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I went ot the site but cudnt find it - whats the url I need to go to?
Thx!
-PickingItUpToday!!!
As for door locks, I thought the safety feature was that door automatically unlock after an accident.
Marc
Search for "Jerry's". Good luck, I hope everything works out fine.
BTW, your previous message was posted 4 times on different occasions. Not sure why...
I found the following reference on BMW USA's web site:
"Upon serious side impact, a specially designed reinforcing bar hooks the doors to the car's main side frame pillars. After the force of impact, it is designed to disengage so the doors can be opened. After any sever impact, a BMW's crash sensor automatically switches on the hazard flashers and interior lights and unlocks the doors."
The item that I was reading back in 1998 expanded further on this feature. Essentially, the bending of the door causes the "re-bar" to engage the pillar hooks, this method of securing a door (and enhancing side impact protection at the same time) is far more secure than any door latch, locked or otherwise.
As an aside note, I grew up in the Detroit area, and I went to school with many children of automotive engineers. When I was in high school (early 1970's), I remember hearing a dissertation from one of the parents regarding door locks. At one point in time, car doors had a single latch mechanism that could easily spring open upon impact. A safety feature of the day was a door lock that was essentially a second latch, however these second latches were prone to jamming during impact, rendering the door un-openable (I think that is a word). The modern door latches we find in cars today trace their origins back to the new Double Latches, which were introduced sometime in the 1950's (I think). Since then, a door lock simply provides a way to deactivate the outside door handle, and in no way adds to a vehicles' safety during a side impact style of crash.
If I am wrong about all of this, please let me know.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Can you tell me what level of boost my 330xi's steering will have? It is scheduled to be built first week of June. Will it have the "fix"? Or the retrofit? Or the high boost steering? Please advise. I am confused.
Alpine325i-
I test drove the 330xi extensively with and without the sport seats and found very little practical difference in the lateral support and the jostling suffered in tight cornering maneuvers. I know the sport seats look much better bolstered, but I really didn't detect much difference in actual performance. Please tell me why you find the non-sport seats unsatisfactory. If your reasons are compelling, I may still have time to order the AWD sport package before the car is built.
The Sopranos was great last night. I noticed that it was directed by Steve Buscemi - I'd never noticed in the past who the director was and I'm not sure if he only directed this one episode. All I can say is that he kept the suspense going very well, he did a full-hour episode, the characters were well-portrayed and superbly directed. I really liked it. Some of the episodes (esp. the first one) have been sketchy this year and this was one of the better ones.
Well, it's funny you asked about my wife. She really likes the 3-er. She's quite a driver herself (her Audi is manual) and is very happy seeing me so happy. Luckily, she still likes her A4 better because it is more feminine, more elegant, more refined, softer, quieter and it takes less muscle to drive it. Not to mention it is more luxurious. So everyone got what they wanted and no-one is jealous. We own both cars jointly, so we can easily swap them on daily basis.
Alpine325, I remember you mentioned that you were looking at the 260 hp modified engine for the 3-er - it was about 8 grand, right? I hope you don't mind me suggesting this, but if you really care about acceleration (esp. coming from a 'Vette!) you may be better off trading your car for a 330. Then you can get the SP and all the goodies that you are looking to upgrade. Just a thought...
Still waiting on mine, but when I have the key programmed, I was going to have one w/ auto lock and lighted path 10 sec, driver open on one push - fiance's key, and one with all doors open w/one push for mine.
Doesn't the autolock trigger after 5 mph or is it 10?
2. Cars built from Feb production all have the "new" (heavier) steering.
3. (And this is where I look clever!)Let's start with the rack. The ratio has been changed from 15.5:1 to 13.0, reducing the turns 3.2 to 2.9 lock-to-lock. The bushes are almost twice as stiff, and tolerances finer to make quicker, more accurate steering. The old 328s rack was set at 0.4 deg/Nm, the 330i (pre Feb production) was 0.5 (25%lighter), we're back at just over .4 right now and can modify any .5 free of charge.
4. I'm going home now so I'll be off the board either until I get home or on Wednesday!)
5. Bye!
RE:SPORT SEATS
I NEVER DROVE THE NONSPORT ,NEVER CONSIDERED GETTING PREMIUM OVER SPORT,SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT NON SPORT SEAT SUPPORT. A FEW OBSERVATIONS, I AM HAPPY WITH THE SPORT SEATS AND THE ADJUSTABLE THIGH SUPPORT IS NICE ON LONG TRIPS. THE NEGITIVE WOULD BE REQUIRES MORE WORK ENTERING AND EXITING THE CAR AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THIS U WILL TYPICALLY SEE QUITE A BIT OF WEAR ON THOSE SIDE BOLSTERS.
DL
Needless to say, I had to leave MB. I was interviewing at BMW and Volvo (both of whom were within about 2 miles of MB USA at the time), when Fuji (the film folks) made me an offer I could not refuse. I am still there. The irony of all of this; in 1997 my wife and I built a house one half of a mile from BMW, and here I am driving across the Tappan Zee Bridge every day to go to work. I would still like to work for BMW, but it may not be in the cards any longer.
Best Regards,
Shipo
It's more fun to be able to drive your car at 8 tenths to 10 tenths all the time than 4 tenths. Ask anyone with a stick shift 318ti.
BTW I intentionally made up the word funage.
Maybe I'm biased as I've already had 4 long trips with my 2 and a half weeks old car, but I've also found the extended thigh-support to be really comforting during those long trips. Again, I also never had this with my previous cars.
The added pads on the sides and the extended thigh-support are the only two improvements on a sport seat over a regular seat that you will see. But for me, they are exactly what I need.
Does the seat make me a better driver? Absolutely not.
Does the seat make me feel more comfortable during corners and long trips so much so that I think it's the best option on my car? Without a doubt, yes.
330i sedan in Alpine White. Anthracite CLOTH sport seats (special order). Sport Pkg, xenons, in dash CD and electric rear window sun-shade (special order). I picture Mr. Spock as he says "Curious Captain..."
The MB USA system that I wrote was essentially a system that dealt with all direct customer contacts between MB USA and any driver of any MB car currently in the country. Due to their unique requirements, I wrote the system from scratch using their existing database (Informix) and PowerBuilder as the client side platform.
The European version needed some different front-end stuff as well as objects that were able to morph themselves into different languages based upon the operators' profile. The database in Germany was Oracle, so much of the work was re-writing stored procedures and dealing with the differences in the two databases.
I probably could have done very well on that project, however, in hind site, it is a good thing I did not take it. In 1997 the US Dollar got real strong against the Deutsche Mark, the result would have been an almost one third cut in my effective hourly rate. Ouch!
Back on topic.
Best Regards,
Shipo
brave1heart--congrats on the new car...reading your posts makes me pretty impatient to get mine -- it's coming in early june! by the way, i'm an SAP HR proj. mgr./functional lead. one of the best parts of the job is going over to germany and driving around in a bmw on the autobahns.
Does anyone know if the thermostat has a relay that actuates the Aux fan to come on?
kv007 - It sound like you have a fun job. It's funny but for the 5 or 6 years that I've been in consulting I've rarely had to travel for business. There is a lot of work locally in the Boston area. But yeah, traveling to Germany every once in a while and driving BMWs would be a lot of fun!! Good luck with getting yours - good things come to those who wait.
Shipo - I hear you. back in '97 and through last year, the rest of the world wanted to buy dollars so they could invest in the U.S. and get a piece of the stock market action. It's great to visit but I'm not so sure about working there for long years.
Braveheart, glad to hear you are enjoying your 325i so much! I am excitedly counting down the days to my own delivery!
I am seriously considering calling my salesman tomorrow and seeing if I can't get sport seats special ordered without the M aero stuff.
I believe the comfort of the standard chair, upholstered in leatherette or leather, is supremely comfortable for any distance and offers top support during the "high-speed" driving you're likely to be doing. Of course the sport seats offer increased support but I certainly wouldn't be dissapointed if they were a little less aggresive on the base and backrest side supports. The seats all have many ajustments, some people who have found the seat uncomfortable should try a totally different seating position that their normal, it will seem unusual at first but may prove to be their new favorite.
http://www.pacificbmw.com/catalog/access/detail.asp?pid=143&category=3§ion=17&model=E46
Let me know if this is what you are looking for
http://www.cuttermotors.com/bmw/partspecial.html
hope this is of use.
Actually, the handling wasn't bad at all - very responsive and seemed ready for my next move. The "manual mode" of the auto transmition was kind of fun to play with also - it had good acceleration but I missed having my foot on the clutch and running the shifter through the gears - old habits die hard. If my wife wanted the auto I would definitely be keeping it in the manual mode.
I did not like how the headrest in the middle of the backseat obstructed my rear view - there are 3 in the wagon compared to 2 in the sedan.
Can't beat the cargo space the wagon had but I miss my sedan- can't wait to get it back.
Do you know if it is relatively easy to install the armrest? I saw the instructions on circle BMW but wanted to know if you or anyone else made the attempt to try it themselves?
Euro325-have you received any more feedback regarding the manufacturer in Munich just holding on to your completed car until you get there sometime in June. I assume they will not charge you any storage fees.
Gurumike-your earlier post implied that the '02 Compact would represent BMW going back to their roots regarding their steering. Do you mean that the '02 330Ci/i models will also have the original true BMW steering too? Also, since you are in parts, can one purchase the "M" style steering wheel to replace the stock wheel for 330Ci, which I do not really care for?
Overheating-the many posts that I have read regarding overheating problems and aux fan problems seem to be with the 325 series. Has anyone experienced this with the 330 series?
Thanks - Ken
The thing you are forgetting is the weight ratio front to rear of these cars. The prelude is extremely front heavy and tends to have the tail kick out in hard maneuvers. I know first hand because mine did that and now it is scrap. As far as the integra, again the stability wasn't there and the power band is awfully noisy. The Jetta VR6 was definitely quicker that my 325, but I do not miss it...yet.
I agree that the extra horses in the 330 shouldn't add up to 5 large+ however I don't believe it is a "rip-off". I you are worrying about money when you get into the mid-30's and up price range, you are probably in the wrong neighborhood. Having never tested an IS300, I couldn't speak on the perfomance...I'd have to get past the looks before I got in one.
JMHO...