View Full Version : early demise of the 330i: why?
lemming
08-13-2006, 08:51 PM
what is the logic behind it?
the 328 and the 335 don't seem to make complete sense to me.
Sharp11
08-13-2006, 09:34 PM
what is the logic behind it?
the 328 and the 335 don't seem to make complete sense to me.
I agree, it's kind of a drag - now, if you want want a 330, you've got to pay a lot more and accept the weight gain that goes with it.
I suppose you could look at it this way, the 328 is almost as powerful as the old 330 and it's 220 lbs lighter than the 335 (and cheaper).
Looking forward to seeing the new coupes, though.
Ed
what is the logic behind it?
The competition from Lexus & Infiniti?:dunno:
Nick M3
08-13-2006, 09:54 PM
So far as I can tell, the only difference between the 328 and the 330 is software. Last I saw, it had the 3-stage manifold.
...problem solved.
ed328ci
08-14-2006, 12:20 PM
Isn't this BMW's pattern? With the E46, it was the 323i / 328i in the first year, then 325i / 330i from year two on.
Isn't this BMW's pattern? With the E46, it was the 323i / 328i in the first year, then 325i / 330i from year two on.
The big difference there is that the E46 323/328 used variants of the M52 engines which were carried over from the E36. They weren't all new for the E46.
However, the E90's engines were all new. Granted they will live on in the E60 and a variant will live on as the 328's engine. But this is a bit more extreme than the early E46 engine switchover was.
The N52 was new to the E90, but had been used for nearly two years in Europe, beginning with the 630 for MY '04. So I wonder if this played any part?
what is the logic behind it?
the 328 and the 335 don't seem to make complete sense to me.
The logic is pretty simple: they shorten the buying cycle and sell more cars. A good many of the people who rushed out and bought the 330i, wanting to be the first person on their block to own an E90 will now have to go out and purchase another BMW as their car is now outdated and underperforming (at least BMWNAs marketing department will have them believing so)...
:(
The logic is pretty simple: they shorten the buying cycle and sell more cars. A good many of the people who rushed out and bought the 330i, wanting to be the first person on their block to own an E90 will now have to go out and purchase another BMW as their car is now outdated and underperforming (at least BMWNAs marketing department will have them believing so)...
:(
Makes sense...but while it shortens buying cycles, it aslo shortens investment recoupment times. I suppose if the 330 N54 and the 328 N54 are essentially the same hardware with different software, that's not such a big deal.
I suppose if the 330 N54 and the 328 N54 are essentially the same hardware with different software, that's not such a big deal.
I'm sure it was a typo, but the '06 US 325/330, '07 328 = N52
N54 = 335 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/17/bmw-officially-announces-new-n54-turbo-engine/
;)
A good many of the people who rushed out and bought the 330i, wanting to be the first person on their block to own an E90 will now have to go out and purchase another BMW as their car is now outdated and underperforming (at least BMWNAs marketing department will have them believing so)...
:(
That sounds terribly familiar. ahem...ZHP...cough.
The logic is pretty simple: they shorten the buying cycle and sell more cars. A good many of the people who rushed out and bought the 330i, wanting to be the first person on their block to own an E90 will now have to go out and purchase another BMW as their car is now outdated and underperforming (at least BMWNAs marketing department will have them believing so)...
:(
And that is when BMW gives it to E90 owners from behind. :banana:
Honestly though, how many 3-Series owners actually have the cash to take the hit and purchase the latest/greatest 3er after only one year of ownership?
IndyMike
08-15-2006, 02:33 PM
That sounds terribly familiar. ahem...ZHP...cough.
(GROAN!) Not again, Maurice? Yeah, we know...................we know............The Marketing Package. :rolleyes:
Honestly though, how many 3-Series owners actually have the cash to take the hit and purchase the latest/greatest 3er after only one year of ownership?
Not many.
All of which makes me realize how virtually unchanged the E36 was from beginning of production to end. But I don't necessarily consider that to be a good thing. I would have happily considered purchasing one in its mid-life, except power output pretty much remained static as well as external appearance
(GROAN!) Not again, Maurice? Yeah, we know...................we know............The Marketing Package. :rolleyes:
Not many.
All of which makes me realize how virtually unchanged the E36 was from beginning of production to end. But I don't necessarily consider that to be a good thing. I would have happily considered purchasing one in its mid-life, except power output pretty much remained static as well as external appearance
The E36 actually did change with the '96 MY, but the cosmetic changes were subtle.
And, IMO, the ZHP was more than a marketing package. In fact, it's the only E46 variant (M3 included) that I would consider buying at this point.
Sharp11
08-15-2006, 02:42 PM
The three series isn't the runaway choice it once was in its segment - my guess is BMW really needed to make those output numbers go up, even the Honda Accord coupe looks more exciting on paper.....
....and it's got DOUBLE WISHBONES IN FRONT!!! Oh My GOD.
Ed
zcasavant
08-15-2006, 03:06 PM
The E36 actually did change with the '96 MY, but the cosmetic changes were subtle.
And, IMO, the ZHP was more than a marketing package. In fact, it's the only E46 variant (M3 included) that I would consider buying at this point.
The only e46 varient I'd really consider is the M3. The others are all WAY too slow by today's (and my) ridiculous standards.
Not many.
That is certainly what I think.;)
The only e46 varient I'd really consider is the M3. The others are all WAY too slow by today's (and my) ridiculous standards.
I'm sorry to say that there is not an E46 I would consider. A large part of this is due to my former ownership of one. Nevertheless, I have driven a Comp Pkg. E46 M3 on the track @ the Performance Center and for the money, I was not impressed.
That is certainly what I think.;)
I'm sorry to say that there is not an E46 I would consider. I've driven a Comp Pkg. E46 M3 on the track @ the Performance Center. For the money, I was not impressed.
Yeah, but E46 M3s are creeping ever downward in price these days. For the low 30s, it's a helluva car.
That said, the ZHP 330i is still a better all-arounder, even if it is a bit too slow.
Yeah, but E46 M3s are creeping ever downward in price these days. For the low 30s, it's a helluva car.
True, but the reliablity issues with the S54 would keep me from purchasing a used one out of warranty. What model years received the increased powertrain warranty of 6yrs./100,000?
True, but the reliablity issues with the S54 would keep me from purchasing a used one out of warranty. What model years received the increased powertrain warranty of 6yrs./100,000?
I think they all did. My 2002 had that, anyway.
Sharp11
08-15-2006, 03:37 PM
Yeah, but E46 M3s are creeping ever downward in price these days. For the low 30s, it's a helluva car.
That said, the ZHP 330i is still a better all-arounder, even if it is a bit too slow.
The BMW dealer in Greenwich CT had a four door ZHP with 40k on the clock for 31k.
A week later they dropped the price 10k, needless to say, it's gone.
Ed
The BMW dealer in Greenwich CT had a four door ZHP with 40k on the clock for 31k.
A week later they dropped the price 10k, needless to say, it's gone.
Ed
Hm. Talk about pendulum swings.
Somewhere in the middle is probably the real price of that car.
I think they all did. My 2002 had that, anyway.
For some reason I thought MY 05 & 06 did not have it?:dunno: Obviously, they are too new to purchase used for $30k or less, but they won't be in a few years.
Nick M3
08-15-2006, 04:12 PM
For some reason I thought MY 05 & 06 did not have it?:dunno:
'04+ do NOT get the 100K warranty.
lupinsea
08-15-2006, 06:20 PM
I've got a 100k warranty on my 2003 ZHP. . . a CPO warranty. :eeps:
I was a bit bummed out when I found out the CPO warranties don't cover the suspension, audio, or trim pieces. It'd be nice to have those control arms replaced underwarranty, you know, just in case the there might be a problem with them in the next few years. :dunno: At least the major things on the car are covered, though.
It'd be nice to have those control arms replaced underwarranty, you know, just in case the there might be a problem with them in the next few years. :dunno: At least the major things on the car are covered, though.
No doubt. My '01 330Ci had the control arms replaced three times.:eek: BTW, it was a low mileage car, 18k.
No doubt. My '01 330Ci had the control arms replaced three times.:eek: BTW, it was a low mileage car, 18k.
After racking up 37K miles in 2.5 years, I've only put on 5K miles in the last 9 months. Since I have another 9 months until my car turns 4, I doubt Ithe warranty will expire on miles. I'm going to have to make a comprehensive list of all I must have checked out before the warranty runs out.
lupinsea
08-16-2006, 02:38 PM
I was down in San Diego wtih 600 miles left on the original 4yr / 50k warranty when the radio knob broke. It stuck in the on position and it wouldn't shut off the radio. And this was something that wouldn't have been covered under the CPO warranty. I was kinda annoyed. I tried talking to the BMW Seattle dealership about having repaired upon my return to Seattle after the San Diego BMW dealership noted the problem but they said no because I'd be out of original factory warranty by about 800 miles at that point. The car breaks under warranty but Seattle BMW wouldn't cover it because I'd be out of warranty by the time I get the car home?
Pissed me off, I had to burn about a half day of my vacation while the San Diego dealership replaced the head unit (Brect BMW). It really screwed up some plans with friends that day who had themselves taken a day off of work to hang out and show me around. Brecht was nice enough and very curtious but I was more than a little peeved that BMW Seattle wouldn't work with me on the issue.
lemming
08-17-2006, 12:53 AM
Makes sense...but while it shortens buying cycles, it aslo shortens investment recoupment times. I suppose if the 330 N54 and the 328 N54 are essentially the same hardware with different software, that's not such a big deal.
that would be typical BMW, after thinking about it.
"more is less". through software. 3 series residuals are high regardless of odd duckling year cars, but it's still a weird thing to almost overnight replace the 330i.
The car breaks under warranty but Seattle BMW wouldn't cover it because I'd be out of warranty by the time I get the car home?
That very much matches the kind of treatment I used to get when my 330 would require repair. Always had to fight tooth-n-nail to get them to just fix what was wrong. It just shouldn't be that way.
I guess that's one of the big reasons why I bought the Lexus this time around.
iateyourcheese
08-17-2006, 11:20 AM
... I tried talking to the BMW Seattle dealership about having repaired upon my return to Seattle after the San Diego BMW dealership noted the problem but they said no because I'd be out of original factory warranty by about 800 miles at that point. The car breaks under warranty but Seattle BMW wouldn't cover it because I'd be out of warranty by the time I get the car home?
...
At that point I would have claimed the car to be undriveable and made BMW tow it to a dealership. Kind of like what the 6er crowd does when they get a low windshield wiper fluid warning.
Kind of like what the 6er crowd does when they get a low windshield wiper fluid warning.
:lol:
John V
08-17-2006, 11:37 AM
The car breaks under warranty but Seattle BMW wouldn't cover it because I'd be out of warranty by the time I get the car home?
Sounds like your dealership in Seattle doesn't deserve any more business from you.
lupinsea
08-17-2006, 12:51 PM
Well, it didn't really get any business from me before. Never had a BMW before so I had no reason to go there. The only thing I've had done at my local dealer in question was the BMW iPod adapter installation. In person the people were courteous enough and the SA helpful. But they were just dick'n me around (no comments from Rumatt, please) when I called from San Diego. The service manager did call back but that was after I had the San Diego dealership fix the radio under warranty down there.
Oh, and then I get a flood of these frick'n survey things from various BMW marketing arms asking me to rate the BMW Seattle dealership (my guess is from the iPod install). I've never experience a company so eager for their customers to voice their opinion before. :rolleyes:
I'm still puzzled by why it seems to require 2-3 times the personel to handle BMW customers vs. Mazda. When I took my Miata in for service at the local University Mazda dealer ship (god I wish they sold BMWs, great place) I'd talk to the Big Cheese in the service department and set up an appointment, he'd be the one I talked to when I rolled my car and then hand it off to one of the service techs who worked there . . . 2 guys basically: the Big Cheese who manages everything and the Service Tech who does the work.
At BMW? Well, there's the Service Advisor to talk to the customer. Then (I imagine) there's probably a Big Cheese in the Service department, the parking attendent who receives the car, and then the actual Service Tech who does the work. Why so many frigg'n people?
Oh, and then I get a flood of these frick'n survey things from various BMW marketing arms asking me to rate the BMW Seattle dealership (my guess is from the iPod install). I've never experience a company so eager for their customers to voice their opinion before.
I get the same thing from Lexus now. Usually a phone call a day or two after, then 2 surveys in the mail within a few weeks. I guess that's fine, and I don't mind spending a few minutes to either praise them for good service, or take the opportunity to voice concerns over poor service or lack of cooperation in fixing something.
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