You must be psyched! I JUST called BMWNA and bugged 'em again for status. I'm in 152 (Paintshop). It will be finished on Friday 6/8. The rep said that it usually takes 3-5 days to get placed on a ship and 12-15 days transport time. General rule of thumb is to add 6 weeks to your production start date, and it should get to your dealer by then (given that you're not in California--22 days minimum). I'm in Northern VA, so my delivery date at the dealership should be around July 4th (I'm sure I won't take delivery on that date, of course). He couldn't say if it would go to the NJ VPC or the SC VPC. Maybe it doesn't matter.
Not quite the home stretch, but we're almost there. Can you taste it yet?
"330i sedans have chrome trim, and 325i sedans have shadowline trim (black)." - They call that plasticky black trim on the 325i "shadowline trim". That's pretty fancy - I didn't know that. It's like 'ette for vinyl. Somehow I thought that the 330 had both a black strip and a chrome strip around the windows but I may be wrong - it won't be the first time.
The 5-series SP comes with "shadowline trim"?!?!? How do explain this - is BMWNA saying that "shadowline trim" is sportier than chrome?
Sorry for such a late post. Lew, I have no idea how the "low voltage trigger interface" works. All I know is that you need one if you are going to add an amp and aftermarket speakers to the HK system. I guess it's a compatability thing, for instance, if I have to plug a Roland keyboard into channel 1 of my mixer, I need a matching transformer or a "high-low" converter because the output of the keyboard is too "hot" for the input of the mixer, the high-low converter corrects the impedance mismatch, so there's less noise and more music. Brave1heart: The HK is a great value for the money as far as factory upgrades go. If you want better sound it's obviously gonna cost you more. I know, aftermarket stuff can get real expensive. I'm also a fan of Waters- Floyd. I saw the wall movie when I was 17. I was on acid and it freaked me out bigtime! I'm glad I'm done experimenting with all that stuff. I like the Wall and the Radio Chaos albums, heavy stuff. "Is there anybody out there?" yeah, me, I'm WAY out there. I loved the "winders" and the "mouseballs"! great stuff! LOL! )
I'm used to calling the black trim "shadowline" because I was originally shopping for a 5er, and that's the BMW terminology for that car.
Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen a reference to "shadowline" in the 3er literature.
All 3ers (325 and 330) have an "inner" black strip immediately surrounding the glass of the side windows. The difference is in the second "outer strip" - chrome for the 330 and black for the 325.
Shadowline is just a fancy marketing word for black that BMW employed on the 5er. They figured that buyers who opt for the SP would want a more discrete look. But then it gets better - on the 5er order sheet, if you order the SP, there is a "shadowline delete" option. This is a no cost sleection that gives you chrome treatment.
Why BMW didn't offer shadowline for the 330i SP beats me. It would be more consistent with the 5er.
So it's the same piece of metal trim, just with a different finish on it, huh? I never really noticed that subtle difference, I guess. It certainly ain't worth $800 for a chrome vs. black finish on the trim pieces! I'd say it's worth closer to $0 -- certainly the actual cost difference is close to $0.
Plat - My 330i is Steel Gray. I'd have to go to the parking lot to see if the trim is metal or just plastic with a chrome finish layer. Seems like it's metal, though. Do you know off-hand?
Bmw323is - how do you sign up for the driving schools -- through the CCA? Do you need to be a CCA member? Might be another perk for signing up. I am doing the Ultimate Drive this weekend, so it'll be a good taste (530i and 740i), but I'd really like to go to a BMW driving school. I'll check BMWCCA's web site for more info.
AAA is offering 5.99% financing???? You mean the car club? I assume this is for members only... but heck, if this is true, it would make joining very worthwhile.
I am pretty sure I am going to do a home equity line of credit to finance this car. I checked out lendingtree.com for bids. DeepGreen Bank has offered me a line of credit up to $64K at 6.1%. There are some other requirements, but they are very doable.
The best part is that the interest is tax deductible and the payment changes with the monthly balance (just like a credit card) so I can pay off a big chunk with a bonus and watch my monthly payment plummet.
I think this is a great deal, and I recommend any home owners that are looking at financing to explore it with DeepGreen Bank. Sure beats the 7.5% financing my dealership was offering me.
rrue - you bought a certified *USED* car. From your post, I'd say that the mistake was all yours; you clearly should have purchased a new car with your expectations. I'm not saying it's unreasonable to have expect ions for a 2 year old, certified BMW, but based on the scratches and the level to which to apparently need them to be repaired (entirely), you never should have looked at used . Thought for today (and every day) - it only costs a little bit more to go through life first class, but it's always worth it.
Subaru WRX. Firstly, Brave, why can't it just go directly from Subaru ---> Scoobie-Doo ??!! Second, that car rocks! Materials used in production (interior, specifically) and other aspects, such as the computer controlled electrical system in the BMW, are clearly superior in the BMW but then that's part of what the extra ten large goes to on my 330i. But to drive ? Well, people, let's just say that frank69 in his M3 would be able to keep up, on a dry day and only after a day at driving school! (may-be you've already been, Frank! ). Not only is it quick, it actually feels, well, like a BMW !!!! (I can say that here, right?) I think it was Steve Croply from British "Autocar" publication (probably the most respected car mag internationally) who said, after driving both of them (and it was the regular WRX, not the newer 286hp STi) that he'd pick the WRX to live with if he had to choose. Wash my mouth out.... To be honest (watching the demerits come flying at me) had the lease on the WRX been the same as or lower than the 330i, I would likely have ordered a WRX instead!!! Incredibly, despite being $10k more expensive, the BMW has a cheaper lease payment. I can't see writing a bigger cheque each month to drive a $25k car than a $35k one. Okay, now start knocking me......!
My bro in law doesn't really give a crap about cars. He is a practical kind of guy. When his old Accord died recently, he heeded some urging from me and my sister-in-law and went out and bought a 1999 328Ci convertible.
He loves it. It satisfies his every need, and makes him feel cool in a way that he never has before in his whole life. That car was perfect for him.
I, on the other hand, love cars -- love thinking about them, looking at them, driving them and even buying them. I could never, ever buy a used E36 328 when there's a new E46 330 on the market. Even if the car hadn't changed, I have a hard time imagining shelling out $30K+ for a used car. Every scratch, ding and rattle would eat at me.
Like Gurumike said, it costs a a little more to go through life first class, but it's worth it. If you demand perfection, you have to be ready to pay for it.
guru - i'm sure the wrx would be a lot of fun to drive but i'd only consider buying it if i were 25 or younger. it still looks much too cartoonish and cheap for my taste. also, rwd over awd in my book.
black ext trim - plastic. have not verified but it looks so plasticky would be shocked if metal. i think the chrome strip on the 330 is not painted plastic, though - no way!!
denright - 6.1% equity loan?!? doesn't get better than that. it's like paying less than 4% after-tax. great deal - i'd never want to pay it off!!
alp - i hate wasting money. my point was that if the h-k adds anything at all to the overall sound and getting midbass is on top of that yes - i'd seriously consider it. but it sounds like the h-k would be a $675 waste if i went with aftermarkets - no way i'm wasting that money. i can live with it. i listen to the engine sound most of the time anyhow and i only crank up the stereo (very loud at that) only when i'm not varying speed (cop or something), which rarely happens. not a biggie...
plat - i can see why someone with a fast car like a 540 6-spd would want a less conspicuous package. as far as the 3-series, it appeals to a younger (by roughly 10 years) market segment that still needs more distinction on their cars. kind of like the way you often see saturns, geos, jettas, or whatever with pretensious but useless spoilers, you know what i mean? that's why it's called a spoiler - it spoils the lines of the car :O)
The black "shadowline" trim on both 5er SP and 325i are plastic pieces not metal! I have a 325i steel gray and my wife has a blk 98 528i sports pkg with "shadowline trim". It does make the car look sportier I think!
As far as buying new vs. used, first class is typically cheaper and less hassle long-term - especially if you are planning on keeping the car for a while and take care of it. Used cars depreciate less but the maintenance expenses can often be more than the depreciation on a new car. Guru - good thought of the day, I like it.
As you all know,there has been discussions regarding the faulty auxilary fans on the 325.
per bimmer.org (amoung others), the Seiman fans are considered bad and the Bosch are good.
I called the dealer and he indicated that my car (to be picked up friday) has the Seiman brand fan. The dealer said that the item may be recalled in the future but has not been recalled. As a result, he can't replace yet.
I called BMWNA and the rep is going to contact my dealer to "address the problem with the service manager" and get back to me b/4 friday.
Question: If they do not replace the fan, should I refuse delivery? If I threaten to they may replace it in the best interest of the sale and cust serv.
I don't want to have the experience of overheating and potentially damaging the engine or have to consistantly watch the temp gauge
I really don't think it's a problem with the 325's only - I do remember posters stating their 330 had the same problem, including AWD packages. I'd take delivery of it - if it breaks, they'll replace it but most likely they'll recall it before that. This problem is not minor but way overblown IMO.
Platypus: You are correct; the trim on the 325er is actually called shadowline trim (heard from dealer). The same area has chrome in the 330i. I was using the term shadowline to refer to the area where it is at . Of course, there is no such thing as "chrome shadowline trim"!
Guru: Although I agree with you that it is preferable to try and go first class in life, I disagree that it is always only a 'little more'. In my experience, it usually is a "lot" more! In any case, I think if one buys a truly "certified" pre-owned vehicle there are 2 things that should apply: 1.) The vehicle should be geniunely in good condition (mechanically and aesthetically) and in some cases, actually is virtually indistinguishable from a new vehicle on the same lot. That was the whole idea behind starting this concept. Even if the car in question was not "perfect" looking, the malfunction/damage described in the post is unacceptably high to call that vehicle a truly certified car.
2. Regardless of point (1) above, the buyer should ALWAYS make sure whether the goods are in decent shape before signing on the dotted line! It does not appear that that was done in this case, at least was not done thoroughly.
I tend to agree about the appearance issues with the WRX, but not the need to be 25 y/o. Why do you need to be 25? Why deprive yourself of the most entertaining option? What if you actually preferred living with the WRX? Impossible to know, of course. As far as looks go, mind you, I didn't buy an M coupe in 98 when the first ones came out specifically because of the way it looked, I got something else. Five months later, having had the opportunity to spend a little more time behind the wheel of one, I placed my order for a 2000 MY (Alpine white w/ Kyalami Orange). It was one of the best cars I've had. I kept it for eleven months before moving on (I've only kept one car longer than that, so that's really quite a big deal!). Moral - it would be easy to disqualify certain cars from consideration because of the way we feel about their looks. But sometimes we're preventing ourselves from making the best decision.
These are not financing rates - these are the 0-60 times that Edmunds.com just posted for the 330 and 325 respectively. BMWOW!!! That's some serious acceleration - I always thought the 325 was fast with a manual but 6.7? I mean c'mon - this is almost 328is territory w/o the extra price. And that 330 at 5.9?!?!?! That is some serious acceleration time and yes, I can believe it. denright - 6.1 on the AWD sounds very believable, just like I'd told you. Incredible - better than most of us had expected.
Wel, I didn't complain about a couple of the minute cosmetic flaws on my 1997 CPO 5er. For thousands less than a new one I'll gladly accept a couple of stone dings on the hood. CPO or not, rrue had a an opportunity to inspect the car and determine if it was satisfactory. He obviously didn't do it; how else do you miss noticing the car needs $1600+ worth of paintwork? I agree with gurumike, he had new car expectations- he should pay a new car price...
I absolutely, totally love the shape of the M coupe. This is one of the most distinctive-looking cars that I have EVER seen and I've heard the handling is second-to-none. I've seen that they run them in the Speedvision series right with the M3 and all those other heavily modified stock cars and I remember one of the commentators saying that their handling is incredible. Good for you - great car!! Having said all that, Scoobie Doo would be the the ugly duck next to an M coupe.
Michael, Thanx for your insightful description on Euro delivery in response to my query. I would like to know why you went to a DC dealer? I too am in Texas, albeit down the road a piece in Houston and just wondering if the DC deal was that significant in savings. Would you mind forwarding your contact name and number so I can follow-up on that? Thanx again! Stan
I have the Step, so I'm not worried about it (I believe all occurrences have been on manuals), just curious. How did you know that the Step employs two fans? Makes sense, but this info is not the kind of thing that's readily available in a users manual somewhere...
When I ordered my 325i, I had a "discussion" with my bro in law too. He is also a very practical guy, and I don't think that he would never buy a new car. He likes to buy his cars at these dealer auctions they have up in New Jersey. He keeps telling me what a great deal I could get up there, and my response has always been, "No thanks" while thinking to myself, "You must be crazy, those cars are all beaters, you get no warranty, and you have no idea of the service record, etc.".
He bought a 1991 750il with 126K miles for $13000 a few years back. Nice car, 12 cylinders, but totally impractical, and he started having problems with it right away. I think he kept it for 18 months or so. I guess he liked it and it probably worked out OK for him.
But it's not for me. I like to think about what I want, research it, get the best price I can, place the order for the car. I like knowing that the car was built for me to my specifications. I like being the one who "runs in" the car, knowing that it's been done properly.
I seriously doubt that I would ever buy a used car, and I generally think that you get what you pay for. There is some depreciation associated with a new car, obviously, but used cars tend to be more hassle and you have to pay for maintenance sooner. I'm willing to pay up front for convenient and trouble-free transportation.
... have for several weeks and are only now coming with Bosch cooling fan parts. Any cars that had already left the factory with Seimans parts would have been updated at the VPCs before dealer distribution. It's much cheaper for BMW to implement the new sensors rather than pay a warranty claim for an engine/cooling system!!!
The color looks great under the sun, in my opinion, much better than Jet Black, however, it doesn't look much difference than Jet Black under the shade. Unfortunately, I don't have digital picture to share with you, but someone posted his Sapphire Black pictures a while back in bimmer.org, hope you can still find it.
I have Grey interior, because I want strong contrast between interior and exterior while still keep both colors in the same color series, Grey only comes with leather trim though. Black exterior does require extra attention, it will not hide any smear or finger print, it is also the worst color to have dings or dents. I have prepared for all these troubles mentally way before ordering.
I was told by at least 3 people about the troubles that Glove Box Mounted CD changer could have, 2 of them mentioned about the mechanism that hold CD's, (take a look of 3 series accessory page in BMWUSA.com), unlike trunk mounted version which comes with a CD magazine, this thing takes 1 CD at a time for a total of 6.
Before my '97 Jetta GLX, I had a '90 Jetta GL. The first car was 21 grand new; the second car I bought for 6 and change used. After owning the '97 Jetta GLX for 4 years and 96K miles, I tallied the depreciation and maintenance numbers and the NEW car I'd bought came out to be just a bit more expensive on monthly basis, everything else equal. When you factor in stuff like time wasted in dealing with shops, and the hassle and aggravation, and getting stuck on the road a couple of times with the used car, and not being able to get exactly the options you want on the car, it became crystal clear to me that I'd be buying new for the rest of my life. I know it sounds unbelievable but driving a new 21-grand car may be cheaper than a used 6.5-grand similar car when everything is considered. I don't have numbers to apply the same experience to owning a BMW but I strongly believe that if you buy it new and take very good care of it and are familiar with its history and little noises and problems over time and all that, it will end up costing you less than a similar used model. Not to mention that the ownership experience would be a lot more gratifying.
Guru: changing sensors at the VPC makes sense (nip the evil in the bud!..another thought for the day!)
ccchen: thanks. did u also order without seeing the sapphire color first or were u lucky enough to find it on the lot and check it out first? Also, wouldnt the warranty cover and CD changer malfunction? veekay1
Then I should assume that since my car just completed production last Friday, I shouldn't have to worry about which fan I have (Bosch should be assumed)? This has probably been asked too many times, but has there been any other chronic problems like this on the 325 manual. I should start writing this stuff down, I guess. I understand that E36fanatics has listed some problems for the 99 and 00 model 323s and 328s, I guess. Would they correlate directly with the 325s and 330s?
Contact Joern Esser at Passport BMW in Maryland (301-702-6407). Tell him "Mike from Texas" referred you. He's very knowledgeable about the ED process, and the savings were significant compared to what I found locally.
If you're looking to go in November, it would be for an '02 model. Pricing hasn't been released yet, so I'm not sure how specific a figure he could give you.
If you still decide to buy in-state, then you should try Garlyn Shelton Imports in Temple. They were the only Texas dealer who offered me competitive pricing back in March when I ordered.
Yes, I ordered the car without seeing it on 330i, but I did check out a Black Sapphire Z3 (Not Sapphire Black, I don't know what's the difference between these two colors) on local dealer.
The CD changer is covered by 1 year warranty if you install it after acquiring the vehicle, unless you are willing to pay big buck ($795, quoted by my dealer) up front and have it listed in your invoice, then it will be covered by 4Yr./50,000 miles warranty. I ended up buying it from circlebmw for $400 without tax and installed myself.
To be even more impressed, check out this Motorweek 2000 323Ci review. They managed 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. That beat their best 328 time by a couple of tenths. They must have hit the perfect start in perfect weather conditions.
Interesting but a little inconsistent. The 328 isn't that much heavier and it should be much quicker than both the 323 and 325 with its 208 lbs of torque. You're right - they must've had a perfect launch with the 323 and missed something with the 328. At 6.5, the 323 is also quicker than the 6.7 sec that Edmunds just posted for the 325. That's hard to believe too but hey - who knows - the 323 does have higher peak torque than the 325, although the 325's torque curve is much flatter. Bottom line is, 6-anything is plenty fast for everyday driving and 5-anything (as in the 330 manual) just blows away pretty much all other cars that you see on daily basis.
Brave1heart, Did you by any chance take into consideration the cost of money? i.e. $1000 up front and $1000 24 months down the road are not exactly the same. A lot of the new vs. used caculation hinges upon the cost of money. In an environment with low real interest rate, buying new makes a lot more sense than in an environment with high opportunity cost for money. Jim
I purchased a 330 xi and it was supposed to be delivered on my wife's birthday, 5/12. The fan blew, dealer said there is an updated fan but would take a few days to get. Got the car 3 days later, in three weeks FAN BLEW AGAIN, this time it's my wife's graduation from Grad school. The dealer said there is an even newer fan. They have replaced it. Am I getting the run around? Any other known problems? Can anyone shed some light?
Those who have noticed my rare posts know I'm debating between the BMW 328 (used) / 325 (new), Audi A4 and IS300. Friday I'm taking the day off to test-drive each back-to-back-to-back. Should be fun! I've been car hunting sporadically over the past three or four months and I've test driven each of these but my memory of the 325 and A4 has faded. My wife and three-year-old daughter are coming along.
Colors: A while back my fourteen year old and I were in a Lexus show room looking at a 'Spectra Blue Mica' IS300. He says, "Awesome color, don't you think?" I hesitate. He notices my hesitation and says, "Yeah, I guess it's a younger guy's color, isn't it." This ranks right up there with the time he was complaining that he couldn't make bacon one time when our power had gone out. My wife says, "You can make bacon on the gas stove, you don't *have* to use the microwave." He looks at her incredulously; He's never seen bacon cooked any other way. She says, "That's the way we used to do it when we were kids." On hearing that I knew I had reached a new phase of life. My fourteen year old's take on BMW's Steel Blue: "That's not blue, that's ... lavender!" I like the Steel Blue, but he had a point. It's only a few shades from lavender. (By the way, I didn't know about this connection between color and gender; I need to brush up on my Spanish).
New vs Used: If you're hung up about scratches and other wear and tear, buy new. If you really want a certain color and a certain set of options, buy new. Or if you want to treat yourself well, buy new. On the other hand, BMW's Certified Pre-Owned program provides a very nice extended warranty and seems to me like a great way to get into the 'next step up' BMW, if you don't mind sacrificing the things mentioned above. (A local dealer has a beautiful blue M3 convertible, '98 with 6,000 miles for $47K ... very tempting) One more benefit: no tortuous wait for the baby to be born and find it's way to your hometown. Which is more economical? I think either if you buy and hold for, say, four-plus years; neither if your trading cars every two or three years.
I've owned bimmers of both persuasions; I haven't noticed any difference in reliability. It all depends on what you want as well as your comfort level. I'm not afraid to tackle minor maintenance or glitches. If I had to run to the dealer for every hiccup I'd probably feel differently. That said, I bought a three year old CPO car for @$15,000 lees than the equivalent new BMW. We plan to keep it 5-7+ years and I seriously doubt that it will accumulate an additional $15000 in repair costs over a new bimmer, never mind that the new car's depreciation cost will be greater as well.
I was surprised by your comment so I walked through Edmund's used car pricing tool and your right. $47K seems heavy. I wonder what gives? It's academic anyway.
I'm biased, of course, b/c I've ordered a 2001 325Ci, but I think if you compare all the aforementioned vehicles, you'll find that the 325 stands head and shoulders above the rest. The IS300--just plain juvenile. Okay okay, it's ugly, too. The A4--great car overall, nice interior, reputation is stealthy, a little too small, not a true driver's car. The '98 M3 Cabrio for $47K--at this price, the car will take you for a ride w/out you driving it.
The 325, IMHO, is the best car you can buy for around $30K. Performance, handling, feel, SWEET inline 6 (no one does these better than BMW), materials, style, etc. All of these factors along with how you FEEL when you drive it will eventually lead you to the 325. You won't be unhappy.
Comments
330i sedans have chrome trim, and 325i sedans have shadowline trim (black).
5-series cars come with chrome trim, unless you order the SP, then you get shadowline trim.
The distinction is not so apparent on white or silver cars, but is very noticeable on the darker colors.
Not quite the home stretch, but we're almost there. Can you taste it yet?
The 5-series SP comes with "shadowline trim"?!?!? How do explain this - is BMWNA saying that "shadowline trim" is sportier than chrome?
Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen a reference to "shadowline" in the 3er literature.
All 3ers (325 and 330) have an "inner" black strip immediately surrounding the glass of the side windows. The difference is in the second "outer strip" - chrome for the 330 and black for the 325.
Shadowline is just a fancy marketing word for black that BMW employed on the 5er. They figured that buyers who opt for the SP would want a more discrete look. But then it gets better - on the 5er order sheet, if you order the SP, there is a "shadowline delete" option. This is a no cost sleection that gives you chrome treatment.
Why BMW didn't offer shadowline for the 330i SP beats me. It would be more consistent with the 5er.
Fun, huh?
What color's your car?
Bmw323is - how do you sign up for the driving schools -- through the CCA? Do you need to be a CCA member? Might be another perk for signing up. I am doing the Ultimate Drive this weekend, so it'll be a good taste (530i and 740i), but I'd really like to go to a BMW driving school. I'll check BMWCCA's web site for more info.
I am pretty sure I am going to do a home equity line of credit to finance this car. I checked out lendingtree.com for bids. DeepGreen Bank has offered me a line of credit up to $64K at 6.1%. There are some other requirements, but they are very doable.
The best part is that the interest is tax deductible and the payment changes with the monthly balance (just like a credit card) so I can pay off a big chunk with a bonus and watch my monthly payment plummet.
I think this is a great deal, and I recommend any home owners that are looking at financing to explore it with DeepGreen Bank. Sure beats the 7.5% financing my dealership was offering me.
Thought for today (and every day) - it only costs a little bit more to go through life first class, but it's always worth it.
Subaru WRX. Firstly, Brave, why can't it just go directly from Subaru ---> Scoobie-Doo ??!!
Second, that car rocks! Materials used in production (interior, specifically) and other aspects, such as the computer controlled electrical system in the BMW, are clearly superior in the BMW but then that's part of what the extra ten large goes to on my 330i. But to drive ? Well, people, let's just say that frank69 in his M3 would be able to keep up, on a dry day and only after a day at driving school! (may-be you've already been, Frank!
Wash my mouth out.... To be honest (watching the demerits come flying at me) had the lease on the WRX been the same as or lower than the 330i, I would likely have ordered a WRX instead!!! Incredibly, despite being $10k more expensive, the BMW has a cheaper lease payment. I can't see writing a bigger cheque each month to drive a $25k car than a $35k one.
Okay, now start knocking me......!
He loves it. It satisfies his every need, and makes him feel cool in a way that he never has before in his whole life. That car was perfect for him.
I, on the other hand, love cars -- love thinking about them, looking at them, driving them and even buying them. I could never, ever buy a used E36 328 when there's a new E46 330 on the market. Even if the car hadn't changed, I have a hard time imagining shelling out $30K+ for a used car. Every scratch, ding and rattle would eat at me.
Like Gurumike said, it costs a a little more to go through life first class, but it's worth it. If you demand perfection, you have to be ready to pay for it.
330 = luxurious performance for $36K
I think each is best suited for consumers whose age would be one year for each thousand dollars (ie. 25 y/o for the WRX, 36 y/o for the 330).
black ext trim - plastic. have not verified but it looks so plasticky would be shocked if metal. i think the chrome strip on the 330 is not painted plastic, though - no way!!
denright - 6.1% equity loan?!? doesn't get better than that. it's like paying less than 4% after-tax. great deal - i'd never want to pay it off!!
alp - i hate wasting money. my point was that if the h-k adds anything at all to the overall sound and getting midbass is on top of that yes - i'd seriously consider it. but it sounds like the h-k would be a $675 waste if i went with aftermarkets - no way i'm wasting that money. i can live with it. i listen to the engine sound most of the time anyhow and i only crank up the stereo (very loud at that) only when i'm not varying speed (cop or something), which rarely happens. not a biggie...
plat - i can see why someone with a fast car like a 540 6-spd would want a less conspicuous package. as far as the 3-series, it appeals to a younger (by roughly 10 years) market segment that still needs more distinction on their cars. kind of like the way you often see saturns, geos, jettas, or whatever with pretensious but useless spoilers, you know what i mean? that's why it's called a spoiler - it spoils the lines of the car :O)
Dan
per bimmer.org (amoung others), the Seiman fans are considered bad and the Bosch are good.
I called the dealer and he indicated that my car (to be picked up friday) has the Seiman brand fan. The dealer said that the item may be recalled in the future but has not been recalled. As a result, he can't replace yet.
I called BMWNA and the rep is going to contact my dealer to "address the problem with the service manager" and get back to me b/4 friday.
Question:
If they do not replace the fan, should I refuse delivery? If I threaten to they may replace it in the best interest of the sale and cust serv.
I don't want to have the experience of overheating and potentially damaging the engine or have to consistantly watch the temp gauge
drcr
I was using the term shadowline to refer to the area where it is at . Of course, there is no such thing as "chrome shadowline trim"!
Guru: Although I agree with you that it is preferable to try and go first class in life, I disagree that it is always only a 'little more'. In my experience, it usually is a "lot" more! In any case, I think if one buys a truly "certified" pre-owned vehicle there are 2 things that should apply: 1.) The vehicle should be geniunely in good condition (mechanically and aesthetically) and in some cases, actually is virtually indistinguishable from a new vehicle on the same lot. That was the whole idea behind starting this concept. Even if the car in question was not "perfect" looking, the malfunction/damage described in the post is unacceptably high to call that vehicle a truly certified car.
2. Regardless of point (1) above, the buyer should ALWAYS make sure whether the goods are in decent shape before signing on the dotted line! It does not appear that that was done in this case, at least was not done thoroughly.
veekay1
I feel good - ta-da-da-da...
Is there any way to verify (by VIN, production date, model, etc.) whether the aux fan is Seimens or Bosch? Surely there's a way.
Do you have a manual or step?
The problem has been described only on manual transmission cars so far. The step cars have 2 fans.
Thanx for your insightful description on Euro delivery in response to my query. I would like to know why you went to a DC dealer? I too am in Texas, albeit down the road a piece in Houston and just wondering if the DC deal was that significant in savings. Would you mind forwarding your contact name and number so I can follow-up on that?
Thanx again! Stan
He bought a 1991 750il with 126K miles for $13000 a few years back. Nice car, 12 cylinders, but totally impractical, and he started having problems with it right away. I think he kept it for 18 months or so. I guess he liked it and it probably worked out OK for him.
But it's not for me. I like to think about what I want, research it, get the best price I can, place the order for the car. I like knowing that the car was built for me to my specifications. I like being the one who "runs in" the car, knowing that it's been done properly.
I seriously doubt that I would ever buy a used car, and I generally think that you get what you pay for. There is some depreciation associated with a new car, obviously, but used cars tend to be more hassle and you have to pay for maintenance sooner. I'm willing to pay up front for convenient and trouble-free transportation.
I have Grey interior, because I want strong contrast between interior and exterior while still keep both colors in the same color series, Grey only comes with leather trim though. Black exterior does require extra attention, it will not hide any smear or finger print, it is also the worst color
to have dings or dents. I have prepared for all these troubles mentally way before ordering.
I was told by at least 3 people about the troubles that Glove Box Mounted CD changer could have, 2 of them mentioned about the mechanism that hold CD's, (take a look of 3 series accessory page in BMWUSA.com), unlike trunk mounted version which comes with a CD magazine, this thing takes 1 CD at a time for a total of 6.
Guru: changing sensors at the VPC makes sense (nip the evil in the bud!..another thought for the day!)
ccchen: thanks. did u also order without seeing the sapphire color first or were u lucky enough to find it on the lot and check it out first?
Also, wouldnt the warranty cover and CD changer malfunction?
veekay1
drcr
Contact Joern Esser at Passport BMW in Maryland (301-702-6407). Tell him "Mike from Texas" referred you. He's very knowledgeable about the ED process, and the savings were significant compared to what I found locally.
If you're looking to go in November, it would be for an '02 model. Pricing hasn't been released yet, so I'm not sure how specific a figure he could give you.
If you still decide to buy in-state, then you should try Garlyn Shelton Imports in Temple. They were the only Texas dealer who offered me competitive pricing back in March when I ordered.
Good luck!
The CD changer is covered by 1 year warranty if you install it after acquiring the vehicle, unless you are willing to pay big buck ($795, quoted by my dealer) up front and have it listed in your invoice, then it will be covered by 4Yr./50,000 miles warranty. I ended up buying it from circlebmw for $400 without tax and installed myself.
-John
http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt1907a.shtml
Did you by any chance take into consideration the cost of money? i.e. $1000 up front and $1000 24 months down the road are not exactly the same. A lot of the new vs. used caculation hinges upon the cost of money. In an environment with low real interest rate, buying new makes a lot more sense than in an environment with high opportunity cost for money.
Jim
Colors: A while back my fourteen year old and I were in a Lexus show room looking at a 'Spectra Blue Mica' IS300. He says, "Awesome color, don't you think?" I hesitate. He notices my hesitation and says, "Yeah, I guess it's a younger guy's color, isn't it." This ranks right up there with the time he was complaining that he couldn't make bacon one time when our power had gone out. My wife says, "You can make bacon on the gas stove, you don't *have* to use the microwave." He looks at her incredulously; He's never seen bacon cooked any other way. She says, "That's the way we used to do it when we were kids." On hearing that I knew I had reached a new phase of life. My fourteen year old's take on BMW's Steel Blue: "That's not blue, that's ... lavender!" I like the Steel Blue, but he had a point. It's only a few shades from lavender. (By the way, I didn't know about this connection between color and gender; I need to brush up on my Spanish).
New vs Used: If you're hung up about scratches and other wear and tear, buy new. If you really want a certain color and a certain set of options, buy new. Or if you want to treat yourself well, buy new. On the other hand, BMW's Certified Pre-Owned program provides a very nice extended warranty and seems to me like a great way to get into the 'next step up' BMW, if you don't mind sacrificing the things mentioned above. (A local dealer has a beautiful blue M3 convertible, '98 with 6,000 miles for $47K ... very tempting) One more benefit: no tortuous wait for the baby to be born and find it's way to your hometown. Which is more economical? I think either if you buy and hold for, say, four-plus years; neither if your trading cars every two or three years.
peter80. Get the new 325, if those are your choices. $47k for 98 M3 cabrio, and you call that tempting ??!! I call it about ten grand heavy !!
The 325, IMHO, is the best car you can buy for around $30K. Performance, handling, feel, SWEET inline 6 (no one does these better than BMW), materials, style, etc. All of these factors along with how you FEEL when you drive it will eventually lead you to the 325. You won't be unhappy.