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This is Joe, I am a total Bimmer newbie but a soon to be owner ... hehehe (Geee, it is exciting!!) Okay, my wife and I are looking for a brand new 2003 BMW 330xi, nothing fancy just these options (Power/memory seats/mirror $1800) and (Split fold down seat with centre armrest $660) in Canadian dollars.
The saleman offered to check if there is any 2002 model around with those specs, we are looking for a white one but unfortunately there was none left. So, instead of 2003 white model, he offered us a 2002 Titanium Silver one, it is in stock but I am not sure if it is a floor model. Here are the specs anyway.
2002 BMWxi Sedan ($49700)
205 Automatic transmission ($1200)
508 park distance control ($430)
910 Sport package ($2000)
354 Titanium Silver ($800)
438 Wood trim ($585)
904 Preium package ($5300)
N6SW Black Leather (incl. in Premium package)
The base price total is $60015 for all of the above, he offered $56114 to us. (ALL in CANADIAN DOLLARS)
I want to know if this is a good deal ? I mean is it a steal ?
How can you tell if it is a floor model ? I can't check the odometer since floor model is not necessary a demo car.
Any Canadian owner wanna share their Bimmer buying expriences?
Anyone willing to throw in some pricing you paid for your 330xi?
Anything I need to know about for buying a Bimmer ? anything I need to pay attention to especially buying this one the saleman offered?
Please help out this newbie, reply to this group or you can email me at tgx.trf@nospam.rogers.com (Remove nospam.)
Thanks in advance
JK
DL
Some general comments, though:
1. One option I'm VERY glad I got is the xenons. If you're waffling on it, just get them. They blow away the headlights on my brother's 2000 323i. They almost look like the high beams are on (I had to keep checking), with a MUCH wider/longer throw, and generally brighter illumination. With these, I don't even need the fog lights. I'd pay double for these (although I'm glad I didn't have to!). After one week, I can't imagine ever buying another new car that doesn't offer low-beam xenons.
2. One option I'm glad I didn't get is leather. The leatherette is the nicest synthetic seat material I've ever seen in a car. It feels as good as the leather in my Maxima, and looks very authentic. My brother's leather looks/feels a little different, but if you didn't sit in both cars back-to-back, you would never know that mine wasn't real leather (except for a little back-sweating that probably would have happened this week, even with real leather). Also, the 'ette seems more durable (less likely to tear or mark), and is less slippery without velcro-ing you into your seat. The car also has a more distinct "new car" smell without the leather, that I remember from my cars with cloth seats. My advice to Bimmer buyers on a budget - save $1,400 on the leather and get xenons and a metallic color instead.
White (we have a white, mono-chromatic Caravan SP - imagine a giant egg with wheels) always looks pretty clean, but if you get droppings, tar, or other high visibility grime on the car, and can't clean it off quickly, it will stain. Our white van also picked-up some weird bluish marks on the rear quarter panel that I can't get off, even with a hard solvent.
Silver (or another light metallic) is similar to white, but doesn't show quite as many marks/stains. Red doesn't show acid rain, water marks, small scratches, or dust as much as the dark colors - and unlike white, silver, and variations of the same - is a real color. Its also a very deep color, unlike white. You don't want a dark color. I had a black metallic car that sat outside 24/7, and after a year or two - it looked like crap (and that was back when I could wash it every week or two in the summer).
I guess if I were in your situation (24/7 outside), I'd get silver or some variation.
It doesn't sound like you've pushed the car in corners yet - there's no break-in period for that, you know...
started out last night by offering me at least $1500 off MSRP on 2002 325i's and xi's. They were told to do whatever it takes to move the 30 2002 that they have comming in in the next few weeks.
What a change from past experiences.
Generally speaking, this means that you're also going to want to get the smallest diameter rim that will fit over your brakes.
Insofar as the trade-off between winter-dry and winter-bad traction, its a philisophical question of where do you want your trade-offs. My opinion on that is that I want to minimize the performance loss under the conditions that I need it the most - ie, trashy weather, so I'd trade off winter dry performance to make winter-bad performance as good as possible.
- - -
And here's my NY/NJ climate info, based on a couple of decades of firsthand experience:
We typically have 3-4 mild winters, then we get nailed like something you wouldn't believe. Completely off the top of my head, 1965, 69, 72, 76, 78, 82, 86, 92, and 96? were all pretty noteworthy years.
Currently, we're overdue. And contemporarily, I'm beginning to believe/suspect that our bad winters might corrolate to El Niño years.
And as you're probably aware, the folks at NOAA have been watching the Equatorial Pacific *very* closely this year. Currently, we're officially in an El Nino flow, with around a -3F surface temperature variance.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s938.htm
My very simplest rule of thumb is that if NYC has a "White Christmas", get ready for big snows in February.
-hh
1. The distinct smell is the plastic like smell, coming from the leatherette you got. I couldn't stand that smell.
"The two most maintenance free colors I've owned are silver and red."
2. I own white and silver and prefer both. White is great and doesn't stain if you wax the car. It looks more luxurious then silver in my view.
I am deciding between 3.25i and 325xi. The difference in price is about $2k with RWD and AWD difference but the overall power of both the cars is of course the same. With that in mind, how much difference would it make as regarding fun to drive and giving performance between the two of the same family. Can you give me suggestion which one would be wiser choice as value for money. Is the difference worth 2k!
Thanks
Zad
nissancar: I drove both with step. The xi was noticeably more reluctant to jump out from a stop. It hits you hardest where it hurts most, at low RPM, i.e., in everyday around town driving. My 325i is not reluctant at all. I'd personally never compromise the 325 with the added weight/drag of the AWD system, at least where I live. But,...some people here would say that about step, so, to each his own.
huntzinger: I take the opposite approach to winter. I outfit my car for the 95% of winter when the roads don't have deep snow, and compromise enough on traction to just get by on the two or three bad days of the winter. I'm a pretty good bad weather driver, though, so I think its worth the risk.
brave: My owner's manual says that there is a break-in period for the tires and brakes. I can't remember what they are off the top of my head, but those issues, combined with wanting to keep RPM's under 4500, will keep me from testing the car in hard turns until after the break-in period. The 100 mph thing,...I think I'll be OK on!
General: This 91 octane requirement sucks! I've never bought the most expensive gas in the station before in my life. The damn stuff costs 25 cents a gallon more than what I put in my van. But, I'll do it anyway, because it will bug me to think I'm depriving my wonderful engine of even one ounce of horsepower.
Like 1pierce said, there is some added weight associated with the AWD system, but I personally find that the xi gets up and goes, even with luggage and my family of 4 in the car. I've never had a problem with accelleration (at least it is enough for me) even when accellerating up mountainous roads where I live.
If you live in an area where your biggest concern is rain, then you may want to stick with the 325i and use that 2K for more goodies, like XM radio, and other fun stuff. But if you have snow and ice to worry about, then the xi is a good choice.
Keep in mind, the 325xi Sport Package is NOT the same as the 325i Sport Package, with the main differences being the tire/wheel width, ride height, and suspension. I personally find the xi's sport package perfect for me. I'm not that crazy of a driver, though my wife might argue that. If you want something with a more aggressive/lower stance, the 325i may meet your needs.
Your primary thoughts here are: where am I driving and how am I driving?
Either way, you will be picking an excellent car that you will enjoy driving.
My car:
2002 325xi SP, CWP, 1/2 PP, 5sp
xenon
Oxford Green/Natural Brown
XM radio
tint
http://community.webshots.com/user/skimblz_
-Paul
As far as the '91 octane' requirement, 91 is the minimum. I've always put in 93 in both the 325 and the A4. You get better mileage with high octane fuel, so it probably costs the same in the end but the car does perform better.
How's the red color, are you gettng a lot of attention with it )
Now I don't doubt that in wet weather, you can get more power to the ground, and there are certainly snow situations where you'd be stuck in the RWD, but motor on with AWD. But in day-to-day driving, everything I've read says the RWD is the more enjoyable to drive car. The RWD also rides lower and, from what I understand, has sportier tires and suspension settings for the sport package version.
Of course, if you really need AWD, then you really need it. If I lived in New England for example, and had to use my BMW to get to work every day, I wouldn't hesitate for a second.
Having said all this, I've never driven an xi. But I have driven a lot of A4's and while they all are extremely stable and sure-footed, they understeer like crazy and aren't very tossable. They are extremely competent, but not very playful.
Just my $0.02.
- Mark
http://bmwnation.com/tech/tech_3carkeycfg_01.html
I have the same issue with the calibration of the temp control on my '02 330i. Some day I will see the dealer about adjusting it.
CNorthrup
http://www.carcareonline.com/porsche_glasscln_11601.html
John, thanx for the info on the glass cleaner, I have the same problem with the rear window.
Jbreez1
The red color w/black interior is what makes everybody's eyes fall out. I can almost see the drool drip from their mouths when my friends, acquaintances, and neighbors see it for the first time. I have to wipe the front side windows everyday after work to get finger, forehead and nose smudges off the glass from people looking in at the parking garage. I know color preference is subjective, but you must admit, no color attracts wistful glances like bright (or in this case "electric") red. You guys don't know what you're missing.
Gas: Some stations in my area don't have 93 octane. Most have only 87, 89, and 91. I've heard that Sunoco 93 octane is the best (certain additives that the others don't have). I'll stick with 91 octane, and probably use the 93 if I'm at Sunoco. Gas mileage hasn't been too good, yet - first tank. My Maxima got 23 mpg in normal driving. The 325 is averaging about 16 in heavy city driving. The engine is new, though, and I've never had a car that hit its gas mileage peak prior to five thousand miles. Again, I'm patient.
new car smell: I read somewhere that the new car smell is bad for you. I agree. That new car smell that many of us love - I'm sure is slowly killing our brain cells with out-gases. So what. I don't expect to live forever, and most of us are killing many more brain cells watching reality TV. I think the average driver is more likely to get plowed by an SUV than die early from environmentally insensitive plastics.
Evidently, the first batch of 2003s is set for 09/06 production date, so my baby will be rolling off as one of the first.
Anyone else on here get moved up? Several folks at bimmerfest got moved up 1 or 2 weeks. Maybe they cut their vacations short.
Jean
vk: The 2002 manual clearly says 91 octane (I don't remember the page number, but I could look it up). The gas filler area has a plaque/sticker that also says 91 octane. I used 89 in my Maxima, and was a little surprised that it wasn't recommended for the BMW. I probably would notice no difference with 89 octane, but I'll probably keep using 91-93 - just because BMW says to, and they know best, right?
mfeldman - I would NOT mix tire brands. If you want to go with Bridgestone 730s (great tire for the money, BTW!!), you should replace all of them.
- possibly poorer braking...
More knowledgeable posters may have more precise data to back this up Think you go jogging with two different types of sneakers - you may be a little unstable too )
rebright,what's the code 150/151/121 you are talking about?
Howard
Thanks for your comments. It looks I want i more than the xi now. I wouldn't bother much about the wheather conditions, after all I started off with eyes on maxima.
My BMW dealer here in new england is very pushy though and infect he was quite against sports package and in favour of premium package (I am not sure why!). Basic options I want is power seats, sunroof and permium sterio. Can you please tell me why would I need the 17 inch tires if I have to go with the sports package? The Audi dealer told me bigger wheels look nice.
ghost78:
The percentage you are talking about is based on what exactly?
kominsky - what Bimmer magazine are you referring to? The quarterly BMW magazine or Roundel? I spent a bit of time on The Wheel Exchange website. Their price on "replica" type 68 wheels is $175 while BMW charges $440 for the real thing. That is quite a difference - 2.5 times the cost. Is this normal?
Sport package tires - for those that have Z rated rubber, why not rotate tires front to back one-time at 13,000 to 15,000 miles and get an extra 10,000 miles on the set? I did. Had absolutely no ill effects in handling, noise, etc. At least do it for the good of the earth!
Brave - you are right that octane ratings are different at higher altitude. Here in Colorado, we have 85, 87 and 91 octane ratings. Also mileage increases at altitude. On a raod trip in the mountains last weekend I drove 560 miles on a tank of gas - 38 mpg and I didn't baby it!
I'd just order a car.
17-inch wheels make the handing quite a bit crisper - the tires have about the same overall diameter as 16-inch wheels, so they have shorter sidewalls. They just tilt the balance away from ride and towards better handling.
- Mark
As for the replica prices at The Wheel Exchange, the AT Italia Type 5 (BMW M-Contour replica) is $149 (17X8.5) at TireRack and the real BMW wheel is $545 at Circle BMW. That's more than 3.5X. Again, I would imagine the reps are heavier, and the finishes probably aren't up to quite the same standards, but that doesn't matter too much to me for a winter wheel which is likely to get covered with salt and possibly even bank off a curb every now and then.
Usually have a lot of interesting articles, plus a nice Tech Q&A section. Current issue has articles on everything from new Z4 (the cover story) to the Euro-spec X5 3.0d to BMW Mobile Tradition to the Dingolfing plant to a history of Glas Automobiles (company BMW purchased in 1966 and took over in 1967 to get their Dingolfing plant).