dings: I'd do it for $40 just to get it out of the way but as soon as the dealer heard 'dent, ding, dong' and they said they outsource it to Dent Wizard or something and it costs $129. Yikes... So I told them to estimate the price once they look at the car and then give me a call. Oh, that money is just to get rid of the ding, it does not include touch-up that might be needed...Duuuuuhhh... I guess I should bring the car to that Wizard place directly. Would they match the paint perfectly, though?
errickson a.k.a. Eric The Red: see what you did to me: I fell out of favor with Mary Galvin and next thing I know is I'm paying updias for little dings. I hope you're enjoying it while it lasts. My only consolation is that she's cute but not THAT much... Ahhh, well, I'll get over it. Are you having a bad day? As far as the wine, your concern is legitimate. French wine will always be more expensive than Californian wine and Californian wine will always be more expensive than Chilean and/or Argentinean wine. A lot of what goes into the wine pricing is based on image that the consumers have of the region that the wine is coming from. France: romance, great tradition, California: good wine, home-grown; Chilean/Argentinean, different, more exotic, cheaper. As I said, I'm no expert on wines at all - I actually like mostly white wines and especially port wines. I really liked the Gewurtzraminer that I got at Palmer Vineyards and so did most of my friends that tried it. It would be interesting to compare it back to back with other wines but I'm not nearly that sophisticated when it comes to wines. I dunno - get a bottle, maybe you'll like it. At least it would be different from any other wine that you've tried from France, California or South America. The Gewurtz was only about $14...
"I can think of no vehicle I'd rather drive at 80MPH...on a straight stretch of highway with a family and a weeks worth of luggage than the Odyssey. Good power... reasonably quiet, more room than we know what to do with, and just a nice, soft, comfortable highway ride. We also managed about 27MPG on the highway..."
Hint: my wagon, maybe? (Sorry, I couldn't resist) (;-}
Anyone ever done this, or have any info on how to do it? I am definitely buying a 3-series AWD, dealer told me earliest I could get the car was late this year or early next year. Was thinking of taking a trip to Germany when I have some time off in October, and thought maybe I could get it sooner if I bought it there. Any info appreciated.
My 330xi arrived at the dealership with a tiny ding in the rear bumper, a small scratch on the left front bumper molding, and a small scratch on the roof.
The dealership contracts out such small body problems to a ding/paint repair specialist. He did a great job on the bumper ding and the front bumper molding was simply replaced. However, in "repairing" the small scratch on the roof, he left several scratched rough spots on the paint. In other words, he made a minor scratch into a noticeable patch of roughed-up paint.
I brought it back to the dealership today to see if some buffing would remove these rough spots. Though they are now somewhat less noticeable due to the buffing, the scratched areas are still there and still noticeable.
Now they say I have to bring it back again so the guy who messed it up in the first place can fix it. What kind of process would they use to accomplish this, since buffing isn't working? Anyone who has had minor scratches and paint marring repaired, please tell me about your experiences.
Just tonight, I tried out the Zaino leather cleaner, and I must say, it worked quite nicely indeed. I also have the conditioner, but I haven't tried it yet.
When you try their leather conditioner, please post your impression. The Zaino wax products are super on paint so I'm curious if their leather products work equally well. I've see a BMW leather cleaner and conditioner but these all-in-one products sometimes do neither very well.
Long Island Wine? Yes, they do grow grapes on Long Island. The North Fork(60 miles east of NYC)is prime grape growing country, buffered by the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound, graced with loamy glacial soils and planted with all the great French varietals. Don't expect a California juicy fruit bomb but more of an elegant French style. I can recommend the Cab Franc(slightly biased)as a good example to try. If you get a look at the current Wine Speculator,I mean Spectator, you can find a good selection of Merlot reviews. What the hell, give it a try. If you want any more info drop me an e-mail.
Braveheart - Happy belated!
2700 mile update - What can I say. This piece of machinery is awesome. The Titan Silver is such a breeze to keep clean. Not one scratch or swirl is visible and I know they are there. After 3 black vehicles I am in heaven. The steptronic is finely tuned, downshifts nicely, upshifts at optimum levels and the manual mode is great when you want to hear and feel the car at its fullest. The power(torque?) blows me away every day. That feeling like someone is pushing you back into the seat right above 3000rpm sneaks up everytime. The engine just gets more seductive sounding with every drive. I would recommend not getting the HK upgrade, I find myself enjoying the sound of the engine and feel of the car so much that I get to work realizing the radio was off the whole drive in. I christened her Maggie after Rod Stewart's Maggie Mae(I'm not a Rod Stewart fan). She steals my heart everytime I look outside in the driveway, in the parking lot etc. I finally got my scanner hooked up so I will attempt the dreaded picture posting process.
Well, all of those in the waiting pool will be greatly rewarded!!
Does anybody know if the 330xi (beginning with May 2001 production) is supposed to have the old-old steering, or the boosted steering. Originally, I thought that it probably was a bit assisted, but now I'm not sure. Guru???
In reference to Krookut's dilemma, I highly recommend picking up a car in Munich. First you will save 7% off MSRP, have it made to your preference, get to visit Munich BMW Factory & Museum and maybe travel in your car and see Europe. They give you one month auto insurance for Europe. You can also save destination charges if you happen to live in or close to the port of entry and pick it up there. The catch is you need to give them 3 months notice and you don't have to drive there it either. I took delivery of my car in Munich and than asked them to truck it to the shipping company. Munch in winter maybe the only down side. I suggest you buy 2002 model due out in Sept. and despite modest price hike the resale down the road compensates for it. Visit BMWUSA.com site and they have info on Euro-Delivery Program.
unboringuy - that would be "the new, old steering" !! it's the heavier steering that others are having theirs changed to.
sandeki - 330i sedan sport does not have titanium inserts in either the grill or headlights. Other 330 cars do. The 330i sedan has totally unique front & rear bumpers and side skirts. Titanium headlight inserts were on these models until the middle of May production; remember, this only applies to the four door and only when equipped with sport package (in other words, you can tell who's driving an "old" sport package 330i sedan because it has the silver inserts).
"Cold" Air Intake - After much patience, my ECIS intake arrived today. Grabbed tools from a technician and had it all on and ready to go inside 30 minutes !! It really was that easy. I'm up to 1400 miles now but have yet to go much past 5000 rpm so I can't really comment on "improvement" for all out acceleration but I can tell you a few things. Immediate improvement in throttle response. A quick depression of the gas peddle now yields an instant rise in rpm rather than the some what delayed original. Noticeably stronger pick up at medium openings and, best of all, just the right sound track! The overall engine noise is no louder (not yet, any ways), just a little lower in resonance. Under full throttle, there is no excess noise until you start to near 4000 rpm. At this point a whirring roar begins which grows to a turbine like howl as the needle rushes through the last 1000 available. I was concerned that it was going to be too quiet more than I was too loud. But with their "brand new for 2001 MY 325/330 cars" East Coast Intake Systems have a winner. I totally dig the packaging with the large volume area the heat shield provides. I'll try to get some photos posted.
My new 325ci finally arrived at Crevier after 10 weeks. I picked it up this afternoon. The silver I/black leather is perfect. With a manual cranny, I really have to watch the tach, because of how smooth it accelerates. I want to thank everyone who contributes to this board. The information I've received here has helped me decide on my options and has helped me negotiate the price.
One more question, does the 325's have the heavier steering now too? Not sure how heavy it should be.
I agree with lookman - and... 7% off list is the standard European discount. There are dealers out there that will also give you a discount off that price.
Dent Wizards specializes in Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) where they use special tools to "massage" the ding out. Its supposed to be very effective and in fact the Boston BMWCCA have brought them in to give demostration before. I've heard good things about them though I've never tried them myself. BTW, I think they charge for work by panel, so it might be worth it to wait for a few dings before getting it fixed.
I've been on-and-off thinking about a 325i (along with Aura CL/TL, IS300, and some others) but have a concern that I don't know has been addressed -- too many posts to look through. How is a 3-series (rear drive) in snow??? I'm in the Chicago area and worry about fish-tailing all over the place with good 'ole rear wheel drive. I have now had front drive (Hondas) for the last 20+ years and like the snow performance/traction.
I had about 50 dents removed on our Odyssey by the paintless dent removal process after a hail storm and they charged $80 per panel. They do massage the dents out from behind using special tools, mirrors and lights. It looks perfect! There are some spots they can't get to (they need access from behind)so they will ask to drill a small hole and plug it with and RTV seal.
I just bought a 328 from CarMax and they are having one of those dent guys remove 2 dents on the trunk.
Jason, I went over my car pretty thoroughly and as far as I could tell, it was (and still is) flawless. The only thing wrong was that there was no flashlight in the glove compartment, which they readily replaced.
Actually, there is one tiny flaw...a rock hit the driver side mirror a couple days ago leaving a very small scratch. Oh well.
Allano, I'm going to vacuum out the car this weekend and clean, condition the leather, so I'll let you know my findings with Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner.
I have read about people tracking their cars being built and moved. I would like to be able to track the 325 convertible I ordered last month. How do I go about doing this.
Is there any way to track the service history for a used BMW? My computer shows 15,000 miles until inspection. My understanding is that new cars show X miles until oil change. Does this mean an oil change was done or at least someone reset the indicator? I currently have 12,000 miles and didn't think the oil change would be done yet.
The local dealer said that they only have history if it was serviced there and they show none. BMWNA told me that the service system is national. Who is right?
I may just do another oil change to be safe. WHat else do they do at the first service interval?
Congrat! I was about to ask you when you will be taking delivery.
snooky2x,
To track your car, you will need either a production number or VIN. Your dealer should be able to provide this info. Once you have the info, you can track your car by going to the Owner's Circle section of the BMWNA website @ http://www.bmwusa.com
The other way to track your car is by calling BMWNA directly. I don't remember the phone number, but it is available on the BMWNA website.
deepdarkblu - The "new" intake only just came out. The 330/325 intake looks more like the E36 M3 intake picture. Their web site has E46 intake and says that it's good on '99-'01 models; they mean '99-'00 of course. As with most "performance upgrades" like this, the hp increase is of less interest than torque gain. "Peak improvements" are just that and don't indicate how power is improved at lower (& higher) engine speeds. I think it "only" adds around 3 or 4 hp peak but torque goes up a whopping 15 odd lbs/ft. I will try to post pics soon, but in the mean time, unless you want to drop around $800 (by the time you've paid the service dept to remove the front bumper) on a Dinan intake, I highly recommend the ECIS set up. $299 on 2001 and $249 on other E46. Fits in well under an hour!
jasonkureeji - Yup, I think it was April/May time.
ed_ph413 - The local dealer will have the most complete service records. However, with the car now having free maintainence, the dealer makes a claim to BMW (to get paid!) and so BMW has a log of when and where the car was serviced, what type of service was performed and how many miles the car had on it at the time.
snorky2x - you might just call your sales person every 2-3 weeks and ask which status your car is in. If you get the VIN (vehicle id number) from your sales person then you can track it at the owners circle at bmwusa.com. If it's not yet produced, you may need the production number instead. But please, DO NOT phone BMW NA. They do not want to take this type of inquiry. In their opinion, that is what the dealer is for.
Well, I've had my baby (still nameless) for a month now. She is amazing. Not only is she superbly responsive to my every command, I feel I have become a much better driver because of her. I am more confident on the road and although I will never be a driving enthusiast, I am most definitely a BMW enthusiast.
Brave: I've promised myself a drive out to the Niagara wine region within the next two weeks...so much to do, so little summer...(see, I have a reason to prefer Niagara wines to mail order)
While several of you find the 318 underpowered, it is just enough car for me. I will definitely progress to the 325 (no choice really) when the time comes, but for now this gem fulfils my motoring desires.
I've been checking the pre-owned locator periodically and I'm glad I didn't hesitate to buy the car (if anyone remembers, this was the first one I tested) as there are no other 97-98 318 autos available at dealers here. I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself and my decision overall.
Here's another endorsement for paintless dent removal...
In taking possession of a very used 1991 Accord wagon from my aged mother, I couldn't stand looking at the door dings in this car, and took it to one of the locals [Sacramento CA] who do this kind of work. Watched him take out three dents on two panels in less than 30 minutes...it is amazing to see the results. One of these was very deep and hard to get to, but the outcome was nothing but great. Where the damage does not actually involve paint being broken or scratched, this is the only way to go.
Congratulations, man! Make sure and post your impressions once you get over all the euphoria! Man, oh man, everytime someone's car arrives, it makes me even more anxious...Oh, please, Lord, let mine come soon and as perfect as I expect it to be!
Just found out that my car is waiting to be loaded onto a ship in Germany. Dealer suspects a mid August delivery.
In the meantime since my Volvo is now off lease, my dealer has given (should say rented) a 2001 320i to get me to my delivery date. I got it last night and BOY is this car ALOT of FUN!!!!!
As many of you have, I find that in my use of this car so far, I have taken the longest way possible to where I need to go and then back again. This 320i is a step with the only option on it being heated seats, 15 inchers and steel wheels to boot, even with all this or lack of, it is a blast to drive and I would say fast too.
I rarely drive it in auto using the step gears most of the time.
I was excited while also wondering if the 325i had enough power before, but now after driving this, I'm sure I will be overjoyed with the added power and a few extras that will be on my 325i.
I can now see why so many point out that a 330 with step is plenty fast and fun, NO DOUBT!!. In fact if I do upgrade in 3 years when my 325i's lease is up, I would consider a 330i with step for sure.
Mike: Please disregard my email. I spoke with Sean at ECIS. He called me to discuss my questions. Great guy! I went ahead and ordered (pre-ordered, I should say) the ECIS CAI. He passed on the following points of interest:
latest stats for the new E46 CIA: increased HP by 5 - 8 increased torque by 13 lb ft !!! increased gas mileage by 2 - 6 mpg
FYI1: **does it void warranty?** He said the ONLY time the warranty WOULD be void is if a part that is DIRECTLY related to the air intake goes bad. Another words, if you bring your car in for service b/c the radio is not working, the dealer can't say, "No radio repair b/c of the CAI..." To do that is against the law!
FYI2: BIG backlog on them, as their supplier is very far behind! (...so you may want to stop ranting about 'em, until they can build up their inventory for the increased business you are sending their way!) ; )
Mike, Thanks very much for sharing this after-market mod with everyone. I look forward to reporting on the enhanced performance gains! : )
I'm just curious why your Carmax dealer wouldn't know the service history of such a recent "used" BMW. If it was a trade-in to them, wouldn't they have wanted (and the owner offered) any service records? Because if the car has 12k miles on it, it certainly wouldn't show 15k until first service. So was the oil just changed? Let me know what you find out, because I can give you a great tip on getting an oil change without charge if your car didn't just have one done.
Hey thanks. I might be able to pick her up tomorrow. I'll try to do my best to describe (there's been some excellent posts; it'll be hard to top!)
I actually checked by status on the web and found it was at the final checkpoint. Five minutes later I got "the call." I guess it's true that website is 10-14 days behind, as I heard.
Anyway, dealer told me he'd have her washed and put right in the middle of the showroom [with the doors locked, of course [:+)] I'm gonna go see her tonight.
Interesting write-up on Audi's new 3.0-ltr engine and especially its new CVT transmission. Key points: a 90-degree V6 will never be as smooth as BMW's in-line 6; CVT faster than manual and better fuel efficiency. However, the enthusiasts' focus group wasn't enthused with the CVT. Interesting stuff...
ECIS: just like any other mod, it's a tradeoff at best - you gain something at the expense of something else (power for noise and/or warranty). It may be worth it for some people but I am reasonably happy with the power and exhaust sound of my 325i to fudge with it. I wish ECIS had a table of HP and torque gain at different RPM levels so you can actually see how much you're gaining in the "everyday" RPM range as opposed to the "track" RPM range. I've also read that the AA exhaust that they sell is too loud even by most enthusiasts' standards. They are definitely more inexpensive than Dinan and probably similar in performance gain, though.
Trejos-many congratulations-you are about to become one very happy driver. Full report-on my desk-by 9am! Jason...hang in there...take up a new hobby to kill time...it is well worth the wait (this is news??!) Winters in Chicago? If you are concerned then the Xi is the way to go. My zippy little tyke (325i) survived a gruelling winter on the Bridgestone Turanza all seasons. I drove him carefully and he performed like a champ-so much so that I can't see my buying an Xi next time around. Snow tires would certainly be an improvement, especially if you have the SP-which I don't. I had one highway drive during a blizzard-no salt or sand had been laid down-I had to creep along at 25mph-but I got where I was going unlike several (3 or more) SUVs which had gone off the road and got stuck in the grassy median. The 3 series is one of the most populous cars in Chicago-wouldn't you say? We have so many BMW dealerships here. The vast majority (naturally, given the newness of the Xi) are RWD...as the Good Lord intended.
ECIS does offer a dyno chart for an E46 328. It's a little fuzzy, but it might give the info you're looking for. It looks like torque gains start somewhere around 2,200RPM and grow to max gain from ~3,500RPM to ~6,000RPM after which they drop below stock values. This seems to be right in the meat of where most daily driving is done. I'd guess that there will be a similar 330 or 325 run posted when available.
After close to two years of car shopping (really) I finally broke down (along with my old car) and got a 330ci (PP, SP, HK, xenon, titanium/black). The only real competitor to this car was an S4, which was also a great car, but not quite as useful a package overall. I have some thoughts and questions for the group:
1. Sport Package. Definitely looks better and handles better. Seats seem stiffer than the non-sport. Compare both before you buy. Also, I did not realize until I was at the dealer with checkbook in hand that you cannot drive this in snow. You can't put chains on the low profile tires, but have to put on snow tires.
2. HK. Mediocre at best. Don't pay for this upgrade. Also, the rear sub woofer and shelf in my car have significant distortion. I brought the car back to the dealer, who acknowledged after listening to it that there was a problem. However, they later said that this was a design defect that BMW was aware of and was working on a fix with HK. Until they produced a fix, there wasn't anything they could do. Has anyone else got this problem or heard this from a dealer?
3. Steering retro fit. Most people who have commented on this have been in favor of it. Has anyone gotten it and regretted it? (I drove a Z3 for a day and did not like the steering on that--much too heavy. The 2000 3 series seems about right).
4. Car wax. Several people have commented favorably on Zaino. Anyone have any experience with Blitz wax, or with other polymer waxes? I used an inexpensive polymer on my last car for years (Nu Finish, or something like that), and was very happy with the results. But a lot of people say that polymers and German cars don't mix.
HK - I have a rear deck rattle in my HK equipped 330Ci. There is also a notable bottoming of the sub(s) at lower volumes than I would expect. When I had my car in for the steering retro (more on that in a moment) I had them check out the HK problem. It turns out that one of the subs was blown (from the factory I assume). It took a while for the parts to come in and to get an appointment, but next week I'm having the work done. I'll be sure to post the outcome.
Steering retro - While my car was having the retro done, I had a 2000 323i as a loaner. The steering in my car, after the work, was still lighter than the 323 but considerably heavier than it was pre-retro. I've never driven a Z3, but I doubt that my new (old?!) steering would be considered TOO heavy by most people.
We picked up our new 325 last weekend and are greatly enjoying it, but need some advice regarding the radio. Like our previous BMW system, the radio reception is really poor when driving in the Bay Area hills. In fact, we barely get any FM stations clearly. (For this reason we did not buy the BMW CD changer or upgrade the factory system, since we expected to replace the system. Can anyone advise regarding a top notch radio receiver and CD changer for the 325. Any particularly good recommendations regarding auto stereo dealers in the Bay Area would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Karl
errikson - congrats on ordering one. The 4 odd weeks I waited for my was well worth it!
brave - In respect to comparing graphs of stock and post intake hp/torque remember that the stats may be correct but they're never going to tell you how differently your car will actually drive. And on that note.....
OMG does the car feel better!! I know (errikson) you said not hype it but I wanna share a few observations that dawned on me today. Firstly, Brave, I totally understand the concern with the trade off issue. Let me assure you - both of your points, I think you'd find, would not be realized. The overall engine sound at any throttle position/engine speed (below 4k)is basically the same, perhaps an octave or two lower (is that the musical word I meant to use?), but nothing you'd notice unless you were paying attention (preferably with the window open). Warranty? I can not imagine a real world problem, be it an actual problem arising from the non-stock air box or a rejected warranty claim, ever happening. The intake or a cat-back exhaust system are perhaps two mods you can you that aren't likely to land you in hot water in the service dept. Beside, BMW pays them to fix the car - your service department would probably adopt a "don't tell BMW" attitude should one ever really be in that situation. Anyway, the improvements, now that I'm driving a little more sensible than I've been for most of the few hours driving since it went on (the intake), are great. I'm especially impressed with the much brisker pick up at low to medium engine speeds. You can clearly sense the air's ability to enter the engine much more suddenly than the more restrictive factory box. I bet it would make a much bigger/more noticeable difference on the 2.5 motor. When my driving settles back down, which may not be in the near future, I'll be interested to see what type of improvement in gas mileage I see. I would believe as much as 10% with a sensible driver.
There will be photos !!!! But Saturday will be 2 weeks from when I last washed it and I want it to look it's best for the board!
You state in your post that according to Sean @ ECIS, the new E46 CAI provides increased torque of 13lb ft. I cannot find any dyno info on their web site to substantiate this. I only found E46 dyno info for the following: E46 328: 8hp increase & 5lb ft torque increase E46 323: 5hp increase & 2lb ft torque increase Just curious where all that missing power is?? Are the figures he is quoting for a 325 or 330? Are the power increase figures he is quoting at the crank, or at the rear wheels? He is correct about the warranty issues (or lack of issues I should say) my understanding is that the Magnusson Morrison (sp?) act states that unless the problem can be PROVEN to have been caused by a aftermarket upgrade, they cannot void the warranty. Many dealers will tell you otherwise, until you call their bluff. If I can get and increase of 5-8hp and 13lb ft of torque for $299.00, I will jump on it like a fly on stink!! Plus it appears that the filter still resides inside of the engine bay which is much easier to maintain. My previous Z3 had the Dinan intake which while it was a great product, had the filter hidden down behind the headlight requiring you to remove the bumper to clean or replace the filter.
2 weeks!!! shame on you!! Can't you just pop it around back and have the detail guys take care of it? I would have thought that would be one of the perks of your job!! After all, I'm sure they mgmt doesn't want one of their stars driving around in a dirty billboard.
I think it's 13-15 lbs/ft on the 330 and a few ponies too. They have no published figures, I think the guy I spoke to said that they only dyno'd it a week or two ago. Worth every last penny. Actually, I think it's worth more! -- I hope they don't read this board!
I think the problem lies more in the region of the antenna Most good aftermarket head units have decent tuners, Blaupunkt and Pioneer make especially good tuners. FYI, the BMW head unit and it's tuner are made by Alpine, in the case of the tape player, and Blaupunkt if you have an in dash CD. The best solution might be to have a good quality Car Stereo shop put an external antenna on your car. I'd certainly think very carefully before replacing the head unit, given all it's tied into. Good luck!
Okay here it is, today I put down payment on a new 2001 325i , steel blue metallic, with premium pack, leather, HK, Xenon,auto, indash CD, and heated seats. The price right at 34,800 plus TTL. How does this price compare? And is it just me or is the Steel blue a popular color? Well look forward to hearing from everyone.
... what other people paid at different times of the year may reflect market factors that were prevalent at that time (supply & demand) but might serve only to frustrate your satisfaction with your unique deal. Just my 2c.
Comments
errickson a.k.a. Eric The Red: see what you did to me: I fell out of favor with Mary Galvin and next thing I know is I'm paying updias for little dings. I hope you're enjoying it while it lasts. My only consolation is that she's cute but not THAT much... Ahhh, well, I'll get over it. Are you having a bad day? As far as the wine, your concern is legitimate. French wine will always be more expensive than Californian wine and Californian wine will always be more expensive than Chilean and/or Argentinean wine. A lot of what goes into the wine pricing is based on image that the consumers have of the region that the wine is coming from. France: romance, great tradition, California: good wine, home-grown; Chilean/Argentinean, different, more exotic, cheaper. As I said, I'm no expert on wines at all - I actually like mostly white wines and especially port wines. I really liked the Gewurtzraminer that I got at Palmer Vineyards and so did most of my friends that tried it. It would be interesting to compare it back to back with other wines but I'm not nearly that sophisticated when it comes to wines. I dunno - get a bottle, maybe you'll like it. At least it would be different from any other wine that you've tried from France, California or South America. The Gewurtz was only about $14...
Hint: my wagon, maybe?
(Sorry, I couldn't resist) (;-}
My 330xi arrived at the dealership with a tiny ding in the rear bumper, a small scratch on the left front bumper molding, and a small scratch on the roof.
The dealership contracts out such small body problems to a ding/paint repair specialist. He did a great job on the bumper ding and the front bumper molding was simply replaced. However, in "repairing" the small scratch on the roof, he left several scratched rough spots on the paint. In other words, he made a minor scratch into a noticeable patch of roughed-up paint.
I brought it back to the dealership today to see if some buffing would remove these rough spots. Though they are now somewhat less noticeable due to the buffing, the scratched areas are still there and still noticeable.
Now they say I have to bring it back again so the guy who messed it up in the first place can fix it. What kind of process would they use to accomplish this, since buffing isn't working? Anyone who has had minor scratches and paint marring repaired, please tell me about your experiences.
Is it something that other owners should know since I will be getting my 2001 325i shortly. I haven't been too up to date with this topic.
Thanks
Braveheart - Happy belated!
2700 mile update - What can I say. This piece of machinery is awesome. The Titan Silver is such a breeze to keep clean. Not one scratch or swirl is visible and I know they are there. After 3 black vehicles I am in heaven. The steptronic is finely tuned, downshifts nicely, upshifts at optimum levels and the manual mode is great when you want to hear and feel the car at its fullest. The power(torque?) blows me away every day. That feeling like someone is pushing you back into the seat right above 3000rpm sneaks up everytime. The engine just gets more seductive sounding with every drive. I would recommend not getting the HK upgrade, I find myself enjoying the sound of the engine and feel of the car so much that I get to work realizing the radio was off the whole drive in. I christened her Maggie after Rod Stewart's Maggie Mae(I'm not a Rod Stewart fan). She steals my heart everytime I look outside in the driveway, in the parking lot etc. I finally got my scanner hooked up so I will attempt the dreaded picture posting process.
Well, all of those in the waiting pool will be greatly rewarded!!
sandeki - 330i sedan sport does not have titanium inserts in either the grill or headlights. Other 330 cars do. The 330i sedan has totally unique front & rear bumpers and side skirts. Titanium headlight inserts were on these models until the middle of May production; remember, this only applies to the four door and only when equipped with sport package (in other words, you can tell who's driving an "old" sport package 330i sedan because it has the silver inserts).
"Cold" Air Intake - After much patience, my ECIS intake arrived today. Grabbed tools from a technician and had it all on and ready to go inside 30 minutes !! It really was that easy. I'm up to 1400 miles now but have yet to go much past 5000 rpm so I can't really comment on "improvement" for all out acceleration but I can tell you a few things. Immediate improvement in throttle response. A quick depression of the gas peddle now yields an instant rise in rpm rather than the some what delayed original. Noticeably stronger pick up at medium openings and, best of all, just the right sound track! The overall engine noise is no louder (not yet, any ways), just a little lower in resonance. Under full throttle, there is no excess noise until you start to near 4000 rpm. At this point a whirring roar begins which grows to a turbine like howl as the needle rushes through the last 1000 available. I was concerned that it was going to be too quiet more than I was too loud. But with their "brand new for 2001 MY 325/330 cars" East Coast Intake Systems have a winner. I totally dig the packaging with the large volume area the heat shield provides. I'll try to get some photos posted.
One more question, does the 325's have the heavier steering now too? Not sure how heavy it should be.
Also, does it void the BMW warranty?
At what point did BMW start to manufacture the vehicles with the "new, old steering"? May 2001, like unboringuy suggested?
Aaron330i,
Was there any shipping damage at all to your vehicle. If so, how did they handle it?
I just bought a 328 from CarMax and they are having one of those dent guys remove 2 dents on the trunk.
Ed
Driving on moderately hilly terrain or on flat surfaces is helped by Traction Control if you drive slowly. If not the rear end fish tails.
In about 3 or 4 inches of snow I could not get up my drive way until my wife dumped lots of sand in the tires tracks.
In the same amount of snow I got stuck on a steep incline. A few guys pushed me, by hand, to get me going.
For snow the car needs All-Season tires at a minimum and to be absolutely safe- Snow tires particularly if you live anywhere that gets lots of snow.
I decided to trade it in on a 2001 325XI which i hope to get by September.
I went over my car pretty thoroughly and as far as I could tell, it was (and still is) flawless. The only thing wrong was that there was no flashlight in the glove compartment, which they readily replaced.
Actually, there is one tiny flaw...a rock hit the driver side mirror a couple days ago leaving a very small scratch. Oh well.
Allano,
I'm going to vacuum out the car this weekend and clean, condition the leather, so I'll let you know my findings with Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner.
The local dealer said that they only have history if it was serviced there and they show none. BMWNA told me that the service system is national. Who is right?
I may just do another oil change to be safe. WHat else do they do at the first service interval?
Ed
Congrat! I was about to ask you when you will be taking delivery.
snooky2x,
To track your car, you will need either a production number or VIN. Your dealer should be able to provide this info. Once you have the info, you can track your car by going to the Owner's Circle section of the BMWNA website @ http://www.bmwusa.com
The other way to track your car is by calling BMWNA directly. I don't remember the phone number, but it is available on the BMWNA website.
jnscheong
http://www.ecisbmw.com/intakes.htm
jasonkureeji - Yup, I think it was April/May time.
ed_ph413 - The local dealer will have the most complete service records. However, with the car now having free maintainence, the dealer makes a claim to BMW (to get paid!) and so BMW has a log of when and where the car was serviced, what type of service was performed and how many miles the car had on it at the time.
snorky2x - you might just call your sales person every 2-3 weeks and ask which status your car is in. If you get the VIN (vehicle id number) from your sales person then you can track it at the owners circle at bmwusa.com. If it's not yet produced, you may need the production number instead.
But please, DO NOT phone BMW NA. They do not want to take this type of inquiry. In their opinion, that is what the dealer is for.
Brave:
I've promised myself a drive out to the Niagara wine region within the next two weeks...so much to do, so little summer...(see, I have a reason to prefer Niagara wines to mail order)
While several of you find the 318 underpowered, it is just enough car for me. I will definitely progress to the 325 (no choice really) when the time comes, but for now this gem fulfils my motoring desires.
I've been checking the pre-owned locator periodically and I'm glad I didn't hesitate to buy the car (if anyone remembers, this was the first one I tested) as there are no other 97-98 318 autos available at dealers here. I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself and my decision overall.
In taking possession of a very used 1991 Accord wagon from my aged mother, I couldn't stand looking at the door dings in this car, and took it to one of the locals [Sacramento CA] who do this kind of work. Watched him take out three dents on two panels in less than 30 minutes...it is amazing to see the results. One of these was very deep and hard to get to, but the outcome was nothing but great. Where the damage does not actually involve paint being broken or scratched, this is the only way to go.
In the meantime since my Volvo is now off lease, my dealer has given (should say rented) a 2001 320i to get me to my delivery date. I got it last night and BOY is this car ALOT of FUN!!!!!
As many of you have, I find that in my use of this car so far, I have taken the longest way possible to where I need to go and then back again. This 320i is a step with the only option on it being heated seats, 15 inchers and steel wheels to boot, even with all this or lack of, it is a blast to drive and I would say fast too.
I rarely drive it in auto using the step gears most of the time.
I was excited while also wondering if the 325i had enough power before, but now after driving this, I'm sure I will be overjoyed with the added power and a few extras that will be on my 325i.
I can now see why so many point out that a 330 with step is plenty fast and fun, NO DOUBT!!. In fact if I do upgrade in 3 years when my 325i's lease is up, I would consider a 330i with step for sure.
Please disregard my email. I spoke with Sean at ECIS. He called me to discuss my questions. Great guy! I went ahead and ordered (pre-ordered, I should say) the ECIS CAI. He passed on the following points of interest:
latest stats for the new E46 CIA:
increased HP by 5 - 8
increased torque by 13 lb ft !!!
increased gas mileage by 2 - 6 mpg
FYI1:
**does it void warranty?** He said the ONLY time the warranty WOULD be void is if a part that is DIRECTLY related to the air intake goes bad. Another words, if you bring your car in for service b/c the radio is not working, the dealer can't say, "No radio repair b/c of the CAI..."
To do that is against the law!
FYI2:
BIG backlog on them, as their supplier is very far behind! (...so you may want to stop ranting about 'em, until they can build up their inventory for the increased business you are sending their way!) ; )
Mike, Thanks very much for sharing this after-market mod with everyone. I look forward to reporting on the enhanced performance gains! : )
I actually checked by status on the web and found it was at the final checkpoint. Five minutes later I got "the call." I guess it's true that website is 10-14 days behind, as I heard.
Anyway, dealer told me he'd have her washed and put right in the middle of the showroom [with the doors locked, of course [:+)] I'm gonna go see her tonight.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/46871/article.html
ECIS: just like any other mod, it's a tradeoff at best - you gain something at the expense of something else (power for noise and/or warranty). It may be worth it for some people but I am reasonably happy with the power and exhaust sound of my 325i to fudge with it. I wish ECIS had a table of HP and torque gain at different RPM levels so you can actually see how much you're gaining in the "everyday" RPM range as opposed to the "track" RPM range. I've also read that the AA exhaust that they sell is too loud even by most enthusiasts' standards. They are definitely more inexpensive than Dinan and probably similar in performance gain, though.
Jason...hang in there...take up a new hobby to kill time...it is well worth the wait (this is news??!)
Winters in Chicago? If you are concerned then the Xi is the way to go. My zippy little tyke (325i) survived a gruelling winter on the Bridgestone Turanza all seasons. I drove him carefully and he performed like a champ-so much so that I can't see my buying an Xi next time around. Snow tires would certainly be an improvement, especially if you have the SP-which I don't.
I had one highway drive during a blizzard-no salt or sand had been laid down-I had to creep along at 25mph-but I got where I was going unlike several (3 or more) SUVs which had gone off the road and got stuck in the grassy median.
The 3 series is one of the most populous cars in Chicago-wouldn't you say? We have so many BMW dealerships here. The vast majority (naturally, given the newness of the Xi) are RWD...as the Good Lord intended.
http://www.ecisbmw.com/images/Dyno/dyno_sheets/328c1_dyno.jpg
1. Sport Package. Definitely looks better and handles better. Seats seem stiffer than the non-sport. Compare both before you buy. Also, I did not realize until I was at the dealer with checkbook in hand that you cannot drive this in snow. You can't put chains on the low profile tires, but have to put on snow tires.
2. HK. Mediocre at best. Don't pay for this upgrade. Also, the rear sub woofer and shelf in my car have significant distortion. I brought the car back to the dealer, who acknowledged after listening to it that there was a problem. However, they later said that this was a design defect that BMW was aware of and was working on a fix with HK. Until they produced a fix, there wasn't anything they could do. Has anyone else got this problem or heard this from a dealer?
3. Steering retro fit. Most people who have commented on this have been in favor of it. Has anyone gotten it and regretted it? (I drove a Z3 for a day and did not like the steering on that--much too heavy. The 2000 3 series seems about right).
4. Car wax. Several people have commented favorably on Zaino. Anyone have any experience with Blitz wax, or with other polymer waxes? I used an inexpensive polymer on my last car for years (Nu Finish, or something like that), and was very happy with the results. But a lot of people say that polymers and German cars don't mix.
Steering retro - While my car was having the retro done, I had a 2000 323i as a loaner. The steering in my car, after the work, was still lighter than the 323 but considerably heavier than it was pre-retro. I've never driven a Z3, but I doubt that my new (old?!) steering would be considered TOO heavy by most people.
greatly enjoying it, but need some advice regarding the radio.
Like our previous BMW system, the radio reception is really poor when driving in the Bay Area hills.
In fact, we barely get any FM stations clearly.
(For this reason we did not buy the BMW CD changer
or upgrade the factory system, since we expected
to replace the system.
Can anyone advise regarding a top notch radio receiver
and CD changer for the 325. Any particularly good recommendations regarding auto stereo dealers in the Bay Area would also
be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Karl
...except who should REALLY have the titanium headlight trim (;-}
brave - In respect to comparing graphs of stock and post intake hp/torque remember that the stats may be correct but they're never going to tell you how differently your car will actually drive. And on that note.....
OMG does the car feel better!! I know (errikson) you said not hype it but I wanna share a few observations that dawned on me today. Firstly, Brave, I totally understand the concern with the trade off issue. Let me assure you - both of your points, I think you'd find, would not be realized. The overall engine sound at any throttle position/engine speed (below 4k)is basically the same, perhaps an octave or two lower (is that the musical word I meant to use?), but nothing you'd notice unless you were paying attention (preferably with the window open). Warranty? I can not imagine a real world problem, be it an actual problem arising from the non-stock air box or a rejected warranty claim, ever happening. The intake or a cat-back exhaust system are perhaps two mods you can you that aren't likely to land you in hot water in the service dept. Beside, BMW pays them to fix the car - your service department would probably adopt a "don't tell BMW" attitude should one ever really be in that situation.
Anyway, the improvements, now that I'm driving a little more sensible than I've been for most of the few hours driving since it went on (the intake), are great. I'm especially impressed with the much brisker pick up at low to medium engine speeds. You can clearly sense the air's ability to enter the engine much more suddenly than the more restrictive factory box. I bet it would make a much bigger/more noticeable difference on the 2.5 motor. When my driving settles back down, which may not be in the near future, I'll be interested to see what type of improvement in gas mileage I see. I would believe as much as 10% with a sensible driver.
There will be photos !!!! But Saturday will be 2 weeks from when I last washed it and I want it to look it's best for the board!
E46 328: 8hp increase & 5lb ft torque increase
E46 323: 5hp increase & 2lb ft torque increase
Just curious where all that missing power is??
Are the figures he is quoting for a 325 or 330?
Are the power increase figures he is quoting at the crank, or at the rear wheels?
He is correct about the warranty issues (or lack of issues I should say) my understanding is that the Magnusson Morrison (sp?) act states that unless the problem can be PROVEN to have been caused by a aftermarket upgrade, they cannot void the warranty. Many dealers will tell you otherwise, until you call their bluff.
If I can get and increase of 5-8hp and 13lb ft of torque for $299.00, I will jump on it like a fly on stink!!
Plus it appears that the filter still resides inside of the engine bay which is much easier to maintain. My previous Z3 had the Dinan intake which while it was a great product, had the filter hidden down behind the headlight requiring you to remove the bumper to clean or replace the filter.
shame on you!!
Can't you just pop it around back and have the detail guys take care of it?
I would have thought that would be one of the perks of your job!!
After all, I'm sure they mgmt doesn't want one of their stars driving around in a dirty billboard.
How does this price compare? And is it just me or is the Steel blue a popular color? Well look forward to hearing from everyone.