they keep saying (emphatically) that there's going to be no 4 door m3 in the e46 line...
fwiw, i believe it's probably primarily a cost issue (sedans and coupes don't share a whole lot (if any) sheet metal at all)... a m3 sedan might cannibalize a few m5 sales, but the guy/gal who is out there wanting a m5 is gonna get a m5, not a m3...
I asked for someone's advice on how to get ink out of leather seats, I didn't ask for your smartass remarks. When YOU spend 30+ on a car it bothers you when its 4 months old and someone gets ink on the seats. I like to keep my cars in good condition whether they are bimmers or not. From your profile it look like your parents still by your cars for you, when you buy your own you might understand.
try the leathercare forum (archived) in the Maintenance section. I've used saddlesoap to clean leather boots, but can't remember if it would take out ink. (I'm assuming ball point?)
well, it certainly reduced most of the answers that people get to either "well-known facts" or utterly ridiculous guesses when it comes to tech stuff, that's for sure... i'm assuming you've been following and seeing the "expertise" that's been being handed out...
i guess we should, after all, you drive an anemic 318 and i drive a ragtop... doesn't really qualify us as either enthusiasts or reliable sources of information...
i know i shouldn't even bother, but it kills me to see people ask for information and get ummm, incorrect (to be charitable) responses...
We appreciate your offering your thoughts on any questions our members have, as always. An advantage to a site like this is that folks are able to gather lots of opinions and thoughts on particular issues - it then becomes the reader's responsibility to sort out what is the most useful and/or correct.
So please continue to help us out - that's what we are all about, here, as you know.
I haven't been involved in all the hoop-la lately, mainly because I'm getting married here very soon, sooner than I expected...in fact, she is expecting, and I will be a proud father of twins sometime in mid-May. Damn glad I got a sedan...only wish my soon-to-be wife could drive a stick.
As for my 2001 325i, it's simply been more than I could bargain for. After 3 and a half months and 5000 miles, I have found the joy in driving again. I can't say I've pushed the car to any extreme limits and can't say I when the babies arrive, but any chance I get to cruise around some desolate twisties, I do. I can't say that I've had any major gripes about the car at all. I have no regret whatsoever of dropping 1 cent into it. Arguably, it does seem to find that niche between comfort and performance. You're not going to find it to be as comfortable as say a Lexus ES300 or as sporty as say an M5 (4-door sedans, that is), but for what I could afford, I truly feel that I've gained much. I have no major gripes, but I do have some concerns:
1) I feel some chatter from the clutch more often lately (at least I think it's "chatter"). I'm not sure how much a concern I should have about this. It just feels very odd when I push or pop the clutch and feel a bit of vibration or resistance. Could I have done this? I don't feel that I ever ride the clutch, except in reverse. I accidentally dropped it down from a high revved 3rd (maybe 4000RPMS) to 2nd on 3 occasions. Could that have harmed the transmission?
2) I do hear the clicking noise from the passenger's side seat belt on occasion. It's not as annoying as I've heard on this board, however. I guess I can have it fixed during my first scheduled maintenance, no?
3) I'm still in the an apartment for now (also looking into a house by the summer) and have given up the one garage we have to my other half for now (it's getting cold, and frost is starting to form on windows). What is a good product to keep your windshield from frosting up in the morning? Should I just use the ice scraper? This is Dallas, so we don't accumulate that much, however.
4) Yesterday, I tried to turn into a narrow parking lot toll exit, and was a bit sloppy....scraped the very outer edge of the 7-spoke alloy rim about 5-6 inches in circumference. Like the guy asking for help about ink on his seat, I just wanted some suggestions on what I could do. It's not noticeable unless you really look. I thought about smoothing it out with something. Do I need treat it with some kind of protectant? Anyways, it's not a big deal...just thought I'd ask. I don't want any smartass remarks either. Hell, I think anyone here would be somewhat upset for the smallest imperfections.
Otherwise, I'm simply impressed starting from the day I picked it up up until this moorning's drive to work. I still can't help but look over my shoulder everytime I walk away from it...even now. Thanks for all the support and help on the board during the buying process and the 10 week wait.
Relax...Keep your pants on! I'm just breakin balls! And no, my parents don't buy my cars for me. Good luck getting the stain out of your seat. Have a nice day and a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Congratulations man. When my wife and I got married (court house in Manhattan), I was reminded by a friend whose Grand-Father was an old Preacher Man out in Iowa of a saying from said Grand-Father; “The first child can come at any time , all of the rest take nine months!” As it turned out, my son was born three weeks after we got married ;-), my daughter on the other hand took the full nine months. I wonder why?
As for your dilemma regarding your wheel, I had a piece of road junk lay a pretty heavy cosmetic scratch on one of my wheels last year, so I went to my dealership and had them swap the rubber from the flawed wheel to the wheel in my trunk (and the new tire onto the flawed wheel), instant new wheel, total cost about $30.00.
There is nothing that I know of to prevent frost build up on cars given the right conditions. As for removal, the best I have found is a scraper with a brass blade. Brass is softer than glass and as a result, will not scratch you windows, however, it tears through ice like no plastic scraper you have ever used. They are VERY hard to find in stores (mine is 14 years old), however, the following link is to a site that shows you how to build one that looks great:
I too hear something when I am in reverse and I have the engine lugging, it seems that if you just give your car a little more gas, the problem will cease.
Down shifting at high RPMs should not in itself cause damage to the clutch (unless you popped the clutch on the downshift), so I doubt that is your problem.
1) dropping from 3 to 2 at 4k rpms shouldn't hurt... (dropping from 3 to 2 at 6k rpms is NOT recommended... lol...)... i would have the clutch looked at... see what they say... if you are experiencing vibration, it's possible you have scored either the pressure plate or flywheel...
2) no opinion.
3) scrape it or use the prestone de-icing formulated stuff in the windshield wiper reservoir. i'm not aware of any products that "work" in keeping frost/ice off your windows, and i've lived primarily in the northeast, where we already have frost in the morning.
4) if you scraped it down through the clearcoat, get yourself some clearcoat touchup and use that over the scrape... if not, you can probably get out the mark with polish and patience...
fwiw, believe it or not, some of us don't sweat the little imperfections...
Re: your alloy rim, I believe there are shops that specialize in rim repair if it bothers you enough. I was going to write a paragrph or two about "take a Dremel to it and smooth it out yourself" but feared a backlash. To others who know better, is there harm in attempting a little cosmetic repair as long as you're not grinding off enough alminum to affect balance?
BTW, the boys over at www.beaterz.com would probably advise just filling it all wheel nicks with Bondo and painting over with some Krylon or silver nail polish.
a darned thing done at work today, and this is why:
We leave tomorrow for Munich, where we will at long last pick up our new '02 330i next Monday. I stopped by AAA for my International Driving Permit this morning--the final need-to-have for the trip since we're also going to Austria--and now I'm just sitting here rearing to go. I plan on bringing my laptop and digital camera, so hopefully I'll be able to share some pictures and itinerary details a la Platypus if I can drag my grinning-ear-to-ear self out from behind the steering wheel for any length of time.
We missed Oktoberfest, but we'll at least be there during Advent, when many towns/cities have Christkindlmarkt (Christ child market) where you basically walk around in the cold buying kitschy handmade stuff and getting tanked up on mulled wine. If anyone who has already done ED has any other recommendations for must-see attractions or restaurants or hotels, etc., feel free to share!
You say that you need to have an "International Driving Permit" to drive through Austria, OOPS! When I was working over in Stuttgart, my friend Klaus and I drove down to Lago di Garda for several weekends of mountain biking around the north end of the lake. Each time, we drove through Austria and over the Brenner Pass, and I was just using my New Jersey license.
Hmmm, I guess it is a good thing that the only time I got stopped was when I was pulling out of a parking lot from the Volksfest (Stuttgarts version of Oktoberfest) and was immediately stopped at a police road block (checking for drunk drivers).
The suspension stiffness reflects how much the suspension reacts to pressure caused by road irregularities. Other things equal, a stiff suspension will travel less than a soft suspension under the exact same pressure. Because of that, stiffer suspensions generally need less travel. It would be technically correct to say that there is a high correlation between suspension stiffness and needed suspension travel. It would also be correct to say that they are not the same. I disagree with your statement that they have NADA to do with each other. Maybe you could help me understand better what you mean by that?
I will, BTW, dig out an article by Csaba Csere when I get home tonight. He explains why stiffer suspension slides more and does not handle as well as softer suspension in snow.
Also, I disagree with your statement that the SP does not feel significantly different from the non-SP setup on bad roads. The difference between the two would be negligible (if any) on roads smooth as glass. The worse the road gets, the more abrupt and quick the SP movements will be so they could reduce vertical and horizontal body motions. In other words, the ride comfort would be most different between SP and non-SP on bad roads.
One last thing - it's OK for posters to disagree. I am here for fun and education and most of all, to SHARE with other fellow BMW owners/enthusiasts/prospective buyers. I have learned a lot here on this board and still have a lot to learn. I have never claimed to be an expert and although I argue very passionately sometimes, I try to keep an open mind and I do change my opinion if other posters convince me oherwise. Case in point: I changed my opinion on the Conti tires largely due to your and other posters' feedback. Let's keep this fun and educational and keep learning and SHARING. I will be respectful and I expect you and everyone else to do the same.
Thanks for the suggestions, sincerely. The rim is not bad enough for me to swap it with the spare. I can definitely live with it, not unlike the occasional clicking of the passenger's side seat belt. I think I'll do some cosmetic handy work this weekend, however. I don't want to sound like an cry-baby about it...guess when you have something so new and it being my first new car, you really appreciate it more.
Sometime ago, I asked a friend about the clutch, and he said I may have overheated the flywheel. I'll definitely get it checked out.
BTW, on a very different topic, anyone have any suggestions on toddler car seats that he or she finds reputable and fitting for a 3er. Thanks again for all the tidbits....
Try the Peg Perego infant car seat (also fits on the stroller). They are good because they are of great quality, thus safest for your child. Though a bit pricey, but so is your Bimmer.
When I get home tonight, I will give you the names of the two different types of seats that we use on our cars. Mine is a combo-Toddler/Booster seat with a full harness for Toddlers, and when the said Toddler grows larger, you simply remove the harness and the seat becomes a standard booster.
When I first started driving my 328i, my son was 5 and my daughter was 2. So I initially had them configured as Booster/Toddler. A year later I changed my daughters seat to Booster as well. Now, my son is almost 8 and he rides without the Booster leaving me with just one child seat and that will be gone in another two and a half years or so.
Having said all of that, it seems to me that you are REALLY in the market for “Infant Seats”, which are a very different animal indeed. So, for you and for Brave1heart (who is expecting too, just in case you did not know), I bought the “Century” seating system for both of my children. As these seats are improved almost constantly, the models that I used are basically “Stone Age” when compared to the stuff they currently have on the market. What you are looking for is the type of seat that has a Fixed Belted in Base and a pop off child carrier/seat. Trust me on this, the first seat I bought for my son did not have the base, it was a TOTAL pain in the lower extremities each time you had to feed the belt through to “belt in” and then reverse the process to remove the child from the car. Check out the infant seats on the “Century Products” site: http://www.centuryproducts.com/ to see what I am talking about. FWIW, the base which is left in the car for the better part of nine months WILL leave “Marks and Dents” (sounds like a purveyor of fine smelly cheese) in your seats, unless they are cloth. The way to avoid this is to cushion the base with a good stiff towel between the base and your cars’ seat.
The Peg Perego infant seat is Called "Primo Viaggio" and comes with a base for easy removal of the seat. Then this seat also clips directly onto a stroller made by Peg Perego. It fits onto 3 different types of strollers made by them, so the stroller is your choice. These strollers and seats match colors so it all looks like a travel system, so you can choose one that matches your car.
Peg Perego makes quality stuff, and you can tell just by comparing to other brands. The seats cost about $110 with one base, and the strollers are anywhere from $250 to $400. Buying a Peg Perego system is more complicated than buying a Bimmer. Have Fun!!
I dropped off my 2001 325i (July Production)off for some work today and the dealer gave me a loaner 2000 323i. My first observation was the heavy steering. Even though I have the new "original steering", i could tell the difference. The car felt heavy and it really was more of an effort to steer the car. I am pretty sure that there was nothing wrong with it either. Is there such a difference between the "old original" and the "new original"?? I prefer the new one though.
Also, The improvement in the engine from the 323 to 325 could be felt. I think that the 325 is a lot more responsive and a lot quicker.
These could simply be because it was a loaner car but it was in decent shape with only 14K on it.
We just returned from Munich after picking up and 10 days of driving our new 2002 330I (Sapphire Black, natural tan interior, premium pkg, cold weather pkg and 5 speed). The entire experience from ordering the car, picking it up and dropping it off for shipment was hassle and error-free. We are fortunate to collect a lot of airline frequent flier miles so the plane trip was free. We translated that saving into hotel up-grades and enjoyed fantastic accomodations along our route. After a nights stay in Munich to defuse the jet-lag we picked up the BMR, named "Herr B" (we have a '95 Miata named Miss M). The delivery center is undergoing a change and will be relocated somewhere else in the future, however the treatment was warm and professional, the car...awesome!
We drove SW to Lindau on Lake Constance for the first night. South to Schaan in Liechtenstien for the second night. Then back NE thru Austria to Garmisch for the next three days. South again thru Innsbruck back NE to Bad Riechenhall (S of Munich) for a night. Over to Salzburg for two days and finished the trip with two days back in Munich.
The whole purpose of this note is to encourage anyone who has the slightest inkling of whether to take advantage of ED to do so. And to dispel any fears, anxiety or paranoia in others who may be afraid to make the journey. It's a wonderful experience, Bavaria and the people there couldn't be friendlier (we don't speak German either). The countryside, the panoramas, the food, the beer (o-o-o-ohh, the beer!) are all incredible.
I know this is about cars, so let me say that I drove Herr B for about 750 miles. I drove him in traffic, on the Autobahn (only up to 130 mph) in ice and snow and by far it's the geatest car I've ever driven. The downside to all this is is the unbearable wait for U.S delivery. It'll be a great Xams present.
If anyone wants specific info on hotels, the ED process etc., you can reach me at drstan@swbell.net.
Thanks, I anticipate we'll have a blast. Although it will, of course, be pure torture keeping under 4000rpm and 100mph for the first thousand miles or so.
Re: the IDP, I'm sure I could get through the German-Austrian border without it, but the propaganda sent to me by BMW indicated that it's a good idea to have one. I figure the $25 that AAA charged me ($15 for passport photos and $10 for the permit) is worth it just to be safe.
After Munich and Salzburg I'm also swinging through Stuttgart for a couple of days to visit an old friend. Any suggestions for things not to miss while I'm there?
Brave1heart and I have yet to have our "Lunch Date" halfway between Albany and Northern NJ to compare steering. I have a 1999 328i with what seems to be the heaviest steering (along with the 2000 models) of all the Non-M E46 cars. I am quite partial to the heavy feel, even though I cannot parallel park my car with "One Finger".
Maybe early December Brave and I can do the lunch thing and find out, we will keep y'all posted.
Congratulations on the baby news!! We are expecting in about 8 weeks and time is going by really fast. I have not done enough research on car seats and strollers yet. I only have a general idea of what to look for and just asked around for advice from my colleagues. Basically, here are the more important things to look for: - 2 car seat bases (one for each car). Shipo described very well what type you need and it is a huge time-saver. - you need a rear-facing infant seat that attaches to the base. This may vary by state but generally, infants < 20 lbs and/or 1 year of age need a rear-facing seat. - type of stroller that would be compatible with the car seat so you can snap the seat from the car right on the stroller without having to take the baby out of the seat.
Graco Duo Glider offers this modular approach and my colleagues swear by it. They also mentioned that the Duo Glider has two seats (a front seat and a "stadium" seat), which is a huge advantage if you have a second child. Even with one child, you get a lot more storage space for the myriad of things you have to carry with you.
You guys seem to have a lot of time to buy all that if your wife is not due till May. We waited till my wife was 7 mo pregnant before we bought anything. She does, however, have a list of 50 things or so that we need to buy in the next few weeks and I was supposed to do research on the car seat. So here we go, I got part of that done now. I'd appreciate any ideas from anyone else that has experience with this.
P.S. Try to spend as much time as you can together now and enjoy your peace and quiet.
I believe you after driving the 2000 this morning. The retrofit on the 2001's is still lighter than the original. The steering has been changed permanently.
I am looking forward to doing the comparo. Mornings would also be fine for me - maybe even more convenient than lunch, as I could leave very early in the morning and still make it to work in a reasonable time instead of taking a very long lunch break. If you're comfortable, we could even swap cars for a few days (do a lease vs. buy compare as well ) ). I will e-mail you with contact information.
I feel for you. I know you're not going to want to hear this, but I think you're just hosed on the ink. My wife got an ink line on the tan leather back seat of my car a few years ago - well, she didn't actually do it, my son did,...but she was driving, and therefore responsible for discipline in the car. About 1-1/4" long. Not in the most conspicuous place,...but I saw it every time I opened the back doors.
I researched, talked to friends, and even called the dealer. Nobody could guarantee that what I tried wouldn't bleach the leather. I tried mild cleaners, but was afraid to try anything harsh, for fear of discoloring the leather and making it more obvious. In the end, I just decided to live with it,...but it bothered me every time I saw it. Like you, I'm pretty anal about imperfections (especially interior, and especially those I didn't cause!!!).
The best advice/comment I got was "why did you let somebody use a pen in your car, anyway?". Now, I'm a tyrant in my car. No smoking, feet on mats at all times, no food, no pens, markers, crayons, etc, unless I'm using it. If I mess something up, I have nobody to blame but me. We have a minivan for serious family fun and food, pens, etc.. My advice to you: if you can't get it out, try not to think about it,...and make the person who did it feel really guilty, so it never happens again! Oh, and get a dark interior next time, so that stains don't show up as much.
One additional thing: I've mellowed a bit with time. As I age, and have more kids, I become more convinced that life is a little too short, and I have a little too much legitimate stress, for me to worry about ink on my seats. But, if you're not there yet, I know how you feel.
I just read your post regarding oil. O please tell me no one put Penz in our machines !!!! thats grounds for trade in ! What have you found out ? PARK PLACE is a local LEXO/ AUDI/ MB dealership here in Dallas , when i get a chance after the holidays ill run bye there. If it wasnt freezing here and 1am id have to go sniff my oil ..lol
I was on the BMW NA web site last night, and I discovered an interesting financing option. I need more info (I could ask the dealer, but I'm not to that point in my buying process, yet), so I thought I'd ask the BMW nation. Has anybody used the "Owner's Choice" financing option? From what I read, it is like a "purchase", but the initial payments are lower, like a lease (presumably because it is calculated on the price of the car minus a residual), then you have the chance to pay off the car w/a balloon payment, or opt-out at the end of the initial period and sell the car back to the dealer at a pre-agreed-to price. This is advertised as [paraphrase] "having the advantages of a lease", and "a good option in states where leasing is less advantageous".
In Pennsylvania, where I live, purchases are taxed on the purchase price of the car, at 7%, up front, and the tax is rolled into the payment. On a lease, the purchase price, minus residual, is used to calculate the payment, and then that payment is taxed at 10%, and paid monthly as part of the payment. So an advertised lease payment of $400/mo, becomes $440 in your payment book. In the end, if you don't plan to keep the car for the full purchase period, this is leasing in PA is still cheaper than buying.
But,...my question is, how is the transaction taxed on this Owners Choice option? Any PA residents, or residents of states with similar tax structures, who have any thoughts?
As I understand it, BMW developed Owners Choice for certain states that have a tax structure that penalizes conventional leasing. Unless you live in such a state there aren't any real advantages.
When my new oil gets here, I will change mine and keep some of the old stuff. I then intend on having it analyzed, I do not know if the analysis will be able to tell me what brand of oil is being used, but I am pretty sure it will be able to find out whether it is Synthetic or not. If the analysis comes back as full (or even partial) Dino Juice, I am probably going to dump my car at lease end in April.
I'm assuming that this was a one time occurence? Or do you believe the dealer has used non-synthetic for as long as you've had the car?
The two dealers I talked to don't usually use synthetic oil unless asked. Considering that my owners manual specifies Synthetic oil, I think that is really shoddy, especially as they don't recommend inter-service oil changes.
Now I have to call all the dealers in town to get service records on my car.
I am normally a very optimistic person, however, there is this little voice whispering into my ear saying essentially "for the last 18,000 miles, I have been driving on Dino Juice". Obviously I have no way of knowing what has been used on my car prior to the last oil change (2,500 miles ago), but, based upon the varnish inside the cam cover, I would say there is a fairly good chance the said Dino Juice has been in there since the 15K service. :-(
I recently ordered a steel blue 325Xi with black leatherette. When clean (and at the dealer) the car looked amazing. But I have seen a couple out on the street and perhaps because they were dirty, or it was overcast, I thought they looked pretty flat and dull. Can anyone owning steel blue give me their comments?
I just spent the last hour or so talking to area dealers, tracking the history on my car.
One thing I got confirmed: my 98 can run 15,000kms btwn oil changes if synthetic is used. They recommended doing the in-between oil change if I use mineral oil. The newer ones can run 22-23kms on synthetic.
The dealers who did have service history on the car were extremely helpful and went over all service records with me.
My car has probably missed a couple of major service/inspections with the previous owner. But I'm not going to stress about it, just stick to my service intervals, use synthetic oil and treat it well.
Thanks for the appreciation and advice. No, we're not buying anything as of this moment. I just wanted some feedback beforehand. I also have a list of items that we're prepared to research for now, except it hasn't quite gotten to 50 items...yet. If anything, I've had to fork some $$ for some maternity clothes. The doctor told us to bring in a blank VHS tape on the next appointment on Dec. 10th so they can record the sono...to tell you the truth, that is more of an exscrutiating wait than the arrival of the beemer! Otherwise, I hope all is going well with you and your wife. On a side note, I got an idea of how fast an Audi S4, Mustand GT, and an older Taurus SHO were when they beckoned me to street race'm. No contest whatsoever with the S4. I was able to keep up with the Mustang GT and was surprised with how the SHO was pulling away a bit. It was still fun, even though I know it sounds pretty childish.
I have an '01 325i steel blue with sand leatherette, I love the color. It seems to change shades depending on the surrounding light conditions, i.e bright blue in direct light, a greyish blue in the shade. The hood does appear dull if I let the dust build up (airport parking lots are the worst)I usually use a California Dust Buster every other day and she looks great!I get her a washed every 3 to 4 weeks. You made a good choice, I think you will be happy.
Anyone had any experience in buying a new or used BMW in Canada. I am planning to buy a new or late model used 3 series conv. and have had trouble finding a car equipped the way I want it in the right color in WA. Dealers in nearby Vancouver BC seem to have a much greater selection and better attitude than dealers in the Seattle area.
Just noticed my 1999 328i intermittently skipping when idling at first startup in the morning. Car will idle fine at about 1000 rpm and all of a sudden almost stall then pick right up again and idle fine. I have not noticed this after car is warmed up and temp is at TDC on guage. Any ideas? I am thinking it might be the fuel injectors and was going to add a can of Chevron Techtron fuel injector cleaner to the gas tank. Does this stuff do any good?
I just received a BMW notice concerning a recall on engine thermostats for 1999 and 2000 3-series models. Does anybody know what the new part number is on the thermostat? Is the same thermostat used for both 323 and 328 models?
Comments
fwiw, i believe it's probably primarily a cost issue (sedans and coupes don't share a whole lot (if any) sheet metal at all)... a m3 sedan might cannibalize a few m5 sales, but the guy/gal who is out there wanting a m5 is gonna get a m5, not a m3...
-Chris
Josh
I'd post a link, but I don't know how
-Chris
i know i shouldn't even bother, but it kills me to see people ask for information and get ummm, incorrect (to be charitable) responses...
-Chris
So please continue to help us out - that's what we are all about, here, as you know.
Let's get back to talking about the car.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
-Chris
I haven't been involved in all the hoop-la lately, mainly because I'm getting married here very soon, sooner than I expected...in fact, she is expecting, and I will be a proud father of twins sometime in mid-May. Damn glad I got a sedan...only wish my soon-to-be wife could drive a stick.
As for my 2001 325i, it's simply been more than I could bargain for. After 3 and a half months and 5000 miles, I have found the joy in driving again. I can't say I've pushed the car to any extreme limits and can't say I when the babies arrive, but any chance I get to cruise around some desolate twisties, I do. I can't say that I've had any major gripes about the car at all. I have no regret whatsoever of dropping 1 cent into it. Arguably, it does seem to find that niche between comfort and performance. You're not going to find it to be as comfortable as say a Lexus ES300 or as sporty as say an M5 (4-door sedans, that is), but for what I could afford, I truly feel that I've gained much. I have no major gripes, but I do have some concerns:
1) I feel some chatter from the clutch more often lately (at least I think it's "chatter"). I'm not sure how much a concern I should have about this. It just feels very odd when I push or pop the clutch and feel a bit of vibration or resistance. Could I have done this? I don't feel that I ever ride the clutch, except in reverse. I accidentally dropped it down from a high revved 3rd (maybe 4000RPMS) to 2nd on 3 occasions. Could that have harmed the transmission?
2) I do hear the clicking noise from the passenger's side seat belt on occasion. It's not as annoying as I've heard on this board, however. I guess I can have it fixed during my first scheduled maintenance, no?
3) I'm still in the an apartment for now (also looking into a house by the summer) and have given up the one garage we have to my other half for now (it's getting cold, and frost is starting to form on windows). What is a good product to keep your windshield from frosting up in the morning? Should I just use the ice scraper? This is Dallas, so we don't accumulate that much, however.
4) Yesterday, I tried to turn into a narrow parking lot toll exit, and was a bit sloppy....scraped the very outer edge of the 7-spoke alloy rim about 5-6 inches in circumference. Like the guy asking for help about ink on his seat, I just wanted some suggestions on what I could do. It's not noticeable unless you really look. I thought about smoothing it out with something. Do I need treat it with some kind of protectant? Anyways, it's not a big deal...just thought I'd ask. I don't want any smartass remarks either. Hell, I think anyone here would be somewhat upset for the smallest imperfections.
Otherwise, I'm simply impressed starting from the day I picked it up up until this moorning's drive to work. I still can't help but look over my shoulder everytime I walk away from it...even now. Thanks for all the support and help on the board during the buying process and the 10 week wait.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
As for your dilemma regarding your wheel, I had a piece of road junk lay a pretty heavy cosmetic scratch on one of my wheels last year, so I went to my dealership and had them swap the rubber from the flawed wheel to the wheel in my trunk (and the new tire onto the flawed wheel), instant new wheel, total cost about $30.00.
There is nothing that I know of to prevent frost build up on cars given the right conditions. As for removal, the best I have found is a scraper with a brass blade. Brass is softer than glass and as a result, will not scratch you windows, however, it tears through ice like no plastic scraper you have ever used. They are VERY hard to find in stores (mine is 14 years old), however, the following link is to a site that shows you how to build one that looks great:
http://www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/weekender_ice_scraper.html
I too hear something when I am in reverse and I have the engine lugging, it seems that if you just give your car a little more gas, the problem will cease.
Down shifting at high RPMs should not in itself cause damage to the clutch (unless you popped the clutch on the downshift), so I doubt that is your problem.
I hope this helps, give my regards to your Bride.
Best Regards,
Shipo
2) no opinion.
3) scrape it or use the prestone de-icing formulated stuff in the windshield wiper reservoir. i'm not aware of any products that "work" in keeping frost/ice off your windows, and i've lived primarily in the northeast, where we already have frost in the morning.
4) if you scraped it down through the clearcoat, get yourself some clearcoat touchup and use that over the scrape... if not, you can probably get out the mark with polish and patience...
fwiw, believe it or not, some of us don't sweat the little imperfections...
-Chris
BTW, the boys over at www.beaterz.com would probably advise just filling it all wheel nicks with Bondo and painting over with some Krylon or silver nail polish.
We leave tomorrow for Munich, where we will at long last pick up our new '02 330i next Monday. I stopped by AAA for my International Driving Permit this morning--the final need-to-have for the trip since we're also going to Austria--and now I'm just sitting here rearing to go. I plan on bringing my laptop and digital camera, so hopefully I'll be able to share some pictures and itinerary details a la Platypus if I can drag my grinning-ear-to-ear self out from behind the steering wheel for any length of time.
We missed Oktoberfest, but we'll at least be there during Advent, when many towns/cities have Christkindlmarkt (Christ child market) where you basically walk around in the cold buying kitschy handmade stuff and getting tanked up on mulled wine. If anyone who has already done ED has any other recommendations for must-see attractions or restaurants or hotels, etc., feel free to share!
Auf wiedersehen
You say that you need to have an "International Driving Permit" to drive through Austria, OOPS! When I was working over in Stuttgart, my friend Klaus and I drove down to Lago di Garda for several weekends of mountain biking around the north end of the lake. Each time, we drove through Austria and over the Brenner Pass, and I was just using my New Jersey license.
Hmmm, I guess it is a good thing that the only time I got stopped was when I was pulling out of a parking lot from the Volksfest (Stuttgarts version of Oktoberfest) and was immediately stopped at a police road block (checking for drunk drivers).
Best Regards,
Shipo
I will, BTW, dig out an article by Csaba Csere when I get home tonight. He explains why stiffer suspension slides more and does not handle as well as softer suspension in snow.
Also, I disagree with your statement that the SP does not feel significantly different from the non-SP setup on bad roads. The difference between the two would be negligible (if any) on roads smooth as glass. The worse the road gets, the more abrupt and quick the SP movements will be so they could reduce vertical and horizontal body motions. In other words, the ride comfort would be most different between SP and non-SP on bad roads.
One last thing - it's OK for posters to disagree. I am here for fun and education and most of all, to SHARE with other fellow BMW owners/enthusiasts/prospective buyers. I have learned a lot here on this board and still have a lot to learn. I have never claimed to be an expert and although I argue very passionately sometimes, I try to keep an open mind and I do change my opinion if other posters convince me oherwise. Case in point: I changed my opinion on the Conti tires largely due to your and other posters' feedback. Let's keep this fun and educational and keep learning and SHARING. I will be respectful and I expect you and everyone else to do the same.
Happy Thanksgiving all.
Sometime ago, I asked a friend about the clutch, and he said I may have overheated the flywheel. I'll definitely get it checked out.
BTW, on a very different topic, anyone have any suggestions on toddler car seats that he or she finds reputable and fitting for a 3er. Thanks again for all the tidbits....
When I first started driving my 328i, my son was 5 and my daughter was 2. So I initially had them configured as Booster/Toddler. A year later I changed my daughters seat to Booster as well. Now, my son is almost 8 and he rides without the Booster leaving me with just one child seat and that will be gone in another two and a half years or so.
Having said all of that, it seems to me that you are REALLY in the market for “Infant Seats”, which are a very different animal indeed. So, for you and for Brave1heart (who is expecting too, just in case you did not know), I bought the “Century” seating system for both of my children. As these seats are improved almost constantly, the models that I used are basically “Stone Age” when compared to the stuff they currently have on the market. What you are looking for is the type of seat that has a Fixed Belted in Base and a pop off child carrier/seat. Trust me on this, the first seat I bought for my son did not have the base, it was a TOTAL pain in the lower extremities each time you had to feed the belt through to “belt in” and then reverse the process to remove the child from the car. Check out the infant seats on the “Century Products” site: http://www.centuryproducts.com/ to see what I am talking about. FWIW, the base which is left in the car for the better part of nine months WILL leave “Marks and Dents” (sounds like a purveyor of fine smelly cheese) in your seats, unless they are cloth. The way to avoid this is to cushion the base with a good stiff towel between the base and your cars’ seat.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Peg Perego makes quality stuff, and you can tell just by comparing to other brands. The seats cost about $110 with one base, and the strollers are anywhere from $250 to $400. Buying a Peg Perego system is more complicated than buying a Bimmer. Have Fun!!
Also, The improvement in the engine from the 323 to 325 could be felt. I think that the 325 is a lot more responsive and a lot quicker.
These could simply be because it was a loaner car but it was in decent shape with only 14K on it.
We drove SW to Lindau on Lake Constance for the first night. South to Schaan in Liechtenstien for the second night. Then back NE thru Austria to Garmisch for the next three days. South again thru Innsbruck back NE to Bad Riechenhall (S of Munich) for a night. Over to Salzburg for two days and finished the trip with two days back in Munich.
The whole purpose of this note is to encourage anyone who has the slightest inkling of whether to take advantage of ED to do so. And to dispel any fears, anxiety or paranoia in others who may be afraid to make the journey. It's a wonderful experience, Bavaria and the people there couldn't be friendlier (we don't speak German either). The countryside, the panoramas, the food, the beer (o-o-o-ohh, the beer!) are all incredible.
I know this is about cars, so let me say that I drove Herr B for about 750 miles. I drove him in traffic, on the Autobahn (only up to 130 mph) in ice and snow and by far it's the geatest car I've ever driven. The downside to all this is is the unbearable wait for U.S delivery. It'll be a great Xams present.
If anyone wants specific info on hotels, the ED process etc., you can reach me at drstan@swbell.net.
ED? Go for it! _
Re: the IDP, I'm sure I could get through the German-Austrian border without it, but the propaganda sent to me by BMW indicated that it's a good idea to have one. I figure the $25 that AAA charged me ($15 for passport photos and $10 for the permit) is worth it just to be safe.
After Munich and Salzburg I'm also swinging through Stuttgart for a couple of days to visit an old friend. Any suggestions for things not to miss while I'm there?
Gobble Gobble!
Maybe early December Brave and I can do the lunch thing and find out, we will keep y'all posted.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I have never been there, but I dream of one day visiting the Porsche museum or whatever they have.
- 2 car seat bases (one for each car). Shipo described very well what type you need and it is a huge time-saver.
- you need a rear-facing infant seat that attaches to the base. This may vary by state but generally, infants < 20 lbs and/or 1 year of age need a rear-facing seat.
- type of stroller that would be compatible with the car seat so you can snap the seat from the car right on the stroller without having to take the baby out of the seat.
Graco Duo Glider offers this modular approach and my colleagues swear by it. They also mentioned that the Duo Glider has two seats (a front seat and a "stadium" seat), which is a huge advantage if you have a second child. Even with one child, you get a lot more storage space for the myriad of things you have to carry with you.
You guys seem to have a lot of time to buy all that if your wife is not due till May. We waited till my wife was 7 mo pregnant before we bought anything. She does, however, have a list of 50 things or so that we need to buy in the next few weeks and I was supposed to do research on the car seat. So here we go, I got part of that done now. I'd appreciate any ideas from anyone else that has experience with this.
P.S. Try to spend as much time as you can together now and enjoy your peace and quiet.
I researched, talked to friends, and even called the dealer. Nobody could guarantee that what I tried wouldn't bleach the leather. I tried mild cleaners, but was afraid to try anything harsh, for fear of discoloring the leather and making it more obvious. In the end, I just decided to live with it,...but it bothered me every time I saw it. Like you, I'm pretty anal about imperfections (especially interior, and especially those I didn't cause!!!).
The best advice/comment I got was "why did you let somebody use a pen in your car, anyway?". Now, I'm a tyrant in my car. No smoking, feet on mats at all times, no food, no pens, markers, crayons, etc, unless I'm using it. If I mess something up, I have nobody to blame but me. We have a minivan for serious family fun and food, pens, etc.. My advice to you: if you can't get it out, try not to think about it,...and make the person who did it feel really guilty, so it never happens again! Oh, and get a dark interior next time, so that stains don't show up as much.
Happy Holidays everyone.
DL
I was on the BMW NA web site last night, and I discovered an interesting financing option. I need more info (I could ask the dealer, but I'm not to that point in my buying process, yet), so I thought I'd ask the BMW nation. Has anybody used the "Owner's Choice" financing option? From what I read, it is like a "purchase", but the initial payments are lower, like a lease (presumably because it is calculated on the price of the car minus a residual), then you have the chance to pay off the car w/a balloon payment, or opt-out at the end of the initial period and sell the car back to the dealer at a pre-agreed-to price. This is advertised as [paraphrase] "having the advantages of a lease", and "a good option in states where leasing is less advantageous".
In Pennsylvania, where I live, purchases are taxed on the purchase price of the car, at 7%, up front, and the tax is rolled into the payment. On a lease, the purchase price, minus residual, is used to calculate the payment, and then that payment is taxed at 10%, and paid monthly as part of the payment. So an advertised lease payment of $400/mo, becomes $440 in your payment book. In the end, if you don't plan to keep the car for the full purchase period, this is leasing in PA is still cheaper than buying.
But,...my question is, how is the transaction taxed on this Owners Choice option? Any PA residents, or residents of states with similar tax structures, who have any thoughts?
I will keep y’all updated.
Best Regards,
Shipo
The two dealers I talked to don't usually use synthetic oil unless asked. Considering that my owners manual specifies Synthetic oil, I think that is really shoddy, especially as they don't recommend inter-service oil changes.
Now I have to call all the dealers in town to get service records on my car.
I will keep you posted.
Best Regards,
Shipo
NC
Can anyone owning steel blue give me their comments?
quanity 7 part#07-51--0-017-866 5w30 Synthetic oil
so it appears i am in the clear.Whew ! since mine is a purchase not a lease....
good luck
DL
"USE ONLY BMW HIGH PERFORMANCE SYTHETIC OIL "
so, if you could prove said dealer used other wise i think u have a valid complaint ... keep us informed.
DL
One thing I got confirmed: my 98 can run 15,000kms btwn oil changes if synthetic is used. They recommended doing the in-between oil change if I use mineral oil. The newer ones can run 22-23kms on synthetic.
The dealers who did have service history on the car were extremely helpful and went over all service records with me.
My car has probably missed a couple of major service/inspections with the previous owner. But I'm not going to stress about it, just stick to my service intervals, use synthetic oil and treat it well.
Thanks!
Thanks
Cape Cod
'99 323i
DL