Just Ordered 2006 530i

epj3 · Oct 6, 2005

Bmw 325i 7803 said:

Happy belated birthday.... just saw the thread in the general forums.

Ok, good point, I agree I probably misused the term bottoming out and perhaps I should have chosen better words than fragile for the suspension...but I can't help but point out that BMWs (the newer ones at least) are fragile cars, and if they're not, fine but they certainly look it. Although I definately would not recommend driving through every pothole in NYC in a BMW. To sum this all up... I was thinking 18/19 inch rims and low profile tires going over a rough road when I made the original posts, lets not take everything I say literally.

Lastly, that final line was not a personal attack.. "in reflection of self" I simply was pointing out that you probably felt the car had a crappy ride and of course I did not appreciate the spout off comment. No hard feelings...

It's pretty much ANY new car. They finally started to realize that they can get away with using less material, making the cars cheaper and lighter. But unfortunately weaker.

jrt67ss350 · Oct 6, 2005

Bmw 325i 7803 said:

No worries. We both just misread each other's posts.

Kirby · Oct 7, 2005

clrkn8r said:

Don't let it concern you, we sometimes get into spirited debates, which is fine as long as it doesn't turn into personal attacks.

Have you had any sleepless nights yet in anticipation of the new arrival? [:)]

Be sure to post pictures when you get it!

clrkn8r · Oct 7, 2005

The Waiting is Killing Me!

I'm still sleeping at night , more or less, but I do spend a lot of time thinking about that car... [pray]

Tom · Oct 7, 2005

Congrats and welcome aboard. Only a few more days until the big day.

wolverine · Oct 11, 2005

epj3 said:

Good grief - how about we start making statements based on facts? That would be refreshing.

If you have an opinion fine, but the new cars are neither cheaper nor weaker than the older cars. The 5 series has one of the stiffest chassis of any car currently produced. Check out the latest review of the new Jaguar Coupe. The Jaguar engineers used the 5 series chassis as a benchmark stating "it is the stiffest chassis of any car we tested". The crash test standards are getting tougher and tougher as well. Cars built 10 years ago don't have anywhere near the rigidity and integrity that the chassis built today have.

Weaker? Not based on any facts I know of. Cheaper? No, cars built today are more expensive. Lighter? no, they're heavier. What in the world are you talking about?

clrkn8r · Oct 12, 2005

I'm still waiting!!!!! Just how long can a car be "at the port awaiting a shipping vessel"? And then it has to go the Vehicle Preparation Center. How long does that take? And then it has to get from Southern California to Northern California.

wolverine · Oct 13, 2005

The cars are all being held up for CARB certification. Nobody knows when the certs will be signed off. It was supposed to happen at the latest Wednesday. This really sucks. I will post as soon as I know something.

epj3 · Oct 13, 2005

wolverine said:

The e36 and E46 IS factually weaker at certain points. They found out they can get away using LESS material... why do you think the E39 can be quite a bit bigger than the e34 but only weigh a few lbs more? If you look at something like crumple zones. If you run a new car into a wall at 40 mph and an older car like an e30, e28, or e34 into a wall at 40, the occupants in the newer car will be safer, BUT the chassis is DESIGNED to be weaker, so that it absorbs the impact. If you want facts I'll start scanning in some books for ya.

Kirby · Oct 13, 2005

Mmmmm, IMHO I think you are both correct. The chassis can certainly be stiffer and stronger through better engineering and design, and still have the safety features like crumple zones, etc.

But I disagree that:
(Design + Engineering) + (Cheaper + Lighter) = Unfortunately Weaker

If that were the case, then technologies like Aluminum Spaceframes, Carbon Fiber, etc. would be useless.

wolverine · Oct 14, 2005

I'm an engineer, with over 25 years experience, and have done some consulting work for some of the major car companies. Your statements that todays cars are lighter and cheaper are simply incorrect. Your statement that the chassis is 'weaker' is just misleading.

Cars chassis are stronger than they have ever been, where strength is important. If you meant to say that cars are weaker today in the points where it is important to be weaker (crumple zones), then I suppose you could claim to be correct. You could also say that some parts of cars are cheaper, or some parts of cars are lighter. I'm not sure what your original point was though.

clrkn8r · Oct 14, 2005

Oh Where, Oh Where is My 530i??

It's Friday again and I STILL don't have my car. It's still at the Vehicle Processing Center in Southern California. Apparently mine is not the only one. I don't know if they're overwhelmed or what...but...I sure am tired of this. [scratch]

wolverine · Oct 15, 2005

The cars are being held up because of emissions certification paperwork (CARB). Hopefully, signoff will happen Monday, and cars will be released. There is no further testing required, just paperwork. Mine's been at the VPC in S.C. for 10 days now...

clrkn8r · Oct 15, 2005

How did you find this out? Neither the person at carsdirect.com nor the dealer where it will be delivered seemed to have a clue.

Average Jae · Oct 16, 2005

i hope you guys get your cars soon.

i love how honda v bmw debate jumps out at you like a deer on an interstate.

i don't know how a simple stiff suspension + rough roads = rougher ride could be stated to spur a deate all its own.

Bmw 325i 7803 · Oct 16, 2005

clrkn8r said:

Maybe he works for BMW or has some insider information from the dealer, some dealers are just smarter or more open than others...

wolverine · Oct 16, 2005

I have a very reliable source that has contacts with people high up in BMW. Evidently all the CARB testing has been completed some time ago. The paperwork should have been signed off by October 12, but it is simply late. This happens all the time to all model cars, it's just especially sensitive with a bunch of us carnuts tracking the first M5's in to the country... Release should occur any day.

clrkn8r · Oct 16, 2005

Thanks for That

Thanks for that info. Guess I'll just have to be patient!

clrkn8r · Oct 17, 2005

At last! My car is finally on its way to the dealer and I will pick it up Wednesday morning!

wolverine · Oct 17, 2005

Fantastic! I know the cars finished their CARB certs, but are waiting on the window sticker modification and approval. Are you sure they are released?

Just Ordered 2006 530i

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