New 330 Coupe. How much discount can I get?

[Pat H]

I have been volunteered to sort out the purchase of a car for my old Mum.

She wants a new 330 Coupe.

Any idea what discount I should realistically be able to achieve dealing directly with a BMW main dealer?

It will be a cash purchase.

Also, I am a bit worried that the 330 petrol engine seems to have been deleted from the saloon and touring range. Is there any particular reason not to buy a 330 petrol engined coupe?

She has only covered 17,000 miles in the last six years in her E46, so fuel consumption is not really an issue.

For roughly the same money she could have the 330 Diesel. Should she consider the diesel instead?

Thanks.

[4nonymous]

The hell with the diesel with that mileage.

Can't help with anything else though.

[NoelWatson]

Pat H said:

Is there any particular reason not to buy a 330 petrol engined coupe?

Ours breaks down every six months, but your mileage may vary

[Elysium]

You should be able to get 12-15% discount, including BMW incentives (free servicing / extra options etc). If the dealer won't play ball try the brokers.

Drive the 330d back to back with the 330i. There is no need for a diesel with such low mileage, so it's down to preference.

Both are quick cars and for most drivers the 330d will feel quickest because of the ridiculous torque the engine generates. I don't like them myself though as the power is not particularly linear and the driving experience is a bit one dimensional.

The petrol car is more involving for an enthusiastic driver.

Petrol best suited to a manual gearbox and diesel is better with an auto.

[Pat H]

NoelWatson said:

Pat H said:

Is there any particular reason not to buy a 330 petrol engined coupe?

Ours breaks down every six months, but your mileage may vary.

I run an eight year old Alfa and a twenty three year old Lotus. I dream of such trouble free motoring....

Elysium said:

Drive the 330d back to back with the 330i. There is no need for a diesel with such low mileage, so it's down to preference.

Both are quick cars and for most drivers the 330d will feel quickest because of the ridiculous torque the engine generates. I don't like them myself though as the power is not particularly linear and the driving experience is a bit one dimensional.

The petrol car is more involving for an enthusiastic driver.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but the idea of a diesel engined coupe still grates a little.

Whichever way she decides, it will have an auto box.

Her current car is an E46 318 Coupe Auto, which she finds too slow and not particularly economical. Prior to that she had an E36 328 Coupe, which was just superb.

I am sure that a new 325 Coupe would be plenty quick enough, after all, she is 73 years old. But I already use her car quite frequently and will increasingly use it more than she does, so have a fair amount of input into the choice of engine.

I am ashamed to admit that I am tempted to chip in the difference and get a 335 Coupe, but I suspect that it might be all a bit too much for a 73 year old grandmother.

[agxster]

Your mum is 73 and is buying a 3-series coupe, .

Just happened to be looking at new 3 coupes on the BMW site this morning, 325i gets 28 MPG urban. Not bad at all, I wouldn't even think about getting the diesel.

[Planman]

Just ordered a 325d msport through Lombard (pcp arrangement), and managed circa 15% discount. The main dealer could not get near that.

I had the petrol v diesel dilemna, but figured that the lack of torque on the 325i would mean that you would struggle to get near the quoted mpg.