BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

postoak

Well, you have to pay extra for that great electrical service! Seriously, can you give me a breakdown of the TTL you paid? That is,

Tax = $x
Title = $z
License = $y

I'm not sure what the fees are. Thanks.

jnscheong

I can understand you wanting to include MACO to the dealer's profit. Who knows how much they really pay for the advertising? I am very happy about my deal regardless. This dealer originally quoted me $1500 (vs. $925) above invoice. However, another dealer, in the San Diego area, faxed me a deal that was $500+ cheaper. My dealer matched the better deal. So I saved $500+ without having to drive 80+ miles to get my car. ;-)

The tax rate here is 7.5%. The doc fee is $50, and the lic fee is ~$500.

jnscheong

kelf

postoak

We've been discussing post #3173.

lobs

curious about what makes up the $3,200 difference between sales price and out the door amount? Sales tax plus ??

jnscheong

A big part of the difference is due to sales tax. The tax rate in my area is 7.5%. There are also doc fee, $50, and lic fee, $500.

yeeeha

postoak: I agree on your methodology. I did the research you spoke of, and it came in handy when the salesman said..."Ok, now that I know your options, let me work up a price..." Instead of saying "duuuuu...ok" I was able to respond with..."I come up with $31,250, and a driveout of $34,125"...after a short pause, he agreed.

I think you were asking about the title and license. In Texas the Title and License fee is $155, regardless of where you buy it.

Emilyk- If you drove in Texas for a day, I think you would go home to San Fran and GLADLY pay the extra sales tax so you could cruise around northern Cali. I know I would! No comparison between Texas and San Fran. (Even if you do have to drive around without electricity) : )

Firebird_EOU

Fed just dropped another 50 basis, do that help to bring down lease rates?

tcn2k

My 325i is finally here at my dealer. Finally!!!!! yeaaahhhhh! It is a week 15 car, took close to 2 months! The sad thing is - i can't pick it up till June 4th.... Not in the country right now, darn-it! My orginal thought was it would not be here till mid or end of June; but it came early due to those workers in munich are ahead of schedule....

Re-steering, dsk1:
Bill from bmwna did say the vechicle of week 15 of mine did have the old heavier steering, since cars going into production on 4/1 gets the new old steering, and i believe my vehicle went into production on 4/1 or something, and like gurumike said, steering etc. does not get installed till probably the end of production, which is around 4/10 or 4/11. But i guess only time will tell, i will let you know when i pick up the car if it indeed have it.

Now, what did i hear about this steering wheel between 1/15/01 and 3/30/01 having an off center problem or some sort?

taos2

Still need an opinion. Also, picked up comment about excessive/above average wind noise from
325's? Does anyone know what color the 325
is in the Sportwagon brochure? White or titanium?
I'm assuming 10 way manual adjust seats on sport
pkg is superior to 6 way power..no? Still shopping 1st BMW. be patient with me. Thanks,

Steven

denright

I negotiated a price $1,500 over invoice, plus $200 advertising fee, mats included. For my car, this amount comes to $38,475 (330xi, PP, CWP, in-dash, metallic paint, plus the HK sound system which became standard shortly before I ordered).

I foolishly failed to negotiate an OTD door price. Is it too late to negotiate such a deal effectively?

I figure I want to get the wheel locks and alarm -- which cost a total of $475 according to BMWUSA.com. How much should I look to pay for these items along with the processing fees? I was thinking $500 for the whole thing might be a good round number to shoot for.

Thoughts? FYI, I am buying my car at VOB BMW in Rockville, MD (a mere 5-10 mins from my house).

Thanks.

jhdevoy

Will someone please take a moment to describe how they care for their leather? What product, how much do you use, how long do you leave it on before wiping it off, how long before you can sit on the leather after you have applied it?

I've only had one problem with my 2001 330xi: left front headlight out at 800 miles. Drove into the parking lot at Herb Chambers on my way home from work (that's why I bought it there) and three minutes later I was on my way home with a new headlight.

Now I know not to take a hammer to the bulb!

thedeepdarkblu

If you use Lexol products, your leather will be just fine. It's a bit expensive (around $10-$14 a bottle), but it works well. Use the cleaner and then the conditioner. You don't have to leave the conditioner on that long. I forget, something like 5-10 minutes or so.

lewparker

I ordered from Tate BMW in Annapolis. My deal on a 325i was $1,300 over invoice, plus $200 DAG, and free mats. You should have an OTD price on your purchase order, did you get one? The only fees I'm paying above the price I negotiated (essentially $1,500 over invoice) are taxes (5%), title and registration. I'm paying $150 for title and reg, and I'm getting Maryland's Save the Bay tags. I would shoot for that, any other fees that VOB tries to charge you are bogus, and you should refuse to pay them.

BTW, my 325i left Germany on Wednesday and is expected on May 29th (at VPC or Jersey City? I forgot to ask). I hope to take delivery by the end of the first week in June.

jasonkureejii

Hey, when my salesperson said that it will be here between July 24th and the 31st, does that mean it will be AT the dealership by then or it just made it to American soil??? Man, seeing others driving them around in Dallas is driving me nuts already!

lewparker

I ordered from Tate BMW in Annapolis. My deal on a 325i was $1,300 over invoice, plus $200 DAG, and free mats. You should have an OTD price on your purchase order, did you get one? The only fees I'm paying above the price I negotiated (essentially $1,500 over invoice) are taxes (5%), title and registration. I'm paying $150 for title and reg, and I'm getting Maryland's Save the Bay tags. I would shoot for that, any other fees that VOB tries to charge you are bogus, and you should refuse to pay them.

BTW, my 325i left Germany on Wednesday and is expected on May 29th (at VPC or Jersey City? I forgot to ask). I hope to take delivery by the end of the first week in June.

lewparker

I recently was in a bit of a panic over not ordering SP with my 325i. Here are my reasons for not ordering it:
1. Reports of a harsh ride. I've been getting beat up for 15 years on the road and I was definitely looking for a certain amount of comfort. My current car is a 1994 Dodge Shadow, which is a bonerattler, and prior to that I drove a Toyota pickup truck for 7 years. 'nuff said.
2. Soft tires and poor winter performance. Didn't want to replace the tires that often, and certainly don't want to fool with snow tires.
3. Not a fan of the seats.

However, I've been second-guessing my choice because of the rave reviews I've been reading lately. I even called my dealer and asked him if he would have any major heartburn if I cancelled my order and reordered the car w/SP. He was sort of ambivalent, but after talking with him, I feel better about my choice. Bottom line, the car will handle great w/o SP, and will be by far the nicest car I've ever owned. Maybe in four or five years if I decide to get a 330, I will reconsider SP. Thoughts?

ff06737

I too ordered my car from DeSimone BMW in Marlton, NJ. I ordered a Steel Grey 325xi SP, PP, Nav, Step. Could you tell me how much over invoice you paid as well as financing and any extras you got thrown into the deal(mats, etc)

veekay1

ff06737:

i paid 1500 over invoice+ 500 (wheel locks+mats+memory programming+dealer prep/detailing+ad fees).
when did you order? what production week is it? What deal did you get?
veekay1

denright

I ordered my 330xi without SP for a few reasons:

1) I don't like the "M" aero groundeffects that the 330 SP comes with;

2) the rims, steering wheel, etc. are just cosmetic to me, and thus not worth much because I like the regular rims and steering wheel just fine;

3) the regular power seats have tons of bucket and lateral support -- as much if not more than the "sports seats" in my current car;

4) the 330xi AWD SP doesn't come with any suspension upgrade.

In sum, the 330's AWD SP is a largely cosmetic option without much real performance enhancement. Though the sport seats offer more bucket and lateral support, I see it as a minimal upgrade, especially when set off against the unwanted M aero stuff.

Of course, if someone likes the M aero stuff, then thye might make an entirely different decision, and rightfully so. To each his or her own.

I think you made a fine decision. Enjoy!

brave1heart

postoak - you are buying a 35K car - you shouldn't have to worry about a small document processing fee. The title+licensing(registration) will vary widely by state and county but it is anywhere between 100 and 200 bucks. Here in Boston, it was a total of $125 for all documents (no processing fee!). I wouldn't be surprised if it's cheaper in other areas. You've heard about the Big Dig in Boston, right? Someones's gotta finance it...

lewparker - I have had about a dozen passengers in my car: everyone was comfortable with the firm ride - that's what BMW's are famous for - firm but comfortable ride. And absolutely everyone loved the seats - people don't even want to get out after I've stopped the car. The side bolsters have never bothered me, unlike some other people. The stock suspension is great too but the SP is so good, I can't help but think you'll be missing a lot. And what, worry about Winters in MD? How many days a year do you really drive in snow/ice - maybe 5 tops? I get a chuckle every time someone from So Cali goes like "Uhh, should I get the AWD?" You know, those rain storms can be really lethal ) I have the SP but even up here in Boston, I am not planning on putting in snows. They handle and esp. brake worse than all-seasons on non-snow/ice pavement and that's still what you get most of time up here during the Winter: non-snow/ice roads. Majority rules, at least my book. Why suffer thru worse performance MOST of the time so you can be a bit more comfortable on snow/ice roads?

drcr

ves: your name is too long. BTW, I purchsed from Macon also. I live in Atl. Great people. I paid $1600 over invoice + mats and was quite happy considering no doc fees/ad fees but you got a great one at + 1300!! Wish I had known when I ordered. I have week 18 prod and its due in ~ June 1.

Taos2: I too was a little erked with the armrest deal but have learned from this board that you can order one from circlebmw.com one for ~160 - 180 depending on leather/ette. Instructions included on the page. I plan to install myself when I get it. I let you know how it goes after I get the car.

What did you get? Mine is a titanslv/5 spd/sport/moon,grey leather,wood

drcr

brave1heart

I see point and it makes perfect sense for the 330xi. lewparker, however, is getting the 325i. I forgot to mention in my previous post that in addition to a vastly improved handling, the 17's give you a more precise steering and better braking.

merckx

As a rule,I've always been against stiffer suspensions for all the reasons you've mentioned.When one is in the mood to play,surs,they are a lot of fun.But I really enjoy just cruising,espially with all the windows down.
But a few days ago I had a chance to drive a new 740iL sport,and I was utterly blown away by how much sheer FUN it was.I was actually cackling out loud,driving through town.But still,I think if I were to buy one and live with it for 8-10 years I would want the longer wheelbase,standard model.
I can't deny,though,that the sport 740 was a real revalation.

denright

I was really responding to lewparker's last sentence stating that maybe he'll get the 330 in a few years and get the SP with it.

Incidentally, I agree with you on the SP for the 325. Had I gotten the 325i (or even 325xi) I would have gotten the SP. It is this fact that made jumping up to the 330 that much less painful, because the cost difference between the two models was decreased by the absence of the SP on the 330xi I ordered.

drcr

I enjoyed the reading regarding the brake changes from 323 to 325. Nice to know that we get the 328 brakes now in the 325s!

Constantly learning

drcr

vesuviusii

drcr

I enjoyed the reading regarding the brake changes from 323 to 325. Nice to know that we get the 328 brakes now in the 325s!

Constantly learning

drcr

tchoo

Hi Braveheart, I'm from Boston too. I ordered mine from Foreign Motors West in Natick. Where did you get yours from? I'm a little concerned about the winter performance so I didn't get the SP. And besides with the worst-potholed roads in the country I figured I didn't need the extra jarring from the sport suspension. Still wondering if I should get snow tires for winter.

ff06737

Veekay1:

I ordered my car on April 30. I just talked to BMWNA an they told me that I am in Status 111 and Production Week 25(w/e June 22).

They at first offered me $1000 off MSRP. I am still negotiating with them, and I am close to get them to $1,500 over invoice + 200 for mats & wheel locks. They also only offered 6.9%. I flat out asked them if there are any ad fees/prep fees and they said no. I see that you are paying for those fees, so I guess I might have to question them again on this issue.

brave1heart

I got it from BMW Peabody and I have been very happy with them so far. I never made it over to Foreign Motors. I dealt with the Gallery - both the one in Norwood and the one on the South Shore. Do you like Foreign Motors? How much did you pay over invoice?
Well, I am in a small minority with the SP in this area. Probably only 1 in about 20 325 and 330's that I've seen around here have the SP. Don't sweat it.

I just came back from what's turning out to be regularly-scheduled Friday drives with my colleagues and no-one, I mean absolutely no-one thought the suspension was uncomfortable.

brave1heart

Just thought it would be interesting to mention that C&D did a comparo of the M3 against its MB AMG equivalent and the S4 a couple of months ago. It was really interesting for me to read that they achieved better lap times on the track with the M3's DSC switched off. The DSC works off the ABS and it essentially slows down the car and corrects its line so it would follow the driver's intended path in case it starts sliding. In doing so, though, it slows the car down significantly and it doesn't allow you to exit the corner at max speed. Of course, it would be best to estimate the turn correctly, brake before you enter it and then punch it halfway through the turn. Don't get me wrong, for everyday driving, and esp. on non-dry surfaces, the DSC would typically make the car safer. But I can't wait to try a deserted back road where I can switch the DSC off and let Shtroumpf Muscle waive its happy tail )

tchoo

Peabody was a little too far for me. Foreign Motors was 2 minutes from my wife's office so it was very convenient. I ordered a 325Ci for about $1900 over invoice. They seemed pretty nice. I'd originally gone to Herb Chambers downtown, but I didn't like the location (couldn't even get a parking space). And on the test drive all we could do was 1 mile up Memorial Drive with lots of traffic, so I couldn't experience anything! I didn't add SP cos the Coupe already has stiffer suspension. I ordered LoJack with it, should I add the Alarm to lower my insurance? How much discount do you think I'd get?
I haven't received the car yet, its a week 22. Can't wait to get my hands on it!

brave1heart

I live in Back Bay in Boston and pretty much all dealerships are equi-distant from our location. Herb is the only one that is closer and my plan was to try the other dealerships first and then get Herb to match the best quote. I'd only been there once when we wanted to compare the Saab 9-3 against the A4 with my wife but it was like a busy train station - a lot of people, couldn't get any salespeople to talk to and we just sat in a Saab, didn't like it and went home. So I started with South Shore, then went to Norwood where I thought I was going to get the best deal. I thought I had a deal for $1,500 over invoice with them and almost pulled out the checkbook. I am a little skeptical by nature and thought well, that's a great deal but I should probably sleep on it. Maybe I should also check with at least one more dealership. So the following day I went to Peabody just for a second opinion. They told me about the MY discount (valued at about $1,200 for my options) and I couldn't believe Norwood was going to take me in like that - I was thinking I was paying $1,500 over, while in fact it was going to be $2,700. This was second week of March and I had not heard anything about the MY discount just yet... So I told Peabody $1,500 over, they said $2,500, I told them I'd meet them halfway. The salesperson went to talk to the mgr for a minute, came back, extended her hand and said 'You've got a deal'. that came in w/ free paperwork prcg, mats, wheel locks, T-shirt (I found out later), and 5.9%. I said great, I'm in. I love the dealership, and I'm getting a fair deal. I could have done a little better than this but it was not worth my time and the hassle and this way I could take the rest of the weekend off ) That's how I ended up with Peabody and I don't regret a thing. They ONLY sell BMW's - do one thing but do it right! Even now that I've had the car for two weeks, I still call my salesperson and she answers any qns that I have for her.
Make sure to tell your insurance agency about the Lo Jack - you should get a 25% discount off the total premium for it. Also, they have to know that your security system shuts off the ignition in case of intrusion. And yes, I'd recommend getting the BMW alarm not just to reduce your insurance premium but also because you'll sleep better. Although where I live German cars are very common, I still park on the street.

alpine325i

I have the Non SP and I'm very happy with it. You will love how the suspension soaks up those bumps in the road, a real fast and real quiet bump-bump is all that I hear and feel, nice and soft but still handles great. I know exactly what you mean about the Dodge Shadow and the Toyota Pickup Truck, both are really rough compared to the BMW's Non SP suspension. I had a Mint Cond Corvette before I bought my BMW. The BMW is WAY smoother. The only thing I didn't like about the Sport Package was the suspension, it reminded me of the Vette. The Sport Seats and Wheels are cool, but I couldn't order them without the sport suspension. Either way, the BMW will be a giant leap forward compared to the Shadow or the Truck! )

ocjerry

Would someone please post the names of Southern California dealers who are selling at $1500 over invoice. I have seen many references to this as the base point for a good deal. That's great, but it would be really helpful to know who is actually selling the car for that amount. Thank you. BTW, I am interested in the 330i.

kchanus

Try New Century BOW in Alhambra, ask for Tim cunning ham. He gave me $1500 off msrp right off the bat without any negotiation. Tell him Jenny recommends him.

kchanus

Try New Century BMW in Alhambra, ask for Tim cunningham. He gave me $1500 off msrp right off the bat without any negotiation. Tell him Kenny recommends him.

jasonkureejii

Didn't think about the alarm system...how much is that going to run me and can that be negotiated now after a deposit is made? BTW, I also second-guessed myself about the SP and opted for it anyways...after so much talk, I relaxed a bit about the stiffer suspension...it sounds like the SP does not really assume a more uncomfortable ride anyways....

brave1heart

The alarm is a completely separate deal from the car. Some people negotiate the alarm into the deal but you don't have to. You can buy it from bmwcircle.com for $250 (list is $300). If you have the time, skill, and desire to DIY, it's about an hour or two of work and there are detailed instructions on e46fanatics.com's FAQ server. If you have a dealer put it in, they charge about $90 for the labor, so it would come up to a total of $340 - not unreasonable for an alarm with a motion detector and tilt censor. However, if you ask you salesperson to provide AND install the alarm for you, they will probably charge you about $500. I had to fight to get $405 but if they hadn't given me a reasonable price, I would have bought the alarm separately and then go to ANY dealer for the installation. The service depts are a whole different world from the sales depts - don't let the salesperson fool you.

jnscheong

Try Crevier (Jerry Cohan) or Sterling (Tina Swispak), they both quoted me $1500 above invoice initially. I went with Jerry because I called him first and he came down $500+ to match a deal I could have gotten from Cunningham in El Cajon (San Diego area).

You can see the detail of my deal in post #3173.

jnscheong

emilyk

Sorry for the late post, I haven't logged on since my last post : (

I don't have my paperwork in front of me, but I know that the fees break down like this, +/- $50:

Doc Fee: $45
Tire Fee: $5 (CA pays this, you may not have to)
Registration & Title: $550
Tax @ 8%: $3165
OTD Price: $42785

Hope this helps!

emilyk

My husband lived in Denton, Texas for a while and said it was quite a culture shock moving from the Bay to Denton. He got along pretty well there, but did say that there's no place like the Bay Area. Oh well, I guess we get what we pay for! As for the electricity crisis, our rates are going to go up, retroactive to March and there were a few blackouts in my part of town this morning : ( What's next?

emilyk

How does Atlanta compare the Bay? I visited Atlanta once and thought it was a nice town, though I never considered moving there because it was too humid for my California blood.

brave1heart

I may be a little biased but I've been to most areas and major cities in the U.S. and there is nothing that comes close to Boston. It's got everything that New York has on a slightly smaller scale and it's very livable: safe, fun, beautiful, history, cultured, and there are plenty of good jobs within driving distance of Boston. Only drawback is ridiculously high real estate prices (renting feels good). I even like the Winters - it's great if you like skiing and like 4 seasons. Been living here for 10 years and I'm not moving anywhere else anytime soon. Waiting for more paper ex-millionaires from the dot-com/tulip mania to start turning their houses over to banks before we buy for good.
I like the Bay area (pretty!!) but it's too expensive, no four real seasons and too many bums in S.F. (avg. of 2 per intersection in the Theater District last time I counted). Can't blame them - the weather is bum-heaven. Oh, and minor details like electricity crisis and earthquakes - hmmm, no, thank you.

carguy5000

Man, true about the bums. I was out there for a week last summer on business and stayed in the theatre dist. I was shocked at the number! I think that your estimate is low!!

brave1heart

I was trying to be "nice" but not very good at it. I still used to smoke cigarettes last time I was there (quit a year ago) and I went outside to have a smoke. A bum came over and asked me for money. I didn't have any and I offered him a cigarette instead. We started talking (had no choice anyhow) - he was actually a nice guy - had done some reading and all. We were talking Kerouac, and F.S Fitzgerald, and Vonnegut - I was surprised. But I just didn't like being asked for money at every intersection, you know...

Hey, where did you disappear - you got out of the BMW biz? What did you end up buying?

titaniumsil325

Has anyone on the board actually purchased the alarm over the net & have BMW service department install?? I was wondering what your experience was like (i.e.: delivery time & attitude at service dept when you showed up with your own equipment).

carguy5000

Actually, been busy defending the SUV's. Had enough of people saying "all those SUV owners are whats causing the rise in gas prices".
Gotta admit though..there is an Imolia(sp.)Red M5 in my office parking garage that absolutely makes me slobber on myself every time it drives outa here....and actually, it is about that time!!!!

brave1heart

That's a ridiculous argument but you will see a radical pickup in anti-SUV sentiments now that gas prices are soaring with no relief in sight. Hey, you should change your username to suvguy5000 ) Have a great weekend.