BMW 330e ordered...

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Discussion

supermono

7,368 posts

248 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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Very well put. The 330e wasn't in scope when I wanted to order, and in any case the 350e for me looked good enough.

Will be interesting to see how this 330e works out, hopefully not too well wink

humpy999

195 posts

187 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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  1. SteveJJ Exactly my scenario, well put.
When the mainstream of company car drivers gets into PHEVs I expect the proportion that ever sees a charger will be very low too, which just makes a mockery of the whole BIK system as you're effectively swamping the new car fleet with turbo petrols for 5% BIK.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

118 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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Interesting.
3hours 15 to charge it on a standard plug at home. Good overall performance.
Onto a winner, BMW are I think.
if only it came with the M sport kit instead of looking like a pensioners car.

If I ever was in a situation for a company car... can't go wrong.

Emeye

9,773 posts

223 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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xjay1337 said:
Interesting.
3hours 15 to charge it on a standard plug at home. Good overall performance.
Onto a winner, BMW are I think.
if only it came with the M sport kit instead of looking like a pensioners car.

If I ever was in a situation for a company car... can't go wrong.
There is an M-Sport option. Have a google for 330e Leases - I found an M-sport for 6+23, 8000 miles for £240 - waiting to hear back on what the excess mileage charge is.

humpy999

195 posts

187 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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I ordered an M-Sport.

SteveJJ

28 posts

100 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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I find the ride too firm for my needs on the M-Sport. Great on twisty roads, but a pain commuting on A roads. Removing the M-Sport suspension didn't save any money and so I would have been paying for an expensive body kit.

Went with the Tanzanite blue instead on plain Sport trim

Edited by SteveJJ on Tuesday 29th December 16:43

xjay1337

15,966 posts

118 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
Emeye said:
There is an M-Sport option. Have a google for 330e Leases - I found an M-sport for 6+23, 8000 miles for £240 - waiting to hear back on what the excess mileage charge is.
Ooooh okay. Serves me right!


Happy_Harris1431

137 posts

100 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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Only video footage I can find of actual driving.

https://youtu.be/anZdMgJxOFM

anonymous-user

54 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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supermono said:
Will be interesting to see how this 330e works out, hopefully not too well wink
Why would you hope that? Just because you didn't buy one?

Whenever one of us buys a car, there's always something better coming along soon after! wink

T16OLE

2,946 posts

191 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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Is the 330e actually a 2.0 (4-pot)?

JD

2,777 posts

228 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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humpy999 said:
When the mainstream of company car drivers gets into PHEVs I expect the proportion that ever sees a charger will be very low too, which just makes a mockery of the whole BIK system as you're effectively swamping the new car fleet with turbo petrols for 5% BIK.
I'm not sure I follow this logic.

I'm purchasing mine as a private user, and It's going to get plugged in every time the car gets parked, because it doesn't need a special charger.

I don't see why a company car user wouldn't take advantage of how cheap the "fuel" is, even more so if they are reimbursed miles.


As per the above poster, having currently got a 335i with m-sport suspension and 30 profile tyres, I am looking forward to a more supple ride on the pensioner spec sport!

humpy999

195 posts

187 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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From my perspective, most of the company car users at my work are sales reps who do such high daily mileages that the PHEV fuel saving is largely irrelevant compared to the BIK saving (bear in mind they're all already driving Lexuses and making a killing on the >2l petrol reimbursement rate). Consider the regular car-ignorant company car chooser, they're interested in the BIK saving. Plugging the car in for a charge daily is something they simply won't be bothered to do, IMHO.

humpy999

195 posts

187 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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T16OLE said:
Is the 330e actually a 2.0 (4-pot)?
Yes plus an electric motor.

oop north

1,596 posts

128 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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humpy999 said:
#SteveJJ Exactly my scenario, well put.

When the mainstream of company car drivers gets into PHEVs I expect the proportion that ever sees a charger will be very low too, which just makes a mockery of the whole BIK system as you're effectively swamping the new car fleet with turbo petrols for 5% BIK.
Bik is 5% only to 5 April 2016, then 7% for a year, 9% the next year and 13% the year after...

humpy999

195 posts

187 months

Wednesday 30th December 2015
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Yeah, I know but it's still less a fraction of what diesels are going to be in the same years. My points stand.

SteveJJ

28 posts

100 months

Wednesday 30th December 2015
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REALIST123 said:
Why would you hope that? Just because you didn't buy one?

Whenever one of us buys a car, there's always something better coming along soon after! wink
sounds spot on. I first was going to get the Passat GTE as I need an estate but was a little concerned the 1.4 engine might be underpowered. But since it has been delayed, the C350e became first choice, although, I was worried it was too heavy, and there is a huge lead time, and costs at Lex were not great. I was then waiting on details and availability of the A4 etron, but like the Passat VAG have gone quiet. (assume they are too busy being distracted), and then saw the 330e turn up on the Lex portal, the cost was very attractive. Convinced my wife we could do without the estate and placed the order. Now I'm worried that by the time it arrives I could order a Volvo S90 T8, or BMW will anounce a touring version (they have said they do not plan one), or even the new 5 series will be available...


humpy999 said:
From my perspective, most of the company car users at my work are sales reps who do such high daily mileages that the PHEV fuel saving is largely irrelevant compared to the BIK saving (bear in mind they're all already driving Lexuses and making a killing on the >2l petrol reimbursement rate). Consider the regular car-ignorant company car chooser, they're interested in the BIK saving. Plugging the car in for a charge daily is something they simply won't be bothered to do, IMHO.
That's exactly the situation we have at my company. the sales fleet, who don't have a choice of opting out, are running around the UK in Mitsubishi outlanders. We have two chargers at the office and then whatever they find while visiting customers. The majority are hardly seeing a charger and they complain they can't get more than 40mpg.

Now with the C350e, Passat and Golf GTEs, Audi etrons and 330e about to join the office fleet, I'm not sure how often mine will get to see one of the two charging points
I'm realistic that most of the time on long journeys I will run on petrol, and maybe some regenerative breaking or engine charging, for me it is the BIK saving vs. Spec/power. A 250bhp car with 0-60 in 6 seconds and fully specced would normally carry 4 or 5 times the tax, and be well out of my reach

oop north

1,596 posts

128 months

Wednesday 30th December 2015
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I think the grants are changing to reflect distance achievable underbelectric only power. Wonder if bik rates will do the same (in time)?

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 30th December 2015
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oop north said:
I think the grants are changing to reflect distance achievable underbelectric only power. Wonder if bik rates will do the same (in time)?
Almost certainly, I would think, as numbers grow and range increases.

PKLD

1,161 posts

241 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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SteveJJ said:
That's exactly the situation we have at my company. the sales fleet, who don't have a choice of opting out, are running around the UK in Mitsubishi outlanders. We have two chargers at the office and then whatever they find while visiting customers. The majority are hardly seeing a charger and they complain they can't get more than 40mpg.

Now with the C350e, Passat and Golf GTEs, Audi etrons and 330e about to join the office fleet, I'm not sure how often mine will get to see one of the two charging points
I'm realistic that most of the time on long journeys I will run on petrol, and maybe some regenerative breaking or engine charging, for me it is the BIK saving vs. Spec/power. A 250bhp car with 0-60 in 6 seconds and fully specced would normally carry 4 or 5 times the tax, and be well out of my reach
Why are most 'not seeing a charger' - the domestic grants cover company car drivers and the company (if they are decent) cover and cost they may have or some people realise they are saving thousands in tax so don't mind paying £200-400 to have a charger installed at home?

MagicalTrevor

6,476 posts

229 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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I don't know why you wouldn't charge it up every night. The extra performance you'll get from the electric motor plus economy is a no-brainer