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BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

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

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

Messages Page 1786 of 3026

#17846 of 30250 Brave by 1pierce

Jun 04, 2002 (9:21 am)

Boy, lots of spirited discussion last weekend while I was away. Sorry I missed it.
 
Brave: I was mistaken. I thought the only option you had on your car was SP. I must have been thinking of somebody else. It sounds like you got nearly the exact same car I almost bought, before I decided that I would miss the luxury items more than the added handling and cool seats of the SP. I couldn't afford SP and PP, and still get the HK, which was a must for me. I also decided that there was a gain in not getting SP - the smoother, quieter ride, and less hassle with wheel changing. The handling was fine (even exceptional) for my driving style.
 
Back in 1987, I loved BMW's when I was in college. Then, I was much younger, unmarried, no kids, and I liked to drive at the edge (break those wheels loose from time to time). Now, I've mellowed, and I have way too much to lose to drive in a way that can put me in the wall. I've also seen my Dad permanently incapacitated by a severe car accident., and I just don't feel as secure driving hard enough to need the SP.
 
Incidently, I almost bought a BMW in 1991. But, they were still a little too hardcore for me then. Just too many creature comfort sacrifices for the cost. I sometimes regret not buying the 318i (which was not a great performer anyway, with auto). But, when I reconstruct my logic, I would make the same decision again. Actually, 2002 is the first year that I feel the car is an exceptional value in terms of content and performance for the money (with the tweaking of the E46 version from '01) - that's why I've finally ordered one.

#17847 of 30250 115 character limit by pat

Jun 04, 2002 (9:51 am)

Shipo (and anyone else interested) -- there are some explanations and work arounds in a series of 4 posts beginning here. For reasons unknown, sometimes the software stumbles on that 115 character limit and other times it does not even notice.
 
I think you tried to post several links in a row - that will often generate the error, because I guess it just thinks all the links are one big link. Very dumb.
 
It is possible that if you put a <BR> at the end of each individual link, the error can be avoided. But see those messages for some other tricks.
 
Pat
Sedans Host

#17848 of 30250 Colors by rbrenton88

Jun 04, 2002 (2:30 pm)

Ok, here is a question for all you 3'er owners...
 
In my neck of the woods, 3x's are fairly common, especially in the last 1-2 model years. However, the ONLY colors I ever see are some variation of silver with the odd black one here and there.
 
I glanced over the color offerings on the '02 just out of curiousity, and just as I thought, there are a number of color options available.
 
So why do all 325/330 buyers go with the same silver exterior?

#17849 of 30250 South Houston Crowd: by leenelsonmd

Jun 04, 2002 (2:56 pm)

seiv: I agree with KK about Shadow creek ranch. I think the developer has some wierd ideas and the school issue is very significant until it is resolved (I cannot imagine they will ship those kids to Alvin forever). If I were buying down 288 I would move into Lakes at Countryplace. It is one of the closest developments to town and has the best 288 access. We live in Silverlake and while I like it, I think over the next few years it may become to busy (it is possible to spend 6-10 minutes before even getting to 288 after you leave your house). The Countryplace area allows easy access to all of the shopping that will soon dominate the 518 exit, but since it is more proximate to Houston you will save yourself future traffic headaches.
 
I have a cheap radar detector that does the job. It is a Uniden Laser blah blah blah. It is about 5-6 years old and has never failed to give me adequate warning around town. I don't like to drive too fast, but I sorta feel like 79mph is a reasonable speed and that everyone should drive it to protest the ridiculous limits. Most of the time you get enough visual warning to slow down, but having the detector is a little fun and gives you a few seconds more. Don't count on going a 95-120mph and expect it to save you (at least as far as my cheap one is concerned) because you may not have enough warning to slow down fast enough, but for gentle excesses the cheap detector is fun and relatively reliable.
FWIW: I have had 3 tickets in my 15 years of driving: 16yrs, 18yrs, and one at 29yrs of age last year. My last one was bogus but I knew I deserved one for all the other times I was speeding and so I didn't quibble about it. I just took DD and got a 10% savings off my insurance. (I was not driving my bimmer at the time).
 

#17850 of 30250 Colors by seivwrig

Jun 04, 2002 (3:11 pm)

IMHO, I think the choice of colours stink. We don't have the BMW Individual program in the U.S. So beyond, red, white and black. We get variations of blue, green and grey or silver. The M-series get real colours to choose from. I have Jet Black. My car looks great when it is clean (especially when I use Klasse All-in-one). The Titantium Silver and the Orient Blue are probably the best looking colours. I wish the red leather was still available.
 
If the Individual program was available, I would go for the Violet exterior, Anthracite Alcantara interior and Anthracite Birch dash (a little dreaming has not hurt anyone).

#17851 of 30250 Some more by leenelsonmd

Jun 04, 2002 (3:17 pm)

seiv: I will try to put a metal longhorn symbol on the car so you can recognize it. Right now I have no distinguishing marks.
 
When I get my e46 I am probably going to put a V1 detector in just for kicks. I haven't done much research yet, but $399 is a good amount for my wife to spring for a gift for me.
 
KK: I bought a townhome at Buffalo Spdwy and Holcombe. I will be about 1.5 miles from work which will be nice.

#17852 of 30250 leenelsonmd by katkison

Jun 04, 2002 (4:10 pm)

Congratulations on the home purchase! West U. is nice, and near the new Krispy Kreme! We have friends that live in West U. just off Weslayan and Holcombe (well, Bellaire Blvd.), so not too far from you.
 
Sheila and I have yet to get together, but we live very close together, she is across the lake down the street from us.
 
Won't that short drive to work kill your BMW-buzz? I love that I live much further away so I can drive her longer, even if I don't go as fast as I would like. I have had two speeding tickets, one here in Houston while in college (about 7 years ago) and one while in grad school in Ohio (about 5 years ago). One was deserved, one wasn't.
 
At least the insurance on the BMW went down when I moved across the Brazoria County line, I saved $120 a year.

#17853 of 30250 how about BMW 325i built in South Africa by xiajia888

Jun 04, 2002 (5:32 pm)

I am in the process of purchasing a new BMW 325i. My dealer want to persuade me into the one with more options. The one I want to purchase is built in South Africa and my dealer said this fact usually will scare people away.
 
Can anybody here share the experience about the 325i built in South Africa? I really do not have the idea of its difference with German built BMW. From percentage point of view, how many 325 are built in SA?
 
Thanks

#17854 of 30250 Catching up by brave1heart

Jun 04, 2002 (6:12 pm)

Radar detectors do work but ONLY in conjunction with common sense. I too was skeptical of radar detectors because the Uniden that I had back in college was not good. I got the V1 last year and I swear by it. If you like to drive fast and you can afford it, do get one - you'll be happy you did. Get the concealed display too.
 
Qn for the Houston crowd: was this speed trap on one of the last days of May? fwiw, my wife called me at work on May 31 to tell me that she saw at least 5-6 speed traps on her 15-mile commute to work where there is maybe one speed trap a week average.
 
kominsky - when you say 'floatier', do you mean that you can get them to squeal more easily? Does it feel like their sidewalls are not as stiff?!?
 
shipo - This is a good-looking and very reasonably-priced camera. IMO, it's nice to have a 3-mega pixel camera because most of the printing you can do from home printers is on 11.5x8 size photo paper and the 3-mega pixel resolution will allow you to print a full-page photo without losing any resolution. My Canon Powershot G1 came with great picture management software and all the bells and whistles that I would have never thought of: A/V cable, UBS port, etc. Did I mention that you can take 30-sec videoclips with it and the built-in microphone allows you to record sound with the pictures?. I think the G1 is down to a little over $400 and great value at that price as well.

#17855 of 30250 KK and brave1heart by leenelsonmd

Jun 04, 2002 (8:31 pm)

The shorter ride will not be as much fun, but I could always make laps around the Beltway when I get the urge.
 
brave1heart: The speedtrap I think was on 5/30/02. They had a cop on an overpass with a handheld gun and down on the road there were at least 8 cop cars ready to respond to his cues via radio. Quite an extraordinary thing, but your V1 would have no problem with this scenario. I think I will get the V1 with my new car, but like you say, common sense rules and nothing beats direct vision. You have to PAY ATTENTION.

Messages Page 1786 of 3026

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