new car, have questions!

[granadablanca]

Hi everybody! This is my first post here.

I just bought an '06 330i, fully loaded and <gasp> steptronic. It's my 12th car and my first automatic. I never thought I'd see the day, but the commute justifies it.

Anyway, I absolutely love everything about the car - it's just amazing and exactly what I was looking for - but now I've got a bunch of newbie questions. If anyone would be kind enough to help out, I'd be grateful.

These are all my observations/questions after 2 weeks of owning the car:

1. Gas mileage hasn't been what I've expected. I'm barely getting 20mpg average, and have been filling up after just over 300 miles. I don't drive it hard at all, but there is a lot of rush hour stop & go. Still - isn't this lower than it should be? Any advice?

2. On a related note - on the (seemingly useless) mpg gauge - the needle spends a lot of time maxed out at 12 when it doesn't seem to make sense, like when idling, coming to a stop or just crawling along. Should I just disregard this gauge in general?

3. The transmission seems to hate first gear unless it's in sport. It seems to shift into 2nd nearly as soon as I start moving. Just its nature, I presume? As I said, AT is new to me.

4. The brakes (I assume) make groaning noises when I start rolling or come to a stop, as though they're fighting with the resistance from the transmission? More noticeable when cold. Again, I'm an idiot with an auto.

5. The car shudders and shakes a little at idle, especially when cold. Reminds me a little of motor mounts going bad. Anyone else have this?

6. An occasional "whirring" noise at 60-70mph, kinda like a cheesy sci-fi movie UFO sound. Tires maybe? I've had a set before on another car that sounded like this, but usually only around corners.

7. I have a year left on the warranty - any advice on getting it extended? Is that done through the dealer service department?

8. What's the scoop on the free maintenance? Does that mean when I need an oil change, I just bring it in and it's free? What if I just wanted to have it looked over in general? Sorry, warranties are new to me as well!

Anyway, thanks in advance for any replies. Sorry if any of my q's are stupid.

Cheers,
Dave

[Blue330i2006]

Hi everybody! This is my first post here.

I just bought an '06 330i, fully loaded and <gasp> steptronic. It's my 12th car and my first automatic. I never thought I'd see the day, but the commute justifies it.

Anyway, I absolutely love everything about the car - it's just amazing and exactly what I was looking for - but now I've got a bunch of newbie questions. If anyone would be kind enough to help out, I'd be grateful.

These are all my observations/questions after 2 weeks of owning the car:

1. Gas mileage hasn't been what I've expected. I'm barely getting 20mpg average, and have been filling up after just over 300 miles. I don't drive it hard at all, but there is a lot of rush hour stop & go. Still - isn't this lower than it should be? Any advice?

2. On a related note - on the (seemingly useless) mpg gauge - the needle spends a lot of time maxed out at 12 when it doesn't seem to make sense, like when idling, coming to a stop or just crawling along. Should I just disregard this gauge in general?

3. The transmission seems to hate first gear unless it's in sport. It seems to shift into 2nd nearly as soon as I start moving. Just its nature, I presume? As I said, AT is new to me.

4. The brakes (I assume) make groaning noises when I start rolling or come to a stop, as though they're fighting with the resistance from the transmission? More noticeable when cold. Again, I'm an idiot with an auto.

5. The car shudders and shakes a little at idle, especially when cold. Reminds me a little of motor mounts going bad. Anyone else have this?

6. An occasional "whirring" noise at 60-70mph, kinda like a cheesy sci-fi movie UFO sound. Tires maybe? I've had a set before on another car that sounded like this, but usually only around corners.

7. I have a year left on the warranty - any advice on getting it extended? Is that done through the dealer service department?

8. What's the scoop on the free maintenance? Does that mean when I need an oil change, I just bring it in and it's free? What if I just wanted to have it looked over in general? Sorry, warranties are new to me as well!

Anyway, thanks in advance for any replies. Sorry if any of my q's are stupid.

Cheers,
Dave

1 stop and go. remember STOP is the premium word! when you are not moving mpg is 0. do the math. the car is!!

2 stop Flooring it. a race to the next stoplight will not get you better MPG. just ask Hammond.

3. It is trying to get better MPG!! quit complaining and just drive the car!!

4.. this is worn brakes. FIX THEM..

5. Car is cold and oil is cold. change the oil to BMW specifications! if not fixed live with it. No worries mate!

6. ?? don't know. tires. bad music. inexperience on the road................

[ewilliah]

Hello!

I bought a CPO 2006 330i a few weeks ago as well. It has navigation, steptronic transmission, sport and premium package plus some other goodies. Here are my experiences:

1. I am also at 20 mpg. I commute around the Washington DC area and traffic here is really bad. I suspect the traffic is lowering the mpg and the fact that I just bought the car and it hasn't been driven in a while.

2. I have the same thing. 12 mpg when coming to a stop or when I hit the break.

3. Similar situation.

4. My brakes feel rough especially when I hit them hard. I have 34,000 miles on the car and the dealer told me I need new breaks in 20,000 miles. So, I think its just wear and tear.

5. When I start the car the whole car shakes (like someone passing me at high speed). I believe that this is just due to the powerful engine starting up.

6. No whirring noise. The car seems happiest and smoothest at 65+ mph.

7. I have a 10 months left on the warranty. I do plan to buy the extended warranty. It is just too expensive to pay out of pocket in my opinion. Not sure where you buy the extended warranty.

8. When you are due for an oil change, it is free under warranty. Not really sure on just getting the car looked over though.

Hope this helps :D

[granadablanca]

That does help, thanks! Sounds like we bought nearly identical cars. Northern Virginia is my old stomping grounds, but I'm in California now. Both places are miserable for traffic.

Anyway, I also noticed the car has no oil temperature gauge...weird. I guess it just doesn't matter these days, but I'd much rather that than the silly mpg needle.

Cheers,
Dave

[sprung]

I'm still getting used the oil temp gauge but no dipstick!!! How do I check the oil with no dipstick:eek::eek::eek:

[omelet1978]

You know it's funny, if you look at the forums you see tons of posts from people that are buying 06 330i's. I just bought one last month. It must be b/c everyone is turning them in from 3 year leases.

I have a 40 mile commute to work. When I'm doing that every day my mpg comes out to 24.5. I've had the last week off and been driving normally and my mpg dropped to 22.5. I would say that 20 for constant stop and go traffic is probably pretty accurate.

I do have a slight wirring noise at all speeds. Going to have carmax check it out.

As for the warranty, bmw's are expensive. If it was an Altima I would not worry, but in this case it might be worth it if you can get a descent deal.

[Beer Goggles]

20mpg combined is good, more so in traffic. I average 24mpg and I'm not really in stop and go. Drive the car and let the AVERAGE work itself out. If you micro manage every trip you'll be upset.

The car is designed to start in 2nd for 90% of the time. Manual mode and Sport are supposed to stop this but i think even in sport it might want to start in second without a good stomp of the gas.

Brakes do groan if you're just at the threshold of them stopping the car. Squealing is an issue with these cars.

I wouldn't say a rough idle is normal, but my car (different engine) is a little rough until it warms up. Remember these have engine mounts for isolation so they might move more.


HOnestly most of these questions are for your dealer (about service) and you should have asked before you bought.

[granadablanca]

20mpg combined is good, more so in traffic. I average 24mpg and I'm not really in stop and go. Drive the car and let the AVERAGE work itself out. If you micro manage every trip you'll be upset.

The car is designed to start in 2nd for 90% of the time. Manual mode and Sport are supposed to stop this but i think even in sport it might want to start in second without a good stomp of the gas.
That's good to know. So there's nothing unusual about my mileage or transmission.


Brakes do groan if you're just at the threshold of them stopping the car. Squealing is an issue with these cars.
That's exactly it - you described it better. It's when they're at the threshold between stop and go, they can be very touchy and noisy. Not a squealing pads issue.


I wouldn't say a rough idle is normal, but my car (different engine) is a little rough until it warms up. Remember these have engine mounts for isolation so they might move more.
Well, it's not "rough". Just a subtle shudder here and there at idle, but it is noticeable.


HOnestly most of these questions are for your dealer (about service) and you should have asked before you bought.
Fair enough.

Also - the manual says either 5W-30 or 5W-40, I believe. Which do you guys use? Is there a difference? I'm in Southern California, so cold climate isn't an issue.

I think I'm going to change the oil, even though the car says it's not needed yet. (Just a habit I always feel better doing right after buying a car.) When I do this, do I need to reset anything in the computer?

Anything else that it couldn't hurt to do? Air filter maybe?

Thanks everyone.

Dave

[mryakan]

BMW engines are not the smoothest at idle when cold, so unless you can feel the shaking in the seat, I would not be worried.
Use BMW approved fully synthetic oil and do not reset the CBS unless the dealer is doing the oil change indicated by CBS, otherwise you will not get the free oil change.
No need to change the air filter if it is not dirty IMO unless you are going aftermarket. If it needs replacement, it should be done for free by the dealer as part of the free maintenance.

[The1Ash10]

1 stop and go. remember STOP is the premium word! when you are not moving mpg is 0. do the math. the car is!!

2 stop Flooring it. a race to the next stoplight will not get you better MPG. just ask Hammond.

3. It is trying to get better MPG!! quit complaining and just drive the car!!

4.. this is worn brakes. FIX THEM..

5. Car is cold and oil is cold. change the oil to BMW specifications! if not fixed live with it. No worries mate!

6. ?? don't know. tires. bad music. inexperience on the road................

Given, I have not been on this forum a log time, but your posts have to be some of the most worthless I've ever seen.

To the TS good job on the new car. I've not been wild about my MPG so far, also... :(

[mryakan]

Given, I have not been on this forum a log time, but your posts have to be some of the most worthless I've ever seen.

To the TS good job on the new car. I've not been wild about my MPG so far, also... :(
Please do not engage in productive banter. If you do not like someone's feedback, just ignore it, or use the post rating system.