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I just got off the phone with VOB BMW in Rockville, MD. They give loaners with all service. My saleman said, "we aren't going to let you hitchhike out of here."
I am really liking VOB so far, in case anyone from the DC area is reading this. They gave me the best price and have been exceedingly courteous.
Incidentally, Veekay, I asked my salesman about the delivery time, and he said it takes the cars up to 15 days extra to reach the west coast than the east coast. Where are you located?
Incidentaly, has anyone heard of ANYONE getting a price better than $1500 over invoice with floormats included?
I have to say that I perceived NO CHANGE in how I was treated when I shifted up from the 325xi to the 330xi. Maybe that's because I was already a "325 buyer" in the salesman's head, or maybe because the jump was only $4,000. regardless, I didn't detect any new special catering.
Truthfully, I found VOB BMW to be pretty respectful and easy to deal with all around. We'll see how I feel in a year.
How do you tell from your VIN where your car is made?
thanks
thedeepdarkblu: I think that they make a heck of a lot more money on 5's and 7's, especially the salesperson. If their comission is based on % of profit, wouldn't you rather sell a car that you make $5,000-7,000 than one that you make $1,500 over invoice? Which is what we are all seem to be trying to get them down to.
The 3 to BMW is like a Focus or a Cavalier to Ford or Chevy. They sell them, at lower margins, (even at a loss for Ford and Chevy) to hook us on the product and hope that we will buy the more expensive models in the comming years.
The BMW NA Customer [un]Service number I called today has soured me almost completely on BMW. I spoke to a rep. this morning at around 10. I found her to be rude, unresponsive, unprofessional, and overall unhelpful. She told me she'd have to call me back after she spoke to her manager to see if BMW could even provide me with a loaner car while my car is in the shop for days on end. As of 3 p.m., I hadn't heard a thing...not from her, not from the dealer.
I called BMW NA again just after 3 p.m. I spoke to a different rep. who gave me the impression of trying to be more helpful. I asked to speak to a manager, and he told me that his manager was not in today. I responded by saying "You're telling me there's not a single manager on duty." He offered to give me a manager's voice mail. I then explained to him the nature of my problem. He then offered to see if he could locate another manager from another "team," and put me on hold. The next thing I know, the same woman I spoke to this morning was on the phone, and ruder than before. She kept interrupting me by saying "Excuse me, but I have other callers also." She refused to let me speak to a manager, and only would say she'd give her manager a message and have him call me within 24 hours. I insisted on having the manager's voice mail, and she refused repeatedly until I said I would simply keep calling back until someone put me into his voice mail.
BMW NA has reflected the worst customer service I have ever experienced anywhere from anyone. This has been a nightmare.
I've called the Mercedes dealer and believe I'm trading...that is, once I get my car back.
As for that first drive, it was wonderful. I am amazed at how quiet the 325xi is...I was under the impression that wind noise was a minor drawback of these vehicles...
Acceleration is not as good as my 99.5 Jetta VR6 that I traded in and the spectrum of linear power is not as "robust". I am convinced that this is due to the vehicle weight with the 325xi coming in at over 4500 pounds. With that said however, the power curve on this car is still very good, and while travelling down a back road at an apparent low speed, I looked down to notice I was doing 30mph over the limit....whoooops. Again, the quietness of this car may lead to a perception of less power and quickness.
The interior appointments are absolutely top notch. Everything is of finest quality and workmanship right down to the turn signal levers, which are finely textured and ergonomically shaped to fit very nicely in your fingers. Those little things like that and the little rubber clip that holds the trunk decking up so you can get at the spare tire are really taking me by surprise. I hope the surprises (all good I hope) keep coming...
The HK stereo upgrade really cranks...I have to go out now and load the changer to test the system more.
The exterior is more beautiful than I could have hoped...except that the front license plate holder was installed before I picked it up. The dealer said that all of theirs come that way...oh well. Other that that, I have no disappoinments about this car...
By the way, chrome exhaust tips are standard on all xi models and 330 models. The 325i needs to have thme ordered.
My dealer in NJ was Hunterdon BMW. (salesman Jerry Nace) I highly recommend them for no nonsense and honesty and timeliness. Tracking the car on BMWUSA owners circle was right on the button.
I will check back with more comments as I drive more.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
absolutely pathetic!! I feel very bad for you! this is unacceptable, especially for a new customer and that too from a luxury car maker. I have one suggestion: Send the same exact post as an e mail via the "priority e mail option" that you have on the BMW Owner circle page. In addition, maybe on Monday now, you should call the Munich HQ and let them have it!! It should only be around 10-15c/min. ...just blast them with phone calls, e mails, faxes. It should make a difference.
I agree that you should let go of this car....who knows even if your problem is solved for now, what else it has in store for you. But tell me, what would you tell the MB dealer if he asked you "why are you trading in a new BMW?" Would he buy your reasons? What kind of price do you expect?
Good luck! and keep us posted.
When u spoke to ur dealer again today, what delivery date did he tell u? Still June or is it maybe July now?
Alpine: Thanks for your comments...I have followed your previous posts regarding the euro plates and holders...I have them bookmarked. I have to look at the mount currently on the car...I am assuming that the lower screws are drilled through the body color bumper. If thats the case I don't think that the euro plate will cover them. I will check though. Regarding the sound system, if it gets better I will be ecstatic. It sounds great now!
FWIW, I just went out to check out the interior lighting now that its dark...WOW! There is and incredible reddish orange "aura" cast over the controls...the premium package is worth it if that is what was included in the lightin upgrade!
Anyone with a recent 325/30xi with any comment on the GVWR thing?
Just ordered a 325i for euro delivery and will pick up on 6/18 in Munich. Can't wait.
Got Titanium silver, premium, HK, but after hearing some discussion about how silver does not take well to heat am a bit concerned.
Anyone have experience with how silver survives over the long term. Never had silver and thought it would be a nice change.
Also, many new cars have built in infrared absorption to cut down on heat, does BMW have any or is tinting advised in the hot southwest?
I guess BMW must have done a really good job since 98...
Cambellum - I test drove the 325xi and I was frankly unimpressed with the acceleration. An Audi A4 1.8T was far quicker off the line, even in rainy conditions. Your point that your '99 Jetta was faster than your new 325xi doesn't surprise me, but I would be sorely dissapointed if I was in your shoes.
My dissatisfaction with the 325xi's acceleration prompted me to test drive the 330xi. There was a remarkable difference in power off the line and in highway acceleration.
I wrestled with the dilemma. I simply didn't get fired up by the Audis and I am particularly put-off by the fact that the A4 is due for a redesign in the next year or two, immediately dating the 2001 model. At the same time, I had a hard time justifying to myself (not to mention my wife) the $40K+ price tag that I assumed the 330xi would carry.
I tinkered with the options profiles and got offered a very good $1500 over-invoice price (including mats), and ended up ordering a 330xi with premium package, cold weather package, premium sound system and in-dash cd. Including the Maryland $200 advertising fee, this resulted in a final price of $39,050 -- a number I could live with. This price is only about $4,000 more than I was going to spend on the 325xi I had in mind (because I would have gotten the AWD sport package with the 325xi, whereas I passed on it with the 330xi).
Then yesterday I read a review of the S4 Quattro vs. the 330xi. It gave the edge to the gutsier S4.
After doing some research, I now realize that I could have had a comparably equipped, 250 HP S4 Quattro for only $900 more than the 330xi. This gives me some pause, but in the end, the imminent re-design of the A4/S4 line would have killed that option for me.
In retrospect, selecting the 330xi was a slippery slope, sliding up in price from the A4 to the 325 to the 330, but I never quite made it to the S4. However, the thrill of the 330xi's performance and the intangibles of driving and owning a BMW have me hopeful that I will be pleased with my decision for years to come.
Thanks for the clarification on the GVWR...keep lurking as there are many unanswered quesions on this board!
denright,
Although my Jetta was seemd quicker, the 325xi has not disappointed me (yet). I found myself in the same dillema as you...I liked the extra power of the 330xi on paper but didn't want to go into the mid-40's range for a car before tax! Instead of the extras horseys, I absolutely wanted the all wheel drive, so it was the 325xi. My Mom drives an Audi A4 2.8L quattro and the 325 is similar in performance, but Oh the difference in the interiors...I am still grinning from my acquistion yesterday!
Looks like rain today...not good for you performance fans out there, but a perfect opportunity to test the new drive system!
The 325xi that I test drove was a really nice car. I am sure you will be thrilled with yours. Mind if I ask how you got it equipped and what you paid for it?
Did you order it with a manual or automatic tranny?
Regarding 0-60 times, here's another interesting found, in Motor Trend's current edition(June 2001), they claim that the 0-60 time for a 330i manual is 6.1 secs and the time for a 330xi manual is 5.8 secs! These can be found on page 140 under road test results. Personally, I think the number for the xi might've been a typo as that was the first time I've seen an Xi quoted as being faster than a 330i manual, let alone being under 6 seconds!
BTW, in the same magazine, they also feature a modified 330ci called BMW Hartge H50 V8, which produces 400 hp @ 6600 and 369 lbs of torque @ 3800 and jets from 0-60 in 4.87 secs! Now I'm not so sure anymore about which is my dream car....:)
I too had a hard time deciding between the Audi S4 and the 330xi because they were both just about equal in price and performance. On paper the Audi seems like a better car, but for the name, looks, and the statement that owning a bimmer makes, I had to choose the BMW.
It's just too bad that waiting for the car for the next 2 to 3 months will be sheer torture.
One question I had was trying to decide about getting the manual vs. auto. Anyone out there have any opinions on which is better?
I chose the manual because I've never had a stick shift car before and I thought it's about time I learned. Is driving a stick on BMW tricky?
Let me know everyone!
Last question: how long of a wait do I face to get my car? Order was placed on May 3.
I took several test drives of different BMWs-I gave serious thought to a 525.
I can only conclude that the clutch/shift experience is extremely subjective.I say this because i've read a few negative posts about manual BMWs.My own personal experience is that both clutch and shift feel on Bimmers is truly excellent.In fact,it is just about my favorite part of driving a BMW.So I think you made a wise choice in getting the 5spd.,roc.And if a year of so down the road you decide you want to go back to automatics,the fact that the 3series surely has one of the highest percentages of manuals should mean the resale value will not be hurt too much.
Enjoy your car-you will find you car is particullary easy to master shifting with.t
In fact, one of the main reasons I went with the BMW is because it is one of the few sedans available in the United States with 200+ HP and a manual transmission. If you want a high performance manual transmission sedan in the US, your choices under $50K are pretty much limited to BMWs, Audis, Acuras and the Nissan Maxima.
Roc50, sounds like you made the right decision to go with the manual transmission. While the BMW manual is somewhat stiff and demanding in terms of shifting precision, it is well worth it. A manual transmission is the only way to get the full impact of a car like a 330xi.
Also, Roc50, I had a hard time deciding whether or not to go with the 330xi's AWD Sport Package. I decided not to because the sport seats didn't seem to me to be much of an upgrade in practical terms, and the remainder of the package's elements were cosmetic rather than performance oriented. In fact, my wife and I both decided we preferred the normal 3-series facia to the "M" facia. What were your thoughts on all this?
Presently I drive a 14 yr old Camry with stick, and to this date I can get the speed and acceleration I need, even with the 4 cyl engine.
With an auto, this car would be no fun to drive.
Get a stick and you will enjoy it.
On the topic of zero to sixty, different methods are used when identifying that number. The manufacturers usually do a more "sensible" start while Motor Trend etc will get the RPMs up to 5-6k and dump the clutch. As long as you compare results from the same source, they should be some what valid for comparisons (although it's worth remembering that some cars with quick acceleration need to be rev'd to the red-line for any decent performance while others have strong acceleration with-out looking like one of the local boy racer crew.
Best Regards,
Shipo
On the topic of zero to sixty, different methods are used when identifying that number. The manufacturers usually do a more "sensible" start while Motor Trend etc will get the RPMs up to 5-6k and dump the clutch. As long as you compare results from the same source, they should be some what valid for comparisons (although it's worth remembering that some cars with quick acceleration need to be rev'd to the red-line for any decent performance while others have strong acceleration with-out looking like one of the local boy racer crew.
Price was $37,680 or just over $1000 off MSRP with the 4th year of maintenance. Did not opt for the alarm system...if someone is going to take the car without having the key, they will take it with or without the alarm too!
These cars are very much coming at a premium here eastern PA and N. Jersey. The dealer told me that he never even was issued any xi mMarch allocations. The last one he had was sold to a person from the Boston area...there are apparently none to be had in New England.
Denright: I chose to include the sport package because for a proper feel for driving a zesty car that I will be taking sharp turns with every chance I get, I need the additional side support that the sports package seats provide. The steering wheel is also more sporty looking and less sedan like than in the non sport package. BTW, does anyone know if the sports package seat is motorized or manually adjusted?
On the matter of alloy wheels with the sport package, it was more of a toss up though. Neither the regular or sports package wheels on the 330xi is particularly aggressive looking. The bolted double spoke composite (Style 71)wheel from the bmwusa site looks much better to me.
What I don't understand about the sport package on the 330xi is what exactly you get for the "M aerodynamic package." You don't get a rear apron/deck spoiler with this do you?
Finally, does anyone have any opinions on the 330 xi v. Audi S4? My close friend will be buying an S4, but until we both get our cars and do a side by side comparison I won't know which car is truly the best. Is the Audi S4 a better perfomance value? Or is the 330xi just plain better looking and that's all that matters?
I was out late this morning waiting in line at a drive thru and noticed after I paid the temp gauge was no longer dead center, but, rather creeping ever so slowly to the red zone. I ended up going 40mph and that brought the temp down to dead center.
I decided to run a quick experiment in the parking lot. I left the car running with the AC on; maybe 2-3 minutes. Popped the hood and looked to see if the Aux fan would kick in - No Luck! - and the temp gauge was once again on the move to the left. I made it home called the dealer and they suggested I check fuse #37 (electric fan) to see if it was faulty. Looked to be good shape - so I will not take any more chances and take the care into the dealer Monday morning - AFTER rush hour of course - and have them replace it.
Here are the stats on my car:
325i , March 1st production vehicle with 1300 miles on it.
Let me know if I am missing something here regarding my experiment and this overheating issue.
Thanks
Keep us posted as to how the repairs go.
add123
my car is orient blue/black lthr, roof, sp, xenon, nav - paid about $1500 over invoice + $200 MACO, in the philly area. i left off the premium because i wanted the brushed aluminum trim. the sport seats are still power - the one i test drove had it so i'm pretty sure. the bigger question that no one can seem to answer is whether the 330xi has the sport suspension. they made this standard on 330s after mar 1 production, but not sure if that includes the xis. Anyone know?
also, is the front armrest std. on these cars?
the s4 is an awesome car!! my dad has an a6 2.7t with the same engine as the s4 (borrowed it for a few weeks when my beloved '89 maxima the "four-door sports car" was in the shop) and i LOVE the a6 -- too big for me, but incredible nonetheless. but i thought the s4 was not as refined as the 330 (or the a6 for that matter) and ultimately went with the bmw. don't think you can really go wrong with either though.
there are those people who like the bmw because it makes a "statement," i think i like the audi in some ways because it doesn't.
keep me posted on your stick shift adventures.
is there anyone out there with an xi that has issues with the steering? i test-drove and ordered an xi and thought the sterring was a tad light. don't think i ever drove a 330 with the light steering though so i don't really have a reference point.
At least the dealer was good enough to let me drive a 1999 323i as a loaner until the car arrives.
Regarding the debate between manual and automatic transmission. The car I ordered is a manual, and the loaner is an automatic. NO CONTEST! The manual is pure heaven. I have driven sticks for years, and the BMW 330 is unbelievable!