Help me spec a F30 335d X Drive
Discussion
The lease on my 520 M Sport auto is drawing to a close. It's been a fantastic car for the past 2 years, but alas the new model is much more costly.
I've been drawn to some of the deals on the F30, with c. 25% off list and 2.9% APR finance.
This brings the 335d X drive M Sport down to c £31.7k, with metallic paint as standard.
Seems a lot of car for the money.
I would want to keep the spec quite light as it's a work tool rather than the main family car.
Adaptive M Sports suspension (£515) a must, as are (for me) Heated Seats (£325). I spend a lot of time driving in the dark (I'm in Scotland, winters are long...) so could be tempted to add the Adaptive LED Headlights (£745) if these are big improvement on the standard LED headlights?
Other than this, what do I need (as opposed to want) on an F30?
Before the F10 I ran an F30 330d for a couple of years with only adaptive dampers and heated seats added so aware of the basic spec.
Business NAV does everything I need.
Open to thoughts as buying rather than leasing lets me be a little more adventurous with the spec,
I've been drawn to some of the deals on the F30, with c. 25% off list and 2.9% APR finance.
This brings the 335d X drive M Sport down to c £31.7k, with metallic paint as standard.
Seems a lot of car for the money.
I would want to keep the spec quite light as it's a work tool rather than the main family car.
Adaptive M Sports suspension (£515) a must, as are (for me) Heated Seats (£325). I spend a lot of time driving in the dark (I'm in Scotland, winters are long...) so could be tempted to add the Adaptive LED Headlights (£745) if these are big improvement on the standard LED headlights?
Other than this, what do I need (as opposed to want) on an F30?
Before the F10 I ran an F30 330d for a couple of years with only adaptive dampers and heated seats added so aware of the basic spec.
Business NAV does everything I need.
Open to thoughts as buying rather than leasing lets me be a little more adventurous with the spec,
Hi I know its left field but I have heated seats and they are great ,thing is it brings out how flippin freezin the steering wheel gets in the winter mornings never noticed it before my heated seats so for me they have to go together or not at all 
Edited by smashy on Monday 17th April 22:08
va1o said:
I'd be tempted to spend the money your considering on headlights instead on either Pro Nav or HK Audio (or both!). Very nice to have IMO and seem to be super desirable at resale
Forget pronav, on the one hand it makes the interior very pretty - it also gives your instruments a nice makeover too - but its traffic info is diabolical and whats the point of a nav system costing 800 squids* if its routing is crap?The F30/31 has some kind of wizardry in its climate system which gets it up to temp in a few minutes only so heated seats arent the necessity I thought them in my previous car, although I hear the heated steering wheel is lush!
Standard audio is adequate at best and although the HK would literally rock the interim upgrade would be on my list next time
Extended storage is fantastic and good value in my F31 if only for the very handy cubby hole below the light switch and I also went for the front armrest for a very modest cost too
Lights are LED as standard and if not the absolute best out there are certainly fine for unlit moorland roads in my opinion
Cheers
EDIT: * man maths got the better of me when I realised that pronav would only cost me 400 in reality over a 2y lease as its lifts the residual value of the car
Edited by numtumfutunch on Monday 17th April 23:00
Spec is really good. Go for the LED lights, it was Xenon lights that were standard on the F30. Heated steering wheel can be added. Base spec stereo is always bad in BMW's get the HK and you wont be disappointed. Go for Professional Media as it's a must for resale value in that it is shown up when being sold. Auto trader put it in the title of the car on adverts so it's clearly something they look for.
If you do carry passengers, rear heated seats is nice too. Frivolous options are comfort access but that's standard now I think. Electric boot is good for resale but thats it.
If you do carry passengers, rear heated seats is nice too. Frivolous options are comfort access but that's standard now I think. Electric boot is good for resale but thats it.
I'm not so sure adaptive is a must have; I've got it on my pre-LCI F31 335d and even in Sport mode the chassis is still a bit soft IMO. If I had my time again I wouldn't bother with adaptive and for similar money would fit ACS springs instead - by all accounts they make a far better job of sorting the handling without any detrimental effect on the ride.
If you want heated seats perhaps consider the Interior Comfort Pack which gives you things like extended storage (useful to have) and a heated steering wheel (never tried one myself but those that have seem to like them!). I agree the standard stereo is poor and can confirm the HK system is a big improvement; you can get that as part of the M-Sport Plus Pack so if there's anything else in that you like the look of (19" wheels, M-Sport brakes, etc) that could be worth speccing. You can also have the adaptive lights as part of that pack albeit they add another £610 to the cost!
My final thought on spec would be the engine - unless you really want or need X-Drive, just get a 340i!
If you want heated seats perhaps consider the Interior Comfort Pack which gives you things like extended storage (useful to have) and a heated steering wheel (never tried one myself but those that have seem to like them!). I agree the standard stereo is poor and can confirm the HK system is a big improvement; you can get that as part of the M-Sport Plus Pack so if there's anything else in that you like the look of (19" wheels, M-Sport brakes, etc) that could be worth speccing. You can also have the adaptive lights as part of that pack albeit they add another £610 to the cost!
My final thought on spec would be the engine - unless you really want or need X-Drive, just get a 340i!
Totally disagree with the comments above on the Pro Nav - it's epic and the RTTI traffic info has been fantastic for me. We occasionally check against Google Maps and 99% time for me it is right.
Not sure the need for Adaptive suspension, but understand a little on a 435d due to the SE suspension. Money would be better spent installing ACS springs in my opinion.
The ICON Adaptive Headlights are pretty special but I was loathed to spec them at £1200 but did it anyway. Search for them on YouTube and you will see why they are so good.
Not sure the need for Adaptive suspension, but understand a little on a 435d due to the SE suspension. Money would be better spent installing ACS springs in my opinion.
The ICON Adaptive Headlights are pretty special but I was loathed to spec them at £1200 but did it anyway. Search for them on YouTube and you will see why they are so good.
hornetrider said:
Is Business nav the one which is basically a 4:3 screen in the widescreen holder? Looks rubbish to me, and I couldn't spend two years looking at it knowing the lovely widescreen is available with Pro Media.
Agreed, on a basic 4-cylinder 3 series it's Ok without but on something of this calibre you do need it IMOI bought a pre-registered 335dXdrive, with 9 miles on the clock. I had to have the spec that was on the car, so here goes. First 19" run-flats Pirelli Zero and M sport package (i.e. non-adaptive); Sure it is firm, but not harsh and not wallowy, but I personally see no need for adaptive on this year and spec, others may disagree, and perhaps 18" may be smoother.. Through load and 40/20/40 seats, I believe these are standard, I came from a 19 year old E36 2.5 I6 petrol saloon, and I thought about the F31 estate, but I did no like the look compared to the saloon, and with the through load, that makes it so much usable. Cruise control (again standard) and with the separate speed-limiter must be a 3 point saver (you can still floor it in emergency). Heated seats and wheel, well I have them and tried them, next winter they will be useful. LED lights and auto-dim work fine, as does rain sensor. PDC and rear camera are a must (again standard I think). The media is Professional Nav and Harman Kardon, a must in my book. I transferred 1800 tunes from iMac onto a SanDisk Ultra USB3 and then onto the cars media hard drive (that filled it half full), it will also store any CD you put in. I have never had a sunroof, and don't see the need for one. The servotronic steering is fine, and well weighted, no need for variotronic in my book. Folding mirrors?, mine are fixed, and bearing in mind the width with mirrors unfolded is only 75mm more than the width of the body, I don't see how they are useful, better to have them out to protect the body in my view. Any questions, just ask.
Pica-Pica said:
Folding mirrors?, mine are fixed, and bearing in mind the width with mirrors unfolded is only 75mm more than the width of the body, I don't see how they are useful, better to have them out to protect the body in my view.
I fold my mirrors to reduce the chance of them being damaged when the car's parked but being honest I could live without that function. However, one thing I'd really miss is the facility for the passenger door mirror to dip-down and look at the kerb or white lines when parking so do the standard electric mirrors do that? If they do I'd agree the folding mirrors probably aren't worth the extra but if they don't folding mirrors are nice to have IMO! JNW1 said:
Pica-Pica said:
Folding mirrors?, mine are fixed, and bearing in mind the width with mirrors unfolded is only 75mm more than the width of the body, I don't see how they are useful, better to have them out to protect the body in my view.
I fold my mirrors to reduce the chance of them being damaged when the car's parked but being honest I could live without that function. However, one thing I'd really miss is the facility for the passenger door mirror to dip-down and look at the kerb or white lines when parking so do the standard electric mirrors do that? If they do I'd agree the folding mirrors probably aren't worth the extra but if they don't folding mirrors are nice to have IMO! They were standard on my X5 so not sure if its still the case, but as you say, that's a must have function for me, so useful, so if its still the case, IMHO folding mirrors are a must have.
Echo what most people have said, audio upgrade a must, Pro Nav is excellent, as are the ICON adaptive LED lights.
I've also got the winter pack on my X5, so heated front and rear seats and heated steering wheel.......and the heated wheel is indeed lush and indeed a marvellous thing
Don't think I could be without that again on a car - especially now with old and sometimes arthritic hands 
aeropilot said:
.and the heated wheel is indeed lush and indeed a marvellous thing Don't think I could be without that again on a car - especially now with old and sometimes arthritic hands
My F30 335d is in for its end of warranty check and they have lent me a brand new 335d with virtually all of the same options as mine plus a heated steering wheel. It is the one option which I really regret not choosing on my car. No doubt if I asked about retro-fitting one to my car, they would quote a number close to an independent Scotland's deficit, so I will continue to regret... Don't think I could be without that again on a car - especially now with old and sometimes arthritic hands T16OLE said:
Adaptive cruise control may be worth a thought.
My 640d doesn't have it, I'll not buy my next without it
Adaptive cruise seems to be a bit of a marmite option as some people love it and others think it's a waste of money. Each to their own but I'm in the latter category - having had it on my E92 335i I didn't for one second consider speccing it on my F31 335d...My 640d doesn't have it, I'll not buy my next without it
JNW1 said:
T16OLE said:
Adaptive cruise control may be worth a thought.
My 640d doesn't have it, I'll not buy my next without it
Adaptive cruise seems to be a bit of a marmite option as some people love it and others think it's a waste of money. Each to their own but I'm in the latter category - having had it on my E92 335i I didn't for one second consider speccing it on my F31 335d...My 640d doesn't have it, I'll not buy my next without it
JNW1 said:
T16OLE said:
Adaptive cruise control may be worth a thought.
My 640d doesn't have it, I'll not buy my next without it
Adaptive cruise seems to be a bit of a marmite option as some people love it and others think it's a waste of money. Each to their own but I'm in the latter category - having had it on my E92 335i I didn't for one second consider speccing it on my F31 335d...My 640d doesn't have it, I'll not buy my next without it
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