Where would you go next...

btkm8unsl0w5r4

when you can get a model 3 performance for the same price as a BMW 4 pot turbo 3 series there is only one answer, so long as your driving requirements allow you to charge a EV overnight or your travels are by a supercharger.

Its a no brainer. A 3 performance has supercar levels of performance and is a nimble little thing to boot. Shame it looks a bit plain.

I put my money where my mouth was a private sold my f82 m4 for one, once the model 3's start arriving here and people get used to things are going to change.

Voodoomelon

I spent all last week in this 320d in France, racked up 960km.

Didn't think much of it at all for the first day, thought the steering was extremely numb and the transmission quite twitchy. Also thought the looks were very meh. But as the week went on, I grew to like it a lot. Very refined even up to 150kph and very comfortable. Although the M-sport suspension was noticeably hard on broken pavement and wouldn't be my cup of tea at all. The steering is actually quite direct although has none of the feel of old with the electric assistance.

It was a Sixt rental so was extremely well specced, the surround cameras come in handy a lot. If 5 series buyers continually buy a 5er every few years without testing a 3er, they should really take a look, there's was no shortage of room for two 6ft men, I was very surprised how roomy the cabin is.

The 320d never felt short on power and was perfectly adequate, even mashing the throttle at 120kph I got decent response.

Whilst all round it's an excellent car, for the life of me I could never justify spending the money they're asking for one. From any angle other than the one above, it's such a mundane looking vehicle im my view. For that kind of mega money, i'd want something that felt really special and the 3er just doesn't do it for me.

And yet it's all the car anyone should ever need. But bloody pricey.

MarkN

By contrast, I’ve found the 330i to do everything I want. Now granted it’s well specced but performance, handling, refinement, boot space etc all really good. A shame it’s not a 6 cylinder though, you just can’t beat them. Even my 12 year old 325 is still so smooth with 200,000kms on it!!

carsfan2

Leona Stale Gnat wrote: »

when you can get a model 3 performance for the same price as a BMW 4 pot turbo 3 series there is only one answer, so long as your driving requirements allow you to charge a EV overnight or your travels are by a supercharger.

Its a no brainer. A 3 performance has supercar levels of performance and is a nimble little thing to boot. Shame it looks a bit plain.

I put my money where my mouth was a private sold my f82 m4 for one, once the model 3's start arriving here and people get used to things are going to change.

You sold your M4 to buy the Tesla?
I assumed you were buying the model 3 as a daily driver to supplement it. Fair play you must have truly been impressed with it.
Your argument of a performance model for the same price as a two litre 3 series makes complete sense. I lack confidence in the quality of the build and the company not the concept.

Big Nasty

carsfan2 wrote: »

You sold your M4 to buy the Tesla?

Fook that! :eek:

btkm8unsl0w5r4

thats what I though before but the Model3 performance is a seriously impressive car. And once you test drive one all your perceived issues melt away. 911 Turbo fast for 320d money.

I had the m4 for quite a long time (for me anyway) and I had done that car. I would recommend it to anyone, its the best car I every owned. Its so fast. But it was time to sell it. Values on M4's are rapidly dropping so I needed to release my equity in the car while I still had some.

I run a e46 m3 at the moment, but will dump that also to get a 1980's project car in 2020 or 21. The research and the chase is most of the fun.

There is much more to it that speed, there is the prestige, the fit and finish and most of all the noise.

For me the noise is a major part of the experience of driving a fast car, I just can’t see how I’m going to warm to the silence. Even a powerful diesel has a nice noise.

I was walking out of an underground car park earlier and next thing heard this roar from an engine. I turned and did a lap around the car park just to see what it was. It was an lovely 911 it barely got above idle yet still sounded fantastic and was worth the walk around. An electric car can’t compete with that no matter how fast it is.

carsfan2

Leona Stale Gnat wrote: »

thats what I though before but the Model3 performance is a seriously impressive car. And once you test drive one all your perceived issues melt away. 911 Turbo fast for 320d money.

I had the m4 for quite a long time (for me anyway) and I had done that car. I would recommend it to anyone, its the best car I every owned. Its so fast. But it was time to sell it. Values on M4's are rapidly dropping so I needed to release my equity in the car while I still had some.

I run a e46 m3 at the moment, but will dump that also to get a 1980's project car in 2020 or 21. The research and the chase is most of the fun.

For a guy that has run some lovely performance cars over the years from what I have seen here, you must really be impressed with the Tesla experience or is it that you have been there done that with combustion engines as daily drivers?
Btw was it hard to sell the m4?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Axel Angry Income wrote: »

There is much more to it that speed, there is the prestige, the fit and finish and most of all the noise.

For me the noise is a major part of the experience of driving a fast car, I just can’t see how I’m going to warm to the silence. Even a powerful diesel has a nice noise.

I was walking out of an underground car park earlier and next thing heard this roar from an engine. I turned and did a lap around the car park just to see what it was. It was an lovely 911 it barely got above idle yet still sounded fantastic and was worth the walk around. An electric car can’t compete with that no matter how fast it is.

Yeah...had a 911 too. No electric cars dont make noise. But just reverse your argument...there is more to a performance car and noise. The poor fit and finish of a Tesla is not an issue anymore, and its a bit like your parents giving out about automatic transmissions at this stage, the model 3 has a very slick interior and great seats. A ICE car cannot complete with a EV for speed unless its a 200k supercar.

Noise is fun...no doubt, but honestly the noise is more for the person outside the car running around the carpark after you than the person inside it. I will miss it, but at the same time having so much performance without noise means you can use the power a lot more. Suppose you cant have everything.

carsfan2 wrote: »

For a guy that has run some lovely performance cars over the years from what I have seen here, you must really be impressed with the Tesla experience or is it that you have been there done that with combustion engines as daily drivers?
Btw was it hard to sell the m4?

Yes I was very impressed, but I also see the way things are going. The value offered by the Model 3 is astounding. Is it flawless? absolutely not, but an M4 is not flawless. I do understand why people cling to their opinions but anyone in a m4 that pulls up beside a quick EV should keep their eyes down and not even try.

The M4 was sold 6 hours after the ad went live....if people have a graw on for a fast petrol car, do it now, these cars will be long gone very soon.

Wailin

Leona Stale Gnat wrote: »

But just reverse your argument...there is more to a performance car and noise.

That same argument that you had about EVs not too long ago, until you actually drove one?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Wailin wrote: »

That same argument that you had about EVs not too long ago, until you actually drove one?

The times they are a changing. But if your into performance cars you simply cannot bury your head in the sand anymore. Sure my m4 just piped the sound into the cabin, I am sure tesla could put that in.

Up until recently there has not been an EV worthy of my attentions....but now there is, I am perfectly happy to admit that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages for my use case.

vintagevrs

Have you one ordered Fitzgeme?

All makes complete sense what you are saying. It's interesting how people take a while to come around, when every logical thing says the Tesla is better. It's faster, more economical, better value, tech etc. When cars first came out I imagine engine noise was a big issue for people used to their horses

I think for a weekend car or something fun then fair enough a V8 or vtec is perfect. But for the daily grind, hard to look past a performance ev.

MartinHD

I notice that the Revenue website VRT calcs ask for a VERSION, and then offer 4 dropdown options. The first two are both titled E G30 M SPORT 4DR AUTO, but you get a significantly lower VRT amount if you select the first one over the second one. For example, a 530e M Sport registered in June 2018 with 17,000 miles gives VRT of €2173 on opt 1 but €3063 on opt 2. Opt 1 shows a OMSP of €52,348, while opt 2 shows an OMSP of €62,799.

How do I know which option I need? Am I missing something obvious?

(Dropdown options 3 and 4 are both titled E G30 SE 4DR AUTO which I'm not interested in).

Thanks.

Pat.

mickdw

I noticed that before for the 530e.
I don't know the answer though.

millington

MartinHD wrote: »

I notice that the Revenue website VRT calcs ask for a VERSION, and then offer 4 dropdown options. The first two are both titled E G30 M SPORT 4DR AUTO, but you get a significantly lower VRT amount if you select the first one over the second one. For example, a 530e M Sport registered in June 2018 with 17,000 miles gives VRT of €2173 on opt 1 but €3063 on opt 2. Opt 1 shows a OMSP of €52,348, while opt 2 shows an OMSP of €62,799.

How do I know which option I need? Am I missing something obvious?

(Dropdown options 3 and 4 are both titled E G30 SE 4DR AUTO which I'm not interested in).

Thanks.

Pat.

Slightly different emissions listed. One is 46 and the other 49. If you put the UK reg into Cartell, it will tell you which one the car is registered with.

carsfan2

If one car had the m sport plus pack the wheels go from 19” to 20” and the co2 goes up a little.
I think the vrt calculator uses data from cars that have already been presented so that might explain it?

MartinHD

Thanks for the responses/comments.

Hmmmm... The model I'm using is a M Sport 530e but does not have the M Sport Plus pack. Confusingly, the higher-charged VRT is on the one with the lowest CO2! I also don't understand why the OMSP and the current OMSP are so much higher for opt 2 than opt 1.

If I use the MotorCheck VRT calc (better than Cartell) website using the reg I have, it calculates the VRT at the 2nd version option and shows the CO2 as 46.

Still confused.

Pat.

MartinHD

I’m wondering now if one option is for the 530e M Sport & the other is for the 4-wheel drive version - 530e M Sport xDrive? I don’t think you can even buy the xDrive model
Here!

blingrhino

A funny aside , At the cannonball yesterday outside slane castle gates,lambos etc doing their redline tricks queing up to get in and up pulls a tesla to which someone shouted ,lets hear yours !

bazz26

I read the 5 Series is getting some revisions to the engine lineup from this November. 520d is getting some mild hybrid tech added to improve efficiency and throttle response, similar to what the current Audi A6 diesels have. 530e is getting larger batteries too afaik to increase the electric range.

https://www.carkeys.co.uk/news/2020-bmw-5-series-set-to-get-cleaner-with-new-mild-hybrid-technology

These changes seem to be independent to the forthcoming LCI model due around next May.

mickdw

bazz26 wrote: »

I read the 5 Series is getting some revisions to the engine lineup from this November. 520d is getting some mild hybrid tech added to improve efficiency and throttle response, similar to what the current Audi A6 diesels have. 530e is getting larger batteries too afaik to increase the electric range.

https://www.carkeys.co.uk/news/2020-bmw-5-series-set-to-get-cleaner-with-new-mild-hybrid-technology

These changes seem to be independent to the forthcoming LCI model due around next May.

The lci gets a 6 cylinder 545e i believe which would be lovely.

bazz26

Same drivetrain as the 745e but detuned with still a very healthy 375bhp and that lovely B58 engine. Probably cost a fortune to buy here though if they bother offering it.

carsfan2

The x5 45e is in the configurator and after grants is the cheapest x5 available. About 80k on the road for the m sport. 394ps overall and a 91km range in electric mode.
BMW are really pushing the hybrids now probably because they have been too slow in electric vehicles overall.

MarkN

My take on the new 3 series!

Interesting how impressive the 330i seems engine wise.... I'd a 220i estate thing last weekend and it seemed feeble enough and 160kph was plenty fast enough in it

MarkN

Doesn't feel any less powerful than if it was a 3.0 and the fuel is a good 3-4L/100 better for it.

carsfan2

Great review Mark. Your enthusiasm comes across in the video. Seems like you really enjoyed it. I know they’re different animals but speed and handling wise how would it compare to the TCR golf you had last?
Also I’d love to see you doa review and comparison with the 330e that’s out now.
The big problem for the 3 is the fact that the 5 is little more expensive,probably negligible if buying on pcp and it’s definitely better finished and looks more prestigious to joe soap.

MarkN

And here's the glorious Supra!

MarkN

carsfan2 wrote: »

I know they’re different animals but speed and handling wise how would it compare to the TCR golf you had last?
Also I’d love to see you doa review and comparison with the 330e that’s out now.

Thanks!

I'm going to ask BMW about the 330e, not sure if they have a press one yet. I actually got straight into the 330 after dropping the TCR back and while the BMW didn't have the same burst delivery, it was the more refined car for sure. They do different jobs though, no doubt about that. I doubt the BMW will get me 28,000 views in two weeks either - the passion people have for a quick Golf is ever present.

bazz26

How much was 330i retailing at Mark?