AverageJoe, I got a question for you...

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You drive a BMW, correct? Heres the situation: Friend is getting an 05 325 in June. I'm the one who gets to test it first. Here are my questions: 1) What is the top speed? 2) How are the e-brakes? 3) How is their stopping distance? -Thanks bro

Is this like a PM, but out in the open?Go to the BMW 325i sedan page and click on "Technical Data" to find things like top speed (128 MPH, at least in the U.S.). They claim you can stop the car on a dime, but they may be exaggerating.More info here: IntelliChoiceAverageJoe has an M5, which is a lot different from the 184-horesepower 325i. But let us know how the 325i handles when you top it out.

I dont like sending PMs, people tend not to check them. I asked him because he has experience with BMW. They claim a lot, but I'd rather hear from someone who has actually drove one. I'm sure he has drove a 325 before, or knows someone.

Didn't BMW redesign the 3 series for 2005? I'd be surpriseed if he drove a 2005 BMW 325i. You can probably find more info by Googling. BTW, I have an elderly BMW.

The top spped will govern out at 130mph, did it in a rental. I would use the E-Brake on a German car. Like most Beemers the 325 has good brakes, like 120ft from 60mph.

brakes: 120ft from 60mph

That's what Consumer Reports measured.

Is this car a little deficient in the horsepower department, or does it make it up in torque?

I guessed on the 60-0 distance, but it's pretty weak, like 8 seconds to 60. The '06 has 215Hp and goes 0-60 in like mid 6's.

So it's the '06 that's the new model, not the '05?

Yeah, the '06 model is new and not all that attractive. What's funny is that 325 is using a detuned 330 engine from the last model.

They tried to make the change not as radical as on the 7 (and 5). The 3 is their bread and butter.

It seems as if they didn't add their yeast in this one.

It looks like a Volkswagen....arrgghhh!

It's going to handle good, the weight distribution is nearly 50/50, it's like 50.4/49.6 in the 3301 and 50.3/49.7 in the 325i.

Sell your BMW stock....they're cooked.

They are a private comapany, I think. I still like the X5 and the new 5 Series.

Yea, I thought the same thing, a focus, or maybe even like a camry.

At my old office, some moron parked a beautiful black 860CSi right in front... with the keys hanging in the door lock!!splooge!

Before I said Volkswagen I thought Camry. Now if only the Japanese could make engines like BMW's....

I wonder how well the new 3 will sell. BMW really is in trouble if they don't sell a lot of them, but most people will buy it anyway (as the did the new 5 and the wierd-looking 7). The new 6 looks really cool, though (it's like a 2-door 545i).

In reply to: Before I said Volkswagen I thought Camry. Now if only the Japanese could make engines like BMW's.... I suppose they could knock the reliability down and jack the price (OMFG I can't believe I actually said that)

It's funny because it's true. You need to keep a slush fund for repairs once your German car is out of warranty, as mine is. But it's been reliable so far.