should i wait for the 06 3series?

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oriox

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hi guys, new here to the boards. i just recently saw the pictures of the new 3 and i must say, from what i saw i liked.

now my deal is, should i wait for it to come out or do ahead and get the current 05s?

i like the fact the 05 3series has Bluetooth, so ill only assume the new one does as well.


can anyone tell me the difference between the new design and current? are the window buttons still going to be in the center or on the door? (i kind of liked it in the middle, so i cant get water in it when i roll down the window when it rains.)


i currently have a mazda3. got it 5 months ago. i decided id rather buy a bmw so im selling this one off. now the question really is....... to get an 05 and save some $$ or go 06 and possibly get one i like w/o much savings.
 
aNoodle

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Window buttons will move to the doors I believe. In 1998, I got the first months of production E46, and I have to say the old advice is true: don't buy a car in the first year of a body-style change. Sure, you'll get lots and lots of looks, but there WILL be a few production issues that they can only work out after spitting a few thousand of the cars out the factory door and seeing how they do. That just life. BMW always comes out with extra goodies on their cars every year. The current E46 would be at the hieght of perfection and they're offering incentives....but you won't get the head turns. It's a trade off.
 
Average Jae

Average Jae

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Welcome aborad Brian, it's a tough call to make, since on paper the new 3er (e90) is much nicer, esp the engine. more hp, yet less thirsty? Brilliant!

new gen will always end up making the previous gen look old. esp in the case of bimmers. i still remember when the e46 (current 3er) came out, and how i didn't like it at first, but within a year, the cool e36s started to look dated real quick. same goes for the current 5er vs the previous one, while e39 5er is still classy, sit the new and the old together, and you'll see what i mean. but its tough judge how a car looks just by pictures too..

there will def be incentives floating around for the 05 sedans. making it cheaper to get, and you may even want to opt for the performance package (zhp). which will be a rare car to have, even now and more so in the future. and if you are looking for a coupe, you'll have to wait another year for the e90's version.

you are droping quite a bit of cash, you have to get what you want to get. i don't think there is a wrong choice either way. also remember that no matter what you choose, the grass may seem greener on the other side, and you might have some buyer's remorse. shake it off and enjoy the ride, they'll both be great cars.
 
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Kilomph

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E30 and spend the rest of the cash on fixing it up, you'd easily be able to make it faster (s52), handle insanely better (GC), insanely better looking (even if you left it alone. fact, not opinion.), and more reliable.

I'd go with the E46 though, even though they're not that good looking, the E90 is just ugly. I'm never going past E36/E39 when I buy cars in the future, i'll just spend the extra cash on making them much better than the new ones.
 
bmw555

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Kilomph said:
E30 and spend the rest of the cash on fixing it up, you'd easily be able to make it faster (s52), handle insanely better (GC), insanely better looking (even if you left it alone. fact, not opinion.), and more reliable.

I'd go with the E46 though, even though they're not that good looking, the E90 is just ugly. I'm never going past E36/E39 when I buy cars in the future, i'll just spend the extra cash on making them much better than the new ones.
Click to expand...
I second that, E46 is the last good looking BMW among all of them, all the new series are ugly @ss, having lots of computer/electronic problems too and not as solidly build as previous models.
 
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Steve176

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As you can see everyone has a different opinion. I think the E90 is great looking car, however, I am looking at a 330cic. I am going to lease a 2005 for a couple maybe three years at the most depending upon the price break. Iam concerned about the resale value on an old style car especially if the new design is really well received. So when the new convertible comes out I will most likely purchase in lieu of lease. I like my cars looking new and not dated. The last two times I have purchased autos it was in the first year of production and it work out okay, only a few problems with nothing major (american cars). I wouldn't be to concerned about it. Anyway good luck.
 
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oriox

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are pricing going to remain the same or is bmw jacking up the price?

i know with my mazda3 it is selling hot that they are jacking up the price for them.
 
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Booyah

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Im waiting for the 06 myself.....One thing I dont know though as I will want the IX-AWD model---

Does anyone know or heard if they will come out on the first run of cars or will I have to wait 8-15 months before they are available??
 
Average Jae

Average Jae

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you get 30 more horses (255) 6 more pounds of torque (220) than stock e46 330i. but you also add about 140 lbs to the weight.

zhp has 235 and 222lb/ft and weighs about the same w/ the 330i.

i'm sure bmw will raise the price, but prolly not that much, if you consider the what i assume to be a longer list of standard options. as for mazda3, isn't it more the case of them actually selling at sticker, rather than jacking up the price higher? granted the 3's nice and all, but who'd actually pay over sticker for it?
 
DigitalDawn

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I have a 2004 330cic. Really wanted the new 2008 330cic -- which should be available the year before as an '07 (I agree, never buy a redesign in the 1st year). I couldn't wait any longer, and our 12 year old Mazda 929 was finally traded. It works out pretty well though, as our warranty should run out just in time to buy the new model -- really like the new styling, especially the E90 convertible pics I saw a few months ago.

Dawn
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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Kilomph said:
I'd go with the E46 though, even though they're not that good looking, the E90 is just ugly.
Click to expand...
To each his own, however I know you're in the minority with thinking the E46 is not a good-looking car. I happen to think it is "one" of BMW's most beautiful designs...
 
Nataku

Nataku

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Quick question, will BMW give incentives to special ordered E46s. I figured that they want to move the car in stock in liu of the upcoming E90.
 
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Patch

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I honestly think the E46 design is unparalleled and timeless. If you plan on buying the vehicle to keep for a long long time (Like me), then you've got a really tough decision to make. For me it was easy -- I love the E46 and the car is as good as it will ever be in the end of its run (2005). Also, I don't give a Sh#t about re-sale because I'll be driving the car for 10 + years easily. If you're buying for a short time, then definitely buy/lease the E46 for a couple years and then buy the E90 when the bugs are worked out. Just my 2 cents...


Patch
 
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