BMW tourer for the dog

[kingswood]

trying to naviagte around the BMW touring range at about 15-20k, which i think will get me a F31?!

we currently have a skoda VRS on a 62 plate we bought in a rush when the wife changed jobs and lost the company car. we've £4k in this. other car is an R32 and we've a 205 GTi for teh classic shows.

looking at getting rid of the VRS and spending abit more for a BMW - shes mentioned a merc but like the BMW more. merc's seem like youre trying to hard. i'm working class after all!

i like fast cars and fuel isnt really an issue. so really im looking at a 330/335/340 tourning. may dound sad but i like the twin pipes at each end of the bumper but think these are only in a 340?

and also the last rear wheel drive car i had i pranged - hence getting the 4 wheel drive golf - so would be interested in the x-drive.

what do my options look like!?

thanks in advance

[James-m5qjf]

340 has the b58 lump, one of the best mid range performance motors available today, get at pre euro 6 model and you can be a child with the MPPSK. 335D (xdrive) is another great 6 cylinder motor, albeit less exiting but more cost effective.

[numtumfutunch]

I ran an F31 335d on a lease from new and it was both one of the fastest and one of the most boring cars I’ve ever “owned”

Get a 340i

Totally

You need pro nav which looks pretty but has crap functionality and the HK stereo upgrade as the factory system is awful

Anything else is a bonus

M Sport Plus has the HK plus gangsta glass and bigger alloys if that’s your thing

Of all the options in my opinion Extended Storage is essential on the Touring. You get nets on the back of front seats, a clever boot area rail system ,extra 12v in economy and a fantastically handy cubby by the light switch

Seriously

Happy hunting

Cheers

PS and the xDrive cars handle abysmally on standard springs. Astonishingly so. Just terrrible

Edited by numtumfutunch on Saturday 18th July 22:44

[ian332isport]

numtumfutunch said:

a clever boot area rail system

BMW quietly dropped that from the extended storage pack sometime in early 2018. I was quite miffed when my August 2018 car didn’t have it.

[numtumfutunch]

ian332isport said:

BMW quietly dropped that from the extended storage pack sometime in early 2018. I was quite miffed when my August 2018 car didn’t have it.

Ahhhhh, makes sense as the whole pack was quite modestly priced as I recall. It must have been as actually put hand in pocket for it on a lease car

[VerySideways]

Get the 340i.
Easy 40+mpg on the motorway at 75ish cruise, and low/mid 20's if you drove it like you stole it.
Quiet, comfy, quick, very easy to live with.

[stuart_83]

340i ... B58 for the win.

Don't get an F series xdrive unless you like your cars to look like they're on stilts.

Parked next to a 435d xdrive the other week and the difference was hilarious.

[rassi]

stuart_83 said:

340i ... B58 for the win.

Don't get an F series xdrive unless you like your cars to look like they're on stilts.

Parked next to a 435d xdrive the other week and the difference was hilarious.

For a dog carrier, ultimate handling is maybe not the highest on the list of priorities. I found the 335d a great allrounder, and with £200 of Eibach springs the ride height is taken care off. The xdrive is also very useful for tackling muddy forest tracks, etc where dogs are taken.

[stevewak]

rassi said:

For a dog carrier, ultimate handling is maybe not the highest on the list of priorities. I found the 335d a great allrounder, and with £200 of Eibach springs the ride height is taken care off. The xdrive is also very useful for tackling muddy forest tracks, etc where dogs are taken.

Exactly, or parking in a field (Goodwood, point-to-point, country fair) or getting out of a steep muddy lane. It's not an Audi RS equivalent, it's more of an Audi Allroad, a BMW that has half a chance when it's slippery (winter tyres, I know...).