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Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier
30156 messages, Last post on Nov 17, 2009 at 5:41 AM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
| I concur with everyone's assessment that the winter tires will do fine in the snow. I have a 330i SP with winter tires and have no problems - even with 5-6". I would also recommend not adding weight. I don't think it will be that beneficial for traction purposes and it will definitely impact your braking distance. | |
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| I am partial to VWs too. I had a '90 Jetta for ~ 3 years and then a '97 Jetta VR6 for 4 years before I got my '01 325i. VW is a lot of fun and these days also refinement for the money but in terms of driving dynamics, looks, resale value and just about anything else, it can't touch the 3-series. I took a beating on my VR6 when I sold it, although I'll admit that putting on 96K miles in 4 years doesn't help resale value :o) The VR6 was lighter than the 325 and it is marginally faster 0-60 (C&D gave it a 1/10 sec advantage - 6.9 vs. 7.0) but the 325 will be slightly faster 0-100 and simply walk away above 110. My cousin has a '02 1.8T with 180 HP, which is heavier than my old VR6 but it also has a few more ponies. According to C&D, the 325 was 0.2 sec faster 0-100 and again, above 110, you just walk away. The ECIS CAI in my 325 is good for at least 1-2 tenths, and the few times that I had a GTI try to keep up with me, they only stayed close to ~ 70 and then the 325 slowly pulls away. When you say you have a GTI, that's the Golf, right? The Golf will be slightly faster than the Jetta of course but comparing the Golf to the 3-series is like comparing apples to oranges. Aside from their similar acceleration numbers, they are entirely different cars. I loved driving my VR6 but the driving dynamics, handling, braking, ergonomics, and comfort cannot be compared to the 3-series'. | |
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I have a 330I with sp and have a winter tire set- up from Tire Rack- Blizzack LM22's on 16 in. wheels. Absolutely no problem in the snow here in the Northeast. It handles as well as my wife's ML320. You just have to drive sensibly in the white stuff. Look at how many SUV's you see in accidents They think it makes them invincible and drive like maniacs when it snows. IMO when a car tires to do everything well ie: drive sporty, luxuruiosly, goes through snow etc. it winds up doing nothing truly great. It can't be all things to all people because it then winds up being nothing to anyone, if that makes any sense. (See Lexus, boring cars) IMO the 3er is a great Sports Car which does other things competently. That's why I love it. I wanted a sports car. |
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| nkeen... I loved my old mid-1980s Jetta. Think she was an '85. But from a driving dynamics standpoint, there just isn't any comparison between FWD and RWD. A near 50/50 RWD platform like the 3 Series is so much more rewarding to drive. I'm 6'2" and have no trouble with the headroom in my wife's '00 323ia. Have you put the seat all the way down? Test drive, test drive, test drive. Do a ton of reasearch. Get what you can afford that brings a smile to your face. If driving isn't fun... | |
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Germans love Japanese cars, but, according to the 4/03 Bimmer magazine, the Japanese love the Valvetronic engine. A Japanese automotive engineers group gave the Valvetronic engine, technology of the year award. In another tidbit, Bimmer magazine says BMW and Siemens are working on an EMT camshaft, that might be introduced with the 42 volt electrical systems. |
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Well, eight months and 11,000 miles on my 330i and I have my first real failure. The CD changer. My music. It had to be my music? It's the BMW trunk mounted changer. Driving down the road one day it all of a sudden decided to stop noticing there were any discs at all. Just kept saying on the Nav readout "no discs." Tried to think like a techie. Hmm...what would a comuter guy say if I called and asked for tech support? Ah, yes, turn it off and turn it on again. No luck. Popped the magazine out and reinserted each disc. Still "no discs." Took it into the dealer today and I swear they did the exact same thing I did. Turned it off and on again. Popped out the magazine. And finally pronounced it dead. New one on order covered under warranty. Sigh. The honeymoon is over. My music, it had to be my music... |
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| Better to have the music go than the engine / transmission. You still have the radio, right? | |
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Wondering why we should buy from a country that spits on Americans. I won't anymore nor will I travel to their country. Same goes for North Korea and France. Lets support our friends! Any comments? Paul |
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Are we going to stop drinking French wine? The Japanese bombed us in 1942, maybe we shouldn't buy their products. We had a bloody war with England in the 1700's, maybe we shouldn't associate with them. Most importantly maybe we should stop using Middle Eastern oil. Where will it end? |
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From my travels, I can say that it seems to be a Love/Hate type of thing. Generally speaking, they seem to hate our government, but like us, that is, except the Parisians. In Paris, it seems that anti-American sentiment is the National Hobby, and the National Sport is who can generate the best anti-American rhetoric. Generally speaking of course.  My wife and I are going to a wedding in Paris this April, I suspect that IF there is any activity in Iraq by then, this trip should be very interesting. Then again, I have a wedding to go to in Nairobi in early May, and that is (if I am not mistaken) primarily a Muslim country, that visit could be even more interesting. Best Regards, Shipo |
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