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Thanks.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
If I keep logging in every night reading these messages I probably will break down and go get an '02 in a moment of weakness anyway.
I will be happy in any event.
Also, what is the school of thought on the wheels. Handling is better but they wear out faster on the wider ones? If you get a 330 you automatically get the wider ones? Can you get the 16 inch ones if you want?
I'm by no means a crazy driver but I'm not a grandma either
Still haven't decided (as you can see). Still taking my poll - is the 330 worth the money?
FYI: I am not getting the sport package.
The tires are another issue altogether. You cannot rotate the tires of the sport package. They are in the same position on the car until they wear out and you buy new ones. What this means it that you will be replacing the rear tires probably twice as often as you replace the front tires. I am not sure if this fact by itself increases the cost of the tire maintenance, because the front tires will not have to be replaced as often as they would be if they were rotated. Most people feel, however, that tire rotation increases tire life by making the wear patterns more uniform and so therefore it is likely that all of the above notwithstanding you will have higher tire maintenance costs.
Another fact: The larger tires are more expensive to replace and if you replace them with Z rated tires, they are very expensive.
Under 28,
29-36
37-45
46-55
56-65
over 65
Me, I am in the 37 to 45 bracket. What about you:)
I've had my 325i with SP for a month (70 more miles to 1200!!). I drove my wife's '98 Volvo V70 GLT this week for the first time since we got the BMW. I almost think the ride in the 325i with SP is better than the Volvo! I think it has to do with the Volvo being a wagon with 70k miles creating more road noise.
I wouldn't hesitate getting the SP again. The ride certainly isn't overly rough.
You cannot rotate the tires of the sport package
Why not? I plan on rotating my tires when I exchange them with the winter tires,
-Murray
p.s. I'm 37.
They are unidirectional tires, therefore the tires cannot go to the other side of the car. The front and rear tires are different sizes, therefore the front cannot be exchanged with the rear. They cannot be "rotated"
I am 30.
YES! That's it, thank you.
LeeNelsonMD,
All 330i cars have a Sport Suspension regardless of equipment (unlike the 325i), the only difference is the tires. The stock 330i and any version of the 330xi have All-Season 205/50 R17 tires that CAN be rotated if you wish, however, BMW does NOT recommend this practice. Please note that when you "Rotate" radial tires, you simply swap ends, you DO NOT change sides, so, even if tires are Uni-Directional, they can still be "Rotated".
The 330i SP is a different situation entirely. This car comes with 225/45 ZR17 fronts and 245/40 ZR17 rears; obviously, these cannot be rotated at all. That said, I have noticed on my 1999 328i, which has NOT had its tires rotated during its 39,000 miles life, that the rear tires are probably good for about a third less mileage than the front tires, at least, when the tires are the same size front to rear. With the 330i SP, the rear tires MAY actually be just wide enough to balance out the life of the rubber, so that, both sets wear out at the same time.
BBell4,
If you get the 330i, you are stuck with 17" wheels (with the exception of a special set of 16 inchers that TireRack has for winter tires, which JUST clear the brake calipers). Having driven my 1999 328i sans SP for the last three years, I was surprised at how well Brave1hearts 325i SP (and 17" wheels/tires) rode. IMHO, his car had a slightly stiffer ride, in exchange, the handling was MUCH improved. Once again, IMHO, the ride vs. handling trade off of the SP is well worth it, as such, I ordered it on my new 530i.
Woobah,
I will graduate from the 328i to the 530i on or about my 45th birthday.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Tim
I believe it is going through the standard BMW delivery process, no special trucking to be arranged.
Best,
Josh
I've read various warnings about things like flat tire scams, bandits marking tourist cars when they stop to be targeted later, etc. I don't know how much of this can be avoided or if it just isn't worth the risk. I have two weeks to have fun there and I would really like to spend at least a few days visiting the Italian Riviera... but not if it is a rediculous risk.
Also, any destination suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My wife and I have never been to Europe, and this decision to go came up quickly, so we are going at this blind. I have a rough idea of heading south from Munich, looping through Switzerland and Italy... possibly France.
Thanks for your help!
HPMan - Josh
Also, if you're an AAA Member, you can order & pick up EU$'s (or whatever other currency) in advance at your local AAA office. This can save you the work/time of finding an ATM while still in the airport.
-hh
The 3 series does seem a bit more youthful than the 5 or 7 series, but the 3 series is nore fun to drive. Maybe the Z3 even more so, but a two door roadster was not in the cards.
Will I ever want a larger sedan, yes - but not as my primary daily commuter vehicle, probably a M5 for my wife. We could use this when picking up in-laws at the airport and driving fast to scare them from returning soon or on long drives where I think the 5 series is better.
I thought the extra power of the 330 was worth the extra money.
I am already taking a step down in power and the 325 just felt
too sluggish.
Please hold the bimmer.org-type flaming posts for my choice of transmission. I get my manual fix via my motorcycles. Unfortunately, I do crash from time to time. Latest injuries included (a) ruptured tendon in the right hand requiring plaster cast, and (b) cracked rib on the right side. So I'm probably due for a foot injury soon. Anyway, I need to be able to drive the car when I'm hurt.
I'll be happy to report my experiences with the step if anyone is interested.
lyouts
Also, the keypads on most European ATMs are numeric only, in contrast to the alphanumeric keys that we're used to seeing in North America. If you've memorized your PIN as an alpha character string - "BLUE", for example - then you'd better memorize the numeric equivalent - "2583", in this case.
If you are thinking about trips, Gary Ray's site describes his EuroDelivery in great detail. This gent has done two EuroDel trips and documents it very well.
Also, to document the pickup process, Jim's site
Vishnu.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Thankfully, I won't have to deal with the agony of a stranger placing hundreds of miles on my new car that is in the midst of being broke-in!
Thanks again!
Josh
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Next topic. We went to San Simeon and Hearst Castle this weekend. Stayed in Paso Robles. Took Highway 46 to the PCH in Central California. 46 SUCKS when you are behind trucks But the 325xi took it well and I had NO problems passing up hill. YAY!
But we REALLY had some fun up on the PCH north of San Simeon. There are some really tight twisties on that road. NO room to mess up or cross the line. Blind turns, up and down hill. Man was I having fun. The BMW handled like it was on rails! Had a big ol' grin plastered on my face. This is living! I don't think the kids liked it in the back seat though. So I slowed down a bit so they wouldn't get sick.
After driving on that road, I realize the sheer pleasure a well tuned and balanced car can bring. The SP kept the car tight and level in the turns. At NO time was it harsh for us.
Right about the time I turned around to head back to Paso Robles, I saw a brand new 325xi - alpine white. Guess I'm not the only xi in California now. hehehe
I took a few pictures of the car along the coast with the ocean in the background. Hopefully I'll get them developed soon and post them for you all.
Hope you don't mind seeing a bunch of bug guts on the front.
Now I'm back at work... (sigh) dreaming about the coast and a twistie...
I'm 50 and should pick up my '02 325i (titanium, 5 sp, PP, leather, Xenons, HK, rear bags--still have kids, 16 & 10).
Best wishes,
Ed
So, my baby's produced and should be on its way over shortly. What sort of information do I need from BMW NA to track it through Wallenius? I vaguely remember something about that a billion posts back, with no way to find it. Is it a ship name or tracking number? Thanks!
Glenn
erickpl - my wife is 34 (she's about 18 months older than me). It is very common these days, probably because women reach their sexual peak later in life (j/k).
Best Regards,
Shipo
As to expenses, you've got to pay to play. The 18" tires on M3 will cost you at least $200 a piece. If you opt for 19", it'll be even more expensive. Higher the cost of the car, more expensive it'll be to maintain it.
I'm getting my winter tires off tomorrow...finally! Should have had them off a couple of weeks ago, but I've been expecting a freak snowstorm so I hedged my bets. (ok, so I procrastinated a wee bit)
I did almost get run off the road this morning by a truck that decided to change lanes as I began to pass him on the left at 140 kmph. This was on a steep curved overpass, in somewhat patchy fog. Not a v. pleasant experience, but a safe one thanks to the superior brakes and handling of my baby.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Phone # to track the cars once en-route...got it at home, will post it tomorrow if I see noone else has. It was posted last week sometime. It's too early for me to use.
Not much new with me. Erick's post re: Calif Hwy 1 reminded me of a sweet little road named G16 that goes through Carmel Valley (S. of Monterey/Carmel). Anyone know it? It twisted through very pretty hills & pastures between the coast & Hwy 101. :-) Hmmm, future road trip in new car!
Never heard of G16, but I do head down to Monterey regularly. Only problem with a lot of these roads is that there's always be a slow moving car in front of you.
poll: I've got a 2001 330i (silver, SP, PP, 5-sp, xenon), and 28 for another month or so. BTW, anyone keeping track of the data?
HPMAN
I also had metallic paint. The 330i SP/PP Xenon with premium paint, Universal Remote & Alarm has been a blast. The way I see it, get every feature you want, 6 months ago the little extra you spent will have been forgotten and you will be glad you did.