Cars making noises, and crap dealers

That’s epic . Does anyone else prefer that 3/4 series interior to the new one ?

Saw that whilst browsing earlier and definitely one of the more interesting and nicer specced ones with a non black interior. There is another with extended leather but it’s VERY red on the outside and white on the inside. Perhaps a little too much individualism!

It’s Dakota leather though and looks a bit worn from the pictures.   Frozen silver would worry me from a repair perspective too.

That is the new one isn't it?
Unless they've changed it again recently and made it even worse.

They have gone single widescreen display, no separate climate control etc.

When is someone going to legislate to make it a requirement to have buttons for basic climate controls, heated rear screen, heated seats and radio stations etc. These things are needed as you drive along and the driver should not be forced to take their eyes off the road to do it.

The massive add-on screen in the new ones is grim, I hated it when watching Harry Metcalfe's M2 review....

That silver GC is nice, but didn't Piers learn all about ex press cars?? Even something that's just been figured a few times has had a lot of stress compared to most, something that's been lead-footed by the whole magazine staff on a long term test would be a concern....

Edited to add: this is a nice 3 series, from the same people I bought the Boxster from, think they would give me a discount?


www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307280158050

From bad to worse!
I can't get on with the stupid hexagonal speedo and rev counter and that's no improvement

That's a very similar dash to my car although I have the addition of a small digital speed display in the speedo and a couple of other sport/gearchange speed indicators. It gives me everything I need and I have buttons for my radio presets and all the climate, seat heating and cooling functions. I also have the seat memory and massage functions on the door card.

I think Jeff started a thread about the best decade for the motor car. This thread shows that the best time for dashboard controls was probably 4 or 5 years ago when you had plenty of tech behind a screen but also had your everyday controls in physical form on the face of the dashboard.

Nothing inner tart about it! The merino leather with leather dash was the one thing I regret not adding on my 440i. I didn’t because it would have delayed delivery by four months apparently, which would have risked tipping the car into the new 2017-on tax regime.

Brilliant!  

Porsche don't do plastics all that well imo, full leather would be just behind water and shelter for me!  It's not just the leather on the dash, unless you get Adaptive or Sports Seats Plus which include an upgrade to smooth leather, you get leather that doesn't look a whole lot better than BMWs Dakota.  

Whereas I would actively avoid quilted leather which I find rather tarty.

I just found the interior of my 440i felt very plasticky compared to another 4-series I went in that had the full leather - it did make a really big difference. Plus BMW’s Dakota leather is definitely chauffeur-grade at best. The stuff in my Macan is far nicer.

Having had a bit more musing time, the XE V6S (mainly the later 375bhp ones) and the 440iGC are both very much of interest - the XJ just worries me a bit with its size and limo looks (though another nice trip through Europe could win me around as its so perfect for that).

The XE was widely reported as sounding great even in its 335 bhp form, I have driven the 375 and really, really liked it. Its all the things I like in having a decent ride/handling balance, feelsome brakes and steering, and they all come with heated memory seats and the upgrade stereo, and usually heated screens and steering wheel too, all FG I find useful! XE's were never the most reliable, though it was usually electrical niggles you would hope they have sorted by now. The touchscreens in the ones I have driven are slower and harder to use than my older one, but I wont need the nav and the insanely powerful Meridian stereo sounds great. Looks wise they are very plain without the "propellor" wheels, and the panoramic sunroof lifts the interior (though I'd probably never open it......). With the right spec as standard it's an easy choice, except that few sold so finding a low mileage one that doesn't look too dull. They are decent value at low 20's for a 17 plate. They are a nice "sleeper", I doubt even many car nuts would realise its a 380PS car with a similar power/weight to an E39 M5...

The 440iGC can look a bit weird in some colours - I ought to like turquoise with he cream leather for example, in isolation I like both those things, the lighter colours emphasise the slightly clunky looking back end and small exhausts, and light leather the flat looking seats. I'd far rather a pre-GPF car, which seems to be 18 plate and older, it seems you can tell as they have a lower (158) g/km emissions. There are plenty about with HK speakers, very few with the performance exhaust/power upgrade which would not be essential but would make a big difference to me. There are enough about that maybe in time some better seats and performance bits might come up. Appropaching 6 years old, on a post 2017 car, its a nice long term tax position and many have very low mileage so could be kept for some time.... It's also easy to play the winter/summer wheels thing with BMW as you can always find so many wheels SH... The hatch would be really useful as trying to thread a bike into a saloon via the back doors or boot opening is always fraught with the risk of something scratching the bodywork...

Neither is as special as what I have now, but with the Boxster in reserve I don't mind that. Both are much lower tax and would have better MPG, while offering arguably just enough performance - I suspect the 380ps XE is basically just right with RWD, its very rare in the XFR to use full throttle or full revs, let alone both, unless really hammering it on big roads in warm dry weather. The contrast with having to wring the boxster out (which only really gets going beyond 5k revs) when driving quickly is a bit odd at present.

I’ve looked at very similar cars of late and maybe it’s simply because it’s not a BMW / Audi or even Jag but I genuinely find the Kia Stinger as appealing if not more.

It may not be quite as economical (and no doubt anywhere near as tuneable) as the BMW engine which is by all accounts a gem but they are still a powerful RWD practical saloon (much more so than the XE) with nice leather, lots of kit and they come extremely well reviewed by most often calling out the fun aspect as they may not be as polished as the German offerings - which given your liking of a fun RWD feel might be a good thing!

Of course, the badge isn’t great (but I’m far beyond caring what the neighbours think) and there are some cheaper plastics in some (but no worse than a non extended leather Beemer) but counter with soft leather etc.

The only other downside might be price as they have held value better than the alternatives (the BMW previously linked to with brown leather was specced to £57k when new!) but you can pick up a car with 3yrs warranty left for around 26k and hopefully largely trouble free fun!

I actually have a couple saved in my autocar garage - which might look odd next to Range Rovers, Mini Clubman JCWs, Maseratis etc)!