BMW 3-Series 2006

michaeln1

does anyone know if the illuminated rocker panels, the bottoms of the door sills, are available as accessories for the 3 like it is in the 5 and 7 series. or if they will become available?

thanks,
mike

davidd3

You raise an interesting issue. I have a friend that works in a BMW service dept. He told me that when they went over the new 3, they had a 325 and a 330 side by side. He told me that the engines appear to be identical and that the power difference is apparently attributable to computer programming. He too thinks that it should be possible to upgrade. But if and when such an upgrade is ever offered for the 325, I suspect that it would not be a cost efficient way to get a power boost. You'd probably come out better cost-wise to get the 330 in the first place. Maybe a black market will develop for the upgrade. But anyone who goes for that will risk voiding the BMW warranty.

planoml

I agree with previous posts, in that the cost of the 40 odd hp upgrade will probably be more than the 325/330 price difference. Next we will hear of 330 vs. 335 mods. It will probably not be great for re-sale value or factory warranty to mess with the car, unless you plan to take it with you.

The 325 has enough hp for me. I could do with less really, given all the tickets I've been getting. Or, you could just give in and get the new 400+ hp M3. You won't have any complaints there, unless you start comparing the M3 & M5.

wstevec

Would one of those I-Pod / MP3 FM Transmitters work better? I have seen them for about $39.

div2

I sure wouldn't buy a car without them...

shipo

"He told me that the engines appear to be identical and that the power difference is apparently attributable to computer programming."

No offence, but if you friend works in the service department, he should know better. Per BMWs literature, the main difference between the two engines is the induction system (a three stage intake manifold on the 330i vs. a single stage manifold on the 325i), having said that, I'm sure that the OBC has different firmware as well. A quick check on the internet and the cheapest single stage manifold for any BMW I6 engine that I could find was over $1,200. Figure over $2,000 (maybe considerably more) for a three stage unit similar to the one found on a true 330i, plus computer upgrades, plus installation, and gee wiz, it costs more than that magic $3,300. Assuming that someone goes that route anyway, do they then have a true 330i? Nope! That car would still be missing the larger and more capable brakes, better wheels and tires, and the larger and more robust transmission (assuming a manual gearbox) among other less important goodies.

Best Regards,
Shipo

div2

That "expert" must be the same imbecile who told me that the valvetronic engines no longer have camshafts. What a moron.

shipo

Maybe he was thinking that those two hollow rods with the polished eccentric surfaces were simply art-deco oil galleries to the valvetronic assemblies. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

kyfdx

Everyone seems "amazed" that the 3.0 litre in the 325i has such low torque numbers compared to the 330i..

Since the exact same numbers are reported for the 3.0 litre US model 325i and the 2.5 litre EURO model 325i, I'm guessing that the US 325i numbers are understated... maybe by a lot... and that the difference between the two 3.0 litre models is possibly a lot less than reported...

Okay.. back to solitaire..

davidd3

Shipo,

No offense taken. Thanks for the clarification, as well as your more thoughtful assessment whether a 325 could cost-effectively be converted into a 330 by way of upgrades. Your points are well taken that the differences between the 325 and the 330 are more than just 40hp.

Changing the subject, could you recommend snow tires for the 2006 330i? I have one on order. It's off the production line and awaiting transport. If all goes well, I plan to delivery on Sep 2. I live in NY. I didn't get the Sports Package. So mine will be coming with 245/45-17 all season runflats. Since the car doesn't come with a spare, I suppose that new 3 owners are limited to winter runflats. I've never done the snow tire thing before (and my wife and I have consequently had some difficulties every winter), but I'm inclined to start doing it from this winter (which may mean that it will never snow again). Do you know if BMW dealers will store the off-season set of tires for their customers, and if so, do they charge for that? Do you know how much BMW dealers charge for changing tires from summer to winter or vice versa?

Best regards,

David D

dhanley

"A quick check on the internet and the cheapest single stage manifold for any BMW I6 engine that I could find was over $1,200. Figure over $2,000 (maybe considerably more) for a three stage unit similar to the one found on a true 330i, plus computer upgrades, plus installation, and gee wiz, it costs more than that magic $3,300."

That's not a fair argument, shipo. First of all, there's a 6,000 difference between a 325 and a 330. Secondly, people have been discussing a software upgrade, not an intake upgrade.

A perfrormance chip (for the e46) from dinan is $400. If someone wants a low-cost (base 325i) BMW with more than the low 184 lb-ft, and doesn't mind challenging the warranty, this seems a reasonble option.

If you think that the single-stage intake manifole accounts for the entire power difference, well, the old 2.8L didn't have valvetronic, a simpler head, a single stage intake, and it still had a higher specific output.

shipo

Regarding the snow tire thing, Michelin has announced a number of Run-Flat versions if its more popular snow tire offerings. For your car, which I believe is being shipped with 225/45 R17 tires, Michelin has in fact listed a Run-Flat version of their Pilot Alpin PA2 winter tires in that size. Given that July and August aren't exactly the season that sees blistering winter tire sales, I'm not too surprised that I haven't seen these tires listed on any of the tire sites yet, however, come October, if they aren't being listed yet, I'd call and ask.

As far was what dealerships will do regarding swapping and storing off-season tires, I suppose that is up to the dealership. My dealer here in New Hampshire does offer that service, however, since I store and swap my own, I never inquired as to the price.

Best Regards,
Shipo

shipo

"First of all, there's a 6,000 difference between a 325 and a 330."

Sorry, I don't see it that way. Apples to apples, the real price difference is $3,300.

"Secondly, people have been discussing a software upgrade, not an intake upgrade."

I mentioned the intake upgrade simply because that is the main difference between the two engines. All of the software in the world cannot tune the intake charge to the same level of volumetric efficiency as can the tuned intake manifold of the 330i. If you want to match the output of a 330i with a 325i, you're going to have to replace the intake manifold and/or put a blower of some sort (supercharger/turbocharger) on the engine.

"A perfrormance chip (for the e46) from dinan is $400. If someone wants a low-cost (base 325i) BMW with more than the low 184 lb-ft, and doesn't mind challenging the warranty, this seems a reasonble option."

I read a quote from Dinan themselves stating that with the advent of ODB-II, there weren't any real gains that could be had from upgraded software, excepting of course for the re-mapping of the drive-by-wire throttle response, the raising of the RPM limiter and an elimination of the top speed governor, all of which are mere window dressing.

"If you think that the single-stage intake manifole accounts for the entire power difference, well, the old 2.8L didn't have valvetronic, a simpler head, a single stage intake, and it still had a higher specific output."

Per BMW's web site, the old 2.8 liter mill had a two stage intake manifold. I never removed mine from my 328i to take a "look-see", so I'll just have to take their word for it.

In the end, I stand by my previous statements, the real world price difference between a 325i and a 330i is $3,300, and it will cost much more than that to goose a 325i mill up to the power levels of the 330i motor.

Best Regards,
Shipo

davidd3

Thanks for your suggestion, Shipo. I will wait for October and then start seriously looking into runflat snow tire options.

dhanley

""First of all, there's a 6,000 difference between a 325 and a 330."

Sorry, I don't see it that way. "

Well, ok, you can see it however you want it, but according to BMW's website there's a 6,000 price difference in the cars.

I know you're taking the "equal equipment" tack, but many people may not want xenons, nor be interested in the logic7, yet they may want a power upgrade over the default, as it may be embarrassing to be blown away by chevy malibus.

""Secondly, people have been discussing a software upgrade, not an intake upgrade."

I mentioned the intake upgrade simply because that is the main difference between the two engines."

"Main" difference is open entirely to interpretation.

"Per BMW's web site, the old 2.8 liter mill had a two stage intake manifold."

Really? It's possible, but can i see the link? Otherwise, i worry it may be as accurate as the 3,000 price difference.

"and it will cost much more than that to goose a 325i mill up to the power levels of the 330i motor."

Ah, well, that's redefining the discussion. Low-cost improvement != "equal."

shipo

Do you know what's worse than being called a liar? Being called a liar and then not being able to find the resource that was used as the foundation of the statement in dispute. It seems that since I researched the multi-stage intake manifold issue a couple of months ago, BMW has gone and revamped their web site. Instead of containing content about the M52 and M54 series if I6 engines, it is now focused on the N52 of the E90 and E60. Anyway, I did a little web work and came up with the following links to support my previous statement regarding the two stage intake setup for the old 2.8 liter mill.

http://www.bmwworld.com/engines/m52.htm states:
"The inlet system was provided with two technical refinements in 1998. One was a flap valve in the inlet plenum chamber that cut off the inlet passages of the front three cylinders from the rear three. The differentiated intake system, known as DISA, optimized the engine's running under full load. The other refinement was a dedicated system of tubes of very small diameters through which the inlet air was drawn during idling or when running at low loads. The increased turbulence that this achieved improved the combustion process and thus reduced exhaust emissions."

Said another way, a two stage manifold.

http://www.machinedesign.com/ASP/strArticleID/56809/strSite/MDSite/viewSelectedArticle.asp- is a link that discusses the 2004 530i, which has an engine which is a direct descendant of the 2.8 liter mill in question states:
"The rear-wheel-drive 530i carries a 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine, boasting a healthy 225 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. The aluminum powerplant features dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, variable-valve timing, and a two-stage intake manifold. A flap mechanism switches between two paths for air entering the engine. One path is tuned for low to medium speeds for improved torque and response, the other for high speeds to maximize top-end power."

http://www.basf.com/businesses/polymers/plastics/pdfs/fischer.pdf contains an undated discussion of the M52 engine that states:
"The resonance flap is located in plenum three. When this flap is closed, it divides plenum three into two halves, thus providing a long runner length for high torque. When the flap is in the open position, only the short runner length from plenum three to the cylinder is provided for high power."

Still don't believe me? Still think you can inexpensively breathe on a 325i so that it will generate 330i like power? All I can say is, "It's you money, do with it what makes you happy."

Best Regards,
Shipo

michaeln1

they are nice aren't they, my dealer said they a rent available for the 3 yet...oh well, we'll see what happens.

on another note- how does the runflat monitoring system work in the e90 330i. are there sensors in the wheels? i was wondering because i might put on aftermarket rims on my 330i and curious to see what wheels i would need to get.

thanks.

03celica03

Well I have the $5.00 cable from radio shack and I think it would be a better bet. The reason is any equipment I have used be it a cell phone or cd changer where I used fm transmitter modulation always seemed to have distortion over the speakers at least a little. The cable at least gives any Ipod a direct link to your stereo like a factory installed cd changer. You just go to the audio button and select the aux selection and with the ipods headphone jack connected to the cable and the other side of the cable plugged into the aux jack in the armrest you should be good to go. At least you can controll the volume. What item for a bmw ever costed only five bucks anyway?

wco81

Think people fiddling with their iPods while driving may be more prone to accidents?

Got to be as bad as trying to dial a phone.

kennynmd

I mat be wrong but I have heard that they are connected to the DSC ststem. Therefore, you can get whatever wheels you want and just put them on with no problems.

jimroos

I strongly recommend getting an RF remote for the IPod. There are a couple of these available. I picked mine up for about $40 at the Apple store. I put the ipod on random shuffle and use the remote to skip songs I'm not interested in. Saves me from having to constantly open the arm rest. Just be sure you get an RF remote, not IR remote. The RF remotes don't need line-of-sight and will work with the armrest closed.

Also, someone mentioned having to have the iPod's volume all the way up. Biggest problem it created for me was that switching from AUX to Radio sometimes meant a huge leap in volume. But, their is an aux input volume adjustment setting buried in the stereo that resolves this issue.

kandg

I bought two e46's when i was in my twenties..now that i'm in my thirties, i added an LR3 (for my bigger, older, more sensible car)

kruntal

I was told by dealer that runflat monitoring is by checking wheel rpm with respect to other wheels. I wonder what happens if all four go flat at same time ?

No need for run flat winter tires if you mount them on separate, dedicated wheels - could use one of regular wheels as spare in the trunk.

My 325 will reach dealer this weekend - can't wait to take delivery.

03celica03

Sorry jimroos , i am the one who said to have the volume on the ipod all the way up so you can use the radio or steering wheels aux imput volume to control the real volume of the ipod. I always do this because if you turn the volume up on the wheel or the radio and you are driving you can not safely go back to the ipod to make its volume higher. Just thought it was safer but if you do forget that huge leap in volume might make you make a huge leap in your seat and or into the next lane, my bad. Anyway onto another subject: could the 325 have only 215hp/185torq and the 330 really have 255hp/220 torq out of the same 3.0 liter engine.I drove both and believe that they are a little closer in numbers. Maybe bmw did not want to under sell the 330 by the numbers seeming too close.The torque I am inclined to believe is about 15-20lbs of torque in difference based on my driving of the cars.they have different mechanical workings which I understand can improve hp but in my opinion I think the torque is closer.After all 0-60 times 6.1 and 6.7 dont seem like those hp/torq numbers are true. Maybe im crazy but the old 325 and 330 were way different in power but not the new ones , at least for my family has owned a 94'325,95'325,96'M-3,98'328,00'328,03'330,06' for now.

shipo

Regarding the recent discussion about what type of induction manifolds have been fitted to recent BMW six cylinder engines, and my failure to be able to reference supporting information on the BMW web site; I've finally found a press release from BMW that should put this issue to rest.

Press Release:

[snippet #1]
For Release: March 1, 2005
Contact: David J. Buchko
Product Communications Manager
(phone number and E-Mail address deleted per generally accepted TownHall rules)

William Scully
BMW Product Communications Specialist
(phone number and E-Mail address deleted per generally accepted TownHall rules)

NEW 3 SERIES SEDANS:
The icon of sport sedans enters its fifth generation
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 1, 2005… The BMW 3 Series, as just about everyone...
[/snippet #1]

[snippet #2]
Additional developments contribute to the new engines’ performance:
• Combustion chambers have been refined.
• BMW’s VANOS variable valve timing has also evolved; the range over which it varies intake-valve timing has been increased by 10 degrees.
• 3-stage induction system (330i engine only). BMW 6-cylinders have long had a 2-stage system, with one intake-path length for lower rpm, the other for higher rpm. By providing an additional “middle” stage, this system further optimizes torque and power delivery.
[/snippet #2]

I happen to have that press release in PDF format (thanks kyfdx), and if anyone is interested, I'll gladly E-Mail them a copy.

Best Regards,
Shipo

rs1157

Hello all,

I read in a business article the BMW was taking a risk by having both cars come with a 3 L engine. It said that although the 330 came with a 3 stage, it only improved midrange hp and Torque. Also it stated that the old 2005 330 had more hp and torque even though it did not have as many improvements as the new 06 325. All in all it said that the 325 probable could kick up 230 +/- 10 hp if it were tuned the same way as the 330.

It also stated that volvo made a similar mistake in the mid 90's by making 2 turbo 5 cylinders and detuning 1 of them, only to have aftermarket companies crack the code and equalize the cars.

In the long term, they expect the 325 to disapear and have the 330 and the 336 come out. They expect these cars to come out in 2008-09.

So although the engines ARE different, they are not as different as proce shows. German compaines are notious for having big differences in cars. while American companies usually make engine upgrades that are more realistic of the overall cost of the engine. But then again BMW is in a class of its own and can not be compared.

On another note, isn't it a pain to clean those rims, what the best way of doing it? I saw some Dupont Wheel cleaner with Tefelon, anyone ever try it out? Supposed to leave a thin film and prevent the wheels from getting dirty again.

rhmass

If you have four flats at the same air leaky rate, that will really be tough, but unlikely. As long as it detects the variations of rpm among tires, the alarm (light) will come on.

I think one must stay with run-flat winter tires if you want your BMW to run the way it is designed for. The rigid characteristics of the run flat have been calculated into the overall suspension system of the '06 model. If replaced with regular tires, the car may run too soft, I was told by the service manager of the dealership.

dl7265

Do you have a part # on that cable ? ive been to like 3 radio shack (how are they still in business) and they tried to sell me a big amp thingy for about $100??
Unfortuntly, im finding the 3er has technology far beyond most comprehension.

Maybe in 2007 we can have the option of a real car key,regular tires, no push button start ect...sigh*

DL

kyfdx

The wheel cleaner with Teflon sounds like a good idea..

Some people wax their wheels after cleaning.. This supposedly makes future cleanings much easier..

I pay someone to do it.. I find writing a check to be the easiest method..

paule

I agree with what the dealer is telling you. The suspension is most definitely tuned to the runflat tires.

It would not suprise me at all to get a "soft" feeling car if you went to non-EMTs.

The automakers have been trying to get rid of spare tires for awhile now. It's the wave of the future!

wco81

Some people use this instead of a simple headphone to aux cable.

http://www.sik.com/

Supposedly regulates volumes better between the regular stereo and the aux. mode of those stereos.

shipo

"I think one must stay with run-flat winter tires if you want your BMW to run the way it is designed for. The rigid characteristics of the run flat have been calculated into the overall suspension system of the '06 model. If replaced with regular tires, the car may run too soft, I was told by the service manager of the dealership."

Hmmm, I'm having a problem with that statement, and the fact that it came from the service manager of a dealership simply means that I'm having a problem with the statement doubly so. The fact is that unsprung weight is one of the most significant issues affecting ride and handling there are. My bet is that to folks that like to track their cars will quickly tire (pun intended) of the extra weight and cost of RunFlats, and opt for GetsFlat tires as replacement sets. I'll also bet that when they do mount those GetsFlat tires, they'll find that they are getting much better track times due to the sharper handling offered by the lighter wheel/tire assembly.

Best Regards,
Shipo

rhmass

I certainly am not as knowledgeable as you concerning the finer points of tracking BMWs. I simply enjoy driving one because of its handling and responsiveness of daily use. However I do remember reading in some car magazines concerning the trend of designing auto suspensions including the tires as the whole system. I am not sure you'll gain a sharper handling from the getflat tires if the above is true for cars so designed. We'll find out soon enough with more prevalence of the run flat tires.

shipo

"We'll find out soon enough with more prevalence of the run flat tires."

Roger that. The way I look at it, just because a suspension has been designed to deal with the extra weight of the RunFlat tires, that doesn't preclude it from performing even better when the unsprung weight is reduced by putting on GetsFlat tires. Time will tell. ;-)

For my part, assuming that I'll have a car in my garage with OEM RunFlats sooner or later, I'm currently inclined to opt for GetsFlat tires as replacements and stow a can or two of tire goo (spare tire in a can) in the trunk.

Best Regards,
Shipo

kruntal

Here is another Edmunds article on what premium fuel buys - nothing much

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/specialreports/articles/106293/article.html?tid=edmunds.h..t- opfeatures.premiumgas.0.*

Help me Kyfdx and/or Shipo.

I take delivery of my 06 325i on Monday. What will happen if I pump 87 Octane into it......

kdshapiro

With all deference to Edmunds, putting premium fuel in a car that's designed for regular does not buy one anything. Putting regular fuel in a car that's designed for premium can lead to knocking and loss of power. Of course anti-knock sensors mitigate this issue somewhat.

Premium grade fuel by design burns differently than regular grade fuel. It enables the engine to extract more power using higher compression ratios. While no harmful effects may come from using regular fuel instead of premium.

Why second guess the manufacturers recommendation?

03celica03

You remember the tandy corporation (the one that owns radio shack) when they opened that chain called Incredible Universe. As soon as I say the concept I knew it would go under. But we still do count on radio shack when we are in a jam huh. I threw out the plastice bag which had the part # but I can tell you that the cable has the two ends which are the same mm plugs as the headphones,so go to the store with the ipod and headphones and ask if you can open a pack and just try to plug it in to the top of the ipod. If it fits, it will work in the aux port in the car's armrest. I think that they sell little speakers for the ipod at radio shack because I asked the guy if he was sure that that cable would work and he said that they had ext. speakers connected to the ipod using that same cable. If not ,I have not tried but get the cable from Apple online or at the store if you find that radio shck is a dead end.

shipo

Nothing new there, absolutely nothing.

The fact remains, any engine will operate at peak efficiency on some grade of fuel. As you deviate from whatever grade of fuel that allows for said peak efficiency, your power and your mileage will drop. Period, full stop, the end.

In this era of electronic engine controls, it is the rare car indeed that "Requires" premium gasoline, however, sticking with the manufacturers recommendations will keep your engine generating the most amount of power for the least amount of gasoline, which means at full throttle, more power, and at crusing speeds, better economy.

Have I ever used fuel that wasn't recommended? Yup, a couple of times I NEEDED gas and the station that I finally arrived at didn't have the proper fuel, so I took a little of what they had and moved on. Other times, such as driving in high altitude country, premium fuel cannot be has for love nor money, unfortunately I was driving a turbo-charged car and as such, my engine didn't know that the air was thinner, just that the fuel wasn't up to snuff. Let me tell you how annoying it is to have a car that has the ability to shrug off the effects of altitude, assuming premium fuel, and then to have to drive it ever so carfully due to the pinging. :mad: Grrrr!

kruntal,
My advice, spend the extra $3.00 per tank and treat yourself to an engine that is operating at peak efficiency. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

dl7265

Hey thanks, and in my area Fry's took over what was Incredible Universe. One is very nice ( marble floors ect) the other has hay bails in the isle ?? go figure....

DL

paule

"Premium" fuel up here at 6500 ft. is 91 octane. The regular stuff is 85 or, if you're lucky, 86 octane!
When I first pulled my Dodge Avenger off the trailer when I moved out west, it was like I had a whole different car. Only not in a good way

By the way, what's up with replying to a message and having to put in a new title?

kdshapiro

Title thingy works fine.

kruntal

Thanks Shipo. I will only use 91. We are talking peanuts in price difference here considering the big picture.

The absolute delta between 87 & 91 seems to have remained same over the years - 15-20 cents per gallon. But with the gas price being up over $2, the difference is nearly half as %. I think it makes less of a difference in price between the 2 than what it used to be few years ago.

paule

It's kind of weird. Notice this time it worked fine.

It happened to me once before but I figured I just hit some other button. I actually questioned myself the last time I hit "reply" so I went back and hit it again. No "Re: title".

It's only happened to me twice so I'm not going to lose a lot of sleep over it

pat

I've seen that a couple of times myself - you hit reply but the title isn't automatically filled in like it usually is. You can report it over in the Forums Software discussion if you'd like. Give a link to the message you were replying to by right clicking on the message number, copying the link and then pasting that result into the message you are creating for the Software discussion.

paule

Thanks Pat. I'll do as suggested.

kyfdx

You know.. I just re-read that article for about the sixth time..

Everyone that links to it... seems to think that the article says premium fuel is useless and a waste of money... But, it doesn't say that at all..

In fact, early in the article, they recommend premium fuel in cars where the owner's manual recommends or requires it..

It is only later in the article... In response to the news that some owners of regular fuel cars are using premium, expecting some benefit.. that the experts say that premium fuel is a waste of money... I think that little snippet is taken out of context, when someone claims that the article says premium fuel is a waste..

If the manual says "premium required" or "premium recommended", then use premium... Why the heck would they recommend that you waste extra money on fuel that has no benefit?

regards,
kyfdx

bdr127

As many here have pointed out, if cars that need premium only get regular, reduced gas mileage is one side effect.... It doesn't seem to make sense to pay less at the pump, but then have to fill up more frequently! You might as weel treat the engine right, and also pay more per fill up less often.

kruntal

I picked up my car today. Drove just beautiful. I love everything about it (except of course the $).

The passenger side view mirror lowered when I put it in reverse, nice touch, didn't know it was part of the std pkg.

Love the way the little cruise position came up on the tip of the speedo needle ...

Did you all know that if your run-flat tire ever gets a flat, you can drive it to the tire shop, but the manual recommends you replace the tire, and not try to patch it ... that was a surprise (and more $)

I wonder why they have head-rest for the non-existent middle passenger in the rear - it needs to be lowered or it blocks a good chunk of the rear view.

Push start-stop is fine - don't know why all the reviews knock it down.

You need to put head lamp in auto for the adaptive part of xenon to work.

Remember to adjust seat position to where you want - with so many adjustments you could get it with worst settings, but with little time you could go from worst to best.

The business guy tried a fast one - if I didn't get the extended warranty, and if BMW pulls the 4/50K like MB did, then I would end up paying for all the maintenance within that 4/50K. Can that happen - I thought it's part of the deal the BMW made with the buyer when the transaction happened. Can they renege

Stick is not the best in trade - too rubbery and long throws - I liked the VW sticks from late 80's better. Even the TSX/TL sticks seemed crisper. But OK.

I think it is the best car for the sport-loving driver. I may never buy 5 or 7 series even if I inherit $ from Mr Gates ;-) - unless I go for the 911, Elsie or other exotics.

OK, OK. Only 91 octane or better.

kyfdx

No.. they can't renege on the maintenance.. what a goofball.. Just a weak sales pitch there..

Acura/Honda manuals are the standard... Every car's clutch/shifter sucks next to them... that doesn't make the BMW bad... just normal, I think.

Congratulations!!
kyfdx

max63

Will cars be shipped with this feature on September 1st or will they be arriving on that date? Second, has anybody operated the i-drive on their car, how complex is this thing? It was also reported that the new 330 is slightly slower than the outgoing model. Whats the scoop!