Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
To make matters worse, the detailers got wax residue on plastic moldings. Has anyone seen how unsightly that looks?! especially on a black car?! ive demanded my dealership to replace side door moldings after two unsuccessful attempts of removing the residue...in fact, they made it even worse apparently, by sanding parts of the moldings.
ugh...just thought i'd share this with the board
I recently went to a BMW dealership and had the chance to check out an X5 3.0 liter. I liked everything about the car except for the fact that the sound system balance sounded off. It sounded (to me) like it was all coming to strongly out of the right than the left. I twiddled the BALANCE control and I managed to find a relatively comfortable point. However, it still didn't feel right. This has been a problem on two other X5s I have seen. If anyone could shed some light on this, I would greatly appreciate it.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I've never noticed a balance problem with the sound system, I did add an amp and solobaric subwoofer to it - it's perfect now, nice rich sound.
I was shopping for an X5 at the end of last year and was totally turned off by the "take it or leave it" attitude that I encountered at Houston dealers. I guess the unwillingness to deal is understandable with a hot car. But I was so turned off that I bought a 2002 Passat V6 instead. Drives great, I got a super deal, and I've enjoyed putting my first 8,000 miles on it.
However, I'm now buying my first house and thinking back to the extra carrying room in an X5. Sounds like dealers still are being hard-a**ed about the pricing, which I just don't get. Every dealership I've visited has X5's on the lot, and they can obviously trade to get the one you want. Part of the problem in Houston--and it is a problem from what I can tell--is that 3 of the 4 area dealerships are owned by the same company, Momentum/Advantage. They basically have established a mini-monopoly which I frankly don't appreciate BMWNA allowing in the first place.
What do you guys think about trying to get dealerships in nearby cities--say Austin, San Antonio and Dallas--in on the competition? Maybe fax/call sales managers there too and let the Houston Monolith know it needs to compete? Cuz I sure don't mind a road-trip to bring one home!! My big concern about this is that 1) you get out of town and they try to change the numbers on you and/or 2) the Monolith here refuses to provide free service loaner.
Thanks -
Tim in Houston, TX
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
If you're going to buy out of town, then why make a few phone calls and send a few emails to dealerships here in the NY Metro Area (Especially NJ). Many are getting at least $1200 off sticker and maybe more. It is worth a shot!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I'm curious though - can anyone else who's dealt with the Momentum/Advantage monolith in Houston pls share their experience(s) on this board? I don't understand why BMWNA has allowed the group to get this stranglehold over the local market by controlling 3 of the cities 4 dealers. Momentum/Advantage BMW does not appear to have good customer service either before or after the sale from what I can tell, and since they don't have any competition it's pretty easy to tell why!!! I bought my VW and Volvo from them and they were fine--but that's probably because they have lots of competition in Houston from other dealerships on those brands, unlike with the BMW marque.
Thanks all -
Tim
As frustrated as you seem to be, you do live in a big city (Houston) where there is an abundance of wealth (oil tycoons, computer geeks, & enron execs;) and the dealership wants to make the most money it can. I don't agree with it, but I understand it.
Obviously you're shopping for a Mid $40-$50K SUV and you're not going to have to take out a second mortgage on your house or get a second job to pay for this (or make payments). If the dealers 90 miles away are going to give you a stellar deal, then go there. Otherwise you might just want to bite your upper lip and take the $500 or $1000 off MSRP that Momentum/Advantage offers you. Just think about your alternatives: Taking your car an hour and a half away for service or not having a loaner car and bumming a ride to the dealership, to work, back to the dealership.
It is frustrating. Try and work a little more with Momentum/Advantage. Talk with the sales manager and see if he'll give you $1000 or $1500 off sticker. There is still plenty of profit in the sale of the X5 at that price. Go in towards the end of the day, near the end of the month.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Great deals? From what I've seen over the last few years the best deals are concentrated in the northeast. Even then if you really press someone with a "great deal" there's always a catch...loaded up on options (dealer installed), financed thru dealer, low-balled trade-in, 5 spd sitting on lot, etc., etc. I got $500 off (internet price) which is nothing compared to what I spent!
Best time to buy: Christmas. Every drive by a dealership last 2 weeks of December? Salesmen standing around, lots void of customers. And if it were me I'd forget about an '02 and wait for the '03. I understand they're going with Dakota leather (currently Montana leather) and DVD-based Nav. Good luck!
Good luck in your search; sounds like you're really going to need it.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Your X5 buying experience is similar to what I encountered when I went shopping for one late last year as well. Which is why I bought a different car instead!
I'm not sure blast-faxing will yield much either, but I'm trying it anyway. One dealership here in Houston has already called 3 times, and Momentum had at least 10-12 unsold when I did a quick drive-by count. The salesperson at Advantage, their sister dealership, admitted to me that the car has cooled a bit (esp now that Enron, Dynegy, Reliant and Williams are all melting down here in Houston!). Interestingly, the Advantage person also freely admitted that the Momentum dealership is arrogant and that the folks there have an attitude like they work in the "Taj Mahal"!
So anyway, I'm convinced that just sticking to my guns and being a harda** right back with these guys will yield something. And if not, hey, I've still got a new Passat that I enjoy driving! I'll keep you all updated!
Tim
Does anyone know when the X3 will be available? Some of the auto publications suggest that it will be available in 2003. I called the sales manager of my local dealer and he said that it would not be available for 5 yrs.
Well I already found a dealer in north Texas who sounds motivated on the X5. We'll see if it pans out, it's early days.
But my return to Momentum with this information got me a snippy email from their internet sales manager saying that bidding for business on the phone/email is "not the way I sell BMWs". Not sure what he's there for then as he is the "internet" sales manager. Frankly I've been shocked at the arrogance from these guys. In contrast, the dealer from north Tex was very courteous, perfectly willing to discuss numbers.
My understanding was that the 4.4 is easy to come by as people are reluctant to spend so much extra $$ on it when the 3.0 is plenty peppy. That's awesome that yours will be in soon!
Best -
Tim
I forgot to ask - what price did Momentum finally do on your vehicle - was your trade fair and how was your X5 equipped? IE, how motivated were they on the last day of the month?
Thx -
Tim
The Buzz says "sometime next year."
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
The Valvetronic 4.5L V8 from the 745 will not make its way into the X5 next year (at least not with 325 HP). The 540i & X5 4.4 I believe have been updated and now pump out 290hp as opposed to 282hp in years past.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Thanks.
Good Luck!
Anyone with squeaking/creaking noises around the hatch area? If so please let me know what the fix was.
Jeannine Fallon
PR Director
Edmunds.com
Personally I think you should wait for the '03 rather than take the immediate depreciation hit. IIRC the '03 should be out in October with some subtle improvements (like an indash CD player available with Nav).
IMO the best time to buy is when supply is high and demand is low...of course this is hard to gauge. A few posters suggested they were going in to buy last month but they never came back -- so who knows how it went. End of the month is rarely effective on an in-demand vehicle. In some states dealers have to pay taxes on vehicles on the lot at the end of the year so the last week in December and the week leading up to xmas are pretty good if you can "buy off the rack".
Needless to say, its getting pathetic.
To make matters worse...i picked up my X5 at the service center with 20 more miles on it than when i dropped it off. Does it take 20 miles to test a navi system!?!? And lets not forget to mention a self tapping screw stuck in my brand new 22" rims/tires!!!!
i just got my X5 a couple of weeks ago and have an issue with my xenon headlights. at nights when there are no street lights, the lamps on the passenger side seems to extend "much farther" than the driver side. i understand that this helps to protect on-coming traffic from that glare. not sure. are the rest of the X5 owners with xenon lights see this much difference? the difference is annoying since i am much more into symmetry (even discharge levels from both sides). thanks for any advice.
Are all bmws this noisy or is it just the X5 because it's an suv?
Next time something like this happens, I suggest you find a body shop that specializes in European Marquees.
Another suggestion I can say is to take it to another body shop and have it fixed right on your own dime. You're driving a $61,000 BMW and I assume you're not strapped making payments on it. I know there is a principle involved, but somethimes you just have to cut your losses.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD