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-Paul
That's what I had planned to buy sometime before winter set in. But I didn't plan to run over a two inch (!!!) screw. When I called "Mr Tire" (the tire guy highly recommended by both my mechanic and my neighbor who happens to be "Mr BMW"), he told me that the XGTs are the best selling tire he's ever had, and that they are superior to the Pilots in performance, treadwear, and noise. My initial foray online to look them up yielded nothing, and I was over a barrel timewise. We go to the experts because they know more than we do, right? :confuse: So I figured I'd try them (even though there was this little voice telling me to stick with the Pilots and I pretty much always regret it when I don't listen to my gut).
Then we had the first rain in I dunno how long--and it was a deluge--and simply driving around was like a skid pad experience. Which could have been a function of the tires--or the lack of rain resulting in super slippery roads. I also heard from them on a (dry) turn I have taken many times on the Pilots without so much as a squeak. So having second thoughts, I emailed Connor at Tire Rack...and he said the exact opposite of what Mr Tire had said.
Which sent me back to the internet. And the second time I looked 'em up--and I'm not sure what I typed in differently--I got the Tire Rack ratings page. The Pilots blow the XGTs out of the water. So I went to the Michelin site, and even they show the Pilots to be a superior tire.
So now that I once again am ruing not listening to my gut, I am this close to calling Mr Tire and telling him I want to change them. But I thought I'd check one more place...and that's why I asked here.
But in fairness to Mr Tire, he did not have them in stock, although he was able to get them quickly. I intend to call on Monday and see whether I can trade 'em back for Pilots. (I've been told I can.)
Boy oh boy did I feel I had it put to me after getting a set of these on my then brand new 2003 Audi allroad.
Nevermore.
Falken Azenis ST115 (summer only) or the Yokohama AVS db2's (all season) would be my choice with my money.
Thanks.
Bottom line, he ended up jumping up to the 545i with SMG. He felt the 530i w/SMG felt a bit too slow compared to the 530i 6-speed. The SMG shifts were not as "crisp" as he expected and he felt the car hesitated more from a dead stop and at lower rpms. He had been given a dealer demo to try for several days, so his opinion wasn't on the basis of a short test drive. The 545i had no such issues and he claims the 545i w/ SMG is as quick as he could ever shift manually. He has even taken the car to Summit Point for a day at the track a couple of times.
This is just one second hand report, so take it as such. But I would not order a car with SMG - actually any car - until I had a chance to test drive it for myself.
On the road,I don't think it's about shaving seconds off of ther commute-it's about fun.
I've driven a 530i with SMG,and I didn't think it fun at all..
Question to you and all: I need to change tires on 2002 530. There is an ad in LA Times for Pirelli PZero Nero P235/45ZR17 for $156 per tire. Is the deal good? Anything bad in these Pirellis?
Thanx
Nothing about these tires would give me pause regarding a recommendation. My wheel/tire shop in Atlanta - Butler Tires - is a high-end supplier for tires and aftermarket add-ons for high-end cars and has always steered me straight and true. Tire Rack tested the all-weather version favorably.
I have test driven the BMW 6speed steptronic and the Audi 6speed DSG.
I have, perhaps like many here, read many reports about the clutchless manual transmissions such as the SMG and DSG.
The current input I can provide: the DSG is better than the SMG. The 6speed manumatics from Audi and BMW are far better than their 5 speed older cousins.
The manual transmissions -- especially from BMW are still the best.
The pragmatic thing to do today is to take long long test drives -- and for your own education try a Mercedes 7 speed manumatic.
The manual transmissions are for those who love to drive, first and foremost.
The automatics, although a compromise, are no longer dramatically inferior, only slightly so. The SMG is, by all accounts, a great step forward offering almost the best of both worlds. Since Audis have the DSG and since you apparently want the BMW for a lot of good reasons, the SMG may be the only choice you are left with.
If you can't or won't go with the stick shift, the SMG will almost certainly better the 6speed steptronic.
What good would a test drive do? If you drove the stick and the SMG and the stick was your choice but circumstances prevented you from making that selection, would you go with the lowest performance version of the clutchless transmission (steptronic)? Or would you order and accept sight unseen the well reviewed alternative.
Since the DSG is not a BMW option and if you will not go with the stick, why worry?
My dealer claims he will NOT stock the SMG unless it is presold.
Most folks who buy these cars buy: "normal" automatic transmissions, standard wheels, tires and suspensions and seldom, if ever, anything that brings out the maximum performance of these fine German cars.
I learned this when speaking with the largest BMW dealer in Ohio -- "we do not stock manual transmission 5 series, we can't sell them from stock; they are virtually all special orders."
Times have changed.
My wife and I "have" to order our cars and hope they are what we expect them to be, for it is getting harder and harder to find one to test drive that even hopes to be "sportier" than standard.
We have met the lowest common denominator, and it is us.
I've broadened (lowered?) my search to include the G series Infinitis for exactly this reason.
Add to that trying to maintain speed on a downhill grade without riding the brakes.
Using an LG-PM 625 on Sprint which does not upload the phone book but using the voice commands I was able to speak a name and a number and save them. I don't have a huge phone book anyway, using less than a dozen numbers I call regularly so NBD.
What I couldn't find out from BMW was are they using the latest Bluetooth version. They were sure easy taking my $150.00 but no one could tell me what or how to find out the SW version. Anyone know how to find out this info? Also, callers tell me my voice sounds hollow with no tone, very bad. Is this the fault of the BMW micophone or my phone? I've heard this complaint from some folks using the new BT ear gear, and one guy said he got so many complaints about his voice quality, that he went back to a wired earpiece and mic.
Anyone have these type complaints? Any way to fix the poor audio quailty?
http://www.bmwtransact.com/bluetooth/Compatible_Phones.htm
I know that some people have had both good and bad experiences with other phones.... some work well, some not at all. It seems as though yours is somewhere in between. (BTW, I don't see any LG phones on that list at all....)
I would buy another set even after 3 seasons of use.
Thanks!
Emil
A troublesome car rarely becomes more reliable, just because you've replaced all the parts...
regards,
kyfdx
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If you need to replace brakes and rotors during that time, figure about $800-$900. About $90-$100 for oil changes. $300-$400 for scheduled maintenence....... It adds up. In the end, most people make out better by getting the extended maintenance.
But, if you are only driving 8K-10K miles/yr, then I wouldn't bother..
One other thing... Is the car CPO? If you are going to bring it back to the dealer for the warranty work for the next 3 years, then you'll likely be coming there for service, as well.. This would push me towards buying the maintenance to match the warranty....
regards,
kyfdx
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Very true. Maybe I should have been more clear about people getting their money's worth.... Any warranty or maintenance plan depends on how you drive.
Have you had all the tires balanced? Just because it came from the dealer it doesn't mean they balanced it properly or you haven't lost some weights off the wheels.
-Paul
Every car experiences some vibrations - but there is no reason it should pick up at specific speeds and is easily repeatable on any road. I'm hoping to find other individuals who are experiencing a similar issue in an effort to pinpoint what may be common and force the dealerships hand. There were several other post a few weeks ago on this thread.
appreciate any thoughts
yellowdog
I recently drove a loaner 530i w/ HUD when my M5 was in for routine service. I found it gimmicky and a little distracting. Fortunately, I was told that you can turn it off.
As far as active steering goes, another 750i I drove had it (standard feature, I believe). Whether it was related to the active steering or simply the size and suspension setup of the car, I was dissapointed in the lack of steering feel and precision I am used to with my M5. My brother in laws new 911 S has a similar feature and, if anything, the steering feel is improved over the former 996. So who knows.
In any case, I strongly recommend that you test out these two options yourself before ordering them. Their "value" is highly subjective and, in the case of BMW's active steering, might even be negative for some.
If you like the steering/handling feel of BMWs (and who doesn't?!?!), then forget active steering. It makes steering "easier" (don't have to use as much effort), especially in parking lots (making slow, tight turns), but you lose all the good BMW steering feel and it just feels kind of numb..... If you choose active steering, then you might as well just drive a Lexus. :P
Although the HUD sounds gimiky I thought it would be cool, ONLY if you could turn it off. If not I dont think I will order with it. Also, has anyone seen what the aero kit looks like and if so would you recommend it? Its kind of pricy and maybe a better one that is aftermarket.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
SB