[uucdigest] Tuesday, July 8 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6549
_________________________________________________________________ | | Search the ARCHIVES: | http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] | | Visit Richard Nott's Ultimate BMW Database: | http://www.bmwdatabase.com | | For all available Digest commands including unsubscribe/subscribe, | visit the BMW UUC Digest page: http://www.uucdigest.com | | Send SUBMISSIONS to [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Complaints? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you must. | Technical Problems? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |__________________________________________________________________ In this BMW UUC Digest: RE: [uuc] The Hire DVD Re: [uuc] The Hire DVD Re: [uuc] What are the best lease rates on a 2003 X5? Experience with ML35 0's? [uuc] <E28> [uuc] RE: Leasing an X5 [uuc] What are the best lease rates on a 2003 X5? Experience with ML350's? [uuc] <E36> 1998 M3 Sedan for sale ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 17:18:31 +0200 From: "Pavel Tcholakov" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] The Hire DVD I guess it all comes down to cost - those movies, albeit short, probably cost a fortune to produce; that's one very expensive ad campaign after all. They charge close to nothing for the DVDs so obviously they didn't want to pour even more money into that - the website is up there for all to see. Pavel - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of roger n. katz Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 4:53 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] The Hire DVD But the added section on the Featured Cars was really disappointing. A static presentation that completely ignores the benefits available as a DVD. Kind of weird that they didn't make more of the opportunity. But I guess they figure they showcased the cars enough in the films? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 11:34:54 -0400 From: "Eurowerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] The Hire DVD Surely there are NONE of us complaining about a free DVD?!? Regardless of content! Kirk A. Gilchrist EURO-WERKS / Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo Service and Repair 8 South Highland St. / Winchester, KY 40391 / 859-745-0125 [EMAIL PROTECTED] / 888-522-0271 toll free ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 10:38:47 -0500 From: Dennis Wynne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] What are the best lease rates on a 2003 X5? Experience with ML35 0's? No excuse for the shabby treatment - are there no other dealers around you can talk to? You can call "my guy" in GA and he can give you the straight story on the discounts and lease rates. My local BMW store is owned by Sonic Automotive and they have to make a profit in every department (and for the local store and HQ) so they really can't compete with an aggressive dealer. They charge too much for the cars and then the finance department does not give you the best (buy) rate. You can fly down to GA and drive back - or he can ship a car to you. You didn't state the term, money factor, and residual for the MB lease - and if the price you stated included taxes or was just the base lease rate. You need to know these things are well as just the monthly payment. In any case, this looks like a lot better deal than you could get on the open market (like from a bank/leasing agent). Captive lease deals are usually the best - the financial arm of the company can provide lower money factors and higher residuals to help the dealers move the cars. $2000 under MSRP is still $2000 or more above dealer cost - that is the way to look at it, not how much you save but how much they make. $2000+ is a lot to leave on the table when the MB dealer has so many soon-to-be year old cars on the lot. Also, it does not sound like what your wife really wants - if she wants an X5 then she should get one :-) I assume you are looking at the 3.0 X5? The X5 costs more (MSRP), but the open-market residual is higher. But I bet BMW financial has a better "Captive rate" deal - in fact I am sure of it. I called my guy and he can do at least $2500 off of MSRP on the 3.0 X5 - and he said BMW has some really sweet lease deals right now. The "at least" might depend on if he was what you want (options and color) sitting on his lot or not. If not, he can get it for you. His finance department will give the best rate available on the lease as well. Dealers can't change the residual amount - but they can raise the money factor by a good bit. Anything they get you to sign for over the "buy rate" is extra profit for them. AFAIK my guy always quotes and uses the "buy rate". The same is true for traditional financing. Dennis 330i silver/black/manual/sp/pp/xenon/cd At 09:57 AM 07/08/2003 -0400, you wrote: >Are the new ML's that bad? After looking at the 2003 >ML350 it looks like a very nice car for the money. The CA offered us $2000 >under MSRP for the car (there were about 30 of them on the lot). So with >$2000 down I was able to get the lease payment down to $445 per month. The >car had (power seats, leather, some other stuff, Sunroof package, heated >seats)That seems really cheap for a 2003 MB and if there after purchase >service is anything like their prepurchase service then the deal seems even >better. I know that the early ones had some (many) problems but after 7 >years I would think that they would have got this car nailed down. I told >my wife that they will probably change the body in the next year or two but >doesn't seem to mind. > >So, my problem is. Is it possible to lease an X5 for anywhere near this >price? The only options that she wants are (leather, moonroof, heated >seats, auto). I am able to get $2000 off MSRP from a dealer in North Jersey >and I would get a $1000 rebate from BMWCCA on a new lease. Any suggestions? > >Larry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 11:48:16 -0400 From: TR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <E28> Ron a few of years ago , I asked that same question. Brett felt at that time , it would be better to replace the E28/M30 with one from the E34. And while at it, replace the ecu and harness , instead of putting the E34 M30 head on an E28 M30. JimC. said "it's a mechanical thing". Hope this helps. TomR. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 11:58:39 -0400 From: "John Weese" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: Leasing an X5 My wife has been hounding me for a long time to buy or lease her an X5...buy?..no way (I'm not wealthy)....but I might consider a lease....she's is only kidding, mostly. But the X5 may be a better vehicle for her all around....she is hearing imparied so ride height is paramount - she relies on her vision when driving....and she has a bit of trouble getting into our Jeep (with up-country suspension). Here are my concerns: we currently have a '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee "Orvis" Edition, complete with all the bells and whistles, up-country suspension, towing package, 5.2 Liter V-8 with "lots of grunt"....and I pull my '02's on a car hauler with it. I love the thing!!! Inside the Jeep is not the roomiest with the rear seats down, but the cargo area appears to be way bigger than an X5's cargo area. I am not convinced I'd like the pulling power of the X5's 3.0 Liter 6-Cylinder, and I don't know if I can afford the 4.0 Liter V-8....I'd love the 4.6is but who wouldn't? :-) Does anyone have any first hand experience with an X5, given my concerns above.....should I stay with my trusty Jeep? BTW, "Orvis" has 121,000 miles and still going very strong. And he's paid for! Happy ///Motoring, John Weese BMW CCA #76646 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 11:53:10 -0400 From: "Felix Vicente" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] What are the best lease rates on a 2003 X5? Experience with ML350's? <clipped some stuff about being ignored at BMW and pampered at MB> >I know that the early ones had some (many) problems but after 7 >years I would think that they would have got this car nailed down. I told >my wife that they will probably change the body in the next year or two but >doesn't seem to mind. Having just replaced a '99 ML430 with an '02 ML500, I can vouch that yes, they have come a long way. The ML320 was never on my list; personally I can't stand that engine compared to our inline-6s. I don't know if the 350 has remedied this, I have not even sat in one. Our 99 wasn't too bad as far as problems; compared with our 740 and my 540 I'd say it's been about the same. The only thing I have to say is that the ML has been on the business end of a tow truck twice, been limped home once, and my 5 (knock on wood) has never done either. (the 7 did bust its radiator, requiring a tow.) There were many, many recalls on the ML, most of which we caught before they were an issue, but two caught us blindsided, a fuel pump upgrade and a power steering hose clamp. Mercedes Roadside assistance is excellent, however. They came out and replaced the battery a couple of months ago completely free of charge. Two weeks ago they towed the old ML from Tavernier, FL to our dealer in Coral Gables, an 80 mile run without charging one cent. (power steering clamp, I wasn't there to do anything about it.) The only experience I've had in an X5 was at one of the Ultimate Drive experiences, and while yes, it does understeer like a pig, it is still one of the few SUVs that can be thrown around like a car. The ML is close but still lags the X5 on this; you can at least take corners at 25mph without fear of your door handles hitting the pavement. Both are leap years ahead of any of the domestic SUVs (disclaimer- I have not driven the new Expedition). I find the cargo compartment on the X5 to be so small as to be practically useless. I don't think my sister's Rotweiller would fit back there with the door closed. (she fits just fine in the back of the ML.) The interior of the '02 and newer MLs is far, far improved from the '99s. I would have said that the original was simply not good enough for what is supposed to be a luxury SUV; I know that these decisions were originally made to keep the price in the mid-30s to have a nice entry point, but clearly MB missed the mark on that point. The new interior is far more luxurious, quiet, and there are the proper luxury touches around. They have thought of quite a few neat tricks, like automatically turning on the rear wiper if the front ones are on and you put the car in reverse, they have neat things going on with the lighting, and the newer Bose is a big improvement over the older one. There is a new ML slated for next year, rumors have it as more car-based than this one. The ML has proven itself off-road, winning some rallies that even the supposedly indestructible G-class didn't finish. How much that matters to you depends on how often this car will not be on pavement. If your wife doesn't care which wheels are providing the forward motion, check out the RX330 and the FX35 as well. Both will provide the high seating position and reasonable cargo space you're most likely looking for above all else, and if you're leasing, who cares if the car is going to start coming apart sooner than the germans, you'll be out of the vehicle looooong before that happens anyhow. good luck. - -felix miami,fl 97 540/6 98 740 95 525 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 12:05:00 -0400 From: "Andrew E. Skopp" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <E36> 1998 M3 Sedan for sale After much deliberation, I have decided to sell my 1998 M3 sedan. Here are the specifics: * Silver with black leather interior * Approx. 83,xxx miles, CPO'd until 100,000 or June 2004, whichever comes first. * 5 speed transmission. * All available options, except fold down rear seats, including Harmon Kardon, heated seats, power seats, keyless alarm, OBC, sunroof, cd changer. I have made the following "improvements" during my ownership: * Bilstein sport shocks at all corners. * UUC shortshift kit. * VDO gauge package in center console (oil temp, oil press, voltmeter). * Dinan engine compartment strut brace. * Jim C sharked software. * Jim C cold air intake. * Turner Motorsports underdrive pulley set. * 17 by 8.5 contour rims at all four corners (got rid of staggered setup, so all tires are 245/40-17). * Euro clear tail lights, front markers, and sides. * Euro ellipsoid glass headlights with angel eyes. * Upgraded BMW radio headunit (replaced C33 unit with C43 unit). * A/D/S tweeters and mids in front doors. * Luxury wood package installed (center console, rear ashtray, trim piece on glove compartment, front door handles (have rears, not installed yet)). * Rear factory spoiler. * Brand new factory three spoke steering wheel with airbag (replaced four spoke one) . * AC Schnitzer pedal set. The car is mechanically excellent, and having the CPO warranty is very assuring. Cosmetically, it's very clean, but is not in concours condition. This is primarily due to two things: it has a two or three stone chips/dings, and sometime during the first owner's watch (i.e. before it was CPO'd), it was in an accident on passenger side. Both doors were replaced, and that side, top, and rear were repainted. Not a bad job, but not concours perfect, rear lower valence has some paint flecking off. Title is clean and lien free. Asking $23,900. Pictures available upon request. Please contact me off list if interested. Thanks much. Andrew E. Skopp Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Telephone: (410) 347-1365 Cell: (410) 299-6884 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6549 *************************** | | In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. |________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | | Autoscope-Motorsports - http://www.autoscope-motorsports.com | |==================================================== | | Koala MotorSport . BMW technical information, special tool sales/rental | http://www.koalamotorsport.com | |==================================================== | | Taylor BMW - http://www.taylorbmw.com - Doc Bimmer! | |==================================================== | Turner Motorsport Inc . The Ultra-High Performance BMW Specialist | 207 Elm Street, Amesbury, MA 01950 | 978-388-7769 / fax 978-388-4202 | http://www.turnermotorsport.com | |==================================================== | | UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning | and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! | 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com |__________________________________________________________
