BMW 320D M Sport Touring - Undecided

BMW 320D M Sport Touring - Undecided

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Powerkiter

Original Poster:

207 posts

223 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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Been to look at a year old BMW 320D M Sport Touring at my local dealer today. I haven't put a deposit down yet but really impressed with the car. When I got home noticed that it only has the M Sport package and not the M Sport Plus package; but then it has been upgraded with Zenons, sun protection glass and headlamp wash. So the only things missing are the M Sport brakes and loudspeaker upgrade. Are the sports brakes and loudspeaker upgrade worth worrying about, if so, will just look for another car elsewhere.

But then as a plus point it does have a full length panoramic glass roof.

Looking at buying the car outright with cash. The dealer offered to include the full service package at no extra cost (even if I took out PCP) but want £50 for an iPhone 5 connecting cable. What sort of discount have people got on these recently, especially for cash purchase ?

Are people generally impressed with their 320D M Sport Touring ?

Sorry for the questions, terrible at making my mind up !

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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After having recently spend a good 600 miles with a 320d, buy a slightly older 330d instead. The engine in the 320d is competent - it's efficient and delivers acceptable performance but it does so without ever feeling anything other than a tool. By contrast the 6 cylinder powerplant just has that little something that makes you enjoy the car rather than simply appreciate it.

PHlL

1,538 posts

138 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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They both sound like BMW Head Office spec cars - are they on Y registrations? The reason I ask is if they are, you will be able to find a pretty much identical spec elsewhere in the country which will give you a good idea on price. In regards to negotiations wise, the retailer will earn more on a finance day so more likely to offer a larger discount as can account for the money through other bonus. For cash, decide on a price you are happy to pay, and find a retailer who will sell you the car for that amount. No general rule of thump.

In regards to the car itself, very good all rounder. It is nice to have the H&K audio as big difference, but no deal breaker. Personally the brakes don't do a lot for me (although the blue callipers look nice on dark & estoril cars). I've had both and yes, obviously they are better, but for standard ones are fine.

Has the non M Sport Plus got 19's or standard 18's? That could be the decider depending on if you like a firmer ride and the look of them.

Either way you can't go wrong. I'd personally go for M Sport Plus option over Pan Roof with Xenons and Sun Protection Glass. If you have kids in the back and black leather the pan roof will make it a lot lighter for them in the back. Depends on what you want.

Best of luck.

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

207 posts

223 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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Thanks both for the comments.

Yes, the registration number does start with 'YE' and they have confirmed that it was a BMW employee's car.

It also has the 19 inch alloys.

I should imagine it can be quite dark in the back, as black leather, black headlining and tinted windows. That is why the panoramic sunroof sort of appealed, especially for the kids.

PHlL

1,538 posts

138 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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Sound like pan roof is the way to go then...

Although it's probably one of our old cars as the exact spec as my brothers cars (always go for a an F31), just double check it's definitely a BMW UK car rather than a rental vehicle. General tip is if it has GB plates on the car the press/rental companies didn't have it but not 100% accurate. Best way is ask to see the V5 first.

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

207 posts

223 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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Thanks Phil.

It does have GB plates and the salesperson assured me it was an employee's car and not a hire car. Also says 'BMW UK' on the bottom of the number plate.

I did also notice that there was some minor surface rust on the wheel hub, between the brake disk and the wheel itself; is this a fairly common problem. Just doesn't look very nice.

Edited by Powerkiter on Monday 23 February 21:20

DUMBO100

1,878 posts

183 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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Iirc the M Sport + pack included upgraded brakes and blue callipers but I was told by a BMW salesman that they had run out of blue paint and couldn't supply cars with the + pack any longer

MrBurt

128 posts

145 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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Had my 9 month old 320D m sport plus touring for 7 weeks now. It's the X drive version. I have also paid cash for the car, sales man was desperate to sell me it on pcp but I'm a bit old fashioned and like to own my stuff.
My thoughts so far.
The engine has just about enough power to entertain, it's a bit noisy on tick over and currently only getting 42/43 mpg. Blame the xdrive and loads of short journeys for that I guess. The xdrive did get me up a very steep challenging hill today with snow and ice with some nasty adverse cambers. Wife has the latest 1 series and she said that there was no way her car would have done the hill. The 330 is without doubt the better engine, but it costs that bit more to run and buy.
The plus pack makes the car look fab, it really has that special look in black with the blue calipers and 19" wheels. The down side to the wheels is some tram lining on poor surfaces. Cannot upload a pic, apparently the images are to large.
I consider the ride to be perfectly acceptable, even with the larger wheels, this was a concern for me on purchase but this Has just not been an issue and I was kinda looking for it.
I have pro Nav in mine which I am very impressed with. Beware that if you buy one without any Nav The value will be effected at resale time and are harder to shift.
The service pack appears on face value to be good value however you can only have the car serviced when the car requests it. Mine is due at about 19 k and the next one will be around the 38-40 k mark. So in reality the service pack will give you two services only because the cars do have relatively long intervals.
I have the sport auto box. My first auto in my private car and I will never go back. Smooth changes, never gets caught out and the stop start works perfectly.
The HK surround sound is also very impressive. Not a hifi geek, but my wife's basic system in the 1 is not great which is why I was looking for a better option. The system syncs with my iPhone 6 via the apple charge/USB cable so if you upgrade your phone at any point it will not cost you for a new cable.
The xenon lights are one of the only disappointments at the mo. They lack the long range penetration of the ones on the wife's 1 series, just do not have that sharp crisp in depth coverage I was looking for.
In summary the car feels a quality product, looks stunning, great interior, very high tech with pro nav and connected services and it feels like it would never fall of the road or try and kill me.
Agree that if funds will allow go for the 330 but the 320 is by no means a bad place to be, just pick the right spec for your needs and if in doubt or the price ain't right walk away there are loads out there.
MB

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

207 posts

223 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
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Thanks Mr Burt, really helpful comments.

It is only when you start to compare with other cars you see the different combinations of options; which I suppose BMW are well known for. I really need to look at what is important to me but with one eye on resale of the car in the future.

M Sport Brakes (Doesn't have) - Look nice but I am sure the normal ones are up to the job. Don't intend driving it like a hooligan.

HK Speaker System (Doesn't have) - Hope the normal system has a reasonable quality sound.

Sat Nav (Doesn't have) - I am not to worried about this. I have a VW Polo with built in Sat Nav and I cannot remember the last time I used it, always tend to use Google maps on my iPhone. And even then I probably only use Sat Nav once a month.

Panoramic Sunroof (Has) - Nice option to have given how dark the car is inside. Probably get more enjoyment out of it than upgraded brakes.

Decisions, decisions !





rudebhoy

74 posts

110 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
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Apologies for hijacking the thread but would these be a bad choice if only doing 6-7k miles a year with a lot of town driving?

knitware

1,473 posts

192 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
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M Sport Brakes (Doesn't have) - Look nice but I am sure the normal ones are up to the job. Don't intend driving it like a hooligan.
You don’t need the uprated brakes true but with so many cars with it then why not have it.


HK Speaker System (Doesn't have) - Hope the normal system has a reasonable quality sound.
The basic system is horrid, you need the HK even if you have a small appreciation for sound.

Sat Nav (Doesn't have) - I am not to worried about this. I have a VW Polo with built in Sat Nav and I cannot remember the last time I used it, always tend to use Google maps on my iPhone. And even then I probably only use Sat Nav once a month.
You need satnav, don’t kid yourself here, not having it will become an irritation and selling will be a pain, plus it’s a very good system, full post code..
Panoramic Sunroof (Has) - Nice option to have given how dark the car is inside. Probably get more enjoyment out of it than upgraded brakes.
This is fine but impedes on head room.

Decisions, decisions ! Easy, don’t buy it.

It doesn’t have a lot going for it, paupers spec. See my comments above.

Do a national search and if you must buy the 320d but aim for the 330d. There are so many good cars with M Sport plus for sale, you may be excited to buy the 320d you found and may seem a good buy but it would soon turn to irritation when you find yourself in a courtesy car with all the options.

The adaptive lights are excellent, search on youtube for their benefit.

Its not my choice though so it's up to you, but you can do better.


MrBurt

128 posts

145 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
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Powerkiter,
You are welcome.
Agree with some of the last posts ref the spec of the one you are looking at. It does feel a bit 'light'.
I am not a fan of getting too stressed about specing a car for the next owner but no Nav on a m sport 3 will stick out like a sore thumb when you come to move it on, both private and dealer, particular dealer will mark your motor down without it.
The pro Nav is more than just a Nav tool. It does real time traffic info, great 3 d mapping of cities etc etc.
I have just got in from a good long blast across A roads and I have to say, 'would I really need more power' probably not, also with having the HK sound helps general refinement in the 320. You can cover some of the clatter, although once up and running it does dissipate.
Best of look with your purchasing experience.some times there's more fun looking than actually buying, plus once you have made your mind up its important that you feel good about the car and the deal. It's a bit like marriage, you know when it feels right. One last thing.
Don't pay for paint protection from BM, they tried to get me to pay £400 notes for it. Not worth the money, I had a local company hand wax mine for £80 and it looks stunning. They were very critical of the BM supa guarding, or whatever it's called.
MB

PHlL

1,538 posts

138 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
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rudebhoy said:
Apologies for hijacking the thread but would these be a bad choice if only doing 6-7k miles a year with a lot of town driving?
You will have DPF problems. Just get a 320i.

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

207 posts

223 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
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Thanks for the comments guys. After looking at the BMW Used Cars website I have decided not to buy the one I test drove. There are plenty around with better specs. which I am tempted by (ideally Estoril Blue with the M Sport Plus upgrade, panoramic sunroof and Sat Nav). I am actually in no hurry to buy one and can wait for the right car to come along.

knitware

1,473 posts

192 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
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Powerkiter said:
Thanks for the comments guys. After looking at the BMW Used Cars website I have decided not to buy the one I test drove. There are plenty around with better specs. which I am tempted by (ideally Estoril Blue with the M Sport Plus upgrade, panoramic sunroof and Sat Nav). I am actually in no hurry to buy one and can wait for the right car to come along.
That's a good decision, enjoy your search!

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

207 posts

223 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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Just put down a deposit on an Estoril Blue M Sport, with the M Sport Plus package, BMW Professional navigation system, panoramic glass sunroof and a number of other options. Just counted 20 items on the options list alone. Original price just over a year ago was a touch over £42k.

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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Powerkiter said:
Original price just over a year ago was a touch over £42k.
But average discounts are circa 20%, so use that figure if calculating depreciation over the first year.

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

207 posts

223 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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Thanks Fox, I have done a deal which will mean it has lost a lot more than 20% in the first year. Also got servicing for 5 years, iPhone 5 connector and roof bars thrown in.

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Wednesday 4th March 2015
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Sounds like you've done very well. Congrats!

Powerkiter

Original Poster:

207 posts

223 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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Does anybody know whether the Thule Proride 591 cycle carriers fit the genuine BMW roof bars for a 3 Series Touring. The roof bars would need to have the channel T-Track connectors to attached the cycle carrier.