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Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series 2006
6997 messages, Last post on Jun 11, 2009 at 1:07 AM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: erickpl (Apr 29, 2005 9:42 am) |
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Replying to: pr325i (Apr 30, 2005 6:46 pm) |
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I went to check out the new 3-series at one of the two dealers here in Minneapolis. It was after they had closed so I did not get to drive it. My biggest curiosity was about the steering wheel and whether its positioning has been improved relative to the E46 (I have a 2003 325i). It looked awesome - both shape/grip and angle. This kind of makes me mad because beyond that there isn't anything else that I like better about the new car relative to the E46. Unfortunately it did not become apparent and annoying to me immediately when I was buying it but the E46 (and all others before that) has a very ridiculous mounting of the steering wheel - one that makes me feel often that I am driving a Van rather than a car with a sporty character (not vertical enough for me). If I had noticed this right away during the test drive I would not have bought the car, regardless of how well it steers, corners, handles, etc. Frankly, I am amazed that I have not seen any people complain about this (maybe one or two only). Now this all seems to have been more than perfected with the E90, which makes me even more mad because I am not planning to trade in my old one for the new one (and knowing that the new one would definitely be much more fun purely for the better steering wheel positioning is totally frustrating). Beyond the steering wheel, I agree with most people on this board that the car looks better in person than on the Internet or in magazines. However, it is still homely - a design that has nothing to do with the clean Euro lines of BMWs of old but just something between an American and a Japanese thing. The front looks better than the tail but is still overstylized and the lines look random. The tail looks too much like any Japanese car. Finally, I don't believe many people pay attention to this but the amount of plastic has gone up tremendously both in the front and back (in the front it seems that only the hood is non-plastic). Maybe it helps the car weigh less but more importantly it saves BMW money and I don't see how having more plastic as opposed to steel is good for the owner. A lot of folks on this board say how great the car felt on the road when they test drove it but no one has really compared it to the E46 - does it steer, corner, handle, etc. noticeably better than the old one? |
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| I have no option only one bmw authorized dealer in my area..... | |
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Where do you live? On this rainy and gloomy Saturday, I checked out the new E90 at a local dealer after work (yeah, I know it is Saturday). Overall I really like the car. Te dealer had quite a few, 2 in the showroom (1 325iA, 1 330iA), 3 demo vehicles, and a 330i ZSP with a 6 speed sitting in front of the dealership. I really like the design of the new bangalized BMWs (and I didn't at first). BMW styling (as other euro marquees) is widely copied and I think the newer cars are more progressive looking (even toyota has copied the bangle butt styling for the new Avalon) and look great (albeit in darker colors). The car there that really caught my eyes was of course the 330i with the SP and 6 speed stick. It was Silver which wouldn't be my choice of color just because every car around (esp. euro cars) are all silver. I'll take mine in Saphire Black please. I love the way the Sport Package looks. The lowered suspension and bigger wheels make a killer combination. The 35 series tires scare me too, but you only live once. This thing must corner fantastically. The car seemed big on the inside (I'm also used to my '01 Honda Prelude). I like the sparse dash. Originally my wife and I were planning a trip to Europe next summer and we were going to get her an E90 325iA, but she takes the train into the city every day so maybe I can convince her that I'll get a 330i  . Saphire Black/Black Leather/6 Speed/Sport Package/Cold Weather Package for me. 
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Replying to: bmwccc (Apr 28, 2005 7:03 am)
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| Puerto Rico | |
Well even tho my vehicle is at the VPC right now, I decided to stop and take a look at the 4 demo models since they were different than what was on the 3 across. At night time under the light's I checked out the Artic (baby blue) and SGM (purple) . I am very pleased I went with my trusty T. Silver . Not those are bad, just not my cup o tea. I was hoping to get an answer about the much touted 12% fuel mileage , only to see the mileage is no longer on the Window Sticker  . Being as they were parked next to the 5er, I find it now confusing how the E90 has received such rave reviews and the E60 has taken a beating. To my eyes, there is very little difference in styling at least where major lines are concerned. Fortunately for me I like both (being a minority) It seems. Regards, DL
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Apparently for So Cal dealers they will lose their allocation if they are caught with people test driving before 3 across America event here. There were two in the showroom and they were open. The car is quite beautiful. They had a black 325 with only steptronic on it and a big sold sign and they have a 330 with Sport and Premium in Titanium Silver. I like the console better than my 2000 328i; The wood is beautiful. The cup holders are awful. I use them all the time since I usually have a bottle of water with me and the ones in the dash are cheap plastic that seems too fragile to me. The trunk is bigger, but the tool kit is gone and so is the compartment where the CD changer went. Don't know where the 6 cd changer is installed on the new 3 - anyone know? I hope I can move the one I already have to the new one when it comes in. The sparkling graphite is a magnificent color.. They are ordering me a car the way I want it - fully loaded for July. My neighboring dealer is beating the price I got from two other dealers and posted earlier, but, they will not do it for anyone else. I (my hubby)already bought a 7 last month and I referred two other purchasers there this month too one of them bought the 645ci at sticker plus so they already made their money from me.
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