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Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences BMW 3-Series Prices Paid and Buying Experience
10327 messages, Last post on Dec 08, 2009 at 11:04 PM
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I forgot to ask something above. I noticed the 335i coupe and sedan both have a sport package option that includes sport suspension but the 335xi coupe and sedan sport package option does not include sport suspension. Does anyone know why this is? Can anyone tell me if they notice a big difference? I actually want a smoother ride but I also hate body roll. I will be getting all seasons.
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Replying to: rob34 (Aug 18, 2008 4:05 pm) Back in the late '90s my wife and I owned two 3 Series that were identical except for the fact that my car had the Sport Package. My car handled quite a bit better(I still have it, in fact) but there was little difference between the two with regards to ride quality. The xi cars don't get the sport suspension because BMW NA believes(correctly, I might add) that 99% of the people who buy an xi will not drive the car hard enough to approach the limits of the stock suspension, never mind the sport suspension. If you are an exception to that rule, BMW Performance offers a sport suspension for the xi that you or your dealer can install. Better yet, get a RWD 335i and buy a dedicated set of winter tires/wheels. It takes me less than 45 minutes to swap them over in late fall and early spring. And buy the coupe; beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone... 
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Replying to: rob34 (Aug 18, 2008 4:00 pm) In the case of my two cars, the coupe is not only a better look but also a better drive, probably thanks to the coupe coming standard with (1) a sport-tuned suspension and (2) what I believe to be better tires (Conti Pros i/o Bridgestone Turanza). The coupe handles much better and, in my opinion, not at the expense of a harsher ride. Put another way, I notice the better handling whereas I do not notice a rougher ride. If cost may be a factor, you will pay more for a comparably equipped coupe than a sedan. The coupe is priced a bit higher than the sedan to begin with, though it does include as standard things which are options (or included in option packages) on the sedan. Examples that come to mind are the sport-tuned suspension and xenon lights. Making matters worse, dealers tend to give considerably less generous discounts on coupes than they do on sedans. And if you are leasing, the situation gets even worse, because the leasing program on the sedan is always (or at least generally) better than the sedan. Having just gone through this comparison process, I would say that your monthly payment on a lease of a coupe would be about $75 higher than a comparably equipped sedan. I was attracted to the lower cost of the sedan, but ending up getting a coupe this time for a nice change. If you go with an x, I think you don't get the sport-tuned suspension, not even if you get the Sports Package. Instead of getting an x, you could do what I've been doing - the winter wheel/tire changeover thing. The initial investment is less than the cost of x (in my case about half the cost). And over the long term, you'll have a car that has somewhat better acceleration, braking, fuel efficiency, etc. And oh yes, you'll have better handling thanks to the sport-tuned suspension. Equipped with decent winter tires, you can drive the BMW 3-Series confidently in a light to moderate snow. |
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ride quality is such a subjective thing that only YOU can tell. Different people have different perceptions. Just curious on where you're located that you feel you "HAVE" to get an xi (AWD) BMW. Like roadburner said, get a set of winter wheels & tires.
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Replying to: 4runnerguy1 (Aug 16, 2008 6:24 am) 
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Replying to: nyccarguy (Aug 19, 2008 6:30 pm) Us changeover to winter wheels and tires guys are in the vast minority of people (even BMW people) who live in areas where there is snow. Take for example what I believe to be BMW's best seller - the 328 sedan. Good luck finding a 328i in dealer stock. Instead they are sitting with a fleet of 328xi, and if you want a 328i, you have to order it. I was told by several dealers in my area that they order them that way because they think that is the way their customers want it (i.e., feeling as though they have to have all-wheel drive to make it through winters). I live in northern Westchester County in NY, by the way. When I ordered a car (328i coupe) a couple of months ago, I asked my salesperson the rough percentage of his customers who get the car without all-wheel drive. He said that it would be very low, maybe just 15%.
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I recently bought a new built to order BMW 335i convertible for 2,000 under invoice. I bought it from Alderson Motors in Lubbock, Texas. It was really easy to bargain with him.....nice guy and very cooperative. Once again, I special ordered it so I was able to get whatever I wanted without compromising colors/options etc. He has a lot of people ordering from out of state from him too....which I presume is because of the price! I've never seen BMWs or Benz at 2 grand under invoice!!! PM me with any questions. Good luck! |
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Replying to: babydoctor77 (Aug 20, 2008 3:29 pm)
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