BMW cars?

[Peter_Krynicki]

Doesn't that make a BMW an expensice Mini?

[xp8103]

In this order:
1976 2002 - bought in 2002 when I sold my 1991 Yamaha 535 Virago. Sold in 2006 when my wife got her MC endorsement and we started riding together
1987 325e
1989 325iX
1989 325iX (yep, shouldn't have bought #1, long story )
2001 525iT (current, wife's car)

[mistercindy]

I've owned two bimmers:

- A 1984 318i standard tranny. It was in South Africa so it was right hand drive, too. Not at all powerful, but it handled like a dream!

-My current car, a 2008 328i coupe, also standard tranny. It could use some more low speed torque, but it handles beautifully, and once you get in 3rd gear and higher at ~2,800 RPMs and higher, its a very responsive car. Great highway car. Although, its quite a bit porkier than the '84 318i.

I think it counts that both of my daughters drive Mini Coopers: one is a 2007 and the other is a 2008. Even with automatic transmission (which their mother insisted on )they are terrrific cars! And the computer systems on the Minis are identical to my 328i. They really are BMWs.

BTW, speaking of Minis, the BMW 3-series has gotten so heavy (my 328i is ~3,500 lbs) that I believe the new Minis, at 2,500 lbs, are the true successors to the BMW New Class, which included the great BMW 2000 and BMW 2002. Just my $0.02.

[ISAMEMON]

Doesn't that make a BMW an expensice Mini?

sorry
I dont consider the mini as a bmw
the minis were a fun and different machine,
at firs twith a little tiny 948 engine
and no crap, no fancy electronics, no pollution control,roll up windows,uncomfortable seats, lucas ( prince of darkness) electronics, way easy to work on, lots of fun
but bmw wanted to bring back somthing of the past to compete with little ugly box cars.
if they wanted to make a really cool and fun ride, they would have brought back the big eye sprite
that folks was a radical go cart with a street legal body and room for someone next to you yelling ........ye hah
............guess my age is showing ........the bmw is not a mini, nor is the mini a bmw except for you young folks

whhat was really way ahead of the time, at that time for a sedan,which on the track could kick butt, over a mini, was the renault R10
it was competeting wth the vw bug on price and not as cute as a mini., putting a clutch in one was easier than a R80 as far as time.
however it had a water cooled motor which ment you had a heater in the winter, lay down seats for the lovers, it had a full 4 wheel independint suspension, so it out cornered a bug or a mini, and 4 wheel disc brakes.. that my friends was a neat econo sedan in its day
if I had a choice right now of a (old) mini, a bug or a renault r10, no comparison, renault

[Jogitu]

We had a 525xi until recently when we leased a new Taurus SHO. It was my wifes cars but I drove it often and I don't have anything bad to say about it or the dealer. I liked the routine maintenance being included. We liked it but the Taurus is just a twin turbo charged AWD rocket and puts a big grin on my face when she lets me get behind the wheel. I just replaced my F150 with a Buick Regal CXL Turbo so I could keep up with her and it puts a huge grin on my face as well. BMW makes a fine car but American cars have come a long way ( the Regal is built in Germany ) and I want to buy American. If an American motorcycle company built a fine touring bike like my RT I would buy it but the current companies need to make huge improvements.

[sit]

BMW cars, yup, got one, love it! Knew it came with runflats, bought it anyway. Knew there was no dipstick, bought it anyway. The car has had no issues, the dealer is great, and the car drives like nothing else I have driven. Wife says she does not think she can go back to a regular dealership after actually being appreciated at the BMW dealer and not feeling like we just got ripped off. The seemed to appreciate our business, have always been up front with us, have worked with us and is generally a nice place to go. Looking forward to get our next..........years down the road, but already planning for it.



[IMG][/IMG]


[IMG][/IMG]

[rickgiroux]

big koolaid drinker - started with X5, test drive lasted 300 feet before I said I would take it!

Next was 645. Beautiful car (to me). Got real crazy and traded that on the M5. Wow! Got sent to Calif Speedway for an all day school because of that car. Got to take my friends son. Dont know what was better: flogging M5's, M6's, M coupes around the track. Or, watching him pass me on the front straight of the road course at over 100 mph!

When the M5 lease was up, I couldnt decide what to get. The M5 was the ultimate BMW (in my book), so anything else was going downward. So, that is where I went - 335 coupe. Turns out that little turbo six is a total kick in the ass!!

Next one? Probably just get an S1000RR and K1600 instead of another car.

[RINTY]

I had a '77 320i for about 12 years. We really enjoyed it, in spite of its numerous, ongoing problems. But I did much of my own wrenching then, so it didn't matter.

It was a good experience, but my BMW car days are behind me now.

[ISAMEMON]

[QUOTE=Sit;757988]BMW cars, yup, got one, love it! Knew it came with runflats, bought it anyway. Knew there was no dipstick, bought it anyway.

say what, its been a while since Ive been under the hood of a newer bmw, but no dipstick, whats with that

[xp8103]

say what, its been a while since Ive been under the hood of a newer bmw, but no dipstick, whats with that

It came with BMW's "Complete Customer Care Experience" where they pay for all scheduled maintenance for the term of the lease meaning once every 15k miles (yep, 15k mile oil change intervals) and they didn't need the pesky customer poking around trying to start trouble by noticing that by 8k miles the oil was starting to resemble sludge. Ask any independent BMW tech.

[lkchris]

Nah, you can see if there's "sludge" by opening the filler cap. (There won't be, as it's synthetic oil)

There's an electronic sensor and dashboard warning oil level.

German's don't see it as a right of manhood to do an oil change or pull a dipstick, and you won't see commercials there with little babies laying under a car with their Dad. Nor guys in vinyl jackets with their hair blowing.

[36654]

German's don't see it as a right of manhood to do an oil change or pull a dipstick, and you won't see commercials there with little babies laying under a car with their Dad. Nor guys in vinyl jackets with their hair blowing.

What about the 6'-3" bald guy that wears the vinyl mini-dress and 5" heels and lives near the Hamburg Train Station. I bet he drives a car with a dip stick.....

All things German aren't pretty, or coherent. They're just German.

I only check my oil when the dashboard tells me to. On the truck, it's a Toyota, so I've never had to add any oil between changes.

[HONDARIDER]

My local BMW car dealer is every bit as accommodating as the local BMW bike shop...maybe more so. It's probably the friendliest car dealership I've ever been to. The service manager seems to know every customer by name...he does all the paperwork for you...he tells you what you're going to spend right up front (as much as is practical) ...and he doesn't try to sell you things you don't need...all you have to do is throw him the key and go on your merry way. I've been so happy with the treatment that I've had my Tundra and my Jeep serviced there as well. It could just be a small town thing though...the Toyota dealer has really great service guys too.

[sit]

It came with BMW's "Complete Customer Care Experience" where they pay for all scheduled maintenance for the term of the lease meaning once every 15k miles (yep, 15k mile oil change intervals) and they didn't need the pesky customer poking around trying to start trouble by noticing that by 8k miles the oil was starting to resemble sludge. Ask any independent BMW tech.

Close but not 100% accurate. All of the cars get the maintenance included, lease or buy. And our car has just over 30K on it and we have it in for oil 3 times. Is is not based on the miles, the car monitors the oil, level and condition, and notifies the dealer when it needs work. The dealer then calls you and tell you to bring the car in. Freaks me out when the dealer calls and tells me this. Each time I have had to ask them, what is the car complaining about now! Take the car in, the do all maintenance on it while I sit inside in the leather chairs watching the big screen sucking down mochas and eating snacks. Car comes back an hour later serviced, washed and vacuumed.

[EMSimon]

Audis are expensive VWs, I love Audi's LeMans efforts, but have no interest in owning one.
The fact the only diesel statement they can make in the USA is the A3--a glorified Golf--does not impress.

Ha,ha, ...spoke the uninformed...Q7 also comes in a Diesel version. Also, most all Audis have engines installed longitudinally while VWs engines are transverse mounted. This alone should tell you that there is a significant difference. The Audi quattro system, arguably the best all-wheel drive system in the world - the only one to incorporate a Torsen differential - is not available in VWs.
I guess Porsches are now expensive VWs also - as they belong to VW???
You need to take the time - which you have not done, I can see - and check a VW Golf and an Audi A3 to recognize that these are two completely different cars.