Pick up my first BMW this afternoon!
Discussion
Hello all,
Whilst not new to Pistonheads, this is my first post on the BMW forum and i pick up my first ever Beemer this afternoon, so a double first!
I've traded in my beloved R32 in a picque of madness for a Black 2003 M3, 19" Rims and heaps of toys for gadget boy here to play with (including a TV!) It's only done 24k and seems in excellent condition, I was also really impressed on the test drive and it took me all of ten minutes to decide it was going to be mine. Paid dealer price for it (£28k), but they gave me £16k for my 2003 Golf, so swings and roundabouts.
The Dealer are trying to encourage me to take out their shortfall insurance, whereby in the even of a right-off anytime over the next 3 years i get what i paid for it originally. Essentially they make up the difference on top of what the insurance company are wiling to pay out. Anyone have any opinion on this type of top-up insurance?
Anything else i should know or ask about E46 M3 before picking it up later?
Cheers
Rob
PS. Can i now expect never to be let out of a junction again?
Whilst not new to Pistonheads, this is my first post on the BMW forum and i pick up my first ever Beemer this afternoon, so a double first!
I've traded in my beloved R32 in a picque of madness for a Black 2003 M3, 19" Rims and heaps of toys for gadget boy here to play with (including a TV!) It's only done 24k and seems in excellent condition, I was also really impressed on the test drive and it took me all of ten minutes to decide it was going to be mine. Paid dealer price for it (£28k), but they gave me £16k for my 2003 Golf, so swings and roundabouts.
The Dealer are trying to encourage me to take out their shortfall insurance, whereby in the even of a right-off anytime over the next 3 years i get what i paid for it originally. Essentially they make up the difference on top of what the insurance company are wiling to pay out. Anyone have any opinion on this type of top-up insurance?
Anything else i should know or ask about E46 M3 before picking it up later?
Cheers
Rob
PS. Can i now expect never to be let out of a junction again?
Well done Rob!
A top motor!
Better than the R32 IMHO.
The top up thing is to scare people into buying more insurance than is needed.
At the end of the day if you think your car will be nicked in the next three years, take it out, but how can anyone predict that?
Did you get the face lift 2003 with the LED's at the rear???
I can't wait to purchase the E46 M3 - come on prices
Only other thing to say is - ENJOY -
Please post up your thoughts after you have given her a spanking
Regards
A top motor!
Better than the R32 IMHO.
The top up thing is to scare people into buying more insurance than is needed.
At the end of the day if you think your car will be nicked in the next three years, take it out, but how can anyone predict that?
Did you get the face lift 2003 with the LED's at the rear???
I can't wait to purchase the E46 M3 - come on prices
Only other thing to say is - ENJOY -
Please post up your thoughts after you have given her a spanking
Regards
Having had a few customers return after there car has been stolen or written off and have the same amount to spend again without funding more or digging yet again into there savings, I'd say take it out but its your call. Like every type of insurance its a waste of money if you never claim but the best spent when it goes wrong 
Welcome to the world of BMW
Welcome to the world of BMW
Thanks guys,
i guess i knew what the shortfall insurance response would be, i just have this in-built distrust of extra insurance on anything.
I was hoping someone would say that BMW baiting was an urban myth, but i guess not!
Off to pick her up now, will try and upload pics later, since she will probably never look as good again from today!
i guess i knew what the shortfall insurance response would be, i just have this in-built distrust of extra insurance on anything.
I was hoping someone would say that BMW baiting was an urban myth, but i guess not!
Off to pick her up now, will try and upload pics later, since she will probably never look as good again from today!
Well thought i would load some pics and ramble for a bit since i've had the M3 for a week now.
First thing.. can someone tell me how to set up the bluetooth, it would save me a 20mile round trip through Aberdeen to the BMW garage.
I'm still getting used to the power delivery, i've never had such a revvy car before, you really need to keep ontop of the revs to get the most out of it, unlike other big capacity motors i've driven/owned where you can use the low down torque, which IMHO, makes for a more relaxing drive. Having said that, my R32 would run out of puff pretty quickly, whereas the M3 just keeps going. On my regular country-road routes, many corners that i would normally drive out of in third, now i really need to be in second, it's alot more thrashy, but you can go round very quickly and it does feel very composed on the twisties.
No regrets yet though, it's certainly a nice place to be..
First thing.. can someone tell me how to set up the bluetooth, it would save me a 20mile round trip through Aberdeen to the BMW garage.
I'm still getting used to the power delivery, i've never had such a revvy car before, you really need to keep ontop of the revs to get the most out of it, unlike other big capacity motors i've driven/owned where you can use the low down torque, which IMHO, makes for a more relaxing drive. Having said that, my R32 would run out of puff pretty quickly, whereas the M3 just keeps going. On my regular country-road routes, many corners that i would normally drive out of in third, now i really need to be in second, it's alot more thrashy, but you can go round very quickly and it does feel very composed on the twisties.
No regrets yet though, it's certainly a nice place to be..
Before I start.... have you got the cars Bluetooth key code?
Ok if so this is how to pair bluetooth. with the car ignition switched off, hold down the blutooth button (located just in the centre console next to the handbrake, looks ike a person speaking). Hold it for three seconds, thenstill holding it down switch the igntion to 1 position, hold for another 3 seconds, then release. The three little lights to the top right of your sat nav screen should light up, in all colors, green yellow and red. Then you should be able to search for the car using you phones bluetooth pairing system. When you find it you'll have to type in the blutooth key code which should be in you owner wallet, if it's not then you hve to go to the dealer to have it reset. It should then be paired.
Ok if so this is how to pair bluetooth. with the car ignition switched off, hold down the blutooth button (located just in the centre console next to the handbrake, looks ike a person speaking). Hold it for three seconds, thenstill holding it down switch the igntion to 1 position, hold for another 3 seconds, then release. The three little lights to the top right of your sat nav screen should light up, in all colors, green yellow and red. Then you should be able to search for the car using you phones bluetooth pairing system. When you find it you'll have to type in the blutooth key code which should be in you owner wallet, if it's not then you hve to go to the dealer to have it reset. It should then be paired.
p.s. heres a website I found with the full gen, phones supported, pairing, unpairing the whole lot:
www.mdload.com/bluetooth/index.php
www.mdload.com/bluetooth/index.php
coo!!!! didn't see this before:
I don't know my 4-digit pair code
If you've lost the card with the 4-digit code on it, you can still find out the code. It is on a sticker on the side of the bluetooth control unit, in the boot. Remove the carpeting on the left hand side of the boot (coupe) and the control unit is a metal box on top of the CD/Nav drives. It may be on the visible side, or you may need to remove the control unit. But it is on there somewhere
I don't know my 4-digit pair code
If you've lost the card with the 4-digit code on it, you can still find out the code. It is on a sticker on the side of the bluetooth control unit, in the boot. Remove the carpeting on the left hand side of the boot (coupe) and the control unit is a metal box on top of the CD/Nav drives. It may be on the visible side, or you may need to remove the control unit. But it is on there somewhere
Thanks very much olf, found the code and my phone is now paired... the power of the internet!!
Been doing some more digging about and discoverd that tyres are a tad expensive amongst other things. I notice my 19" tyres have M3 written on the side.. can these tyres still be obtained from high street tyre fitters or can anyone recommend other sources?
Been doing some more digging about and discoverd that tyres are a tad expensive amongst other things. I notice my 19" tyres have M3 written on the side.. can these tyres still be obtained from high street tyre fitters or can anyone recommend other sources?
try www.blackcircles.com their system canvases independant tyre retailers to get a good price, failing that have a word with your BM dealer, sometimes they work out cheaper than tyre places cos it's not a core business for them and they just apply a standrd mark-up.
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