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BMW 3-Series 2006
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I know my 99 Sport had the Bridgestone ER30,replacement cost was $210.00 each with a wear rating of 120 OUCH! Why i went back with Yoko's,
DL
Goodyear rs-a $80.00
pirelli P6 $92.00
Conti ch95 $74.00
Michelin MXV4 plus $115.00
If you value the ratings on tire-rack, non of them had consistant reviews.The MXV4 "Looked " to have the highest of the group.
DL
Best Regards,
Shipo
Funny even tho I didn't really agree I followed BMW own recommendations and did NOT rotate mine either.
DL
Would you cross shop a G35 6-speed or the new IS350 with a new 3? Would you give them the chance to show you what they've got?
DrFill
If I were to avoid any of them, it would be the Continental.. Most versions of Continentals seem to get noise complaints as they wear..
My personal choice would be the Michelins or the Pirellis... but, I wouldn't worry about any of them...
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Hmmm, well sort of. The problem is that the IS350 will be available with an automatic transmission only, and as such, many here, including me, won't even bother to give it the time of day, regardless of its many other fine attributes.
"Would you cross shop a G35 6-speed or the new IS350 with a new 3?"
Regarding the IS, see response #1. Regarding the G35, while its interior is vastly improved from the G35 that I drove back in 2002, it is still not to my liking. As for the engine, while certainly more powerful than the current BMW I6 3.0 liter, it is nowhere as smooth and refined feeling. In relation to the new 3.0 liter mill from BMW, in spite of what the specs say on paper, I'm betting that the E90 330i will have very similar acceleration numbers and considerably better numbers on a track. I didn't like the way the car felt during tight maneuvers either, just not as securely attached to the road as my 530i feels. Then there is the suspension compliance. To me at least, it seems that Infiniti engineered in the decent handling at the expense of compliance by screwing the suspension down. Given all of the "Frost Heaves" (very bumpy roads) here in New Hampshire, maybe that's why you see extremely few G35s running around. They just ride too hard.
So; "Would you give them the chance to show you what they've got?"
I won't even look at an automatic car (except maybe the 300C SRT-8) so scratch the IS, I've already looked at the G (twice), and I'm not overly impressed.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I look forward to the IS350. IF it has a 6 speed. Without a 6 speed, the car is useless to me.
Oh speaking of test driving, I'm headed to auto show in motion today in which I'll get to drive all the models that fall under the GM brand (vette, gto, cts-v) should be fun.
Before buying my 05 325i I also looked at the G35 and the IS300 (as well as the C230K). The Infiniti dealer informed me that the 05 G35 6MT wouldn't be available until February (this was in December) and the Lexus dealer told me that their just wasn't any demand for manuals in the area, so they didn't bother to stock any -- same for every other Lexus dealer around. I test drove an auto. IS (I had some time to kill), but I just took a pass on the G35 without sitting in one.
Even if they had a 5-speed available, they would've had to come way of the sticker for me to take one with that hideous instrument cluster.
Wound up being a close call between the C230 and the 325i. The C230 had a 6-speed on par with the 3's 5-speed, but the 3 had a better engine.
DL
Regardless, Lexus could beat them this time with better stats, nicer interior/exterior and lower price. However, I think it will come down to "feel"... so far, no one has been able to match BMW's balance (of sport, handling, psuedo-lux).
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
How will this play out? I certainly have no clue. That said, if the IS350 is offered for sale with only a slush box, it will be a nonentity (as in it doesn't exist) as far as I'm concerned.
Best Regards,
Shipo
According to the March Car & Driver, the 2006 330i they tested had the Pirelli Eufori's on the car and they liked them.
You guys have any feedback on this tire, I believe there will be no rotation options as the sizes vary from front to back. For me in California, there is no need for a all season tire so performance is key!
Any thoughts?
According to the Pirelli web site, the Eufori tires are in fact available in the 225/45 R17 size, however, the do not currently make any Eufori tires in the 18 inch size. As such, it seems to me that the Eufori tires are more of an All-Season compromise tire with Run-Flat capabilities.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I drive a stick, and I will ONLY drive a stick, so it's good to find other DRIVERS here!
Plus the obvious sales success of the G35, which has been quickly accepted as a BMW-alternative, and cheered by R&T, C&D, and MT as being as good, if not better than a 3.
Interesting that these well-driven journalist see the G as an equal to the 3 in their Road Test.
Lest anyone forget the 11 Sport Sedans comparison from 2002, where the G won outright (and an Auto IS300 came in third, I think the 3 came in second). And MT gave it the nod in a direct comparison vs. CTS and the 3. It's been a couple of years since I bought those issues, but that's what I remember, probably because it was so unexpected.
I like the 3, old and new, but if Lexus makes a 300+HP IS for less than $35k, with it's new threads, BMW is in for some long nights, heretofore unseen.
More details in NY next week!
Competition is a wonderful ting, isn't it?
DrFill
So in California, it would be $426 plus 8.25% sales tax.
Does the security deposit vary from locale?
What kind of money factor and residual are you assuming on $31,125 cap cost, 3/36k lease?
So at the end of the lease, I should be able to just walk away if I so choose, right?
Ah this is a BMW board so I can add to the quote. I believe the G won outright in value, but the 330i beat it an almost every other category. The G won a couple of the performance measurements, but it need 60 more hp to get marginally better performance.
According to C&D, it already has in the 5!
And didn't they call the 645 "The Ultimate Driving Simulator"?
These guys LOVE BMW!
Here's hoping the legend doesn't befall the same fate.
DrFill
Yes, but these same guys hate change. These guys still want the BMW of 1985. Well it aint happening. BMW is in a no-win position. Without the doodads potential customers will look elsewhere. With the doodads the press talks about "the dilution of the driving experience".
But it's interesting it's okay on a Japanese vehicle to have the doodads, because on those cars the driving experience matters not.
Best Regards,
Shipo
DL
The bulk of the sales will come from the 325i and IS250 for both companies anyway. It'll be interesting to see how those compare.
Guess it's me but both cars look mighty lame. I'll buy the one that's most fun, looks be damned.
Driving an ugly performance vehicle is well.... But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Before that I was pretty happy with the G and TSX even though both are as plain looking as the day is long. You're also talking to someone who came -><- this close to buying a WRX in 01.
Interior does make a difference to me. It must be pleasant. The interior was and is one of the big drawbacks of the subaru line - cheap, economy, ford-y materials. G35, TSX and BMW were all decent enough. not VW/Audi levels but then again, unlike my VW nothing inside the BMW has broken. And the BMW has one thing I love from years growing up with convertibles and sports cars - a driver centric cockpit.
The e90 does not have a driver focused interior. The Lexus has a banal, toyota stamped interior.
Styling on those two, to me, is downright bad. The Lexus blends in like a Taurus inside and out. The e90 is just as slab-sided and boring to look at as the CTS ad G35. Nothing in either design makes a statement or cuts a path - they're all about conformity and appealing to the dead-tastemeter inside middle america. "Oh helen, it's positively...um...there. wow, if you didn't point it out, I might just pass it."
IMO, the current 3series (E36?) has a lot smoother exterior and looks great in light colors. Too bad I haven't been that successful in getting one for invoice-$4200+$500.
The TSX and the E36 have the most balanced, conservative, and pleasing looks of all the current offerings. IMO.
I thought it looked kinda "cool"...although I prefer the elegent look for BMW's.
Money factor .00225
Security deposit is always rounded up to the next $50 increment, so probably a deposit of $500, and that doesn't vary by location.
Yes, at the end of the lease, you walk away, assuming you have met all of the terms of the contract..(mileage, etc.).. There may be a disposition fee on BMW leases, but I'm not sure... If so, probably a $350 fee if you just turn the vehicle in.
regards,
kyfdx
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Thanks. Anyway, can you install an after market dvd player to the nav monitor?
I raised this issue several days ago--it didn't get traction. But here's the direct quote from the 12 page 'in-depth' article from a website posted in this thread about a week ago. But note it cites the kind of window tinting common in SUV's for the rear door and back windows. It is different than sunshades--though they are available as well. I hope this is a U.S. option but no one seems to know about it. Anyone have any insights?
**Keep the sunshine out – sundim glazing and sunblinds.**
"Direct sunglare sometimes has a dazzling effect and is quite generally unpleasant. So sundim glass available as an option on the rear side windows as well as the rear window itself is able to prevent any such unpleasant effects, filtering out more than 50 per cent of the light and heat irradation while at the same time naturally fulfilling all safety and security requirements.
A further advantage appreciated by many customers is that sundim glass ensures much greater privacy inside the car.
The same effect is provided by the optional sunblinds on both sections of the rear side windows opening and closing by hand. The sunblind on the rear window, in turn, opening and closing electrically, helps to keep high temperatures outside of the car. The BMW 3 Series is incidentally the only car in its class to currently offer sunblinds on the side windows."
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
But it doesn't bother me because Nav is not on my checklist for the E90.
One thing you can consider is the aftermarket Nav systems - the latest ones claim some kind of motorized touch screen which apparently give you some button like feel to touch!
Japanese consumer electronics are completely irrelevent in the case of vehicles!
Most marques like MB and BMW are multinational firms that will seek the best electronic technology in the globe. Just because they are German marques does not mean that all their gizmos are sourced from Stuttgart or Munich.
In fact most of the electronic gremlins in the fancier BMWs and MBs are related to software not the electronic hardare.
Regarding software, USA is number one and not Japan.
Regarding consumer electronics hardware, Japanese superiority is taking a backseat role whicle Korea(Samsung) is emerging as a power in itself. Oh and let us not forget the emerging strength of the USA(ipod, xbox) in consumer electronics. In fact Kodak is number one in growth in terms of digital cameras.
1) The alternator ate itself. This was a total and complete melt down (as in finding a puddle of molten aluminum under the car). The manufacturer was Nippondenso.
2) I was on a trip from Cleveland to Chicago, and as I was tooling along the Ohio Turnpike the fuel pump, which was going, "wrrrrrrrrr...", went "Click!" I coasted to a stop a few hundred yards down the road. :-/ I don't remember the manufacturer of that fuel pump, but you guessed it, it was Japanese too.
Best Regards,
Shipo
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According to tireack.com, top 5 Max Performance Summer tires are:
1) Michelin: Pilot Sport PS2
2) Goodyear: Eagle F1 GS-D3
3) Bridgestone: Potenza S-03 Pole Position
4) Pirelli: PZero Nero
5) Dunlop: SP Sport 9090
Shipo, that makes sense, soooooooo..........
If the sport package tires are not the Pirelli Eufori's, then what tire do you think is on the Sp package?
Thanks
DL