Hi Y'all, I get the impression that most of you are first time buyers of BMW - a good thing, but be sure to join the BMW CCA for $35. a year, and GO to a driving school or two - the club's events are as good or better than the way more costly Bondurant/Barber "car control" schools. Don't forget alternatives 'tho: many fine E 36 M 3s/ 328is's are now more than price competitive. If a new car is an absolute, great, but if you don't get the sport package, I keep a list and promise to cut off your head and fill it with nails! LOL! M
I remember comparing the two cars before I bought and on paper the Audi was always even, often ahead of the bmw. But my feelings were summed up in a post in which the author listed ten reasons to purchase the Audi and only one to purchase the bimmer. The one: "because you love to drive." That sums it up.
Here's what I have on tap with BMW of North Haven, CT:
325xi premium pkg sport pkg HK xenons steel gray metallic
I calculated the MSRP on this to be $36,285. We agreed on $34,100.
I'm looking at a 3 year lease, 15,000 miles / yr.
One last question: the salesperson had no idea how to keep me updated on the status of the car. How can I find out the order date, shipping date, where it is in transit, etc.?
To add more to the overheating thread, my 325i is 20 days old with 1100 miles and today it overheated on me at the end of rush hour in the DC area. Not a happy experience. BMW roadside assistance said it would be 30-90 mins till a tow truck could get to me. Sixty minutes later the tow truck company said it would take at least another 90 minutes to get to me. Virginia DMV roadside assistance got me a tow truck in a half hour. Four hours after the overheating I was back home. So now I have to go through the hassle of filing a reimbursement for $130 towing fee. And the car is resting comfortably (I hope) at the dealer. Gotta admit, I'm stunned and disappointed!!
Now, does these radiator fans work and intermidiantly doesn't? 1100 miles is quite a long time, shouldn't the fan break down or never ran ever? Or are these fans hit and run.
That's very unfortunate. Maybe you should've stayed with the Mitsubishi car and board or at least learn how to drive a Bimmer before you attempt to drive one. They have too much personality and don't like all drivers, you know : O )
tabbiecat - No offense taken but you post once last year saying you are looking for a BMW to buy. Then you disappear for a year and come back, supposedly after having bought a Bimmer, and start complaining about serious mechanical problems. Duuuuh? +++
emilyk: I followed a referral from this fine forum to circlebmw.com, they have the alarm for $225 (compared to 300 dollars list). If you mosey over to e46fanatics.com - FAQ page, you will find detailed instructions on DIY installation, although I think circlebmw.com have some installation details. Its really not complicated as all BMWs come wired. You just have to install three components-in the cabin, in the trunk and under the hood...no wiring work. Although you will have to ask your dealer/service to program it, but from what I gather, itll cost you about 35 dollars. For those of you thinking of ordering one, you could push for the alarm into your negotiaion or at least the installation and programming costs. Actual installation time is about an hour, but service personnel will probably charge you like 10 hours or something :-) LOL.
Postoak: WRT to ED, BMW foots one months insurance and registration plus some nights hotel alsosome free meals...the details are on the bmwusa website. That would be me you are quoting about the I-just-took-the-wrong-turn-off-the-autobahn look you would get with faux or original german euro plates (think european pics). With ED, since your car will be registered for a month, you get nifty 'zoll' euro plates which you can keep as souvenir and tack it on to your car once she reaches statesside...provided you live in a one-state plate, of course.
mccerio: I believe that once you get the VIN, you can track progress through the bmwusa website under owner's circle section...but be warned the info is not constantly updated. There is a section on e46fanatics.com FAQ page that explains how you could get the vessel number and track where the ship (and your car) is, at anytime, on the atlantic ocean...that is after your vehicle is loaded on, of course. Alternatively, your dealer gets a daily prinout with status' on orders, he should be able to furnish you the info. Do you have the prod'n number or VIN...you should've gotten the info, otherwise you should go back and demand it.
bmwvadriver: Also...if ever a concern about differences in production integrity of SA vs. German assembled 3ers, they should materialize almost immediately, no? I mean, let's say that the SA plant does not have as efficient production/quality controls as their German counterparts. And also, let's say the 20% SA content of your car is not up to par...I am sure that you will be able to discern almost immediately. I don't think differences in quality will rear its ugly head only years down the road, differences in quality is always almost immediately apparent. From what I gather, except for those niggles that you mentioned, you are happy with your purchase. So, bottom line is, I think you are worrying unnecessarily. Just enjoy the car...:-) FYI, actually BMW is also locally assembled from CKD (Complete Knocked Down) kits as opposed to CBUs (Complete Built-Ups like we get here) in asian countries to combat exorbitant import duties and to promote the local asian economies. I think the 3s and the 5s are exported from Germany in CKD kits which have been adapted to the climes of those asian countries, and there have been no problems there.
Brave1heart: I am not Csaba Csere :-). I am just happy to be contributing to this fine forum, that is all. Although the subject matter of the BMW is an inspired one, at that....
tabbiecat: is your car an Xi or regular 325i sedan...trying to follow with much interest about colling systems failure in the Xi, as I am also considering an Xi alongside a Ci...
Sorry, can't help but repost the problems with S.A. builds -
Top 3 problems with South African assembly 1. The car morphs into a Trabant the second you look away but only after you've taken delivery of it. 2. It falls apart completely and can only be re-assembled as a Pontiac Aztek. 3. The popular S.A.-only Flame-thrower option goes off on its own when it detects bad drivers nearby. The option is set to max for Lexus IS300 drivers and acts uncontrollably in their presence. +++
Easy tiger, It is entirely possible for a BMW to overheat. Until negotiations between BMW and the gods on Mt. Olympus resume in regards to relocation of primary production, a mechanical problem is still an uncommon but statistically possible event. Tabbie cat, sorry about the overheat, hopefully that will be a rare event balanced by many years of driving pleasure. -Getz
dtlee: the bmw alarms is integrated into the BMW car & key system and thus have to be programmed for it to integrate...I think. :-) Furthermore, with the alarm installed you have to ponder over yet more customization of your car's car&key system....to your liking.
Anyone have any luck getting deals around the Detroit area. I spoke with a salesman at Erhard BMW, and he said they sell at msrp, may be able to get a couple hundred off. I'm also having a hard time finding a 325x to drive with a manual. They say they only get manuals pre-ordered by customers. Where are all the manual drivers? BMW mostly autos? Is time also reversing and the world going backwards? Jim W
Dear All, Yeah, the E 46 3 series are running 70% auto/ 30% Man in the USA! Bad news for we old heads, as there will be that many fewer 5 sp coming off lease, etc. from the YUPS going foward! As many know, I just bought a Met silver Subaru WRX 5 sp 227 hp Wagon for $500. off the USMSRP of $23,495! Totally unnecessary here in Dallas, but what a hoot for my retired Greyhounds Senna and GreyMoor - not to mention Moi! M
Just a thought, but if BMW AG didn't give me an additional 50,000 mi, 10 year warranty, I would not ever buy anything built or produced in that rat trap!! 25 million AIDS victims without medical care? M
Mikem6 - That was weak! There is NOTHING wrong with SA built BMWs. Can you or anyone else show me any real evidance (published or otherwise) suggesting quality issues?
BMW DRIVER: You must live a charmed life if your actually taking the time (and energy) to consider trading in your car over it's build location. Sorry, I do understand if you are "concerned" about the assembly point. If you are, just do a little more research to put your mind at ease. What your suggesting is a little drastic, don't you think? I am just getting a little frustrated over the posts on this board concerning SA built cars.
Don't know how close you are to Springfield, Missouri but Jerry Dutcher with Reliable BMW was easy to deal with and was very competitive on the price. I just ordered a 325i from them. A fellow in our office building just purchased his 330i from Baron BMW in Kansas City. Said they gave him a very competitive price on a lease.
The white 330i I saw was a 4 door, not a coupe. First one I had seen with white trim instead of the black. I thought it might be another mid year change moving toward the new 2002 look.
I called around. Among all agencies, I got a lowest quote from GEICO. $532/6-month, 50/100/100 (uninsured 50/100), $100 of comprehensive deductible, $500 of collision deductible, $50 glass deductible, 50 miles/tow, $750(or 30 days)/rental. My current agent told me one disadvantage about GEICO is it doesn't have local offices and designated body shops, which means when you are in an accident, you need to find a body shop by yourself and submit estimated repair cost for approval, which would slow down your repair process. Is this a big concern? How are GEICO's services? Thank you in advance for your help!
Your description is exactly what I am hearing. I did an informal survey with a couple of buddies that own 3ers and they had the same background sound. Glad that read that you had it checked by the dealer.
I came across this site from the UK that talks about upcoming develpoments at BMW for all the platforms. If you have a slow connection be patient it is rather a large page with lots of pictures.
Killing 2 birds with one stone: Erhard BMW sells at MSRP... I got mine there and got 500 off, and I cant even begin to explain the hell I went through to get that. Many others have bought at MSRP there.. so if you want cheaper, you must go elsewhere. As far as SA builds go, if you get a 325, youre gonna have a decent chance of getting an SA built car... although I agree that no quality issues have been proven, there is one HUGE problem.... THE DELIEVERY FROM SA IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER!!!!! I am speaking from personal experience and totally agree that it is a good enough reason to avoid this location if at all possible. 10 -11 weeks for delivery is absolutely standard. Personally, I think that if youre paying this much for a car, you have a right to concern yourself with this kind of detail. If we as customers make this an issue , then BMW has NO choice but to listen. I like drooling over these cars as much as all of you, but I am not going to let that interfere with my ability to smack BMW upside the head if I have concerns, you shouldn't either. If you are concerned, make sure you either prevent it, or give them hell for thier delays. SA delays are standard, not an exception.
I just got my 2001 325i, steel blue, 5-speed, moonroof, cd, black leatherette, but the car didn't come with xenons. I bought the car off the lot because I couldn't afford to wait 2 months for an order (sold my car). Does anyone know if I could upgrade and change out the headlights to xenons? Has anyone done it? If so how much would something like that run? I love the look that the Xenons have. I would appreciate anyone's feedback. If you have done this please send me an email to djjunior@gte.net Thanks. Also does BMW make alumminum racing pedals?
Oh and I had an IS300 for a week before Lexus tried to screw me and rework our oringinal deal. I took the car back and got my 325i. I love that car should have gotten it to begin with. IS has nice interior though, but it doesn't beat the ultimate driving machine!
Bavarian Autosport has xenon upgrade kits.. they are steep though at 1200 bucks. See www.bavauto.com for details. Generally speaking though, if you want real upgrade xenon, youre gonna have to pay over 500 easily. Im sure BMW does it themsleves as well but I don't know the cost there. Beware of imitations, many sell garbage and pawn it off as xenons. An alternative to xenons are brighter halogens than the ones you have stock, they will be brighter, but they dont compare to the xenon intensity. After seeing the prices on these kits though, they may be an viable option.
I am considering buying either a 325 or 330xi and I had a few questions for some of you lucky owners.
First, has anyone driven both of the models and what were their impressions? I test drove the 330xi and was very impressed, but there is not a 325xi in town. I was wondering if the 330 was worth the extra five thousand.
Secondly, I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with the AWD in snow. Does the 38%/62% power distribution perform as well in the snow as I'm sure it does on dry road? I have always driven SUV's in the snow, but with AWD and traction control, I'm thinking that the BMW will perform as well if not significantly better.
Thirdly, any comments or reviews from you in the know regarding topics of interest or concern would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much for taking the time to tutor a new buyer of the ultimate driving machine.
I have heard that 3 series cars produced as of April will have new steering that is not as overboosted as the ones produced the last half of 2000. Does anyone know that this is the gospel truth, and if it is, is this latest steering change just like the 2000 323 and 328 models, or is it going to be like the steering in the 2002 3 series compact, which I understand is not as boosted as the June-Dec 2000 produced 3 series cars, but slightly faster and lighter than the 2000 323 and 328? I am seriously considering ordering a 2001 330i (I originally thought about a 325i, but then I drove a 330 and liked the extra kick), but both had the lighter steering, which I really do think is a bit too light. Even though I've never driven the pre-boosted 323 or 328, I'm sure that's more along the lines of what I want. I'm just so damned confused about this. I think BMW has done a poor pr job of dealing with this, and I want to be perfectly sure about what I'm ordering. I've seriously thought about getting a 2001 Protege ES instead, which I've heard is a fun to drive car with tight steering, and I could buy 2 of those with about $6,000 left over for what I'd pay for a fairly loaded (SP, CD, Moonroof, Fold Down Rear Seats, Metallic Paint) 330i. I know it's no BMW, but as far as a sporty little car, I've heard it's a good "bang for the buck."
Also, I understand you can order no extra cost cloth seats instead of the leatherette, which would be very appealing to me. How can I find out about the color options?
Many thanks in advance for any and all responses regarding these matters.
The AWD adds about 200-250 lbs of additional weight to the car and you will notice a noticeable difference in acceleration with the 330xi. Once you get up to 3,500 lbs on a car, you really need the bigger engine (RWD is about 3,250 lbs). Also, if you are considering an auto transmisuion, the 325 awd auto will be a total dog and I'd go for the 330xi. That's if I were to go with awd at all. The 5 grand difference will be well worth it. +++
Everything that I know about the steering issue comes from reading bimmer.org posts. Here's my interpretation.
All cars built between Aug. 2000 & Jan. 2001 have the over-boosted steering. BMW, realizing that it had erred, began phasing out the new steering in Jan. of this year but did not exhaust its inventory of "new" steering units until early this month. This suggests that a car built during the 1st quarter of this year may or may not have the "new" steering. Cars now in production have the more desireable "old" steering.
BMW is now contacting owners of cars built between Aug. & Jan. & offering to retrofit their cars with the "old" steering units. I don't know what BMW will do for those whose cars were built between Jan. & Apr.
Anyone who has more accurate info should certainly feel free to jump in.
i called bmw na this morning about concerns about overheating due to electrical fan and seems not to work in some cars. The guy i talked to said bmw is NOT aware of the problem and said there is not recall he is aware of as well. Can anyone sheed some light on this , or are they just hiding their misatakes again?
The fact that you are considering a Mazda and a 3 in the same sentence tells me that you are not completely sold on the BMW product. Which is o.k. With this in mind, and the fact that you have a keen interest in cloth seats, I would recommend a trip to your local Subaru dealer and sign up for a WRX. It is about the same size as a Protege and will whip the pants off an ix. (While this might sound as if it came from the mouth of a fourteen year old, it is true.) And it even comes with cloth as std equipment. Few things about your request, the cloth is a "special order only" and is extremely rare in the US. As a result, a cloth car will take a pretty substantial hit at resale time, as it is not the seat cover of choice amongst our BMW friends.
Filedoc? Performance in the snow? Remember something about slippery conditions and performance. Awd or 4x4 aid in one thing getting you going in the snow. And that is it for 99.9% of the drivers on the road today. Believe you me, most $40k 330xi drivers wouldn't know the first thing about pulling their car out of a power slide with the gas peddle once they enter a "situation" . The sad reality of all of these ix's and Quattros that are on the road today is the driver does not know how to use the system to get them out of a bind once they are in them. Quite frankly, after reading many of the posts on this board, the xi package is more of a marketing ploy than anything. Trust me on this one. Get a rwd 330 with traction control and you will drive the car within its limits in bad weather. Get an xi and most think that they are invincibe, often ending up in a situation that they would never be in if they drove with common sense. As I have mentioned in the past, there is a body shop in my family in the Detroit metro area that does very well in the winter fixing the vehicles of over zealous awd drivers.
tcn2k...what do you expect from the mfr? Remember how this great franchise system works....BMW sells the car to the retail dealer and you buy the car from the dealer. You are much better off working with your local service dept. If that is of no satisfaction to you, contact the regional service rep in your area. This problem does not sound like Watergate III, I think with a few calls to the right people, your cooling problem should clear up.
carguy5000 - you know from my posts that I'm a big RWD fan and I'd buy an AWD only if I lived in the Arctic or something. However, the X and Quattro have significant advantages over RWD in snow and ice. Even so, it is important to remember that when it comes to stopping, which is what really matters in snow/ice, the AWD has no advantage and can actually be a burden because of the weight that it adds to the car. Yes, it is sad that most drivers will not know how to use the system, and it is just as sad that 70% of all 3-series buyers go for the auto tranny. But an average driver will still fare better with an AWD system and by definition, most drivers are average drivers. The way I look at it, those that do need the AWD and auto tranny and all watchdog electronic gizmos will end up paying a lot more money to get a car that's on par or worse than my 325i manual. That's fine with me, I can still outrun them any day (except for those 10 snowy days) and I can take my family on a one-month vacation to Wailea with the savings. +++
I dunno, man - those tricky beach roads may require awd, electronic stability, traction control nd other electronics. Are you sure you can handle it? :O) Don't go spinning all over the place with that unsophisticated Expo now - LOL! +++
Are you kidding me? I'm not going any place that my GPS doesn't cover. If it can save someone 3 hours a week on the NJ turnpike (was he driving his car in reverse BTW?), think about the total time it could save you on those easy-to-get-lost type of roads in Wailea. Your family will be starved to death and you'll have to sell your kids to the hippies from the '60s that hang out on Kaanapali beach and in Hanna so they'll tell you how to find your way back. :O)
BTW, I checked w/ my dealer today - my 325i arrived at the NJ port yesterday, as scheduled, and they are expecting it at the dealership by the end of the week. My dealer's saying BMW is cranking out cars about a week ahead of schedule. It may be some kind of German manufacturing wizardry but I'm guessing it's more likely they've seen a slowdown in demand from the recent global economic downturn. She's claiming she hasn't seen any slowdown at all but then again, what else is she gonna say - 'I have fewer buyers'?!? That'll be the day. +++
I appreciated the comments from this board. To clarify, this car will be my wife's primary transportation. We will be moving to Lincoln, NE for a few years on business and I want to be sure that this car will have the ability to get her to and from work in substantial amounts of snow and ice. Therefore, the traction of the machine on these surfaces is my main concern. We currently live in Reno and are fairly accustomed to driving in winter conditions, but I hear that Lincoln is in a another league completely. The review at boston.com left by jhdevoy seemed to indicate that this machine was a traction beast and I am wondering if anyone has some anecdotal evidence supporting these claims. Again, thank you all for your insightful comments, they are truly apprciated.
Just a quick follow up to my post from yesterday (#1857)...dealer advised the radiator fan shortcircuited. New part on order and should arrive midday tomorrow. Looking forward to getting back in the car!
Comments
Don't forget alternatives 'tho: many fine E 36 M 3s/ 328is's are now more than price competitive. If a new car is an absolute, great, but if you don't get the sport package, I keep a list and promise to cut off your head and fill it with nails! LOL! M
325xi
premium pkg
sport pkg
HK
xenons
steel gray metallic
I calculated the MSRP on this to be $36,285. We agreed on $34,100.
I'm looking at a 3 year lease, 15,000 miles / yr.
One last question: the salesperson had no idea how to keep me updated on the status of the car. How can I find out the order date, shipping date, where it is in transit, etc.?
Thanks.
- MCC
What build date is on your car tabbiecat?
http://www.circlebmw.com/parts/e46/e46-cat.htm
+++
Postoak: WRT to ED, BMW foots one months insurance and registration plus some nights hotel alsosome free meals...the details are on the bmwusa website. That would be me you are quoting about the I-just-took-the-wrong-turn-off-the-autobahn look you would get with faux or original german euro plates (think european pics). With ED, since your car will be registered for a month, you get nifty 'zoll' euro plates which you can keep as souvenir and tack it on to your car once she reaches statesside...provided you live in a one-state plate, of course.
mccerio: I believe that once you get the VIN, you can track progress through the bmwusa website under owner's circle section...but be warned the info is not constantly updated. There is a section on e46fanatics.com FAQ page that explains how you could get the vessel number and track where the ship (and your car) is, at anytime, on the atlantic ocean...that is after your vehicle is loaded on, of course. Alternatively, your dealer gets a daily prinout with status' on orders, he should be able to furnish you the info. Do you have the prod'n number or VIN...you should've gotten the info, otherwise you should go back and demand it.
bmwvadriver: Also...if ever a concern about differences in production integrity of SA vs. German assembled 3ers, they should materialize almost immediately, no? I mean, let's say that the SA plant does not have as efficient production/quality controls as their German counterparts. And also, let's say the 20% SA content of your car is not up to par...I am sure that you will be able to discern almost immediately. I don't think differences in quality will rear its ugly head only years down the road, differences in quality is always almost immediately apparent. From what I gather, except for those niggles that you mentioned, you are happy with your purchase. So, bottom line is, I think you are worrying unnecessarily. Just enjoy the car...:-) FYI, actually BMW is also locally assembled from CKD (Complete Knocked Down) kits as opposed to CBUs (Complete Built-Ups like we get here) in asian countries to combat exorbitant import duties and to promote the local asian economies. I think the 3s and the 5s are exported from Germany in CKD kits which have been adapted to the climes of those asian countries, and there have been no problems there.
Brave1heart: I am not Csaba Csere :-). I am just happy to be contributing to this fine forum, that is all. Although the subject matter of the BMW is an inspired one, at that....
tabbiecat: is your car an Xi or regular 325i sedan...trying to follow with much interest about colling systems failure in the Xi, as I am also considering an Xi alongside a Ci...
Top 3 problems with South African assembly
1. The car morphs into a Trabant the second you look away but only after you've taken delivery of it.
2. It falls apart completely and can only be re-assembled as a Pontiac Aztek.
3. The popular S.A.-only Flame-thrower option goes off on its own when it detects bad drivers nearby. The option is set to max for Lexus IS300 drivers and acts uncontrollably in their presence.
+++
It is entirely possible for a BMW to overheat. Until negotiations between BMW and the gods on Mt. Olympus resume in regards to relocation of primary production, a mechanical problem is still an uncommon but statistically possible event. Tabbie cat, sorry about the overheat, hopefully that will be a rare event balanced by many years of driving pleasure.
-Getz
Jim W
BMW DRIVER: You must live a charmed life if your actually taking the time (and energy) to consider trading in your car over it's build location. Sorry, I do understand if you are "concerned" about the assembly point. If you are, just do a little more research to put your mind at ease. What your suggesting is a little drastic, don't you think? I am just getting a little frustrated over the posts on this board concerning SA built cars.
tcn2k: The car was manufactured in Germany in March and I took delivery on April 3.
Thanks again.
Enjoy
http://www.bmw2002.co.uk/news.htm
Erhard BMW sells at MSRP... I got mine there and got 500 off, and I cant even begin to explain the hell I went through to get that. Many others have bought at MSRP there.. so if you want cheaper, you must go elsewhere. As far as SA builds go, if you get a 325, youre gonna have a decent chance of getting an SA built car... although I agree that no quality issues have been proven, there is one HUGE problem.... THE DELIEVERY FROM SA IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER!!!!! I am speaking from personal experience and totally agree that it is a good enough reason to avoid this location if at all possible. 10 -11 weeks for delivery is absolutely standard. Personally, I think that if youre paying this much for a car, you have a right to concern yourself with this kind of detail. If we as customers make this an issue , then BMW has NO choice but to listen. I like drooling over these cars as much as all of you, but I am not going to let that interfere with my ability to smack BMW upside the head if I have concerns, you shouldn't either. If you are concerned, make sure you either prevent it, or give them hell for thier delays. SA delays are standard, not an exception.
Oh and I had an IS300 for a week before Lexus tried to screw me and rework our oringinal deal. I took the car back and got my 325i. I love that car should have gotten it to begin with. IS has nice interior though, but it doesn't beat the ultimate driving machine!
First, has anyone driven both of the models and what were their impressions? I test drove the 330xi and was very impressed, but there is not a 325xi in town. I was wondering if the 330 was worth the extra five thousand.
Secondly, I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with the AWD in snow. Does the 38%/62% power distribution perform as well in the snow as I'm sure it does on dry road? I have always driven SUV's in the snow, but with AWD and traction control, I'm thinking that the BMW will perform as well if not significantly better.
Thirdly, any comments or reviews from you in the know regarding topics of interest or concern would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much for taking the time to tutor a new buyer of the ultimate driving machine.
This is a GREAT article. Warning: Do not read this article unless you plan on buying the car, because once you read it, YOU WILL BUY IT!
I can't help you on the 325xi, because I bought the 330xi and didn't test a 25, but I'm sure they are both great cars.
Also, I understand you can order no extra cost cloth seats instead of the leatherette, which would be very appealing to me. How can I find out about the color options?
Many thanks in advance for any and all responses regarding these matters.
I want to own the 325i. However, if I can't drive a stick car, is that mean the BMW is out of the question?
Thanks.
Joe
+++
All cars built between Aug. 2000 & Jan. 2001 have the over-boosted steering. BMW, realizing that it had erred, began phasing out the new steering in Jan. of this year but did not exhaust its inventory of "new" steering units until early this month. This suggests that a car built during the 1st quarter of this year may or may not have the "new" steering. Cars now in production have the more desireable "old" steering.
BMW is now contacting owners of cars built between Aug. & Jan. & offering to retrofit their cars with the "old" steering units. I don't know what BMW will do for those whose cars were built between Jan. & Apr.
Anyone who has more accurate info should certainly feel free to jump in.
Few things about your request, the cloth is a "special order only" and is extremely rare in the US. As a result, a cloth car will take a pretty substantial hit at resale time, as it is not the seat cover of choice amongst our BMW friends.
Filedoc? Performance in the snow? Remember something about slippery conditions and performance. Awd or 4x4 aid in one thing getting you going in the snow. And that is it for 99.9% of the drivers on the road today. Believe you me, most $40k 330xi drivers wouldn't know the first thing about pulling their car out of a power slide with the gas peddle once they enter a "situation" .
The sad reality of all of these ix's and Quattros that are on the road today is the driver does not know how to use the system to get them out of a bind once they are in them.
Quite frankly, after reading many of the posts on this board, the xi package is more of a marketing ploy than anything. Trust me on this one. Get a rwd 330 with traction control and you will drive the car within its limits in bad weather. Get an xi and most think that they are invincibe, often ending up in a situation that they would never be in if they drove with common sense.
As I have mentioned in the past, there is a body shop in my family in the Detroit metro area that does very well in the winter fixing the vehicles of over zealous awd drivers.
tcn2k...what do you expect from the mfr? Remember how this great franchise system works....BMW sells the car to the retail dealer and you buy the car from the dealer. You are much better off working with your local service dept. If that is of no satisfaction to you, contact the regional service rep in your area. This problem does not sound like Watergate III, I think with a few calls to the right people, your cooling problem should clear up.
+++
+++
BTW, I checked w/ my dealer today - my 325i arrived at the NJ port yesterday, as scheduled, and they are expecting it at the dealership by the end of the week. My dealer's saying BMW is cranking out cars about a week ahead of schedule. It may be some kind of German manufacturing wizardry but I'm guessing it's more likely they've seen a slowdown in demand from the recent global economic downturn. She's claiming she hasn't seen any slowdown at all but then again, what else is she gonna say - 'I have fewer buyers'?!? That'll be the day.
+++