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BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

30250 messages,  Last post on Mar 24, 2013 at 11:51 AM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

Messages Page 1540 of 3026

#15382 of 30250 brave #14734 by 1pierce

Mar 26, 2002 (3:39 pm)

I agree with your sentiment, that the time is now for a 325i. I almost bought a 318i in 1991, but the car was just so spartan and had such a small engine for the money (about $19,500, nearly stripped). The vinyl seats were grossly inferior to today's leatherette - and looked like vinyl, the 4-speaker stereo sounded like the inside of a garbage can, and it came with 15" wheels and hub caps. I got a loaded Grand Prix GT for about $1,000 less, and loved it for 7 years - until the mechanicals started to fail.
 
I looked again in 1998, but I couldn't afford a 328, and a 318 still had the four cyl. and those hub caps.
 
Finally, in 2002, the time is right. I actually can't believe that you can get a creamy I6 cyl. with stability control, auto-manual, 16" alum. wheels, seats that actually look and feel like leather (but wear better), auto-climate control, all those airbags, fog lights, CD player, world class handling, and that BMW badge on the hood for under $30,000. We've come a long way, and the BMW I've dreamed about is finally within my reach.

#15383 of 30250 1pierce by ds2k1

Mar 26, 2002 (4:29 pm)

Awesome, isn't it? Your enthusiasm is infectious. I miss the longing and excitement I had when I was gearing up for my BMW purchase. Hope you get your car soon and I know you'll love it as much as you think you will.

#15384 of 30250 Ramblings by kdshapiro

Mar 26, 2002 (6:06 pm)

Wow the G35 vs 330 debate has sure heated up this board. If I knew I could affort a BMW I would have been driving them a while back. I actually never stopped in to a dealer to talk numbers I always assumed they were out of reach. Without any hard or fast numbers except seat of the pants observations I was always jealous of people who drove BMWs because of the class the exuded and the performance they exhibited. So no in my late 40's I'm driving my first Bimmer and I look forward to the drive to work every day.
 
It really is amusing to see some of the G35 crowd bash BMW for almost everything from leather to radio to weak performance to old tired looks, when the G35 is totally unproven. Hey it may win in some categories, but I think all around the 3 series is more versatile then all of Infinity as a company as was pointed out on the vs. thread. And while Infinity is definitely heating up the competition so is every other car manufacturer including BMW. This month it's Infinity next month it's ?. Some people would rather buy anything but BMW because I believe they are jealous and can't afford the cars. Just like some people are ABM (anybody but Microsoft). Even the guy on the G35 board who claimed he had a string of expensive cars and bought or tested a G35(?) sounds like he got caught up in the fray. If I could afford to drive a $75000 car I would not be looking at a G35 and claiming it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. At that level there is a marked difference between a $35 to 40K car and a $75K car. But to each their own. Sorry for the ramblings, the board filled up so fast it was hard to keep track of everything.
 
Ken

#15385 of 30250 Shipo--Southern Italy by butmywife

Mar 26, 2002 (8:29 pm)

Shipo, I read your post about the dangers of driving in southern Italy. Please elaborate as I am 3 weeks away from Bimmering my way through parts of Italy. Bad drivers? Theft?
 
BTW, where does southern Italy start? We were thinking of going as far south as Rome and possibly Pompeii. Any advice?
 
Thanks, ButMyWife

#15386 of 30250 ButMyWife by shipo

Mar 26, 2002 (9:32 pm)

Ohhh, I don't want to be the bearer of bad tidings, however, if you were to look at a map of Italy and draw a line from San Marino in the east, through Florence (Firenze), and on to Pisa in the west, that would be the line that I would not cross. In fact, I would have go do some serious soul searching to even that far south unless you know for sure that you will have some kind of protected parking environment available wherever you will be leaving the car for more than even a few minutes.
 
As you may have guessed by the previous, theft is the problem, however, if you do REAL good planning, you might be able to get away with going to Rome. By good planning, I mean, research Hotels that have GUARDED garages. Then, you simply drive to your destination, park the car, and take local transportation wherever you go.
 
When I was on a project for Mercedes-Benz, I was (and still am) a consultant, as such, I did not qualify to drive the company cars (for insurance reasons), and MBUSA rented me a BMW. When I picked up the car, I was told that if I was to so much as even cross the border into Italy, and if something were to happen, I would be completely liable for all damages that might occur. On one of my trips to Germany, I had already blocked out a weekend to drive to Italy, so, they rented me an Opel Vectra Estate (I think it was a Vectra anyway), which served me quite well, and did not get stolen in Italy.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#15387 of 30250 JagBoy is on the loose... by shipo

Mar 26, 2002 (9:46 pm)

I occasionally skim the posts over on the "Jaguar X-Type" discussion, and I came across a post from The Boy yesterday where he was announcing the fact that his folks had just GIVEN him a brand new Jaguar X-Type 3.0 (Carnival Red Metallic, ivory interior, and fully loaded except the GPS and the SP), which according to my calculations, comes to a $42,720 car. Hmmm, now he really may become an authority on how much it costs to operate an A4 vs. a 3-Series.
 
<soapbox>
Maybe I am just being foolish myself, however, it is my intent to let my son drive my 2002 530i as if it is his own car, when he gets to driving age, in 2011 (the car should have just over 100K miles on it by then). Maybe, just maybe, it is splitting hairs to suggest that that is any less irresponsible than giving a 16 year old kid a brand new $43K X-Type, however, the logic of giving ANY teenager a brand new car like that totally escapes me. I mean, like, what were his parents thinking???
</soapbox>
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#15388 of 30250 325i stripper beats the G35 loaded. by parsonguy

Mar 26, 2002 (11:16 pm)

I really really WANT to like the G35. I want to buy one. Its a little more incognito, a bit more of a sleeper. But my long and rigorous test drive was soooooo disappointing. The torque curve/shift points are all over the map. So unpredictable. Yes, there are peaks where you are slammed into your seat. But that's not what I want. I am going to wait to drive the 6 speed G35. But if its as peaky and unpredictable as the automatic I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get a $28k E46. (Or $25k doing ED--think of it!) Maybe I can de-badge my BMW so my parishoners won't freak out. I don't want if for the cache. I want it because it is such a finely crafted and enjoyable way of getting around. Everyone please be civil and considerate like Brave and Shipo so the perception of BMW drivers will be changed forever.

#15389 of 30250 G35 by bmw323is

Mar 26, 2002 (11:21 pm)

Ooops, sorry, excuse me - I was trying to get to the 3 series board? Must have taken a wrong turn back there at the 'sedans' corner!
 
I only read this board each day or two in the evening and, I'm losing my beauty sleep. LOL.

#15390 of 30250 parsonguy by seivwrig

Mar 27, 2002 (6:16 am)

De-badging is an idea. It seems like de-badging is the norm in Europe. Like is has been said before, you have to buy the vehicle for you. Don't worry about the parishioners. Especially consider what some of the pastors in my neck of the woods drive, your 3er would be considered meager. The members at one large church near my church bought their pastor a Rolls-Royce and another pastors' wife is driving a Bentley. If the Lord blesses you with a 3er, just praise him!!! Sorry for the soapbox rantings.

#15391 of 30250 shipo by seivwrig

Mar 27, 2002 (6:22 am)

I'm with you. Unless any teenager knows that he already has a high paying job working in the family business, what do they have to look forward to. I got my first car when I was a sophmore in college ('78 Mercury Zephyr 2-door) in '88. I went without a car from '91 to '99. Got my second vehicle, a new '99 Ford Ranger XLT (my wife's choice). I vowed that I would pick my next vehicle. Wrong again, she liked the BMW with a preference for the 5er. My third vehicle is my 2002 BMW 325i. To start at a X-type 3.0 or even an M3, what is the next vehicle? a M5 or a 911?

Messages Page 1540 of 3026

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