CTC Review: 2009 BMW 328i xDrive Sedan

[samej]

Until end of June there's $1625 cash to dealer for auto transmission (even if you get a manual), and there's a less known $1000 cash to dealer for "document processing" fees. If you self finance or pay case then there's another $2500 in your pocket. You need to take delivery by end of June.

[Oz]

If anyone is considering a 328i, do NOT get it with an auto transmission. It literally kills the oomph the car has.

[JSCC]

Until end of June there's $1625 cash to dealer for auto transmission (even if you get a manual), and there's a less known $1000 cash to dealer for "document processing" fees. If you self finance or pay case then there's another $2500 in your pocket. You need to take delivery by end of June.

So you mean my buddy can get $3500 off MSRP without even touching the dealers profit if she paid cash?

[whitecity]

I rather this car with that really sweet Diesel......

[ARS]

only reason BMW is doing good in sales still is that they are offering ...full maintenace included in with the purchase for 4yrs/80K kms...NO OTHER COMPANY IS DOING THAT!!!!

and agree the 328 sux with auto...if u want auto get the 335.

and the incentives of up 10 gs off from the factory depends on model are amazing...like above ....$5125 off a 3 series is awesome deal.
 

[JSCC]

only reason BMW is doing good in sales still is that they are offering ...full maintenace included in with the purchase for 4yrs/80K kms...NO OTHER COMPANY IS DOING THAT!!!!

and agree the 328 sux with auto...if u want auto get the 335.

and the incentives of up 10 gs off from the factory depends on model are amazing...like above ....$5125 off a 3 series is awesome deal.
 

So you mean my buddy can get $3500 off MSRP and a free automatic transmission upgrade ($1600), a total of $5100 discount without even touching the dealers profit if she paid cash?

This is going to make it very hard for me to sway her to a GLK.

[tpl]

That free maintenance is a boondoggle

25,000 km/1 yr   an oil change  5.5 litres synthetic, oil filter, crush washer
50,000 km/2 yrs         "                         "                                "        plus  brake fluid
                                                                                                    change, cabin air filter
                                                                                                    and an hour spent
                                                                                                    kicking the tires
75,000 km/3 yrs          "                         "                                   "

That is really worth  a lot of money ?  

After that:
100,000 km/4 yrs  out of warranty   all of the above plus more checks new spark plugs and new coolant.

[samej]

Tell your buddy 'Yes'. Technically it's $4125 off the list price without touching the dealer profit if you pay cash, and $5125 if you buy the $1000 off processing fees story. In reality I found that the $1995 freight and PDI ate half the $4125, and the $1000 off prep fees disappeared in... prep fees. Add in the 13% Ontario tax and you're back over list off the lot...

[samej]

That free maintenance is a boondoggle

25,000 km/1 yr   an oil change  5.5 litres synthetic, oil filter, crush washer
50,000 km/2 yrs         "                         "                                "        plus  brake fluid
                                                                                                    change, cabin air filter
                                                                                                    and an hour spent
                                                                                                    kicking the tires
75,000 km/3 yrs          "                         "                                   "

That is really worth  a lot of money ?  

After that:
100,000 km/4 yrs  out of warranty   all of the above plus more checks new spark plugs and new coolant.

Well, 4 years of maintenance on my very pedestrian Sienna and Accord each came up to around $1200 to $1500 each. That's an oil change every 4 to 6 months, a "minor service" every second service, and a "major service" every 2 years, and a "better raise your VISA limit" after at the 96,000 km mark. So take a 323  vs an Accord 6 cylinder, add up the incentives for each and suddenly that 323 is looking like a pretty good deal.

[samej]

Normancw,

Could you please let me know which dealer you get you 06 330i in 33000km for 31K from?

THanks

Local Mercedes dealer has a BMW 330xi with 18800 kms for 41xxx. $31K would be a good deal.

bmw.ca has a pretty good search engine for CPO cars. It shows a great many 2006 330i's starting from the low $30's. You can limit your search by proximity to a postal code.

[samej]

. Sunroof is standard on the 328
. BMW is including the automatic transmission at no charge - So no real $ difference between the C and the 3

My apologies, I stand corrected. The sunroof was an option on the 2008 model but it is now standard on the 2009 328i/328i xDrive.  It’s optional on the 323i for $1500.

However, the no charge automatic transmission is a limited time special offer so I would argue that my original point still applies. That would make the BMW 328i xdrive (automatic) $1400 more than the C300 4MATIC.

. The Audi you're pricing is more in line with the 323 and C230

I must respectfully disagree with you on this one. I think many people would cross shop the Audi A4 2.0T Quattro against the 328i xdrive and Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic. The Audi makes ~20 less peak hp than the 328 or C300. However, it delivers 58 more lbs.ft.  of torque than the 328 and 37 more lbs.ft. of torque than the C300. In terms of features and performance these 3 cars are very comparable.

. Value is a relative and personal thing. Handling and driving dynamics should factor in the equation and may have a price (I don't believe it to be the case in your comparison)

I certainly agree that value is a relative and personal thing, and handling and driving dynamics definitely factor into the equation.  I have driven/compared the previous gen. A4 2.0T Quattro against the 328i. I thought the BMW was definitely the better drivers car. However, IMHO it just wasn’t $5,700 better. If my wallet was a little heavier, perhaps I would feel differently. 

. Most people who buy a BMW are not buying it strictly based on an item-to-item comparison.
. If people wanted most features/$, then Acura has plenty to offer. Better yet, a fully loaded Hyundai Sonata.
. BMW is still selling more cars than Audi, Acura, Lexus and Infiniti and they have all been benchmarking the 3 series for the past two decades.

I certainly agree that Audi, Acura, Lexus and Infiniti have been using the 3 series as the benchmark. I think some of these brands are doing an excellent job in closing the gap that exists in the area of handling and driving dynamics. In my opinion this makes it even more difficult to justify the price premium that BMW is asking for.

From a pure personal snobbishness to me Audi is to VW like Lexus is to Toyota. Even worse. If I look at the drive train of Lexus RWD platform (IS, L, G) I won't see a Toyota on that platform. I believe the Audi blown 4 can be found in the Golf, Jetta, & Passat.

[samej]

Normancw,

Could you please let me know which dealer you get you 06 330i in 33000km for 31K from?

THanks

I'm in Ottawa and I bought it from Kanata Ford.  They have about 5 very clean 2006 3-series (much nicer than the 2 BMW dealers here in Ottawa and the 1 dealer in Montreal that I checked).  I really wanted to buy a CPO car for the extended warranty, but I didn't find one that I wanted (I was in a rush and only had a week to shop).  However, in GTA, there is a lot more selection.  BTW, the BMW dealers around here are asking about $33k for a CPO 330i (which is fair considering the added warranty).

We get a lot of snow here in Ottawa and the 3-series with real winter tires is very good in the snow (before this, I had a 2004 325i with sport package and Blizzak winters).  The 325i, with stability/traction control, was better than all the front wheel drive cars I've had (Mazda 323, Honda Accord, Mazda MX-3, and Mazda 3 GT).  I felt safer in the 325i that our 1998 Izusu Rodeo 4WD.  Just my 2 cents (RWD 3-series are quite good in the snow).

Norm

Norm - I am relieved to hear that your BMW handles fine in the Ottawa snow belt. I have my doubts. Those S Ontario guys just don't grok how much more snow we get in Ottawa! On the topic of snow tires - any every ordered a snow package from Tire Rack in the US up to Canada? Care toshare their experiences?

[normancw]

Norm - I am relieved to hear that your BMW handles fine in the Ottawa snow belt. I have my doubts. Those S Ontario guys just don't grok how much more snow we get in Ottawa! On the topic of snow tires - any every ordered a snow package from Tire Rack in the US up to Canada? Care toshare their experiences?

I ordered tires and rims from Tire Rack.  They now have fixed cost shipping to Canada through UPS (no additional/hidden brokerage fees, taxes, or duty).  I ordered on a Friday and they were delivered the following Thursday.

For winters, I decided to go with non-runflat winters: 225/45-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 tires on Rial Salerno 17x8 rims (with BMW center caps).  These rims fit the 330i/335i.  Another alternative is to look for a set of used BMW OEM 17" rims (from a current generation 3-series - wheels from the previous gen 3-series don't have the correct offset).

I chose non-runflats for the better ride, better tire selection, and lower price.  I will get an Airman tire repair kit from Canadian Tire.  From researching the e90post forums, it looks almost identical to the Continental Mobility kit and is a lot cheaper.  It's also much cheaper than the BMW M-Mobility kit. 

On my 2004 325i, I had Blizzak WS-50 tires - excellent traction on ice for 2 to 3 winters, after which they were still good on snow for a couple more winters.

When my summer RFT tires wear out, I plan on switching to non-runflats for the same reasons.  The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tire gets good reviews from 3-series owners that have switched.

I'm also considering sacrificing some trunk space for a BMW retrofit compact spare kit for the E60 (5-series) which fits the 330i/335i - part number 36 11 0 308 889.  It includes a car jack.

[samej]

Norm - I am relieved to hear that your BMW handles fine in the Ottawa snow belt. I have my doubts. Those S Ontario guys just don't grok how much more snow we get in Ottawa! On the topic of snow tires - any every ordered a snow package from Tire Rack in the US up to Canada? Care toshare their experiences?

I ordered tires and rims from Tire Rack.  They now have fixed cost shipping to Canada through UPS (no additional/hidden brokerage fees, taxes, or duty).  I ordered on a Friday and they were delivered the following Thursday.

For winters, I decided to go with non-runflat winters: 225/45-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 tires on Rial Salerno 17x8 rims (with BMW center caps).  These rims fit the 330i/335i.  Another alternative is to look for a set of used BMW OEM 17" rims (from a current generation 3-series - wheels from the previous gen 3-series don't have the correct offset).

I chose non-runflats for the better ride, better tire selection, and lower price.  I will get an Airman tire repair kit from Canadian Tire.  From researching the e90post forums, it looks almost identical to the Continental Mobility kit and is a lot cheaper.  It's also much cheaper than the BMW M-Mobility kit. 

On my 2004 325i, I had Blizzak WS-50 tires - excellent traction on ice for 2 to 3 winters, after which they were still good on snow for a couple more winters.

When my summer RFT tires wear out, I plan on switching to non-runflats for the same reasons.  The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tire gets good reviews from 3-series owners that have switched.

I'm also considering sacrificing some trunk space for a BMW retrofit compact spare kit for the E60 (5-series) which fits the 330i/335i - part number 36 11 0 308 889.  It includes a car jack.

That's exactly the first combos Tire Rack's configurator pulls up. How are the Rials? I saw them on Tire Rack and they're very well priced. Did you get the TPM sensors installed from TireRack as well?

[normancw]

That's exactly the first combos Tire Rack's configurator pulls up. How are the Rials? I saw them on Tire Rack and they're very well priced. Did you get the TPM sensors installed from TireRack as well?

I haven't seen the Rials yet - I had the rims shipped to my mechanic who will install the tires in a couple of weeks.  I bought the winters last year intending to put them on my previous car, but I never got around to it.  It would have been much more convenient to buy the entire winter tire package.  They do look good in pictures, do a google image search for "e90 rial salerno" and you'll see what they look like on a 335i.

BTW, to get BMW center caps from TireRack when ordering online, enter 'Gary/add caps9' as your previous contact at the end of the order (or you can order by phone).  They cost $36 for a set and your order will be updated to include them.

I don't have TPMS sensors on my car.  Canadian 2006 3-series uses something called FTM, where ABS sensors are user to detect a low pressure tire (wheel with low pressure will rotate more due to reduced diameter).  I think I read this is also the case for 2006-2009 Canadian 3-series, but you should confirm.  US cars require TPMS due to regulations.

When you get you car, you can check - tires with TPMS sensors have aluminum valve stems and the non-TPMS have rubber ones.  If you don't need them, you can use the $200 US you save on something else for your new car   I got vehicle-specific WeatherTech FloorLiner DigitalFit mats - not cheap, but will save me an hour of cleaning salt stains every spring.  Check them out at weathertechcanada.com.

[carjoe]

I'm surprised nobody here mentioned the BMW copmarison drive.

I just did the one in TO at Downsview and it was fantastic. A great venue and even the weather cooperated by giving us a shower.

They had an A4, IS250, C300, all with AWD, to compare to the BMW 3 series line up. I have to admit, I never drove the 335D or 335i for a few reasons, one being I wanted the seat time, the other out of fear that I'd drive straight from there to a dealer showroom...

In any case, the differences in the cars that I drove were very minor. Certainly, all the cars with X-drive had more traction but more obvious was the difference in the sport package versus non sport. The comments regarding the 328 with auto, pshaw. I'm an enthusiast and quite frankly the slushbox was nice. Throw it in manual mode and the downshifts are smooth and didn't upset the chassis mid corner. Makes the car a real highway warrior ready to gobble up the highway without blinking.

As for Wing, I suspect the radio stations and other odd gremlins are attributed to personalized key fob settings...

[normancw]

As for Wing, I suspect the radio stations and other odd gremlins are attributed to personalized key fob settings...

I didn't realize that the radio and seat settings were tied to the key fob until my wife borrowed my car yesterday.  We had programmed in my seat settings to seat button 1 and her settings to button 2 (with my key fob).  When she used her key fob, the radio wasn't set and the seat settings were way off.  I thought this was a problem with the car, but she suspected it was because of the different key fob - and I always thought she wasn't technically inclined 

[wing]

I'd buy that if I changed fobs.... I did have both, perhaps the car was confused.

[normancw]

I'd buy that if I changed fobs.... I did have both, perhaps the car was confused.

Your test car had the Comfort Access option (no need to insert the fob to start the car).  Maybe the car connected with the 'other' fob as soon as you entered the car (and before you inserted the primary fob) and based the radio settings on this 'other' fob?

[The Truth Hurts]

carjoe, did that BMW comparison drive also include the Acura TL SHAWD and the Infiniti G37x?

It seems rather silly to have a Lexus IS250AWD for comparison, b/c most shoppers wouldn't cross shop a 328xi with an IS250AWD.  There would be some ppl who might consider a G37x in similar territory with the 328xi though.