BMW 3-Series 2006

webby1

Local Canadian dealer advised me the increase will be between 1% to 2 %.....in Canada.

Regards,

Webby

planoml

While we are waiting for the hardcopy-

 

http://www.bmw.co.uk/apm/new_bmw/mi...Ek%253D,00.html

 

Select "digital brochure to your desktop" and then "Saloon (March 2005)" from the droptown menu under bodystyle

dshultz

I heard rumours that the 330 would be first out, followed by the 325 in the Summer, but alas I have a 325 that is a March build.

selm

I told a dealer in SoCal that I did not want to put down the deposit without knowing the price. He too gave me the 1-2% trying to get me to decide right then and there. I told him I don't mind waiting a couple of months.

venture

The two dealers I have talked to are both getting 325i's only as their initial authorization.

 

I don't know if that means the 325's will be built first, or if it is just a coincidence. They didn't seem to know, or care, either.

sedmund

venture, does the brochure show the date of availability of SMG for the 2006 3-series?

nyccarguy

any pictures of the standard wheels or (more importantly) Sport Package wheels?

planoml

Most of the dealers that I talked to can take orders for either the 330 or 325-no delays. Don't get something you don't want-talk to at least another dealer.

shipo

Well, according to a couple of sites that I have visited regarding the E90, here is what I have come up with (SE=Standard Equipment, SP=Sport Package):

 

E90 325i (SE): Type 156 -- 16 x 7.0 with 205/55 R16 tires

E90 325i (SP): Type 161 -- 17 x 8.0 with 225/45 R17 tires (Front Only)

E90 325i (SP): Type 161 -- 17 x 8.5 with 255/40 R17 tires (Rear Only)

 

E90 330i (SE): Type 159 -- 17 x 8.0 with 225/45 R17 tires

E90 330i (SP): Type 162 -- 18 x 8.0 with 225/40 R18 tires (Front Only)

E90 330i (SP): Type 162 -- 18 x 8.5 with 255/35 R18 tires (Rear Only)

 

All of the BMW wheels that can fit on an E90 can be viewed at the following:

 

http://zoouz.free.fr/e90_wh.htm

 

Best Regards,

Shipo

halfkraut

hmmm...I see two slots in the passenger side dash that look like they may be cup holders but I don't see anything in the center console that looks like cup holders as in the E46. Anyone know the details?

kyfdx

Thanks for the link... I'm not in love with any of those...

venture

There is no mention of SMG at all in the brochure as far as I can see - and I looked pretty close. It's not mentioned with the Sports Package.

I'm assuming this is a preliminary brochure since it only lists the 325 and 330 - nothing about the convertibles or all wheel drive either.

giovanni1

My dealer told me SMG would be available late summer/early fall.

venture

nyccarguy,

It shows the 156, 16x7.0 Double Spoke w/ 205/55R-16 run-flat all-season tires (standard on 325i);

the 159, 17x8.0 Star Spoke w/ 225/45R-17 run-flat all-season tires (standard on 330i);

the 161, Double Spoke run-flat performance tires Front: 17x8.0 w/ 225/45R-17 - Back: 17x8.5 w/ 255/40R-17(included in 325i Sport Package);

and the 162, Ellipsoid and run-flat performance tires Front: 18x8.0 w/ 225/40R-18 - Back: 18x8.5 w/ 255/35R-18 (included in 330i Sport Package).

Whew!

venture

Crap!

I see shipo already posted the wheel information.

At least that's confirmation.

Sorry, shipo

shipo

Hey, no harm, no foul. ;-)

After all, you are the one with the "Official" information, mine was gleened from a number of sites (some less than totally reputable too). It's good to see that I was able to sift through all of the garbage out there and still come up with a correct answer. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

shipo

I hear you, I'm not either.

I'm thinking maybe some AT Italia Riva's would look nice. They can be seen here:

AT Italia Riva 2-Piece

Best Regards,
Shipo

is3ooguy

With all this talk about the new wheels for the next 3, it makes me wonder again.... Why does BMW use brake pads that coat there nice rims with that black film? It still one of the main and only reasons I haven't made the jump to a BMW. I like my car to look nice and getting out the scrubber every few hundred miles isn't how I like to spend my time. Will they change this on the new 3? ....the new 3 does look sweet, I like it in electric red, very sporty but I have a feeling Lexus might have a ace up it's sleeve on March 1st.

shipo

BMW has no control over the dust issue; they have to use pads high in graphite in accordance with German law, as do all other German manufacturers. :-/

The good news is that companies like PBR/Axxis make aftermarket pads that have every bit the stopping power and fade resistance that the OEM pads have, but without all of the dust. I replaced the front pads only on my current 530i last April, and as a result, I haven't had to perform any remedial cleaning action since. The difference is quite unbelievable.

Best Regards,
Shipo

is3ooguy

Thanks. If you can believe it, that makes a big difference in my decision for my next car. I can't believe no one has ever mentioned that they HAVE to use those brake pad before. Very interesting. I'm now leaning a lot closer to a new 330i. What's the rough cost on those pads plus instal?

selm

Since the front and rear wheels are different sizes on the Sport Package, can you rotate the tires to get more life out of them?

kyfdx

Nope...

shipo

According to my records I paid $61.73 for the new set of pads for my 530i. I have no idea what the cost would be to install them as I did mine myself. Given that I don't have a lift or any other specialized equipment, I probably took longer to do it than a mechanic would, and since I was able to accomplish the swap in about 40 minutes total, I cannot imagine a mechanic charging more than $50 or $60 for the job.

If in the end you do get a 330i, be aware of a couple of things:

1) After market pads will (most likely) not be available until several months after the car first hits the streets, so there might be some time where you need to do extra cleaning.
2) If you do pay a mechanic to do the swap (it really is quite easy), make sure that he/she (yup, I've met a couple of quite competent female mechanics) uses a torque wrench to put the wheels back on and NOT an impact wrench. Using an impact wrench is the surest way I know of of warping rotors (and not just on BMWs).

Best Regards,
Shipo

shipo

Yeah, what kyfdx said. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

dewey

"but I have a feeling Lexus might have a ace up it's sleeve on March 1st."

What would that be: Potent brake dust killer?

shipo

Yikes! Dude, you have to stop hitting the "Refresh" button on your browser. Simply return to your "Message Center" to check to see if there are any new posts. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

kyfdx

That the 325i Sport package is now staggered?

And.. that they are now using 255/40 in the rear, instead of 245/40, which is a better match size-wise to the 225/45 in the front..

And.. also using 8" on the fronts, instead of the 7.5" that the staggered 330i Sport used to use..

dewey

Thanks for curing my repetition syndrome!,

shipo

No problemo! ;-)

veep

Anyone notice how BMW usually doesn't pair silver exteriors with beige interiors? From the E90 brochure, it looks like any color combination is now available. So before I commit to an E90 with titanium silver and a beige interior, does anyone object? It should look ok, right?

My dealer here in the northeast just gave me my production number for a March production. Anyone else get one yet? The official release date for the E90 in NA is May 6th, but it looks like the cars might come at the end of April.

kyfdx

I personally am not wild about the sand interior... mostly because of the light carpets...

But, that said, I think more contrast looks better than less.. So, I'd prefer black with the silver.. I have seen quite a few of the new silver-gray with sand, and that doesn't look bad, as that color is darker than silver..

But, there are plenty of silver/sand combos on the road.. evidently, it bothers others a lot less than me.. You also see silver/gray, and even though that lacks contrast, it is in the same color family..

Get what you like.... no one else really cares..

regards,
kyfdx

planoml

My current car has a sand interior with the bostonian green (read dark green), and I agree with Kyfdx, it shows marks easly. I'm ordering the black interior this time. I won't be able to tell how much dirt is back there, until trees start growing.

selm

IMO, silver doesn't match very well with beige. My Infiniti is that combo, and I wish it was silver with black. One of the many reasons I can't wait to trade it in for the E90.

dewey

Everyone in this forum is ready to order and pick those sand storm beige seats on their new e90s while I have to wait over 600 days for BMW to introduce a Touring e91. Life is so unfair!! Anyway only 623 days to go and I will be able to test drive the new Touring. :-(

nyccarguy

Thanks for posting the link for the wheels. I kinda dig the Style 162s, but the STyle 179s look meanacing...I like 'em!

dl7265

I object go Silver/Grey

DL

m4d_cow

whats up guys, havent logged onto this forum for over 2 weeks (too much work to do) and apparently i missed a lot of things already lol
does BMWNA have the e90s pricing already? i find the new colors and optional wheels more attractive somehow, but i still prefer jet black over saphire black since the saphire looks ugly under the sunlight imo.

shipo

"...since the saphire looks ugly under the sunlight imo."

Yikes! I guess I need to get my eyeballs overhauled. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

bartalk2

Can you tell from the brochure whether the new 330 comes with sport suspension standard (as with the current model), or is it optional? (I do mean the sport suspension, not the sport package which is something else).

kyfdx

I don't have the brochure.. but, the reason for the 330i having the sport suspension standard in the past, is because the gap looked too big with the 17" wheels and the sports suspension lowers the body..

Since that is still the case, I'm betting the sports suspension will still be standard on the 330i, since 17" wheels are still standard.

mjbauer

I just picked up a brochure yesterday and it is optional, part of the sport package. It is called "sport suspension calibration"

bmwccc

I agree:

Black Interior with Silver..........

bartalk2

Yes, just got the brochure myself. Sport suspension is optional. Big change in the tires for the 330--225/45 17, I believe. Hope that doesn't kill the ride.

kyfdx

225/45-17 is just wider than the 205/50-17.. They have the same height sidewall.. Shouldn't ride any harder than the current one...

ivan_99

Actually the 45 series has a SLIGHTLY lower height.

The 45 is a ratio. It is 45% of the width.

So 45% of 225 is 101.25mm

The old 205/50
50% of 205 is 102.5

1.25mm is not really a significant decrease in height…plus the tire manufacturer and design play a big role in performance/feel/comfort.

So I’m saying…you are right…just being anal about it.

kyfdx

Yeah.. I knew as soon as I posted that, that someone would get the exact numbers....lol

anthonym

I am really debating whether or not to get the 330i with the Sport Package. I like the larger 18" rims but am concerned about the degradation in ride quality. The pictures of the 17" rims on the standard 330i look good but not as stunning as the sport rims. Typically, I will ride the car on the weekends since I walk to work. I will also make several trips to visit the parents 500 miles away. Can anyone weigh in on the ride quality of the larger tires and sport package? By the way, I currently own a 1999 323i and absolutely love the ride and don't have any direct comparison to the sport package ride quality.

psyran1

I am interested in leasing an e90, with a thought of buying it at the end. It seems that if one adds lease payments for the 36 months for an e46 plus the residual at end of lease term, it equals the full retail for the car when new. Why is buying at the end of lease not a good idea? It seems this gives an opportunity for lower payments for first three years, then can refinace for 48 months or 60 months for continued low payments. Amy thoughts (Kydfx?)
Thanks

bhs1

Black leather interior w/silver. Think aluminum trim on the interior rather than the wood veneer. The aluminum trim is pure and will pick up the exterior silver color and the aluminum wheels. The black leather pairs with the black rubber tires on the outside, and other black trims of the car. The result will be elegant, yet up to date.

We will order ours in the next few weeks and will do the dark grey with black interior/aluminum trim.

bhs1

Great question. I'm looking forward to the answer too. We have a 330xi 2002 and the lease is up June 1. The cost with recertification would be $30,000 or so to buy, so we decided a new 2006 was the way to go as it's the start of a new design cycle. We plan to buy this one and keep for 6 or 7 years.