Automobile takes a trip with a new 2006 BMW 325i, and we learn enough to start scheming. So, the review is a good write up of what you get for your $31,000+. You get a capable car that is hard to fault for anything more than its price tag. Alright, maybe the new style isn't your cup of tea, but it could've turned out a lot worse! Plus, the new car is a whole lot larger and more impressive in person than the outgoing model. Well, perhaps you might look at the spec sheet and see the 'measly' 215 hp. I can hear it now, 'why not buy an Infiniti G35?' Needless to say, they're different cars, despite sharing the same luxo-sport sedan segment. Well, if you're set on BMW, the next step up, the 330i, is easily $7,000 more. Well, there is a dirty little secret you should know about. In the past, BMW has attempted to name their models by their engine displacement. It is not always consistent, but it has been pretty close. So, the new 2006 BMW 3-series all have the same 3.0 liter engine. The major difference is in the software that manages the engine. You can imagine that any enterprising BMW owner-turned-tuner can give the 325i the gusto of the 330i for half the price difference. Of course, the warranty would be out the window, but that is how the game is played.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
paul @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
I can hear it now, ‘why not buy an Infiniti G35?’
Because why buy an imitation? Infiniti is doing a pretty good job of trying to replicate (I mean compete) with the benchmark, but they still have ways to go. I always find it amusing when people play up the price angle and try to convince themselves that they've purchased a better car when infact their decision was based solely on price. Infiniti simply cannot reproduce the same premium in the manufacturing of their automobiles. And we all know who'll win on a nice curvy track. :)
Craig @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
Funny, because I thought the 3 was trying to be the G35 and the 5 was attempting to be the M45. Seen a consumer reports lately?
lynch @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
I wonder if Inifiti G35's have the ludicrous amount of defects and reliability problems the recent 3's have had though. I can't speak for the E90 325/330, but as the owner of a 2004 330Cic, I've experienced:
* Broken door cable (driver)
* Broken door cable (passenger)
* mirror failure (passenger)
* window failure (causes roof to not go down too)
* oxygen sensor failure
* Complete stereo system failure
* Driver's side visor fell off while driving
I'm not hard on my cars, but in 20k miles of driving, this seems pretty lame to me. Particularly the door cables breaking -- having to climb out across the console in an E46 is not fun.
I love driving the car, the dynamics are great, but there is definitely more to consider than price and how the car handles.
And no, I'm not a BMW hater, I own 2! :)
Bryan @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
What is a door cable?...I"m just curious. It the hing stop mechanism a cable instead of a solid metal barrier???
n8236 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
The 3 definitely a more refined car than the g35 equipment for equipment, but the G35 is just SO much fun w/ the near 300 hp and its low end torque, not to mention not so same'o BMW styling.
And don't forget, the 3's 31k price tag does NOT inlcude anything, lol. If you were to get the same lvl of equipment from a g35/TL, the 3 would probably run you near 40k.
The g35 is no high quality car like BMW/MB/Audi, but if you're stretching your dollars short and don't want to burn a hole in your wallet once the warranty on your German car is over, the g35 offers much.
helga @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
... about that detuned 3liter engine -- can you at least use regular unleaded instead of premium? What could happen? I appreciate good handling, but I don't need extreme speeds or acceleration.
S P @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
As soon as I learned that the 325 was a 3.0L also a few months ago, that little lightbulb up above my head started going off. I assumed that they were basically using different software and were limiting the throttling via Valvetronic so that the "325" just made less power. That explains the "only" 185 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0L also, which is pretty low for a 3.0L.
So, in theory, some Stage 1 Dinan software could give you almost the full power of the 330 for way less money. It still doesn't have the 3-stage variable intake manifold that the 330 does though, so maybe it wouldn't have quite as wide of a powerband, but who cares?
If the theory holds, I could definitely go for a 325i + Dinan SW for my next car. The 3-series is nice, but $36-40k for a 330 is a little tough to swallow. Yeah, it's a nicer car than the G35, but not *that* much nicer in my opinion.
lynch @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
Heh, the door cable. The door cable..
This is the cable that connects the handles to the lock in the door. So the handles stop working.. and on the driver-side door this happened to both the interior and exterior handles!
I must also echo #7 that the price for the BMW's seems a bit high in comparison. I'll definitely wait a few years and see if BMW has improved the reliability of the E90.
Bryan @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
Why not go for the freakin' Hyunday V6?
235 hp from a 3.3 V6...
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/105488/article.html
Bavarian Motor Verks is WAY over rated.....go with the underdog such as to make BMW do better..
BMW used to be the underdog themselves....gotta teach them to be humble and to EARN their keep once again...
Bryan @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
Lynch, that's totally unsat for a 30K car...you DO know that, don't you? Go with the Hyundai...they at least are willing to earn Your cash...
;)
lynch @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
Bryan, it's a $48k car, which makes this that much sicker!
I've got a bit of a love-hate relationship with the 330Cic.. when something breaks or gets flakey, I spew epithets and declare it's time to sell the darn thing. After a great top-down drive enjoying the handling, power, and general "rightness" of the car, I get little hearts above my head.
With my other bimmer I get only hearts, but it's also got a V12. :)
With the options from Infiniti and Lexus, the new German cars are looking less and less worthwhile IMO. I'd be interested in Acura if they made a sporty RWD luxury car. (If they do, please enlighten me, hehe)
Mike @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
It's not just engine tuning that separates the 325i v. 330i; I seem to recall that it's also either the heads, valve timing system and/or intake system. So yeah, same block, but I highly doubt that merely chipping it will turn a 325i into a 330i.
Greg Koenig @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
lynch-
It happens every so often that someone, for whatever reason, just gets a dog of a car. BMW typically builds pretty good stuff, but even the best manufacturers turn out a dud once in a while. I hope your dealership has taken good care of you.
For the record though, my 2002 325Ci w/ a 5 speed was an outstanding car. I owned it for 3 years and 48k miles until my lease was up and it had only one problem- the window regulator on the driver's side broke one day and Kuni BMW in Oregn had it replaced in 2 hours, the same day it broke. I drove the car HARD in the 3 years I had it with 5 track weekends per year and general idiotic BMW driver antics on every road traveled. Even though they knew I frequently tracked the car, BMW had no problem replacing all 4 pads and rotors TWICE under the BMW Full Maintenance program- which is pretty extraordinary, I expected to pay for them myself. The only money I spent on the car, other then the payments, were tires and gas, it was a excellent deal and I miss that car a whole lot.
No you wanna talk about problems, I replaced it with a Volvo S40 because I wanted something a bit slower and a lot less expensive to hold me over till the new BMW 3 series coupes come out next year. This car is MISERABLE. I have had it for 6 weeks/4100 miles and the motor blew up at the end of a road trip last weekend. The dealer is trying their hardest to convince Volvo to deny the warranty claim (Jim Fisher Volvo in Portland SUCKS). I should have gotten a Mini and stayed with BMW- they know how to treat driving enthusiasts well.
Opposite Lock @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
Not worth it over a g35, 7k is a lot of money for a badge. Plus, no reclining rear seats in the bimmer. The back of a g35 is like a limo, and last time i checked 3 series are much smaller. Plus, both car and driver and autoweek have rated the 2003 infiniti w 260hp and automatic higher than the bmw.
So really, you are getting a badge and a bunch of 'tronics' that you don't need.
J @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
Mike,
Thanks for saying it before I did. The motors do have the same short block but everything else(head, both manifolds, camshaft, timing, ecu) is different. Changing the ecu map will give you more power, but it is not the same thing. Its like saying a honda B18b is the same as a B18c5
SF MD @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
i had a 2002 bmw 330ci before switching to g35 coupe. both black. both reliable. zero problem.
my honest opinion: g35 at least matches 330 in handling, and blows by it in performance and overall fun to drive. i don't care about any amenities, luxuries, or other aspects unrelated to driving. i just love to drive. g35>330.
all the infiniti haters, take a spin in the g35 coupe, drive it hard, overcome your bias. you will be richly rewarded.
J @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
MY UTMOST CONDOLENCE TO THE UK FOR THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON JULY 7th.
praetorian @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
"! Plus, the new car is a whole lot larger and more impressive in person than the outgoing model."
Wow. An even larger 3 series. How... awesome.
:/
So is the 3 series now the size of the old 7-series, rather than merely the size of the old 5-series?
Cheers,
prat
n8236 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
I agree w/ what most ppl posted here. But generally speaking, the driving dynamics of any BMW is quite the "Ultimate Driving Machine." Refinement in German cars are just one notch above most others, but Lexus/Acura/Infiniti are starting to cut it close to a tight race.
The G35 and 3 series buyers, for the most part share one common personality, it's that they like to driving a car w/ great dynamics, and Audi/BMW/MB has really mastered it. But for that bit of high-tech stuff that you'll never know is there and badge, $7k is quite a stash, lol.
I think when it comes down to choosing the G35 and the 3 series, one should highly consider if they'll keep it long-term. Most ppl who take the BMW usually are on leases beacuse they know the long-term health of BMWs are heavy on the wallet. As for the G35, one should be able to keep that over the 4-5 yr period and still have minimum problems. Everyone drives a BMW once in their life, and I do someday. But I have a feeling that I'll be leasing one instead, hehe.
greg @ Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM
from the pictures i saw i actually liked the new 3 series.
then, some days ago, i saw it in person. looks tiny and cheap from behind. prices are simply ridicilous.