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Author Topic: 2007 BMW 323i  (Read 5613 times)

Offline bobby

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2007 BMW 323i
« on: December 17, 2006, 04:33:26 pm »
Just some pics posted in the reader's rides section.  I'll have some better shots up soon.  Including some day/night interior pics.  I'll also get some family photos in there including a '06 TL and '06 XC90.

As for the wife and I, we were looking for a replacement for our 02' Focus ZTS for quite some time.  We had decided on the import entry level luxury segment.  During the year we drove the IS250, A3 2.0T, G35, S40, and TSX (even threw a Passat 2.0T into the mix just for the heck of it).  BMW was never really an initial consideration...  I never liked how they looked on paper.

However, in the end BMW came out on top because of ride quality/feel and dealer experience.  After we drove the car we didnt care about power memory seats or an in-dash 6CD changer.  They had no problem letting us drive the crap out of the car.  To be fair, Lexus allowed the same.  As a side note, never buy a demo.

As a young couple, BMW and Volvo were the only dealers to take us very seriously.  Test drives were offered (we didn't have to ask) ahead of any dollar discussions.  2 visits to Audi were required in order to get one out on the road... even though we perfectly match the Corporate Audi description of a typical A3 buyer.  Overall Lexus was the worst experience.  Lack of overall segment knowledge really hurt them.

Anyway, that's my experience in a nutshell.  As for my advice (you've probably heard it from others before), take the time to drive everything in the segment you're looking at.  Don't cross anything off your list until you've driven it.  I always disliked BMWs until I actually drove one.
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Offline ovr50

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2006, 04:48:56 pm »
Congrats on your new BMW, sounds like you did all the right things and made the right choice for you.

Your last sentence was interesting - I think that many ppl that badmouth BMWs have never driven one.

Hope you enjoy your BMW for years to come.  ;D ;D

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Offline Julie

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2006, 05:52:02 pm »
Congratulations on your car and thanks for the pics.

Love that red. Sweet...

Your story was interesting to me, as I recently went through the experience of shopping for a entry-level luxo car.

Looking forward to more pics!  ;D  Is it an auto or manual by the way? (I can't tell)
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Offline Bullet Blue

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2006, 06:05:00 pm »
I've already told you what I think of them, but I'll say it again. Both the Hyundai and the BMW look great! Can't wait to see more pics.

Good points on the BMW. You really need to drive one in order to appreciate it.
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Offline bobby

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2006, 10:18:21 pm »
Hi Julie, thanks.  It is an auto... the old Focus was a manual and it jut proved to be too much of a pain in daily commuting.
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Offline Julie

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2006, 11:25:29 pm »
Our local BMW dealership also impressed us the most. (The Acura dealership where we bought was great too, but we had gone there after deciding on the TSX and searching for a decent dealership to give our money to, lol!, so it was kinda different.)

Even though I didn't buy a BMW, I have mentioned what a great experience I had to others looking for a car and we are definitely going back when it's time to consider another car.

We also experienced rude/unpleasant experiences.
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Offline initial_D

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2006, 02:54:50 am »
Congrats, and thanks for sharing.  :) Always loved BMWs and always will.  ;D Fine choice in an automobile.  ;)
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Offline Giant Dwarf

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2006, 09:48:05 am »
Congrats!  I agree with Ovr's sentiment about not fully appreciating a BMW until you actually drive one.  I remember clearly saying to my wife "I just can't see what the fuss is about with these things" as we waited for the salesman to get a license plate for a test drive a few years back.  Less than a minute into the drive, both my opinion and my wife's had completely changed.  I was (and always will be) a die-hard BMW fan for life.

Did you pick yours up at Budds' in Oakville?  I've had great experiences there too.
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Offline bobby

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2006, 07:12:27 pm »
Hi Dwarf, we test drove it in Oakville but purchased it from Budds in Hamilton.  In July, the person I dealt with there told me to wait for the 07's as the engine line-up was changing for the better.  That's what really impressed me considering delivery wouldn't be until Oct.  I couldn't find anything anywhere about changes... seemed very strange (almost unbeleiveable) at the time because they just redesigned the car for 06.  In the end his knowledge got him the sale.
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Offline Scaerio

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2006, 12:27:16 pm »
Great car!  I'm sure you'll enjoy it for years to come.
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Offline Saywhaat?

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2006, 11:48:11 pm »
Love the colour :D
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Offline JSCC

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2006, 11:22:24 pm »
Quote from: bobby on December 18, 2006, 07:12:27 pm
......the 07's as the engine line-up was changing for the better...

That's what makes me scratch my head too.
The 320, 325 and 330 are now 323, 328, 335 with HP upgrades just after a year!

It was normal to put it in the coupe/convertable since it is a new body style.
I was expecting them to hold off the upgrade for the sedan until MY2008.

Wonder what happens to the resale values of the 06 sedans?
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Offline Julie

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2006, 11:29:48 pm »
Quote from: JSCC on December 29, 2006, 11:22:24 pm
Quote from: bobby on December 18, 2006, 07:12:27 pm
......the 07's as the engine line-up was changing for the better...

That's what makes me scratch my head too.
The 320, 325 and 330 are now 323, 328, 335 with HP upgrades just after a year!

It was normal to put it in the coupe/convertable since it is a new body style.
I was expecting them to hold off the upgrade for the sedan until MY2008.

Wonder what happens to the resale values of the 06 sedans?

I thought that was strange too.

Did they have the 320 last year in the new body style? Or was it always the 323? (I thought I saw a 323 in the showroom when I was looking recently at the 325....)
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Offline Bullet Blue

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #13 on: December 29, 2006, 11:43:21 pm »
Quote from: Julie on December 29, 2006, 11:29:48 pm
Quote from: JSCC on December 29, 2006, 11:22:24 pm
Quote from: bobby on December 18, 2006, 07:12:27 pm
......the 07's as the engine line-up was changing for the better...

That's what makes me scratch my head too.
The 320, 325 and 330 are now 323, 328, 335 with HP upgrades just after a year!

It was normal to put it in the coupe/convertable since it is a new body style.
I was expecting them to hold off the upgrade for the sedan until MY2008.

Wonder what happens to the resale values of the 06 sedans?

I thought that was strange too.

Did they have the 320 last year in the new body style? Or was it always the 323? (I thought I saw a 323 in the showroom when I was looking recently at the 325....)

It was a 323i with 170 hp if memory servews me. Bobby's 323i has the HP increase in the 323i though.
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Offline JSCC

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2006, 11:55:27 pm »
But it was the the 320i (in Europe and Asia) that had 170HP.
Whatever, they don't have any 328i either.
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Offline Railton

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #15 on: December 30, 2006, 07:40:23 am »
Nice wheels Bobby. Did you order the personel plates "JUSTA323" or are those Budds plates?
Railton
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Offline bobby

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2007, 03:35:44 pm »
The plates are mine.  When we picked up the car it was waiting for us in the showroom... I thought that was a nice touch.
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Offline UmroAyyar

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #17 on: January 14, 2007, 03:46:24 pm »
Congratulations bobby. I stopped bad mouthing vehicles other than my own after joining this forum and driving few of them. Enjoy your fabulous car.
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Offline Bullet Blue

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #18 on: January 14, 2007, 03:50:05 pm »
Quote from: JSCC on December 29, 2006, 11:55:27 pm
But it was the the 320i (in Europe and Asia) that had 170HP.


What did the NA 320i have? Was it 168 hp?
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Offline bobby

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Re: 2007 BMW 323i
« Reply #19 on: January 20, 2007, 12:41:21 am »
I believe it was 168hp and 155 ft.lb.,  2.2L I6
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