RE: BMW 340i manual (F30) | Spotted

[Thefastestindian]

Jeez, the way a load of you talk about heated seats!!!
You make out you'd die if heaven forbid you were to sit on a cold seat for lets be honest, a whole 5 mins till your arse cheeks warm them up. Heated seats can very cheaply be retrofitted, and same with speakers if you don't like the bog standard one. In fact, you could spec a much much better aftermarket system than the OE HK kit for less. Haven't we all been doing this since forever on cars?

Also, don't most people use google maps over the built in satnavs in cars? I've never heard of anyone saying the standard satnav is any good as theyre always slow, out fo date and have clunky user interfaces, so I don't know why you'd make a fuss over it being missing on this car.

All the spec bits that are missing are easily and cheaply remedied (especially in comparison to the cost of the car) so really, there's no issue.

Don't like the 18's? Buy some 19's of your choosing. I don't get whats not to like about this spec at all!

[Mouse Rat]

Those wheels are perfect on the 3 series. Makes it ride and handle fluidly.
However I would find it difficult to look past the XE S which is better to drive

[Krikkit]

Dombilano said:

Horse manure. My 19s are lighter than the 18s available for my car. So am I vain for the reduced unsprung mass just because they're an inch bigger in radius?

Nope, but that's very unusual in my experience - you've got the best of both worlds.

[Fiedka]

There was a similar article on Pistonheada about a year or two ago - that other car was also for sale by BMW dealer and was white. Don’t remember now what the conclusions from the discussions were.

This one is nice but I can’t get past leather colour and alloy interior insert combination.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Krikkit said:

Dombilano said:

Horse manure. My 19s are lighter than the 18s available for my car. So am I vain for the reduced unsprung mass just because they're an inch bigger in radius?

Nope, but that's very unusual in my experience - you've got the best of both worlds.

But likewise, whilst having a small wheel and large tyre may make the ride softer, it can also make it wallow a lot and feel unstable. Many cars with big wheels can ride well, especially on air suspension.

[Maxus]

I reckon the first owner was a company car driver who went against the grain of his colleagues having 330d M Sport Plus' and thought, if I forgo any options I can just about squeeze into a 340i. Good on them.

The small satnav and manual gearbox do create quite a poverty spec ambience to the interior. I'd be holding out for a few luxuries if spending £20k on a car like this.

[Joshandcars]

Love this spec, I chose to do similar with my daily (admittedly a company car, so I’m not seeing the depreciation).



I love my g31, as it’s quite a high spec inside, but no tints, full under the radar. Also, because we’ve got other toys, who needs low profile tyres and other fripperies on a daily? With no spare wheel… the last thing I ever want to be is stuck on a cold dark hard shoulder with a puncture on a Friday night.

[Krikkit]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Krikkit said:

Dombilano said:

Horse manure. My 19s are lighter than the 18s available for my car. So am I vain for the reduced unsprung mass just because they're an inch bigger in radius?

Nope, but that's very unusual in my experience - you've got the best of both worlds.

But likewise, whilst having a small wheel and large tyre may make the ride softer, it can also make it wallow a lot and feel unstable. Many cars with big wheels can ride well, especially on air suspension.

Compromise isn't it, which is the point, about a 45 profile for an everyday car is about the sweet spot, obviously for sportier cars that swings again.

[MDMA .]

whitevancam said:

Pica-Pica said:

My ‘66 plate 335dx is about 50% of purchase price, according to WBAC. Note: at that time, purchase price was a lot lower than list price. Discounted by about 20%.
ETA: I change my wheels from 19” to 18” after two years, looks and rides better.

Edited by Pica-Pica on Tuesday 9th August 09:02

Its a shame that the tyre choice is a bit limited in the 255/40 - 18 rears. No Michelin 4 S or Continental Sportcontact 7's.

You must be looking in the wrong place. There’s loads of choice.

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s473p0/Car_Tyres_-...

[daytona111r]

Proper Q car, I'd only need a wrap, maybe a stereo upgrade and that would be perfect.

I'm amazed at how many PHers feel they have to conform with the sheep re: specs. Is not having heated seats going to kill you? are you really that embarrassed to drive round with 18 inch wheels? Isn't google maps on your phone better than any satnav? Can't you just pay attention to live without cruise control?

[Clivey]

Limpet said:

Don't get me wrong, I have no complaints about the manual. It gives a completely different driving experience to the near standard issue auto, and if that's what floats your boat, it's a massive plus.

Precisely. There are 85 F30 340is on AutoTrader. 84 are automatics and this red example is the sole manual...so for those that wouldn't entertain a manual, go over there and fill your boots.

Just be aware that there are some of us that don't want an auto (even though the ZF8 in these is excellent) and would actively seek-out a manual for the greater connection and involvement it provides.

[WCZ]

Nwatt450 said:

It has literally no cost options and interestingly "M Sport suspension Delete" also

love it

[tenmantaylor]

Clivey said:

Precisely. There are 85 F30 340is on AutoTrader. 84 are automatics and this red example is the sole manual...so for those that wouldn't entertain a manual, go over there and fill your boots.

Just be aware that there are some of us that don't want an auto (even though the ZF8 in these is excellent) and would actively seek-out a manual for the greater connection and involvement it provides.

This.

I've come to the conclusion that those who say how good an auto is can overcome a manual... don't a actually understand why manual can be better in many situations

- Don't have to look anywhere to check what gear you are in, you know ot can feel without taking eyes off the road
- No one can change gear without asking you first
- pre selecting and holding a gear before a hill/corner/obstacle can save loads of fuel
- Matching revs, heel and toeing is the pinnacle of driving experience and reward for those who can do it well
- No one, I repeat NO ONE fks around with the gears without asking you. If I put the car in a gear with the flappy paddles I want it to stay there until it stalls or bounces off the limiter (I'm aggressively looking at you mister barstard audi auto box programmer!)
- Sequential gear stick shifters are pull to shift up, push to shift down!!!!(I'm aggressively looking at you again mister barstard audi auto box programmer!)

I'd take a compromised manual over any auto I've ever driven. The only reason I'm putting up with S Tronic is because they didn't make my car in a manual S6 (C7) and wanted a big fast ULEZ estate.

The only time I would ever insist on auto is if I had to commute daily in London. But then I'd have an EV instead.

[Rob_F]

I had an F30 328i manual. The gearbox was pretty bad, made worse by the fact the clutch pedal had unusually long travel, which was out of kilter with the brake and throttle. The suspension was also badly damped, and overall it was a considerably worse drivers car than most hot hatches.

This has almost zero appeal, and I think most people who haven't driven one think they drive way better than they actually do.

[BMWM2Black]

I was waiting for the usual 'BMW manuals are rubbish' comments.

I have a manual M2 and think its great. Perhaps these people are just rubbish at driving a manual car.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

tenmantaylor said:

This.

I've come to the conclusion that those who say how good an auto is can overcome a manual... don't a actually understand why manual can be better in many situations

- Don't have to look anywhere to check what gear you are in, you know ot can feel without taking eyes off the road
- No one can change gear without asking you first
- pre selecting and holding a gear before a hill/corner/obstacle can save loads of fuel
- Matching revs, heel and toeing is the pinnacle of driving experience and reward for those who can do it well
- No one, I repeat NO ONE fks around with the gears without asking you. If I put the car in a gear with the flappy paddles I want it to stay there until it stalls or bounces off the limiter (I'm aggressively looking at you mister barstard audi auto box programmer!)
- Sequential gear stick shifters are pull to shift up, push to shift down!!!!(I'm aggressively looking at you again mister barstard audi auto box programmer!)

I agree with your first 2 points, but in situations that you mention in reality is putting an auto in manual mode that bad? If I'm in manual mode and slowing down my car will only shift down if it's about to stall.... Which is exactly what I'd do in a manual, because I don't want to stall my engine. Why's that an issue?

Upshifting automatically at the redline? Some autos do and some don't.... But again, is this ever a problem on road, really? I've certainly never found it an issue.

You can preselect a gear with an auto if you want to, and it may save you some fuel, but over an ownership the auto would be more economical so I don't think that argument stands.

[PistonTim]

croyde said:

Stereo can be sorted for next to nothing these days.

I've picked up Sony head units for £60 new with the bonus of Bluetooth connection for music and phone calls.

I, personally, have never found an in car Sat Nav as versatile, easy to use and accurate as Waze or Google.

So I'm fine with the wheels, lack of decent stereo and sat nav, just a shame I don't have £20k spare.

These arent the max power days you cant just nail a DIN pioneer or kenwood to the dash - where are you going to install it because theres no pre-made space for fitment?

£400+ android screen maybe.

[Magnum 475]

BMWM2Black said:

I was waiting for the usual 'BMW manuals are rubbish' comments.

I have a manual M2 and think its great. Perhaps these people are just rubbish at driving a manual car.

It's the Clutch Delay Valve issue. The box is fine, but that CDV needs killing with fire. I can never understand why BMW use it.

[TREMAiNE]

tenmantaylor said:

- Matching revs, heel and toeing is the pinnacle of driving experience and reward for those who can do it well

That is the only reason I want a manual for my 'fun' car.
On a string of B road bends, the enjoyment comes from a succession of well-executed heel and toe downshifts as you slow down approaching bends and then the feel of the car slingshotting out of those bends once you're back on the power.

Every other instance, I'll take an auto.

[Rich Boy Spanner]

I think that is a good spec. Decent engine and wheels that just might make the ride quality half decent. It's a car for grown-ups.