BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

nyccarguy

100K already! Yikes! I remember you posting pics when you first got the car.

dave330i

Already planned.

If you're anything like me, there is 1 negative to removing CDV. Your MPG may suffer due to stepping on it so hard off the line.

My '01 330i gave me trouble free 40k miles before I sold it. It went in for 2 unscheduled work. First for the steering retrofit. Second, A/C unit had to be replaced due to rattle/noise.

Try to get one with xenon headlights. One of the few things I miss (should be rectified by end of the year).

dave330i

FWIW, I am going on 100K miles in my '01 325i, which has seen heavy track and autocross use.

Damn.... 100k! You sure put lots of miles on your baby. I'm approaching 29k on mine.

kominsky

Brave, did something change in your daily commute? I thought you were piling the miles on faster than I was... in fact, I'm sure at some point you were ahead of me. I broke 100K about a month ago (102,600 now). So far, control-arms/tie-rods have been my only ~real~ problem, but my car isn't used nearly as hard as yours. I do have one clunk coming from the passenger door (I think) that's driving me nuts.

I finally got around to doing the plugs this past weekend and was amazed at how "healthy" they looked. FWIW, the job was easier than I anticipated, but the word "fun" never popped into my mind when changing the two rear-most plugs. Anyone considering doing their own plugs, my best advice would be to have a couple of ~2" extensions handy because one long one doesn't cut it. I'll be doing the fuel filter this weekend and I'm considering tackling the O2 sensors. BMW recommends replacing them at 100K miles. The two up on top look easy enough but the two underneath the car seem like they'll require tools and/or flexibility that I don't have.

bdkinnh

Your MPG may suffer due to stepping on it so hard off the line.

This is going to be a secondary "fun" car for me, so I'm not going to driving it every day. At least, that's the plan; once I get it, I may end up preferring it to my other one.

brave1heart

I was driving from Boston to Albany (~ 170 miles) once a week for the first 3 years after I bought the car. I switched jobs a couple of years ago and I have a very reasonable commute. Now I put on most of the miles on long trips to driving events at Watkins Glen, Mont-Tremblant, etc.

I had the LCAs issue too, I forgot about that. No correlation with track driving there, though - that issue is common even on cars that have never been driven hard.

Try Cyl-Glide (NAPA) for the door. It worked for me. You may want to do a search on bimmerfest and fanatics for the exact instructions but basically, the weatherstripping gets dry over time and needs to be lubed to avoid creaking.

My trusted indie shop is advising me to wait on the O2 sensors and to replace them one at a time if they fail.

And last, I started a monthly column in Boston Bimmer, so some shameless self-promotion is in order ) Here's a link to the June issue

http://www.boston-bmwcca.org/bimmer/Bimmers/2006_06.pdf

kominsky

cool!

btw, it's hard to believe your son is 4yrs old already... that means your getting old too!

brave1heart

I am not really getting older, just wiser ) I'm pretty sure you'll always have a year or two on me. Even your car has a couple of thousand miles more than mine )

pat

If your son is really four years old already, I'm getting old, too!!!

But then again, I guess I already knew that ... :sick:

:shades:

nyccarguy

HAve to post your shameless plug more often. I always enjoy your postings. I'd actually like to get involved with the NY chapter, but many of the events & autocross races are on Saturdays. Coincides with that work thing :P

PF_Flyer

It's not the years Pat, it's the mileage!

PF Flyer
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pat

Yeah, I gotta lotta them on me, too!! :sick: :sick:

But not as many as brave1heart and kominsky!!! :shades:

dave330i

This is going to be a secondary "fun" car for me, so I'm not going to driving it every day. At least, that's the plan; once I get it, I may end up preferring it to my other one.

If it's going to be a "fun" car, then you might want to consider something more fun, and maybe less practical than E46. As much as I like E46, it was always too much luxury, and not enough fun for me. Consider picking up a E36 M3, M Roadster, or my personal favorite M Coupe.

kominsky

"But not as many as brave1heart and kominsky!!!"

I disconnected the odometer a while back... as long as I still crank in the morning, it's all good.

bdkinnh

Consider picking up a E36 M3, M Roadster, or my personal favorite M Coupe.

I think an M might be a little out of my range, but I'll take a look. One of the "fun" things I want to do is work on it, and there seems to be a lot of support for that with the E46. I don't know much about the E36, so some research may be in order.

Thanks for the ideas!

Karen_S

A reporter aims to speak with anyone who has owned a vehicle and found its controls to be complicated. Please respond to jfallonedmunds.com by Monday, July 17, 2006, and be sure to include your daytime contact info and a few words about your experience.

Thanks,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com

memphis10

I have a 2003 325i 5-Speed. I have 45K miles on the car and have had no major issues. It has been to the delaer only twice outside regular maintenance for a rattling door hings and a speaker replacement.

I wanted to hear some opinions on the following options.
1. Buy Extended warranty and extended maintenance
2. Buy Only Extended maintenance
3. Trade in the car before waranty expires.
4. Dont buy the warranty but get a commuter car and use the BMW sparingly

I love my car and don't want to get rid of it and buy a Honda or Toyota. So what would be the best option to own a BMW but not spend a forture on repairs.

div2

I love my car and don't want to get rid of it and buy a Honda or Toyota. So what would be the best option to own a BMW but not spend a fortune on repairs.

Let me suggest a fifth option: Take the money you were going to spend on the warranty and/or the maintenance contract and put it in a money market account. Next, find a good indie BMW shop to perform scheduled maintenance and repairs. Change the final drive and transmission oil every 50K. If you haven't done so already, join BMW CCA- the club discounts alone are worth it. Buy the Bentley E46 manual and learn to do the really simple jobs like oil changes and brake pads/rotors. I've driven a 1995 E36 since new. It now has 105K on the clock and maintenance/repair costs(including three sets of 16" Z-rated tires) have averaged @$40/month.

dave330i

I think an M might be a little out of my range, but I'll take a look.

You can find a very clean E36 M3 for less than clean E46 330i. E36 also have more mods available than E46 atm. Here's one of the mod I keep dreaming of.

bdkinnh

E36 also have more mods available than E46

And because of that, most Ms I've seen have been modded; I'm looking for something stock. When I said that I wanted to work on it, I meant basic wrenching - not mods. Thanks for the info, though. I did see an M3 carbon/cinnamon that took my breath away. Great looking car!

brave1heart

I second that 100%!

brave1heart

I understand your preference. Keep in mind, though, that many mods are preferable to no mods at all. I would not want a car with a heavily revised engine but one with after-market suspension improvements would be great. You can ususally buy a modded car for a lot less than what would cost to purchase a stock car and add those mods separately. And you can still work on it if you prefer ;o)

nyccarguy

You'll see that people selling E46s & E36s in "showroom" condition with very low miles often have a greater expectation of what their car is worth.

dave330i

You'll see that people selling E46s & E36s in "showroom" condition with very low miles often have a greater expectation of what their car is worth.

I don't know. This one seems like it's worth the money.

bdkinnh

I would not want a car with a heavily revised engine but one with after-market suspension improvements would be great.

It depends on who did them, and how they were done. My concern is getting a hacked-up car that someone did in their spare time after reading "BMW Mods For Dummies".

Also, from what I've seen on "For Sale" postings, a lot of people think that a $500 mod adds $750 in value to the vehicle. Then again, a lot of people think that a stock car with a perfect paint job is "just like new"... and charge for it.

abfisch

I gotta give you another side to the story here on this lane. For those where money is growing on trees, I guess the extra thrill is extra. But... for those where the roads are not a sheet of glass, or don't like to have a car that is maintenance intensive, the difference between the 330 and the M is remarkable. You will note a huge difference in maintenance intervals between the 330 and M, as reference in the Service Manual, not to mentioned the special oil required for the M. For those that are leasing, not a biggie, but for those that keep there cars awhile and don't track at all, my opinion is that the 330cic with the sports suspension and a strut brace bar(pivotless) to boot would be a much more liveable, and civilized while getting all the joys of sports car ownership.

abfisch

abfisch

I have a 02 Avalon Toyota and a 04 E-46. The Toyota is paid for. The BMW not yet. Upstate NY winters are bad. If you are from Memphis, I would buy the Service manual for the car, get some good mechanics tools, and do the basic maintenance yourself and enjoy the vehicle. When the repairs are needed, just pay for them. My BMW gets better gas mileage than my Toyota but cannot tow a trailer. Other than that, the BMW if more fun to drive and the Toyota has cost me plenty over the years. No as trouble free anymore as you would think.

Enjoy the BMW if you are down south. I have almost the same one as you(2004 325ci SP 5 speed). Other than a few modifications, it is stock. Good car, with few options to break. Use it until it is unservicable and save the insurance unless you have to tow or drive it trhough salt.

abfisch

nyccarguy

That's a nice one! Holy cow is all I can say :surprise:

dave330i

That's a nice one! Holy cow is all I can say

Don't think I would ever buy such a car. It's too much collector's item. If I own a car, I want to drive it everyday.

tdibob

I have only 25000 miles on my 2001 325i and th service deaprtment at my dealers says that I need new pads and brake pads. Cost $500. Anybody with similar experince. I do not brake hard.

div2

Find a good independent BMW shop and have them put on a set of Axxis Deluke Plus pads. If you don't track the car then you can also probably get away with using the old rotors.

dave330i

I do not brake hard.

I feel bad for your car. What's the point of owning a BMW if you don't brake hard all the time.

Seriously, do what div said.

Mr_Shiftright

A friend of mine is considering buying a 2003 low miles 325ix.

Anyone have an experience or reports on the performance and reliability of the BMW AWD system?

div2

The only thing I've heard is anecdotal, and was an observation that the AWD 3ers tend to go through brake pads faster than the RWD cars. I haven't heard of any problems with the xDrive AWD system itself.

sunilb

Anyone have one of these that could provide me some comments/insights? Contrasting it to an E46 would be ideal (a stretch, perhaps).

Thanks.

kominsky

I found out that you can go swimming with your BMW key in your pocket for 30 minutes and it will still work... doh!

FWIW, I plan on keeping my valet key in my wallet since I figure, if moisture got in there (how couldn't it!), eventually stuff will start to corrode and I'd hate to be caught 100mi from home with a key that can no longer "talk" to the ignition.

dave330i

I found out that you can go swimming with your BMW key in your pocket for 30 minutes and it will still work... doh!

How did you managed to do this? Those keys are pretty big.

blueguydotcom

It'd be easy actually. I always carry just my car key so it barely takes up any room in a pocket (the e90's comfort access key is even smaller).

kominsky

I got done washing and waxing 2 cars on sunday. Kicked off my shoes and jumped in the pool. I was thinking the key was still in the car but it was, in reality, in a cargo pocket of my shorts.

brave1heart

The only key I carry with me is just the car key as well. Good thing you don't get 3 ft of snow that shutw down power (effectively, access to your house!) like we do in the NorthEast. Ask me how I know ;o)

dave330i

Keys for the M Coupe is pretty slim. Even with the house & mail box key, it's still smaller than E46 key.

msandalis

Hey folks,

Any advice, I am considering buying a 2003 330i for 27k with 101k (Canadian) or a Mazda6speed. I have always wanted a Bimmer and I know the car is from a friend and it has been checked over real well. Same pmt as one is a lease and the Bimmer is financed. God the Bimmer looks hot but I am worried about repairs. Thoughts and thank you!

dave330i

E46 has been proven to be pretty bullet proof. Find yourself a indy shop, and maybe 330i with less miles.

blueguydotcom

e46 is bulletproof? Then why is it ranked as middling by CR? Why is it I don't personally know an out-of-warranty e46 owner who can say his e46 has never required expensive non-maintenance-related repairs?

Sorry, i'd steer people away from a used out-of-warranty BMW as if the car were evil and set on destroying the world. BMWs are fun cars to own (I'm on my second) but they're, imho (and statistically) unreliable and require expensive repairs. I would never own one out of warranty. Fun to drive...that's all they have going for them.

as for 2003, if it's the sport's package, you're okay. If it's the performance package, steer very clear of it. BMW has a problem with the ECU in the 330i ZHP and they cannot and will not fix the software problem. Quite simply BMW's response is to disable the engine.

kjh78

Currently, I have an '03 330xi (premium, nav, auto, heated seats, xenon, 37,000 miles) My lease is coming to an end and I was going to buy-out my car. The buyout price is $27,000. If I include extended warranty & maintenance, it brings the total to $31,000 excluding tax etc. PLease advise on the following:
1. Is the extended warranty/maintenance ($4,000)worth it? (I cannot do any maintenance myself)
2. I will have to finance it for 3 more years (8%) What is expected additional costs should I keep it.
3. At $31,000 for a 3 year old car, should I just buy a new '06 A4 w/ same options for $5,000 more? I went to Audi dealer today and will get it $600 below INVOICE if I decide by end of week due to some kind of dealer incentive.

I cant decide what to do. I LOVE my car but $31,000 seems like a lot for a 3 yr old car. I know Im not comparing apples to apples, obviously bmw is better (drives better, smoother, looks better etc), but its older and I feel like I should take advantage of the A4 deal. At the same time I dont really know how reliable A4 is. Basically, I want the least amount of problems (reliablity very impt.)HELP ME!

grantchstr

I think you have the option of releasing the car which might be an option to explore....seems like a high buyout price to me. I have 2005 325xi with a residual (buyout price) of ~$19,000 (3yrs) which I will probably exercise - or maybe release. I am inclined not to buy extended warranty - but I would be interested in the comments of those who have put a few more miles on their BMWs. I should think that a BMW should be OK for 60,000 which I would recommend as a sell point for any car owner.

msandalis

it is the sports package. Any more advice guys?

gordonwd

That's what you get for not wearing your Speedo .

msandalis

Can I put 16inch rims for 16 winter tires on a 330i with spors package (17inch rims)?

Thanks,

Michael

msandalis

it is a 2003. Thx..