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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 27, 2024 13:12:03 GMT
So, the X3 turned 3 years old in June and the dealership have been on the phone to encourage me to pop in and have a look at a new one. The trouble is, really for the first time I can remember, there's nothing out there I really want, and perhaps more to the point, I'm very happy with what I've got. Normally by now I'd have my eye on something, maybe a couple of options, and I'd be quite excited about possibilities, have I fallen out of love with cars? To put it into context I never set out to get an X3 - I didn't really want a SUV - and was quite happy with the 3-Series Touring, but having driven it and agreeing a price I took delivery in June 21. Since then the 2 litre diesel has consistently delivered 47 mpg, it's been faultless over 51k miles (save for the lights in the offside door handles not working from new and fixed at first service). It's cost me £22 a month for the service plan and it had it's first set of new Bridgestones at 44k miles, costing the princely sum of £498 fitted. Still on original pads and discs. It's quick enough when I want it to be, handles surprisingly well, and feels solid, both in the heft of the doors and the uncreaking, rattle-free interior that feels like it'll last forever. Initially, I wasn't struck on the wheel design (19"), preferring the 20" option, but I'd stretched my budget enough so stuck with the standard items. However, this has proved to be a blessing as it rides on the slightly deeper tyre walls like a limo, absorbing bumps and potholes in a way I'm quite unused to on a MSport BMW, a fact much commented on by passengers, and after all these miles the wheels are still completely unmarked. Occasionally, when squeezing through gaps, you can feel the tyre kissing the curb, but it's just the tyre and the wheel is fine. It seemed daft to have two SUVs (Mrs S. having a Qashqai - new one on order) but that has worked well as we don't need to think about which one to take when picking up dogs or heading off to play golf etc so I'll probably stick with another one if I change. The car's now out of warranty (being an eternal optimist I declined the £550 for an extra year's warranty) but immaculate with no dings and only a couple of small stone chips on the plastic bumpers - the paint seems particularly hard wearing. I can buy it in 10 months for £16.5k, with my new job I'm not doing anywhere near the same miles I was doing - having typed all this I think I've talked myself into keeping it, but I have looked at options: New BMW X3 - not convinced by the looks at all, and it looks expensive. Audi Q5 - a bit boring but looks better in the Black Edition. Some decent deals out there, but doesn't excite me. Mercedes GLC - Newcastle Mercedes have some good offers but the interior looks a bit cheap and plasticky. Maybe the most promising option though. Land Rover Velar/Discovery Sport - not sure I'm brave enough. Alfa Romeo - see above I've even gone a bit wider, looking at Nissan X-Trails (quite nice, actually), Hyundai Tucson, New Kia Sportage, Renault (gave myself a slap), but the prices of these family/mid-market vehicles quite quickly look ridiculous. I quite like the Cupra Formentor I suppose. I'd quite like some forum input - even if I know it will be "why are you pissing about with a SUV, get something interesting to drive"..    |
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Post by Boxer6 on Aug 27, 2024 19:18:06 GMT
I looked at a couple of X3's when I was on my 5-Touring hunt last year. The decently specced ones were a bit too rich for me, but as I get older and less agile, the seat height (from the ground, I mean) appeals more and more!
That is a good looking car IMO, and if there's really nothing out there that floats your boat, why change just for the sake of it?
And, erm, new job? When did that happen - or did I miss it?
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Post by Big Blue on Aug 27, 2024 21:22:02 GMT
Same here Bob.
Eva is 3 in a couple of weeks time. I too have had Berry BMW and Vines BMW on the phone to look at the new 5er. I looked at one in Czech and noted elsewhere that whilst I wouldn’t kick it out of bed I’ll hang fire even when 48 months is up. Unless I get a close look at that new S5 Avant…..
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Post by ChrisM on Aug 27, 2024 21:27:57 GMT
I'm not looking at changing cars at the moment but have a similar issue in that I can't see anything on the marketplace that makes me think "I'd quite like one of those".
Whether it is bad design or what, I don't know but I don't see any really good-looking, practical new cars on sale
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Post by Martin on Aug 28, 2024 7:45:15 GMT
I really should suggest you stop looking at SUVs and buy a new M340i Touring but based on what you’ve said, I think you should hold onto it until there’s something you really want.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 28, 2024 7:54:58 GMT
I looked at a couple of X3's when I was on my 5-Touring hunt last year. The decently specced ones were a bit too rich for me, but as I get older and less agile, the seat height (from the ground, I mean) appeals more and more! That is a good looking car IMO, and if there's really nothing out there that floats your boat, why change just for the sake of it? And, erm, new job? When did that happen - or did I miss it? I think the process of typing the post kind of clarified my thinking. I'm going to hold onto it until something comes along I really want (the M340i Touring is near the top of my want list, I guess). The new job? Well, having decided the Oil & Gas industry is going through death by a thousand windfall taxes (borne out by the 42 year old company I used to work for going into administration 18 months after I left), I cycled through 2 years working for a contract electronics manufacturer specializing in internet enabled devices, and then in April this year moved into a company specialising in robotics and automation. The best thing is it's only 20 mins or 12 miles away in the North East and I'm not an hour down the road to Teesside (huzzah!). As a side note we also modify the 5.0 litre V8 engines for Jaguar Land Rover for use in their Defender Heritage and Trophy models. |
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Post by Martin on Aug 28, 2024 7:59:49 GMT
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Post by PetrolEd on Aug 28, 2024 8:14:32 GMT
Lovely looking thing but I no idea these were 70K plus. Even with the discount thats punching. Sounds like you should stay where you are Bob and the money allocated to the new car should go towards a used Boxster or Z4. |
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Post by PG on Aug 28, 2024 8:16:05 GMT
Todays's tale: Man opens link. Thinks, oh that looks pretty good. Looks at price. WTF! When did a 3 series estate become £75k new, or that £66k with only 10 miles on the clock may be viewed as a bargain. Walks away shaking head, realising that he may well be becoming a dinosaur in the automotive world...... |
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Post by PG on Aug 28, 2024 8:24:28 GMT
Re the OP, rather than a Velar have a look at the Jag F-Pace. Same underpinnings, lower prices, probably a better "image". And I expect some good offers to be had to shift them. Get a Jaaaag while you still can!
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 28, 2024 8:28:14 GMT
Re the OP, rather than a Velar have a look at the Jag F-Pace. Same underpinnings, lower prices, probably a better "image". And I expect some good offers to be had to shift them. Get a Jaaaag while you still can! Damn, yes, that was my second choice before the Merc. I forgot to list it. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 28, 2024 8:43:25 GMT
Not so sure on blue, but the interior is lovely. I just can't get my head around paying £66k for a 3 Series. My 19 reg 2.0d MSport Shadowline was £25k at 9 months old with 9k on the clock (TBF a bargain in 2019). The X3 cost £44k in 2021. Prices really have gone mad. For that sort of money I really would be tempted to move, get a bigger garage, go cheaper on the SUV, and buy some sort of toy/convertible/ Boxter - even a nice MX5. In fact, if I was going to spend £66k I'd go and find a Macan. I do like my sister's. |
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Post by chipbutty on Aug 28, 2024 18:34:34 GMT
My brother has just ordered an F-Pace D200 HSE R Dynamic (albeit with my privilege discount) and there are deals to be had. If you work for a company supplying JLR, you may get an additional partner discount.
There are still XF estates available and the P300 HSE is rather nice. They were stonking value before any additional discounts.
It’s worth getting some quotes just to rebase your expectations, that’s why my brother went for an F-Pace as he wants out of his M4 and the deals he was quoted on a 320i were “ mental “ (quote)
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Post by bryan on Aug 28, 2024 18:59:49 GMT
I looked at a couple of X3's when I was on my 5-Touring hunt last year. The decently specced ones were a bit too rich for me, but as I get older and less agile, the seat height (from the ground, I mean) appeals more and more! That is a good looking car IMO, and if there's really nothing out there that floats your boat, why change just for the sake of it? And, erm, new job? When did that happen - or did I miss it? I think the process of typing the post kind of clarified my thinking. I'm going to hold onto it until something comes along I really want (the M340i Touring is near the top of my want list, I guess). The new job? Well, having decided the Oil & Gas industry is going through death by a thousand windfall taxes (borne out by the 42 year old company I used to work for going into administration 18 months after I left), I cycled through 2 years working for a contract electronics manufacturer specializing in internet enabled devices, and then in April this year moved into a company specialising in robotics and automation. The best thing is it's only 20 mins or 12 miles away in the North East and I'm not an hour down the road to Teesside (huzzah!). As a side note we also modify the 5.0 litre V8 engines for Jaguar Land Rover for use in their Defender Heritage and Trophy models. Engine swap a 5.0 V8 into the X3? I think I'd stick with what you have until something that really floats your boat comes along |
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Post by Tim on Aug 29, 2024 8:38:45 GMT
When I was speaking to mu friendly BMW salesman after test driving an M340 diesel I got him to spec up a Tanzanite 340i and nearly put my name down. The price, including discount, would've been £66k I was told that I could cancel the order at any point prior to delivery and that if I did they'd have no trouble selling it, maybe that's why the price is so high? When I looked at used ones there was a weird crossover time between the original 340i of this shape and the 340i MHT (hybrid) where the latter cars were a bit cheaper - despite being older - than the former when checking cars immediately before and after the changeover. |
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 29, 2024 12:55:25 GMT
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Post by Martin on Aug 29, 2024 13:10:51 GMT
That is nice, but £58k for a nearly 3 year old diesel 3 series with part vinyl seats is punchy to say the least, especially when you can get a 12 month old B3 for £75k. You’d have to ignore the colour on that one though….
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Post by Tim on Aug 30, 2024 7:48:07 GMT
How does that Alpina compare with a standard 3 whatever diesel it's based on?
I note there are no power figures in the ad.
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Post by Martin on Aug 30, 2024 7:59:53 GMT
They don’t have the power increase you used to get from Alpina, 15-20hp more than a 340d iirc
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Post by Tim on Aug 30, 2024 9:46:51 GMT
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Post by Martin on Aug 30, 2024 10:00:43 GMT
Just a shame about the wheels and the stuck on trim…. |
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Post by Tim on Aug 30, 2024 11:04:52 GMT
Others are available, that was the 1st one on the search and in a similar colour |
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 30, 2024 12:01:58 GMT
Out of curiosity, what would budget be?
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Post by alf on Aug 31, 2024 13:30:14 GMT
I think this thread highlights how little cars have gained, except in price, for many years now. What’s the issue with going for a better car like the 340 - but older and cheaper? The BMW warranty is great, get one that can be covered. There seems so little genuine benefit for the massive extra £ nowadays. You’re just funding the OEMs EV development… cars are just getting heavier, more complex, with less feel and more intrusive daft features we don’t need.
Just my tuppence happeny from France 🤣
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Post by Tim on Sept 2, 2024 7:54:00 GMT
I think this thread highlights how little cars have gained, except in price, for many years now. What’s the issue with going for a better car like the 340 - but older and cheaper? The BMW warranty is great, get one that can be covered. There seems so little genuine benefit for the massive extra £ nowadays. You’re just funding the OEMs EV development… cars are just getting heavier, more complex, with less feel and more intrusive daft features we don’t need.
Just my tuppence happeny from France 🤣 It still really annoys me that on the current 3 series you don't appear to be able to configure the display into the classic BMW one - with 2 clear, legible and distinct dials for speed and revs plus little ones for the usual other stuff. The only choices I could find on the 340d I tested was to gradually move the 2 hexagon ones closer together (and at the same time they each became more vertical). Conversely a mate has got an Alfa Tonale and he says you can select a display that has just the basics although I'm not clear if it shows in a classic Alfa style or just 2 generic dials, but even the latter would be better than the modern BMW shit. |
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Post by Roadrunner on Sept 2, 2024 8:15:21 GMT
I think this thread highlights how little cars have gained, except in price, for many years now. What’s the issue with going for a better car like the 340 - but older and cheaper? The BMW warranty is great, get one that can be covered. There seems so little genuine benefit for the massive extra £ nowadays. You’re just funding the OEMs EV development… cars are just getting heavier, more complex, with less feel and more intrusive daft features we don’t need.
Just my tuppence happeny from France 🤣 It still really annoys me that on the current 3 series you don't appear to be able to configure the display into the classic BMW one - with 2 clear, legible and distinct dials for speed and revs plus little ones for the usual other stuff. The only choices I could find on the 340d I tested was to gradually move the 2 hexagon ones closer together (and at the same time they each became more vertical). Conversely a mate has got an Alfa Tonale and he says you can select a display that has just the basics although I'm not clear if it shows in a classic Alfa style or just 2 generic dials, but even the latter would be better than the modern BMW shit. The Tonale I hired in Italy last year could be configured to show a nice pair of classic 70s style Alfa dials. |
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Post by Martin on Sept 2, 2024 8:48:54 GMT
That would be a huge improvement Tim and surely not that difficult. There were a number of different views available in the Range Rover, but I always has it set with the twin dials. No options in the Panamera, but I love the analogue central rev counter, better than any digital display. So disappointing that Porsche are phasing that out.
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Post by bryan on Sept 2, 2024 8:51:37 GMT
I am seriously considering removing the digital dash and putting an analogue one in.
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Post by Tim on Sept 2, 2024 10:11:57 GMT
That would be a huge improvement Tim and surely not that difficult. There were a number of different views available in the Range Rover, but I always has it set with the twin dials. No options in the Panamera, but I love the analogue central rev counter, better than any digital display. So disappointing that Porsche are phasing that out. I presume not as surely the whole point of these digital displays is that they can be endlessly configurable? Bryan, are you referring to the 'digital cockpit' that I assume your new purchase has? If you leave the car in Comfort mode you get the BMW classic display and if you then want the car to be more responsive flick the gearlever to the left which engages it (or at least the gearbox) in Sport mode but without getting the nasty red display that you get when selecting Sport from the centre console button. |
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Post by bryan on Sept 2, 2024 11:48:58 GMT
That would be a huge improvement Tim and surely not that difficult. There were a number of different views available in the Range Rover, but I always has it set with the twin dials. No options in the Panamera, but I love the analogue central rev counter, better than any digital display. So disappointing that Porsche are phasing that out. I presume not as surely the whole point of these digital displays is that they can be endlessly configurable? Bryan, are you referring to the 'digital cockpit' that I assume your new purchase has? If you leave the car in Comfort mode you get the BMW classic display and if you then want the car to be more responsive flick the gearlever to the left which engages it (or at least the gearbox) in Sport mode but without getting the nasty red display that you get when selecting Sport from the centre console button. That's the one 6WB I believe, the middle does nothing with the HUD on, the fuel and temp gauges are naff. I'll try the gearbox thing for sport, wonder if it will enable the exhaust?👍. Apart from being a digital version of analogue dials there is little customisation - certainly not worth the£800 for retrofitting 😳 Analogue cluster fitted is about £250 Is there a way of getting the trip computer to reset automatically each journey rather than continuous? VAG has trip 1/2 for that purpose but can't see it on the BMW |
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