http://blog.southmotors.com Automotive news and events. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:19:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 http://blog.southmotors.com/2009/09/16/new-or-cpo-choosing-the-right-bmw/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Dr.H. Fuentes Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:19:28 +0000 http://blog.southmotors.com/?p=349#comment-53 If you plan to lease, any BMW with its covered maintenance is a good deal. If like me, you own several vehicles and will not drive the Beemer too much (my 530 2002 has 22 000 miles) buying any model from BMW to keep beyond warrranty is not a smart decision. I even bought an extended warranty and wasted my money. When still under factory warranty, I noticed a leak from the windshield washer system and took the car to the dealership. They told me nothing was wrong, but months later I got tired of refilling the reservoir and after finding a crack on the electric washer pump, I bought the part and changed it myself. If someone gets attached to these cars, have to be ready to pay almost $500 for an oil change plus tires rotation and balance if done at the dealership. I have that done at another non BMW facility for less than $200. Today, I asked for a free estimate because the front passenger gets twisted (it is such a common problem that i'll contact Consumer Reports to check if it qualifies for a recall) when readjustment is attempted... although the car has 22 K miles, is 7 years old and the 2 hours dealer's job cost more than $500. If you plan to lease, any BMW with its covered maintenance is a good deal. If like me, you own several vehicles and will not drive the Beemer too much (my 530 2002 has 22 000 miles) buying any model from BMW to keep beyond warrranty is not a smart decision.
I even bought an extended warranty and wasted my money. When still under factory warranty, I noticed a leak from the windshield washer system and took the car to the dealership. They told me nothing was wrong, but months later I got tired of refilling the reservoir and after finding a crack on the electric washer pump, I bought the part and changed it myself. If someone gets attached to these cars, have to be ready to pay almost $500 for an oil change plus tires rotation and balance if done at the dealership. I have that done at another non BMW facility for less than $200.
Today, I asked for a free estimate because the front passenger gets twisted (it is such a common problem that i’ll contact Consumer Reports to check if it qualifies for a recall) when readjustment is attempted… although the car has 22 K miles, is 7 years old and the 2 hours dealer’s job cost more than $500.

]]> http://blog.southmotors.com/2009/08/13/south-motors-showdown-audi-a4-vs-bmw-335d/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Dax Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:38:41 +0000 http://blog.southmotors.com/?p=171#comment-14 Are you kidding. The BMW gets about 40% better gas mileage AND delivers 74% more torque. Mechanically, there is no comparison between these two vehiciles. Very few cars on the road do compare to the 335d in the performance / efficiency ratio. Other than the a comparable price and their European ancestry, the Audi doesn't come close. The BMW 335d doesn't come in AWD yet. If you live in Alaska or Colorado, this may be a better fit during the snow season. They offer the AWD in the 335i and 328i trims, but probably kept the 335d in RWD form to make the vehicle more efficient. Besides, they their xDrive cars for that anyway. It would be nice if beemer could offer the 335d in the future, though. Just in case they want to show up some souped-up Soob in a WRX Sti. Are you kidding. The BMW gets about 40% better gas mileage AND delivers 74% more torque. Mechanically, there is no comparison between these two vehiciles. Very few cars on the road do compare to the 335d in the performance / efficiency ratio. Other than the a comparable price and their European ancestry, the Audi doesn’t come close. The BMW 335d doesn’t come in AWD yet. If you live in Alaska or Colorado, this may be a better fit during the snow season. They offer the AWD in the 335i and 328i trims, but probably kept the 335d in RWD form to make the vehicle more efficient. Besides, they their xDrive cars for that anyway. It would be nice if beemer could offer the 335d in the future, though. Just in case they want to show up some souped-up Soob in a WRX Sti.

]]> http://blog.southmotors.com/2009/08/11/mini-sales-pass-1-5-million-units-produced/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Rex Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:13:39 +0000 http://blog.southmotors.com/?p=60#comment-13 The new MINI cars are sooo much better than the ones 50 years ago, but I wouldn't mind if they were still rear wheel drive. The new MINI cars are sooo much better than the ones 50 years ago, but I wouldn’t mind if they were still rear wheel drive.

]]> http://blog.southmotors.com/2009/08/11/origins-mazda-usa-history/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Rex Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:11:46 +0000 http://blog.southmotors.com/?p=54#comment-12 I think the new Mazda 3 is cool. I think the new Mazda 3 is cool.

]]> http://blog.southmotors.com/2009/08/12/summer-is-the-season-for-driving-why-not-do-it-in-style/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Rex Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:11:20 +0000 http://blog.southmotors.com/?p=41#comment-11 New Infiniti G37 is hot. New Infiniti G37 is hot.

]]> http://blog.southmotors.com/2009/08/12/bmw-drive-clean-save-money-and-do-it-without-compromise/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Rex Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:10:09 +0000 http://blog.southmotors.com/?p=29#comment-9 That's dope, yo. That’s dope, yo.

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