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Here's what a well-respected car enthusiast friend of mine wrote to me today:
'My suggestion is you keep to the stock tires & see how they hold up in the snow. What brand/model are they? I seem to remember that BMW come with bridgestone or continentals? If you have a choice I'd get Dunlops or BFGoodrich's.
I drove through some pretty bad snow with the tires I had, which are z rated tires similar to the ones you are getting. The worked reasonably well, though there was some additional slippage over regular, less wide tires, but not enough to justify sacrificing the advantage they give you in normal dry or rain conditions.
In any case, most times the road are plowed, so buying expensive snow tires for that week or so that you might need them seems like a questionable investment. Also, performance on regular roads really suffers with snow tires. Get an AAA memebership if you are worried about getting stuck, if you haven't done so already - or drive your quattro. Either will save you considerable money.'
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jk
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"Wailea" is the place I got married (Grand Wailea Resort). I agree with you - the south side (gold coast) of Maui is the best area.
We did the Road to Hanna - that was an unforgettbale experience. I wish I had a Bimmer on that narrow winding road instead of a POS Grand Am. Even so, I'd do that road any day in any car and still love it!
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One caveat though on the driving the Road to Hana or, for that matter, up to Haleakala in a BMW - OPEN ROAD!!
Ok, you got me, I was just sneaking in for a peek into C-class ownership...as a C-240 is also in my budget, but a bimmer is still a bimmer. I'm over that now. phew.
As soon as I evaluate the value of the 2002MY changes, I will be looking into ordering the 325ci topaz/blue, cd, xenon, sunroof and sport package soon, also might still look into the 325xi...as my wife is still concerned about winter driving. She reckoned that xi plus winter tires plus DSC/ABS will be one helluva setup....for the miles of snow plowed roads she'll encounter here in Grand Rapids, MI. :-) Oh well, what can you say.
To drivers/owners of the xi...how do you rate the reliability/performance/value of the awd. Also does the xi still gives you that 3er feeling? A little concerned about xi reliability after reading unboringguy's account of his 330xi and such. Whats the general consensus on perceived long-term reliability of the xi? Is the awd system (together with its DSC-X) transplanted from the x5 or are there marked differences.? I know BMW's intial foray into an awd 3 i.e. the 325ix was a brief one, but some ppl swear by the systems reliability. Any opinions on the xi in relative to the ix?
Since this is my first bimmer purchase, what are your thoughts of resale value in 5 years? I figure if I buy the car cash (say about 35k) now, make monthly payments into a money market account (for the price of the car) for five years, then I will have enough plus trade (35k plus 17.5k-assuming 50% depreciation over 5 years) to upgrade to a 530i/540i. Then I'll do the same thing all over again, and move up to the 740i/M5..eventually ending up with a Z.8 (oh in about 30 over years :-)...*dreaming*
By the way, I think 50% residual after 5 years on any car (incl. the 3-series) is unrealistic.
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To find out where you car was built, check the following link:
http://www.e46fanatics.com/faq/
scroll down to the pricing information to find out
I have just recently picked up my 330xi on Thursday and I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far.
I can't say much about the reliability since this is also my first BMW, but I can tell you this regarding the performance, it definitely satisfies my expectations and I haven't even tested this car to its fullest potential due to the break-in period.
Regarding resale value, to tell you the truth I personally don't really care. I plan to own this car for a long time and put a lot of miles on it.
Now that might change when the M4 comes out in 2005(or is it 2006).....:)
Still leaning towards the Ci, mentioned the Xi to appease my wife who wants awd....*sigh*
I guess you're right about 5 yr residuals....I meant to put 3 years actually....was thinking about 5 yrs on another topic.... :-)
I am a newbie, but I am wondering if any 330xi owners having a radiator problem. I have about 500 miles on my 01 330xi. While I was waiting for a traffic signal to change, I saw smoke coming under the hood! I immediately pulled car off and turned it off!
It's in a service department, but I haven't talked to them since it is still a weekend. I will let you know what happened, if you are interested, but I would like to know if anybody has run into this problem.
This experience has baffled me!
I also asked lots of questions about reliability. Learned that AWD is not a new concept at BMW. BMW has apparently been making AWD models for sale in Europe for many years; however, they only offered this feature on a few cars marketed in the USA during the late 1980s/early 1990s. They dropped AWD from the USA market because those cars didn't sell all that well here, presumably because there wasn't a really big demand for them at that time. Of course, that has now changed, and the xi's are selling very well. I'm personally very confident that there won't be any nagging reliability issues.
A4: I obviously agree that the bmw is a better car. That's why I'm here. But, if you're comparing cars, the 2.8 is roughly the same price as the 325 assuming any options. I'll be interested in the new A4 when it arrives here but my guess is I'll still prefer the bimmer's rwd.
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langley2: If I am not mistaken, BMW also made a 525iX early 90s...I am not doubting BMW's AWD tech, but I understand the Xi's awd is different i.e. less mechanical, more high tech/electronics than the old iX's of late 80s and early 90s. Is the Xi's underpinnings an almost direct transplant off the X5?
About reliability, is the overheating/radiator problem inherent in most Xis? That is why I posed the question of Xi reliability earlier on....yet another post on overheating. I know the problem is in the cooling not the awd system itself...but I was just curious...
I have no doubt the BMW will have ironed out the creases on the Xi's but its interesting to know, right now, with the help of new Xi owners who frequent this fine forum, what teething problems the Xis have and how they feel about them. Both curiousity and potential purchase interest drives me to pose this question, also to get the ball rolling.... :-)
jk
I'll take the RWD over AWD any day, unless I lived somewhere in the Arctic or something. I even love sliding the RWD in snow but again, that's me; most drivers would think I'm nuts for saying that and I don't care because I'm not an average driver. You are right about the 2.8 being about the same price as the 325xi. My point, though, is that it's reasonable to compare the 1.8T 170 HP A4 to the 325xi. The Bimmer has 15 more HP but is also about 250 lbs heavier in AWD trim and they are very close performance-wise.
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I have ordered a 325xi Black Sapphire Metallic/gray leather, and plan to install the above. (I would have gone with the dealer installed stuff but it seems that is always overpriced).
Thanks for any comments.
Having personal experience with the 1.8t vs. 2.8 delema, I chose the latter due to one thing-noise, or lack of it. The 1.8t has plenty of grunt, but you know it is working up there where as the 2.8 is much smoother.
Which one is better?
Which one has a wider tread and rim diameter?
Can I opt for either one at delivery or is there no choice here?
Thanks in advance! This forum rocks!
Veekay1.
Specifically, does a Euro Delivery BMW look different from a North American one? How?
What about price? From reading earlier posts, I understand the MSRP is about $1500 less for a Euro Delivery but what about shipping back to the U.S.? Is the shipping included or do you have to add that back on the the $1500 or so that you saved?
veekay1: The 17inchers are part of the Xi sport package, which includes sport seats and steering wheel but does not include sport tuned suspension, hence the sport pac for the Xi is cheaper than the ones for the RWD BMW. As you may already know, the Xi rides a little taller...for clearance (?). The 17inchers are a bigger (taller) rim than 16 inch and may give you a trifle bit more feel and of course better aesthetics (depends on your POV, of course). SInce the suspension tuning is the same, is a toss up between the two, of course some fine posters in this forum swear by the advantages of the sport seats that come with the sport pac...your choice. I think it could be cheaper to order the sport pac when ordering rather than piecemeal a dealer-installed option after delivery.
Also, maybe you should consider the alarm option once more. The BMW alarm could be bought for less than its 300 dollars list price on the net and installation could be negotiated into your deal upon delivery. Every 3er is wired for the BMW alarm, so installation is relatively easy (even for inexperienced DIYers), you only need to ask your dealer to program it. Check out e46fanatics.com's FAQ for installation instructions. As the BMW is wired for the alarm, the BMW alarm integrates very well into the car's electronics as well as with the car's Key Memory system which you can customize to your liking, again check out the FAQ. Also, for the price, the BMW alarm includes tilt sensor as well as motion sensor and also gives that infamous 'clown nose' on your rear view mirror as function. As for the CD player I think there are only a few CD players on the market that is compatible...ask alpine325i, he has the 411 on audio apps...
sunnybrook: there has been lenghty debates (friendly not like other forums) over leather v. leatherette, so I'll try summarize...the leatherette looks like leather, feels almost like leather, requires far less maintenance, and costs less-better to buy the sport pac instead. On the other hand, leather smells nices, could be softer (dependent on proper conditioning and cleaning) and is more fitting of a mid-30k car (the last point is debatable). I think they both perform similarly in hot/cold weather so heated seats (if youre in a cold clime) is a worthwhile consideration. If you are buying the sedan the sport pac is a definite plus. Besides the rather nice looking 17inch wheels and the sport wheel/seats, the suspension is also sport tuned, giving you better feel/grip/road handling over the standard set up. If you are buying the Ci (coupe), then the sport pac is not too necessary as the coupe's std setup is the sedan's sport set up. Again, its dependent on your needs in a vehicle. A LARGE number of people believe wholeheartedly that the sport pac makes/completes the sedan, more than any other option on BMW rather lenghty list and is more in tune with the philosophy of the 3er. btw the sport pac, contrary to most believe does not dramatically affect ride comfort or refinement.
postoak: ED cars are US-spec cars in every detail. The advantages of the ED, besides the discount is a great opportunity to visit you car's birthplace and to drive in on the very roads that have inspired BMW to make their cars as good as they are today. So the advantages is a great vacation opp as well as discounted price, the disadvs is that you have to wait a couple of weeks for your car to re-join you stateside.
Veekay 1: The 205 width is the same for both. I assume the 17" is the sport package wheel and so would would have to decide at ordering. There have been a lot of comments about sport packages and I could add my own but since I've never driven or even looked at an "x" I won't.
A4: Brave1heart, I see your point about performance. I was comparing the rwd bmw to the quattro audi. I agree with dc75 that the inline six far outshines any of the audi engines. I don't know that I think the I4 is any more attractive than the others. I think it just hit the right pricepoint and that's why it's sold so well.
sunnybrook - leather smells better and looks marginally more refined. I do like it better than vinyl but couldn't justify the price diff. It's all a function of how much you want to spend, they are both good, though. There are no must-have options for the 3-series, it's a great car even as a stripper (no, not that kind of stripper). Here's my personal order of preference but do your own research: sp, cd, xenons, heated seats, hk, leather, then whatever's left. The suspension on the SP is the same as the M3, need I say anything else? It'd be worth the money even for the seats only.
carguy5000 - I'll have to agree that the 1.8T transmits a bit more noise and tiny vibrations through the gas pedal and shifter. Doesn't bother me but the 2.8 would be more subdued, agreed. The engine is still a marvel, though (Top 10 engines of the year from Ward - right up there with the BMW 330 and Audi 2.7T) - once you get the turbo boiling at 1,850 rpms, it holds a flat max (truly amazing!!) torque curve all the way through 5,000 rpms. I can't think of another engine that does that and this is a $27K car we're talking about. As far as styling, the new A4 is fresher, a bit less feminized but it'll take me time to truly like a downsized A6 (call me old-fashioned).
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But as I tried to argue earlier, there is an intangible advantage for the 3er (for BMWs in general actually) that is hard to quantify objectively. BMWs just have that extra feel in going, stopping and turning that cannot be measured by numbers and put forth by marketing types as selling points on the brochure. It is a feeling that makes you almost forget the paltry std equipment, the long and expensive options list, the indifferent and arrogant dealer treatment (some) and the negative impression of the Bimmer as a snob mobile. It is a feeling you get years down the line, every time you drive the car, after the excitement of electric doodads, gee-whiz navigation systems, and badge-engineered prestige dies down in other cars, that still put the smile on your face. Ask anybody around here. :-)
Despite that the car is only 3 months old with fewer than 3,000 miles on it, the dealer where I purchased it from offered me a whopping $7,000 LESS than I purchase it for. A Mercedes dealer actually offered me a whole lot more for a trade. Does anyone have any insight into whether the 3s made in S.A. are of equal quality to those made in Munich? My thought is that the plant there is too new (only a year or less) and doesn't have a long enough history to know its quality control. Somehow, I feel it's less of a BMW because of where it was made and I'm skeptical about its quality relative to German built BMWs.
Also, if you are not experiencing any problems with your current ride, why take a bath with depreciation and tax by trading it in. Surely any niggles will be promptly addressed by BMW's warranty. My 2 cents....just enjoy the car.
I'm glad all of us on this board realize that BMW's magic is worth a healthy premium over competing models. You are absolutely right - some things you can't quantify: BMW's engine charizma and humming sound, the exhilirating feeling from cornering, the connection you make with the road, and esp. the huge grin on your face that they all translate into. Can happiness be quantified?
BTW, there is only one side of the Maranello 8 and all cars are on this side. Almost all of them are on this side of the 3-series : O )
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Also, what about the price difference -- you get $1500 lower MSRP, but do you have to then pay separate shipping back to the U.S. or is the Freight charge already paid in the upfront cost of the car?
The difference with the Z3s and the X5s is that they all are manufacturered in South Carolina, so at least people buying them know that up front. When buying a 325, the car could be manufactured in Munich or in South Africa. Unfortunately, back in February, I didn't realize that fact and it seems BMW has done a great job in covering it up.
The trade-in offer from my dealer was about $4,000 less than what NADA and Edmunds both say a 2000 model is worth (mine is a 2001), so their offer was laughable. They already made a profit on me the first time; now they're trying to completely rip me off with an offer like that.
But, you are right, I won't take that kind of a bath on depreciation, and the car definitely is a pleasure to drive. If I can't get a decent deal on selling/trading it, then I'll enjoy the car and try not to think about its place of manufacture.
BTW: you can have a 325 and request them to be built in german with 0145 build request that the dealer send to bmw.
I bought my 325 and did not realize it can be built in German, i was under the impression it was built only in SA; and i was okay with it. But for some reason, mine was be built in German. The only downside to SA build is that the ship vessel leaves the port in SA slower then a turtle would!
I am getting my car with production date of 4/11 and was wondering if they caught this or should i be very observing of the temp gauge?