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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
#18939 of 30250 Chronology of Cars by burrsr
Jul 17, 2002 (6:41 am)
OK, I'll play too. Although rather limited due to age, here's a brief recap of my auto ownership experience:1986.5 Mazda B2000 Pick-up manual - cheap college transportation.
1990 Honda Accord EX manual - upgrade thru graduate school, and a heck of a car from the day when Accords were less "appliancy".
1995 Acura Integra GS-R manual - the "starter" BMW and my first new car. An unbelievable amount of fun, value, and as reliable as the sun. I actually did a project for a decision analysis course on "which car to buy post-graduation", and the GS-R came out on top.
1992 Toyota Camry XLE V6 auto - a large step backward in terms of fun, but upwards in terms of financial practicality, as I had purchased my first house and financial priorities had changed. Drove until 165,000 miles, at which point it was still running like new, but time to trade.
2001 330i Step - "I can't believe I bought a BMW!" Now I can never go back to anything else. One of the best all-around cars on the planet, regardless of your criteria.
2001 Z3 2.5 - third "fun" car - actually more fun than the GS-R.
2004 - 330i SP manual? 530i SP manual? 535i? 545i? M5 is the dream (but I'd need to double my salary first
).
#18940 of 30250 What's playing on the 8 Track? by squeakydeke
Jul 17, 2002 (7:33 am)
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. It gives me hope of someday reaching promised land of BMW ownership despite my humble trail of prior vehicles. I'll spare you the details, but I'm having flashbacks about my first car, a 1964 Valiant Station Wagon, 225 slant six, two tone gray w/ white top, red interior, 67k miles. And, best of all, the Transmission of the Future: the automatic with the push buttons on the left. It was a surprise gift. I think my dad paid $100 for it in 1974. My dad and my uncle had a sign shop and painted cars on the side. I spent what seemed like months after school when I was 16 sanding and re-sanding ad nauseaum until they told me I had it right. I think they were really just pulling a "Karate Kid" on me. A very zen-like activity. Taught me a lot about patience and craftsmanship. Finally, the big day came when my uncle painted it. I don't think it looked that good on the day it was built. Anyway, I drove it through high school and college, until the rust on the undercarriage could no longer be held at bay. The rear leaf springs popped up through the floor and there was nothing left to weld to. Overall, it was pretty reliable, if you don't count losing the brakes twice due to corroded brake lines. If you went over a bump too hard, the coil wire would pop off. Finally learned to tape the wire down. I learned a lot about cars that I would have never known if my first car had been a new Datsun or Toyota, like some of my friends had. I think I could still replace drum brake shoes in my sleep.Anyway, still haven't gotten my wife in for a test drive. Our schedules have been hectic and this is a long-term goal anyway. Some day...
-Frank
#18941 of 30250 chronology by erickpl
Jul 17, 2002 (7:58 am)
Okay, here goes...1985 - parents 1985 Mazda 626 - totalled in a car wreck - my fault - manual
1986 - bought 1976 Chevy Monte Carlo - banana yellow with black tint and a 4' antenna. Looked like a dang bumble bee! - swivel seats in front - auto - relatively few problems (mainly electrical because somebody crossed jump start cables) 350 V8 that would about die when the gas was pressed, then just kick you in the butt and stick you to the back window!
1991 - given 1985 Mazda 626 - parents gave me the replacement to the one I totalled - drove it into the ground w/o maintenance - stupid me. timing chain broke - never ran right again. - manual
1994 - 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix LE - decent car - electrical covered under warranty. developed lots of leaks later - auto
--- CURRENT cars ---
1999 - 1999 Honda Civic Si - LOVE this car. Great car, noisy though. About broke the door off backing up one day. It's fixed now. This will be my daughter's car.
2000 - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee - Great 4x4. Typical Jeep tranny problems all covered under warranty. Replaced battery. Awesome for ski trips and hauling stuff.
2002 - 2002 BMW 325xi. What can I say?! Everything superlative. One replaced computer cluster under warranty. Slight vibration at 68 mph. Suspect less than optimal tires since rotating lessened it a LOT. I wanna take this one on ski trips, but we have the Jeep for that.
-Paul
#18942 of 30250 First warranty work! Help by tcn2k
Jul 17, 2002 (8:12 am)
Well, the streak is over. After 13 months of a flawless car, the first casualty came today. After a great morning of having the moon roof wide open, i arrived at work and was closing the moonroof as usual. But when going to pull the visor close to cover the moonroof, the visor was off it's track (One side anyway, was off its track)!Does anyone here encounter that problem before? What caused it? And how is it fixed?
The service advisor said it is broken clips and is fairly easy to fix, just two hours. Is this true on the clips?
I can't bring the car in till next week, but i am wounded by this first warranty work. I knew it can't be perfect!
#18943 of 30250 I'll play by kdshapiro
Jul 17, 2002 (8:15 am)
69 Rambler72 Hornet AMC
78-79 Cutlass
82 Toyota Celica
90 Ford Taurus Wagon
94 Maxima
96 Maxima
99 Quest
99 JGC
02 330i
02 Moutaineer
#18944 of 30250 by locke2c
Jul 17, 2002 (8:41 am)
85 RX-7 GSL --first car, handed down by my dad88 Camaro Z28
65 Chevelle
69 Camaro RS/SS 396 375HP -- dad still has it, work on it every now & then
97 Neon ACR --first new car; bad choice with its depreciation
99 Impreza 2.5RS
00 Miata base + susp --ex-wife's car
95 M3
The musclecars were the only automatics. I'm picking up a beater old fullsize truck soon, no way I'm driving the M3 in the winter. with a lip spoiler 3" off the ground, I don't care how good your winter tires are that's just silly. plus instead of blowing $1500 on winter wheels and tires I can put that towards a pick'em up truck.
Next new car: M2 coupe!
-Colin
#18945 of 30250 I guess this shows my age by jfedor1
Jul 17, 2002 (8:43 am)
1981 Volvo 240DL great car my dad bought it new when I was three. I got the car in 93. On Jan 3 2000, I hit black ice on a road going through white mountain in NH. There where no guard rails so I rolled it over a cliff If I wasn't in a safe European car I think I would have been seriously hurt. The guy it the toyota driving ahead of me had to be airlifted to the hospital. Me and my girl friend walked away with out a scratch. (actually my cell phone came flying and hit me in hit head) The best part is even with the windsheald cracked and the whole car mangled, it started back up and I drove it back home before I junked it.1989 Mazda 626 5 speed bought in February 2000, nice car, but didn't feel very safe.
August 2001 BMW 325 5 speed- My first new car, and I'm glad it could be a beemer
Josh
#18947 of 30250 I wanna play too... by harlequin1971
Jul 17, 2002 (10:07 am)
88 First car - a '82 Plymouth Horizon, smashed the front end on my first day driving, "welcome to the road" the cop told me...died in my brother's abusive hands88 - '84 VW Rabbit 4spd Diesel. Looked similar to the Horizon, but a completely more satisfying car. Blasted and painted the bumpers and some Cabriolet alloy wheels to match the ivory white paint job - installed a boomin' stereo, removed the rear seat, placed a 4-ball on the shifter and had a white rabbit's foot hanging from the rearview (it was the "white rabbit") as well as an incense burner. That car rocked! No power, lots of mpg, and reliable for 5 years of hard driving - left the family after messing around with a 64 Ford F150...
92 - '88 Saab 900S 5spd - bought with 47k miles and a flawless paint and interior, unfortunately, the mechanicals were not as perfect. Had already ate one tranny, and 15k miles later, ate another - sold it a short while later and had to eat a near $9k loss for a car I drove for 1.5 years. Loved the car, drove it hard, and paid through the teeth for it!
93 - '86 Mercury Sable - left over family car was inherited to help get past the Saab story. Drove it for 2 difficult years (hated that car) but it did ok, never failed me anyhow.
95 - '95 Infiniti G20 - first new car! felt like I deserved a luxury car after I had made it so long with the Merc. Unfortunately, the G20 wasn't very luxurious, or sporty, or anything beyond capable - but the service techs were real real nice. Going back to school made the lease payments a little too high...
96 - '96 Honda Civic HX - frugal needs made me trade the G20 for a Civic. Was a great car, leased for 4 years with one minor problem on a window that wouldn't stay in track. Was wrecked in a rear-ender on the highway (I stopped, the Durango behind me didn't). Was a good car, just not a whole barrel of fun...LOVED the CVT transmission though - coolest tranny ever.
00 - '95 BMW 318ti - the car I wanted back in 1995. Found it used in private party sale with 49k miles and near perfect interior and engine. Had narry an option, but the owner had added a sunroof. I quickly added a stereo upgrade and an alarm with keyless entry. Car just passed 70k and should be great once again when the service is completed. Needs a tune up. I like it, but the 5spd will be the last manual I intend to own for a commuter car. Knees and back just don't handle the old "row your boat" routine.
Next Car? not sure, but looking towards the '04 BMW 1-series. Should be about time for new car. May have to replace the BMW with something else if I get a job with a difficult commute.
Dream Car? too many worth mentioning, but always wanted to own a Porsche.
#18948 of 30250 Production Number and Moonroof Visor by JingleJill
Jul 17, 2002 (10:13 am)
Production number: If I just placed an order, when can the dealer tell me my production number?Sunroof visor: I had the same thing happen on my 330i. The service advisor said the same thing; clips. I took the car in and had it back the same day.
Poll: I'm torn between Jet Black and Orient Blue Metallic...Would anyone like to put their two cents in before its too late?
Thanks,
Stacy
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