By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
I wouldn't worry about it. My friend had a Honda that was recalled due to the tranny problems, he, the car, the dealer, all survived the surgery without any issues. Tranny replacement, while expensive, is not complicated. I hope you are getting a n tranny vs a rebuilt tranny. My friend got a rebuilt tranny in his Honda.
One more thing, there is no car that is not subject to recalls. As long as people build them, design them and use them, cars will have recalls. If you want to make yourself feel better search the databases to see some of the recent recalls. You'd be surprised at what you find.
1) 330xi w/snows
2) 330i w/snows
3) 330xi wo/snow
4) 330i wo/snows (non SP model)
5) 330i wo/snows (SP model)
Regarding 1 & 2, the 330xi will accelerate better, however, the 330i should stop better, and depending upon who you listen to, it's a toss up as to which one will handle better.
I hope this helps. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
2004 325xi
Premium package
Cold Weather package
Sport Package
Xenons
Silver grey metalic
Floor mats
MSRP for the car $37,045
I paid $35,500. Did I get an ok deal? That was about the best I could get them down to and am hoping this is a "typical" discount off MSRP, any thoughts?
Thanks,
Kyle
"Of all the cars here, the Saab was one of only two (the other being the BMW) that could be shifted absolutely as fast as the tester's arms and legs could move during quarter-mile tests."
"Of course, nothing's perfect. One editor considered the shift mechanism not to be as snick-snick slick as some, and that it took a fairly high seating position to produce a proper control relationship. "
"G35's extra power provided the car with a compelling advantage. There's no denying that the lusty V-6 pulls willingly across a broad rev range and makes stirring noises all the while, but its gearshift lacks the light, fluid action of the BMW's mechanism at high engine speeds"
BTW, the quote's about a 5 speed 325i...totally different engine and thus it's impact on the tranny would be different from the 330i and ZHP.
Will need to buy a car. Played with the idea of buying here and bringing on over but between the headache of US safety import regs, taxes, and the currently VERY weak dollar -- Thanks a lot GW -- it isn't worth it.
Have been researching for months now, mainly Japanese cars -- family
has always owned Japanese -- mostly Hondas. The 2004 Accord is a decent car overall (price, quality, crash tests, mileage, etc)
But I am apprehensive to put the $$$ on a car, another honda -- even when fully loaded -- that doesn't 'do it' for me.
I can pickup a fully loaded v4 Accord with all the trimmings for under
$24k USD. This got me thinking what can I buy pre-owned, that is
a bit of fun? Maybe a higer class car with a few miles that is in the same price range as the Accord.
Friends recommended BMW 325's, VW GTI VR6, and VW Passats, as some to check out. So the initial search/pricing is under way via internet. Used car dealers, I've only found Carmax, average price BMW 2000 328ci with 40k is sitting at around $25,000 USD. These guys really hold their value!
That is my story thus far. Still very undecided on a car and have some family members who are so pro-japanese it's giving me a headache.
I have heard of electronic problems with the BMW's and my jaw drops at some of the money you guys and gals are paying yearly for repairs.
Choosing to go pre-owned, Do you go to CarMax or certified BMW dealer?
Warranty issues do concern me. If BMW is really offering a 100k miles warranty on all 2000-02 3 series models (if I read that correctly) this would be very attractive. If I picked up a 2000 or 2001 3 series the warranty would be running out very shortly if not completely ended.
Just looking for a bit more information in this direction from those who have experience buying pre-owned BMWs, and what those experiences were. I'm hoping this forum isn't like many others that
tend to attract too many people who had negative experiences with cars
and feel that in some small way they are getting back at the manufacturers by posting a negative critique. So all you end up reading is negative remarks making you want to run the other way when you see one of these cars.
Look forward to hearing from anybody.
2004 325Ci
5 speed Auto
Sand Leatherette
Xenon lights
Heated seats
Sports Package?
I would like to get a Sports Package but not necessarily the Sports suspension which is stiffer i'm guessing (I haven't test drive yet). I was also told that Sports Sus is standard on coupes, is this correct? How noticeable is the SS vs. Non-SS? Also, I like the look of performance tires but weary of its shorter life and again stiffer feel from what I've been reading, please correct me if im wrong.
Is it also possible to get Heated seats without getting Leather?
Can I get the 12 way power seat without getting the Premium of Sports package?
Any help would be appreciated!
I bought two CPO BMWs back in late 2001, a '98 540i6 and a '00 323ia. I wouldn't own a late model BMW out of warranty. That is the biggest reason I traded in my 540i6 as she approached the end of her CPO period. I got my money's worth out of the warranty. Had a couple electrical issues with instrument computer, airbag sensor, etc. plus some minor things (like broken cupholder).
CPO adds price but gives you some peace of mind.
Keep in mind that the CPO warranty is not the same as the new car bumper-to-bumper warranty. It essentially adds 2 years or 50,000 miles of slightly reduced coverage to the original warranty. While it is generous in coverage it is not as broad as the b-to-b warranty and there is a $50 deductible. You should check out BMW NA's web site for more details.
You might also check into maintenance costs and maintenance agreements. Reportedly BMW will now sell maintenance agreement up to 100,000 miles.
As far as shorter life of the tires, I don't know yet. But I'm using Winter tires half the year so that will obviously stretch it out.
The wheel is no longer "perfectly" round, and there is a gouge on the inside of the rim from where the wheel rubbed against the caliper. There appears to be no damage to the caliper (other than aluminum residue from the rim). I drove no more than 30 yards before changing the tire and was driving about 30 mph at impact.
My questions (I've never bent a rim before, so I apologize for my naivete):
1. I understand that there are companies that repair aluminum wheels. Are they referring solely to cosmetic repairs, or is it possible to rebend the wheel into shape (although I'd be concerned that the caliper-inflicted gouge would throw off the balance).
2. There appears to be no damage or distortion to the caliper. Nor does there appear to be any effect on braking. Should I get the brakes inspected or are the calipers designed to take this type of impact.
3. Should I be concerned about a bent axle; how can I tell if this occurred?
Below is a picture of the rim with the affected areas circled. As you can see, the distortion is not very severe.
Lessons learned:
1. Drive carefully during pothole season.
2. If you're going to get 16" winter rims, keep in mind that you either need 5 wheels, or that you better be prepared to drive with a 17" spare. In my case, I was only 1.5 miles from my home, so drove home with the larger spare and I'll be mounting the all-seasons early - hoping for no more snow.
The only good news that I have to offer is that TireRack is currently listing the non-shiny version of the AT Italia Type 5 in 16x7.5 for only $139. :-/
Best Regards,
Shipo
Keep the revs above 5k and the engine has plenty of pull. Just like Acura's engines, BMW's inline 6s really haven't got much forceful torque in the lower rev range. Keep the engines high (one reason a
manual and smg are great) and the cars pull like monsters.
When I let friends drive my bmw I have to beat them over the head to convince them to shift at 6500 or so to really feel the car's power. They all want to shift at 4k. I get, "Isn't that bad for the car?".
My bro-in-law's 745i is a nice car but to me it's too smooth. Press the gas and the car hustles almost silently to 100. It's swift but I've grown to love the clamor involved with my peaky 3.0.
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
I can't fathom this car with beige but some people are getting brown leather with it (shrug).
Sorta wishing I had steel blue now as silver gray is becoming way too ubiquitous.
Thanks.
Is there a different version of the SMG in the 330?
The other issue is that it sure seems like there's a lot of stuff that could go wrong from a technical standpoint. There's not much that can go wrong with a manual that will leave you stranded, and in general the issues with automatics have been worked out over the years, but I would be concerned about the SMG's reliability over 10's of thousands of miles.
I might mention that I did consider it for my 325 as a compromise between myself (who prefers a manual) and my wife (who prefers an automatic). But, as I mentioned above, I was afraid that neither of us would be satisfied, so I just went for the manual (which also saved me the cost of the SMG + Sport Pkg).
Also, if you have the cloth/alcantara seats I'd be curious to know your opinion on them.
I think it comes down to personal preference. I prefer quick trannies that are smooth and engage instantly. It seems that many people see the tranny mechanism on Bimmers as acceptable. Drive a 330i/330ci manual and judge for yourself. I wasn't totally sold on BMW from my drive in a 325i manual and I refused to drive the 330i step as I'm not a fan of slushboxes. It took over a month for me to track down a 330i manual on a lot but once I drove it, I knew the car I had to own.
The next day I got my hands on a 330i ZHP and bought it. No the tranny wasn't nearly as sublime to me as a TSX's but it was good enough.
Like I said, I prefer quick clutches, smooth operation and fast engagement. I've felt that only on Acuras and Miatas. I wouldn't move to another brand just because the tranny doesn't work as well as i'd prefer.
That said, if the TL had been out when I bought my car I surely would have given it a drive with the 6 speed. BTW...I've heard new rumors of an AWD TL. Give us the ability to adjust power (85% rear/ 15% front) and that car stands a good chance of stealing me from BMW.
Also, if you have the cloth/alcantara seats I'd be curious to know your opinion on them.
I have the leather. If the leatherette had been availabe I would have taken that. I'm not a fan of cloth or that Alcantara stuff. To each his own.
If you haven't seen a ZHP with Alcantara shop around. There's no reason you must buy today is there? Plus unless you buy sunday you're buying at the start of a month. I'd suggest that you hold off and buy at the end of a month. That'll give you time to track down an Alcantara car and experience it for yourself. It's a big purchase, might as well try out exactly what you want.
Service department is great. I was getting a noise from the front brakes and took it in one evening without an appointment.
Ends up I needed new front brakes. The service manager pulled the records and said the brakes were within compliance with BMW standards when they put the car in service but that the brakes shouldn't have worn that quickly. He agreed to split the $500 bill in half with me!
I live in Chicago (I can walk to Perillo) but I still go back to Fields. I'm in the market for an '04 and will give Fields my business. They've earned it!
I'm in not in a huge rush to buy. Ironically, I called one of my local dealers today and they have a silver-grey 330i with zhp, xenon and leather. Nearly exactly what I want except for the leather (not a huge problem) and color. It's apparently been on the lot for 60 days so they were motivated to sell it today. I nearly went in to put in a deposit. I didn't think I was picky about the color but after thinking about it I realized that for ~$40k I need to have the color I want and silver-grey isn't it. Who knows, if the car is still there a month from now maybe I'll be less picky and they will be even more motivated!
Your question was directed to blue, but felt you might want my opinion. I also have a 330i w/ZHP, bought in late July last year. I came to BMW after driving a few Preludes and an Integra, all 5 speeds. I concur the bimmer's clutch engagement is much different than the others, but this thread:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=678128#post6781- 28
might be a good way to improve upon clutch engagement.
I haven't performed this modification, but have read positive things about what it offers. I have not experienced any of the problems that blue has with the 6 speed transmission.
In regard to the other options: depending on what area of the country you live in, consider heated seats.
The 3er leather isn't the greatest, but it will help on the resale side. Xenons are great, once you use them, you won't regret it.
Good luck with your decision!
How do the headlight washers on the 325i work? On my Audi A4, they operate any time the headlights are on and I hold the windshield washers on for more than a couple of seconds. The BMW owner manual seems to imply that they operate "periodically" or something like that. What does that mean?
Thanks - this is also good information. Curious whether that modification will void the warranty. If I can't find out through the boards I'll ask the dealer as we get closer to making a deal.
Probably would void your warranty if you removed the lock valve, I have seen a link somewhere that offers modified CDV valves that you can swap in, retaining the stock appearance.
General question for the board: For those running a winter setup, when is it appropriate to swap back in the summer setup? Temperatures have been 30s (low) to 50s/60s (high) in central Ohio, and I am getting tempted to swap back in the summer setup. Any advice as to the lowest temp you can run a summer setup? I feel that the dry roads and warmer temps are wearing my winter setup needlessly.
Thanks,
Mark
Yes, the speed rating has been voided by the repair and being cautious about a repair is a good idea. I would definitely not use the tire for any sort of racing purposes and would avoid high cornering, as that applies shear forces across the tread and you have a discontinuity thru the belts.
Hope this helps.
Mentions that some tire repair places won't patch speed rated tires due to potential liability concerns.
Which reminds me, I'm going the costco route on replacing my car's rears (I've got 14k on them and they're near bald). For 480 I get the two back tires installed and Costco has a nice road hazard warranty that would cost a mint anywhere else.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
My 2002 has 60,000 miles already and I haven't even owned it 2 years yet.
-Paul
Styling:
The car is a beautiful Blue By You as Mitsubishi calls it. I like the overall proportions of the car. The first thing that struck me about it is its aggressive air dam and the no-BS bulge in the hood, which unmistakably speak of the car's impressive power (271 HP in a car that weighs ~ 3,250 lbs). Front license plates are required in NY, which necessitates an offset plate Alfa Romeo-style. The aggressive rear-quarter panels are reminiscent of those in E30 M3s. The high roofline tends to emphasize the car's sedan-ish looks. This Evo had the optional large wing (standard is a low profile GT wing), which creates downforce at high speeds (70+mph). The wing attracts way too much attention for my taste and it takes away from otherwise great all-around visibility. On entry, the door feels relatively light but it closes with a nice thud - none of the paper feel and tinny sound from the WRX. The interior is very spacious with plenty of headroom. The driver seat has fewer adjustment options that the manual sports seats in my 325 but it is comfortable and snug, which is a great advantage under hard cornering. I liked the simple, plain looks of the dashboard, although I would have liked to see larger numbers on the tach. I did not sit in the back but it seemed that there was at least as much room back there as in an E46 sedan.
The drive:
As soon as you turn the key, you know you are sitting in a car that's closer to a race car than your average commute car. It idles at 1,200-1,300 RPMs (down to ~ 1,100 even after it's warmed up), idle noise is loud and you can feel small vibrations coming into the cabin through the seat, pedals and shifter. The clutch has medium to light weight and good feedback. It engages about halfway - right where it should. The shifter has very short throws but it requires some effort to get through the gate. The steering feels superlight and ultrafast - small steering inputs move the car around quickly even at low speeds. Throttle lag is not bad for this size turbo. Power comes rushing at 4K RPMs where the car truly begins to come alive. Coming from a car with significantly less HP, it takes some getting used to its massive power, esp. if you are not used to fast turbo cars. I love the Evo's race-pitched engine growl in the right side of the tach, which kept getting better all the way to the redline!! The car has a truly visceral feel to it. The Evo's handling is nothing short of amazing even with snow tires on. The car stays nicely flat under hard cornering and it is wonderfully balanced with a touch of understeer (not sure what the tire pressure was set to for our drive). I did not notice any body roll whatsoever. Coming out of corners, you can pretty much floor it without worrying that the rear end of will step out too far on you as you would with a typical RWD car. The ride is very stiff but not uncomfortable, at least from a driver perspective. I can see how the passengers might think otherwise, esp. on long trips, though. The brakes are the only aspect of the car's performance that I never warmed up to. Maybe my expectations from the large red-painted calipers of the Brembo brakes were too high but I never really felt that the car was braking hard enough even while pressing the brake pedal hard. I like the linear torque curve of the HP Plus pads and ATE slotted discs in my 325, and I'd even prefer the 3-series' stock brakes over the Evo's. I liked the short throws of the shifter, although I think I need some getting used to the higher gate resistance. The shifter in my 325 has very long throws by comparison but the action is light and fluid and I never have to wonder if I am downshifting into second or fourth. Again, I think it is a matter of getting used to it but I suspect that for someone with intermediate driving skills, it would probably be easier to shift fast in the 325. I also find rev-matching a lot easier in my 325 (possibly due to the ECIS CAI and sticky pedal fix), although that may change as I practice rev-matching with the Evo.
Summary
A great performance car for the uncompromising driving enthusiast. A wild beast, which needs to be "tamed" by its driver for its true performance potential to materialize.