M340i

[trowelhead]

JNW1 said:

In fairness I was looking initially at C43's as they are a more direct competitor for the M340i; however, the way I had the filters set on the Mercedes website meant it showed all AMG C-class estates and that's how I spotted some reasonably priced C63's!

I'd have to have a closer look and an extended test drive to see if I could live with one as a daily driver though; rumour has it the ride is very firm and given our lousy roads that could be a show-stopper for me. I've also heard stories about indifferent quality interiors which creak and rattle and if true that would also make me look elsewhere (more than likely back to a new G21 M340i!). However, at the money I think the Mercedes deserves at least a little further investigation...

Yeah good points - i actually can't stand cars that ride too harsh - and interior is meh. Fuel costs would be another thing too

[gizlaroc]

HM-2 said:

For some options, possibly. But it seems to be literally impossible to spec any additional options, or even choose certain upholstery, on a C43 without specifying the Premium or Premium Plus pack beforehand (both of which come with the 19" wheels).

On the BMW configuration, the packs are much more coherent ("Technology", "Comfort", "Premium", "Visibility") so mixing and matching bits is much easier. To get the spec I want on the Merc, I'd need to specify £4k of "Premium Plus pack", along with a load of things I don't care about (like comfort access/keyless) or actively don't want (like 19" wheels).

I think it is a fking dumb idea.

Many cars also get pushed over the £40k tax threshold because of the Merc Prem and Prem plus packs.

I only wanted interior ambient lighting and upgraded stereo on the C350 and "No".
Wanted to add 19" wheels, no thanks.
Pano Roof. No thanks.
Comand. No, it is ste.
Also meant I had to go to the AMG Line with the only option being a black interior. I'm out!

Same with so many of their cars.

Sure, add packs, but don't take off the individual options, even if it does cost more, I don't care.

Mercedes should be al a carte not an all you can eat fking buffet.


I think I pissed a few of the MB dealers off on the Merc forums with my views on it.

[Mr Whippy]

I like the way BMW seem to have used the same ‘inside noise’ as my 335Xd F30

Both of them sound st next to my 130i... which is itself far from the best.

It’s very sad BMW can’t work a bit harder on decent noises... especially when they can do whatever they like for the inside.

I suppose you need to pay for an M to get the speakers to play more fruity noises


BMW do some good stuff, but the noises, and these gash looking black packs... no thanks.

[12TS]

Yes. I used to live the howl my 130 used to make. The 340 by comparison sounds rattly.

Agree with all the pack things, I don’t want all stuff in some of the packs but you have no choice.

[bad company]

I had a test drive today. I liked it very much though it’s a similar drive to my current 540 so in a way not exciting. In theory it should be a bit quicker than the 540 as smaller and lighter with the same engine but it didn’t feel it.

Anyway I’ve specked as below and asked for quotes for pcp and cash purchase.

https://configure.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/configid/f5g4p6o...

[bobsavage789]

bad company said:

I had a test drive today. I liked it very much though it’s a similar drive to my current 540 so in a way not exciting. In theory it should be a bit quicker than the 540 as smaller and lighter with the same engine but it didn’t feel it.

Anyway I’ve specked as below and asked for quotes for pcp and cash purchase.

https://configure.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/configid/f5g4p6o...

Looks good, although I'm not sure about the Alpine White... Looks like you've ticked a lot of options: let us know what they come back with!

[bad company]

bobsavage789 said:

Looks good, although I'm not sure about the Alpine White... Looks like you've ticked a lot of options: let us know what they come back with!

If I was feeling brave I’d go for the orange but that’d mean oyster leather which will be difficult to keep looking good. I dislike black leather.

I picked white as I fancy the red leather seats. It’s actually mineral not alpine white.

Edited by bad company on Saturday 23 November 18:59

[JNW1]

bad company said:

If I was feeling brave I’d go for the orange but that’d mean oyster leather which will be difficult to keep looking good. I dislike black leather.

I picked white as I fancy the red leather seats. It’s actually mineral not alpine white.

Edited by bad company on Saturday 23 November 18:59

I've got the Oyster interior in my F31 and it still looks fine after just over 5 years and almost 80k miles; it's never had (or needed) a professional valet and, although you can get a bit of dye transfer from jeans, a bit of attention with Dr Leather wipes every couple of weeks or so takes care of that and has been sufficient to keep it looking good.

I'd have no hesitation in choosing it again and personally I think it looks much nicer against a lot of the exterior colours than the default black. The only downside is it's not available in the merino leather but, given my experience with Oyster, I'd be quite happy to spec something like Ivory White to get a better quality leather.

[BlueEyedBoy]

Finally pulled the trigger yesterday



Landing in the country this week.

[JNW1]

BlueEyedBoy said:

Finally pulled the trigger yesterday



Landing in the country this week.

Well done that man! Must be one of the first customer G21 M340i's in the UK, did the dealer offer a decent discount or were they playing relative hard-ball on what is a new model?

[trowelhead]

BlueEyedBoy said:

Finally pulled the trigger yesterday



Landing in the country this week.

Like it!!! Enjoy

[bad company]

bobsavage789 said:

bad company said:

I had a test drive today. I liked it very much though it’s a similar drive to my current 540 so in a way not exciting. In theory it should be a bit quicker than the 540 as smaller and lighter with the same engine but it didn’t feel it.

Anyway I’ve specked as below and asked for quotes for pcp and cash purchase.

https://configure.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/configid/f5g4p6o...

Looks good, although I'm not sure about the Alpine White... Looks like you've ticked a lot of options: let us know what they come back with!

Offer as below, worth looking elsewhere? Apparently I have £2,683.10 equity in my car or will have when the new car arrives in March.

3 years PCP – 12,000 miles per annum - £17,000 deposit plus your car (£2,683.10 equity in your car) - £423.74 pcm
Cash purchase – your car plus £50,480.50

[Burwood]

bad company said:

bobsavage789 said:

bad company said:

I had a test drive today. I liked it very much though it’s a similar drive to my current 540 so in a way not exciting. In theory it should be a bit quicker than the 540 as smaller and lighter with the same engine but it didn’t feel it.

Anyway I’ve specked as below and asked for quotes for pcp and cash purchase.

https://configure.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/configid/f5g4p6o...

Looks good, although I'm not sure about the Alpine White... Looks like you've ticked a lot of options: let us know what they come back with!

Offer as below, worth looking elsewhere? Apparently I have £2,683.10 equity in my car or will have when the new car arrives in March.

3 years PCP – 12,000 miles per annum - £17,000 deposit plus your car (£2,683.10 equity in your car) - £423.74 pcm
Cash purchase – your car plus £50,480.50

Have you tried carwow? They’re offering you the car for 53 and change. I’ve seen 8k off which would be 50k. I think you can do better.

Edited by Burwood on Monday 25th November 21:07

[bobsavage789]

bad company said:

Offer as below, worth looking elsewhere? Apparently I have £2,683.10 equity in my car or will have when the new car arrives in March.

3 years PCP – 12,000 miles per annum - £17,000 deposit plus your car (£2,683.10 equity in your car) - £423.74 pcm
Cash purchase – your car plus £50,480.50

Thanks for letting us know. I got the following from a dealer (Marshall in Grimsby) via Carwow (not quite as high a spec, but RRP of £52k ish):

Customer deposit - £14000 
36 x £301.10 
GFV - £18,422.06 
Mileage - 8000 
APR - 4.9%

Or about £44k cash.

If memory serves, Coast2Coast offered an even lower cash price (not much lower mind).

Either way, I'm confident you can get a lower offer.

[JNW1]

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks for letting us know. I got the following from a dealer (Marshall in Grimsby) via Carwow (not quite as high a spec, but RRP of £52k ish):

Customer deposit - £14000 
36 x £301.10 
GFV - £18,422.06 
Mileage - 8000 
APR - 4.9%

Or about £44k cash.

If memory serves, Coast2Coast offered an even lower cash price (not much lower mind).

Either way, I'm confident you can get a lower offer.

An £8k saving on a list price of £52k is a discount of just over 15% - which is ok - but TRL is offering closer to 17%. However, if you're not in a rush, once the new model novelty has worn off I can see those discounts getting above 20% within 6 to 9 months....

[Mr Whippy]

Yep 1yr old AUC for £30k will be a much better deal.

[Burwood]

Mr Whippy said:

Yep 1yr old AUC for £30k will be a much better deal.

I’d say dream on in the nicest possible way. 18 months maybe. 12, nope

[bad company]

Mr Whippy said:

Yep 1yr old AUC for £30k will be a much better deal.

WTF is AUC? Seriously, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

[Burwood]

bad company said:

Mr Whippy said:

Yep 1yr old AUC for £30k will be a much better deal.

WTF is AUC? Seriously, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Approved used car from BMW dealers, I.e an inspected top quality used car

[JNW1]

Burwood said:

Mr Whippy said:

Yep 1yr old AUC for £30k will be a much better deal.

I’d say dream on in the nicest possible way. 18 months maybe. 12, nope

Unless the car's high mileage I agree £30k might be a touch optimistic but that said I do think the price of used G20 M340i's is likely to be closer to £30k than £35k by this time next year; if discounts are over 20% by then new ones will be available for under £40k and a used one with (say) 10k miles on the clock is going to be worth a fair bit less....