Here goes...

[850CSi]

5 or 6 years.

[Raghavan]

I would see if Dinan would take it out for you first of all.

[850CSi]

I'm starting to get used to it...

I'm finding that it's less annoying as time goes on. A change in seating position also helped.

[TBR]

Have you asked the dealer about it?

[850CSi]

No...

I figure I'll just let it go for now until I can see how it feels with some more miles stacked on.

[850CSi]

Well, it seems the blasted CDV is having less and less of an effect on my driving...


960 miles now... Only 40 more break-in miles (But i haven't exactly been a saint for the past 200 or so... my MPG is suffering... I'm addicted to exploring the 325s ridiculous powerband in 2nd gear)


BTW i took some awesome pictures today. Will upload and post a few later tonight.

[850CSi]

Did I ever mention how much I love this car?

[850CSi]

Oh, and my dad is starting to refer to it as "Farris's car"


He claims he's glad to have his X3 back but I think he's bullshitting me. He loves the 325i. I think it's his favorite car out of all the ones he's ever owned (Maybe except his 944 Turbo back in '92 or my Mom's E32 735i)


Then again, the X3 is pretty darn nice in its own way (a very unique way, though), and he DID make that choice himself to buy it. Plus, it has the best BMW color (Blue Water).

[ro51092]

WHERE ARE THE DAMN PICTURES, FARIS?? :D  

[TBR]

P I C T U R E S

(There was a bit of rain the other day, the kind that makes cars dirty )























































I took a lot of redundant pictures but whatever.

 

[Raza]

Think of it as 330i lite.
BY DAVE VANDERWERP
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON KILEY
November 2005

Here's a question we'd like ESPN to ask some NASCAR driver on one of its illuminating jock-sniffing quiz shows: Name a car under 35 grand that employs weight-saving magnesium in its engine block, increases efficiency by varying valve lift instead of merely using a throttle plate, and comes standard with pricey run-flat tires.

Time's up. The answer? BMW's least expensive U.S. car, the $30,995 325i.

That's just the start of a long list of standard equipment on the '06 325i. Also included are a six-speed manual transmission (previously five-speed only), an impressive 10-speaker stereo including two subwoofers, dual automatic climate controls, front and rear curtain airbags, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic headlights. The only obvious omission is a folding rear seat?that's still a $475 option.

Overall, we like the 3's new styling, with three sharp pleats ironed onto its profile. Although its size has grown 2.2 inches in length and 3.0 inches in width, this tester weighed just 48 more pounds than the last 325i we tested (C/D, March 2004).

Horsepower is up to 215, 31 more than in the previous model, and torque has been kicked up by 10 to 185 pound-feet, largely because of a half-liter displacement increase to 3.0 (now the same as the 330i). Furthermore, this horsepower number is just 10 less than in the previous 330i, but 40 fewer than in the latest version, due to a single-stage (versus three stage) induction system.

The 325i has shorter gearing than both the 330i and the previous 325i, but sixth gear is taller than the previous fifth gear. Too bad the shift throws aren't shorter. They're a bit rubbery as well. We wish the short shifter from the 2003-05 330i with Performance package were an option.

The added power and more aggressive gearing give straight-line performance a swift kick to 6.1 seconds from 0 to 60 mph and 14.7 seconds at 94 mph through the quarter-mile. This 325i blows away the last-generation car and is also quicker than the previous 330i model.

BMWs typically have long options lists, and this latest 325i, decked out with everything on that list, would cost a stunning $47,715. Forget that. Our test car came to us wearing just the Sport package ($1600) and Sirius satellite radio ($595) for $33,190, and with the many standard features, we didn't feel gypped. This car also had the no-cost aluminum interior-trim option, which in fact we prefer over the two wood choices.

The Sport package consists of a stiffer suspension, 17-inch wheels and tires (versus standard 16s) with stickier Pirelli rubber (225/45 front and 255/40 rear), extremely grippy front sport seats with thigh and bolster adjustments, and a fatter steering wheel. Lumbar adjustment is not included, but we found the manual seats extremely supportive and prefer them to those in the current M3. The Sport package thankfully doesn't include the active-steering system that automatically adjusts the steering ratio based on vehicle speed (as it does on 5- and 6-series models), because we prefer the feel of the standard steering.

At 0.87 g, skidpad grip was between that of the latest two 325i's we've tested (C/D, January 2001 and March 2004). Because of increased contact patches and improved ABS, the '06 car's braking distance, at 161 feet,  is 11 feet better than the March 2004 tester's.

The universally praised 3-series ride-and-handling balance is still intact. That's a relief, considering BMW had to work around the stiffness of the run-flat tires. However, this latest setup feels a little stiffer than the outgoing model's, and when successive road irregularities of a large variety are encountered, the ride can get harsh. At the limit, there is more understeer than we recall in the last car, but there is still some characteristic BMW neutrality, achieved in part by a weight distribution of 49.9 front and 50.1 rear.

Despite the size, weight, horsepower, and displacement increases, city fuel economy is unchanged at 20 mpg and highway actually improved 1 mpg to 30. On a 300-mile highway slog, we averaged an impressive 31 mpg with the cruise set between 70 and 80 mph. Overall, we got 25 mpg.

But more important, the new 3 got its crown back in our October "$35,000 Sports Sedans" comparo after being unseated by the Infiniti G35 last year.
Vehicle type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Price as tested: $33,190 (base price: $30,995)
Engine type: DOHC 24-valve inline-6, magnesium-and-aluminum block and aluminum head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 183 cu in, 2996cc
Power (SAE net): 215 bhp @ 6250 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 185 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: 108.7 in
Length/width/height: 178.2/71.5/55.9 in
Curb weight: 3348 lb
Zero to 60 mph: 6.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 16.8 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 33.2 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.8 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 14.7 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 147 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 161 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.87 g
EPA fuel economy, city driving: 20 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy: 25 mpg

I thought, since we had pictures already--god looking out man--the black is a great choice.

[ro51092]

I'd take the BMW 3

But oddly enough, I bought an A4.

[850CSi]

I'd take the BMW 3

But oddly enough, I bought an A4.

You really can't go wrong with either. I never got to drive the B6 A4 because I was crippled at the time but like I said before, my dad was favoring the A4 and he completely changed his mind after driving the 3 so I trusted him and the mags as far as drive is concerned.




Wow... seeing my car that clean... I need to wash it inside and out tomorrow. It's very tough to keep a car clean when you travel a lot and live such an active lifestyle.

[Champ]

At my place I have a heated indoor garage with a wash stall, pretty easy to wash the car down even in the winter time :)

[mazda6er]

That's a beautiful car. Can't wait to get one of my own.

[Danish]

Just out of curiosity, why was this thread 27 pages long?

[Raza]

He changed his mind alot.  And it's 12 years old.

[mazda6er]

Just out of curiosity, why was this thread 27 pages long?

23 of the pages are just Farris talking to himself.

[Submariner]

23 of the pages are just Farris talking to himself.

At least its not 1448 pages of trash like the ARBT. 

[MexicoCityM3]

Excellent choice. I drove a loaned 325i just like yours last Saturday at the track for a couple of exercises and it handles really really well. Very nimble machine.

[SVT_Power]

At least its not 1448 pages of trash like the ARBT. 

That's good stuff

[850CSi]

23 of the pages are just Farris talking to himself.

I cleaned it BTW. It was reeaaaally dirty on the inside (mainly the floor).

But I keep realizing it'll never be as clean as it was when it was new. The disadvantage of black/black.

[850CSi]

Looking at the top post on this page, it's hard to believe I'm already close to 14K.

[heelntoe]

happy driving. i read through this whole thread yesterday because i was bored. it was like watching a movie you know the ending to.

[Champ]

How is the clutch thing?  Getting smoother or no

[850CSi]

How is the clutch thing?? Getting smoother or no

Either its worn down or I've gotten used to it.