I understand the three series sedans are new this year and that similar changes are being made to the convertibles and coupes for next year. Is it worth waiting for the 2007 three series convertibles, compared to the current 2006 330ci convertibles? What exactly are the changes being made? Thank you.
according to salesman I have dealt with in the past, the new convertible is a retractable hardtop. Havent heard anything to back it up or seen pictures.
I'm currently in between an Acura TL and a BMW 325i. I've always wanted a BMW - the car is hot. But the pratical side of me says to get the Acura...I'm afraid the BMW 325i will have problems. Currently have a Honda Accord and that thing has never let me down. Will I get the same reliability in the BMW? Thanks
>But the pratical side of me says to get the Acura...I'm afraid the BMW 325i will have problems.
That same logic lead me to pick the Lexus GS300 instead of the 530, which is a decision I've regretted.
BTW: Today I'm driving a Hundai Elantra, having dropped my Lexus off at the dealer for the seventh time in nine months to fix rattles/squeaks/clicks. My friend's 530xi has been back only once for a dead nav screen.
No your probably won't get the same reliability. But drive both cars back to back. Ask the bimmer dealer if you can take the car to an acura dealer to drive them one right after another. If you like to drive, odds are darn good you'll end up with the bimmer.
My e46 330i was not very reliable. It never broke down to the point of being inoperable but it had many, many issues - far more than normal for any manufacturer.
So far my e90 330i has been relatively bug-free. Obviously the problems with my 2003 didn't keep me from getting another BMW. They're more fun than any of the competition. By far.
Well, what are the potential regrets in each case?
If you get the acura will you look and sigh whenever a 3-series goes by?
If you have to bring the 325 to the dealer 2-3 times over the course of 4 years will you regret not getting the acura?
Remember, the acura is not 10 times more reliable. It's predicted by CR to be 30% more reliable, on the order of 3 repairs in the acura versus 4 in the BMW.
I personally think your choice in this case should not be guided primarily by reliability. The acura is better in some areas, as is the BMW.
Thanks for all the responses...I'm just concerned about getting a German car - my husband got and Audi and that thing was a HUNK OF JUNK!!! All sorts of little things kept breaking and we had to bring it to the dealer every other month. I would say over 3.5 years, that thing went to the dealer at least 15 times - big PITA. We traded it in for a G35. After getting burned on the Audi I'm hesitant to get another German car....
But yes, I think I would sigh every time I saw a 3 series go by...it's so fine!! If I had to bring it 2-3 times over the course of 4 years that would be ok.
I actually did drive a BMW and an Acura back to back...I drove an 05 Acrua TL, and then an 03 325i - I liked the BMW better. I went to a car dealer that had a whole variety of cars so I could test them all at once to see what I liked. When I went in I wanted the Acura - had NO INTENTION of looking at a BMW. But it was sitting there - the 03 looking fine, so I said what the heck, and test drove it. The 06 325 has to feel just as fine if not better, right?
I purchased a new 3 series 2002 drove it for 48K miles and than gave it to my son May 8 2005.the only thing I had replaced was rotors & brakes under warranty. A set of tires at 30K. My son has driven it a year and only service items were necessary. May 8 2005 I purchased a 2006 330i, it has 20 K miles now and no mechanical problems to date. The Tires were replaced (Free) by the dealer after 15K miles. 2 BMW's (3 series) in 4 years without any problems. Thats my experience. Good Luck and make the "Right Choice" Owner6
All of my friends and family like my 2006 e90 330 more than my 03 e46 330i. They like that it's quieter, bigger, more planted, more refined and all around more modern. Those are things I dislike about it though...
I have '04 330i....bought 2006 Accord V6 for my wife( that is what she wanted )now she will not let the Bimmer go and I am stuck driving the Accord. Both cars have been great so far. Had the Bimmer now for over 2 yrs and Honda for 6 months....also, You are protected for 4 yrs from BMW so I do not see a problem...the new Bimmers appear to have very few issues. I like my Bimmer a lot but my wife loves it !!! I know that you will be sorry if do not get the Bimmer...there is something about woman and the Bimmers. Regards, Webby P.S. My son has 2005 3 series 29,000 km and no issues at all...zero problems.
DO NOT BUY THE BMW!!! I have a 2006 330i that i have been relatively happy with, although the suspension leaves a few things to be desired. HOWEVER, my brother also has a 2006 330i, and here is why you do not want it: "Run Flat" Tires with no spare. The 2006 330i does not have a spare tire, and there is no room for one. My brother's 330i just got its 4th flat in a year. Did I mention that they don't run flat? That's right - each time the tire blew on him and did not run flat. So you say, "ok, call a tow and get another one". Well, that would be a pain in the butt in itself, but it's not that easy. You see, there is almost no BMW dealer that stocks the run flats. So if your tire blows, you generally have to wait a couple of days before you get another one. Imagine if your on the road away from home - which my brother was each time. You're basically stuck wherever you are for a couple of days because of a flat.
What did BMW have to say about this? Well, the dealership in Orlando, FL that fixed the last one didn't say anything officially, but one of the service techs said, "yeah, we're having a lot of issues with those tires". Just today when my brother had his 4th flat (blow out), someone from BMW service told him that the reason they are blowing out is because you are supposed to replace both tires (the flat and the one on the other side of it) at the same time! GREAT! So if you get a flat, you have to replace 2 tires!!! That adds up to around $700 by the way.
So go ahead and get the BMW if you want, but swim at your own risk! I have to say that I am very dissapointed after seeing how BMW has responded to this issue.
That doesn't make sense. The tires DO run flat. There was even a story in the news about the cops being unable to stop a person in a 3-series with a spike strip--all the tires flattened, and the car ekpt going.
And, only replacing 1 tire wound not make another one go flat.
I'm leery of the runflats myself, but let's be real.
This is reply to the last 2 posts. WHO CARES WHEN I JOINED???? That was pretty ridiculous - I don't get your point. It just so happens that the most recent flat I was talking about happened just a few hours ago. So I went to Edmunds.com to see if there was any posts about it and found this forum and signed up. JEEEEEEEEEZZZ!
As I mentioned I have a 330i that I've been relatively happy with, so I don't see how you can call me a "virulant anti-BMW" poster.
As far as that incident with the cops, I don't doubt it. I'm sure the tires do run flat like they are supposed to most of the time. I'm just telling you the facts about this particular case. I'm just reporting the news; make your own conclusions.
Actually, for any vehicle, not just this one, when people are agitated about their experiences they often will join a message board and post about it. It's not at all unusual and says nothing other than the person is upset about what he/she has experienced with the vehicle. Let's not make an issue of it.
Sorry, I thought the forums were a public venue for people to voice their opinions about the forum topic. I didn't realize it was a private club. I don't particularly like anyone calling into question my honesty, but I agree, let's not make an issue of it. Anyway, I'll be happy to supply copies of the BMW service records related to the incidents I reported.
On a final note: my brother is on his way to the Lexus dealership to trade in the Bimmer!
It's not a private club at all, and regardless of what has happened here, we're glad to have you as a new member. Sometimes people get defensive about the cars they love ... it's just the nature of message boards and really, nothing personal was meant.
Perhaps your brother would like to join our Lexus discussions - he's more than welcome, as are you.
As I mentioned I have a 330i that I've been relatively happy with, so I don't see how you can call me a "virulant anti-BMW" poster.
Well... Maybe it's because your very first post in this forum started with "DO NOT BUY THE BMW!!!" In any event, I'd appreciate you pointing me to any more documented instances of "blown" run flat tires; it sounds like an issue that should be reported in ROUNDEL.
While I love my 325xi one thing that I am not comfortable with is the RFTs (run flat tires). While this certainly was not a deal breaker for me I don't feel completely comfortable without a spare, so much that I keep a 5 gal air tank in my trunk. I think my concern came a little more to life over the weekend in my wife's car after she hit a pot hole and bent the tire rim leading to a blow out. The question is: if my car had a bent rim could you still drive the car? If not, I would be stranded?
Well, without going too off-topic, "stealth marketing" is real, google it. It had been documented that companies and ad agencies will pay people to go online and promote/demote products while posing as normal consumers.
Unfortunately, once you know this, it is very easy to question a specific person online who seems to have an agenda, especially if their facts don't quite make sense. I have uncovered at least one person/company online doing this, and think i know several others, but what can one do?
I think runflats are a good idea, but BMW messed up going to them too quickly. In any case, lexus tires will get flat or blow if your brother-in-law runs over stuff.
Well, I've got an Acura TL and an "06 BMW 3. I have to say that the BMW (which I'm leasing) now after 10mos. has not given me one bit of trouble. It has been flawless and with 28.6 mpg in mostly city/highway mixed driving, WITH THE A/C GOING, I can say I'm very pleased!
I had RF tires on my '02 Lexus SC430 and then I wasn't too impressed with them. I am now more favorably impressed with them on the BMW, may be a newer generation of tire. I don't know.
One day in a high construction area, I got a large bolt in a tire. Discount Tire removed the bolt and the tire seemed to hold but I knew that I was on borrowed time. It was three weeks later that the tire finally registered flat. I was driving at night and in the pitch black, the iDrive alerted me to the flat. I wouldn't have even known as it was not noticeable. I was able to drive it the next morning to the dealer where I got a loaner car, and a replacement ($260 ugh) with a courtesy tire rotation. I must say that now with close to 15000 mi., on the car, the tires are wearing well and the car drives and rides great. The other benefits of the BMW are the free scheduled maintenance and the 1 year of included BMW ASSIST (like Onstar), which along with the RF tires are convenience and security items. Yes, the tires are pricey, but oh that convenience.
As for the Acura, the car is reliable but the squeaks and rattles abound and the premature wear of the interior are despicable, The car drives no where near as tight and sure as the BMW.
rusti: Like everybody else has said, The Acura TL is a nice car and I'm sure you will have a pleasant ownership experience but will you love it?
If you get a BMW, will you say DAMN every time a TL passes you going the other way?
Are you going to look back into your garage with the BMW sitting there and think up errands to run?
There are people who have problems with every make & model vehicle. Blueguy's car had quite a few problems (again, nothing that left him stranded), but he bought another BMW. That says something. Anothyer poster on the 5 series board had the clutch replaced on his 5 series after only 14,000 miles (on his dime) and eventually bought the car's lease out when it was up.
My best friend drove his sister's E46 325iA SP (184 hp) last summer to eat up her lease miles. He absolutely loved it! He bought an Acura TL (270 hp) for his wife last December and after a year complains how it is very floaty, the torque steer is terrible, and he hates the way it handles. He said he'd take the 3 series back in a heartbeat, even with less horsepower.
My parents both drive BMWs. My Dad has an '04 X5 3.0iA SP that he's had for 2 years and 4 months with over 50,000 miles on it. It has been to the dealer exactly 4 times. 3 were for scheduled maintenance and once because a brake rotor locked up on him. My Mom has an '05 530iA with close to 20K miles. It has been to the dealer twice. Once for maintenance and once to change a tire.
Don't forget also that BMW includes all scheduled maintenance for 4 years/50K miles. Oil changes, brakes, rotors, wipers, fluid fills...
The only reason I'm not crazy about run flats is because once the tire is blown and you drive on it to safety that it is unrepairable and you have to buy a new one. In most cases you'll have to buy 2. Not because the other one goes flat but because they advise on replacing 2 tires at once so they wear together (say if the tires have more than 5k miles on them). BMW developed the E90 3 series to run on run flat tires. Lexus just stuck them on the SC430. I know someone who had an SC430 with run flats and at 80 mph the tire pressure system would yell at them that the tires were low.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I was in a similar position last year, deciding between the new 3 and its Japanese competitors. Owned nothing but Japanese cars for many years. Considered the German makes to be unreliable. Coming out of a 2003 G35 and wanting something new and fresh, I took a chance on a 2006 330i. And boy am I glad I did. My impression is that the Bimmer is more enjoyable to drive and is of a higher quality.
I've had my new 3 since Sep 2005. 17,000 miles now. Soon after I got it, the adaptive feature of the xenon headlights failed. Took the dealer a week to sort it out. Turned out to be just a loose connection. Since then, no trouble whatsoever, unless you count recalls (there has been only one recall, recently, for an emmissions issue). The reliability of this car has exceeded my expectations for the first year of a new model run OF ANY MAKE.
As for the TL, it's a nice car and a great value. Most people would be quite satisfied with it. But for the driving enthusiast, it's got to be the 3-Series.
Your Accord may have never let you down, but did it ever give you driving pleasure, did it ever put a smile on your face, did it ever make you find an excuse just to go for a drive, did it ever lead you to just stare at it, did it ever trigger any emotion in you?
If you would be inclined to load up a 325 with options, then the price difference between the 330 and 325 becomes much smaller (maybe $2,000 to $3,000). (MACDAD)
I coudn't agree more, I was also leaning towards the 325i over the 330i, to save a few grand, but once I added all the Option I wanted I was already pushing 330i prices. So I looked at the 330 and made the purchase, the extra hp and torgue also assisted in the deision. Fortunatly, I'm currently residing in Germany and getting the 330i here w/ SP, and CWP is only 2k over the base price of 325 in the states. I also had the advantage of test driving both on the Autobahn and found the 330i more rewarding :shades: .
I didn't say I was getting a 3 series, I said I was getting a 530.
The Lexus has run-flats too. For the winter I put on Dunlop WinterSport M3's (go-flats), and the ride was much better even though they were snow tires.
Your post does not make any sense. On one hand you say don't buy the BMW, on the other hand you say you are happy with it.
Seems to me your 'nettiquette was off and that is why you got the responses you did.
So I have a question about your brothers BMW. He just bought a 2006 330i, and he is going to take a bath in depreciation to get the IS350 or IS250 just because of the run-flat tires?
He bought an Acura TL (270 hp) for his wife last December and after a year complains how it is very floaty, the torque steer is terrible, and he hates the way it handles. He said he'd take the 3 series back in a heartbeat, even with less horsepower
I've had the complete opposite experience. I drove my Dad's 04 325 for a few weeks when he was out of the country and let me use his car. Sure it was OK, but it was slower, more cramped, had minimal interior creature comforts, and cost a lot more than my 05 TL. 'Floaty'? Hates the handling? OK a couple minor knocks against the TL, but overall, the TL offers so much more total package than the 3, for much less money, and can be serviced by Honda dealers. If you're not cruising the Autobahn, I'll take the Acura all day.
At about 10K miles my original tires started to whine at driving speed and growl when decelerating down to a stop. They became extremely noisy. I first thought my wheel bearings were defective. I had them inspected by my local tire dealer, in Easton MD. They have been in business since 1940. The owner determined they had cupping, the inside edges were wearing and he determined the tires were prematurely shot. Note, I did have the tires rotated and balanced at 5,000 & 10,000 miles. I went to my BMW dealer and presented the problem to the service manager. At first he denied any knowlwdge of this type of problem, than I insisted he contact the BMW regional customer relations person for a meeting with the three of us. After about three weeks he informed me BMW would replace the tires and do a precautionary allignment for Gratis as Customer Satisfaction.
Just picked up my new car last month and it seems like the air conditioning does not get that cold. Anyone else experience that problem, or do I need to bring it in to get checked?
I currently have an '06 525 (my first BMW) and I love it. So much so that I am considering trading in an '03 E320 for a new 330i. Any opinions on driving difference,feel, etc. between 330 and 525. fwiw - the MB E320 is a nice car but the driving experience doesn't compare to the BMW.
I've had my 325i for about three weeks now. I love it. I switched from an 98 A4 (6 cyl), and for the first few days missed the A4. I can now say that there is no comparison! The 325 is tight, fast, and comfortable. As for the TL, it was a nice car, and I almost bought it (but couldn't agree on a price), but now I'm so happy that I moved on to BMW. I wasn't happy with the clutch action on both the TL and the G35. Regarding handling, the G35 seemed fine, but the car also seemed big. The TL's handling was OK, but not sporty. To date, the BMW has no rattles, and is solid as a rock. I've also had no issued with RFT, and think they handle very well, and are quiet too. Let's hope my good thoughts continue....
Are you a BMW Sales Associate or employee? You sound like one. Not at all . I don't even own a BMW. I drive a 2001 Honda Prelude Type SH & my wife drives a 2000 Mazda Protege ES.
I'm a car nut (like many here on TH) and just feel very strongly about BMWs. They make great driving cars. I used to think they were just yuppie pouser cars because growing up a lot of kids' moms' drove the E30 325i Convertible. Then I got to college and met a guy who drove a 1984 E30 325e that had a dash cluster that wouldn't work. He let me drive it through the hills of Ithaca, NY. I came over the crest of a hill and got a little air, when we landed the speedo clicked back on and I realized we were going 105 mph.
I have another friend who graduated and bought himself a 1995 E36 325is. From the second I got in that car it felt like it was made for me. One night at about 4:00 AM a friend and I wanted to leave the club in Buffalo we were at. He tossed me the keys. I couldn't put the car away. Drove around for 3 and a half hours.
Even the last E90 330iA SP I drove at a Lexus driving event was great. It still felt so much more connected to the road, handled better, had easy to modulate brakes, and was more fun to drive than the IS350 which held a 50 horsepower edge.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Well I drove the TL again last night and it is a nice car, no doubt about that...so I drive the 06 325i tonight and had no trouble making up my mind... the BMW wins hands down...The TL seems a little more bulky and the BMW's interior is sooooooooo nice. I love the feeling of that car. I love white cars, but now I HAVE to have that 325i in black! That is HOT!!! If I don't get it in black I'm going to go DAMN every time I see it drive by. I was pleasantly surprised to find the back seat pretty roomy too. That car is awesome. Thanks for helping me make up my mind! I will let you all know when the Black Beauty comes home!!
I have an '02 Z3 3.0i and I'm experiencing the same problem at speeds of 80mph and above. I drove it into the dealership and they wanted me to duplicate the problem with a technician. I'll be scheduling the test sometime over this weekend. I've had the same problem with a Toyota an yr ago when driving over 100mph. By the way, have you been able to diagnose the problem yet. Will keep you posted as and when I learn more.
In regards to the RFT tires I do not like the Bridgestone Turanzas because they are very noisy. Went to my dealer and he showed me the ContiProcontact SSR tire made by Continental on some of the 325i 2006.It is also A RFT tire. Here is the good news TireRrack sells them for $ 103.00 My Dealer quoted $ 125.00 They are most of the time on back order. Was also shocked when I heard that the Bridgestone tire would cost over $ 250.00 at the dealer. TireRack sells them $ 163.00. I'm still waiting for a review on the ContiProcontact SSR tires by TireRack.
At about 10K miles my original tires started to whine at driving speed and growl when decelerating down to a stop. They became extremely noisy...and he determined the tires were prematurely shot.
What? 10k miles = prematurely shot? Like hell. I get 12-14k miles out of most of my tires; unless I track the car and then i may get a weekend out of the tires!
Just jumping in here, but there is whole other thread on RFT's in the BMW section, don't know how to copy the link. There are lots and lots of input on the Bridgestone and Conti tires. Also, note that some people are getting their dealer to change out the tires for free due to the noise problem, but not all.
Comments
according to salesman I have dealt with in the past, the new convertible is a retractable hardtop. Havent heard anything to back it up or seen pictures.
macdad
Thanks
That same logic lead me to pick the Lexus GS300 instead of the 530, which is a decision I've regretted.
BTW: Today I'm driving a Hundai Elantra, having dropped my Lexus off at the dealer for the seventh time in nine months to fix rattles/squeaks/clicks. My friend's 530xi has been back only once for a dead nav screen.
My e46 330i was not very reliable. It never broke down to the point of being inoperable but it had many, many issues - far more than normal for any manufacturer.
So far my e90 330i has been relatively bug-free. Obviously the problems with my 2003 didn't keep me from getting another BMW. They're more fun than any of the competition. By far.
If you get the acura will you look and sigh whenever a 3-series goes by?
If you have to bring the 325 to the dealer 2-3 times over the course of 4 years will you regret not getting the acura?
Remember, the acura is not 10 times more reliable. It's predicted by CR to be 30% more reliable, on the order of 3 repairs in the acura versus 4 in the BMW.
I personally think your choice in this case should not be guided primarily by reliability. The acura is better in some areas, as is the BMW.
dave
But yes, I think I would sigh every time I saw a 3 series go by...it's so fine!! If I had to bring it 2-3 times over the course of 4 years that would be ok.
I actually did drive a BMW and an Acura back to back...I drove an 05 Acrua TL, and then an 03 325i - I liked the BMW better. I went to a car dealer that had a whole variety of cars so I could test them all at once to see what I liked. When I went in I wanted the Acura - had NO INTENTION of looking at a BMW. But it was sitting there - the 03 looking fine, so I said what the heck, and test drove it. The 06 325 has to feel just as fine if not better, right?
Thanks again for all your thoughts!!
May 8 2005 I purchased a 2006 330i, it has 20 K miles now and no mechanical problems to date. The Tires were replaced (Free) by the dealer after 15K miles.
2 BMW's (3 series) in 4 years without any problems. Thats my experience. Good Luck and make the "Right Choice"
Owner6
I like my Bimmer a lot but my wife loves it !!!
I know that you will be sorry if do not get the Bimmer...there is something about woman and the Bimmers.
Regards,
Webby
P.S. My son has 2005 3 series 29,000 km and no issues at all...zero problems.
What did BMW have to say about this? Well, the dealership in Orlando, FL that fixed the last one didn't say anything officially, but one of the service techs said, "yeah, we're having a lot of issues with those tires". Just today when my brother had his 4th flat (blow out), someone from BMW service told him that the reason they are blowing out is because you are supposed to replace both tires (the flat and the one on the other side of it) at the same time! GREAT! So if you get a flat, you have to replace 2 tires!!! That adds up to around $700 by the way.
So go ahead and get the BMW if you want, but swim at your own risk! I have to say that I am very dissapointed after seeing how BMW has responded to this issue.
And, only replacing 1 tire wound not make another one go flat.
I'm leery of the runflats myself, but let's be real.
It's interesting to note how many virulent anti-BMW posts are made by people who joined Town Hall within the past 24 hours...
HMMMMM...
As I mentioned I have a 330i that I've been relatively happy with, so I don't see how you can call me a "virulant anti-BMW" poster.
As far as that incident with the cops, I don't doubt it. I'm sure the tires do run flat like they are supposed to most of the time. I'm just telling you the facts about this particular case. I'm just reporting the news; make your own conclusions.
On a final note: my brother is on his way to the Lexus dealership to trade in the Bimmer!
Perhaps your brother would like to join our Lexus discussions - he's more than welcome, as are you.
Well...
Maybe it's because your very first post in this forum started with "DO NOT BUY THE BMW!!!"
In any event, I'd appreciate you pointing me to any more documented instances of "blown" run flat tires; it sounds like an issue that should be reported in ROUNDEL.
Unfortunately, once you know this, it is very easy to question a specific person online who seems to have an agenda, especially if their facts don't quite make sense. I have uncovered at least one person/company online doing this, and think i know several others, but what can one do?
I think runflats are a good idea, but BMW messed up going to them too quickly. In any case, lexus tires will get flat or blow if your brother-in-law runs over stuff.
dave
I had RF tires on my '02 Lexus SC430 and then I wasn't too impressed with them. I am now more favorably impressed with them on the BMW, may be a newer generation of tire. I don't know.
One day in a high construction area, I got a large bolt in a tire. Discount Tire removed the bolt and the tire seemed to hold but I knew that I was on borrowed time. It was three weeks later that the tire finally registered flat. I was driving at night and in the pitch black, the iDrive alerted me to the flat. I wouldn't have even known as it was not noticeable. I was able to drive it the next morning to the dealer where I got a loaner car, and a replacement ($260 ugh) with a courtesy tire rotation. I must say that now with close to 15000 mi., on the car, the tires are wearing well and the car drives and rides great. The other benefits of the BMW are the free scheduled maintenance and the 1 year of included BMW ASSIST (like Onstar), which along with the RF tires are convenience and security items. Yes, the tires are pricey, but oh that convenience.
As for the Acura, the car is reliable but the squeaks and rattles abound and the premature wear of the interior are despicable, The car drives no where near as tight and sure as the BMW.
If you get a BMW, will you say DAMN every time a TL passes you going the other way?
Are you going to look back into your garage with the BMW sitting there and think up errands to run?
There are people who have problems with every make & model vehicle. Blueguy's car had quite a few problems (again, nothing that left him stranded), but he bought another BMW. That says something. Anothyer poster on the 5 series board had the clutch replaced on his 5 series after only 14,000 miles (on his dime) and eventually bought the car's lease out when it was up.
My best friend drove his sister's E46 325iA SP (184 hp) last summer to eat up her lease miles. He absolutely loved it! He bought an Acura TL (270 hp) for his wife last December and after a year complains how it is very floaty, the torque steer is terrible, and he hates the way it handles. He said he'd take the 3 series back in a heartbeat, even with less horsepower.
My parents both drive BMWs. My Dad has an '04 X5 3.0iA SP that he's had for 2 years and 4 months with over 50,000 miles on it. It has been to the dealer exactly 4 times. 3 were for scheduled maintenance and once because a brake rotor locked up on him. My Mom has an '05 530iA with close to 20K miles. It has been to the dealer twice. Once for maintenance and once to change a tire.
Don't forget also that BMW includes all scheduled maintenance for 4 years/50K miles. Oil changes, brakes, rotors, wipers, fluid fills...
The only reason I'm not crazy about run flats is because once the tire is blown and you drive on it to safety that it is unrepairable and you have to buy a new one. In most cases you'll have to buy 2. Not because the other one goes flat but because they advise on replacing 2 tires at once so they wear together (say if the tires have more than 5k miles on them). BMW developed the E90 3 series to run on run flat tires. Lexus just stuck them on the SC430. I know someone who had an SC430 with run flats and at 80 mph the tire pressure system would yell at them that the tires were low.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I've had my new 3 since Sep 2005. 17,000 miles now. Soon after I got it, the adaptive feature of the xenon headlights failed. Took the dealer a week to sort it out. Turned out to be just a loose connection. Since then, no trouble whatsoever, unless you count recalls (there has been only one recall, recently, for an emmissions issue). The reliability of this car has exceeded my expectations for the first year of a new model run OF ANY MAKE.
As for the TL, it's a nice car and a great value. Most people would be quite satisfied with it. But for the driving enthusiast, it's got to be the 3-Series.
Your Accord may have never let you down, but did it ever give you driving pleasure, did it ever put a smile on your face, did it ever make you find an excuse just to go for a drive, did it ever lead you to just stare at it, did it ever trigger any emotion in you?
I coudn't agree more, I was also leaning towards the 325i over the 330i, to save a few grand, but once I added all the Option I wanted I was already pushing 330i prices. So I looked at the 330 and made the purchase, the extra hp and torgue also assisted in the deision. Fortunatly, I'm currently residing in Germany and getting the 330i here w/ SP, and CWP is only 2k over the base price of 325 in the states. I also had the advantage of test driving both on the Autobahn and found the 330i more rewarding :shades: .
The Lexus has run-flats too. For the winter I put on Dunlop WinterSport M3's (go-flats), and the ride was much better even though they were snow tires.
Seems to me your 'nettiquette was off and that is why you got the responses you did.
So I have a question about your brothers BMW. He just bought a 2006 330i, and he is going to take a bath in depreciation to get the IS350 or IS250 just because of the run-flat tires?
I've had the complete opposite experience. I drove my Dad's 04 325 for a few weeks when he was out of the country and let me use his car. Sure it was OK, but it was slower, more cramped, had minimal interior creature comforts, and cost a lot more than my 05 TL. 'Floaty'? Hates the handling? OK a couple minor knocks against the TL, but overall, the TL offers so much more total package than the 3, for much less money, and can be serviced by Honda dealers. If you're not cruising the Autobahn, I'll take the Acura all day.
At about 10K miles my original tires started to whine at driving speed and growl when decelerating down to a stop. They became extremely noisy. I first thought my wheel bearings were defective. I had them inspected by my local tire dealer, in Easton MD. They have been in business since 1940. The owner determined they had cupping, the inside edges were wearing and he determined the tires were prematurely shot. Note, I did have the tires rotated and balanced at 5,000 & 10,000 miles.
I went to my BMW dealer and presented the problem to the service manager. At first he denied any knowlwdge of this type of problem, than I insisted he contact the BMW regional customer relations person for a meeting with the three of us. After about three weeks he informed me BMW would replace the tires and do a precautionary allignment for Gratis as Customer Satisfaction.
You sound like one.
Owner6.
fwiw - the MB E320 is a nice car but the driving experience doesn't compare to the BMW.
You sound like one. Not at all
I'm a car nut (like many here on TH) and just feel very strongly about BMWs. They make great driving cars. I used to think they were just yuppie pouser cars because growing up a lot of kids' moms' drove the E30 325i Convertible. Then I got to college and met a guy who drove a 1984 E30 325e that had a dash cluster that wouldn't work. He let me drive it through the hills of Ithaca, NY. I came over the crest of a hill and got a little air, when we landed the speedo clicked back on and I realized we were going 105 mph.
I have another friend who graduated and bought himself a 1995 E36 325is. From the second I got in that car it felt like it was made for me. One night at about 4:00 AM a friend and I wanted to leave the club in Buffalo we were at. He tossed me the keys. I couldn't put the car away. Drove around for 3 and a half hours.
Even the last E90 330iA SP I drove at a Lexus driving event was great. It still felt so much more connected to the road, handled better, had easy to modulate brakes, and was more fun to drive than the IS350 which held a 50 horsepower edge.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I have an '02 Z3 3.0i and I'm experiencing the same problem at speeds of 80mph and above. I drove it into the dealership and they wanted me to duplicate the problem with a technician. I'll be scheduling the test sometime over this weekend. I've had the same problem with a Toyota an yr ago when driving over 100mph. By the way, have you been able to diagnose the problem yet. Will keep you posted as and when I learn more.
Turanzas because they are very noisy.
Went to my dealer and he showed me the ContiProcontact SSR
tire made by Continental on some of the 325i 2006.It is also A RFT tire.
Here is the good news TireRrack sells them for $ 103.00
My Dealer quoted $ 125.00 They are most of the time on back order. Was also shocked when I heard that the Bridgestone tire would cost over $ 250.00 at the dealer.
TireRack sells them $ 163.00. I'm still waiting for a review on the ContiProcontact SSR tires by TireRack.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
dave
What? 10k miles = prematurely shot? Like hell. I get 12-14k miles out of most of my tires; unless I track the car and then i may get a weekend out of the tires!
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/pdfs/20060622/W2.pdf
Is it a Z4 convertible or a 3 convertible?