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More thoughts on the new 330i base on my short commute to work this morning. Again, the engine sound is just awesome. The road feel is very immediate with a firm but not harsh ride. Everything seems to be geared toward the driver. It seems like a dream owning this fine automobile.
I will try to post some pics later on. It might take some time since I don't own a digital camera or scanner. :-(
For those who are waiting, the car is definitely worth the wait!
jnscheong
"Locate the pre-wiring for the HomeLink. The wiring is routed along the front metal edge of the trim panel opening and is held in place by a small wire tie. Carefully clip the wire tie and plug the small connector into HomeLink."
The only problem is that I cannot locate the pre-wiring. There is no wire along the front metal edge of the trim panel opening, and nothing held in place with a small wire tie. Is this an example of a BMW snafu? Guru, or anyone else, have you heard of this problem before? Any suggestions?
good lead-in for UNBORINGUY...The wiring is there....TRUST ME!!!! I spent several minutes poking around the trim panel. I pulled out several wiring harnesses until I found the right one. You are correct about the 'wire-tie' (or lack thereof). Mine didn't have one. The 'tie' was no more than black tape wrapped around the small connector ... Actually, the small connector is what I started looking for up there around the trim panel. I got a flashlight, and shined it up in there until I caught a small glimpse of the connector (partially covered with black tape). I removed the tape (aka wire-tie) and slipped it in the transmitter.
I know I rambled, but I tried to give you a play-by-play of my install process. Hope this helps. If not, ask me again. I am happy to try and help.
Some people will not enough notice the different of trim.
By the way, the instructions say "HomeLink Universal Transceiver For all E39 Models" and the label on the part says "BMW 8 380 869". I know these cars are E46s.
Thanks for your help.
Try one and then the other. The UT is not powered until your key is in the 2nd position (0 = off, 1st = accessory, 2nd = on, 3rd = start).
The part number for the non-sunroof 325i is 82 11 1 470 458
roc-not trying to jinx you at all. i hope that particular car is not jinxed...my first blew up and my second got rear ended on day 5. hope your luck is better!
anybody out there an expert on the wiring under the headliner panel in front of the sunroof???
i'm just wondering if perhaps i was sent the wrong part in a mislabeled box?
82 11 1 470 125 (for the sunroof)
Does that look right to you? I can't imagine they would send the right instructions with the wrong part, but who knows?
You said one was small with three holes, but the wrong shape? Did you try to use it anyway? I remember only the tip of my connector fit into the socket. The rest of it 'stuck out'....like I said....grasping at straws
Remember the good old days when you inserted tab A into slot B and it fit perfectly????
Now I can pass on the Premium Package and buy or lease a base white 325i with automatic, HK stereo and "business cd" (why that strange name and why isn't the CD standard at least with the HK option?) and moonroof for a MSRP of $30,835 and install the armrest later. A simple armrest should standard on a $30K car.
Is a CD changer that mates to the BMW stereo available aftermarket for less than the dealer charges?
Since I waited this long, I might as well continue waiting for the 2002 models. Will much be new on the 2002 325i?
How is the sound quality of the base BMW stereo and the HK upgraded unit?
1. Do radar detectors register only when an officers gun is hot? i.e. when he is shooting someone, or does it register all the time?
2. I was nailed by an officer using the new "laser" gun. How do radar detectors handle these?
3. Any resources you guys can point me to would be great.
As a side note, I now have 3,200 miles on my 325i up and it just keeps getting better. Engine pulls stronger and sounds better. It seems we are both getting to know each other better. I am seriously questioning wether or not to do some mods (CAI, exhaust, software) like I had on my Z3. I guess I will wait a while and see what comes out. I see on the "other site" that ECIS now has their intake out for the 330. Of course some people say it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, others say the BMW intake is already optimized about as far as it will go.
Any thoughts?
aaron330i - what was your cars production month?
roc50mg - it shows "to VPC - 7-17"; I would take that to mean that the boat has docked, but they haven't got yours checked into the VPC yet. Totally normal, usually takes a day. I'd guess you'll be driving it by next week-end.
What are my options regarding getting one installed? Does anyone have any recommendations? Is this something I can do myself (i.e. is there any pre-wiring)? Or do I need to have it professionally installed? Also indash v/s 6-disk in trunk...
Thanks.
Example:
Part# 51 16 9 415 861 Black Leather All E46 3 Series models msrp:$220.00 their price:$155.17
You will have to add on for shipping (of course),
but still a pretty good deal.
Other thoughts...why the armrest is not standard? I had similar thoughts ....until I heard several people complain that their elbow bumps into the armrest while they are shifting...perhaps this is why it is not included?
I think you can find aftermarket CD changers (ie Alpine?), but I recall reading several posts about having to be careful when adding after market stuff to the stereo. As far as sound quality, I would go to the FAQS section of http://www.E46fantics.com , and read through it. The whole stereo upgrade thing has been debated here previously, and really is a matter of personal preference, budgets, etc. (As for me, the standard setup is fine, and I have no regrets about not having gotten the HK upgrade.)
Hope all this helps.
Your car is pre-wired for a CD changer in the trunk, and it appears to be a pretty straight forward procedure, based on others who have installed it. I think if you purchase the CD changer and "kit" from a BMW dealer, you will have all the parts required. You can find the entire 'kit' at http://www.pacificbmw.com and some pretty good install instructions at http://www.circlebmw.com or http://e46fanatics.com under faqs
Do I have to get it from a dealer? Or can I get something from an electronics store? Pardon my ignorance as I am no audiophile. I just want to listen to the Barber of Seville when I'm tired of BSB/NSYNC/Britney/Eminem.
Of course they will also install it. I mentioned the BMW dealer route because the 'kit' is specifically designed for your vehicle, vs. an aftermarket product.
What? tired of Eminem? Never! (ha)
I just checked the BMW website for the standard features for the 330i. It stated that the titanium trim is standard. Would the website be outdated as is the brochure? I understand the BMW has the right to change things but it should be done on all vehicles, not just some. It looks like the 330i's missing the trim were built on mondays after a long weekend, HA!
Anyone
When I had my dealer program the keys with their computer, it was getting a reading that something was wrong with the computer on the vehicle. I will go back this saturday and try again. Anyone have this problem as well?
add123
On a similar note...I tried the Mother's wax/polish system two weeks ago. My car is now caked in dirt and has water spots (we had a couple of rainy days) and looks horrible. I will try to resurrect it this weekend and see the results. If it looks like c**p I will have to cave in and get the Zaino (which was my first choice...but I didn't want to wait for the mail order) Like I said before...compromise leads to regret.
twoof1 - Radar detectors register signals. Speed trap radars are rarely blasting at the traffic continuously. Most likely, they'd point it at you and 'shoot'. You have no protection from laser (< 1sec to determine your speed). Radars take maybe 2 secs to determine your speed. In either case, you will rarely have enough time to slow down. Having a radar detector may be helpful if there are cars in front of you that the radar is pointed at. But this is not very different from what I was saying that you should always have cars in front of you if you're going too fast. Not immediately in front of you, as they might pull over multiple cars at once - I mean cars in a couple of hundred yards that you can see. even the most sophisticated radar detector is just a supplement to your senses. As far as resources, the best ones I've seen are from the National Motorist Association - check out their web site for materials. How did you get nailed?
Silverprincess - either a HELOC or HE loan are good ways to deduct the interest from income taxes on any purchase, be it a car, home improvements, children's college tuition, whatever. The key difference is that the HELOC is a revolving balance, just like a credit card, that only specifies a minimum amount to be paid each month. The HE loan has a fixed term, and thus a fixed amount you receive and a fixed amount you pay each month. Really depends on your needs and what rates are available as to which is right for you. The key thing, again, is that the interest is TAX DEDUCTIBLE! The watchout with this is that if you sell your house, any balance on 2nd mortgages, HELOC's, etc., are due in full upon close, impinging on any profit/equity you have in the house.
Cincinnati has been a virtual rain forest this week, limiting the miles on Grace (Z3). Gretl (330) has been terrific and rock-solid as always, weather notwithstanding. Grace's fun-to-drive factor is MUCH influenced by whether the top is up or down, whereas Gretl's FTD factor is relatively insensitive to weather conditions, making her much more versatile.
Any good or bad experiences?
I would appreciate your comments.
I don't think they would discount much on the 325i vs 330i, but it should be worth the try.
Once again thank you for all posts here on this forum :-)
Driver 36
I started the same test-process on an 1987 car only to discovered it did not have a gloss coat. Now I am waiting for the Z3 to arrive before spending any more energy. The Zaino products are definitely worth waiting for.
P.S. Many thanks to everyone who recommended these products (http://www.zainobros.com).
BTW Brave, have you heard about the steering fix?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
allano - you should go out more often )
Tom
Thanks!
Hope you are enjoying your stay in the Albany area. I lived off the first exit after the Mohawk river on the Northway (Clifton Park) for three years. If you get up that way in the month of August (racing season at Saratoga), watch out for speed traps just before that exit. NY State police have (had) speed traps along that stretch down to a science: one officer with a radar gun at one location and six officers about a mile later pulling over _everyone_ that was identified by the first.
BTW, I found NY State Police to be very conscientious compared to our state; they actually patrol the roads and could be counted on if you broke down. As a whole, they were a very professional group.
Also, we go out for dinner every night and there are quite a few good restaurants and pubs - Provance, The Pump House, Big Red's... I hope you're enjoying your trips to Maine - it's pretty up there during the summer.
I'd think it is waiting for a ship to dock so it can be loaded, or it is waiting for other cars to be done so they can ship the whole batch of bimmers.
The wait is killing me though.
mine is status 155, production complete. Its been this way since Tuesday.
Josh
last night you wrote , "The problem with the connector is that it has a plastic part that juts out on the side and prevents it from fitting into the receptacle on the part."
Above, bmwagonmaster writes, " For additional identification, it's a white rectangular plastic piece with a "lip" on the right side. The "lip" is what guides it into the transmitter in the correct position. "
If you have not had success yet, I just wanted to be triple sure you were trying to insert the connector into the slot correctly???? Same as bmwagonmaster, let us know how you're doing....
Sometime between 7/10 and 7/11, the status on bmwusa owner's circle changed from "scheduled for production" to "produced but not shipped". So I'm assuming it is waiting for the ship...
For the clear-coat test, use a non-abbrasive polish/wax (Mothers?, Megulars or a paste wax). After applying the polish/wax, if your applicator has spots that are the color of your car, then you don't have a clear coat.