Where would you go next...

I'm nearly certain its a 3 year warranty on them.

Probably used a generic advert by the dealer and didn't notice the old text. BMW dealer approved used cars come with a 2 year warranty so I'd expect a brand new one to be greater than that.

I've read that the WLTP had an influence on the price of the 3 Series in that the factory options list was reduced. A lot of individual features previously on the options list have now been grouped into packs with some of them made standard equipment which bumped up the base prices but reduced the amount of testing BMW had to do for WLTP. Also the previous 3 Series base spec was sparsely equipped and very easily to go north of 50k with a few well chosen options. Some of the tech in the new 3 Series is also newer than that in the current 5 Series but yeah the current 5 Series is good value in comparison but I imagine that the next generation 5 Series will experience a similar price hike.

Hold out for an M-Sport

I can see the attraction with the spec but given it's the UK and the choice available I'd hold out for an M-Sport. I personally don't mind the luxury spec ones, particularly with some extras, but resale should be propped up greatly by it being an M-Sport.

Might be worth looking for a 430d too, even a year older. Will save remapping it to be honest and is a lot smoother.

JoeA3 wrote: »

And what is a “heated neck scarf” ?!! Never come across that one before.

Been around for years, my dads 03 Merc SL had it, it's a warm flow of air sent from behind the headrest around your neck. A bit gimmicky but surprisingly nice!

hooch-85 wrote: »

I presume that's a convertible only option? Warm air for when the top is down

Yea I presume it is, because with the roof down vents on the dash can't get warm air to you.

Mickiemcfist wrote: »

Been around for years, my dads 03 Merc SL had it, it's a warm flow of air sent from behind the headrest around your neck

Akin to my wife breathing down my neck, while backseat driving

If it's a new one, joking aside, I'd imagine it would be a terrible buy assuming a new one is around the corner.

James Bond Junior wrote: »

My other half just replaced her SE 1 series with a 4 series GC luxury spec. May as well tell her to send it back! :p

What's your thoughts on the lux spec?

wandererz wrote: »

What's your thoughts on the lux spec?

It's nice, the wheels are big so the ride is still harsh but it is still on runflats too. I don't drive it much bar around town as it is my fiances car. The seats are comfy enough and it has all the toys you could want eg heated leather, bi xenons, auto dimming headlights and so on. The powered tailgate is a nice addition. The B47 20d engine is rapid enough for 95% of people especially mated to the quite frankly spectacular autobox. I doubt I would buy one myself, a nice 3 touring is probably my best bet but an impending move to the middle east will see me go for something else.

MarkN wrote: »

Just had a spin in an e-tron and iPace - both circa 400bhp and feel every bit of it. Both also 95-100k.

Had a quick look at the jag in local dealer. Very interesting looking and quality looked better than previous jags.
Any first impressions you can share?

carsfan2 wrote: »

Unlike some other posters, I wouldn’t be warning you off this car in favour of m sport if you like it and are getting it at the right price. It’s a four year old car and if you keep it at least a couple of years at six years old the price difference will be negligible between the specs. Also I don’t think potential convertible buyers will be as hung up on m sport as we on this forum are.
In the uk they are even more into having m sport though then us so I assume you are getting the car at a good price partly for this reason.
I would say though if you don’t do big mileage, consider a 428/430i Petrol over the diesel.
The mileage seems really low for a four year old diesel car. Do you know it’s history? Are you buying through approved used bmw or non franchised dealer?

Thanks for the advice. It's a breath of fresh air.

It's a single owner car sold through a local non franchised dealer who specialises in premium cars including the big F, L,P, B names. It was originally bought & traded in at the local BMW dealership in the area.
This happens locally in Ireland as well where 2nd hand dealers get first call on traded in vehicles at the local main dealer.

To be blunt, I'm not interested in paying this sort of money for a car that's had the life ridden out of it by someone else only for me to enjoy the drabs afterwards.

It has to be experienced & enjoyed for the money paid.

I did something similar in purchasing a car for a family member in the UK previously. They are still enjoying that car about 7 years later. Lots of small, well heeled communities in the UK where cars get garaged & not driven except as weekend or 2nd vehicles. Not likely here due to the insurance & other cost differences though.

I'm accepting the fact that this isn't a sports car. The very fact that it has an extra 250KG metal roof leans against it in the performance arena anyway.

It's also down to how one drives it as well as the enjoyment gained in doing so, not shear horsepower. My current 320d remapped to ~200bhp leaves most others behind when I'm at the wheel (It's not the magnitude of power difference but instead the power delivery in all gears & how you drive). So this at 184 stock & 220-240 remapped will be sufficient.

From past experience one doesn't do high speed with the top down anyway. More a matter of top down in the Dublin/Wicklow mountains and Cork, Kerry, Galway coasts enjoying the scenery and the drive.
In this case comfort is important. So the Msport suspension combined with the run flats will not equate to a more comfortable ride.

A larger engine will also lead to ticketing & disqualification for me due to the temptation.

The additional options plus the colour combination on this vehicle makes this enough different to negate the msport differences as well. It will probably be the only one in Ireland (said in true Carlsberg fashion).

I'm also disheartened by the amount of black leather interiors out there. Seems to be the case of many cars available.
Looks great in the showroom but fairly unappealing down the road. Great for family use to keep the kids from soiling the car, but not for a coupe/convertible for max 2 adults.

Even worse is black on black.
Even worse than that is black upholstery that hasn't been taken care of & looks whitish instead because of the amount of harsh surfactants used.

So, it's not an M-Sport, it's not petrol, it's not a 6-pot.
It does have M-Sport seats, M-Sport steering wheel, lux design accents, unique colour combo, 1 owner & only 5000 miles in 3 years 9 months. Also garage kept, most people in Dublin don't have & can't afford garages.

I do Dub-Cork/Belfast/Kerry/Galway journeys on a regular basis so the diesel will get a run for its money. It's the closest i will get to a new vehicle for a long while.
Then there's Brexit timeframes & hoping for another decent car to come along in time. It's a matter of FOMO if i decide to wait for a nicely specced 428/430i.
I don't care about it being a diesel engine as i have one already.
In a few years, everything will be be electric & there's pros & cons of that as well, such as my vehicle being worthless.
But I may just as well buy & experience it while I can & before all vehicles are the silent death that suddenly hits you with no warning.

I can still cancel until this weekend, so let me have it in terms of where I'm going wrong!

wandererz wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. It's a breath of fresh air.

It's a single owner car sold through a local non franchised dealer who specialises in premium cars including the big F, L,P, B names. It was originally bought & traded in at the local BMW dealership in the area.
This happens locally in Ireland as well where 2nd hand dealers get first call on traded in vehicles at the local main dealer.

To be blunt, I'm not interested in paying this sort of money for a car that's had the life ridden out of it by someone else only for me to enjoy the drabs afterwards.

It has to be experienced & enjoyed for the money paid.

I did something similar in purchasing a car for a family member in the UK previously. They are still enjoying that car about 7 years later. Lots of small, well heeled communities in the UK where cars get garaged & not driven except as weekend or 2nd vehicles. Not likely here due to the insurance & other cost differences though.

I'm accepting the fact that this isn't a sports car. The very fact that it has an extra 250KG metal roof leans against it in the performance arena anyway.

It's also down to how one drives it as well as the enjoyment gained in doing so, not shear horsepower. My current 320d remapped to ~200bhp leaves most others behind when I'm at the wheel (It's not the magnitude of power difference but instead the power delivery in all gears & how you drive). So this at 184 stock & 220-240 remapped will be sufficient.

From past experience one doesn't do high speed with the top down anyway. More a matter of top down in the Dublin/Wicklow mountains and Cork, Kerry, Galway coasts enjoying the scenery and the drive.
In this case comfort is important. So the Msport suspension combined with the run flats will not equate to a more comfortable ride.

A larger engine will also lead to ticketing & disqualification for me due to the temptation.

The additional options plus the colour combination on this vehicle makes this enough different to negate the msport differences as well. It will probably be the only one in Ireland (said in true Carlsberg fashion).

I'm also disheartened by the amount of black leather interiors out there. Seems to be the case of many cars available.
Looks great in the showroom but fairly unappealing down the road. Great for family use to keep the kids from soiling the car, but not for a coupe/convertible for max 2 adults.

Even worse is black on black.
Even worse than that is black upholstery that hasn't been taken care of & looks whitish instead because of the amount of harsh surfactants used.

So, it's not an M-Sport, it's not petrol, it's not a 6-pot.
It does have M-Sport seats, M-Sport steering wheel, lux design accents, unique colour combo, 1 owner & only 5000 miles in 3 years 9 months. Also garage kept, most people in Dublin don't have & can't afford garages.

I do Dub-Cork/Belfast/Kerry/Galway journeys on a regular basis so the diesel will get a run for its money. It's the closest i will get to a new vehicle for a long while.
Then there's Brexit timeframes & hoping for another decent car to come along in time. It's a matter of FOMO if i decide to wait for a nicely specced 428/430i.
I don't care about it being a diesel engine as i have one already.
In a few years, everything will be be electric & there's pros & cons of that as well, such as my vehicle being worthless.
But I may just as well buy & experience it while I can & before all vehicles are the silent death that suddenly hits you with no warning.

I can still cancel until this weekend, so let me have it in terms of where I'm going wrong!

Presuming you are buying this car at a competitive price and have done your history checks etc. then you’re not going wrong.
As it is a diesel make sure you do a few long trips and it will be ok. Make sure you get the egr valve recall sorted on it before you remap.
What colour combo is it? My friends sister had a 420 luxury coupe in a beautiful agua blue colour that was only available in luxury spec and she is delighted with it for last few years.

How about a 6 series GC Neil? It definitely ticks the "big and comfortable" box and its a really striking looking car with the right spec...