F31 340i Touring - buying advice

[spoonleaf]

Hi BMW experts,

I'm looking at picking up a 340i Touring, and I'm trying to work out how best to get my hands on one. Ideally I'd like the following options as a minimum:

• Sunroof
• HK audio

I'm a sucker for technical toys, and some of the stuff in the option packs would be a huge bonus:

• Heads up display
• Digital cockpit
• LED adaptive headlights

I'm presuming the likes of these are only available on the much more recent (2018?) models?

Anyway, would I be best holding out for a high spec model with BMW AUC, letting my local dealer know what I'm after, or should I attempt to haggle on speccing my own from new? I'm a bit concerned about depreciation going the latter route, especially with the new 3-series rumoured to be only about a year away.

Coast2Coast.com suggests 42k for a discounted model with all the above speced, whereas the BMW customiser suggests closer to 52k.

All advice appreciated.

[Smuler]

Surely you've got to at least get quotes on brand new (cash or any finance packages) to compare with used deals?

Although there is a middle ground as there are probably brand - new cars held in stock by the dealers ; they may have all the options you want?

You mention coast to coast , when I bought new (cash) I got a better quotes from TRL aka Tony Lewis who is active on many forums and I believe presently works from Berry BMW Heathrow and also the brokers Broadspeed.

I used these quotes to push for an even better price from my local dealer who beat all other dealers I tried.

I had taken a test drive in the local dealers demo, a very nearly new AUC car , my new one was better specced and still cheaper.

[anonymous-user]

If you're going to finance it via the dealer, you'll typically get better rates buying new than used.

[spoonleaf]

Smuler said:

Surely you've got to at least get quotes on brand new (cash or any finance packages) to compare with used deals?

Although there is a middle ground as there are probably brand - new cars held in stock by the dealers ; they may have all the options you want?

You mention coast to coast , when I bought new (cash) I got a better quotes from TRL aka Tony Lewis who is active on many forums and I believe presently works from Berry BMW Heathrow and also the brokers Broadspeed.

I used these quotes to push for an even better price from my local dealer who beat all other dealers I tried.

I had taken a test drive in the local dealers demo, a very nearly new AUC car , my new one was better specced and still cheaper.

Great tips, thank you. I'm talking to my local dealer already, albeit the used salesman. I'll have him quote for the spec new and meanwhile try and track down TRL. A quick spec up on Broadspeed looks good already.

[Smuler]

spoonleaf said:

Smuler said:

Surely you've got to at least get quotes on brand new (cash or any finance packages) to compare with used deals?

Although there is a middle ground as there are probably brand - new cars held in stock by the dealers ; they may have all the options you want?

You mention coast to coast , when I bought new (cash) I got a better quotes from TRL aka Tony Lewis who is active on many forums and I believe presently works from Berry BMW Heathrow and also the brokers Broadspeed.

I used these quotes to push for an even better price from my local dealer who beat all other dealers I tried.

I had taken a test drive in the local dealers demo, a very nearly new AUC car , my new one was better specced and still cheaper.

Great tips, thank you. I'm talking to my local dealer already, albeit the used salesman. I'll have him quote for the spec new and meanwhile try and track down TRL. A quick spec up on Broadspeed looks good already.

[e-mail] was in my email list , that might be current if that helps.

[numtumfutunch]

Leased 2016 LCI 335d F31 "owner" here

I am very happy with my deal but would tinker a little if doing it again

First off Pronav is very pretty but has totally useless functionality
Its crap really, the clever bits like sending stuff from your phone is cool but the routing and traffic data you pay for are worse than awful
I went for it as Im a techie gadget junkie and it also adds residual to the car thus costing less than its sticker price but I wouldnt go there again - ever

On the other hand extended storage really should be standard on the Touring
It costs naff all - 150 quid or so - and you get the clever stuff like boot divider as well as an extra rear seat USB and a hugely desirable (and Im not kidding) secret cubby below your light switch

The rest is faff - although the standard stereo isnt as bad as Id initially thought after 6 months bedding in although I wish I had the BMW upgrade and the HK would be better still

In your position Id go for the following:
M Sport plus - blingy wheels, bigger brakes (with £££ pad/disc replacement cost), gangster glass and the HK
Extended storage - not negotiable
And nothing else although if the original owner paid for it I wouldnt complain :P
Pronav comes with the above caveat- dont pay a premium cos its crap but it does look lovely

Its a buyers market - fill your boots

[Mr Whippy]

I’d quite like to spec a perfect 3er to keep but the depreciation is just stupid.

If the car were better it’d maybe be worth it, but there are niggles that put me off blowing £££ in the first 18 months just to get the perfect spec.

I’d buy used, save £10,000 as a consolation in the spec, but feeling also that it’s reasonable value for money rather than bad value for money.

[spoonleaf]

numtumfutunch said:

First off Pronav is very pretty but has totally useless functionality
Its crap really, the clever bits like sending stuff from your phone is cool but the routing and traffic data you pay for are worse than awful
I went for it as Im a techie gadget junkie and it also adds residual to the car thus costing less than its sticker price but I wouldnt go there again - ever

I've heard mixed things. I want some of the other tech stuff though and at a certain point it's cheaper to go for the pack that includes pronav.

numtumfutunch said:

In your position Id go for the following:
M Sport plus - blingy wheels, bigger brakes (with £££ pad/disc replacement cost), gangster glass and the HK
Extended storage - not negotiable
And nothing else although if the original owner paid for it I wouldnt complain :P
Pronav comes with the above caveat- dont pay a premium cos its crap but it does look lovely

Yeah, got all those specced, plus a few other bits, most notably the sunroof!

[spoonleaf]

Mr Whippy said:

I’d quite like to spec a perfect 3er to keep but the depreciation is just stupid.

If the car were better it’d maybe be worth it, but there are niggles that put me off blowing £££ in the first 18 months just to get the perfect spec.

I’d buy used, save £10,000 as a consolation in the spec, but feeling also that it’s reasonable value for money rather than bad value for money.

My thinking is that since I want to own it for at least 5 years, so the depreciation is just something I'll likely eat for the sake of getting the exact spec I want, including some of the newer features, for such a long period of time. All the 340i cars that have appeared on AUC lately are pretty low spec. Not ruling out used altogether though and keeping my eye out.

What are the niggles that put you off?

[Toltec]

spoonleaf said:

Yeah, got all those specced, plus a few other bits, most notably the sunroof!

Apologies for going off topic, what is it that you get out of a sunroof? Mine has a panoramic one and it hasn't been opened since I bought the car a couple of years ago, I forget it has one tbh.

[NorthDave]

spoonleaf said:

My thinking is that since I want to own it for at least 5 years, so the depreciation is just something I'll likely eat for the sake of getting the exact spec I want, including some of the newer features, for such a long period of time. All the 340i cars that have appeared on AUC lately are pretty low spec. Not ruling out used altogether though and keeping my eye out.

What are the niggles that put you off?

My 340i went back at Christmas as it's lease had finished. I would assume cars with low spec / no extras are ex lease. Not necessarily a problem though.

[Osinjak]

Toltec said:

spoonleaf said:

Yeah, got all those specced, plus a few other bits, most notably the sunroof!

Apologies for going off topic, what is it that you get out of a sunroof? Mine has a panoramic one and it hasn't been opened since I bought the car a couple of years ago, I forget it has one tbh.

Weird question. What do you think you get out of a sunroof, chocolate bunnies? I think SUVs are utterly pointless but I can still work out why people want them. I love my sunroof but I'm not going to tell you why.

[CrgT16]

I got mine with most extras and got over 20% discount from list price brand new. You need to get at least 7k off I got almost 9k off. Only things I didn’t spec was sunroof, electric seats and tow bar I think

It was on a PCP, no shame on that for me, quite comfortable with that.

[Toltec]

Osinjak said:

Weird question. What do you think you get out of a sunroof, chocolate bunnies? I think SUVs are utterly pointless but I can still work out why people want them. I love my sunroof but I'm not going to tell you why.

Weird answer, I've generally only heard that kind of response from someone asked about their religious beliefs.

I was hoping for sane answer that might give me an idea what I'm missing out on.

[butch_]

I wouldn't care too much about adaptive LEDs. They look cool, but to me it feels like it's the initial version of something that's still a work in progress. Not convinced it's harmless to oncoming traffic either.

I would certainly not pay for them again. The sunroof, I would though Get more light into the cabin, can tilt it to hear the exhaust better. Might even get some air.

[Mr Whippy]

spoonleaf said:

My thinking is that since I want to own it for at least 5 years, so the depreciation is just something I'll likely eat for the sake of getting the exact spec I want, including some of the newer features, for such a long period of time. All the 340i cars that have appeared on AUC lately are pretty low spec. Not ruling out used altogether though and keeping my eye out.

What are the niggles that put you off?

Yeah there are too many low spec 335d/340i around. It’s almost crazy to think a top engined car could still come so poorly specced.
It took me a good while to find a car with memory seats alongside the usual must have options.

The niggles for me are mostly the seats need to be electric.
The manuals are utterly inappropriate in a £50,000+ list price car.

And the leather is erring on cheap, and just as with the leccy seats, the optional extra leather is rare.


Having sat in a fair few cars, the most luxurious (to me) interior was the cloth. Cooler in hot weather, warmer in winter, smarter looking.
That said I couldn’t find a dealer with a car with upgraded leather to try.


I plan to keep my 335xd 10 years plus but I still can’t bring myself to spend £15,000 extra £30 > £45, to get cloth, silver paint and a few optional extras I can’t even try because even the demo models are bargain basement.


In fact I think you’re better off buying an older M3.
No cheap spec leather, no stupid manual seats, better residuals offsetting higher running costs.

I’ve considered swapping a few times.

[numtumfutunch]

^^^^^ but it isnt a 50k plus car

Vanilla 335d touring is 34k and the shadow spec car is 35k
Well, if you have an internet connection they are

Anyone paying list or list minus token discount is a grade A mug - which is fine if the rest of us get a good deal

Interestingly the GFV of the 335d at 4 years has taken a 4k nosedive from my initial investigations just under 2y ago
The market suddenly hates diesels...........

Cheers

EDIT: 340i shadow is 35,700 at the moment, also not a 50k car

Edited by numtumfutunch on Tuesday 8th May 23:24

[Pizzaeatingking]

When I started looking around I intended to buy a used/nearly new car. I wanted a decent spec but nothing crazy, very few cars I could find had half of what I wanted and the ones that did were up for not far off list price and when asked there seemed to be very little movement in the price.

In the end I spec'd a new one up and played the game, went round all the brokers and a few dealers before finally going to my chosen local dealer with the best price I had. Asked them to match it, which took them a few days but managed it in the end and I was good to go. Managed to get just over 25% off in the end.

As far as the 340i goes, I agree with a lot of what Mr Whippy says regards to spec levels vs price but those details didnt matter too much to me. There wasnt much else that come close for the complete package, I didn't want the attention or DCT box of the M3 so the 40i was the perfect.

[spoonleaf]

Pizzaeatingking said:

When I started looking around I intended to buy a used/nearly new car. I wanted a decent spec but nothing crazy, very few cars I could find had half of what I wanted and the ones that did were up for not far off list price and when asked there seemed to be very little movement in the price.

In the end I spec'd a new one up and played the game, went round all the brokers and a few dealers before finally going to my chosen local dealer with the best price I had. Asked them to match it, which took them a few days but managed it in the end and I was good to go. Managed to get just over 25% off in the end.

As far as the 340i goes, I agree with a lot of what Mr Whippy says regards to spec levels vs price but those details didnt matter too much to me. There wasnt much else that come close for the complete package, I didn't want the attention or DCT box of the M3 so the 40i was the perfect.

Exactly what I'm thinking too! Lost my glasses so waiting for those before I can test drive (boo). Then it'll be final spec time and getting quotes from everyone I can.

Also re spec vs price, I've come to the 340i having previously looked into RS4 B8s, so lack of a naturally aspirated V8 aside, the tech and modernity of a 2018 340i makes it look like fair value to me.

[Pizzaeatingking]

spoonleaf said:

Exactly what I'm thinking too! Lost my glasses so waiting for those before I can test drive (boo). Then it'll be final spec time and getting quotes from everyone I can.

Also re spec vs price, I've come to the 340i having previously looked into RS4 B8s, so lack of a naturally aspirated V8 aside, the tech and modernity of a 2018 340i makes it look like fair value to me.

I think the list price does them no favours but compared to the actual price being paid for them they're decent value.

Spec wise, I'm impressed with the H&K audio, I was expecting it to be a bit of a branding exercise but it's really good IMO. Pro nav is another must, the standard small screen looks a bit naff with the big black bit either side.

Good luck with the test drive!