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Just curious--since you put so many miles on a car, how many miles do you usually put on a car before you trade it?
One good use about Sportshift is to down shift prior to a corner w/o using brake then you can speed up using the right gear. You can't do that w/Sports or auto mode.
Get the person hooked with a new 325i. As the owner ages and moves up the SES ladder, they move up to a clean E36 M3. Ultimately, as they reach their zenith (mid-life crisis), they seek out a worked over E30 M3...
I wish I could justify owning a car with no back seat that costs that much, cause it's a beauty. I'm stuck with waiting for the 1-series or picking up a Porsche 993.
regards,
kyfdx
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Could someone give me a rundown on what updates are available and what it is that each of them is designed to do.
I am wondering whether or not I should schedule a special service appointment to get the updates. If I don't, will they automatically give me the available updates the next time I bring the car in for anything? Unless something goes wrong, my next service will be an oil change in the Spring. I currently have 7,000 miles and the computer is currently calling for the first oil change at 12,000 miles. Or does it work in a way that you don't get updates unless you specifically ask for them when you bring your car in for service?
Are updates mandatory or optional? If I'm otherwise having no problems with the car, would I be taking a risk to get the updates? Might the updates cause problems to an otherwise trouble free car?
Based upon my experience with my E39, I'd say that the updates are optional.
"If I'm otherwise having no problems with the car, would I be taking a risk to get the updates?"
Back when I was in college I used to turn a pretty fair wrench to make some extra money on the side. One day one of my two mentors walked me over to an older Chevy pickup truck, stated it up, opened the hood and removed the air cleaner housing from the top of the carburetor. He then started a series of questions that went something like this:
"Did you hear how easily it started?"
"Yes, it fired right up."
"Do you see how smooth it's running?"
"Yup, nice and smooth."
"Do you see how there is an easy three to six inches of caked on oil laden dirt on the front and sides of the carb?" Note: This engine was pre-PVC valve days and just had a breather covering the oil filter hole on the front of one valve cover, hence all of the dirt on the carb.
"Yes, I've never seen a carb that dirty."
"I have but not very often. Now, what would you do to this engine?"
"Well, for starters, I'd pull the carb and clean it up at the very least, actually, I'd probably overhaul it."
I could tell by the ugly look on the old geezer's face that I'd answered incorrectly. Sure enough, he responded with a string of expletives that I'd never heard before and then said, "If it ain't broke, don't mess with it." Errr, well, that last sentence was a little cleaned up, if you know what I mean.
Long story short, if all of the electronics on your car are working properly, don't mess around with an upgrade.
"Might the updates cause problems to an otherwise trouble free car?"
In addition to my previous response, when I picked up my E39 in Munich a couple of years back, the car ran perfectly. Period, full stop, the end. When it got back to the States, my selling dealership realized that there was a newer version of the OBC code available and as a courtesy; they reflashed my car (unbeknownst to me). I noticed the enormous degradation in the drivability of my car immediately, however, I assumed that it was just the OBC relearning how to run on different fuel and how to operate in the slow speed U.S. environment, and that the problem would clear itself up in a couple of weeks. Finally after a few months, I couldn't take it any longer and complained to my local dealership (not where I bought the car, I'd moved from NJ to NH in the meantime), and they found that I had a newer version of the OBC code than I should have had given the manufacture date of my car, and so they flashed it yet again. Bingo! My car ran like it did when it was in Europe.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Thanks.
Does anyone has any idea?
Thanks
More power to you, if you can knock another $500-$700 off of the deal, but I wouldn't be sorry to get your number..
regards,
kyfdx
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Have you tried leaving it in normal for awhile and just driving?
dave
Does anybody have an idea how long it takes for it to show up at my dealer??
Also, what are BMW's port of entries into the States??
2006 330i
Electric Red
Black Leatherette
Heated seats
SIRIUS satellite radio
Aluminum trim
Sale price $3695.00
DL
If you think that's fun, you should try the six-speed manual.
Does anybody have an idea how long it takes for it to show up at my dealer??
Also, what are BMW's port of entries into the States??
I don't have the link any more, but I know that there's a way to find the name of the ship that it is shipped out on. The carrier company has their own web site where you can find out all about their ships and track the voyage that yours is on, which lets you know exactly when it gets to the port (I think they can track your own vehicle by its VIN, which you probably already have or can get soon). The prep facility at the port also has their own web site, but you can't track an individual car.
My status on the BMW site changed to "shipped" today; I bet I take delivery before the March 10 date they gave me.
First, I am not sure I understand the car is telling me about service schedule. When I first had the car, it listed "15,000" miles for oil service. Starting with an odometer reading of 0 miles, that seemed easy enough to interpret -- change the oil at 15,000 miles. But after a while, once my odometer climbed up to 6,000 miles, that number became 13,000. Now, what is this telling me? Does it mean, "change the oil when the odometer reached 13,000"? If so, this suggests that the computer's monitor of the oil viscosity indicates I have been driving the engine harder than I should, since I am being instructed to bring the car in 2,000 miles before a service should be due. OR or does it mean "you have 13,000 miles to go before you need an oil change"? If so, than this must mean my driving is relatively sedate, since the computer is interpreting an oil change will be needed at 19,000 miles (6,000 current odometer + 13,000).
The same question applies to the mileage displays shown in the Nav screen about brake replacement, etc.
My second question is related. Let me say that, while an oil change is schedule for 15,000 miles (on BMW's "dime"), I have opted to change it more frequently -- one additional change between scheduled changes. Since the car's lately been reading "13,000" miles for an oil service, I changed the oil (yesterday!) when the odometer hit 6500. After picking the car up, I see that the message screen now says an oil service is due at 12,000 miles. My SA says that means "12,000 miles from now" -- this takes me back to my question above as to what is the correct interpretation on his. Does this mean change the oil at 18,500 miles (6,500 miles on the current reading + 12,000 additional miles)? The SA says that this 12,000 will "count down" as I get to the point of needing an oil change. He also says that BMW will only pick up the cost of the oil change either a) one year from the date of purchase, or b) when the service "clock" counts down to within 300 miles -- either way, my choice to change the oil at an accelerated rate looks like it will haunt me (I'd planned to bring it in at 13 or 15K for a regularly schedule oil change per the service warranty but am now told not to bring it in (again) until it is either 1 year old or the 12,000 miles have passed (presumably at 18,500 miles).
Sorry for the convoluted question(s) - basically, I am uncertain how exactly to interpret the service mileage notice?
Also, what's this about the car "calling" BMW to schedule a oil service when it's needed???
Hows the reliability on the 2006? Does anyone think its ok? Also, i read from ca and driver magazine that the 330 I got #1 honors but with pros and cons.
The con was that the AC isnt as cold as it should be in the summer. Can anyone give me some insight into that??
In addition, what are the recommended oil changes for this car?? Every how often??
It must be great in the snow?
What about the exterior?? Does anyone think it good or very good??
Thank you.
-jaj
The police tried to stop him with spike strips, which apparently were "ineffective". Hmmm. Now there's an advantage of run-flat tires that I had not considered...
For east coast deliveries, the shipping company’s website (Wallenius Wilhelmsen) is http://www.2wglobal.com/www/WEP/index.jsp. They update their schedule in real-time and changes the color of the ‘stops’ to Red after the ship arrives at different ports, signifying that the ship has docked.
For west coast deliveries, the shipping company's website (NYK Lines) is http://www2.nykline.com/home/index.html. You can also use http://www.dbh.de/index.php?id=151&L=0
to track the departure of your ship from Bremerhaven to Port Hueneme. Apparently NYK Line doesn't make it easy to find your ship. After that, if you want to know when your ship is planning to dock in San Diego, San Diego Marine Information Systems will give you the arrival schedule for Port Hueneme (west coast delivery) at
http://www.sdmis.org/schedule/.
The recommended oil change interval is approximately 15,000 miles or 1 year - whichever comes first. And this service is covered under the four years or 50,000 miles free maintenance that comes with the purchase of a new BMW.
The xDrive is fantastic in snow - especially with snow tires.
I personally think the 2006 3 series is the best looking 3 series yet - very sexy.
I've got about 7,500 miles on my car and last I checked (a few days ago) the number displayed for an oil change was 13,000. I now understand that this means my car's OBD is presently calling for a first oil change not at 13,000 miles, but rather at 20,500 miles. 20,500 miles before the first oil change??? Could this possibly be right? I'm used to changing the oil every 3,750 miles on my other cars (Hondas and Infinitis).
Looked at another way, my 1999 328i requested its own oil changes somewhere between 14,000 and 15,000 miles. My 2002 530i, which sported a newer version of the same engine, and was somewhat more efficient, requested its oil changes at more like 17,000 to 18,000 miles. The new E90 has an engine that is a complete ground up redesign from the two I6s that I've had, and as such it is significantly more efficient that my two mills. So, do I think a 20,000 mile OCI is a problem? Nope.
Best Regards,
Shipo
As for most other maintenance items, they are mileage (filters, spark plugs and such) or calendar (coolant, brake fluid and such) dependent. Then there is the engine oil which is both OBC dependent and calendar dependent.
BMW recommends that you have your oil changed at least once per year regardless of what the OBC is telling you. As I understand it, if the one year interval occurs first, your local dealership will perform the interim oil change for free and not reset the OBC countdown. That having been said, I'm sure that is within reason. I mean, what if your car has been a year since its oil change and the OBC says 1,500 miles to oil change time? To me at least it would make sense to perform the OBC reset as well.
Best Regards,
Shipo
They do, but you have to check it in the on-board computer....
On the direction signal stalk on the left side of the steering wheel, move the little rocker switch up or down to bring up the service and settings menus in the center of the instrument panel. Scroll to one of the sections that's something like "Service Check" or "Service Intervals" or something.... Press the button on the end to select that. Then you should be able to scroll through the time and miles for your fluids, brakes, sparkplugs, etc.
They do, but you have to check it in the on-board computer....
On the direction signal stalk on the left side of the steering wheel, move the little rocker switch up or down to bring up the service and settings menus in the center of the instrument panel. Scroll to one of the sections that's something like "Service Check" or "Service Intervals" or something.... Press the button on the end to select that. Then you should be able to scroll through the time and miles for your fluids, brakes, sparkplugs, etc.
I read that C&D article and it sounds like you may have as well. Basically they tested the cars in the desert in the middle of the summer and it was over 100 degrees. I recall that there was a comment in the article that none of the cars were really able to beat the heat under those conditions - superhot and driving them hard....
With regards to reliability I doubt it will leave you stranded and they cover the maintenance for the first few years. Yes, BMW increased the mileage between oil change intervals....anything to do with the fact that they now cover that under the maintenance plan ???? You can still have additional oil changes done in between services at your cost and it would seem adviseable.
In the end it depends on your expectations and tolerance for a few things potentially going wrong here and there in exchange for a great driving car
Car & Driver did their comparison test in the desert. Hard driving in 100+ degree temperatures. Unless you live in the desert, I wouldn't be too concerned about their complaints about the strength of the A/C. That said, I took delivery around Labor Day and have not yet experienced my first summer using the A/C. On the flip side, I can tell you this car is the fastest heater-upper I have ever had. I hope that it is also a fast cooler-offer.
As for recommended oil changes, you'll see some very recent posts in this forum on that topic.
I think it's a sharp looking car. Otherwise I would not have leased one, no matter how nicely it drives.