the GLX for the 1999 model year only! What a dumb move! That left me with few 5-Speed sedan options, and I just wasn’t too excited about any of them. So, with much reticence, I sort of sneaked into my friendly neighborhood BMW dealership and took a test drive of the 528i and 328i. While the former felt like a really nice car, it just did not do it for me, the 328i on the other hand, was faster than the new GLX, handled better than the older GLX, and had all of the goodies that I wanted.
Then came time for the discussion about financing, and I was sold. Even though the 328i had an MSRP of $9,000 higher than the Passat GLX, the lease price was a whopping $9.00 different, with the BMW being the higher. With a little research it became obvious that the MUCH higher residual value is what caused the BMW lease to be so low. Done deal, stigma or no, I ordered the 328i on the spot, and I have not regretted it since. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
We fly in around 8:30 AM (I think), and plan to get to the delivery center around 10:30 - 11:00 AM or so.
Unfortunately I have never been to Munich before so I can't give much advice on the sites there. However, poastoak had a pretty good list of the highlights we are shooting for. We are heading out of town upon delivery, probably take in the castles near Fussen first.
Hopefully we will see you there. My name is Josh, picking up a silver 330i SP manual.
Perhaps some BMW drivers are looked upon as snobs because people like you express attitudes such as you did in your last post.