BMW hype...how do they get such good press?

samsemtex

My brother has been test driving cars lately and ive been with him and given them a a spin too. We've tested an 05 C220 CDI, an 06 320d, a fairly new 159 1.9 jtd, a new insignia 2.0d and an IS220d. We were both in a agreement that the 3 series was by far the worst value for money. People go on about its great handling but we both though the 159 was at least its equal in handling. Its interior was the dullest and most plain of all of them although the IS220 was as bad.

The 320 had appalling ride compared to the C-class and the 159. It just crashed really hard into the bumps as well. It had a nice engine but absolutely nothing else to justify its huge premium over the others. The insignia was a really nice car and the finish was far superior for a much lower price. The C-class was just a much more comfortable car and an all round nicer place to be.

Out of all of them the 159 was the most impressive. Best handling, really nice interior, brilliant engine and excellent ride quality. The BMW is about €10K more expensive new for a model with similar spec.

I just dont understand how they get such good reviews when they are barely as good as an Opel Insignia and not even close to as nice inside. Does all that advertising they do pay off in terms of favourable reviews?

CharlieCroker

One of the killers for the BMW is its run-flat tyres. This absolutely kills the ride comfort, and they're expensive to replace. I love BMW's but they're too expensive for what they are.

My choices would be:
1: Alfa 159 JTDm Sportivo or Ti spec if he can get it (leather, sport kit, etc).
2. Insignia is a massive improvement on anything previously from Opel
3. Lexus is nice, not mad about the interior, has to have leather.

Wishbone Ash

After 20 odd years of motoring, I bought my first BMW last week (a '06 520d SE). My only regret now is that I didn't buy one years ago!

It's on 17" run flats and the ride quality is superb - way ahead of the E class Merc that I had previously.

The only fault that I can find so far is that the indicators cancel way too easily.

netwhizkid

Not only are BMW a great car they are also a fashion accessory and look absolutely great. My first car was a BMW 3 series and I am still driving it today and love it to pieces. They are more than a car, they are an object of worship!

unkel

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The only fault that I can find so far is that the indicators cancel way too easily.

Many cars do that - one of my pet hates

It makes me feel I was responsible myself for the cancel and I am obsessed by indicating again as soon as possible

netwhizkid

In my E36 also the intermittent wipers are too slow I think for the sort of rain we receive in Ireland and there is often situations where Intermittent is too slow but continuous is too fast bloody annoying.

unkel

netwhizkid wrote: »

In my E36 also the intermittent wipers are too slow I think for the sort of rain we receive in Ireland and there is often situations where Intermittent is too slow but continuous is too fast bloody annoying.

Are you sure you do not have variable intermittent wipers? My 23 year old car has (not a BMW) and my 13 year old BMW has too. In the latter it can also be fully automatic, courtesy of the rain sensor in the front windscreen. Maybe your BMW is just too low end :pac:

netwhizkid

unkel wrote: »

Maybe your BMW is just too low end :pac:

Yeah the seats are held with baler twine shur;)

The only other thing they do is when on continuous they revert to intermittent when travelling fairly slow at like under 5 or 10MPH. I really don't know what they are tbh, but generally when it rains it rains proper so it is no biggy.

L-M

CharlieCroker wrote: »

My choices would be:
1: Alfa 159 JTDm Sportivo or Ti spec if he can get it (leather, sport kit, etc).
2. Insignia is a massive improvement on anything previously from Opel
3. Lexus is nice, not mad about the interior, has to have leather.

+1

Massive improvment. If i had to fault it, I'd say the engine is a tad loud. But as far as value for money goes, and the spec, you can't go too far wrong. And the fact they actually make an attempt to hide the hub caps and make them look like alloys :P

Johnny Utah

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The only fault that I can find so far is that the indicators cancel way too easily.

If it's anything like the E90, then there's a trick to it: press the indicator down/up until it clicks. It took me a while to get used to it too, and Jeremy Clarkson also mentioned it on TopGear when he was reviewing the car.

Wishbone Ash

Johnny Utah wrote: »

If it's anything like the E90, then there's a trick to it: press the indicator down/up until it clicks

It's a 2 stage indicator - a light movement will allow the light to flash 3 times and it will cancel automatically. If I push it until it clicks, it will still cancel if I have to go slightly to the left to turn right.

An example would be taking the 3 exit on a roundabout - I indicate right on approach until it clicks. When I enter the roundabout I have to go slightly to the left and it knocks off. Because it's difficult to hear it, I wasn't aware of this for the first few times and realised that I had joined the masses who don't appear to bother indicating.

pburns

samsemtex wrote: »

My brother has been test driving cars lately and ive been with him and given them a a spin too. We've tested an 05 C220 CDI, an 06 320d, a fairly new 159 1.9 jtd, a new insignia 2.0d and an IS220d. We were both in a agreement that the 3 series was by far the worst value for money. People go on about its great handling but we both though the 159 was at least its equal in handling. Its interior was the dullest and most plain of all of them although the IS220 was as bad.

The 320 had appalling ride compared to the C-class and the 159. It just crashed really hard into the bumps as well. It had a nice engine but absolutely nothing else to justify its huge premium over the others. The insignia was a really nice car and the finish was far superior for a much lower price. The C-class was just a much more comfortable car and an all round nicer place to be.

Out of all of them the 159 was the most impressive. Best handling, really nice interior, brilliant engine and excellent ride quality. The BMW is about €10K more expensive new for a model with similar spec.

I just dont understand how they get such good reviews when they are barely as good as an Opel Insignia and not even close to as nice inside. Does all that advertising they do pay off in terms of favourable reviews?

I can understand the insignia impressing - handsome, bang-up-to-date and GM are pulling out all the stops at the moment to haul back buyers resulting in great product.

TBH though saying the Alfa was the best overall loses you credibility in my eyes. I REALLY wanted to love the 159 when I was buying but was very disappointed. I found it sluggish and cumbersome, not what an Alfa should be at all. As for the interior, the BMW is...mimimalist, sure and I prefered the old style where the cockpit was angled towards the driver ('ultimate driving machine' after all) but materials are very high quality and it is distinctive and brave.

RWD counts for a lot - no FWD car can compare for driver satisfaction IMO. It's a subtle thing and lost on some people I reckon.

However I do wish BMW would ditch run-flats - the negatives out-weight the positives and it would stop me buying one.

Cmar-Ireland

netwhizkid wrote: »

In my E36 also the intermittent wipers are too slow I think for the sort of rain we receive in Ireland and there is often situations where Intermittent is too slow but continuous is too fast bloody annoying.

You can set the interval time yourself. I can't remember how to do it, but if you google it I'm sure you will find how to set it.

Voodoomelon

I sat in an E46 a few years back and couldn't believe how pants it was. I admit I didn't drive it (theyre supposed to be a great drive), but based on the space, materials used, quality of finish etc, first thing i though was "you'd want to be mad to buy one of these new".

There's lots of better value options available.

Anan1

samsemtex wrote: »

Out of all of them the 159 was the most impressive. Best handling, really nice interior, brilliant engine and excellent ride quality. The BMW is about €10K more expensive new for a model with similar spec.

I did the same round of test-drives a couple of years ago when looking for a replacement for my mother's 156. She loved that car, and I really, really wanted to like the 159, but I just couldn't - it felt to me like a bloated, uglified 156. The BMW was a lot more expensive in base form, and it needed a lot more again spent on what I would term essential extras, but I felt it was hands-down the better car. Re the ride - did the one you drove have an M-Pack? It's a factory-fit chav pack, the combination of RFTs and bigger rims ruin the ride, too. Now that I think of it, Alfa used to have something similar available on the 156 - remember the ones with the big spoilers and the flip paint that used to be parked outside successful chippers?

bazz26

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

After 20 odd years of motoring, I bought my first BMW last week (a '06 520d SE). My only regret now is that I didn't buy one years ago!

It's on 17" run flats and the ride quality is superb - way ahead of the E class Merc that I had previously.

The only fault that I can find so far is that the indicators cancel way too easily.

Ah sure you won't need them soon enough.