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BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

30157 messages,  Last post on Dec 08, 2009 at 9:08 PM

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#31 of 30157 owners choice by firstbmw Oct 13, 2000 (2:18 pm)
can anyone explain what the bmw "owners choice" program is all about? is this a type of lease? what are the good and bad features of it? thanks in advance for the help. firstbmw
#32 of 30157 After Market Fog Lights by aam1 Oct 13, 2000 (3:10 pm)
Hi: I have a 325i without fog lamps. Wanted to find out if anyone had any experience putting after market fog lamps in the 325i. Any preferred manufacturer and cost estimates would be very useful. Thanks. aam1
#33 of 30157 After Market Fog Lamps by aam1 Oct 13, 2000 (3:09 pm)
My 325i is a model year 2000 car without the sports package. Thanks.
#34 of 30157 Owners Choice..... by lokki Oct 13, 2000 (10:40 pm)
I'd like some more info too.... I've been toying with this idea too.  There is some info on the BMW website and a calculator where you can plug in numbers for the different type of payments, including owner's choice. It is essentially a loan that looks like a lease according to my salesman (he sold me my first and I'm trying working with him to figure an angle to get a second one). You make payments for three years and a ballon is due. You can then either refinance the baloon amount with a new loan (at whatever rates the market bears at the time) or you can turn the car in.... Do you get any credit for equity when you walk away or was it then just a 3 year lease? I didn't think to ask that question the other day, but I'd guess it was just a lease in that situation,,,,right? Now, how this works out in practice is what I would like to know, and I'd love to take to someone who did it 3 years ago and reached the decision point. Can anyone help us with this one?
#35 of 30157 Leather or Leatherette? by markjenn Oct 14, 2000 (6:42 am)
People are pretty evenly divided on whether leatherette is a good value. Virtually everyone that has it, likes it. Most say that it is difficult to distinguish from leather, particularly in the darker colors, and wears better with less maintenance. But the real-leather proponents say that it it stupid to spend $35K on a car and skimp on what you sit on. Some seem quite happy paying $1500 just because it smells good. Whatever pulls your chain. FWIIW, I just ordered a car with leatherette. I think it looks fine and I can do other things with the money, like get xenons and track schools. Like you, I also didn't get a sunroof - every car I've owned with a sunroof found the sunroof unused. It is expensive, adds weight, is a source of creaks and rattles, and reduces headroom. The salesfolks always go nuts talking about how a non-sunroof car is impossible to trade or sale. I reply that I had a non-sunroof M3 and sold it in 36-hours after posting a note on a BMW BBS. Several people called me wanting it BECAUSE it didn't have a sunroof. (Which brings up another rule of car shopping - NEVER believe anything a salesman tells you. My latest testimonial to this was last week when I went into a dealership to look at 325s and all they had were 323s. I asked what changed and the salesmans said "absolutely postively nothing - it is just a name change". Which, of course, is wrong - the 325 has a new series engine with 14 more hp, among several other changes. Very few car sales people know their cars very well and are honest in helping make good tradeoffs - they sell what is on the lot.) Likewise, the 325 vs. 330 question has been gone over and over. If you don't mind paying another $4K or so (you have to add a few optional items to the 325 to get a true apples-apples) the 330 is the way to go. FWIIW, I got the 325. Given that the 330 is basically a 325 with different crankshaft throws, it is rather ridiculous that BMW gets so much more for it. I would prefer that they just sell the 330 for a price midway between the two and be done with it. They'd make the same amount of money. But given their pricing model, the 325 seems to represents a better value. The fact that you can only get a wagon in the 325 is also a factor for me as the wagon seems to have virtually no drawbacks vs. the sedan (except looks, but I like wagons), and lots of extra utility. I wouldn't purchase a 3-series without taking a long/hard look at the Audi A4 and the MB C Class. Possibly even the Volvos as well, although I've never personally been much of a Volvo fan. The Audi probably represents a little better value and it has quattro. The new C class has an expensive look/feel and has that "hewn from solid rock" feel that I find only in MB vehicles. At this level, you're talking very minor preferences and look/feel and no car is clearly superior for everyone. They are the Acura TLs and Lexus IS300 as well, although most folks who are interested in a Euro car won't look at the Japanese cars. The ED price is negotiable although additional discounts are typically very modest (maybe a percent or two) because margins on ED are lower than non-ED. You could try and "spring it" after agreeing to a price, but the dealer will probably just revise the deal anyway. And he should have the right since it affects his profit. Most dealers won't get down to writing up a firm order until they know the details of your trade-in, financing, whether ordering, etc. I'd just tell them up front. The warranty starts when you take delivery in Germany. This means it is ticking while on the boat. Given all the hassles of going over there, not having a car while yours is being shipped, worrying about it in transit, etc. it really doesn't make much sense unless you would enjoy the process and want to spend some time driving Europe. Which I heartily recommend. I haven't done ED, but I have driven Europe and it is a hoot. Sorry for the long post. Good luck with your decisions. - Mark
#36 of 30157 My 330 ci by ec_creative Oct 14, 2000 (9:27 pm)
check it out. . . http://www.geocities.com/mariabmw330/index.html http://www.geocities.com/mariabmw330/index2.html (front spoiler or aluminum e-brake handle not installed yet)
#37 of 30157 Did you mean 325i? by martin13 Oct 15, 2000 (2:36 am)
for the money?
#38 of 30157 Michael- check out www.bimmer.org by martin13 Oct 15, 2000 (2:40 am)
for dialogue on this.....lots of post re: 325i and 330i. I don't think the 330i is necessarily the consensus model. It really depends on your finances, purposes, etc. etc.
#39 of 30157 330xi by lexbenz Oct 15, 2000 (3:08 am)
Just bought my second 3-series. I choose the 330xi and i am very ,very pleased to say the least. My 323i was quick and fun but the 330 is miles ahead and the transmission (auto w/ steptronic) is a few steps ahead of the competition. Can't wait for snow word is, the AWD.is better than the audi quarttro which i had ,so i'll be a fair judge and let you know what i think. By the way if you live in the Pittsburgh, Pa. area give Greg Riley or Kathi Three Rivers BMW a chance there good people.
#40 of 30157 Options, Eurodelivery, 330/325 by reubencahn Oct 16, 2000 (2:25 pm)
Eurodelivery pricing is lower than U.S. though there is less or no ability to negotiate. But making your best deal on a U.S. delivered car would probably still net you a higher price than eurodelivery MSRP. Options: I won't join the leather/leatherette debate. I've got leather. I like it fine. Look at both and see what you like. Xenons are another matter. I have them. They are excellent--better than halogens--but if you live in an urban area, you can hardly ever tell the difference. Also, BMW's halogens are very good. The HK stereo is not awesome by any means. It's decent except for very poor bass. To me it was worth it because I didn't want to deal with aftermarket stuff but if you're an audiophile (I'm not) you won't be happy. As it is, I may feel the need to do something about the bass response. Sunroofs: don't let a salesman make you get a sunroof. On a new car, the sunroof makes sales easier because many people come in wanting a car loaded up--and with a new car they will insist on getting exactly what they want. And sunroofs are popular. When you resell, people know they can't pick their options on a used car. My sunroof is hardly every used. On those few occasions, it is nice, but I could live without it. And I would have but I would have had to wait another 2 months to get the car. Last, the sunroof switch is very troublesome. The 325 is definitely a better value but if you've got the money and it won't bother you to have spent it, go for the 330. No one ever complained that their car had too much power.

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