BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

dc_75

postoak: WRT to 325 v 330, there are very subtle detailings difference in favor of the 330. Aside from different wheel choices, I believe the 330 has extra chrome/shiny bits on the grille, headlight surround, window trim and the like. The 330 with SP has an M body kit albeit a subtle one with a noticeably different front air dam/bumper/round driving lights treatment and of course the M design wheels. WRT SP like I mentioned earlier the advantages of the SP is purely subjective on your needs/feelings.

WRT cloth I am imagining you are looking for a 'english tweed' like material not the almost textured velour like finish of the Euro cars. I recalled Jaguars have this type of materials years ago on lower end and sport models of Jaguar sedans in the UK. I think cloth seats are underrated in this country for e.g. if I did not have to worry about resale and increased lead times, I would be very interested to order my Ci with cloth, my reasoning is that in lieu of the extra cost leather, premium cloth sounds better than leather alternative, not that there is anything wrong with BMW's leatherette, it is a fine material and has many advantages. Maybe it would have sounded a little nicer if BMW gave it a different name (?) like MB did with 'MB-Tex' vs leather as oppossed to leatherette v. leather...I am just rambling. :-)

I think cloth is more appropriate in keeping with the idea of a 3er coupe being a sporty minimalist Euro car...

brave1heart

motorcity3 - My understanding is that the 325i I am purchasing will not cost me a single cent in maintenance and/or warranty for the first three years. BMW replaces anything for free that is above normal tear and wear.

jbalser - anything around $1,500 over invoice (incl. all fees) is a very good deal. You have less money to work with on a stripper so the dealer may not give you a big discount off MSRP. Again, if it translates to $1,500 over invoice, that's a very reasonable deal. If you are thinking of leasing, the 330i will be about the same price as the 325i because of BMWNA's promotion - check the numbers on their web site for the exact figures.

reubencahn - I couldn't agree more with your thoughts on the A4. I am actually happy that my wife chose the A4 because both cars have virtues and it's nice to have both. This way we'll be taking the Audi skiing and the BMW on summer trips.

camnellum1 - I am also upgrading from a Jetta VR6, mine is '97 and very fast (0-60 in 6.9 sec). It will be on par with the 325i and not far behind the 330i. It's been a lot of fun to drive it but acceleration is the only category that it comes in which it comes close to a Bimmer. Bimmer is definitely a honker from what I've seen.

brave1heart

My favorite from Dave Barry's '19 THINGS THAT IT TOOK ME 50 YEARS TO LEARN':

16. "The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers."

How hilarious and totally true!!!

dc_75

Actually, until they increase speed limits on our highways and byways, I feel the 325 is plenty BMW for me. :-) I don't think I could trust myself with the 330 a.k.a. de-clawed M3 on valium.

The 325 makes all the same sounds as the 330 does and feels just as good in most everyday driving, although there is no denying the 330 is a powerhouse and is nice knowing you have those extra German Clysdales in your corrall when you need them. :-)

Its funny how the 2.5 liter Six sounds either adequate or a compromise here in the US, while in Europe a 320i is plenty hot...:-)

brave1heart

Got an insurance quote from my agent for almost 3 grand on a 325 sedan with average coverage. I figure if you can afford the car you should be able to afford the insurance. I'm amazed at the premium difference, though - some of you have stated coverage less than $1,000 a year. Oh, neutral driving record (no surcharge or premium)?!? I live in Boston proper - what are you guys/gals paying in other major cities? By the way, the agent told me the coupe would be slightly more expensive with identical coverage.

dc_75

reubencahn: Of course I am with you again on your thoughts of the A4. Just wanted to add that the A4 is indeed moving upscale (not really in cost but in feel and looks) mimicking its A6 big brother. I believe the A4 will not be available in Quattro format until sometime next year.

brave1heart:lots of interesting changes I hear for the MY2002 Jetta, namely they are bringing in the Euro 24v Dohc VR6 with about 201 horses. In europe this engine is mated to the awd system, but in the power-hungry US, VW NA reckoned enthusiasts do not want anything diluting the full-bodied flavor of the hot VR6 on the front-drive ASR reined Jetta... :-) Coupled with a sports suspension and 17 inch rolling stock and available tip, the 2002 Jetta sounds like it is making a considerable case for itself...but alas its not RWD. :-)

motorcity3: I think out of schedule oil changes/top offs is your responsibility though... :-)

dc_75

brave1heart: From what I hear, "2-door" and "coupes" are still dirty words in the insurance industry but nowhere as 'obscene' as "turbocharged",especially when that word is coupled with "male, under 21".... :-)

Just curious, has anyone have any experience with BMW Personal Insurance Program. The was I understood it was that as they are more familiar with BMW's safety and security system like HPS, DSC, Coded Driveaway Protection...they are able to give a more accurate evaluation of risks and asjut their premiums accordingly. Although I have not heard about this insurance program on this board...was just wondering. Also, wondering, what constituted to 'average' coverage for you wrt the insurance quote given to you....now that I think about it, I haven't check quotes for myself...

dc_75

The subject of SA 3ers have been discussed at reasonable lengths on this forum (pls review past posts). I believe that the SA facility has been assembling 3ers for years now, not only with the E46 but also with the E36. They are still mostly an assembling plant with a large chunk of parts and components from Germany although, I think they use 20% locally sourced parts to satisfy the local government (for tax incentives etc). Aside from reported concerns regarding inefficiencies in despatching the cars statesside, I don't believe I have heard much (if not any) problems specifically inherent in the SA cars. As I mentioned in a previous posts, the surrounding concerns over SA cars are in quality control and fit and finish as well as the possibility of sub par quality SA components/parts. IMO if ever there were problems in these areas, they should be immediately apparent upon or shortly after delivery, not necessarily only rearing its ugly head many, many years down the road. And as many happy drivers/owners of 325 sedans are happy with their new toys, this leads me to believe that those concerns are without merit. Bottom line is, SA and German BMWs look the same and feels the same and drives the same and has the same level of goodies. They are also covered by the same warranty and you get treated the same at the dealer and (if its your cup of tea) still gathers the same attention on the streets (positively and negatively). So, owners of SA assembled cars should not really feel 'cheated' as they are identical cars with the same German DNA/genes in them...my two cents...

brave1heart

You raise some interesting issues about differences between the New and the Old worlds. I've found it hard to compare. Every time I saw a Golf in Europe last year, it seemed like one huge car. A Jetta seemed like gigantic compared to the rest of the cars on the road. It's funny, the Golf is considered a great FAMILY car in Europe. A 2.5-liter engine is small by our standards here and though BMW's 325 is a very good one, it is just adequate as far as acceleration. And this coming from a racing buff, I know. I do like having the confidence that my car is faster than most cars on the road. It suits my driving style and allows me to manoeuvre more agressively w/o having to worry about that Civic cutting my way off before I exit that ramp at high speed. Well, the 325i manual is good enough for me. If I wanted to burn some money, I'd get the 330 but I agree that the 325 is adeqauate. The 330 is absolutely, totally effortless power. I don't mind having to think two steps ahead on the road and having my car in the right gear for that special manoeuvre that needs the extra punch. Just more reasons to work the shifter - it's fine and FUN for me.

brave1heart

Not so sure about the turbos. Our A4 1.8T is a LOT cheaper to insure than the 325i. Difference in price we paid for the cars is only about 4 grand and cannot explain a $1,000 difference in insurance. The agent told me that for Mass, the Audi is category 17, the BMW 325 sedan is 23, the coupe 24 or 25. You figure every category is 4% difference in insurance premium and that category is based solely on accident history and cost to repair.

dc_75

brave1heart: working the shifter and the engine is a very large reason why we are buying/thinking of buying these cars... :-) And yes you are right, its amazing sometime to note that the cars we see as 'compacts' here in the US seem larger in other countries, and ppl get by with these 'smaller' cars very well indeed. No wonder cars like the Towncar, Expedition and Excursion are viewed with some amusement by them. :-)

Speaking of Old vs. New, how do you feel about BMW moving more and more into the luxury side of the equation. I was just recalling sitting in the new M5 and I was amazed at how luxurious the car is in relative to the earlier variations of the M5. For many years, BMW have always been the purveyor of sport sedans with a luxury theme but now I feel they are getting closer to luxury sedans with a sport theme. Nevertheless, the M5 (and the M3) are magnificent works of engineering and it aches my heart knowing that it will be a looooong time until I can comfortably afford to park one in the ol'garage. I was just rambling as I missed the more minimalist, full-sports oriented approach of BMW cars like the E30 M3 and the E39 M5s...:-)

cowhide

Hello all,

I am considering getting a new 325xi wagon.

I have read in this board great reviews about the leatherette seats, e.g., it looks/feels like leather and is virtually indestructible. My question is - does it BREATHE like real leather? Where I live, summers are hot and humid, and I have found the leather seats in my current Accord a god-send because they breathe very well. How does BMW's leatherette compare?

Also, does anyone have experiences fitting a baby seat in the rear of a 325? Would a wagon give more room in this respect?

Thanks!

barleyphs

I plan on ordering a 330 convertible soon. I am interested in knowing other owners preferences on how to equip this car. Sport package? Manual? Premium package? I currently drive a Mazda Miata, so I am used to stiff suspension and feeling all the bumps in the road. I like to manually shift gears, and love the short throw shifter on the Miata. I have heard some auto critics don't like the relatively long throw on the 3 series. I have driven one 330 convertible with sport package and manual and thought I liked it pretty well, althoug it has been a while back, in March. I would appreciate any thoughts or opinions.

bmwow

Brave1heart,
I know you said this earlier this morning but I just read it... your statement that women in India and Pakistan would somehow be flattered by a "luxury car present" but that it's insulting to an "American" woman really stung. As a female Indian who meets the same criteria you listed for your wife, I have to say that the earlier "present" comment was far less insulting (to me) than yours about the two nations. I know you were only saying it to limit dismissive viewpoints on wives; but please think about how you might be dismissive of other equally valid people (ie Indian wives!) in your responses. I suggest you visit India sometime (and talk to some of the many women professionals there) - it's not at all what you appear to think it's like.

mhine

We are looking at a used 1998 BMW 318i and I was looking at Edmunds options list for this car and was curious about a few of the listings. What is an optional rear bench seat? This car is a 4 door and has a ski bag. Also, is there an easy way to tell whether it has sport suspension? It has many other of the more visible options such as fog lights, alloy wheels, heated front seats, alarm system, keyless entry. Thanks in advance

jbalser

brave1heart thanks for the response. What is a good monthly payment people have been getting on the 325i at around $30K with 5K down? Any suggestions before I look around?

brave1heart

dc_75 - I know, I read a humorous write-up on the Excursion in some British magazine lately. After a dozen jokes about the truck, they finished the write-up saying something along the lines of "Thankfully, Ford has no plans to bring over this Gargantuan vehicle. It won't fit." Reality is, though, bigger cars are still safer and more convenient and they don't have a lot of them in Europe because all roads, garages, etc. are so much smaller and gas is like 3 times the price in the U.S. And because you lose a lot of the fun handling characteristics that are inherent to a smaller car.

Well, I do like BMW's approach to luxury. See, I'm 31 now and I've noticed I care about luxury a bit more than the 22-year old version of me. That trend is likely to continue, as I get older, so why not have the ultimate driving machine be available with all luxo options too? Just as long as BMW stays true to its sporting heritage. The driving experience is most important to me but after all, I get to spend a lot of time in that car too and I want to be comfortable in it.

cowhide - Vinyl can never breathe as well as leather. Synthetic materials can only go so far...That's why the vinyl has little tiny holes in it - to help breathing. I would expect the vinyl will be hotter during the summer but I can live with it. I can think of better ways to spend $1,400. If it gets so "bad" that I can't spend it all, I'd invest it. Nothing wrong driving around with a constipation in order to retire a little earlier in life, right
: O ) Hide the cow, cowhide.

bmwow

Brave1heart,
I know you said this earlier this morning but I just read it... your statement that women in India and Pakistan would somehow be flattered by a "luxury car present" but that it's insulting to an "American" woman really stung. As a female Indian who meets the same criteria you listed for your wife, I have to say that the earlier "present" comment was far less insulting (to me) than yours about the two nations. I know you were only saying it to limit dismissive viewpoints on wives; but please think about how you might be dismissive of other equally valid people (ie Indian wives!) in your responses. I suggest you visit India sometime (and talk to some of the many women professionals there) - it's not at all what you appear to think it's like.

marincountygal

Thanks for your responses my inquiry about BMW asembled in SA.... I just called the dealer and told him to proceed with my new car. You all are wonderful to have given such thoughtful replies.

Town Hall has really helped me w/ car selection and negotiations. (I've ordered a 325i, A/T, steel blue, black leatherette and PremPkg. The final deal was $1582 over invoice and $1132 under MSRP.... (By the way, I live in the SF Bay Area). I've lost a lot of sleep kicking myself about how I could have bargained even better, and I think if I'd read here even more ahead of time, I COULD have done better).
So, thanks to all of you who post. (Even those of you who are pretty out on the edge add some entertainment value to all of the useful info.)

Question: I've read about alarms, garage door buttons, tinting and other add-ons that weren't part of the official choice I had when ordering my car. Is there some place where I can get more info on pricing and details about all of those?? Will the sales guy surface these choices closer to the time of delivery (early July!)? Do I have a chance of getting 'invoice' price on any of them? Including floor mats? I guess my main question would be, is there a way to negotiate these 'fringes' with the dealer when I pick up my car? Or did I need to do it when I placed the order?

THANKS to you all!
You're the best!

kominsky

wow... yet another reason I'm glad I don't live in a big city. ;-)

I'm paying $564/year on my 330Ci. When shopping last year I was quoted around $470 on a 323Ci and $425 on a 323i. The A4 1.8t fell somewhere in between. To put this in some kind of perspective relative to other cars (in my locality), I'm also paying $290 on a '93 Nissan Altima and somewhere around $475 on a '00 Honda Odyssey.

mikesm6

Even 'tho you are paying for it up front, IT AIN'T FREE or full anything! Follow the break in instructions religiously, and change the motor oil/filter @ 1000/1200 miles (don't reset). You can certainly get 5000+ mis after that using synthetic M/O - I use Valvoline 20 -50 in the M 6 and Castrol 5-50 in the 325 is, but still have three green lights at 5+ K mi changes). M

ds2k1

Insurance quotes are going to vary greatly by area and also by age. For instance, my insurance quotes dropped dramatically when I moved from Los Angeles to the SF bay area. Why? I don't know. Probably less car theft in my new zip code and less accidents. Relatively speaking, however, the BMW was very reasonable to insure. I just replaced a 1991 Acura Legend with a 330i and it's costing me a whopping $24/year extra. In fact, my '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee is slightly more expensive to insure than the BMW. Go figure. Just to give you some perspective, I'm a 34-year-old professional male with a 40-mile round trip daily commute and my insurance rate for the Bimmer amounts to about $812/year. I have excellent coverage, too. Not bad, huh?

And Braveheart, while I appreciate most of your posts, I thought you were a bit out of line with regard to the gentleman who wanted to give his wife a nce present. First of all, I don't see why that should seem so crazy - some women do still stay at home and take care of the family for a living. Additionally, bmwow has a very good point about how your comments could be taken the wrong way and it probably wouldn't kill you to apologize to her. No need to get inflammatory on these boards, just try to be helpful. My $.02

zmantop

C'mon Brave1heart! Having read soooooo many fantastic BMW related postings from you, you were the last person in this group we'd have expected such "unbelievable" comments. Giving you a benefit of the doubt here that you said what you said being carried away or more like slip of a tongue...

Generally speaking (nothing personal), if your wife really loves you, when it comes to GIFTS, she’ll never laugh at your face or get insulted by these "material things", at least my wife won't!!! I guess this is a very characteristic of true loving spouse irrelevant to any nationality...

I guess this forum is about one of the best piece of machines ever built. But I guess in our enthusiasm we sometimes get so excited that we don’t even realize that by intentionally or unintentionally insulting India, Pakistan, or even South Africa for that matter, bad thing s can happen to you – such as your Bimmer dying on you as soon as you pick it up from the dealership or factory )

I know you probably didn’t mean to be disrepcteful but to some it may come across that way. So my friendly advise to you would be to please apologize to BMWOW in case you haven’t yet. And by the way, this Pakistani husband’s American wife can’t wait to lay her hands on her dream car (330xi) that happens to be a gift from her loving husband!!!

emilyk

I am a professional 26 year old female with no tickets and no accidents to my record living in the SF Bay Area. I've called three insurance companies and all have given me quotes around $1300-$1400 p/yr for my future 330i. This is given that I drive up to 12K miles p/yr AND includes a multi-car discount. The coverage is also minimal with $500/$100 deductibles for collision and comprehensive, respectfully.

ds2k1

I use Mercury. I've also been with them a number of years and I think I get an additional discount for being a long-time customer. I've never had any problems with them and have found them prompt, efficient and fair (as well as reasonably priced).

vesuviusii

fyi -- I'm looking at about $1,200yr through USAA for a 325i w/ minimal coverage, no accidents or tix.

I highly recommend USAA. Their customer service and rates are tops! Literally, nationally ranked 2nd only to "Amica" (out of Cinci??) who only insures little-ol'-ladies (no offense, little-ol'-ladies in the audience). I think anyone out there who IS or WAS in the military OR have a direct family member serving/served in the military is eligible. Just for giggles I called GEICO to "save 15% or more on car insurance" and was quoted $1,750 for the same coverage! Must have something to do with my number of "re-ups" over the years.

V

emilyk

I did call Mercury, per ds2k1's advice. They offered the best rate that I've received so far, $1850 p/yr (330i & P/U truck) with excellent coverage, low deductibles AND homeowner's insurance. This is a no-brainer, I'm signing up!
Thanks everyone!

megrdh

Hi everybody,
Regarding auto insurance, I have a copy from Consumer Reports January 1997 (pretty old ?) It rated: Mercury Ins Co. is cheapest for parents and teen, young parents, and single mothers in CA (Daly City and SF) especially suburban. I am glad you mentioned insurance issue in this board. I may have to change if it goes cheaper for my future car, too. Currently i have AAA. Thanks for all the good info. I like this forum very much. Thank you all. Meg.

brave1heart

bmwow/zmantop, as Dave Barry says, 'No matter what you say, somebody will always get it the wrong way.' All I was trying to tell Mr. Ajay Gandhi here (orcale_xml) is to 'focus on the car...'. I have not generalized about anyone and I was actually trying to defend female boardees who seem to be in minority on this board. Read my post again. As far as my wife, she would be pissed off if I ever said I bought her a car. I did not, she makes enough money to buy her own car. Don't get love and all that stuff involved, that's too personal and way off the mark. Indian and Pakistani women ROCK, baby, let's move on. If you have been following my posts, you will know that I am not afraid of confrontations and that I find humor in everything. If there is something that bothers you or you don't feel good about, send me an e-mail and I promise I will discuss it with you off-line. We are way off the mark here and this board will not be interested in our boring discussion. My advice to you would be: know who you are and what you stand for and don't look for feedback that helps you build your confidence from any cyber stranger. This board is the wrong place for that kind of stuff - we are all here because we love cars and BMWs in particular and again, let's stay focused on that. Amen :O)

brave1heart

shipo

Large cars in Europe;

As I related in a recent post about cloth seats, I was working in Stuttgart for a while on a project for Mercedes-Benz. During my tenure there, I had a fairly basic rented 320i (E36 version). Even though I was used to driving my VR6 Passat GLX here in the states (I have since upgraded to a 1999 328i) the 320i felt large and fast when compared to Golfs, Seats, Fiats and such.

For a long weekend, my friend Klaus and I drove down to Lago di Garda in northern Italy in the 320i. During the return trip, on the Autobahn heading north toward Ulm, going flat out up a long grade, I saw a vehicle about a kilometer back give me a quick flash. Given that he/she/they were going a lot faster than me, I finished passing the cars to my right and moved over. In the pre-dawn light I did not immediately recognize the vehicle passing me, and even when I did, I did not believe it. Would you believe a Chrysler Mini-Van, I was stunned! I guess that a Euro-Spec 3.8L even in a Mini-Van can generate enough top end to dust my 320i.

Upon further reflection, I assume it was one of the vehicles that MB was testing prior to either buying Chrysler or building their own van (both rumors were floating around at the time). I guess that just goes to show you, all thing are relative.

Cowhide,

When I first got my 328i, my daughter was still in her car seat, and it fit just fine in the rear seat. My son was and still is in a booster seat and my daughter has graduated to the same. The only problem with the boosters is that my kids feet hang to the narrowest point between the back of the front seat and the front of the rear seat, as a result they have little foot room. Short trips are fine, but I would not want to take a 5 hour road trip with the kids. I guess that is why we also have a Dodge Caravan.

Best Regards,
Shipo

parump

Marincountygal,

If you ordered your car at the Sonnen dealer, speak directly to the sales manager and make a plea for discounted, dealer installed options. The markup at Sonnen on these products are among the highest of all dealerships. The sales manager should offer you a reasonable deal to make you a happy customer. I am guessing about this based upon my general impressions of the dealership. Don't fret about your deal. It is very, very good.

Parump

uofmich1

Guys... I think we need to be able to put up some pictures on this board. Overall, this is far and away the best BMW board for me, I tried roadfly but wow, what a bunch of garbage. All I read is bashing and nonsense. Only thing thats worthwhile there is a pic now and then. Just a thought. I have an update on my SA car too.. it finally left port friday.. wow only took 8 weeks!! So I expect an overall delivery time of 10-11 weeks.

div2

The bench seat reference has to mean the optional fold down rear seat.

brave1heart

Wow, the difference in insurance quotes is astounding. I know our auto insurance in Boston is about 25-35% more compared to what it costs to insure the car in the suburbs but still - some of you are getting quotes as low as $500 in some parts of the country and that was for a 330i; mine is a 325i. I would have thought that prices in Boston should be comparable to SF/Bay Area. Those of you that live in the Bay Area, is that like across the Golden Gate bridge (suburbs) or right in the city. From what I know, the insurance premium is based mostly on the percentage of accidents with your vehicle type in the zip code where you primarily garage the car, as well as the cost to repair it. Then you throw in stuff like driving record, annual miles limit, etc. I don't think occupation or gender matter - that would be highly illegal I'm guessing. Well, we are paying almost 5 grand for two cars (sedans at that!!) with average driving history and I'm going on a hunt to figure out if this is all because we live right in the city or we are getting royally screwed by the insurance company. Think I'll start with the State Division of Insurance here in Mass. It will all vary by state widely but I'll keep you posted if you are interested. Sometimes I wonder if all the people that came off of Mayflower were lawyers and accountants - they gotta regulate everything around here in Mass and auto insurance is no exception. You'd think the insurance premium should be transparent with all this regulation...

emilyk

I live in Silicon Valley where there are plenty of luxury cars and relatively low crime rates. I currently drive a 2000 Jetta VR6. What I found astonishing was that Mercury quoted my VW at $20 MORE per year than the 330! When I asked why that was, she said that VWs get stolen quite often like Hondas. I think they have their facts skewed, but I'm not going to argue with them. Oh, and gender and occupation do matter. Engineers and teachers with credentials receive a discount.

brave1heart

My '97 Jetta VR6 is about $1,700 a year. The 325i quote was for $2,800 with identical coverage. My ins. agent is saying that the carrier is rating the Jetta with a lower premium, then the A4 very close behind, and the BMW is almost in muscle car category. Amazing, this is a 325 sedan we are talking about. As far as occupation, it is common that certain associations (incl. AAA) get a 10% discount or so. Teachers may be getting that because they are all part of the same association or something. But charge females and males differently?!?!? How does that work - isn't it illegal? So who's charged more and is that because they cause more accidents or are worse drivers or what?

marincountygal

Parump,
You're right; I ordered the car at Sonnen BMW. Thanks for saying I got a good
deal. :-) It really made me feel better!

Before I follow your suggestion about the sales manager, can you -- or anyone else-- give me some idea of what a GOOD price is for each of the following add-ons:
Garage door opener
Alarm
Tinted windows
Or, is there some website that addresses this?? I found great info about factory installed options (prem pkg, fog lights, leather, etc), but nothing about prices for dealer add-ons. I would like to be equally prepared in discussing dealer add-ons, but I know NOTHING about this, and the comment that Sonnen charges higher than usual for these things adds to my determination to find out more.

ALSO, do any of you recommend dealer add-ons upon delivery that I haven't mentioned?

Any help appreciated!
Thanks,
MarinCountyGal

parump

MarinCountyGal,

I elected to purchase the fourth year maintenance program, the garage door opener, and floor mats. Here is a dealer's website with more reasonable pricing.

http://www.pacificbmw.com/catalog/access/detail.asp?pid=169&category=3&section=15&model=E46

I decided not to purchase the car alarm. I don't know enough about theft, break in rates to comment either way. Good luck!

Parump

m3forum

Waited on the list for 2 years...just took delivery!

Got it in Imola Red with blk lthr interior. Uploaded some pics to my website at http://www.M3Forum.com

Happy motoring!

wailea

I have a SB 325i with black leatherette. I got the 3M medium black tint all round. With the black interior, it "looks" close to limo tint. The cost was $375 - and worth the cost for the reasons you stated.

For the garage door opener at cirlebmw, does that need to be programmed by the dealer after installation? Or do you just install and use it?

mdbimmer

I feel guilty posting this, because I think I saw something about 200 messages ago, but I can't find it (I wish the board had a good search engine). I'm wondering about the money rate on the subsidized 330 leases (to be precise, I'm interested in a 15k/yr 3 yr lease, which if memory serves has a 62% residual value). I'm interested in stacking that money rate up against the 5.9% finance rate for purchasing. I'm wondering what the effective interest rate is for the subsidized lease.

As for the insurance quotes -- here in Maryland I have found Farmers Direct (Internet only) to give easily the cheapest rates. Sex differentials in premiums are, by the way, legal in a majority of states, and illegal in a minority of them. In the latter states, females in effect subsidize males, who have higher accident rates.

jhdevoy

I like the steel gray/black leather combo more each day... What are your thoughts? Have you noticed how much it changes colors depending on the time of day? I haven't seen one other steel gray driving yet.

Quick Question for all of the seasoned pros..
How do you clean your car? My old cars have all been "carwash ready", but I'm not letting huge fans scratch this baby up!

Specifically, what do I treat the leather with? How often? What about the exterior? Just a little warm soap and water and some soft cloths?

Lastly, has anyone programmed their car to auto lock the doors at 10mph or so? My Tahoe does that and I like the feature, so I'd like to get my 330xi done the same way.

merckx

Steel blue and black is my second favorite.But a lot of times,I think an expensive car looks great in a simple,stark combination like white with black interior.
Also,are you a Sean Kelly fan?-isn't all of Ireland?

ownertobe2

I got the following deal from Passport in MD:

1) Money factor=.0021 or 5.0%
2) Residual = 64% (3 yr., 36K miles)
3) Price = $2K over invoice (including mats and advertising fees)

On thing to keep in mind re: lease vs. buy is that BMW has a $350 disposition fee if you do not buy the car at the end of the term. This essentially adds $10 per month to your payment.

brave1heart

Visit e46fanatics.com's FAQ server for everything you want to know on cleaning. I would've posted it here but it seems that some of that high-tech, deeply specialized cleaning stuff is copyrighted - LOL!!

Q: What is the best product to use on leather?
A: Lexol makes a great leather cleaner and a leather conditioner. You can see many cleaning tips at Car Care Online.com and Autopia Car Care.

Q: How can I clean scuff marks off of my black leather?
A: Michael "IronMike" Huoh on A4.ORG discovered that you can mix lexol with a brand of shoe polish that will make black leather look new again. View this entry on the A4 FAQ.

Q: Ugh! Why are my wheels getting so dirty?
A: It is common for E46's to "shed" lots of brake dust. Some of us are out there cleaning our rims once or twice a week. If you wax your rims the same way you wax the rest of your car, it will be a lot easier to clean them.

I hope this helps.

mdbimmer

Thanks for that information -- that's exactly what I needed.

The 64% residual for a 12K/yr lease drops to 62% for a 15K/yr lease, I am told.

I do keep my cars at least 8 yrs or so, and will purchase the car at expiration. The only reason I'm considering leasing is because the effective interest rate is lower than for buying!

kominsky

Forget Batman and Superman, you are my new hero!!! :-) I'd be interested in hearing your observations once you've had a chance to put some miles on the car. Thanks. kominsky@agere.com

larryintn

The only accessory that needs dealer programming is the alarm. You program Homelink yourself.

http://www.homelink.com/

megrdh

Hi emilyk-- I guess I ordered my car at the same dealer and about the same week as you did. Do you get the alarm? I e-mailed them regarding tinted window and car alarm. They quoted me $649+tax for the alarm and asked me to stop by for tinted window. When I asked will they program if I get the system and install myself. They did not answer my question directly. Please advise me if you get any good deal, frankly I am not good in negotiating. Thank you in advance for all of your help. Meg

brave1heart

Just checked with my dealer - they charge $405 for the alarm. Not unreasonable considering the list price is $300 and it takes about an hour to install. I could get it at BMW Circle for $225 (sale price) and have it installed for $100 for a total saving of $80. The saving would not be worth the hassle in the scope of a 35K purchase. I checked the instructions for installing the alarm DIY. Doable but again, for me at least, not worth the risk of DIY. I'm not sure how much the dealer would charge for activating it after you install it and I think it's definitely worth paying the dealer $100 to install it and activate it for you. I intend to do that. megrdh - $649+tax sounds awfully high.