Topic: Lease Returns - 06' 325xi/330xi

[1TSX]

Interested in used 2006 325xi/330xi's, BMW Certified PreOwned, between 45-60kms.

Comments? My cousin's 2006 323i had one electrical glitch, fixed under warranty...doors wouldn't unlock. Cost out of warranty would have been crazy though, close to $1k. 

Thanks. 

[vdk]

Get the warranty they offer with the CPO program.

[airbalancer]

Just remember not all electrical problems are covered by CPO

[Julie]

Interested in used 2006 325xi/330xi's, BMW Certified PreOwned, between 45-60kms.

Comments? My cousin's 2006 323i had one electrical glitch, fixed under warranty...doors wouldn't unlock. Cost out of warranty would have been crazy though, close to $1k. 

Thanks. 

My advice would be to look at 330i's or 330xi's.  325 are a bit... well, personally, a bit underpowered.  And xi adds additional weight. 

06 330i have been, overall, reliable (according to Bimmer forums and, trust me, if there were serious issues with the 330i, it'd be on the Bimmer forums.

I'd still get the CPO though (as you may know, GD also had an electrical glitch).

330i are nice...  gorgeous engine.

[1TSX]

Thanks for the replies.

We would definitely be buying from a BMW dealer, CPO with the warranty. Issue with the 330xi is....they are very rare (compared to 325xi's).

[Turbo Bob]

Interested in used 2006 325xi/330xi's, BMW Certified PreOwned, between 45-60kms.

Comments? My cousin's 2006 323i had one electrical glitch, fixed under warranty...doors wouldn't unlock. Cost out of warranty would have been crazy though, close to $1k. 

Thanks. 

My advice would be to look at 330i's or 330xi's.  325 are a bit... well, personally, a bit underpowered.  And xi adds additional weight. 

06 330i have been, overall, reliable (according to Bimmer forums and, trust me, if there were serious issues with the 330i, it'd be on the Bimmer forums.

I'd still get the CPO though (as you may know, GD also had an electrical glitch).

330i are nice...  gorgeous engine.

Yep GD's was the same issue funnily enough, was covered by warranty but also would have cost an arm and a leg to fix.

When you think about it, it must only be a small part that's failing, they shouldn't have to charge that much to fix it unless it's all the labour to find the source of the problem.

[Julie]

Thanks for the replies.

We would definitely be buying from a BMW dealer, CPO with the warranty. Issue with the 330xi is....they are very rare (compared to 325xi's).

I'd get a 330i then.    With an excellent set of winter tires.

Plus, you can get the sport pkg that way.    (You can't get the sport suspension with xi, although you can get the sport seats, sport steering wheel, sport wheels)

[Turbo Bob]

Thanks for the replies.

We would definitely be buying from a BMW dealer, CPO with the warranty. Issue with the 330xi is....they are very rare (compared to 325xi's).

I'd get a 330i then.    With an excellent set of winter tires.

Plus, you can get the sport pkg that way.    (You can't get the sport suspension with xi, although you can get the sport seats, sport steering wheel, sport wheels)

Why would anyone ruin a perfectly good BMW with AWD. 

[ovr50]

Thanks for the replies.

We would definitely be buying from a BMW dealer, CPO with the warranty. Issue with the 330xi is....they are very rare (compared to 325xi's).

I'd get a 330i then.    With an excellent set of winter tires.

Plus, you can get the sport pkg that way.    (You can't get the sport suspension with xi, although you can get the sport seats, sport steering wheel, sport wheels)

Why would anyone ruin a perfectly good BMW with AWD. 

Same reason Porsche does. And some other high level car makers..

[1TSX]

Funny...I just talked to my friend, who has a 06' 323i (almost done his lease), and he had the door lock issue also. Other than that, he said his car has been flawless.

We want our next car to be AWD. Other options are a brand new 2010 Impreza 2.5i Limited, which can't really be compared to the BMW's 

[Julie]

Funny...I just talked to my friend, who has a 06' 323i (almost done his lease), and he had the door lock issue also. Other than that, he said his car has been flawless.

We want our next car to be AWD. Other options are a brand new 2010 Impreza 2.5i Limited, which can't really be compared to the BMW's 

Nah, get the Bimmer xi then.    I'm biased of course.  I'm driving a 335xi right now (loaner).

I might have heard about the door locks thing on the Bimmer forums, but I don't really remember it... probably because the problem is solved without much fuss under warranty. 

[airbalancer]

Locks on a BMW, mmm, problems all the way to 2000 and possible in the E36 also
There are some towns that our remotes will not work to lock or unlock the doors

[Julie]

X-drive with winter tires is amazing!  This morning was one of first winter mornings we got here.

I was driving slowly, but the car felt like I could drive so much faster (which I won't) - the X-drive just plowed through and the car was very, very stable.

I don't regret getting the RWD because I really, really wanted the sports suspension, but for someone not crazy 'bout that like me, I can see the appeal of X-drive (despite the small fuel penalty all year 'round)

So, to let you know 2hondas...

[Shnak]

Thanks for the replies.

We would definitely be buying from a BMW dealer, CPO with the warranty. Issue with the 330xi is....they are very rare (compared to 325xi's).

I'd get a 330i then.    With an excellent set of winter tires.

Plus, you can get the sport pkg that way.    (You can't get the sport suspension with xi, although you can get the sport seats, sport steering wheel, sport wheels)

Why would anyone ruin a perfectly good BMW with AWD. 

Exactly my sentiment. BMW is one of the few carmakers where AWD makes no sense at all. It takes away from the feel. They really need to work on their AWD system to be more competitive.

As of right now, a BMW needs to be RWD. If you go AWD, you're compromising big time on driving feel, and really, what's the point of a BMW that doesn't feel like a BMW?

[ovr50]

Shnak - "Exactly my sentiment. BMW is one of the few carmakers where AWD makes no sense at all. It takes away from the feel. They really need to work on their AWD system to be more competitive.

As of right now, a BMW needs to be RWD. If you go AWD, you're compromising big time on driving feel, and really, what's the point of a BMW that doesn't feel like a BMW?"

This statement must be your "opinion" based on extensive driving of both RWD and AWD BMWs. Such a strong statement could not be just based on your non-experience..!! I am going to call you and say that I doubt you have enough experience with BMWs to make the statement.

The AWD 5 Series I had for almost 2 years just before I got the M3 did NOT feel like a traditional AWD car (eg a Subie). It handled very much as any other BMW. It did not have the extreme power and RW bias that my M3 does, but few cars do. I would defy you to be able to tell the difference between identical 5 Series BMWs, except one would be AWD, and the other not. AWD does add weight and increases handling in poor road conditions (snow, rain, ice) but it does NOT take much (a bit perhaps) away from the "feel". There are many "track wannabes" on forums that will bemoan AWD, but the truth is many of them cannot tell the difference.

I am sure the tons of engineers at BMW will be pleased to know that their AWD systems need improving. That will be news to them, and I am sure they will get right on it. Talk about Germas being arrogant.  For most ppl, the AWD advantages outweigh the negatives (which would show up in serious track use).

Some opinions on here are just too misleading to ignore. 

EDIT - I better add that this is all my opinion and YMMV. 

[Shnak]

Every single comparo I've read over the last few years always concludes that BMW's AWD system is no where near as good as Audi's Quattro system; that it feels as a complete afterthought as though it's bolted on after the rest of the car has been designed.

And also, the fact that it prevents the Sports suspension is a big no-no... many people have said that a BMW without the Sports suspension just isn't the same.

Why buy a BMW that compromised on its main attribute? Sportiness.

Unless you're not buying a BMW for its sportiness... in which case, why exactly are you buying a BMW? Badge? Probably...

EDIT: And I've never said 'in my experience' AWD BMW are bad... all I said is that the general concensus seems to be that it does compromise what should be the main attribute of a BMW. Audis, in comparison, are built from the ground up as AWD vehicles, and from what I've read and heard, it shows.

[Shnak]

Oh, and if BMW's AWD system is so great, why aren't they putting it in their M's? Audi puts the Quattro in everything they do, even the R8. BMW, not so much. Doesn't that say to you that BMW feels their RWD drivetrain is better-suited for their higher performance vehicles, whereas their AWD drivetrain is better off in more 'mainstream' vehicles where consumers who don't really care about performance will demand it?

[ovr50]

Oh, and if BMW's AWD system is so great, why aren't they putting it in their M's? Audi puts the Quattro in everything they do, even the R8. BMW, not so much. Doesn't that say to you that BMW feels their RWD drivetrain is better-suited for their higher performance vehicles, whereas their AWD drivetrain is better off in more 'mainstream' vehicles where consumers who don't really care about performance will demand it?

There are those who think the M division is in error by making the X6 and X5 into an "M" car. There are others who think BMW has to move with the times and AWD is accepted in sporting Porsches, and other upper end performance cars. I can make you a list if doubtful. I think BMW needs to have AWD available as many buyers today demand it (not enthusiasts, just regular buyers).

The M division is not putting AWD into the traditional M cars - the 3, 5, and 6 and likely not into whatever form the future M1 or M2 or 135M takes. I think this is correct thinking as few buy an M car for anything other than outrageous RWD performance. For the most part, M buyers are not buying the "badge".

You are saying the same as I am - for many BMW buyers (especially those in real winter climates) the AWD vehicles may well be better for them as they are not going to track or even wannabe track their cars. The AWD is rear-baised, and is virtually un-noticable until you hit ice or snow. Summer/dry driving in an AWD 3 or 5 Series is no different than driving a RWD 3 or 5 for MOST ppl.

Just because BMW has always been a RWD favored company doesn't mean that (in your words) the BMW XDrive system "needs improving". I suggest you are not able to make that call. You may disagree.

[tpl]

Sport suspension on an AWD 3-er can be done by Dinan. I am sure it works very well and also is expensive.  I looked at it briefly and it has the minor(?) disadvantage that the cv joints on the front driveshafts run out of line by a few degrees all the time. Is this a long term problem I don't know.   I did not go ahead for cost reasons. ($4k for the whole kit including installation)

I have also owned an A4 quattro.   IMHO the AWD on that car ( 50 50 front-rear) worked as well as , but no betterthan ,my BMW ( pre-xdrive  32 front 68 rear)in bad conditions The rear bias on the BMW again IMHO made it a better drive under most conditions that the A4.  I do realize that the current Audi's have a biased front/rear system.   The problem with the A4 was that the engine had to be positioned ahead of the front wheels which certainly did not help understeer at all. The BMW left int engine in the normal place and that's why they were lifted 9/16" over the non-sport equivalents as the front driveshafts went through the sump.

The A4 could automatically and simply alter its front rear bias depending on which wheel was slipping.  The BMW I had could not do that and used the stability control to get the equivalent.   I did not get anywhere near being stuck in either car in the time I had them. Winter tires on both.  


If I had to choose I'd want a 32-68 split f/r but with Torsen differentials on each axle.   Doesn't Porsche do it that way?

@ovr.   I agree.   Porsche was also a RWD company until fairly recently and I'd bet that they did not AWD as a fad but to make the faster cars more accessible to normally skilled drivers in bad weather.

[Julie]

I tested a 3 series (both sedans and coupes) with and without sport suspensions, and it felt different to me.  In fact, I could feel it noticeably.  However, I pay close attention to these things because I utterly, absolutely love "driving feel" in a car.  In addition, the sport suspension-equipped vehicles normally have larger wheels; I'm not sure how much that affected the feel; I'm sure it did at least partially.

I've never tested an x drive vehicle before now. 

After my experience, and after learning that RWD with winter tires isn't really less "safe" than an AWD car (based on C & D articles, those who seem like x-drive experts (not the biased ones) on Bimmer forums, etc., I decided it was worth the trade-off to get my sport suspension. 

I really think it's trade-off.  You can't have the best of both worlds.  Need to make a choice.  I live in the city, frequently drive melted highways, and drive much more often on melted roads here in the winters than in conditions that I experienced today.