[chiark]

After having an E46 330D, then an E91 330i, I wanted a change... The only thing I could think of to give me more thrills, after driving a lot of potentials, was a 911. So, for a year, I had a 996 911: she was old, but by gum she was a beauty, and lots of fun. Definitely taught me a thing or two! Posted on a thursday evening that I was thinking of selling on a 911 forum, sold on Friday morning, and picked up 7 days later!

Back to the world of practicality, I was realising I wanted something a bit more luxurious, newer and that I could better fit the family into. Anything will feel a bit flat after the 996, so I thought I'd go back to diesel for the torque... I'd prefer a manual, but it seems all performance diesels have autos to cope with the torque, and it is a good mix. Tried a Merc C350CDI, which didn't float my boat, tried a Jag XF Sportbreak which was very, very nice if a little too much money, then tried a F31 330D.

I should say I didn't want another BMW. I wanted something different.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear oh dear oh dear. BMW have nailed it, haven't they? Realise I'm preaching to the choir here! What a car. No diesel family estate should move or drive like that!

I started looking at second hand, then on a whim looked at drivethedeal.com. Stopped looking at second hand and, print out in hand, I went to a couple of dealerships.

JCT600 in Bradford got my business over Stratstone in Leeds, basically down to the way they treated me and approached the sale. Nice people to do business with. Leeds ended up slamming the phone down on me. Guess where I'll not be going again?

So! Ordered 3rd Feb... F31 330D M Sport Touring, Estoril Blue (Sorry), M sport plus, adaptive suspension, heated front seats, lumbar support, interior pack, professional nav. Delivery estimate 14 March. Which then went to June. Which is now "April" after pulling it forward as a priority order, apparently.

As I'm car-less, and excited for a new toy, I want it now . Very excited to see that bluetooth audio streaming can be added through coding alone, too! Will be buying a cable to see what I can get up to with that...

In the meantime, I'm looking at sub £1,000 cars to get me around whilst I wait... There's some comedy gold out there.

[DazC]

Welcome and no need to be sorry for ordering the car in EBII.

It's the best colour anyway!

[chiark]

Cheers Daz . It does look stunning, and my family is on a mission to stop all cars in the UK being monochrome . Not succeeding so far - E46 in Silver, E91 in Silver, 996 was black... but at least now I've had a choice I've done my bit. Shame I didn't see one in red that looked good.

[Irnbrukid]

I'm surprised it's came forward 2 months with a pull request! I've had it done a few times and it's never ever happened.. Maybe the got a slot from another dealer, or someone has pulled out of their deal and they've spec'd it to suit you. Sounds like you got a good deal

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by DazC

Welcome and no need to be sorry for ordering the car in EBII.

It's the best colour anyway!

Yes, it certainly is a great colour, and there is good reason why it's so popular! Half the folk who didn't order it wanted too, but put off by how common it is I'm sure!

Great car, and a consummate all-rounder! It will never be the 911, but what I find is that you just need to know what "driving hat" you need to have on, to get the most from every car...

I have to do it day to day swapping from Z4 to 335d, and the quicker you get the mindset then the sooner you enjoy each car.

[chiark]

I must admit there's a certain vagueness to the whole delivery date thing that's a little disconcerting, especially now I'm car-less!

As for the deal... Yes, it was good. I'm certainly happy, and surprised what you can get down to!

[V330d]

Hi,

Congrats on order, I'm almost over the line!! Where did the dealer start out and where did they end up? did you have to go through the pulling teeth routine?

[///MSport420]

Congratulation..what colour interior did you go with.. ??

[chiark]

I basically wanted a better deal than drivethedeal were going to give me. I gave them the challenge, they met it, and a deal was done. Not really pulling teeth as they could see I needed to buy a car, I wanted to buy from them rather than over the internet, but I wanted a better deal as someone somewhere would be paying drivethedeal a finder's fee.
I was prepared to thank them and walk away, knowing worst comes to the worst I'd be able to order from dtd, but we got to a deal that worked for both parties.

[chiark]

Interior? I have 2 kids, 7 and 10. Black dakota then, but I was tempted by red for a little while... and then I saw the individual seats, but ended up sticking with the black dakota.

[///MSport420]

Originally Posted by chiark

Interior? I have 2 kids, 7 and 10. Black dakota then, but I was tempted by red for a little while... and then I saw the individual seats, but ended up sticking with the black dakota.

I had red dakota with EB but then after very long thinking decided to change it to black with blue trim. Red is great but i was scared that after a year or two i'd get bored and there is no turning back..wheras with black..its just black..u cant get excited neither you'd get bored..its just nutral colour..

[///MSport420]

Mine dosn't go into production until mid march being a new model 430d x drive...delivery expected mid april..such long wait..

[d4springer]

Welcome to the forum, sounds like a great car, I think the delay in build is due to BMW running out of EB paint! (only joking of course, it will look excellent)

[nordberg]

Hey I bought my F31 330d from JCT600 a few weeks back! And Stratstone Leeds were a total waste of time for me too!

What discount % did you get?

Welcome!

[///MSport420]

Originally Posted by d4springer

Welcome to the forum, sounds like a great car, I think the delay in build is due to BMW running out of EB paint! (only joking of course, it will look excellent)

Lol thanks..you might be right...they'r running out on EB specially on 3 series.lol...good that i ordered 4..they have seperate stock

[teaston]

There'll be no need to code BT streaming, your car will come with as it will have all the changes starting in build week 10!

[chiark]

Aha, how can I find out about the changes coming in week 10? Sounds intriguing!

[teaston]

Originally Posted by chiark

Aha, how can I find out about the changes coming in week 10? Sounds intriguing!

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=937978

&

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showth...ighlight=March

[doomsday runner]

Originally Posted by chiark

After having an E46 330D, then an E91 330i, I wanted a change... The only thing I could think of to give me more thrills, after driving a lot of potentials, was a 911. So, for a year, I had a 996 911: she was old, but by gum she was a beauty, and lots of fun. Definitely taught me a thing or two! Posted on a thursday evening that I was thinking of selling on a 911 forum, sold on Friday morning, and picked up 7 days later!

Back to the world of practicality, I was realising I wanted something a bit more luxurious, newer and that I could better fit the family into. Anything will feel a bit flat after the 996, so I thought I'd go back to diesel for the torque... I'd prefer a manual, but it seems all performance diesels have autos to cope with the torque, and it is a good mix. Tried a Merc C350CDI, which didn't float my boat, tried a Jag XF Sportbreak which was very, very nice if a little too much money, then tried a F31 330D.

I should say I didn't want another BMW. I wanted something different.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear oh dear oh dear. BMW have nailed it, haven't they? Realise I'm preaching to the choir here! What a car. No diesel family estate should move or drive like that!

I started looking at second hand, then on a whim looked at drivethedeal.com. Stopped looking at second hand and, print out in hand, I went to a couple of dealerships.

JCT600 in Bradford got my business over Stratstone in Leeds, basically down to the way they treated me and approached the sale. Nice people to do business with. Leeds ended up slamming the phone down on me. Guess where I'll not be going again?

So! Ordered 3rd Feb... F31 330D M Sport Touring, Estoril Blue (Sorry), M sport plus, adaptive suspension, heated front seats, lumbar support, interior pack, professional nav. Delivery estimate 14 March. Which then went to June. Which is now "April" after pulling it forward as a priority order, apparently.

As I'm car-less, and excited for a new toy, I want it now . Very excited to see that bluetooth audio streaming can be added through coding alone, too! Will be buying a cable to see what I can get up to with that...

In the meantime, I'm looking at sub £1,000 cars to get me around whilst I wait... There's some comedy gold out there.

I have always found that Stratstone in Leeds are very unhelpful and would never give them my business.

[Ste430d]

Originally Posted by doomsday runner

I have always found that Stratstone in Leeds are very unhelpful and would never give them my business.

+1

My 4th BMW on order now, only had one from Stratstone (based on a very good price) but they were p1ss poor at CS.
Purchased the other 3 from Sandall at Wakefield and it's totally different story with them, very keen pricing and excellent CS.

[doomsday runner]

Originally Posted by Barnsley330d

+1

My 4th BMW on order now, only had one from Stratstone (based on a very good price) but they were p1ss poor at CS.
Purchased the other 3 from Sandall at Wakefield and it's totally different story with them, very keen pricing and excellent CS.

I found exactly the same, Leeds were very shitty about giving me a test drive once. Sandall at Wakefield can't do enough for you. dealt with Phil for years.

[chiark]

Just been in to see the garage (biked there - it's uphill all the ****ing way) and we had a quick check to see where the car was. Production week is 11 / March 2014. There's a chance, admittedly slim, that it might be here before end March.

The garage knew nothing about an update to the Pro Nav . I told them they ought to check the forums

OH HAPPY DAYS!