http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/ Autoblog Comments for 2006 BMW 325i http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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. :)]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
* 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! :)]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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.

]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/... 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.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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...

]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
;)]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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)]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
So really, you are getting a badge and a bunch of 'tronics' that you don't need.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/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]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/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.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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

]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/
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.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/07/07/2006-bmw-325i/then, some days ago, i saw it in person. looks tiny and cheap from behind. prices are simply ridicilous.
]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:45PM