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Is this as foolish as I'm thinking it is? 2002 M3 *UPDATE PURCHASED*

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PricklyPete said:
Mucho Gracias.
Now, if this was a Honda/Toyota, I'd expect all of these to work by default, but being an early 2000's BMW, I'm surprised any of this works.
Click to expand...
What the hell? That goes to show how ignorant the general public are with their perceptions about German cars. It' a 70K miles car, it's not going to fall apart. If people do proper maintenance on the damn thing it will last, just like everything else.
 
SSSnail said:
What the hell? That goes to show how ignorant the general public are with their perceptions about German cars. It' a 70K miles car, it's not going to fall apart. If people do proper maintenance on the damn thing it will last, just like everything else.
Click to expand...

That's not a internet based perception, but from my own experience. I work for a German company and nearly all of my colleagues have German cars and we have a lot of company cars that are all German as well (mostly Mercedes and BMW). Almost everyone with a car that is more than a few years old has had problems with some electrical gizmo in the car. Whether it was a sunroof not working, lift gate acting up, memory seats not working properly, heated seats breaking, etc. Heck, my wife's A4 had to have a airbag sensor replaced not much more than a month after purchasing. On the contrary, I have not seen this failure rate on Japanese cars that family and friends have had. Sure, this is all anecdotal...but it's been my experience. So, I'm just pleasantly surprised that everything is in order on the BMW...and I love the car. The electrical gremlins I've seen are not enough to keep me away.
 
PricklyPete said:
Mucho Gracias.

I did some pretty extended driving yesterday...drove to a nearby state park to go trail running instead of near home and got to really ring the car out some. To be honest...I'm really surprised how tight the car is for being 8 years old (entered service on 4/15/02). The car is not squeaking at all...of course it is the summer...but still, I'm impressed. I thought there was a minor squeak on the rear window behind the driver when I test drove it...but haven't noticed it again...maybe it was not closed properly or something.

I'm actually pretty shocked that all the major electronic "nice-to-haves" still work.

-Seat Heaters Work
-Reverse sensors work
-Navigation and H/K sound system all work well (with awesome 1980's arcade graphics) I swear...nothing ages a car quicker than these navigation systems
-When reversing, the side mirrors tilt down so you can see the curb
-Auto-sensing wipers work
-Auto-sensing and leveling Xenon's work
-Auto Climate control works
-Sunroof and power "slit" windows in the back.

Now, if this was a Honda/Toyota, I'd expect all of these to work by default, but being an early 2000's BMW, I'm surprised any of this works.

To be honest though...none of that really matters...all I really care about is the engine and transmission and those two are working beautifully from what I can tell (and what the mechanic said).
Click to expand...

This is fixable. I had the same pale blue background with white text as you have, but all you need is an OS update. I'm going to guess it has the MK3 CD based unit, but even this will feel like a new unit when you update it. I'll PM you info, as the code is copyright, etc, but I'm just saving you the $100 that a dealer will charge you for a guy to pop 2 CDs into the drive unit and hang around for 5 minutes.

Also, the MK4 DVD based unit can be swapped out for the MK3 with no problems. All devices on these cars are auto discovered over the iBUS network. If you do this you can then upgrade the OS to have the 3D perspective mode, with 21st century gfx, just as in any new BMW. I've done this, so you can ask away if you want to do it.

DICE. Don't do it before checking out Intravee. I have the Intravee and if you have NAV it's the best choice. You get a full menu and interaction system that is 100% OEM in look and feel that allows for all control over the iPod, and it even syncs the car time clock with sat time...! Again, I have this and fitted it myself. Here is my build write up and install pics:

http://www.tfnn.net/forum/index.php?topic=49582.0

Also, note in the last pic I used to have the 4:3 monitor, I upgraded to the 16:9, and again this was discovered by other devices and the 16:9 aspect became an option on the TV module! These cars are great for upgrades!

PM me if you need ANY info or you have any questions, and welcome to the club!

/0
///M :awe:
 
PricklyPete said:
That's not a internet based perception, but from my own experience. I work for a German company and nearly all of my colleagues have German cars and we have a lot of company cars that are all German as well (mostly Mercedes and BMW). Almost everyone with a car that is more than a few years old has had problems with some electrical gizmo in the car. Whether it was a sunroof not working, lift gate acting up, memory seats not working properly, heated seats breaking, etc. Heck, my wife's A4 had to have a airbag sensor replaced not much more than a month after purchasing. On the contrary, I have not seen this failure rate on Japanese cars that family and friends have had. Sure, this is all anecdotal...but it's been my experience. So, I'm just pleasantly surprised that everything is in order on the BMW...and I love the car. The electrical gremlins I've seen are not enough to keep me away.
Click to expand...

It pretty much is anecdotal, for example, my parents bought a 2007 Euro Honda Civic from new, and have had:

- New fuse box
- New Alarm board x 3 (!)
- New Alarm wiring loom
- ECU flash for hesitation at low RPM

My BMW M3 in the last four and a half years:

- Batteries died on the cellphone handset in the centre console. Bought new AA rechargables.

So it's mostly luck of the draw. :awe:
 
DivideBYZero said:
This is fixable. I had the same pale blue background with white text as you have, but all you need is an OS update. I'm going to guess it has the MK3 CD based unit, but even this will feel like a new unit when you update it. I'll PM you info, as the code is copyright, etc, but I'm just saving you the $100 that a dealer will charge you for a guy to pop 2 CDs into the drive unit and hang around for 5 minutes.

Also, the MK4 DVD based unit can be swapped out for the MK3 with no problems. All devices on these cars are auto discovered over the iBUS network. If you do this you can then upgrade the OS to have the 3D perspective mode, with 21st century gfx, just as in any new BMW. I've done this, so you can ask away if you want to do it.

DICE. Don't do it before checking out Intravee. I have the Intravee and if you have NAV it's the best choice. You get a full menu and interaction system that is 100% OEM in look and feel that allows for all control over the iPod, and it even syncs the car time clock with sat time...! Again, I have this and fitted it myself. Here is my build write up and install pics:

http://www.tfnn.net/forum/index.php?topic=49582.0

Also, note in the last pic I used to have the 4:3 monitor, I upgraded to the 16:9, and again this was discovered by other devices and the 16:9 aspect became an option on the TV module! These cars are great for upgrades!

PM me if you need ANY info or you have any questions, and welcome to the club!

/0
///M :awe:
Click to expand...

Thanks a ton on all the information regarding the nav...and a big thanks on the iPod connection. I will definitely be looking into all of this. Loving the car.
 
DivideBYZero said:
It pretty much is anecdotal, for example, my parents bought a 2007 Euro Honda Civic from new, and have had:

- New fuse box
- New Alarm board x 3 (!)
- New Alarm wiring loom
- ECU flash for hesitation at low RPM

My BMW M3 in the last four and a half years:

- Batteries died on the cellphone handset in the centre console. Bought new AA rechargables.

So it's mostly luck of the draw. :awe:
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm sure luck of the draw has something to do with it...and the company cars likely have more issues due to people not treating them as well as they would treat their own cars...and most of them are Mercedes...not BMW's.

That is pretty crappy on the Honda Civic...as you said, luck of the draw.
 
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