BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

brave1heart

I understand exactly how you feel - I've been driving my 325i and my wife's A4 1.8 Q for nearly 4 years now. The Quattro allows you to mash the throttle and go in any condition without having to worry about traction - let the car sort it out. Problem with the AWD is that the car is so stable while accelerating, it gives you no real sense for the available traction. It gives you a feeling of invincibility and may get you in trouble when you have to brake. The DSC in the 3-series works very well to keep you going on your intended path of travel but it is a defensive option as it works off the brakes to cut power to the wheels. You'll have to develop a sense for how much gas you can use while accelerating before the DSC kicks in. Go to an empty parking lot and play with traction and try doing it in varying conditions. While doing this, switch off the DSC, drive to see how it feels and then switch off the traction control as well. It's a lot of fun!! Once you master rotating the car with the throttle, you'll be hooked. That said, I'd never recommend switching the DSC off on public roads when traction is not great and you have no experience driving with the DSC switched off.

mschukar

The idea of a simple siphoning of the engine oil and replacement at the half way point in the "extended oil" interval is a concept that should be considered by those of us a wee bit concerned about the average 15,000 mile interval

I haven't been under my '02 325i yet, is there some difficulty in changing the oil that makes siphoning necessary? Any recommendations on siphoning equipment? My service interval will generally take more than a year so changing the oil between service visits would be recommended.

-murray

erickpl

Well, there is no reason to go under your 02 to change oil.

I use the MityVac fluid extractor and it works well for me. There are other versions of it available, but my version easily holds the 7+ quarts my xi uses.

Pull out dipstick
Put in extraction tube
Set MityVac to extract
Pump about 10 times
Sit back, relax, and wait
Pump more as needed

Voila.

I change mine every 7500 and use the Mobil 1 oil with the BMW filter.

-Paul

bryan75

My dad finally took the plunge and bought a 2004 325 with automatic transmission, moonroof, metallic paint and he let me drive it for about three weeks. After owning a Honda Civic, 2001, I must say this BMW does not impress me as much I thought it would. Power is sluggish unless you hammer it, which bothers me a bit. The steptronic transmission isn't really fun like I thought it would be. Maybe this car is only designed for a manual transmission. Putting the transmission in sport mode is the only real option seeing as how the regular mode is downright sluggish. Even still, sport mode can get annoying since it won't downshift fast enough if you want a comfortable drive. I suppose sport mode is good if you are driving "sporty" but who does that 95% of the time? I do admit, the suspension and brakes are great but why does this car cost so much? Just a little disappointed.

sunilb

how do you reset the service indicator in the dash? (or are you just doing these oil changes in between the 15K service intervals?).

also, will this Mityvac work for other makes? (ie, other car in our family is a Toyota).

Thanks.

div2

I believe that you've answered your own question; if you actually find your Civic functionally equivalent to a 325i then save your money and stick with Hondas.

brave1heart

I've also been using the MityVac for the past couple of years and have been very happy with it. The MityVac should work for all cars. The great thing about BMWs is that the oil filter is easily accessible from the engine bay as well, so you do not need to go under the car to replace it, as you might have to with a Toyota.

Resetting the service interval is done through knobs on the dash and it takes only a minute. Do a search on Bimmerfest for instructions.

ru777

In the 2005 325xi catalog (56pg) I have seen pics where the gear gaiter (boot) for automatic transmission comes in sand leather color instead of black, similar to the handbreak gaiter. (Provided the interior color is sand).

My question is how to get it in Sand leather color instead of the regular black ? Does it apply only for 330xi ?

I do know if its a manual it does come in the sand leather color.

I think having it in the matched color makes it look a lot better.

Appreciate your help.

erickpl

Check brave1heart's post back at #24796. I printed that out and keep it in my tool box.

Brave is right, even the oil filter is on top. Working on this car for oil changes is easy.

As for the MityVac, it should work for other cars, but I've had some problems with the hoses being long enough. I've tried it on a Jeep Wrangler and a Grand Cherokee and ended up just pulling the plug underneath (much easier on SUV's!). I also tried it with my friend's Mazda 323 and it got most of it, but we pulled the plug to make sure.

You could probably get additional hose if you wanted to to make up for that.

BTW, I also use it for brake bleeding (purchased the brake bleed kit).

For the boot on a manual, I have the natural leather interior (darker than the tan) and mine is black too (325xi).

-Paul

mschukar

Power is sluggish unless you hammer it, which bothers me a bit. The steptronic transmission isn't really fun like I thought it would be.

Yeah, I didn’t like the automatic either. The 325 doesn’t have a lot of power, but I generally have more fun with superior handling than with hp.

do admit, the suspension and brakes are great but why does this car cost so much?

Cost is a difficult thing to judge. You can buy a bike at Wal Mart for $50 or a Tour de France quality racing bike for $5000+, yet they both have the same “parts”. Obviously, you shouldn’t’ spend $5k on a bike if you can’t tell the difference.

30k miles into my 325, it’s still extremely tight and smooth despite the sport suspension. To me, it’s worth every penny.

-murray

rparnell

I moved to the USA from the UK 5 years ago, and the difference in service is amazing. In the UK, employers provide many more cars for employees than is common in the US, and the pressure on costs is tremendous. Therefore, servicing is cut to the minimum.

I had 3 company cars in 9 years - 2 Opels and 1 VW, and each one had over 90,000 miles on it when it was replaced. The driving was a mixture of London city and freeway. Service intervals were 10,000 miles, using standard non-synthetic oils, no replacement of any other lubricants, no tire rotation, no belt changes. In other words - the absolute minimum.

All of the cars ran perfectly at 90,000 miles. None used any more oil at 90,000 mile than when they were new. The only significant mechanical failure I had was a timing belt on an Opel. There was no requirement to change this in the UK service chart, but interestingly the German standard said to change it every 50,000 miles. Mine failed at 70,000.

I can't help feeling that car companies recommend service intervals and items more on the basis of profit than actual engineering need. The fact tht BMW will provide extended warranties on cars that have received this "minimal" service suggests that it must be enough.

div2

Good points; I subscribe to a couple of Brit magazines and I have also noticed the extended oil change and maintenance intervals prescribed for British and European cars.

modneal

Just replaced the original battery in my 2001 325xi (after 42 months and 21K miles). I called the BMW dealer and they offered two batteries: one for $339 and another for $139. I decided to look for a replacement.

I read that Interstate battery had a replacement and went to my local dealer. They claimed to have one for $99 but after I looked further it did not have a compatible ventilation system. They called the Interstate dealer and he said they did not carry a compatible battery and had no clue about a ventilation kit.

So, he called another auto parts dealer and found a Deca battery ($79). I was able to remove the ventilation valve from the original battery, place it in the Deca, and connect to the hose.

What have others done for battery replacement? Any comments on the Deca battery?

powermatic66

I just took delivery of an orient blue 2005 BMW 325xi - brand new with 150 miles on it.

I have the Harmon Kardon premium sound, an installed iPOD connector, and BMW assist (as part of premium package). No navigation and no CD changer, nor is one planned. My question is, can I still get Sirius radio in the future even though I have these other features? Does Sirius use the same "fin" that BMW Assist uses?

pjo1966

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think the iPod and Sirius can both be installed.

You would definitely need to install a Sirius antenna on the trunk. It does not use the fin, and the fin is in the usual location for the Sirius antenna. Some people have installed the antenna on the shelf behind the back seat. As long as the windows are not tinted it should work fine there. I'm going to try mine there first before mounting it on the trunk.

rhmass

I am surprised you needed battery replacement so soon. I also replaced the battery on our '94 325 last week after 105,000 miles. The replacement battery is an interstate battery (MTP-91) at $97 with ventilation kit. It is designed for the BMW and is one of their most powerful model.
My experience with OE BMW batteries has been very good. Since you needed replacement in less than 4 years at only 21k miles, should it be covered by warranty?

m4d_cow

i was looking for a replacement for my car, or whats left of it, at some bmw dealers and i spotted an imola red 330ci w/ black leather interior- aluminum trim.
funny thing is the car doesnt have performance package. its practically loaded, premium, cold weather, auto, xenon, HK sounds, parking sensors and optional 17" wheels. salesman said the buyer cancelled his order and bought a 645ci instead, gave me a price quote of $1k over invoice if im interested, saying its a year end special. is this a good deal? im having real trouble trying to find the right price due to the unusual options installed.

kyfdx

Does it have the sport package? Or just the wheels?

If it has the sport, it will have sport seats and a three spoke steering wheel.. All 330ci have 17" wheels...

Also, Harmon Kardon is standard on 330s..

Imola Red is a gorgeous color.. but, it is still red.. If they have come down to $1K over invoice already, you might be able to get them even lower..

Isn't your car grey-green? You know how the "color" thing works, right? You might "act" like you don't really want a red car, might buy an Audi, etc..

It sounds nice to me.. if it has the whole sport package...

regards,
kyfdx

modneal

rhmass - thanks for the reply. My '01 had a three year warranty. When I called the BMW dealer he said that batteries typically last 3-5 years. That seems short. I should say that I do a lot of short trip start/stops that is harder on the battery.

On the Interstate battery, the MTP-91 is the battery that they had at the shop and the one that their website is the BMW equivalent. It vented from the back top center and as I mentioned they knew nothing of a vent kit. The Deca vented from the side like the OE battery and thus did not need a vent kit. I wish the Interstate battery would have worked since I have heard great things on it and nothing on the Deca.

Thanks.

bryan75

I think I should explain further why I was disappointed in my dad's 325 automatic.

I read from so many reviews how this car was a driver's car and felt connected to the road etc from most editors that test drive it. I was raised driving manual transmissions and remember being 14 years old learning how to drive my dad's Subaru station wagon 5-speed, man was that fun. Total wimpy engine but fun nonetheless. Then he gave me his about to fall apart Volkswagon Rabbit 4-speed manual and ok that was even more fun. The suspension, brakes, the shifting, the road feel and even the engine was great. I still think about the fun factor of that car.

Soon after though it seems like everyone was making automatics for the boring US market. I know, stop and go traffic needs it. <yawn> Thanks America, automatics now rule. Thanks wife, you never learned how to drive a manual so I can never buy a manual transmission ever again.

When my dad decided to buy a 325, he was in a way trying to go back to the time when cars were fun and thought German cars seemed to stick to this principal even today. We pretty much owned Japanese cars for years and boy are they reliable, boring cars. But the automatic transmission, even with its ability to shift manually was suprisingly disappointing. I didn't care for the engine response either. I had more fun in my old Volkswagen Rabbit. Granted, the BMW has superior brakes and suspension, but the engine seemed blah and the transmission only added to my disappointment.

So, there is my point. I feel like this car is not a driver's enthusiast car if it is equipped with an automatic which is likely contributing to the engines blahness. I have to wonder if he would have been better off purchasing a 330 if an automatic transmission is required, I don't know. And I likely will never know since I personally can't afford this car until I am retired as well.

Not trying to insult all you BMW owners out there just wanted to know if I was the only one left who believed automatics don't really belong in these cars. As far as the SMG thing that is going on these days, maybe that's BMW's way of making a compromise back to increasing the fun factor in their cars without screwing the American market too much.

designman

"Thanks wife, you never learned how to drive a manual so I can never buy a manual transmission ever again."

My mother, my sister, and all of my wife's female relatives and friends all drive manual. I somehow wound up in your boat but this is the business we chose. I doubt if SMG will do it for you. You need two cars, period.

memphis10

I wanted to buy a after market Nav. Is Garmin the best option. Any suggestions about models I should look for. Thanks

epp1

Any particular things I should be wary of in terms of common failures or issues with this model/vintage?

Also, is the iPod connector fairly easy for a handy DIY-type to install or is it something to have the dealership or other professional installer handle?

TIA,

Sean

robopop

I have a Magellan RoadMate which I first encountered in a Hertz rental. It works very well for me, all of US maps are in the hard drive - no CD or DVD, touch screen, fairly intuitive once you get use to it. With a windshield mount (provided free for the asking) it stays put on the dashboard and is easy to see except in very bright sunlight. It was pricey but less than the OEM Nav in 2001 and far better. Check out their web site.

tslbmw

I'm looking to purchase an 01 BMW 330i and I wanted to know if the LATCH system was included on the 2001 3-series.
THANKS!

cartalk

Yes. Of the BMW lineup for the 2001MY, the 3 series and the X5 had the LATCH system.

cartalk

No idea how easy a self install is, but the dealer will charge 1.5 hours labor for the work.

kdshapiro

If BMW didn't make an automatic I would be driving a G35. If Infinity didn't make an automatic I would be driving a Buick. Different strokes for different folks. With an automatic this car still has the best road feel and nothing comes close for looks, in any model line 3/5/6/7.

You have to choose what's important to you, but I have no intention of going back to a manual (drove them for 12 years), unless it's my weekend car.

shipo

Hehe, kind of like me in reverse.

If BMW didn't make cars with manual transmissions, I'd be driving a G35 6-Speed. If Infinini didn't offer it with a manual gearbox, I'd be driving a VW/Audi of some sort. If VW stops offering the three pedal option, I'd probable get a 300C.

Best Regards,
Shipo

tslbmw

Thanks! After installing my son's car seat in the back of my G35 Coupe, I figure the back of the 3-series should be a breeze!!:)

mschukar

I feel like this car is not a driver's enthusiast car if it is equipped with an automatic which is likely contributing to the engines blahness

I think you hit the nail on the head; an automatic lowers the fun factor that the rest of the car worked so hard to build up.

The question I have, is there another automatic equipped sedan that you think is more fun than the 325i?

-murray

shipo

330i? ;-)

tslbmw

Thanks! After installing my son's car seat in the back of my G35 Coupe, I figure the back of the 3-series should be a breeze!!:)

paule

I installed my daughter's carseat in the back of my 325xi the other night in less than 30 seconds.
The LATCH system makes it very simple assuming your carseat is equipped to latch into the hooks.

tslbmw

What year is your 325xi?

kyfdx

lol

rparnell

I have just bought a manual 325i. I tried several cars, autos to start with and then a manual. As soon as I tried the manual I knew it was the car I wanted.

I think the auto is wonderful - it is smooth and has the feel of a truly excellent piece of machinery. It makes driving the car a breeze, and it generally seems to respond in line with right foot inputs. The manual gear change options are disappointing - but I haven't yet found a version that isn't.

However, for me the auto had 2 major drawbacks. Firstly it blunts performance considerably, and while I hesitate to say that a 325i auto is underpowered, it lacks the sprightly feel that makes a car fun.

The second problem is that the auto masks the truly wonderful character of the engine. The 325 is smooth at all speeds, has more low end torque than the figures suggest, sounds sweet as it spins faster, and is a treat to use at almost any RPM. The manual gearbox allows you to play to your heart's content and just enjoy the engine.

It's all personal preference, but I think that if I needed an auto, I would opt for the 330, which would at least get over the loss of performance.

kdshapiro

Who said the fun factor is lowered? I have the time of my life driving the car with an automatic. With all due respect to our stick-lovin' Shipo I wouldn't drive that car on my commute with a manual - SMG maybe - manual no.

hpowders

Let's face it, the 3 series in any size or form is magnificent. Let's hope they don't screw up the new one and idrive it to death.

kyfdx

IMHO, they haven't screwed one up yet.. Each generation has been better than the last..

hpowders

I agree. I have had 2 generations myself-1993 and 2002. As long as they keep it as a driver's car, it will be okay. Hopefully, the idrive will be kept to a minimum. Had to laugh. Latest Automobile mag. says as long as you don't need ac, heat or the radio, idrive is okay. They also state that idrive is at its best when the car is parked.

brave1heart

The reviews are usually based on a manual equipped with the sport package. I still remember C&D boasting that the 325i "pours itself back roads like liquid poetry". I bet you won't find a single review that says that about an automatic (any automatic) car. That said, the auto in the 3 series is exceptionally smooth. The 325 auto is way too sluggish for my taste but some of it is gearing too. The auto is geared for fuel economy; the manual for performance. You still get a beautiful car with a luxurious ride, ergonomics, great overall proportions, resale value, etc. The great thing about the 3-series is that they are a good platform that allows you to option them any way you want to suit your needs. You want luxury, you get auto, leather, etc. You want sport, you get manual, the SP, manual seats, etc. You don't get an auto without the SP and then complain that the car isn't sporty enough. You don't get a manual with the SP, manual seats and vinyl and then complain it isn't luxurious enough. The auto is still a very good car compared to its peers but again, an auto would not prompt any "liquid poetry" thoughts.

m4d_cow

i checked the dealership again, yep it comes w/ sp, wheels are 17" styling 44, steel colored.

they also have another 330ci, sp, coldeweather, leather, and smg. what i like is the color, stratus grey (never heard of it) on white and darkgrey interior

paule

2005

kyfdx

330 coupes are great cars... Leases are a little pricier, because residuals are lower than the sedans, but if you can get a good deal, go for it...

 

Style 44 wheels? Sounds like they may have swapped those out with some others.. I thought style 44s came off of '02 and earlier 325s with sport pkg... Either that, or they gave you the wrong model number.. Sport package on a 330 should come with staggered wheels.. 7.5" wide up front with 8.5" in the back.. Not sure what they use on new ones, but they used to use M68s.

 

regards,

kyfdx

gogiants

trying to decide between Audi A4 1.8T and BMW 325 most important things for me are ride quality and safety particularly for my two year old who will ride in the rear of this car. Test drove both, 325 seems to be the softer ride but Audi salesman said 325 rear side curtain airbags are tubular and will not fully protect my child in the event of a crash he claims A4's rear side curtain airbags are full curtain ones and will do much better. What say the experts re ride quality and the rear side curtain airbag issue? thanks for your help

m4d_cow

the normal sp comes w/ different wheels, but since its a special order it comes w/ whatever the customer asked for, in this case the wheels and imola red paint (w/o performance package).

riez

gogiants... Most important thing for a single small kid is to get a good car seat and install it properly. Kid should ride in the middle of the back seat, farthest away from any side. If s/he does that, then side airbags or side curtain airbags won't be a consideration.

 

You really shouldn't have small kids next to side airbags. Kids sleep a lot. They'll sleep with head on, next to, or near the airbag, which then can harm them when it goes off.

designman

Whenever I hear parents concerned about auto safety I point to the fact that we make our kids wear helmets on bikes and skates. Helmets are required when we track cars, on motorcycles, in sports, yadda yadda. They are proven to reduce head injuries dramatically. Now, why aren't you and your kids wearing helmets in cars?

kyfdx

Okay.. sounds like a nice car.. non-staggered wheels are easier to deal with, anyway..

 

Imola Red coupe... VRoooommmmm