Bought a new car today!

[Don Vito Corleone]

I have been looking for a well-equipped pre-owned E90 BMW 3 series with a manual transmission for some time. I had actually identified a good deal on a private-party car a couple of months ago, but the deal fell through.

Today I bought this car. (EDIT - link deleted by the dealership)

2006 330i in Monaco Blue over black leather. The car has 6-speed, Premium, Sports, and Cold Weather packages, plus Comfort Access. Basically has every option other than iDrive/nav, Active Steering, or rear sunshade, none of which I would want. The car has only 12,800 miles from a single owner (it was originally purchased from the same dealer who sold it to me).

Although the ad doesn't indicate it, the car is Certified Pre-Owned, and has a 6-year, 100,000-mile warranty, plus two years left on the original BMW warranty and comprehensive free maintenance package. I got them to throw in (literally and metaphorically, as they require dealer installation) Sirius satellite radio and a security system (for some dumb reason BMW doesn't include one as stock) - these together total about $1200 installed - and got a very fair trade-in on my old car (2001 Nissan Maxima). Also got 4.9% financing through BMW, and will receive an additional $500 rebate through BMW because I am a member of the BMW Car Club of America. Woohoo!

 

[fstime]

Not bad.

Seems like a care you can plan to keep for a long time considering the good warranty and BMW maintenance package.....

 

[nightowl]

Nice ride! I friend of mine has one exactly like yours but Ti Silver Metallic instead. Do you know if they replaced the engine in it? Apparently it is a known problem with the E90s where BMW had to replace the engine.

Are you going to buy snow tires for it? Since you are in MN you are going to need them unless you have another form of transportation. I have a set for mine (Tire Rack is awesome) and they are great in the snow here.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: nightowl
Nice ride! I friend of mine has one exactly like yours but Ti Silver Metallic instead. Do you know if they replaced the engine in it? Apparently it is a known problem with the E90s where BMW had to replace the engine.

I have no idea, but I've never heard of this as a widespread problem. In any case, the car will be under warranty for another four years, so I'm not too worried about it.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: nightowl
Nice ride! I friend of mine has one exactly like yours but Ti Silver Metallic instead. Do you know if they replaced the engine in it? Apparently it is a known problem with the E90s where BMW had to replace the engine.

I have no idea, but I've never heard of this as a widespread problem. In any case, the car will be under warranty for another four years, so I'm not too worried about it.

I've never heard of engine replacements, either. The 3.0 was used in lots of vehicles with no issues, as far as I know.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: nightowl
Nice ride! I friend of mine has one exactly like yours but Ti Silver Metallic instead. Do you know if they replaced the engine in it? Apparently it is a known problem with the E90s where BMW had to replace the engine.

I have no idea, but I've never heard of this as a widespread problem. In any case, the car will be under warranty for another four years, so I'm not too worried about it.

I'd be sure to look into the actual specifics of the warranty. Example, on almost every single computer laptop sold with a three-year warranty certain parts are exempt such as the battery which only has a one year warranty.

Strange, but I wouldn't be surprised if these loopholes exist for cars as well.

 

[ponyo]

Fine choice! Lot of people here buying BMWs recently. Warranty is nice. Luxury European cars are the only vehicles I would consider getting extended warranty for.

 

[Kadarin]

:thumbsup:

From one new BMW owner to another, congrats!

 

[Pliablemoose]

Very nice, gave up on the Mustang?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Very nice, gave up on the Mustang?

Thanks!

I think you're thinking of someone else in regard to the Mustang. I like the new Mustangs quite a bit (esp. the Bullitt) but have never seriously considered buying one. I really am more a sedan guy when it comes to a primary car, and am not really looking for a second car at this moment.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Very nice, gave up on the Mustang?

Thanks!

I think you're thinking of someone else in regard to the Mustang. I like the new Mustangs quite a bit (esp. the Bullitt) but have never seriously considered buying one. I really am more a sedan guy when it comes to a primary car, and am not really looking for a second car at this moment.

I remembered a post you made on the Bullitt, thought you were leaning towards one.

The rear seats in them are pretty tiny, pretty uncomfortable for adults.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

I remembered a post you made on the Bullitt, thought you were leaning towards one.

The rear seats in them are pretty tiny, pretty uncomfortable for adults.

Might have just been a dalliance on my part. I do like the Bullitt a lot, but at the end of the day I am a practical type of guy. It's funny, one of the partners at my firm, for about two years, owned only an Audi S4 convertible and an old Alfa Spyder - in Minnesota! I'm sure his wife had something more practical, and an S4 is certainly relatively winter-friendly for a ragtop, but even the best fabric roof wouldn't be my first choice in a place with winters like the ones we get here.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Damnit - got a call today from the dealer that the car isn't pre-wired for Sirius. I am a fanatical Stern fan and really wanted that, in spite of the cost of the BMW Sirius unit. I can obviously use the Aux In jack, but it will necessitate some kludgy-looking wiring, and I can't help but feel like I would be compromising. I'm sure I could use it to leverage a better deal, but will I always be slightly annoyed I did???

 

[DivideBYZero]

WIN!

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Hmmm - maybe I'll get them to install an iPod adapter (I will definitely be getting an iPhone when the second-gen ones come out) and chop off a few hundred bucks. I pretty much entirely use my Sirius to listen to Stern anyway, and I can DL the whole show every day (plus I can probably install a Sirius unit in the car without it looking TOO bad - my existing installation looks pretty good in my Maxima). I think I'll sleep on it and decide in the morning.

 

[iamwiz82]

IMHO, I think it's insane to give a car up solely because it lacks something regarding the radio. Can you retrofit a newer radio into the car?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
IMHO, I think it's insane to give a car up solely because it lacks something regarding the radio. Can you retrofit a newer radio into the car?

At the end of the day I think I agree, and I've proposed having them put in the iPod integration kit and knocking off a few hundred bucks. From what I've read the BMW Sirius implementation isn't that great anyway, and I like the ability to pause and rewind programming, which my 2.5-year-old Starmate Replay has.

 

[RKS]

I thought you were eyeing the 135i.

Personally I'm waiting for a nice PI settlement to put a down payment on a GT-R. :laugh:

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I picked my car up last night. I almost can't believe how much I enjoy driving this car, or how it manages to ride so comfortably while handling so well. It's an amazing treat to drive, far more than any car I've ever owned.

Today I had an annoying, fluky and weird experience with the car (which was entirely my own fault). It has Comfort Access, which allows you to open, start, and lock the car without ever taking the key out of your pocket. I was driving home from lunch with some colleagues when my boss called me to remind me of a client meeting that was to start in a couple of minutes (I somehow had it in my calendar as being an hour later). I had my colleagues drop me at the meeting and take my car back to the parking garage, but forgot that I had retained the keys in my pocket. They drove it back to the garage but it took them several minutes to figure out how to lock it without the key. Apparently my co-worker managed to stall the car as soon as he started driving (the clutch is very easy to actuate, but anyone can stall a car when driving it for the first time) - thank God it allowed him to restart it without the key or they would have been well and truly screwed.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
I picked my car up last night. I almost can't believe how much I enjoy driving this car, or how it manages to ride so comfortably while handling so well. It's an amazing treat to drive, far more than any car I've ever owned.

Today I had an annoying, fluky and weird experience with the car (which was entirely my own fault). It has Comfort Access, which allows you to open, start, and lock the car without ever taking the key out of your pocket. I was driving home from lunch with some colleagues when my boss called me to remind me of a client meeting that was to start in a couple of minutes (I somehow had it in my calendar as being an hour later). I had my colleagues drop me at the meeting and take my car back to the parking garage, but forgot that I had retained the keys in my pocket. They drove it back to the garage but it took them several minutes to figure out how to lock it without the key. Apparently my co-worker managed to stall the car as soon as he started driving (the clutch is very easy to actuate, but anyone can stall a car when driving it for the first time) - thank God it allowed him to restart it without the key or they would have been well and truly screwed.

LOL! Yeah, this is the joy of keyless. My GF's Renault Clio has a fully keyless system and it's screams bloody murder if she has the key in her handbag, gets out and I'm still parking it.

Does the 3 not display a message or beep like crazy when the key is out of proximity?

Edit: Owls bought an M, got you two confrewesed!

 

[PricklyPete]

Congrats...awesome car.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
I picked my car up last night. I almost can't believe how much I enjoy driving this car, or how it manages to ride so comfortably while handling so well. It's an amazing treat to drive, far more than any car I've ever owned.

Today I had an annoying, fluky and weird experience with the car (which was entirely my own fault). It has Comfort Access, which allows you to open, start, and lock the car without ever taking the key out of your pocket. I was driving home from lunch with some colleagues when my boss called me to remind me of a client meeting that was to start in a couple of minutes (I somehow had it in my calendar as being an hour later). I had my colleagues drop me at the meeting and take my car back to the parking garage, but forgot that I had retained the keys in my pocket. They drove it back to the garage but it took them several minutes to figure out how to lock it without the key. Apparently my co-worker managed to stall the car as soon as he started driving (the clutch is very easy to actuate, but anyone can stall a car when driving it for the first time) - thank God it allowed him to restart it without the key or they would have been well and truly screwed.

LOL! Yeah, this is the joy of keyless. My GF's Renault Clio has a fully keyless system and it's screams bloody murder if she has the key in her handbag, gets out and I'm still parking it.

Does the 3 not display a message or beep like crazy when the key is out of proximity?

Edit: Owls bought an M, got you two confrewesed!

I had a Prius with keyless start and the thing would just ding like mad if you walked away with the key and left it running. Not much of a security system.

 

[mc866]

Congrats! A fellow MN 3 series owner, mine is much older though 03, that's odd that it let the car be restarted without the key in proximity. I know on my wife's G35 if you leave the car and it's running and you have the key on you it beeps like crazy the second the key is outside the car and I'm almost certain it won't allow you to start it at all if it's not physically in the car.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
I picked my car up last night. I almost can't believe how much I enjoy driving this car, or how it manages to ride so comfortably while handling so well. It's an amazing treat to drive, far more than any car I've ever owned.

Today I had an annoying, fluky and weird experience with the car (which was entirely my own fault). It has Comfort Access, which allows you to open, start, and lock the car without ever taking the key out of your pocket. I was driving home from lunch with some colleagues when my boss called me to remind me of a client meeting that was to start in a couple of minutes (I somehow had it in my calendar as being an hour later). I had my colleagues drop me at the meeting and take my car back to the parking garage, but forgot that I had retained the keys in my pocket. They drove it back to the garage but it took them several minutes to figure out how to lock it without the key. Apparently my co-worker managed to stall the car as soon as he started driving (the clutch is very easy to actuate, but anyone can stall a car when driving it for the first time) - thank God it allowed him to restart it without the key or they would have been well and truly screwed.

LOL! Yeah, this is the joy of keyless. My GF's Renault Clio has a fully keyless system and it's screams bloody murder if she has the key in her handbag, gets out and I'm still parking it.

Does the 3 not display a message or beep like crazy when the key is out of proximity?

Edit: Owls bought an M, got you two confrewesed!

I had a Prius with keyless start and the thing would just ding like mad if you walked away with the key and left it running. Not much of a security system.

Yeah, the Renault goes batshit if you leave the car running and exit with the card. You get a message on the info display of "CARD NOT DETECTED!" and a really obnoxious alarm sound for 3 seconds. You cannot start the car if you stop it, but you also cannot lock it, as you have to be near the door with the card for the outside lock buttons to work.

 

[Owls]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
I picked my car up last night. I almost can't believe how much I enjoy driving this car, or how it manages to ride so comfortably while handling so well. It's an amazing treat to drive, far more than any car I've ever owned.

Today I had an annoying, fluky and weird experience with the car (which was entirely my own fault). It has Comfort Access, which allows you to open, start, and lock the car without ever taking the key out of your pocket. I was driving home from lunch with some colleagues when my boss called me to remind me of a client meeting that was to start in a couple of minutes (I somehow had it in my calendar as being an hour later). I had my colleagues drop me at the meeting and take my car back to the parking garage, but forgot that I had retained the keys in my pocket. They drove it back to the garage but it took them several minutes to figure out how to lock it without the key. Apparently my co-worker managed to stall the car as soon as he started driving (the clutch is very easy to actuate, but anyone can stall a car when driving it for the first time) - thank God it allowed him to restart it without the key or they would have been well and truly screwed.

LOL! Yeah, this is the joy of keyless. My GF's Renault Clio has a fully keyless system and it's screams bloody murder if she has the key in her handbag, gets out and I'm still parking it.

Does the 3 not display a message or beep like crazy when the key is out of proximity?

Edit: Owls bought an M, got you two confrewesed!

I had a Prius with keyless start and the thing would just ding like mad if you walked away with the key and left it running. Not much of a security system.

330i is a great car. My parents were about to buy one but then they realized that they are old and don't need such things.

Congrats! A fellow MN 3 series owner, mine is much older though 03, that's odd that it let the car be restarted without the key in proximity. I know on my wife's G35 if you leave the car and it's running and you have the key on you it beeps like crazy the second the key is outside the car and I'm almost certain it won't allow you to start it at all if it's not physically in the car.

From the manual, it states that you have 20 seconds to restart the car without the key in the vicinity.