07-29-2012, 07:06 AM | #1 |
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320d F30: Auto or Manual...any recommendations?
Hi guys,
Ive ordered my F30 320d SE Auto. However Ive missed out on some good add on's to keep the price within budget. I am considering getting the Xenon's and the H/K added on but am wondering should I do this at the cost of switching to manual transmission?!!! I have driven manual cars for over 10 years so it wont be an issue for me. However the new steptronic auto gearbox with 8 speed manual tempted me alot and hence I went in for it. I am now wondering if its really needed!? What would fellow F30 owners recommend??? Ive already maxed out my budget as initially I was planning to go in for an Golf MK6 or a Passat however since I test drove the BMW I have crossed those options out. I might just add the extra bits I want and will be ok with that however wanted to know if the auto transmission is a sensible choice or should I use that £1525 towards some other add ons Also, is there a big difference between Jet Black and Sapphire Black???? Any advice is really appreciated. Many thanks Regards, K Last edited by hsirk; 08-05-2012 at 05:49 AM.. |
07-29-2012, 07:41 AM | #2 |
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I kind of had a similar dilema to yourself except that I was trying to choose between Sport Auto or Professional Nav.
In the end I went with Nav (and therefore) manual because although I really enjoyed using the sport auto with its paddles on the test drive, I had a niggling doubt that it was a novelty that I would get bored of soon enough. I've been borrowing one of my parent's cars whilst waiting for my car to arrive..... an automatic (no fancy manual paddleshift override) Mercedes..... And there have been plenty of times when I've grown frustrated with not having the added control of a manual. Coming from a high revving Honda Type R, I see changing gear on a slick manual shifter as a real pleasure rather than a chore. As it happens, my brother took delivery of a F10 5 Series with the Sport Auto and it confirmed my suspicions...... I don't think he has ever used the paddles and has always just whacked the car in straight auto. There's no doubt its an incredible 'box with silky smooth shifts, but if you like your driving I think manual is the way forward. So I feel pretty happy to have made the choice of manual! However, my salesman did mention that Auto equipped cars do command a useful premium when it comes to used car sales..... it tends to be the first option buyers look for when checking out used cars if that comes into your thinking at all...... As for the blacks..... well Jet is flat and sapphire is metallic. I think Jet (when clean and detailed) actually looks deeper and more "black" than Sapphire does. ie. Jet is more defined and darker whereas Sapphire can look a bit more "light" depending on the lighting conditions. However, being a metallic, Sapphire is slightly easier to maintain and won't show up swirl marks as badly as Jet would. As a general rule, go for Jet if you're someone who spends your time on "Detailing World" but I think most people would be better off sticking to Sapphire. |
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07-29-2012, 08:00 AM | #3 | |
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I already upgraded to the metallic black since my order was placed which delayed delivery by 20 days!!! Guess the delay is worth it considering the spec's. If the dealer sat me thru these spec's Id not be in such a situation. All they sold me was GAP insurance and Supaguard which I opted out off anyway...lol |
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07-29-2012, 09:51 AM | #4 |
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Similarly, I was all set on getting the automatic, even test drove one. It was the test drive that convinced me to go manual though. The auto is great, but the manual just gives that extra control. I found myself missing the stick and the ability to change when I wanted. The money I saved went into a whole heap of extra options and a much happier choice of car.
I made heaps of changes to my original spec and it made no change to my delivery date. That may have been because it was so far in the future that it didn't matter. I'm now in lock down so can't make any more changes even though my car build won't be started for another week
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07-29-2012, 12:33 PM | #5 | |
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Im off to the dealership tomorrow morning and hope I can decide by then. The fact of getting additional spec with that money is all the more tempting. @rjberry - When did you put the original order in? Just trying to get a time frame for my order to go into build. Cheers! |
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07-29-2012, 01:21 PM | #6 |
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Im going mad thinking if I should stick with metallic black or jet black....the £610 could be put to use somewhere else....what a situation
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07-29-2012, 02:04 PM | #7 | |
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It has already been a long wait but still 5 weeks to go. I'm going crazy waiting and I think my wife is already tired of hearing about this car!
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07-29-2012, 05:30 PM | #9 |
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Nah...Alpine white is a good colour, but have my mind set on black. Maybe I will stick with jet black and get a vinyl wrap done later on. Lets see what happens at the dealership tomorrow...thank you
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07-29-2012, 05:36 PM | #10 | |
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Thats way to long. As of now on the paperwork the delivery is 29/09 but with the spec change it will delay it further I presume. Wish they had a manufacturing plant in the UK or elsewhere in Europe which would ease the burden....I see the Olympic F30s daily on the road and just cant wait to have the keys to mine. |
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07-29-2012, 05:40 PM | #11 |
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Sapphire/Jet Black and Alpine/Metallic White both look really good on the SE models. The Blue rocks on the MSport...thats just my personal view guys
All other colours are for the over 50's just kidding Last edited by hsirk; 07-29-2012 at 05:46 PM.. |
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07-29-2012, 05:45 PM | #12 | |
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08-01-2012, 02:15 PM | #13 |
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Kept the initial sapphire black and the sport auto gear box and have added the following;
1.Xenons 2.Sport Steering Wheel 3.Rear Camera 4.H/K System 5.Black Panel Display 6.M Sport suspension Last thing I wanted was to add leather interiors but had exceeeeeded my budget bigtime hence left it. Got a 7.5% affinity discount and an interest rate of 3.9% APR for the PCP. Couldnt ask for more Now just gotta sit tight till mid Sept |
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08-01-2012, 04:27 PM | #14 | |
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Affinity is Sytner's coroprate discount scheme, my company offers an upto 10% discount if I purchase my car thru Sytner BMW. For the F30 you can get 7.5% off the OTR price |
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08-03-2012, 03:38 PM | #15 |
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I was dead set on the auto until I drove one back to back with a manual. The auto is great, don't get me wrong, but I found myself thinking it wasn't worth the extra over the manual, and on the test drive I kept fiddling withn the Eco/Comfort/Sport button to try and get a shift pattern that suited my driving style (i.e. changing gear when I would've done).
The flappy paddle manual mode was good though - very fast and smooth changes. Went manual in the end, but largely because the dealer had an AW 318d in stock with a nice balance of options.
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08-05-2012, 05:48 AM | #16 | |
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08-13-2012, 03:44 PM | #17 |
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Been on holiday and when I got back our Internet was down
Got pics now and will start a new thread with pics and spec.
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