BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

anikao

I was wondering if anyone could lend some advice on how to initially drive a 325xi. I am picking it up in Portland and driving it to Reno, about 10 hours. Any comments on speed and RPM levels are much appreciated. Thanks.

kdshapiro

BMW recommends during the break in period, which lasts 1,200 miles:

1. keeping the rpms below 4,000
2. keeping the speed under 80mph
3. varying the speed on long drives

Congrats and have a great drive.

mschukar

Thanks for the feedback.

I installed the armrest in my 325i myself, but I need to know where to pry and poke to remove stuff.

I may end up taking it to the audio dealer to have them do it. We'll see.

-murray

newtoboston

It's interesting that many people bashed BMW owners by saying we're yuppies and we bought it to impress others. Hmmm, I would say most people think the term "yuppie" is a derogatory term so how could buying a car which so many people mistakenly associated with yuppies also impress people at the same time.

If anything, I bought this car in spite of the negative reaction I knew I would get from my friends and family. It had everything to do with my first test drive back in 1997.

Sorry all, just venting because I can't vent in that closed thread!

mg330ci

What would you rather see in the future:

A.- A world full of yuppies driving BMW's

B.- A world full of mothers and non yuppies driving free falling fat men, sorry, I meant 4-ton "safer" taller heavier vehicles

Sorry for the little humor, I just saw the Dodge truck hemi commercial (probably the scarriest commercial ever created, I now have nightmares everyday) and got me started.

I can imagine their next TV commercial, talking about safety and showing how their trucks can vaporize crash dummies strategically positioned in front of them. "Yeah baby, not a single scratch, now lets try ramming that family driving a Corolla"

brave1heart

fwiw, I lose about 10-12 mph in corners with the M2s and dry traction doesn't begin the compare with the summer tires even in the coldest temperatures (like ~ 5 F). It's VERY easy to get the DSC to kick in compared to the Sumis and Contis from last year. They are exceptionally quiet on the highway, though, and I am glad I'll have them for the few days that I'll be driving in snow.

kominsky

Maybe the 225 vs 205 makes a big difference. I believe I'm hooking up better with the Dunlops, especially within the first 10 miles or so.

Are you guys supposed to be getting the sleet/freezing rain up there that our forecasters are calling for? I'm looking forward, in a sick kind of way, to driving my car on ice to see what the tires can do.

" 70-90 mph in 5.5 seconds (4-th gear) - not bad for a wimpy 2.5 ltr."

I tried matching that with my manly 3.0L but couldn't. The closest I could get was 5.3 seconds... up hill... with two plug wires pulled... and no tires. hahahaha!

joes230

I own a 2003 330i SP 5-speed, and have driven a G35 sedan extensively. The G35 handles and goes very well -- chassis and engine dynamics are true sports sedan caliber. It has lots of room inside and is cheaper than a 330i. Personally I thought the interior was OK. However overall it's not as refined as the BMW.

On paper the G35 automatic sedan is roughly as fast as a 330i 5-speed. Actually driving them feels very different. The G35 has an exaggerated throttle tip-in, making it initially feel very fast. Then progressing to full throttle, not much else. Then at about 4500 rpm, a big kick. At higher rpm, engine is much louder than the 330i.

By contrast the 330i power delivery is very smooth and linear. It takes more throttle angle, plus engine is quieter so may viscerally feel slower than the G35, but they're about the same. I wouldn't choose cars based on acceleration this close.

Handling-wise G35 has good turn-in and grip. Nice, fast steering response, yet not darty. However chassis isn't as communicative, and above 8/10ths in corners you're not as secure. But the highway ride is better and it tramlines less than a 330i SP.

Infiniti did a great job on chassis and engine dynamics. But here are some G35 missing refinements: no telescoping steering column, no fore/aft adjustable headrests, no lighted steering wheel buttons, no self-leveling xenons, no adjustable thigh support, seat heaters slower and less coverage, nighttime instrument illumination either too bright or too dim. Individually these seem small, but collectively they make the 330i SP cockpit a nicer place.

But despite any G35 flaws I highly recommend anybody in the market drive it. I think it's the best 330i sports sedan competitor.

-- Joe

brave1heart

I'd be curious to find out how fast you can go 70-90 mph in 4-th on a flat road.

It probably is the tire size more than anything else.

The forecast is for lots of rain but the temps will stay above freezing at least during the day. I wish it were snow instead ( At least I hope the rain will wash the snow off my yard so I can finally rake the leaves )

kominsky

brave1heart

It isn't nearly perfect )

kominsky

I don't wear a watch so I guess I'll have to count "1 mississippi, 2 mississippi,..."

brave1heart

I do that when I go on vacation. It sounds like your whole life is one big vacation )

kominsky

Throughout the years I've tried wearing them but they have an expected life span of about 3 days before I do something stupid and break or scratch them.

kominsky

"It sounds like your whole life is one big vacation"

My wife says that all the time, too. I guess no one understands the pressures I face... lol!

niknoc

I am going to purchase a 3-series in the next couple of weeks. I have been looking at both the 328i and the 330i. I need some advice on the differences between the two. Is the increase in engine horsepower noticeable? What other changes were made from one year to another that I should consider? I can't tell, but were there body style changes between the two cars? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Steve C.

locke2c

in 1999 the body style changed. the 328's 193HP was probably a little underrated considering the car's acceleration benchmarks, but the 330's 220HP engine does have noticably more grunt.

a 98 or older 328 will be the older body style, which is a little lighter. it'll be cheaper and the looks of course are subjective. switchgear and features inside the cabin will be very similar.

if you're considering the older bodystyle at all, price a 95-99 M3 versus a very late model (or new) 330. you'll can read back through the old messages for stories from me and others on which we chose and why.

-Colin

ryoken

Regarding post 21064. Call me fickle. I've changed my mind. All weekend after putting the deposit down on the 330, I started kicking myself. I realized I was being a bit selfish to my growing family. While I like the 330i a little better than the G35 when I'm the only one in the car, I like the G35 a little better when the seats are full of passengers. The BMW is definately a driver's car. The Infiniti, on the other hand, manages to be a driver's car as well, but not at the expense of the passengers. I plan on keeping my next purchase for 7 or 8 years, and I'm afraid the 330 won't cut it, size-wise. I'd step up to a 5-series, but it's just not in the budget. Here's hoping for the day I win the lottery and can afford separate commuter and weekend cars.

seivwrig

The question that I ask myself is: How often do I have a car full of passengers? In my case, any time that I go to church (Weds, Sat & Sun). Otherwise, I am in my car by myself. It is only selfish if you buy a 330Ci.

brave1heart

... is a legitimate concern but I don't see how getting the G35 changes anything. If you have 2 kids, they will be more than comfortable in the back seat of either car. With 3 kids, you'll probably need a minivan or at least a wagon to haul all the stuff that kids typically need for trips. The price difference should not be a concern either, as the BMW will hold its value much better over time. I have an 11-month old and our family car is an A4, which has a much tighter seat than my 325. We drove from Boston to Baltimore for Thanksgiving - 9+ hours on the way back ( - and the car is big enough for us. My wife sat in the back seat all the time to keep our son busy - with the passenger seat pulled all the way up and its headrest removed, she had plenty of room and visibility and even our son could "go for a walk" between the seats when he needed to move and we could not stop. Minivans & SUV's may give you more space but how many of them will allow you to change two lanes at a time at high speed without disturbing your family in the back ) And get 28 mpg. And get there much faster.

pat

brave1heart

I can't believe it either! Check your e-mail - I'm sending you a picture.

kominsky

"It is only selfish if you buy a 330Ci. "

Bummer... I'm selfish.

I'd be real interested in hearing your justification for that statement. Is it because YOU chose not to get one?

mg330ci

However, my wife and I have ridden in the back seat for normal in-town-long commutes and it was ok. As a matter of fact, same as my 95 Accord (sedan).

The kids have all the room I can think of in the back.

The major problem, is for ME to bent over and reach in order to adjust the child seat.

So overall, its not so bad. And I like the looks of the coupe so much over the sedan, that after 8 moths, I have no regrets (Our other car is a minivan, by the way)

mg330ci

Spend some time in the back seats of both cars, weight the amount of time your kids will spend in them, and consider how tall they will be in your 7 year span. Any 14 year old kid and under should have plenty of space unless you play in the NBA;-)

And, if they will be older than 15, trust me, your kid will rather have the bimmer 1000 times more than the G35 to borrow for his dates :-)

One more point. The passenger space of the 5 is only MARGINALLY larger than the 3.

There most be something else that m,ade you change your mind. Come on, open up and tell us!

Price is a valid point, but after free services, depreciation and resale value, it does get closer. Somebody was ready to by a 96 3 series for 15 grand! 2-3 pages back. Thats 50% depreciation in 6 years!!!

If you really like the G35 better than the 3, then congratulations, you can't go wrong with either. (But your future teenager kid will vote for the BMW, no questions asked

leenelsonmd

I don't wear a watch or jewelry of any kind. No wedding band even.

I have a wife and an 18 month old and another kid soon to follow. I purchased an M3. My wife used it for a week and loved it. No problems getting the kid in the back (it is even easier in some regards because the door is so big and there is so much room when the seat flips up that you can stand in the back while buckling the little one up). I see little reason to increase to the 5 series (or the G35) from a family perspective -- it is more fitting for those who like to entertain friends on the town--this is true. Our next cargo and people mover for the family will probably be a wagon (the wagon adds some cargo space for kid's junk) or a reasonably sized SUV (No mammoth SUVs for me).

The slight amount of rear seat room in a G35 is not a reason to pick it over a 3 series (IMO). Pick it to save money up front, but I would not consider it any more of a family car than a 3 series.

kominsky

My wife has a Honda Odyssey. From a convenience and roominess standpoint, it couldn't get much easier for the kids. Heck, the doors even open by themselves. But my kids, ages 8 and 11, when given the choice, pick the BMW every time.... even when Mom's along to try to ruin the fun ;-).

dave330i

For cargo and people moving, wagons are better than SUVs, and mini-vans are better than wagons. For an M3 owner such as yourself, I'd recommend the S6 Avant.

kdshapiro

I have to tell you my kids when given the choice between the Bimmer and the "other" car, take the Bimmer every time.

tausc82

For the person looking into the G35, take a look at 5 year old Infiniti's Vs. 5 year old BMW's. There is no comparison. BMW retain their style and value as well. I have a 2001 330i, along with my wife and twin boys (13). As mentioned earlier, rarely do we drive my car with the entire family, that's what the minivan is for. Also my kids and their friends I might add prefer to ride in dad's car. I love this car with the exception of winter snow & ice. I have 33K miles and still enjoy my everyday ride. Just an fyi, coming off lease next year the buyout is $26.5K. I hope you haven't purchased the G35. Although nice today......

ryoken

That's funny. My 8yr old son prefers the Infiniti. I think the reclining seats are his only criteria at this point, though. I'm not too worried about the cost difference. If I were, I would have gotten one of the '02 Volvo S60 T5's the local dealer is trying to clear to make way for the '03s.
There are a few other reasons. In the G35, you don't have to choose between using the second cup holder, or the arm rest. You don't have to open the trunk to change the CD's. Yeah, they're minor points, but I have to live with them for quite a while. And I have a kid on the way, so I'll be wrestling a car seat in and out of the back for awhile. Plus, I'm a native Texan, and Bigger is Better, right? We've got a Grand Cherokee for when we really need more room, but we'd like to take some trips in my car, too.
Your points are all valid. In my opinion, it almost comes down to a coin toss between these two. One day we'll kick the last kid out of the house, and my wife will get her 911, and I'll get an M5.

Minivan? Never. Blech. Snow & Ice? I live in San Diego - Summer Tires cover all the seasons. And as for when my son turns 16, he can takes his dates out in his own car. (Preferably something with 3 cylinders and 2 tons of metal.)

fomentar

I have seen comments on another forum expressing concern over the durability of the Montana leather, especially on the sport seats. Comments generally centered on the wear points on the side bolsters as a result of entering and exiting the car. Does anyone have something to offer on this topic?

riez

fomentar... The driver seat in my wife's '00 323iA is wearing badly. She bought the car 12/01 at about 18,000 miles. I really noticed the wear this summer, at around 32,000 miles. It now has about 38,000 miles. Wear due to normal entry and exit. But her's is a non-Sport. Her car has Premium Package. It has leather seats.

fomentar

I take it then that the seats in general don't hold up well. I have 125K miles on my 97 Maxima SE with leather and the seats are still perfect. I regularly use leather conditioner, which I would suppose is a plus. Still would like to hear of other experiences. Thanks riez.

needashave

Anyone have any experience driving a 325 in Chicago winters? Assuming its a non-sport with all seasons, is this car gonna make it? I remember in my "yute" driving my 73 Firebird in Chicago winters and it was miserable.

kominsky

I have the leatherette sport seats and within the first couple of weeks of owning the car tore off a chunk of the piping at the bolster. It happened when climbing in, with jeans on. My pocket snagged on the piping and ripped it. Since then, I've gotten into the habit of moving the seat back before exitting the car. There has been no additional damage and no noticable wear since starting that practice.

kominsky

I know my kids would think the reclining rear seats are pretty cool, too!

FWIW, I wouldn't be too quick to write off a minivan. I felt pretty much the same way before my wife DEMANDED hers (the Mrs. can get mighty ornery when she doesn't get her own way). Now that it's been in the family for a couple of years, I can't imagine not having one. Sure it's boring and has that certain stigma attached, but without starting a debate, I'd bet it handles all driving functions as well or better than your Grand Cherokee at a lower price, with better fuel economy, and greater comfort for the passengers. The only exceptions would be off-roading and trailer pulling, which most people never do with their SUV's. You may, in which case you may disregard my rambling on. :-)

ryoken

It's the Mrs. that won't be caught dead in a minivan. But you're dead-on accurate regarding the rest.. the only offroading it sees is the occasional dirt parking lot.

Seat Wear: My sister's Suburban had that problem with the leather on the driver's left side bolster. They had that one strip of leather replaced with some synthetic vinyl, you could hardly tell the difference, and it's supposed to wear better. Another approach would be to not slide your butt off the seat, but to lift it out of the seat.

bmw323is

I have sand leather sport seats in my (almost) 3 year old 323i. No wear to be seen except a slight shinyness to the drivers seat. I do use Lexol conditioner and am careful on entry and exit - expecially when wearing jeans (pants with rivets in them were made to be worn in the 19th century anyway).

bmw323is

Thanks to all who responsed to my G35 post. Excellent thoughts in each case. Don't mean to turn this into an Infiniti board, but here are a couple of other questions. On the issue of resale, I wonder if Infiniti's resale hasn't been very good because they haven't had a WOW type of product in the past. They do now, and I think they will take a bite out of BMW's sales, which was their intention. The G35 coupe is stunning and is Motor Trend's COTY (over 26 other competitor's)and it is on C&D's 10 best list - not a bad start.

Secondly, why on earth is an automatic standard and the 6 speed an extra cost option on the G35 coupe??? And the stick only comes with leather interior? That doesn't make sense to me, or did I miss something?

ryoken - you wanted something for your son at age 16 that has 3 clyinders and 2 tons of mass. Buy a V-6 chevy now and only 3 cylinders will be functional in 8 years

By the way, don't get me wrong, I still love my Bimmer. I'm just finally happy to see a serious competitor - it may humble all those stuffy BMW sales folks with the buy-it-for-MSRP attitide.

ryoken

That's one thing I will always love about BMW. You can get the 330 with all the trimmings... and a stick. You can get a 540 with a 6-speed. I am kinda irked that Infiniti isn't offering the stick right away in the sedan. Acura makes the stick available in the CL, but not the TL, and same with the Accord coupe v. sedan. Last time I checked, Toyota offered a Camry with a V6 and a stick.. but not with the top trim package, and not with California emissions. Give me six cylinders, four doors, and three pedals any day; the rest is just gravy. Of course, I like gravy.

I don't mind a good stick costing extra.. with 97% of the American public preferring automatics, I'd rather have the option to pay more for a stick than not have the option at all.

bmw323is, regarding stuffy BMW sales folks: go talk to the Internet/Fleet Sales Manager. You should be able to swing $1000-1500 off MSRP without haggling. And about that Chevy.. if I let someone else buy it now, I can get get it cheap when my son turns 16.

As for why I'm not getting a stick now.. my wife and I have come to an agreement. I get one more automatic, and she learns to drive a stick.

kdshapiro

I'm surprised to hear you say that about BMW sales folks, given that some Infiniti dealers are attempting to charge above MSRP for their products.

BTW most people don't pay MSRP for their Bimmers unless you lease/buy an M3 or M5.

dave330i

I've got black leather sport seats with 25k miles, and no visible wear.

newtoboston

The reason the manual G35 costs more is it's sportier:

Tires/Rims - the manual comes with larger rims and upgraded tires.

Manual is a 6-speed vs 5-speed automatic

There's a few other differences as well, can't remember at this point.

And to reiterate ryoken's point, some manufacturers just don't attract a large amount of stickshift drivers so it may be more costly for them to offer it on a vehicle than to not offer it due to mass production issues. I hear that Lexus isn't moving many of their manual IS300s. It'll be interesting to see what they do if that continues since they'd lose a lot of face if they discontinued the manual.

brave1heart

…since I was 16. We got about 6-7” of heavy snow within a 5 hour period last night here in Albany, NY. All roads, including the highways, were completely covered with 2-4” of snow. I must have seen at least 4 cars (all SUV’s) in a ditch on the side of the road. Cars, tractor trailers, all kinds of vehicles had pulled over to the side of the road and cleaning the ice/snow off their cars or just waiting the storm out. Between the DSC and the snow tires, the car feels stable at speeds 20-25 mph faster than the rest of the traffic (very light past midnight). The DSC kicks in often but it does a great job at taming the car. I switched it off every time I was by myself on the road – it’s even more fun without it but it definitely takes intense concentration to keep the car in a straight line at ~ 50-60 mph in 2” of snow & slush on the highway. Braking was even more impressive! I found an empty parking lot and just went fishtailing for ½ hour. By 1 AM, though, there was ~ 5-6” of heavy snow, which as I found out was the car’s limit. You can probably go in more snow than that if it is the light, powdery type but in the heavy stuff that we got last night, the car’s ground clearance was its limit. BTW, there was a 911 parked at the hotel where I was staying. I checked out its tires – it was another set of M2s.

brave1heart

We've discussed getting a minivan with my wife a couple of time and it goes like this:

"Maybe we should get a minivan, what do you think?"
"Are you gonna drive it on daily basis?"
"No way, you?"
"Same here."
"Maybe we can get it as a third car in the family then?"
"Wouldn't it be cheaper to just rent one for the few times we'll really need it?"
"Definitely"
"Then let's do that if and when we really need one"

newtoboston

.....back in my hometown in Plattsburgh NY (20 minutes from Canada) my friends and I would hit the empty parking lots during snow storms. Hours of entertainment for a high school kid!

Tried to do it while back home this past Thanksgiving, but with my girlfriend in the car the experience just wasn't the same. Maybe I should have given her a turn?!?

locke2c

quote: don't mind a good stick costing extra.. with 97% of the American public preferring automatics, I'd rather have the option to pay more for a stick than not have the option at all.

a bit self-serving, don't you think? but that's exactly why manufacturers charge more for automatics... because they can.

anyway the latest JD Powers estimate was a lot closer to 12% than the 3% you opine. can't find numbers for BMW owners, but among the 3 series I think it's safe to guess it's well above 12%.

-Colin

kominsky

My conversation was more like this:

(me) Why do you want one of those?
(her) Because they're very practical.
(me) Yeh, but I don't want to be seen in one.
(her) Too bad, pal, we're getting one.
(me) You're a geek.
(her) jab, jab, left-cross, right-hook.

Where I find it awesome is when we go up to the cabin and each of my kids want to take a friend. 2 adults + 4 kids + 1 German Shepherd = 1 minivan
Your time is coming... :-)

ipatty13

her: "I would never be caught dead driving a minivan" :-D