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What Are the Pros and Cons of a Used BMW 3?

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It’s is important to do some research and shop around if you are looking to buy a used BMW 3 Series. The BMW 3 Series has a combination of style, class, drivability and reliability. It is the reliability that can make the car a particularly good choice for a used vehicle. Having said this you should still do your homework to ensure you get a quality car for your money. So, what are the pros and cons of used BMW 3 Series?

The 3 series is definitely an enjoyable car to drive and also one of the best in its class. Road bumps and uneven surfaces can be noticed at slow speeds but the suspension is still of a good standard. This car is excellent for motorway driving as it is so quiet. Whilst driving on motorways you will hardly hear a thing from the road or suspension. Also, wind noise is only a slight problem whilst driving at high speeds.

In the vehicle there are plenty of adjustments to be made with regards to seating and the steering wheel. This increases the comfort factor. Controls are simple to use but higher spec models get the more complicated iDrive rotary control. The boot is one of the largest in its class and the back seats are comfortable unless you are over six feet tall, in which case the legroom will feel rather narrow.

From the range of BMW 3 Series every model comes with a powerful, silky engine. Basic models will come with air conditioning, a CD player and electric windows. You will find that main dealers have the best choice but if you are looking for a bargain a private seller may be a better choice.

The 3 Series can be an expensive car to run. You may have a shock when you see the costs for servicing and repairs. BMW dealers have some of the most expensive labour charges. The engines are fairly fuel efficient compared to its rivals. Insurance costs can be high if you are looking for a faster model and the crime rate tends to be high where you live.

There are some things to look at for if thinking about buying a used 3 Series. Side lamps can become lose from the bodywork and damage the wings. Make sure they are secure. A common fault with the 3 Series is with the heater blower fan. The switch often breaks but many dealers will repair it for free. The 3 Series is popular target for car thieves so it may be worth investing in a tracker and bumping up the security.

In many respects the BMW 3 Series is an ideal purchase if you are looking for a used car. It runs well, looks great and holds its value. It is built superbly and is therefore reliable. There are a few faults to look out for though and also consider the running costs can be high. Bare in mind the pros and cons of a used BMW 3.

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Source by Nick Willard

Using Load Boards to Find Trucking Jobs

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Recent surveys have shown that truckers and the trucking industry are optimistic about increases in load volumes over the next 12 months. However, as one survey by Transport Capital Partners showed, some truckers are not seeing the increase in jobs and therefore they are concerned that we may be headed for a double-dip recession. While they may be a bit nervous about the future of the trucking industry, one way for trucks to be on the front lines of the increasing trucking jobs through through online load boards.

While online job boards are a great way for truck drivers to find work, it may not always be clear how to use them. In addition, many truck drivers may not even be aware of the opportunities that are available on online. This article will offer tips on using online boards and where you can find some of the better trucking ones.

Tips for Using Load Boards

• Pay for the service – While free sites do exist, many of them are not worth the time it takes to sift through the loads to find one that you would be able to do. Also, many free load boards do not have the volume of work available that paid boards do. While you do not want to pay for more than you are getting, many boards offer a large amount of options that are easy to use for a low monthly price.

• Know what you are looking for – If you know exactly what types of loads you are looking for before you go online, you will have a much easier time sorting through the available loads than if you go in without a plan. You should know which states you are looking for loads in, how far you want to drive, and what type of trailer you want to pull. This will save you a significant amount of time when you go to find loads.

• Use a load board that has reviews – To ensure that a board is for real, do some online research first. There are many load boards out there and to ensure that you are not getting scammed, you'll want to research the site that you are thinking of using through posts on trucking message boards and blogs.

Using a trusted trucking website is essential for finding consistent trucking work. Here are a few sites that we've looked already that are trust worthy and that give you the most bang for your buck.

Tips for Finding Good Trucking Load Boards

• The load board should be easy to use and less than $ 19.99 a month.

• Loads should be available in all states and and you should get all of the essential information in one place.

• They should also have a free trial available so that you can try it out before you begin paying.

• The site should have some customer testimonials so you can check out what others are saying about the service.

• The service should be easy to register for.

These are just a couple of tips for finding good trucking load boards. Check out other trucking resources sites that have tips on using these boards and which ones are the best. Use these sites and the tips above to make the most of your trucking job search.

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Source by AN Flitter

4 Advantages of a Gasoline Powered Car

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Although there has been a sharp increase in the availability of hybrid and electric cars, gasoline powered cars still dominate the automobile market. Despite the continuous price increases on gas these vehicles has retained its advantages.

The four advantages of these vehicles are revealed below.

1. Accessible Source of Fuel

Gasoline powered cars can be refilled everywhere. You can easily find a gas station even on the country side and rural areas. Their services are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

In addition to this, these gas stations also offer other services such as change oil, car wash, and tire check up. There are also gas stations that sell vehicle parts.

2. Lower Maintenance Costs

Gas fueled cars require lower maintenance costs. Spare parts and replacement kits are readily available on car service centers. There are also slightly used parts sold at lower prices. Surplus parts are used as replacements for the broken ones. Instead of buying expensive brand new parts, you can use the slightly used as replacements.

3. Accessible Car Accessories Shops

Since gas-powered cars were around for several decades, there are a lot of shops that sell car accessories. They attend to car owner’s needs in upgrading and enhancing their vehicles. Some of the offered in these shops are fashionable seat covers, cool steering wheels, and car audio systems.

4. Accessible Service Centers

Just like gas stations, service centers that repair defective cars are almost everywhere. Technicians and experts attend to the needed repairs of the car. Car engine check-ups, troubleshooting, and car upgrades are also performed here.

Services offered in service centers are not only for minor car repairs. Their staffs are also capable of doing complicated car works such as engine overhauling, under chassis repairs, and engine upgrades.

These are the advantages of the gas-powered car. To cope up with the increasing gas prices, car manufacturers try to create fuel-efficient cars. As a matter of fact, the latest car models are now equipped with gadgets that reduces the fuel consumption. In addition to this, latest cars are built with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

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Source by Nancy Stewarts

Folding Table and Chairs Features and Advantages

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Folding table and chairs nowadays are becoming popular as they offer so many advantages in its use and features. Not only are they common in most business establishments, they are also very common in residences with limited space as well. Folding type of tables and chairs can offer the convenience of conserving space in a room and to display them only when there is a need to use them. Most small sized rooms find the best convenience of using foldable chairs and tables as it allows for more room to move around when the place barely has space to use.

Parties may be held outdoors and the best thing to use for this occasion would be folding chairs and tables. They are very handy to carry around especially when you take them from one place or another. Whether the family is having a simple outdoor picnic in the garden or for a simple gathering of varied occasion, you can always find the convenience of using them for displaying the foods on a movable table and when you are eating a sumptuous meal outdoor.

Most notable persons who use folding table and chairs are event organizers. Because of the demands of their jobs for holding various events in different places on various occasions, owning a number of chairs and table sets that can be easily taken anywhere is very convenient on their end. There are designs that are fit for any kind of occasions available that will be best to use depending on the event. The challenge often comes with finding the sets that will be perfect for an event and occasion with the right number of chairs to take into the event. Hauling is easier for foldable furniture because it can also save space in a delivery truck.

Most folding table and chairs are made of durable and heavy duty plastic and lightweight material for handiness and easy transport. Most of these foldable chairs and tables are easy to disassemble and can be set-up quickly. They often come in a unique folding mechanism that cannot be easily damaged with frequent use.

When purchasing a folding set for this furniture, one should take into consideration the sizes of the table and area where it will be placed, the number of chairs, and the purpose before buying. There are different kinds of styles and designs that will be perfect for all occasions and one may also find it appropriate to select the one that will complement the design of the room where it is supposed to be placed.

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Source by Matt Gibbons

How to Scan the Kelly Blue Book – Make Quick Money Buying and Selling Cars (The PME)

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The Retail Excellent is what a dealer may sell it for if the car is in excellent condition. The Trade-In value Fair & Good values will be your best friend. You want to try to buy below the Trade-In Fair value. If not – then as low as possible near that price range.

Then you look over to the Pvt-Party Good Value to see what you can get for it. Depending on the condition of the vehicle (if the car has LOW miles and is in Excellent Condition), I would price the car between Pvt-Party Good and the Retail Excellent Condition Value.

Most of the time I like to sell at a nice competitive attractive price. To blow the car out FAST! So I usually price them a few hundred dollars below the Pvt-Party Good condition value. This is what you will want to do. Sometimes when you scoop the car very low, you can blow it out in a day or two by selling it for Trade-In Good condition…It all depends how FAST and how much money you want to make.

Try not to get greedy and ask too much or you’ll just be sitting on the car for a while longer. A few friends that I taught use that method of selling high. YES they might make more money per car but they end up sitting on it for weeks at a time. I personally do not like this model. You will come to figure your own method after learning from teachers.

The money is in the numbers. Car deals are abundant – They are everywhere. I am happy at 1-2k profit per car sometimes less. We all need to enjoy life too … Can’t let that pass us by right?

Example of the (PME) Tactic. As of April-June 2009 Bluebook:

I just picked a 1999 Nissan Sentra GXE. Look in your Kelly Blue Book under Nissan, you will see the year at the top of the book. Once you get to the 1999 Nissan Sentra GXE model you will see…

1. You want to look at the (Trade-In Fair) Value* so you will see it says $1,675

2. Look to the right and view the (Retail Excellent Value) which is $5,275

Again this is what a dealer might ask for the car if it were in excellent condition. You never want to sell your car at this price unless you don’t want to sell the car. You could have a good chance if the car has really low miles and looks like new. You can always test the market and just post an ad to see what happens.

3. Take a look at the (Private Party Good Value) which is $3,450

You want to buy your cars below or near the trade in fair values.

Now you know the price points — where to start to look and where you can sell at. 90% of the time I list my cars for sale BELOW the (Private Party Good Value) even though the car is in EXCELLENT condition.

The owner was asking $2,500 for it on Craigslist. I was the FIRST to call him, the FIRST to look at it and the first to make the offer.

I managed to scoop it for $1,600 — cash on the spot. How and why was I able to do that? Good question! I looked at the car and felt the seller out. He really wanted to get rid of the car because of a recent new truck purchase that he had made.

When negotiating a deal you can start a bid extra low because of the natural bid bounce back that will occur OR have a GOOD reason why you will stick at your initial offer. My initial offer was $1,600 cash. I knew that he would make a come back of $1,700 or $1,800, and he did at $1,800…I gave him a small smirk on my face …like – an “I’m Not sure look” …not a happy smirk but a Thinking Smirk!… You need to use your bluff sometimes…

Before looking at the car I had formulated a game plan of what to say when we were in negotiation mode. I said to myself, “I will tell him that I am also going to look at a 2000 Nissan GXE, A newer Nissan that was going for $2,000…” $500.00 less than his Nissan and a year newer!

I made-up a competitor! He does not have a clue of what other cars you are looking at so simply make one up! Just use my example.

What I was basically saying was “Look, I have $1,600 cash now. If you are not interested than I will look at this other 2000 Nissan Sentra and the seller is only asking $2,000”. He looked at his wife first then looked at me and said ok… You got a deal!

DONE DEAL! He had the title with him and signed it off to me on the spot. I mentioned that I was buying the car for my sister-in-law and asked if he would mind leaving my name off the title so I would be able to transfer the title directly to her name when she arrived town …which was true.

Another way to bid…

You can bid extra low at first and get the price you really wanted in the first place and play the game like that. Example, “Look I’ll give you $1,400″…he will bounce to $1,700 or $1,800 and you can say ok, I’ll meet you in the middle… how about $1,650? Get the idea?

It is always best to have a game plan in your mind before you buy or sell a car. It is the art of negotiation (Be Prepared To Win!)

You will do this with almost every deal to create a deal. This is how the profits add up. You will easily add up profits using this method and also by applying the quick bonus spruce up tactics that I talk about later.

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Source by Tony Bandalos

Auto VIN Decoder – What Do Those Letters & Numbers Mean?

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An Auto VIN Decoder breaks down the unique alphanumeric sequence known as a Vehicle Identification Number, which is a car’s fingerprint. Each and every automobile on the road has its own 17-character VIN, and it is this identification number that is used to generate a Vehicle History Report, also known as a VIN check.

The VIN check taps into millions of DMV records and reveals all of the available history for a particular vehicle, including any hidden problems, odometer readings, ownership transfers and more. It is an absolute must for used car buyers, as it tells you everything you need to know about the vehicle.

The Auto VIN Decoder can help you understand what these letters and numbers mean, which is the first step towards ensuring that a vehicle you are considering is right for you.

Let’s break down the Vehicle Identification Number, starting with the first character. (Please note the letter “I” as in indigo, the letter “O” as in orange, and the letter “Q” as in queen are NOT found in any VIN Numbers.)

(We will use the following VIN as an example: 2FTRX18W1XCA01212)

The first character represents the country of manufacture, and can be a letter or a number, each signifying a different country. The most common ones are as follows:

(1 = USA, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = Korea, W = Germany, Y = Finland, Sweden)

So using the Auto VIN Decoder in the above example, this particular car was made in Canada.

The second/third characters represent the manufacturer, also known as the make. The most common are:

(A = Alfa Romeo, B = Dodge, C = Chrysler, D = Daihatsu, E = Eagle, F= Ford/Eagle, G = All General Motors vehicles (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn)

H = Honda/Acura, J= Jeep, L = Lincoln, M = Mitsubishi, N = Nissan/Infiniti, P = Plymouth, S = Subaru, T = Toyota/Lexus, V = Volkswagen)

So using the Auto VIN Decoder in the above example, this car is a Ford or an Eagle..since Eagle is no longer made, it is most likely a Ford.

Other popular makes use a 3-character initial sequence:

(TRU/WAU = Audi, 4US/WBA/WBS = BMW, 2HM/KMH = Hyundai, SAJ = Jaguar, SAL = Land Rover, 1YV/JM1 = Mazda, WDB = Mercedes-Benz, VF3 = Peugeot, WP0 = Porsche, YK1/YS3 = Saab, YV1=Volvo)

The fourth character is the type of restraint system.

In the above example, “R” represents hydraulic breaks using the VIN Decoder.

The fifth, sixth & seventh characters are the vehicle line, series and body style. This will obviously be different across makes and models.

In the above example, characters 5, 6 & 7 are X18: X18 is a Ford F150 Pickup 4WD Super Cab

The eighth character is the engine type.

With the Auto VIN Decoder, W represents a 4.6 liter V-8 engine.

The tenth character represents the year of the car. Pay close attention to this one:

B = 1981 F = 1985 K = 1989 P = 1993 V = 1997 1 = 2001

C = 1982 G = 1986 L = 1990 R = 1994 W = 1998 2 = 2002

D = 1983 H = 1987 M = 1991 S = 1995 X = 1999 3 = 2003

E = 1984 J = 1988 N = 1992 T = 1996 Y = 2000 4 = 2004

For the most recent used model year, 5 = 2005

In the above example, the “X” indicates that this car was made in 1999.

The eleventh character indicates the assembly plant.

In the above example, the C indicates Ontario, Canada

Characters 12-17 represent the vehicle’s unique fingerprint. It is these six digits which make every single vehicle in the world different.

So using the Auto VIN Decoder one last time, the Vehicle Identification Number: 2FTRX18W1XCA01212 represents a 1999 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD Super Cab manufactured in Ontario, Canada with hydraulic brakes and a 4.6-liter V-8 engine.

So there you have it, the Auto VIN Decoder. If you are in the market for a used vehicle, use this decoder to make sure that it is indeed the exact model that the seller is claiming it is. Once you have verified the Vehicle Identification Number is accurate, you can proceed with your VIN check and learn everything you need to know about that particular car.

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Source by David Bloom

Important Features And Uses of Mild Steel

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One of the most common materials which are used for building purposes is steel. It is used to build bridges, buildings and various other types of structures. It is also used to build different types of machine parts.

Steel which contains carbon as the alloying component is basically known as carbon steel. It is classified into three different categories such as low or mild, medium and high carbon steel. It is used for a wide variety of automotive and industrial applications according to its relative strength.

Mild steel is one of the most popularly used forms of steel as it includes various advantageous features. It is quite affordable and therefore it can be used for various building purposes. Although it includes low carbon content, it is quite strong. It is often used in structural steel applications.

Different Properties of Mild Steel:

Characteristic Features: Steel which includes carbon content of less than three percentages is often categorized as mild or low. This type of product is generally used directly during the process of forming as it is quite easy to work with metals in such forms. Two important components of this type of product are ferrite and pearlite.

Attractive Features: One of the most attractive features of this product is that it can be molded into any desired shape. It is quite easy to form low carbon products by pressing and pouring it into any required shape. It is known to be one of the most versatile materials as it can be formed into different shapes. It can be used for a huge assortment of purposes such as pipes, stampings, rivets, chains and so forth.

Another beneficial feature of this product is weldability. This is particularly due to the low carbon content of the metal. Builders use more content of carbon to strengthen the metal. However, hard steel is prone to cracks when it is welded. However metal with low carbon content seldom cracks and therefore it can be welded easily.

It is also malleable as it has the ability to resist cracks even when it is bent or twisted. This particular feature allows the metal to be rolled and beaten into thin sheets.

This steel product includes various applications. Some of the most common items made with this type of steel are automobile doors, spare tire tubes, truck bed floors, domestic appliances and so forth.

It is also used widely in the automobile industry as it is quite easy to form and bend it for manufacturing various auto products such as floor pans, truck cab backs, bed floors and access covers for tailgates. It is also widely used to manufacture body sides, roofs, doors and hoods of automobiles.

Another popular usage of mild steel is in the field of construction. Due to its advantageous features, it is used for structural shapes of buildings and bridges. It is also used to manufacture bolts and fasteners as it offers strength and ductility.

Low carbon products can be bought from online stores in different forms at attractive price rates.

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Source by Anamika Swami

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Truck

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Buying a truck can be a good option, especially to new car finders who are in need of a vehicle that could transport heavier cargo and tow heavy loads such as a boat. In addition to this, new car finders could also easily obtain some of the available auto loans to purchase this. However, this type of vehicle has its disadvantages too.

If you are open to the idea of buying a truck, then there is a need for you to weigh the existing pros and cons. By doing this, you could easily find a way to maximize the benefits of a truck as well as figure-out how to deal with its disadvantages.

Try to read some of the car advice offered online or talk to a car expert. In addition to this, you could also conduct the appropriate car research to obtain the needed information. However, this article provides some of the common advantages and disadvantages of a truck and this includes the following.

Advantages

1. Trucks are offered in various sizes

Just like any other vehicle types, trucks are offered in various sizes. Due to this, you have more options to choose from. If you need a large truck, you can go for a full-sized version. This version is considered as the largest while the smallest is referred to as the compact version. Since trucks are offered in different sizes, you can easily select the best for you.

2. Trucks are powerful

Another important benefit that you can obtain from a truck is its impressive power output. Trucks are usually equipped with larger engines that enable these vehicles to carry heavier loads. Other vehicles could actually carry loads too, but not as heavy as the trucks could. In addition to this, the truck’s design could allow you to load bulky and large-sized cargo that you can’t easily do in other vehicle types.

The powerful engine of a truck is also enables the vehicle to tow heavy loads and trailers such as a boat. However, the towing capacity of a vehicle depends on its size. A smaller or the compact version has a towing capacity of about 3000 to 7000 pounds. A full-sized truck on the other hand is capable of towing up to 12,000 pounds. Due to this, you could easily select a vehicle with a towing capacity that suits your needs.

4. Trucks are stronger vehicles

Since trucks are powerful vehicles and were designed to do heavy jobs, they are built with stronger components. Due to this, they can be driven even on rough road conditions and still provide the needed performance.

Disadvantage

1. Trucks are not fuel-efficient

The most significant disadvantage of trucks is its fuel economy. They consume more fuel since their engines are larger and the nature of work where it was designed for is relatively heavy.

However, there are trucks that are equipped with more fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines and this could be a good choice if you are after for a truck with good fuel economy. The only problem with a 4-cylinder-powered truck is that it is not capable of providing the performance that the version with larger engines could offer.

2. Trucks have limited space for passengers

Another disadvantage of a truck is the number of passengers that it can accommodate. Although, larger trucks could allow up to 5 passengers, the legroom and the shoulder room are not sufficient to provide comfort for the car occupants.

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Source by Marty Bay