[Rob 1267]

Originally Posted by 335d Touring Xdrive

That's a long way to go to get your new car... why didn't you use a local dealer?


:

Coast2Coast introducer and they have only been using Sytner at Harold Wood apparently. On that topic BMW have put a stop to C2C deals through the franchised dealers according to Sytner. Can't confirm but that's what my salesman told me.

Home an hour ago after 200 mile trip back to Leeds. Gave me chance to really test my F30 340i (pics to follow) within the boundaries of run in... What a car! A relaxing drive on motorway in Comfort mode and a real beast in Sport. I got carried away a couple of times and went up to around 5500rpm just under 100 you know whats. Oh well never mind . My initial impressions are that the 340i is better in all aspects of driving experience to the 330d I owned from new on an 06 plate a few years ago. The last 10 miles before I got home off motorway in sport mode were a blast. Steering a little vague in comfort but much better sport. Not too heavy for me as some report. Sort automatic transmission a dream and a lovely marriage to the engine which is just a stonker! Grip great with good balance also. God knows how I'm going to keep my license driving this baby!

Hope you guys who bought today all had positive experiences also.

[335d Touring Xdrive]

Great write up. Pleased to hear you had a good safe drive back home. I went to my local dealer with the best price i could get online and asked if they would match it. To my surprise, they did.

[Rob 1267]

Originally Posted by 335d Touring Xdrive

Great write up. Pleased to hear you had a good safe drive back home. I went to my local dealer with the best price i could get online and asked if they would match it. To my surprise, they did.

Top man. You did great. I enjoyed the day so the distance mattered not and
the three local dealers I tried wouldn't match the 21% off list price for a cash buy. TRL is surely the man to get a quote from in the first instance now if BMW are shutting down the broker route. Then take that to local dealers if distance is an issue

[Chompers]

Originally Posted by Rob 1267

Coast2Coast introducer and they have only been using Sytner at Harold Wood apparently. On that topic BMW have put a stop to C2C deals through the franchised dealers according to Sytner. Can't confirm but that's what my salesman told me.

If I had £1 for every time I heard this, I'd be in a new f31 340i today.

C2C will just move on to another dealer/dealer group.

[Chompers]

Originally Posted by Rob 1267

Top man. You did great. I enjoyed the day so the distance mattered not and
the three local dealers I tried wouldn't match the 21% off list price for a cash buy. TRL is surely the man to get a quote from in the first instance now if BMW are shutting down the broker route. Then take that to local dealers if distance is an issue

I haven't had dealings with Tony, but it always surprises me how individuals get such a reputation on forums All BMW dealers work with the same margins. The extra discount comes from the behind the scenes bonus that is subject to achieving set criteria by BMW GB, that dealer may or may not get!!! So in reality every dealer should be able to compete, hence why most who have looked at C2C have ended up getting a price match or better direct from a dealership. The difference comes when dealers are on target and do not 'need' to eat into that additional bonus.

[Rob 1267]

I bow to your superior Knowledge Chompers. This is only my second Bimmer and the last buy was nearly a decade ago. But ultimately my local dealers wouldn't match the C2C quote so I travelled to the fog. It wasn't an issue. The positive thing for me is that my car is better than I expected having ordered it after testing 335d v 335i (couldn't find a 340i within a reasonable distance to test). The 340i is a significant improvement over the pre LCI 335i I tested for sure. I could happily live with a 335d x drive but as I will only be doing under 10k per annum I have absolutely no regrets going for the 340. I'll be interested to read how you other owners find yours.

[Mrklaw]

Rant mode on

Why is it so difficult to get across from the M4 to the M3 via train? Windsor to farnborough to pickup my car, I left at 1pm for a 4pm pickup. Train from Windsor to slough, then Slough to reading, then reading to farnborough.

Train at Slough decides to do sod all for 15 minutes so I miss the connecting train to farnborough at 15:04. When's the next one? 16:04. Bloody hell. And I can't be late as I have to be back for sodding parents evening tonight by 6 because the teachers didn't want to do late appointments even though the letter from school said they were.

So here I am in a rattly old taxi from reading to farnborough costing me £60. And Sod's law even if I scrape it back home in time all the teacher appointments will be out of the window as they always run late so I'll be sat waiting anyway

Argh.

[jnismith]

Originally Posted by Chompers

If I had £1 for every time I heard this, I'd be in a new f31 340i today.

C2C will just move on to another dealer/dealer group.

C2C are using Benham of Wolverhampton now. Same prices as Sytner

[Chompers]

Yes, and they'll move on again when Benham hit target or get a 'letter'

[jnismith]

Originally Posted by Chompers

I haven't had dealings with Tony, but it always surprises me how individuals get such a reputation on forums All BMW dealers work with the same margins. The extra discount comes from the behind the scenes bonus that is subject to achieving set criteria by BMW GB, that dealer may or may not get!!! So in reality every dealer should be able to compete, hence why most who have looked at C2C have ended up getting a price match or better direct from a dealership. The difference comes when dealers are on target and do not 'need' to eat into that additional bonus.

For me, Tony's price was keen but only a little better than C2C. He did seems very responsive though ,which my local dealer sometime hasn't been (though the guy I am dealing with now is 100 times better than his predecessor who did **** all.

[Cherub77]

Originally Posted by Chompers

Yes, and they'll move on again when Benham hit target or get a 'letter'

That's who I'm having issues with at the moment!

[Chompers]

Originally Posted by jnismith

For me, Tony's price was keen but only a little better than C2C. He did seems very responsive though ,which my local dealer sometime hasn't been (though the guy I am dealing with now is 100 times better than his predecessor who did **** all.

That's normally where the problem lies in getting a deal. When you do find a salesman/dealer that will work with you, it makes life so much easier. Lets also not forget that some dealers have/will hit target so are in no need to give the huge discounts that are seen. it's all about finding the dealer/salesman that is hungry for your business.