BMW 3-series M-Sport coupe: what do you get?

PaddyofNine

I'm (still!) looking at buying a 3-series coupe, and I'm a little unclear as to the various specs.

I'm looking at buying either a SE with leather or an M-sport model, 2008 or so. Anyways I'm just wondering what exactly the M-sport model gives you - leather steering wheel, bodykit, leather interiors, shortened gearstick, M-sport mats and sills and 18" or 19" alloys I know about.

Is there anything else that I don't know about? Do they all come with bluetooth as standard, or is that an optional extra? How about a 6-speed gearbox, or is that just some of them? And what about LED or xenon lights?Sorry, I can't find this info on any websites I've searched for, and the BMW website just gives the specs for the current model. Thanks in advance!

PaddyofNine

Ah christ, as soon as I hit post I saw this thread on the bottom of the page! Sorry!

Gumbo

PaddyofNine wrote: »

Ah christ, as soon as I hit post I saw this thread on the bottom of the page! Sorry!

that thread has no relevance to your search, that is how to spot an M3/M5 etc

what your looking for is the M-Sport trim level which is a different kettle of fish.

on the coupe -

xenons standard
bluetooth option
leather option
18" wheels standard
15mm lower than SE/ES trim with a different suspension set up IIRC
MFSW standard
dual climate control standard
heated seats option
alcantarra semi bucket seats standard
M-Sport branded steering wheel, gear knob, door cills.

thats all i can think of at the minute.

Mr Benevolent

Please don't get a 318Ci or 320d Ci (or at least have the decency to get the 320d Ci remapped).

Gumbo

Confab wrote: »

Please don't get a 318Ci or 320d Ci (or at least have the decency to get the 320d Ci remapped).

he is looking at 2008 models so no 318Ci is available
320d is available and with 177bhp and all the torque you could ever need, makes it a cracking motor, after a remap they are even better!

PaddyofNine

Does getting BMWs remapped void the warranty? Just curious...

mickdw

3 series without the centre screen has a terrible interrior imo

Gumbo

PaddyofNine wrote: »

Does getting BMWs remapped void the warranty? Just curious...

Technically yes, but whether the garage can detect it or try to detect it is another issue.

mickdw wrote: »

3 series without the centre screen has a terrible interrior imo

yes the iDrive is a great piece of kit but can be ex[ensive on the 3 series as it involves speccing Sat Nav Pro and bluetooth but i think its discounted under the communications pack.

bazz26

Best of luck trying to find a 3 Series with the factory fitted sat nav screen + I-Drive in Ireland. A very expensive option and rare as hen's teeth here. I'm finding it hard enough to find a 320d here with the optional auto lights/wipers pack.

T-Square

What I'd call poverty-spec BMWs, or a "BMW by any means".

Why don't you look at www.pistonheads.co.uk for a great selection of BMWs.

Gumbo

T-Square wrote: »

What I'd call poverty-spec BMWs, or a "BMW by any means".

Why don't you look at www.pistonheads.co.uk for a great selection of BMWs.

how is the top teim level, "M-Sport" a poverty spec?
the ES model is the base model.

OP, if i was in the market for a 3 series at present, this would be my choice - http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1501801

T-Square

kceire wrote: »

how is the top teim level, "M-Sport" a poverty spec?

The poster above me was referring to BMWs that don't have the gadgets, don't you understand?

The car you linked to is lovely, shame its insanely over-priced,
for a five year old with 130,000km he'll need to lower the price.

brownej

The specs on the second hand 3 series in ireland are terrible.
I'm currently on the market for a 2006/2007.
Once I've dismissed the 316 and anything with an ES trim, the choices are severly restricted.
Is a leather interior too much to ask in a "luxury" car.
I've given up restricing my search on any other options. I hadn't realised that iDrive was even an option on the 3series. I've never seen one. Come to think of it I havn't seen any models with factory installed GPS;).
Metallic paint isn't as widespread as you'd assume either.

brownej

brownej wrote: »

Metallic paint isn't as widespread as you'd assume either.

I bet it is, your interpretation of what metallic paint is may not be correct though.

brownej

RoverJames wrote: »

I bet it is, your interpretation of what metallic paint is may not be correct though.

My interpretation is the following.
Using BMW colour names
Jet Black - Non metallic
Black Sapphire - Metallic

Is that the correct assumption or are all the BMW paints metallic?

Gumbo

T-Square wrote: »

The poster above me was referring to BMWs that don't have the gadgets, don't you understand?

The car you linked to is lovely, shame its insanely over-priced,
for a five year old with 130,000km he'll need to lower the price.

i understand quite well my friend, the gadgets can be added to any trim level, i mean when i was looking for my current E90 i drove an ES trim level with sat nav and the iDrive system, but i just didnt want an ES model, i wanted the M-Sport.

in regards to the 330d being over priced, its not that much over priced tbh, 2005 320d's are selling for 13-14k currently, this is a 330d with a far superior spec than most 3 series on the market at the moment, i think its not very very far off price wise. (im not saying i would pay asking, but its not too high imo)

brownej wrote: »

The specs on the second hand 3 series in ireland are terrible.
I'm currently on the market for a 2006/2007.
Once I've dismissed the 316 and anything with an ES trim, the choices are severly restricted.
Is a leather interior too much to ask in a "luxury" car.
I've given up restricing my search on any other options. I hadn't realised that iDrive was even an option on the 3series. I've never seen one. Come to think of it I havn't seen any models with factory installed GPS;).
Metallic paint isn't as widespread as you'd assume either.

youve got to understand too, that some people dont like leather at all!
i likle it, but it wouldnt turn me off a car if it ticked all the other boxes.

when we bought our E90, my otherhalf specifically said she doesnt want leather full stop, when in the dealers etc she actually walked by cars with leather and went straight to the ones with the standard M-Sport Alcantarra interior.

its all personal choice at the end of the day i suppose, different strokes and all that.

brownej

brownej wrote: »

Jet Black - Non metallic
Black Sapphire - Metallic

Is that the correct assumption or are all the BMW paints metallic?

By non metallic do you mean there are no little glistening metal bits in the finish or do you mean it is not a lacquered basecoat ?

Loads of metallics about which have no metallic little bits in the finish.

R.O.R

RoverJames wrote: »

By non metallic do you mean there are no little glistening metal bits in the finish or do you mean it is not a lacquered basecoat ?

Loads of metallics about which have no metallic little bits in the finish.

Jet Black is BMW's non-metallic. It's a high gloss lacquer over the basecoat, but it's not metallic.

Red, White or Black are the non-metallic's in the 3 Series. If it's black and it's kept clean then I don't see the point in spending an extra €1,000 to get black metallic.

If it's allowed to get filthy then it's going to be grey ish anyway, regardless of being metallic or non-metallic.

When I mixed and sold car paint if it was a lacquered basecoat it was metallic be it non metallic, pearlescent or actual metallic finish. Solid colours were not lacquered. Akzo Nobel was the paint system I was familiar with.

T-Square

brownej wrote: »

My interpretation is the following.
Using BMW colour names
Jet Black - Non metallic
Black Sapphire - Metallic

Is that the correct assumption or are all the BMW paints metallic?

And if you want anything other than black, silver, or white,
you'll be looking a long time, its a insanely overpriced option.

Every other maker of cars offers a variety of colours (except maybe Merc?)

R.O.R

T-Square wrote: »

Every other maker of cars offers a variety of colours (except maybe Merc?)

In non-metallic? Red, Blue or White are the general ones. It's only VW, Audi, Merc, BMW and Volvo off the top of my head that offer non-metallic black.

T-Square

kceire wrote: »

i understand quite well my friend, the gadgets can be added to any trim level, i mean when i was looking for my current E90 i drove an ES trim level with sat nav and the iDrive system, but i just didnt want an ES model, i wanted the M-Sport.

in regards to the 330d being over priced, its not that much over priced tbh, 2005 320d's are selling for 13-14k currently, this is a 330d with a far superior spec than most 3 series on the market at the moment, i think its not very very far off price wise. (im not saying i would pay asking, but its not too high imo)




youve got to understand too, that some people dont like leather at all!
i likle it, but it wouldnt turn me off a car if it ticked all the other boxes.

when we bought our E90, my otherhalf specifically said she doesnt want leather full stop, when in the dealers etc she actually walked by cars with leather and went straight to the ones with the standard M-Sport Alcantarra interior.

its all personal choice at the end of the day i suppose, different strokes and all that.

I suppose 130K km isn't too much for a large capacity diesel.
I complete agree with your other half, I don't like leather, I prefer the breathability of Alcantarra. You have a nice car, the four doors are handy, but I prefer the coupe, I should say I *love* the BMW coupes, sex on wheels.

Anan1

kceire wrote: »

how is the top teim level, "M-Sport" a poverty spec?
the ES model is the base model.

The three trim levels are only option packages, which is why, for example, an ES can be specced so as to be identical to an SE. To bring any variant up to full specification would cost €20k plus - making all poorly-optioned cars 'poverty spec'.

Gumbo

T-Square wrote: »

I suppose 130K km isn't too much for a large capacity diesel.
I complete agree with your other half, I don't like leather, I prefer the breathability of Alcantarra. You have a nice car, the four doors are handy, but I prefer the coupe, I should say I *love* the BMW coupes, sex on wheels.

i love the coupe too, its my favourite car at the moment, if my numbers come up anytime soon adn theres only enough for a "sensible" car it will be a 335d E92 Coupe with the 19" 225M wheels in either silver or white.

Anan1 wrote: »

The three trim levels are only option packages, which is why, for example, an ES can be specced so as to be identical to an SE. To bring any variant up to full specification would cost €20k plus - making all poorly-optioned cars 'poverty spec'.

understand but you cant spec an ES or SE to M-Sport trim IIRC, i bought a second hand 2005 ES 320d 2 years ago (E90 current shape) and as it was a company car to the original owner it had to be bought as an ES but he could spec it up as such, it had the upgraded stereo with MP3 compatible, the subs under the front seats, 6CD changer, full leather, bluetooth, rear PDC, M3 lip spoiler and privacy glass, MFSW.