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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 1856 of 3026

#18548 of 30250 Long Island BMW Dealers by nyccarguy

Jul 01, 2002 (7:41 am)

Can anybody advise on a good BMW dealer on Long Island to go to? My girlfriend's father is interested in a BMW 325xiT with a Manual Transmission and a few other options. I know he is going to walk into the wrong "this is the price of the car and that's it" dealership and have a completely sour taste in his mouth regarding BMWs. BTW just to give you a bit of background on his current vehicle: a 1993 AWD Plymouth Voyager with 250,000 miles on the odometer. He's on the 2nd engine, 5th (or 6th) transmission, the front suspension has been replaced as has the rear suspension. Surprisingly there is no rust on the body at all.
 
He's definitely into European Cars (Loves driving his wife's stick GLX Bug) and would be stretching his budget a little bit. He's a fan of AWD and needs the cargo room provided by the wagon. This guy keeps cars until they die and then keeps 'em running for a few years after that.
 
I've told him he'd probably be better buying the car in Jersey, but I'd like to see what you guys (I've lived in NY all my life and y'all isn't in my vocabulary:) thought.

#18549 of 30250 RE: Sunnybrook by JingleJill

Jul 01, 2002 (8:00 am)

Sunnybrook,
 
Funny you ask...
 
I have owned a 330i and an Acura TL-S. They don't compare. Even the 325 vs TL-S doesn't compare.
 
Don't get my wrong, the TL-S is a great value and a good car, but it is also FWD and doesn't have a manual transmission. If you truly enjoy the driving experience, there is nothing like a 3-series.
 
I had my '03 TL-S less than 6 weeks and I sold it. It just wasn't the same driving experience as my 330i.
 
Since then, I have driven a 325i and I the Acura still lags in the driving "fun".
 
I read posts where people say a car is just a car. I think I thought the same thing when I got rid of my 330i and went to the Acura (after driving all the competition). However, a car is not just a car. A BMW is truly the ultimate driving machine. It is not a status thing with me. In fact when people asked what I drove, I was usually hesitant and a bit embarrased to admit I had a BMW. Anyway...I realize that I enjoy driving too much settle for a second class machine.
 
If you are looking for the most bang for the buck, the Acura is a good choice. You really can't beat the amenities for the money. Acura makes a great car.
 
I've driven the G35 too. Both cars are more roomy than the 3-series, but they sure don't drive like 3.
 
All that being said, I'm just patiently waiting to place an order for a 325ci.
 
If you have any questions, drop me an e-mail or a post.
 
Stacy

#18550 of 30250 JingleJill by nyccarguy

Jul 01, 2002 (8:11 am)

How come you're going with the 325 instead of the 330 this time?

#18551 of 30250 jinglejill by sunnybrook

Jul 01, 2002 (8:11 am)

I actually just took delivery of my ED 2002 325i from my dealership last week, but my brother just picked up a 2003 TL-S the other day which is why I was asking about it. It's wierd because I just haven't really heard all that much about the TL-S in terms of how it stacked up against the BMW. Guess I'll just have to wait for a visit from him before I can see how they really stack up. I take it that with the Acura's engine can blow away the BMW in the 0-60 right?

#18552 of 30250 JingleJill by tenet1

Jul 01, 2002 (8:21 am)

How much money have you lost in terms of taxes and depreciation by buying and selling so many cars in such a short period of time?? Just curious.

#18553 of 30250 RE: nycarguy and tenet1 by JingleJill

Jul 01, 2002 (8:43 am)

nycarguy...Well I narrowed it down to a coupe instead of a sedan. That left me with the 330 or 325. I owned a 330 and loved it. Recently I test drove a 325i and I was impressed with it too. When I configure a 325ci and a 330ci the way I would order, it just isn't worth the $5k. The 325 has plenty of torque to get me up and moving.
 
All that being said, when it comes time to placing my order, that 330 just might get the better of me. ;o)
 
Tenet1...All in all, from selling the BMW, buying the Acura, buying the Mazda, and selling the Acura, I've lost $2,600.
 
On the bright side, at least I know what I want; except for nycarguy brining up the 325 vs 330 issue. ARRGHHHHHHH
 
;o)
 
Stacy

#18554 of 30250 obioha1 by 1pierce

Jul 01, 2002 (9:23 am)

Reliability: An new 3-series will be fine, unless you are buying a problem that somebody unloaded after a year because the dealer just couldn't get it fixed. I've always been a little leery of used cars that are only a year old. Can you imagine the depreciation/financing hit you take on a one year old car, even a Bimmer? That said, maybe it was a repo, or the owner just got in trouble. I don't know anything about your specific car.
 
Also: I have a '99 Maxima with 40,000 mi on it. Been perfect also. The "smart" trade would have been for a new one: better deal, no dispo. fee, no wear-tear costs, etc. Probably would have saved me about $2,000. And,...I would still be going through life wanting a BMW.
 
Finally: I've never had a Bimmer before (mine is due in August), but I've accepted the following: Not a chance in hell that my BMW will be as reliable as my Maxima. That's the price we pay for wanting a car, not a transportation appliance like a Camry or Accord.

#18555 of 30250 ddblue - by brave1heart

Jul 01, 2002 (9:31 am)

The Sumitomo HTRZ II tires held up pretty well at the autoX this weekend. I started at 41/38 psi F/R but I did not like the way the car handled at all (too much plowing) and I kept dropping a pound or two between runs. I got it down to 36/34 and the handling was much better but I probably should have lowered it even further because the temp was in the mid-80's and the asphalt was very hot from the bright sun. The guy that was running the best times all day in our group was running 35/32 in his 235/40/17 all around Potenza RE730's. My time with the Sumi's was marginally better compared to the Contis' once I got used to them but I am still ~ 2 sec behind the fastest guy in my class (usually a 330ci). I think the Sumi's definitely start squealing and give in before the Contis but they are incredibly transient and communicative. The Contis used to give in abruptly and it was tough to gauge whether they'd give in just a couple of inches or a whole foot. The Sumi's let you know well in advance and they are very predictable in turns. I wish they did all that AND had a higher initial resistance but even so it is easier to drive aggressive with them. I think that once I get used to them better, they will help me improve my time because they are so communicative. Oh, and btw, my car has almost a luxurious ride on the street and I can actually hear other cars' tires instead of mine for the first time when going over concrete. The Sumitomo is a better tire for less money. I am happy with my purchase but I can see how you can get better street tires than that. Just not in the same price range and tread life...
 
fwiw, the top three guys in my class (pretty much all 3-series) were running The Potenza RE730, Michelin Pilot Sport, and Yokohama AVS Intermediate (amazingly, the last ones are only $60/tire at Discount Tire's clearance sale going on currently).

#18556 of 30250 Speaking of 325i vs 330i... by 1pierce

Jul 01, 2002 (9:42 am)

For all of us out there who can't afford to step up to the 330i, wouldn't you just once like to see a magazine comparison that includes the 325i vs all of the usual suspects, instead of the the 330i? I admit, I take every magazine review with a grain of salt, since they always include the 330i.
 
I know why they do it,...why not compare the best, but that is what always causes the $5-7,000 price differential that gets evaluated into the equation. In reality, I don't think most people shop like that. I know that I decide what I can spend, then configure each car to meet that price, then decide which is better or best. That's why I compared a 325i against an A4 3.0 FWD. The MB 240 (while I really like it) didn't even enter the picture, because it couldn't be configured to my taste, and get to my $33,000 threshold. I also ruled out the A4 1.8T, because the BMW obviously is superior (and it should be for $4,000 more).
 
Personally, I'd love to see if the magazine gurus (who love speed and torque, and test these cars on tracks and at redline) would think that the BMW feel and character evens the scales when the 325i (while the same price) is grossly out-gunned in HP and torque by the TL-Type S, the IS300, and the G35. Given the same comparo, I still chose the 325i, I'd just like to see what the "experts" would do, just for fun.
 
This has been my personal rant-of-the-day, it was a hard weekend. Anybody else ever ponder this?

#18557 of 30250 by kdshapiro

Jul 01, 2002 (9:49 am)

People buy the 3 series over other makes do so for the overall performance/quality/fit and finish. The 325 is no slouch. As I've driven both the 330i and the 325i the 325i has plenty of zip for me. I would prefer the 325i over other on-BMW models having more HP unless my requirements dictate(read room and number of seats) that I need a different class of car (read SUV/mini-van).

Messages Page 1856 of 3026

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