Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Thanks.
Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions of places to look online? Thanks!
Granted this is NOT a ticket for driving like mad in adverse conditions, but it did provide the stability I expected and needed.
I do not have winter tires on it as yet. If the weather gets really bad, we have our Jeep.
My car is at:
http://community.webshots.com/user/skimblz_
-Paul
I firmly believe that winter tires provide a cheaper and safer alternative to AWD. My 325i with winter tires is more than adequate for handling the winters here in Wisconsin.
jean7of9 is right, I can't tell him how to spend his money. My question is why do you feel it's necessary to get AWD to help GO but not necessary to get winter tires to help STOP?
-murray
Certainly the debate rages on on RWD/AWD/4WD, but having been lulled into a sense of false security from the last several years of 60 degree winters, I chose RWD.
To repeat my experience, I believe you are absolutely correct when it comes to minor snowfalls. As soon as it gets above 6 inches, imho, everything changes and bring out the AWD. RWD+snows+DSC does not equal AWD in 6-12 inches or more. Sure you could limp along, but the AWD gives it that little extra.
Granted, in my part of the country, the debate would be more like "AWD with summer tires v. RWD with all-seasons" -- you know, for the 10 days that it actually rains.
I have an all-terrain tire on my AWD SUV, and I can tell you they are better than all-seasons in snow, but not as good as all-seasons in the good weather. But they really proved themselves during the first big storm of the season that dumped about 12 inches or snow. Slowly but surely was the word of the day in that storm, but I never worried about getting stuck.
This year I am sticking with the Conti's and gonna see how I limp along.
A 325Xi with winter tires would be a great winter car.
-murray
Series: E-46
Model: 316i
Production date: 2001/10
Engine: unknown
Transmission: Unknown
I am confident that more relevant and true data will come come out after completion . Meanwhile I assume the date of 2001/10 is the date when the body was completed, probably in South Africa and shipped by sea to Germany where it is painted, outfitted with complete interior and drive train. The 1.6 litres 4 cylinders engine (for the 316i) is only used in the United Kingdom While the rest of Europe enjoys a 1.8 litres gas and a 2.0 litres diesel.
If my analysis is true, We can safely assume that most 3 series come out of South Africa, either totally assembled (2.5 litres) or at least the body is sent to Germany for special engines or drive trains (3.0 litres M or xi).
I am not saying that quality is diminished, just pointing out the huge profit BMW must be doing on these car, considering the low wages in South Africa. Good for them.
This sudden reaction by BMW is blamed to the unexpected success of the G-35.
I was quoted at $650, but that sounds pretty expensive.
kdshapiro, one of you posters, told me he paid about half the price for his. How about the rest of you guys?
And VKWHEELS, thanks for the reference of the dealer, I live about 20 min away from Shelly, and I will pay them a visit. I assume you dealt w/ internet manager?
I'm wondering how much everyone thinks the SMG option is going to be.
I also don't really quite understand the difference between the SMG and the Steptronic (aside from the fact that there are paddles as well as the shifter). My best guess is that it's more technologically advanced and it's not an automatic with an optional shifter but a shifter with an automatic option. Are any of these assumptions correct?
http://europeancarweb.com/tech/0212ec_bmwtech/
http://www.bmw.com/bmwe/pulse/bmwm/
Click on "SMG Drivelogic" and then click on the instrument panel icon to the far right.
Thanks for the article link, peterpan223.
In the U.S., contact pacific bmw for one of the best prices on E46 OEM alarm. I think there is extra discount if you're a cca member.
I recommend a self-install (about 1.5 hour) and activation by a dealer who will charge no more than $50
What is CCA? How do I become a member and what benifits do I get?
Thanks
2. One of the best benefits of CCA is the $500-$1500 rebate on the purchase/lease of a new BMW, depending on the model (3 series is $500). Unfortunately, you must be a member for 12 months or more to qualify (they check this). It's good to join either way, the Roundel Magazine is a great read.
WBAEW53433PG+++++
That is when I get the car first.
I plan to get it within 2 weeks, hopefully I'll get a good deal.
The best offer I got so far is 5% over invoice.
Do you think this is good enough? Or can I go lower since the '04 model is coming out soon.
Based on what BMWUSA did to the 2002 models (offering 0% financing) just after the 2003's came out, I think if you can wait a bit and don't mind taking a 2003, you can save more on the purchase price, as well as in financing--if you plan to finance the car.
So April's when dealers are actually going to GET shipments of the new 3 Coupes? I really want to see this color before I choose steel gray by default.
Oh and have any of you just chosen to not get the premium package and instead get the sport package and the sunroof? Seemed like when I was doing some preliminary virtual building that the difference in price allowed me to get the NAV. Seems all I'm missing (since there's quite a bit of overlap it seems with the sports/premium packages) are rain-sensing winsheild wipers and driver memory. I'm the only driver so all I'm missing are the wipers. Does anyone think the NAV is worth it enough to do what I just described when ordering?
Also, so if BMW offers the SMG (or a toned-down equiv) for the 2004's, will there be three transmission options? Surely they wouldn't replace steptronic with SMG.
I bought two 2003 325xi's in Mid-December. Both cars have the premium package and rain sensing windshield wipers. The night I picked up my car, it was pouring down rain, and the wipers worked perfectly. They went from a slow intermittant when stopped, to a steady medium speed when the rain wasn't too bad, and went to the fastest speed when rain really picked up. I was amazed it worked so well.
However, about a week later, there was another day of very heavy rain, but this time while driving (55 mph), the wipers would not go faster than the "medium" setting. I had to physically raise the lever to get the fastest wipe speed. It would not do it in the auto setting. I ensured the sensitivity knob was full forward (where I had left it from the last time), but it didn't work.
I went home and got in my wife's car and took it for a drive. Sure enough, her's worked fine. Just like mine had the first time it rained. I got back in my car to make sure I had everything set correctly (it's not that complicated...), and it was. Still would only go up to the medium speed. The wipers would not go to the super fast speed unless I physically raised the lever out of automatic.
I made an appointment at Passport BMW in Maryland (where I bought the cars) to have a tech look at it. They told me it was working fine. I asked them if they were actually able to test the different speeds of the auto setting, and they said, "no". They said their was no real way for them to test it unless it was raining (it wasn't).
Anyway, I'm now driving a BMW with a feature that doesn't work right, and no way to fix it. Can anyone out there give me any advice to get them to take this a little more seriously?
I may be misunderstanding you though. When it is pouring rain and you have them on automatic they should work continuously without delay between strokes, but they will never increase the speed of the actual swipe unless you manually set them on the high speed. When you say that yours were working at the medium speed do you mean that there was still a delay between strokes?
My car did this also the first time it rained. Now it doesn't. I wouldn't believe it myself if I didn't have both cars to compare side by side.
Do you have the auto sense wipers? Yours do not go to the fastest speed? Maybe my wife's car is the one that's broken...I appreciate your responses.
Lou
I currently have a quote of $1575 over invoice for '03 325ci w/ sport pkg, moonroof, xenons with metallic...also made sure it includes floor mats and wheel locks.
Going to stop by one dealer that is closer to see if they are willing to match or do better.
I have also observed that while driving in manual mode, the downshift to 1st gear often makes a "clunk" noise. I plan to bring both of these issues up with my dealer's service department but I was wondering if anyone else had experienced these issues.
The final noise that has surfaced is a rattle in the interior right rear deck area. I have heard about a rattle issue with the Harman Kardon speakers but my vehicle is equipped with the standard stereo system. Any suggestions would be appreciated here as well.
I have the same reservations about a 2004 as you do, I think. The cars will definitely need to be compared in person for me. And I'm definitely interested in this silver grey.
I popped over to the Santa Monica BMW today and they were very tight-lipped and it makes sense now after reading your post. And after seeing the current 325Ci with those wheels... in steel gray... with the wood trim... I was about ready to sign anyway.
As far as $1575 over invoice, I know a dealer in the Bay Area who's closing for as little $100 over invoice just to keep the cars moving. The dealer is owned by some larger company that apparently prefers volume over individual profits. You may want to check elsewhere. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to dangle the idea of waiting for a 2004 in front of them either.
In addition, I've noticed at night, I have to turn the sensitivity up. Also, when I leave the wiper position in auto, the auto feature deactivates when the car is shut off, until you "jigger" the stalk. Sort of like a safety feature to prevent damage in a car wash, when the wiper is left in auto.
Speaking of her '01, she has 25,000 miles on it and is due to get new tires. Living in NW Arkansas we really don't have an problem with snow and ice. Can anyone recommend a good set of tires to replace the mediocre ones that come on the car?
If people expect cars to perform flawlessly in winter conditions, they should (1) garage the car (2) buy & install various engine block and component heaters to keep the fluids warm.
If you don't, then be gentle on the car till she warms up. You can't expect summer performance immediately in the dead of winter.
The feeling of the car is the morning was much looser than at night, after the car was sitting outside for 10 hourse. At night it felt the car finally loosens up after driving about 7 miles. You can feel it when it does.
I decided to check my wife's Toyota Sienna and noticed that she's about 1/4-1/2 gallon low as well. I would like to add some of the mix that I made with my BMW anti-freeze to her car.
Common sense tells me that this should be OK, but I thought I'd check with some experts. I really don't want to have to go buy some Prestone and have a second 1/2 gallon laying around my garage.
Thanks.
-It usually takes a couple minutes (compare to almost 10 with my old 89 Accord), wait till the rpm drops a little bit; by that time, the temp gauge will slowly start to move up as well.
-Start driving, but keep the rpm low(er), i.e. upshift earlier, until the temp gauge is at the normal operating range. Don't red-line it right away.
Any other suggestions?