Help me with 3 Series spec... please!
Discussion
The time has come to replace our A5 cab with something a bit more family friendly. Initially I was thinking of about the same spec in an A6 Avant, but by the time I add it all up it's well over £50k. Still tempted, but we have a Caddy Maxi Life van, so don't really need another massive car - just something quick, comfortable and snow proof that can house two kids on long runs. So I started looking at A4 Avants, but then realised I should really be looking at 3 Series Touring models too... and the reviews I've read seem to suggest that I really should.
Thing is, I don't really understand how BMW models and options work
Is a luxury model the same as a base model with more options? Is it a cheaper way to get the same stuff? What are the must haves on 3 series' ?
It would be a 330 D xdrive, but much beyond that I'm a bit lost.
Cheers,
FT.
Thing is, I don't really understand how BMW models and options work
Is a luxury model the same as a base model with more options? Is it a cheaper way to get the same stuff? What are the must haves on 3 series' ? It would be a 330 D xdrive, but much beyond that I'm a bit lost.
Cheers,
FT.
The BMW online configurator thingy is excellent and you'll soon see what each trim level brings you.
Most opt for default M Spec, but you can specify sports seats on the Luxury model for instance if you prefer a more understated look. Adaptive suspension is meant to be worth looking at. Other than that it's personal preference.
Most opt for default M Spec, but you can specify sports seats on the Luxury model for instance if you prefer a more understated look. Adaptive suspension is meant to be worth looking at. Other than that it's personal preference.
For mine I went for a 330d M-Sport but RWD not xDrive. I put a few options on so here's my view on those after 14k in 8 months
- Professional Nav pack is really good but quite different to the Audi MMI system I was used to, I still don't remember properly how to save favourites. I'd spec this again as it does seem much better than my boss' business Nav pack (the joys of mine being private and theirs being a company lease!)
- Harmon Kardon Audio is excellent and much better than the standard audio system, I'd definitely have this again
- Visibility pack is good but the auto adjusting dipping lights take some getting used to, it's a weird optical illusion at times, I like the adaptive Xenons but generally prefer to control my own main beam though I'm trying to rely on it to see if I can get used to the auto dipping. Really clever the way it brackets a car ahead out of the beam but depressing when it dips on a corner because of chevron signs which it interprets as a car. Would spec again for the adaptive Xenons
- Upgraded leather which I picked because oyster with black carpet wasn't a choice at time of order, if it had been then I'd have probably gone for that instead. It makes for a nice ambience internally but it takes some keeping clean as it's very soft so the seat bolsters suffer if you don't clean regularly
- Heated seats, it's leather, it's winter, enough said
- Folding rear head rests - do improve the rear view but not essential though only £50 so considered it worth it
- Folding, dimming mirrors... Excellent, not had these before but I do like them
Assuming you're going to PCP it, here's what you do for a 330d.
I'd go for M Sport over Luxury as better residuals, and looks better IMO. You also get a much much better steering wheel.
Choose the Sport Automatic as this will be cheaper than a manual.
Choose the Business Nav as a minimum. This will also be cheaper than without. I personally would stretch to a Pro Nav as I am a gadgety person. This will cost best part of £40 a month though.
Choose metallic paint. Again, this will cheaper than without.
Choose the M Sport Plus Package. This is quite a pricey option, but you will only pay a fraction of this as a residual take a big jump with this option seeing as you get better brakes, bigger alloys, better audio, and privacy glass.
The adaptive lights are a good option IMO as the high beam assist in the F30 range is brilliant.
With all those options you have a very nice car, and probably the most cost effective options.
I'd go for M Sport over Luxury as better residuals, and looks better IMO. You also get a much much better steering wheel.
Choose the Sport Automatic as this will be cheaper than a manual.
Choose the Business Nav as a minimum. This will also be cheaper than without. I personally would stretch to a Pro Nav as I am a gadgety person. This will cost best part of £40 a month though.
Choose metallic paint. Again, this will cheaper than without.
Choose the M Sport Plus Package. This is quite a pricey option, but you will only pay a fraction of this as a residual take a big jump with this option seeing as you get better brakes, bigger alloys, better audio, and privacy glass.
The adaptive lights are a good option IMO as the high beam assist in the F30 range is brilliant.
With all those options you have a very nice car, and probably the most cost effective options.
Blakewater said:
Someone who lives near me has a 3 Series M Sport in Estoril Blue with Coral Red leather. I like the paint colour and the leather colour. I guess the two combined together is a bit of a love it or hate it Marmite choice.
I always look at those sort of colour combos and think that there must have been some mistake on the options form.
If you like driving, then make sure you test drive an M Sport equipped car. It used to be the case (E90 and before) that the standard suspension was fine and M Sport shook your teeth to bits, but in the latest cars I've tried recently (brand new 5 series and 1 series models - I've not tried the new 3 series), things have changed significantly and M Sport gives you now broadly what standard suspension used to, just with better ride and handling. The standard suspension on those cars has been very dissapointing in terms of setup.
Secondly, if you're tempted to increase the size of the wheels from standard for whatever suspension option you choose (note that M Sport usually gives you bigger standard wheels) to something larger than standard, then I'd drive a car with those wheels before you make your mind up. Generally speaking, wheels bigger than what the springs and dampers were tuned for have a negative effect on ride and handling. You'll get a slightly crisper turn in with low profile tyres and slightly more grip from a longer contact patch, but the overall effect on ride and handling is usually negative in most people's opinions.
Secondly, if you're tempted to increase the size of the wheels from standard for whatever suspension option you choose (note that M Sport usually gives you bigger standard wheels) to something larger than standard, then I'd drive a car with those wheels before you make your mind up. Generally speaking, wheels bigger than what the springs and dampers were tuned for have a negative effect on ride and handling. You'll get a slightly crisper turn in with low profile tyres and slightly more grip from a longer contact patch, but the overall effect on ride and handling is usually negative in most people's opinions.
Al U said:
Blakewater said:
Someone who lives near me has a 3 Series M Sport in Estoril Blue with Coral Red leather. I like the paint colour and the leather colour. I guess the two combined together is a bit of a love it or hate it Marmite choice.
I always look at those sort of colour combos and think that there must have been some mistake on the options form.Must Have:
Sports seats - much more comfortable than standard seats
Sports steering wheel - a nice upgrade from the skinny standard wheel, money well spent
Xenon lights
Leather
Nice To Have:
Navigation with bluetooth - BMW make a really good navigation system and things like bluetooth music streaming actually work flawlessly unlike other marques
Sports suspension - SE suspension is floaty but it depends on your preference, if you spec sports sports seats, suspension and steering wheel then you may aswel go for the complete MSport package.
Heated seats - I have had them on my last two BMWs but I honestly forget to turn them on most mornings. I don't feel the cold as much as others.
Auto wipers - work quite nicely when you are driving in light drizzle.
Premium sound - only worth it if you are into music.
Don't bother:
Folding mirrors - I have them but never use them as the mirrors hardly stick out anyway, folding them in makes little difference to their extrusion from the car.
ConnectDrive - Pretty cool function to show your mates but in reality you will never actually read emails and post on twitter via the iDrive controller. It's just too much hassle.
Auto full beam - Annoying.
Sports seats - much more comfortable than standard seats
Sports steering wheel - a nice upgrade from the skinny standard wheel, money well spent
Xenon lights
Leather
Nice To Have:
Navigation with bluetooth - BMW make a really good navigation system and things like bluetooth music streaming actually work flawlessly unlike other marques
Sports suspension - SE suspension is floaty but it depends on your preference, if you spec sports sports seats, suspension and steering wheel then you may aswel go for the complete MSport package.
Heated seats - I have had them on my last two BMWs but I honestly forget to turn them on most mornings. I don't feel the cold as much as others.
Auto wipers - work quite nicely when you are driving in light drizzle.
Premium sound - only worth it if you are into music.
Don't bother:
Folding mirrors - I have them but never use them as the mirrors hardly stick out anyway, folding them in makes little difference to their extrusion from the car.
ConnectDrive - Pretty cool function to show your mates but in reality you will never actually read emails and post on twitter via the iDrive controller. It's just too much hassle.
Auto full beam - Annoying.
CarAbuser said:
Must Have:
Sports seats - much more comfortable than standard seats
Sports steering wheel - a nice upgrade from the skinny standard wheel, money well spent
Xenon lights
Leather
Interesting. My must haves would include Sports seats - much more comfortable than standard seats
Sports steering wheel - a nice upgrade from the skinny standard wheel, money well spent
Xenon lights
Leather
- cloth seats - leather is hot'n'sticky in summer and cold in winter. Yuck !
- parking sensors - handy for tight spots, although tends to go off too soon.
- folding mirrors - again handy in tight spots and when parked where folks
drive too close.
- auto gearbox - two hands on the wheel at all times is useful
I'd avoid any car with sports suspension or too large wheels.
90% of my driving isn't on Formula 1 and the local road budget doesn't
extend to filling in potholes.
Most of the rest of the techie stuff, bluetooth, greenhair or rednose or whatever,
I wouldn't bother about. There will be a new box of tricks along in a year
or two which is much better.
dcb said:
Interesting. My must haves would include
- cloth seats - leather is hot'n'sticky in summer and cold in winter. Yuck !
- parking sensors - handy for tight spots, although tends to go off too soon.
- folding mirrors - again handy in tight spots and when parked where folks
drive too close.
- auto gearbox - two hands on the wheel at all times is useful
I'd avoid any car with sports suspension or too large wheels.
90% of my driving isn't on Formula 1 and the local road budget doesn't
extend to filling in potholes.
Most of the rest of the techie stuff, bluetooth, greenhair or rednose or whatever,
I wouldn't bother about. There will be a new box of tricks along in a year
or two which is much better.
All preference I suppose.- cloth seats - leather is hot'n'sticky in summer and cold in winter. Yuck !
- parking sensors - handy for tight spots, although tends to go off too soon.
- folding mirrors - again handy in tight spots and when parked where folks
drive too close.
- auto gearbox - two hands on the wheel at all times is useful
I'd avoid any car with sports suspension or too large wheels.
90% of my driving isn't on Formula 1 and the local road budget doesn't
extend to filling in potholes.
Most of the rest of the techie stuff, bluetooth, greenhair or rednose or whatever,
I wouldn't bother about. There will be a new box of tricks along in a year
or two which is much better.
I do find the parking sensors useless. They don't really give me any confidence.
The techie stuff is something BMW do well. The nav unit I have in my car is the CIC version which is 5 years old and still out-performs any of the newer stuff from other manufacturers. Bluetooth is not something that will suddenly be superseded and saves pulling over to answer a call.
Snollygoster said:
Assuming you're going to PCP it, here's what you do for a 330d.
I'd go for M Sport over Luxury as better residuals, and looks better IMO. You also get a much much better steering wheel.
Choose the Sport Automatic as this will be cheaper than a manual.
Choose the Business Nav as a minimum. This will also be cheaper than without. I personally would stretch to a Pro Nav as I am a gadgety person. This will cost best part of £40 a month though.
Choose metallic paint. Again, this will cheaper than without.
Choose the M Sport Plus Package. This is quite a pricey option, but you will only pay a fraction of this as a residual take a big jump with this option seeing as you get better brakes, bigger alloys, better audio, and privacy glass.
The adaptive lights are a good option IMO as the high beam assist in the F30 range is brilliant.
With all those options you have a very nice car, and probably the most cost effective options.
^^^good suggestions (especially the m sport plus package)- I'd only add adaptive suspension to that listI'd go for M Sport over Luxury as better residuals, and looks better IMO. You also get a much much better steering wheel.
Choose the Sport Automatic as this will be cheaper than a manual.
Choose the Business Nav as a minimum. This will also be cheaper than without. I personally would stretch to a Pro Nav as I am a gadgety person. This will cost best part of £40 a month though.
Choose metallic paint. Again, this will cheaper than without.
Choose the M Sport Plus Package. This is quite a pricey option, but you will only pay a fraction of this as a residual take a big jump with this option seeing as you get better brakes, bigger alloys, better audio, and privacy glass.
The adaptive lights are a good option IMO as the high beam assist in the F30 range is brilliant.
With all those options you have a very nice car, and probably the most cost effective options.
I went with...
335d xDrive - Mineral grey, brushed aluminium, gloss black trim, black leather
Advanced park pack
Interior comfort pack
M Sport Plus pack
Professional media
Visibility pack
Heated steering wheel
HUD
Adaptive suspension
VSS
Comfort access
Folding mirrors
Heated front seats
Active cruise
Sliding armrest
Speed limit info
Don't really regret anything, parking is a bit of a gimmick but adds camera which is useful. Electric seats should be standard but can't justify nearly £1k for just me driving it.
Rear seat heating if you had kids maybe, and if you liked them.
335d xDrive - Mineral grey, brushed aluminium, gloss black trim, black leather
Advanced park pack
Interior comfort pack
M Sport Plus pack
Professional media
Visibility pack
Heated steering wheel
HUD
Adaptive suspension
VSS
Comfort access
Folding mirrors
Heated front seats
Active cruise
Sliding armrest
Speed limit info
Don't really regret anything, parking is a bit of a gimmick but adds camera which is useful. Electric seats should be standard but can't justify nearly £1k for just me driving it.
Rear seat heating if you had kids maybe, and if you liked them.
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