Discussion
JNW1 said:
Elysium said:
JNW1 said:
Elysium said:
Current deals are not conditional on finance, which is a but surprising, but welcome.
That certainly appears to be the case with some of the brokers but the couple of quotes I've had from BMW dealers includes a deposit contribution of £3.5k which is conditional on taking out finance with BMWFS. Usually all a broker does is put you in touch with a main dealer so it seems strange to me that their discounts are not conditional on finance whereas those available direct from a dealer are; still, if that's the way it is that's the way it is....I am buying with cash plus a trade in and they got very close to the online pricing.
JNW1 said:
Drop Tony Lewis (TRL) an e-mail as suggested on the previous page; he'll probably be able to offer over 20% on a basic car although it might work out slightly less with £5k of options.
Also, just be aware there's a general price increase on the way from BMW in April plus there's also a RFL change from 6th April which will increase the first year cost on the M340i by several hundred pounds. Taken together these will mean Q2 discounts will probably need to increase by a couple of percent just for the current net price to stay where it is now....
Thank you.Also, just be aware there's a general price increase on the way from BMW in April plus there's also a RFL change from 6th April which will increase the first year cost on the M340i by several hundred pounds. Taken together these will mean Q2 discounts will probably need to increase by a couple of percent just for the current net price to stay where it is now....
I didn't know about a price increase on the cards. It seems a strange time to increase prices ie new car sales are sluggish and discounts are being offered on current prices.
Quite a few people seem to mention this Tony Lewis chap. On googling him it appears he works for Berry Heathrow, or the same group anyway. The reviews for Berry are shocking. It wouldn't make a real difference to me as I wouldn't be taking it there for after sales but having recently been on the receiving end of appalling after sales (from MB) it sticks in my throat to reward poor dealers.
Perhaps they are all as bad as each other and so just chase the cheapest deal? (Inc px/convenience)
Elysium said:
Brokers are currently a whisker under 20% on the touring. At £55k, with £10k deposit from BMW and £5k deposit from the buyer you will already be at around £530 per month on a 48 month / 4.9% APR deal. You will be paying around £6k in interest though, So I would make a bigger deposit or buy outright if you can.
Current deals are not conditional on finance, which is a but surprising, but welcome.
There are very few decent cars that are consistently discounted above 20%. Those that are tend to be quite high value initially, so still pricy after discount.
I'm not sure why BMW are discounting the M340i so strongly when it has generally positive reviews.
My guess is that they will probably reduce discounting to more normal levels after Q1 2020.
Thanks, I always buy outright but was considering finance this time as I keep thinking buying outright must be the wrong thing to do as nobody else seems to do it!Current deals are not conditional on finance, which is a but surprising, but welcome.
There are very few decent cars that are consistently discounted above 20%. Those that are tend to be quite high value initially, so still pricy after discount.
I'm not sure why BMW are discounting the M340i so strongly when it has generally positive reviews.
My guess is that they will probably reduce discounting to more normal levels after Q1 2020.
Edited by Elysium on Sunday 19th January 09:16
You mention the brokers are a whisker under 20%, is that of the basic price or including extras as well?
You're right about the offers not being finance dependent. On carwow the discount is the same for cash or pcp, and that's the first time I've ever seen that to be the case.
Thanks again.
Deep said:
Elysium said:
Brokers are currently a whisker under 20% on the touring. At £55k, with £10k deposit from BMW and £5k deposit from the buyer you will already be at around £530 per month on a 48 month / 4.9% APR deal. You will be paying around £6k in interest though, So I would make a bigger deposit or buy outright if you can.
Current deals are not conditional on finance, which is a but surprising, but welcome.
There are very few decent cars that are consistently discounted above 20%. Those that are tend to be quite high value initially, so still pricy after discount.
I'm not sure why BMW are discounting the M340i so strongly when it has generally positive reviews.
My guess is that they will probably reduce discounting to more normal levels after Q1 2020.
Thanks, I always buy outright but was considering finance this time as I keep thinking buying outright must be the wrong thing to do as nobody else seems to do it!Current deals are not conditional on finance, which is a but surprising, but welcome.
There are very few decent cars that are consistently discounted above 20%. Those that are tend to be quite high value initially, so still pricy after discount.
I'm not sure why BMW are discounting the M340i so strongly when it has generally positive reviews.
My guess is that they will probably reduce discounting to more normal levels after Q1 2020.
Edited by Elysium on Sunday 19th January 09:16
You mention the brokers are a whisker under 20%, is that of the basic price or including extras as well?
You're right about the offers not being finance dependent. On carwow the discount is the same for cash or pcp, and that's the first time I've ever seen that to be the case.
Thanks again.
For me, buying outright versus finance just depends on circumstances. If you have other money you can get to in an emergency, then tying cash up in a car is fine.
If not, then you might be better off with a loan. You could probably earn more than the 4.9% interest cost by sticking the cash in an accessible 'stocks and shares' ISA.
Pretty much the same either way. You lose the opportunity to earn interest on your cash or you pay interest on the loan.
Deep said:
Quite a few people seem to mention this Tony Lewis chap. On googling him it appears he works for Berry Heathrow, or the same group anyway. The reviews for Berry are shocking.
I believe the set up is that Tony contributes toward's Berry's sales figures, but doesn't work on their forecourt and acts via email on his deals alonehat he publishes mainly on BabyBMW. I think the speculation on some of the BabyBMW forums is that he access to BMW corporate level discounts based on the volume he is pushing through, but no idea if that's accurate or not.When I bought my M140i, I walked into my local Sytner with what Tony was offering and got them to match.
It's a pretty useful way to do things, as no prolonged haggling, it took about 10 mins to agree the price once they "checked with the boss".
Tony's a great guy, very friendly and helpful when you're dealing with him but you have to bear in mind that he's VERY busy because he gets way more enquiries than most and also sells more cars than most.
Email only to get hold of him initially, but his deals are usually unbeatable. A few dealers will match his deals when pushed, but they won't offer the best deal from the start.
That's the joy of Tony, he will offer what he can. No haggling, no "best price", he gives you the number and that's it. Transparent.
Email only to get hold of him initially, but his deals are usually unbeatable. A few dealers will match his deals when pushed, but they won't offer the best deal from the start.
That's the joy of Tony, he will offer what he can. No haggling, no "best price", he gives you the number and that's it. Transparent.
gizlaroc said:
Anyone got one yet?
I want to see some pics and hear feedback?
I kept crunching the numbers but it is out of my league, really want one, but just can't justify it these days. But would love to hear some feedback from owners.
I’ve done a deal on one this weekend. I want to see some pics and hear feedback?
I kept crunching the numbers but it is out of my league, really want one, but just can't justify it these days. But would love to hear some feedback from owners.
Went approved used, as with a couple of thousand miles on and well specced I got it to £470pm with £4K deposit. It’s significantly less than the price after a new one, even with the discount from carwow and the like.
Haven’t actually driven one yet either so took a bit of a punt
VerySideways said:
Tony's a great guy, very friendly and helpful when you're dealing with him but you have to bear in mind that he's VERY busy because he gets way more enquiries than most and also sells more cars than most.
Email only to get hold of him initially, but his deals are usually unbeatable. A few dealers will match his deals when pushed, but they won't offer the best deal from the start.
That's the joy of Tony, he will offer what he can. No haggling, no "best price", he gives you the number and that's it. Transparent.
This is exactly why he deserves business. If it wasn't for him the 'others' wouldn't do anything near. Email only to get hold of him initially, but his deals are usually unbeatable. A few dealers will match his deals when pushed, but they won't offer the best deal from the start.
That's the joy of Tony, he will offer what he can. No haggling, no "best price", he gives you the number and that's it. Transparent.
Tea Pot One said:
VerySideways said:
Tony's a great guy, very friendly and helpful when you're dealing with him but you have to bear in mind that he's VERY busy because he gets way more enquiries than most and also sells more cars than most.
Email only to get hold of him initially, but his deals are usually unbeatable. A few dealers will match his deals when pushed, but they won't offer the best deal from the start.
That's the joy of Tony, he will offer what he can. No haggling, no "best price", he gives you the number and that's it. Transparent.
This is exactly why he deserves business. If it wasn't for him the 'others' wouldn't do anything near. Email only to get hold of him initially, but his deals are usually unbeatable. A few dealers will match his deals when pushed, but they won't offer the best deal from the start.
That's the joy of Tony, he will offer what he can. No haggling, no "best price", he gives you the number and that's it. Transparent.
gizlaroc said:
Anyone got one yet?
I want to see some pics and hear feedback?
I kept crunching the numbers but it is out of my league, really want one, but just can't justify it these days. But would love to hear some feedback from owners.
I picked mine up a week or so ago, so I can give some first impressions:I want to see some pics and hear feedback?
I kept crunching the numbers but it is out of my league, really want one, but just can't justify it these days. But would love to hear some feedback from owners.
1. Its definitely not a full 'M' car.
My everyday car for the last few years has been an F10 M5, but I have also spent some time in an F80 M3 and an M4 competition. This is the first time I have had a lengthy period in an m-performance car.
The M340i is very smooth, very refined and very comfortable - it feels like a 'normal' car in comparison. My M5 did the Jekyll and Hide thing very well and the M340i is sort of similar, but always smoother and frankly less scary. That said, I am still running in and I suspect it will come alive at higher engine speeds.
2. Steering and suspension are outstanding.
Whilst you don't get much feedback this thing corners level and feels planted very much like the m-cars do. Again, I have not pushed too hard, but you can tell there is plenty of mechanical grip, so this is about the chassis, not just the electronics.
3. It's a lovely engine
Still tight and new, but it's got plenty of torque. It should feel massively down on power compared to the M5, but at the moment, wafting about on wet roads it feels pretty similar.
4. The ZF auto is very good
I have always hated the lag you get whilst torque converters spool up. That is still there at times, but in manual mode this feels closer to the m-DCT in the M5 than I expected. Since that is the best non-manual box I have ever driven, I am pretty pleased with that.
5. It feels and looks very modern
The tech is good and the cabin feels very stylish. I can see places where they have saved money compared to my M5, but that is to be expected. The bits you touch feel good and this is a proper step forward for the 3 series.
It looks nice and sleek, but much less aggressive than the M cars.
In summary, it feels like a good choice for me so far. Plenty of power, in a more relaxed and forgiving package than a full M car. For me, it is an everyday car that comes alive when you want it compared to the M's which are sort of the reverse.
I was hoping for a modern, more luxurious version of the old e90 / e92 era 335i and it is living up to that so far.
Cheers for that.
Sounds great.
I loved my old e91 335i, I just missed the CSL and and ended up with another M3, in hindsight though I probably should have kept the 335i, such a good all rounder.
I have had e30 325i Touring, E36 328i Touring, loads of E46 tourings and 5 or 6 E91 Tourings. The F31 though I have just not been able to go for, I keep thinking maybe a nice 340i and even enquired about one the other day again, but then saw a few owners on f31post saying they thought the F31 just felt a bit cheap compared to previous 3 series and were looking forward to getting into the new 3er or into a 5 series sooner rather than later.
So I have stopped looking again.
I think I might wait till an M340i hits £30k and then grab one. I have gone from having all my cars financed, sometimes £12k a year on cars, to owning everything and chomping into my mortgages, which makes it really hard for me to justify financing again. But I don't have £40k to spend on a car and to be honest, I wouldn't spend that much on a car anyway, it just seems crazy. Don't get me wrong, I have bought £50000 cars, but when it is finance and £500 a month you don't really think about it, giving someone £40000 to be in a newer version of what I have is a very different prospect.
£30k, £15k down and leave £5k at the end I would be happy with.
But then I do love my E91 330i sport and my F11 520d SE. Two very similar but very different cars that cover my moods nicely.
But the M340i Touring looks a cracker, so not sure if I will be able to hold off. haha
Sounds great.
I loved my old e91 335i, I just missed the CSL and and ended up with another M3, in hindsight though I probably should have kept the 335i, such a good all rounder.
I have had e30 325i Touring, E36 328i Touring, loads of E46 tourings and 5 or 6 E91 Tourings. The F31 though I have just not been able to go for, I keep thinking maybe a nice 340i and even enquired about one the other day again, but then saw a few owners on f31post saying they thought the F31 just felt a bit cheap compared to previous 3 series and were looking forward to getting into the new 3er or into a 5 series sooner rather than later.
So I have stopped looking again.
I think I might wait till an M340i hits £30k and then grab one. I have gone from having all my cars financed, sometimes £12k a year on cars, to owning everything and chomping into my mortgages, which makes it really hard for me to justify financing again. But I don't have £40k to spend on a car and to be honest, I wouldn't spend that much on a car anyway, it just seems crazy. Don't get me wrong, I have bought £50000 cars, but when it is finance and £500 a month you don't really think about it, giving someone £40000 to be in a newer version of what I have is a very different prospect.
£30k, £15k down and leave £5k at the end I would be happy with.
But then I do love my E91 330i sport and my F11 520d SE. Two very similar but very different cars that cover my moods nicely.
But the M340i Touring looks a cracker, so not sure if I will be able to hold off. haha
Elysium said:
gizlaroc said:
Anyone got one yet?
I want to see some pics and hear feedback?
I kept crunching the numbers but it is out of my league, really want one, but just can't justify it these days. But would love to hear some feedback from owners.
I picked mine up a week or so ago, so I can give some first impressions:I want to see some pics and hear feedback?
I kept crunching the numbers but it is out of my league, really want one, but just can't justify it these days. But would love to hear some feedback from owners.
1. Its definitely not a full 'M' car.
My everyday car for the last few years has been an F10 M5, but I have also spent some time in an F80 M3 and an M4 competition. This is the first time I have had a lengthy period in an m-performance car.
The M340i is very smooth, very refined and very comfortable - it feels like a 'normal' car in comparison. My M5 did the Jekyll and Hide thing very well and the M340i is sort of similar, but always smoother and frankly less scary. That said, I am still running in and I suspect it will come alive at higher engine speeds.
2. Steering and suspension are outstanding.
Whilst you don't get much feedback this thing corners level and feels planted very much like the m-cars do. Again, I have not pushed too hard, but you can tell there is plenty of mechanical grip, so this is about the chassis, not just the electronics.
3. It's a lovely engine
Still tight and new, but it's got plenty of torque. It should feel massively down on power compared to the M5, but at the moment, wafting about on wet roads it feels pretty similar.
4. The ZF auto is very good
I have always hated the lag you get whilst torque converters spool up. That is still there at times, but in manual mode this feels closer to the m-DCT in the M5 than I expected. Since that is the best non-manual box I have ever driven, I am pretty pleased with that.
5. It feels and looks very modern
The tech is good and the cabin feels very stylish. I can see places where they have saved money compared to my M5, but that is to be expected. The bits you touch feel good and this is a proper step forward for the 3 series.
It looks nice and sleek, but much less aggressive than the M cars.
In summary, it feels like a good choice for me so far. Plenty of power, in a more relaxed and forgiving package than a full M car. For me, it is an everyday car that comes alive when you want it compared to the M's which are sort of the reverse.
I was hoping for a modern, more luxurious version of the old e90 / e92 era 335i and it is living up to that so far.
The difference between this and the M5 was I had to hold back the power on a lot of occasions other than on a straight road over 70, in the M340i you can generally just plant your foot. I do miss the nutter mode in the M5 when you turned everything up to 11 as this doesn't have the same type of M button, but with the gear change and suspension set correctly it does make a noticeable difference.
It is very quick though, deceptively though. Much faster than the M235i we had. The tech is also much better and its incredibly refined and quiet on long drives. We are planning a European road trip in it this year where I hope to open it up properly. I got 173 out the M5 before the limiter kicked in, be interesting what this will do
Edited by BlueEyedBoy on Sunday 2nd February 13:48
Elysium said:
gizlaroc said:
Anyone got one yet?
I want to see some pics and hear feedback?
I kept crunching the numbers but it is out of my league, really want one, but just can't justify it these days. But would love to hear some feedback from owners.
I picked mine up a week or so ago, so I can give some first impressions:I want to see some pics and hear feedback?
I kept crunching the numbers but it is out of my league, really want one, but just can't justify it these days. But would love to hear some feedback from owners.
1. Its definitely not a full 'M' car.
My everyday car for the last few years has been an F10 M5, but I have also spent some time in an F80 M3 and an M4 competition. This is the first time I have had a lengthy period in an m-performance car.
The M340i is very smooth, very refined and very comfortable - it feels like a 'normal' car in comparison. My M5 did the Jekyll and Hide thing very well and the M340i is sort of similar, but always smoother and frankly less scary. That said, I am still running in and I suspect it will come alive at higher engine speeds.
2. Steering and suspension are outstanding.
Whilst you don't get much feedback this thing corners level and feels planted very much like the m-cars do. Again, I have not pushed too hard, but you can tell there is plenty of mechanical grip, so this is about the chassis, not just the electronics.
3. It's a lovely engine
Still tight and new, but it's got plenty of torque. It should feel massively down on power compared to the M5, but at the moment, wafting about on wet roads it feels pretty similar.
4. The ZF auto is very good
I have always hated the lag you get whilst torque converters spool up. That is still there at times, but in manual mode this feels closer to the m-DCT in the M5 than I expected. Since that is the best non-manual box I have ever driven, I am pretty pleased with that.
5. It feels and looks very modern
The tech is good and the cabin feels very stylish. I can see places where they have saved money compared to my M5, but that is to be expected. The bits you touch feel good and this is a proper step forward for the 3 series.
It looks nice and sleek, but much less aggressive than the M cars.
In summary, it feels like a good choice for me so far. Plenty of power, in a more relaxed and forgiving package than a full M car. For me, it is an everyday car that comes alive when you want it compared to the M's which are sort of the reverse.
I was hoping for a modern, more luxurious version of the old e90 / e92 era 335i and it is living up to that so far.
I’d agree with most of the above, apart from the part about the steering. Whilst quite direct it’s completely devoid of feel. The weakest part of the car in my opinion. That’s coming from an e92 M3 admittedly with hydraulic steering, and a cayman GT4 with electric steering.
For me it seems a brilliant compromise car - it’s fast, economical (averaged 42mpg on the 150 miles journey home), very quiet, smooth and relaxing, great technology and smart interior. Safe and secure with x-drive, especially in the current drizzly weather.
Then it can really shift when you put it into sport and manually control the gears.
Part of me would love it in a manual though...
But it’s not an M car. It is a great daily / family wagon. And if you have a toy in the garage then the M340i is a quality all rounder. Can’t think for the money of anything better.
Burwood said:
42 mpg. That's staggering economy for a 3L petrol.
That’s what I thought. Admittedly I wasn’t booting it, but it did involve going around the M25 in rush hour and a load of stop / start traffic. And it is the trip computer, not an actual calculation but even so...If I can average 30mpg with daily life then I’ll be pleased.
ratty6464 said:
I picked mine up a few days ago, it was used with a couple of thousand miles on it so I didnt have to worry about bedding things in etc.
I’d agree with most of the above, apart from the part about the steering. Whilst quite direct it’s completely devoid of feel. The weakest part of the car in my opinion. That’s coming from an e92 M3 admittedly with hydraulic steering, and a cayman GT4 with electric steering.
For me it seems a brilliant compromise car - it’s fast, economical (averaged 42mpg on the 150 miles journey home), very quiet, smooth and relaxing, great technology and smart interior. Safe and secure with x-drive, especially in the current drizzly weather.
Then it can really shift when you put it into sport and manually control the gears.
Part of me would love it in a manual though...
But it’s not an M car. It is a great daily / family wagon. And if you have a toy in the garage then the M340i is a quality all rounder. Can’t think for the money of anything better.
I agree the steering lacks feedback. But it does seem better than the over assisted / articifially weighted steering I have experienced in other reecent BMW's. I’d agree with most of the above, apart from the part about the steering. Whilst quite direct it’s completely devoid of feel. The weakest part of the car in my opinion. That’s coming from an e92 M3 admittedly with hydraulic steering, and a cayman GT4 with electric steering.
For me it seems a brilliant compromise car - it’s fast, economical (averaged 42mpg on the 150 miles journey home), very quiet, smooth and relaxing, great technology and smart interior. Safe and secure with x-drive, especially in the current drizzly weather.
Then it can really shift when you put it into sport and manually control the gears.
Part of me would love it in a manual though...
But it’s not an M car. It is a great daily / family wagon. And if you have a toy in the garage then the M340i is a quality all rounder. Can’t think for the money of anything better.
The F10 M5 was one of the last BMW's with a proper hydraulic system and I expected to miss it immediately. Fortunately, I find that the M340i is very similar in the way it weights up as the load shifts to the front end of the car when turning in. I also like the directness, lack of any dead spots and lively / darty feel. That helps make the car feel a lot lighter and more nimble than the F10 at lower speeds.
My expectations were low and I expected to hate the steering. The fact I don't is a pleasant surprise.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff