2005 BMW 3 Series Consumer Discussions Page 9

Audi A4 Avant vs. BMW 3-Series Wagon vs. Mercedes C-Class Wagon

reliability question

Written by: rosomax on Nov 08, 2007 03:35 PM

Folks, I am looking at the 2003-2004 325xi or 2004-2005 1.8 A4. Both in wagon form (dogs). They both have 1) AWD 2) Manual tranny (essential) BMW is reputed to be more reliable than Audi. But it's a lot slower (they fixed it in 2006 but it's too expensive). I realize I would have to get an extended warranty no matter what choice I make, but I would like to minimize the ... Read More...

Buying a Used 3-Series

Re: RWD vs AWD? [gerry100]

Written by: roadburner on Nov 02, 2007 08:47 AM

Buy a RWD Bimmer. Purchase a set of winter tires and wheels from Tire Rack and do the changeover yourself. It takes me all of 45 minutes, and that includes cleaning and storing the take-offs. Unlike Audi, BMW doesn't consider their AWD models to be top-rung performance cars. Coming out of a 911, I think you'll find the RWD variants much more entertaining to drive- ... Read More...

BMW 3-Series Run Flat Tires

Re: 3281 sport wagon [jerryf2]

Written by: larry175 on Oct 28, 2007 05:37 AM

i bought a new 2005 330xi and it also was a piece of turd. ie:lemon. with bmws, i am told. is when they are lemons they are lemons. GET RID OF THE CAR NOW. use the lemon laws. document everything and take pixs of all. bmw will buy the car back. dont't let the N.Y. lawyer scare you. just let it be business. don't put miles on the car. bmw is a nice car but different from the jap ... Read More...

BMW 3-Series Service

Re: Oil change [bemer]

Written by: cotmc on Oct 23, 2007 04:33 PM

They told me to bring car around one year anniversary – “doesn’t even have to be exactly one year”. I've been getting similar feedback from service advisors at two different local BMW dealerships. They both will provide oil change services at one-year anniversaries, if the service indicator is not yet down to zero. However, I think your sales guy is incorrect ... Read More...

Buying a Used 3-Series

Re: More.. [kyfdx]

Written by: robl1 on Oct 14, 2007 05:39 PM

A good reason to go for the previous generation E46 is you get real tires not the infamous RFTs. I bought a new 325xi for my wife in 2005. At 46,000 miles it still has the original front tires in good condition. I went shopping for a used 3 series and got a 2003xi. Classic BMW looks will never appear dated. Read More...

BMW 335i vs Infiniti G37

Re: 335i vs G37 [viral]

Written by: habitat1 on Oct 14, 2007 04:49 AM

Not one of my facts has been disputed by a single person on here. The only issue anyone is taking with my posts are my claims that you pay more just for the nameplate. Understand that I don't have a dog in this hunt. Never owned a BMW. Never owned an Infiniti. And I'll further qualify my position further by saying that the last time I test drove and compared the two back ... Read More...

Buying a Used 3-Series

Very Conflicted: '04 vs. '06, Dealer vs. CarMax, Certified vs. Uncertified!

Written by: rts3 on Oct 12, 2007 08:08 AM

Hi! I'm so conflicted between: 1. 2004 Certified BMW 325i with CPO from the dealer for $21,800 +ttl with 27k miles 2. 2005 uncertified BMW 325i from the dealer for $21,950 +ttl with 29k miles 3. 2006 BMW 325i from CarMax for $26,955 +ttl with 24k miles All three cars are black without any sports package etc., but do have moonroofs. I used various calculators to check ... Read More...

BMW 335i vs Infiniti G37

Replies to all...

Written by: viral on Sep 26, 2007 00:22 PM

chirp - Yeah, that tends to happen when you post facts AGAINST a bmw. :) shipo - You're correct. My $300 comment was a jab at BMW's lesser warranty that they brag about and me being sarcastic. It's nice that they offer free maintenance, but my point still stands that it hardly offsets the cost difference by even a slim margin. And yes, I ended my post on a personal opinion. ... Read More...

Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

Buyer Beware Part 2

Written by: louiswei on Sep 26, 2007 00:21 PM

1999-2005 BMW 3-Series Reliability Trouble Spots Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted ... Read More...

Re: Fly on the wall [fedlawman]

Written by: circlew on Sep 21, 2007 05:50 PM

Good points, but here is a good snip-it that hits home for the CTS in my view: (March 2007) Since The General has been unable to build small cars profitably since, um, ever, the company also knew that the Cadillac brand represented a mission-critical large passenger car profit center. So GM dedicated their new high-end Sigma rear wheel-drive platform exclusively ... Read More...