New car - BMW/Audi

cw girl

Hi, couple of questions for the motor experts please....I'm on the verge of changing my car and am leaning towards a new BMW (one thing that is making me have thoughts of an Audi A4 is the front vs. Rear wheel drive in icy weather - maybe a small consideration in Ireland).

If I go for the BMW I think it would be 318d - are manual or automatic better option in terms of resale? I've heard strong opinions towards both so I'm a bit in the dark. Also does metallic paint make a huge difference in appearance.

Thanks

D Trent

cw girl wrote: »

Hi, couple of questions for the motor experts please....I'm on the verge of changing my car and am leaning towards a new BMW (one thing that is making me have thoughts of an Audi A4 is the front vs. Rear wheel drive in icy weather - maybe a small consideration in Ireland).

If I go for the BMW I think it would be 318d - are manual or automatic better option in terms of resale? I've heard strong opinions towards both so I'm a bit in the dark. Also does metallic paint make a huge difference in appearance.

Thanks

If I were in your position i'd neither go for a new BMW or Audi

I'd buy a Tesla

colm_mcm

What tesla would you buy that would be in the same ballpark?

Aren't they €70k+?


The a4 seems to outsell the 3 series by a good bit, I'd imagine the 5 series has taken sales from the 3 as well.

I don't think auto is a must for resale value in that segment.

James Bond Junior

Standard spec ie leather and nav is very good on a BMW but not so much on an Audi. The actual amount of time we get weather bad enough to decommission a RWD BMW is negligible really and truly.

What about a two series coupe?

Three people in my family bought auto bmw's this year. The 8 speed box is sublime and I would not get a new bmw without it.

Shannon757

What about a Merc or a Skoda?

cw girl

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Standard spec ie leather and nav is very good on a BMW but not so much on an Audi. The actual amount of time we get weather bad enough to decommission a RWD BMW is negligible really and truly.

What about a two series coupe?

Three people in my family bought auto bmw's this year. The 8 speed box is sublime and I would not get a new bmw without it.

I think I prefer the shape of 3 series than the two coupe, that said I haven't driven a two series or looked at it closely.

Sounds like you're a big advocate of automatic!
Thanks for the info

heroics

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Standard spec ie leather and nav is very good on a BMW but not so much on an Audi. The actual amount of time we get weather bad enough to decommission a RWD BMW is negligible really and truly.

What about a two series coupe?

Three people in my family bought auto bmw's this year. The 8 speed box is sublime and I would not get a new bmw without it.

I agree with this. I have a 520d auto and came from an A6 manual. Always said I'd never go for the auto but the new 8 speed auto is nothing like the old 4 speed one I had in the e240.

My wife had a 116d Manual 141 and changed to a 151 auto. The auto transforms the car even in a small hatchback. Would never buy a BMW without it.

If weather gets bad enough to decommission the Bmw get winter tyres and problem is solved.

heroics

cw girl wrote: »

I think I prefer the shape of 3 series than the two coupe, that said I haven't driven a two series or looked at it closely.

Sounds like you're a big advocate of automatic!
Thanks for the info

+1 for me too.

Seriously if you get a chance take an extended test drive of the manual and auto no comparison. In the standard diesel the auto is just effortless. The extra gears seems to make the most of the narrower power band and most of the time you don't even notice the gear changes

James Bond Junior

My mother is in her 60's and had never owned an auto car until she bought her current car. She said to me the other day that she doesn't think she will drive a manual again and has already decided that she is switching to an x1 auto next time around. The garage owner (BMW main dealer) from whom all of those beamers were bought from reckons that in 5 years time manual bmws will actually be special orders, thats how good the auto box in them is.

MetzgerMeister

I've always owned manual cars until my current one (2013 330d) with the 8 speed ZF transmission. I will never buy a manual again if there's a car I want with the ZF box.

bmwguy

Yeah auto all the way. Effortless driving. As for the car, a well specced Audi beats a poorly specced bmw and vice versa. Look for s line in the Audi or m sport in bmw

landmarkjohn

Generally metallic paint would be more attractive on the car, and for comfort and easier city driving auto is the way to go. Most people who migrate to a modern auto never look back. If it's one or the other in terms of cost go auto, you don't really see much of the paint when you are driving (I am bias function over form).

bazz26

Very few non metallic paint choices these days unless your looking at white or red. Also worth noting that a good colour choice enhances its resale value. For BMW estoril blue is one of the nicest colours they have available imo.

Most who dismiss autos never had one.

You seem keen on the 318d. Get an auto in the colour of your choice and I can't imagine you regretting it.

The A4 is a fine car but I'd not have one over a 3 series.

maddness

If you like driving then the BMW is a far better choice. If not the Audi has a nicer interior and is newer.
Defo get an auto if you have the budget.

BorneTobyWilde

What about the Jaguar with the same 8 speed zf box .

Ionised

Or wait a little while for the Alfa Giulia.

cw girl

Augeo wrote: »

Most who dismiss autos never had one.

You seem keen on the 318d. Get an auto in the colour of your choice and I can't imagine you regretting it.

The A4 is a fine car but I'd not have one over a 3 series.

It's probably black or dark grey I'd go for...

cw girl

bazz26 wrote: »

Very few non metallic paint choices these days unless your looking at white or red. Also worth noting that a good colour choice enhances its resale value. For BMW estoril blue is one of the nicest colours they have available imo.

I think black is a non metallic option..

VictorRomeo

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

What about the Jaguar with the same 8 speed zf box .

It's dreadful in the diesel....

VictorRomeo

D Trent wrote: »

If I were in your position i'd neither go for a new BMW or Audi

I'd buy a Tesla

Where?

gaillimh

bazz26 wrote: »

Very few non metallic paint choices these days unless your looking at white or red. Also worth noting that a good colour choice enhances its resale value. For BMW estoril blue is one of the nicest colours they have available imo.

+1 the Estoril Blue is a fab colour

Summer wind

I would absolutely go for the auto. The manual car would probably be a more involving drive than the auto but the auto is just so good and so easy and relaxing to drive especially in the city. I've got a 520d auto in jet black which is non metallic and to my eyes it looks great. If you have to choose between auto or metallic I'd go with the auto.

bazz26

cw girl wrote: »

I think black is a non metallic option..

Black Sapphire on the 3 Series is metallic, the only non metallic paint is Alpine White. If you want one of the Individual colours then its 2k extra.

heroics

I just re retread this thread if it's a choice between metallic paint and auto definitely get the auto. Tbh if getting black then imp the standard black is the best. My mate got carbon Black on his 2016 x5 and wishes he got the brilliant black same as the 5 series he traded in. Does not look properly black in direct sunlight.

cw girl

heroics wrote: »

I just re retread this thread if it's a choice between metallic paint and auto definitely get the auto. Tbh if getting black then imp the standard black is the best. My mate got carbon Black on his 2016 x5 and wishes he got the brilliant black same as the 5 series he traded in. Does not look properly black in direct sunlight.

Standard being non metallic?

SmartinMartin

3 series is awful. Really awful. It's just a car built for and driven by dickheads.
The 5 series is nice though.

James Bond Junior

SmartinMartin wrote: »

3 series is awful. Really awful. It's just a car built for and driven by dickheads.
The 5 series is nice though.

Why?

Willie Stroker 1976

The new 3 series, M-Sport in Estoril Blue. Do it

maddness

SmartinMartin wrote: »

3 series is awful. Really awful. It's just a car built for and driven by dickheads.
The 5 series is nice though.

Such an insightful post....

R.O.R

If you ignore the driving dynamics (which isn't always the main deciding factor on this type of car), the A4 is a bit better value.

Standard specification is more or less the same on them (Nav & Leather) if you compare SE to SE model. A4 will give you Xenon's that the BMW doesn't have.

318d SE Auto is €43,897 ex. Works
A4 150ps SE S-Tronic is €43,000 ex. Works

Nav and Leather on the 3 Series is a complimentary offer that may end at the end of September (has done the past couple of years, and re-appears for January), whereas it's standard on the A4.

The Autobox on the new A4 is better than the 3 Series.

Predicted future resale value on the A4 is higher (but not by that much) than the 3 Series, but A4 will cost more to service due to lack of service pack and AdBlue.

If looking at the A4, note the ridiculously small standard fuel tank of 40L and add the no cost option 54L tank.

Jet Black (BMW) and Brilliant Black (Audi) are both no cost options, and if you wanted Black then save the €1,000 ish and go with the non-metallic option.

bazz26

Sat Nav was made standard across the entire BMW range for a number of months now. I don't think they will be taking it away any time soon.

grogi

R.O.R wrote: »

/.../ but A4 will cost more to service due to lack of service pack and AdBlue.

No AdBlue in the BMW? How the hell do they manage to meet Euro 6?

RedorDead

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Standard spec ie leather and nav is very good on a BMW but not so much on an Audi. The actual amount of time we get weather bad enough to decommission a RWD BMW is negligible really and truly.

What about a two series coupe?

Three people in my family bought auto bmw's this year. The 8 speed box is sublime and I would not get a new bmw without it.

Whats your basis for this little insight young Bond?

Ded_Zebra

grogi wrote: »

No AdBlue in the BMW? How the hell do they manage to meet Euro 6?

They use adblue too.

James Bond Junior

RedorDead wrote: »

Whats your basis for this little insight young Bond?

Because when I recently, for a relative, specced up an a5 coupe to the same level as a 4 series coupe getting like for like spec was 10k more on the Audi.

R.O.R

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

They use adblue too.

Only on the X5, 7 Series and 5GT though. Rest of the models meet EU6 without it.

grogi

R.O.R wrote: »

Only on the X5, 7 Series and 5GT though. Rest of the models meet EU6 without it.

That is extremely impressive...

I can only hope is not another german software engineering trick

R.O.R

grogi wrote: »

That is extremely impressive...

I can only hope is not another german software engineering trick

The Swedes are at it as well, but so far it's not proved to be reliable. Pretty sure the XC90 is running without AdBlue, which is very impressive for a large 4x4 auto. Not enough of those on fleet yet to know if they are suffering issues with EGR Intercoolers, but the XC60/S60/V60 have been pretty horrific so far.

We have been told that the issue is now resolved, but only time will tell.

bazz26

My 2014 520d with the newer B47 engine doesn't have an AdBlue filler cap next to the diesel cap so I'm presuming it doesn't use it.

grogi

bazz26 wrote: »

My 2014 520d with the newer B47 engine doesn't have an AdBlue filler cap next to the diesel cap so I'm presuming it doesn't use it.

In 2014 only the Euro 5 was mandatory - with NOx limits ~3x more relaxed.

Volvo are using, according to my brief google search, Lean Nitrogen Traps - filter that works at the same principle as a DPF. Captures NOx and reduces it to harmless gases in batches... I guess BMW does the same. Cool stuff

Ded_Zebra

R.O.R wrote: »

Only on the X5, 7 Series and 5GT though. Rest of the models meet EU6 without it.

At the moment possibly.

I think it is also in the other models but only in the bigger engines not the peasanty B47 and that most of what they sell here has. Maybe they don't though, I don't know much about their current Euro 6 lineup.

James Bond Junior

Any update cw girl?

cw girl

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Any update cw girl?

Sorry for very slow response...
I procrastinated for (quite) a while and decided to hang on for 171...I've only test driven the 3 series, ill test drive Audi on Tue.

I'm not sure I like how the front of the 3 series looks, really like the look at the back but don't like how the lights at front look like they're set low

bazz26

You should look at the 4 Series Gran Coupe too, obviously more expensive than a 3 Series but maybe look at a 15 or 16 reg model. Standard spec on the 4 Series is higher than the 3 Series too, 4 Series is prettier too.

cw girl

bazz26 wrote: »

You should look at the 4 Series Gran Coupe too, obviously more expensive than a 3 Series but maybe look at a 15 or 16 reg model. Standard spec on the 4 Series is higher than the 3 Series too, 4 Series is prettier too.

Agree, the 4S grand coupe look great, was looking at used models available through a dealer and there's not a huge range

bazz26

Audi A5 Sportback is worth a look at too, similar concept to the 4 Series GC. There is a new model imminent so you might get a deal on a run out model as long as you're not bothered with being a bit dated now.

cw girl

bazz26 wrote: »

Audi A5 Sportback is worth a look at too, similar concept to the 4 Series GC. There is a new model imminent so you might get a deal on a run out model as long as you're not bothered with being a bit dated now.

Would it be more difficult to offload as trade in down the line.

The Audi attraction a4 doesn't seem to have lot of things that are standard on base model of other makes I think.....leather upholstery, cruise control etc only apply to SE. I guess it's bit more price competitive than BMW tho

bazz26

Well it will be the old model so don't expect to get the same as a newer model down the road.

Does the car have to be brand new? I'd rather buy a 1 or 2 year old well specced car than a brand new poorly specced car for the same money.

cw girl

bazz26 wrote: »

Well it will be the old model so don't expect to get the same as a newer model down the road.

Does the car have to be brand new? I'd rather buy a 1 or 2 year old well specced car than a brand new poorly specced car for the same money.

Not necessarily, haven't looked into used A4s yet, only 4 series

James Bond Junior

cw girl wrote: »

Not necessarily, haven't looked into used A4s yet, only 4 series

I spent a good chunk of last saturday in a 420d gran coupe. Gorgeous car and the 184bhp engine is a stormer. The person driving said they love it and you can rarely get them to look at anything without an Audi badge and Quattro. Bare in mind however they are tight for passengers in the rear but then again a coupe isn't bought with passenger comfort as a top priority!