New 335i Owner and Poster

[dadornet]

I just signed the paperwork for a new 335i tonight and am very excited. I drove both the auto and manual and decided to go w/ the auto since you get the paddle shifters.

This is what I ordered (they found one in transport and I should hopefully get it late next week):

335i / SPARKLING GRAPHITE METALLIC / BLACK LEATHER W/ BURL WALNUT / AUTO / PREMIUM / SPORTS / NAV / COMFORT / HEATED SEATS / SIRIUS / REAR DECK SPOILER (installed at port)

I am actually a proud BMW owner for the past three years, but just started getting into these posting boards over the past couple days. My current/previous car is a 2004 330xi / black metallic / sports / premium / heated seats. We also purchased a BMW for my wife this year - 2006 x3 / sports (a must on x3 - all M accessories) / premium.

I will post some pictures when I get my car. I just drove the auto tonight and am so pumped about this vehicle! I feel bad that I didn't get the ACTIVE STEERING option. Anyone have any feedback about this feature?

[ADAM///M]

Wow you got everything on that car. Surprised they found one matching your exact specifications. Congrats!

[jbass524]

Good job. Congrats and enjoy!!! I spoke in length with the dealer about this and there is at least 1 post in this forum about it. It basically tightens the steering up as you go faster and gives you light steering at slower speeds.

Seems silly to me. Didn't even consider it as the bimmer is such an amazingly solid car at any speed.

[aftp302]

I just signed the paperwork for a new 335i tonight and am very excited. I drove both the auto and manual and decided to go w/ the auto since you get the paddle shifters.

This is what I ordered (they found one in transport and I should hopefully get it late next week):

335i / SPARKLING GRAPHITE METALLIC / BLACK LEATHER W/ BURL WALNUT / AUTO / PREMIUM / SPORTS / NAV / COMFORT / HEATED SEATS / SIRIUS / REAR DECK SPOILER (installed at port)

I am actually a proud BMW owner for the past three years, but just started getting into these posting boards over the past couple days. My current/previous car is a 2004 330xi / black metallic / sports / premium / heated seats. We also purchased a BMW for my wife this year - 2006 x3 / sports (a must on x3 - all M accessories) / premium.

I will post some pictures when I get my car. I just drove the auto tonight and am so pumped about this vehicle! I feel bad that I didn't get the ACTIVE STEERING option. Anyone have any feedback about this feature?

I'm very jealous. I ordered almost the exact same combination except for auto and sirius but no luck locating one already produced so I am waiting until beginning of February for mine to be delivered.

Post pictures as soon as you get it so I can be even more jealous!! :)

[335I Twin Turbo]

I just signed the paperwork for a new 335i tonight and am very excited. I drove both the auto and manual and decided to go w/ the auto since you get the paddle shifters.

This is what I ordered (they found one in transport and I should hopefully get it late next week):

335i / SPARKLING GRAPHITE METALLIC / BLACK LEATHER W/ BURL WALNUT / AUTO / PREMIUM / SPORTS / NAV / COMFORT / HEATED SEATS / SIRIUS / REAR DECK SPOILER (installed at port)

I am actually a proud BMW owner for the past three years, but just started getting into these posting boards over the past couple days. My current/previous car is a 2004 330xi / black metallic / sports / premium / heated seats. We also purchased a BMW for my wife this year - 2006 x3 / sports (a must on x3 - all M accessories) / premium.

I will post some pictures when I get my car. I just drove the auto tonight and am so pumped about this vehicle! I feel bad that I didn't get the ACTIVE STEERING option. Anyone have any feedback about this feature?


In you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for your 335I?

[ih8rainnc]

is it inappropriate to say ... I hate you? When the kids are out of college in six years maybe I'll buy your car when you're tired of it??? PM me when that happens.

[dadornet]

In you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for your 335I?


I didn't get a copy of the actual sales price of the vehicle b/c I negotiated a lease deal and wasn't hung up on the actual purchase price. This was my 3rd BMW purchase from the same dealership and I know the GM, so I just worked the lease deal to where I wanted it and new it was the best deal that I could possibly get. This would mean that the purchase price had to be worked down to get me where I wanted to be.

The lease is 36 months / 15,000 miles per year / $1,500 due at signing (includes 1st payment) / $648 per month --- equipped as stated previously

[dadornet]

I will definitely post pictures as soon as I get it and post some new ones when I get my non-winter wheels and put them on the car.

[bimmeron]

The active steering gives more steering angle for a small movement of the steering wheel. At about 60mph it is the same as non active. The active steering is good for carparks, parking and very windy roads. Unless you experince a lot of these conditions it is no big deal.
The 3 is such a good handler I don't think you will miss it. A lot of people don't like active steering because you can turn on too much lock at low speeds until you get used to it.

[ADAM///M]

I didn't get a copy of the actual sales price of the vehicle b/c I negotiated a lease deal and wasn't hung up on the actual purchase price. This was my 3rd BMW purchase from the same dealership and I know the GM, so I just worked the lease deal to where I wanted it and new it was the best deal that I could possibly get. This would mean that the purchase price had to be worked down to get me where I wanted to be.

The lease is 36 months / 15,000 miles per year / $1,500 due at signing (includes 1st payment) / $648 per month --- equipped as stated previously

That's a good deal on such a well equipped car. I ran my lease calculator against your payment and I used the following assumptions to get to your payment: Money Factor base BMW FS rate of 0.0015, paid $1,000 over invoice, MACO of $400, training of $180, lease acquisition fee of $825. I'm off a few dollars but it means that your deal is good. :D

[dadornet]

Thanks Adam - from what I hear, it is pretty tought to work down the purchase price on these cars right now b/c they can't keep them in stock, so I am glad that I was able to lock down a solid deal.

[Wanta335i]

Congrats, you'll love it...

[watever]

<< REAR DECK SPOILER (installed at port) >>

tell me more about this ... have you seen what it looks like??? how much did it cost???

[husky3425]

I just got to drive one (335i auto) for a couple of days as a loaner car There is some turbo lag, which is especially noticeable around town (made it a bit hard to drive smoothly from a stop), but boy, get this thing spooled up and it really FLIES! Stomp on it at 60MPH and you're going 80 in just a few seconds. Passing is a riot. Have fun and be careful out there!

[andrewket]

Good job. Congrats and enjoy!!! I spoke in length with the dealer about this and there is at least 1 post in this forum about it. It basically tightens the steering up as you go faster and gives you light steering at slower speeds.

Seems silly to me. Didn't even consider it as the bimmer is such an amazingly solid car at any speed.

You missed the fact that it enables variable steering ratios. It isn't just that it is easier to turn at slow speeds and stiffer at high speeds (a good thing), its that it takes less turns of the steering wheel at slower speeds from left lock to right lock compared to the default fixed ratio. For parking, etc., this is a very nice feature. It can also counter under-steer in combination with DSC. Many of the higher end cars have this as standard, and the trend is going this direction.

Andrew

[Terry @ BMS]

I just signed the paperwork for a new 335i tonight and am very excited. I drove both the auto and manual and decided to go w/ the auto since you get the paddle shifters.

This is what I ordered (they found one in transport and I should hopefully get it late next week):

335i / SPARKLING GRAPHITE METALLIC / BLACK LEATHER W/ BURL WALNUT / AUTO / PREMIUM / SPORTS / NAV / COMFORT / HEATED SEATS / SIRIUS / REAR DECK SPOILER (installed at port)

I am actually a proud BMW owner for the past three years, but just started getting into these posting boards over the past couple days. My current/previous car is a 2004 330xi / black metallic / sports / premium / heated seats. We also purchased a BMW for my wife this year - 2006 x3 / sports (a must on x3 - all M accessories) / premium.

I will post some pictures when I get my car. I just drove the auto tonight and am so pumped about this vehicle! I feel bad that I didn't get the ACTIVE STEERING option. Anyone have any feedback about this feature?

Love that color... congrats!

[Beer Goggles]

Every time I read something about the active steering it's ALWAYS "it doesn't feel natural" Explain to me what happens when you're traveling at 75mph braking into a decreasing radius turn...where with non-variable ration you'd keep the wheel in the same spot, and now with variable 90-degree wheel turn will change at certain speeds...

I think if you like to drive you won't want it. Gimmick.

[Beer Goggles]

I just got to drive one (335i auto) for a couple of days as a loaner car There is some turbo lag, which is especially noticeable around town (made it a bit hard to drive smoothly from a stop), but boy, get this thing spooled up and it really FLIES! Stomp on it at 60MPH and you're going 80 in just a few seconds. Passing is a riot. Have fun and be careful out there!

I think what you felt was auto transmission lag...there really isn't any lag in the engine.

[azhrei]

Explain to me what happens when you're traveling at 75mph braking into a decreasing radius turn...where with non-variable ration you'd keep the wheel in the same spot, and now with variable 90-degree wheel turn will change at certain speeds...
In a way it is a gimmick.

Concerning the decreasing radius turn, I haven't noticed any problem. The entrance ramp from the Tampa airport onto I-275 northbound is a decreasing radius turn and I've taken that turn much faster than I should have ("Wheeeeee!" :redspot). It may be that the steering compensates gently enough that it isn't noticeable...

I am sometimes surprised by the minimal steering wheel movement required to back the car out of the garage, but I've never had a problem with it on the street, including the (admittedly only one) autocross I've run.

YMMV.