[mike20022]

It seems like everyone here is pretty much a big 330 kind of fan. I like the extra HP, and some of the extras with the 330, but the price of the 325 is much more actractive. I also don't want to go and buy the 325, and be dissapointed. Any new 325 owners out there that are truly satisfied with their 325, or are you always wishing you had a 330? $6,000 is a pretty big difference in price for 40HP, trim, lights, and rims.

What do you all think? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know already!

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BUY THE 330

Thanks!
-Mike-

[RedStripe]

Hey, I support you. I think the 325 is the better value, and I'm leaning heavily toward it.

[deutschmann59]

Mike, let me refer you to this post:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=3547#post3547

Here are what some other members are saying, but be sure to check out my post about the 325i near the bottom of the page.

[pharding]

My suggestion for a tight budget. This will put you in a 330 for the price of a typical 325.

Euro Delivery - Go for $500 over Euro Invoice pricing.
330
Sport Package
6 Speed Manual Transmission - Do not overlook this. The clutch is mechanically assisted and has a short throw. It takes very little pressure. It is like lifting your foot up and setting it down. Smooth and easy. It makes the car into a "sports" car.
Leatherette - In black you cannot tell the difference with leather.
Jet Black Paint - Cheaper than metallic and it gives the classic BMW look.
Burl Walnut - Looks great with a back interior.

Everything else is just fluff. The 330 includes Logic 7 which is awesome and the ultra-cool 18" wheels.

That is the best value on the planet for a true sports car. Absolutely great deal on a great car. Same price as a 325 or less.

[xspeedy]

For me, the 325i with ZSP/ZPP/Xenons is about $4K cheaper than the 330i with ZSP/ZPP.

So for $4K I get a bit more power, and a "better" sound sysem. Not sure that this equates to value. The base stereo sounds fine to me.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by mike20022

It seems like everyone here is pretty much a big 330 kind of fan. I like the extra HP, and some of the extras with the 330, but the price of the 325 is much more actractive. I also don't want to go and buy the 325, and be dissapointed. Any new 325 owners out there that are truly satisfied with their 325, or are you always wishing you had a 330? $6,000 is a pretty big difference in price for 40HP, trim, lights, and rims.

What do you all think? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know already!

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BUY THE 330

Thanks!
-Mike-

I agree with pharding, except I don't know how to get $500 over invoice. Nonetheless, a European Delivery 330I Sport with leatherette is the way to go. Regardless of price, I wouldn't get Black because it doesn't look that great over time, unless you do very little driving and keep your car garaged more often than you keep it on the road.

[xspeedy]

Originally Posted by RichReg

Regardless of price, I wouldn't get Black because it doesn't look that great over time, unless you do very little driving and keep your car garaged more often than you keep it on the road.

Huh??? Black doesn't look good over time? It wears the best of any of the interiors. Beige and Gray get dirty fast. The carpet will turn dingy, and the leather will start to show soil marks where the body touches it.

[RichReg]

I meant exterior, to save money on metallic paint. I myself ordered Black interior.

[xspeedy]

Originally Posted by RichReg

I meant exterior, to save money on metallic paint. I myself ordered Black interior.

Misread. I thought you were still talking interiors. I agree that black for exterior is ultra-high maintenance. Always shows swirls, and every chip will make itself present.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by xspeedy

Misread. I thought you were still talking interiors. I agree that black for exterior is ultra-high maintenance. Always shows swirls, and every chip will make itself present.

Hey man,...when you're juggling posts between 4 different forums, sh1t happens!

[bzzbenz]

I was wondering the same thing today. All this talk of the 330 and not so much of the 325. I test drove both but i think i am going with a 325 6sp. Anyone else going for 325?

[marcus330i]

Who's doing $500 over ED invoice?

[Armen52]

I've never heard of someone getting $500 over ED invoice. I've heard as low as $1000. That's not to say its totally impossible though.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by marcus545i

Who's doing $500 over ED invoice?

You got $500 over E.D. invoice?

You Bastard! :mad:
(Just kidding....)

[marcus330i]

I got $1000 over.

[marcus330i]

Hey...it just occurred to me: are these "confidential invoice prices" bogus? I mean how do we know what kind of kick-backs BMWNA gives the dealers?

[arnolds]

[QUOTE=marcus545i]Hey...it just occurred to me: are these "confidential invoice prices" bogus? I mean how do we know what kind of kick-backs BMWNA gives the dealers?[/QUOTE

No, the dealer has other ways to make money besides invoice + profit pricing. There's finance kickbacks, CSI money and other incentives.

Good luck in getting 500 over invoice for ED. 1K over invoice is excellent though. :rocks:

[RichReg]

Ha! You don't. I know there is holdback sometimes, which can save a dealer more when you buy THAT particular car from him because you are saving him money from having to keep it on his lot. But we know that BMWs don't sit there for too long, so holdback usually isn't an issue.

I know there are certain incentives that dealers receive for volume, but on an individual car level I don't think its too much outside of what we already know about. I think the biggest additional kickbacks come during buildouts for final year models.

[arnolds]

Originally Posted by mike20022

It seems like everyone here is pretty much a big 330 kind of fan. I like the extra HP, and some of the extras with the 330, but the price of the 325 is much more actractive. I also don't want to go and buy the 325, and be dissapointed. Any new 325 owners out there that are truly satisfied with their 325, or are you always wishing you had a 330? $6,000 is a pretty big difference in price for 40HP, trim, lights, and rims.

What do you all think? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know already!

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BUY THE 330

Thanks!
-Mike-

I have purchased 6 BMW's since 1999 and here's my advice. If you are already having second thoughts about a 325 over a 330, I would advice you to go ahead and get the 330.

There are minor differences in the look of the car that is enhanced from a 325 to 330. Whether its wheels or trims, the higher badged model always looks a little better than the lower badge one. This is from the experience owning a 99 323, 01 X5 3.0, 01 530i, 02 X5 4.4i, 04 Z4 3.0 and my latest toy, 05 545i.

If you have to stretch your budget to afford the 330, do it Euro delivery and save a ton of money.

[marcus330i]

I agree with Arnolds and Pharding: I would go 330 sport and manual, and either pick it up in Munich or wait a couple of months and shop ruthlessly. The 255HP engine, the 18" wheels, the premium sound & xenons are WELL worth the money......and hence your car will always be WORTH more money. Skip the leather and the techno gadgets. You'll be left with the purest form of BMW: The DRIVE! (with really bright headlights and a great sound system)

You can get a European Delivery 330/6sp/sport for about $34,300 including metallic paint. (that's $1000 over invoice) :rocks:

[RichReg]

Marcus;
Just curious, did you have to pay a document fee on your purchase?

[SpaceGhost]

Forgive the newbie question. Euro delivery would mean that I would get the car cheaper but then I would have to pay to fly to Germany to pick it up and then pay to have it shipped. Is that correct? Seems like I wouldn't really save that much.