Model Year guidance 2016 vs 2017

JerseyGirl123 · 10-24-2016, 09:03 PM

Hi all,
I'm in the market for my first BMW and I'm going with the 3 series GT. I can't wait. But, I have a dilemma. Should I find a new 2016 on a dealer lot, or should I order a new 2017? I feel like the major differences are the extra time on the maintenance for the 2016 (and the lower price), versus the iDrive 5.0 (without touchscreen) and the higher price on the 2017.

If touch is not available yet on the 2017, is it even worth the splurge to get the 2017, or would I be just as happy with the iDrive 4.x on the 2016?

If I get the 2016 now, in your experience, would I be able to upgrade to iDrive 5.0 down the road (assuming, then, I'd have iDrive 5.0 running on iDrive 4.x hardware - is that possible?)

To give you perspective, i'm coming off an 18 year old car, so all of this technology is amazing to me!

Thanks for your advice! Hoping to be a fellow GT lover soon!

Billfitz · 10-25-2016, 07:14 AM

The only change I see that's worthwhile is the addition of LED lights as standard. I'd take a '16 off the lot if the price was right. I don't think iDrive 5.0 is worth paying $5k or more for a '17 to get it.

Skald · 10-25-2016, 10:26 AM

I don't think that an upgrade to 5.0 is possible, but that's just a tip. I will tell you my pros and cons - a bonus perspective might help you a bit with your dilemma

( one of the best dilemmas ever...

)

LCI pros:

-the new m sport leather seats with blue stitching are awesome!!!

-there is a new part of ambient lightning under the center console (hifi/AC) which is not a big deal but still pretty. ( the original ambient lightning is pretty good too )

- led lights as standard ( the only thing that bothered me a bit with my pre LCI GT was the turning light bulb but it's not a big deal either)

- engine modification for the 325d and 328i (330i)+ 335i (340) (there was an upgrade for the 320d before the LCI)

Cons:

-to be honest this is not much for a facelift

- I like the original tail lights better

- the pre facelift model is a totally complete package, the GT is so rare that many people doesn't even recognize it.

There was one thing in the first GTs that was weird a bit --- yes... the cupholder... but it was changed before the facelift.

If I were you, my decision would depend mostly on the engine options. If you are interested in a 4/6 cylinder petrol then I would definitely take the facelift. 328i is great too but if you have a newer version with the facelift - then hell - why not?

If it's diesel power time then I would go with the pre facelift ( unless it's a 325d) . Idrive 4.0 is still one of the bests on the market so I think that it's not a loss at all to choose that.

PS.: It doesn't matter which one you choose, the GT will blow your world - believe me. After 8 months and 25k kms I'm still jumping behind the wheels with a satisfied smile on my face and cruise as much as possible. I still have the same excitement that I had at the beginning.

Billfitz · 10-25-2016, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skald

If you are interested in a 4/6 cylinder petrol then I would definitely take the facelift.

That I'd be leery of. If you go through all the complaints about the 20/55 engines the vast majority occurred in the first two years after they were introduced. I prefer tried and true to flashy and new.

insanecoder · 10-25-2016, 11:03 AM

If you just want a BMW.. I'd think you could get a better deal on 2016s and that extra year of maintenance is good for a gal (not to be sexist) unless u are a DIY maintainer..

Skald · 10-25-2016, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

That I'd be leery of. If you go through all the complaints about the 20/55 engines the vast majority occurred in the first two years after they were introduced. I prefer tried and true to flashy and new.

Well, there is much truth in that for sure

JerseyGirl123 · 10-25-2016, 02:34 PM

Thanks all! You have been super helpful! I'm going to go with the 2016.

kbsilver · 10-26-2016, 02:29 PM

A bit late here but we already did our Euro delivery on a 340GT (have not received it yet in the US). There is no touchscreen on the iDrive, but it does have the advanced menu system that was first introduced in the 7 series. LED lights are nice (once we get the auto features turned back on that are disabled for the US). While the engine is brand new for the GT, it has been in other models already thus some real world use already.

Billfitz · 10-26-2016, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbsilver

While the engine is brand new for the GT, it has been in other models already thus some real world use already.

True, but it takes a while for problems to show up. Of course BMW does extensive testing before releasing a new engine, but there's no substitute for having a few hundred thousand owners serve as the 'B' testers...or guinea pigs, if you will.

bmw-again · 10-26-2016, 06:46 PM

I was at dealer yesterday getting prepared to order 17 440GC turn this GT back in and the 16's they are giving great deals to get rid of them. 16's I am seeing some at over 10% off MSRP and on 340's I have heard people getting more than that. Unfortunately the 16 435 GC's are all but gone on dealer lots. 16 428 GC's are still out there. They want these off lots to make room for 17's. Save yourself some cash and get a 16 you should get one at a really good price. GOOD LUCK!

JerseyGirl123 · 11-09-2016, 09:59 PM

Just an FYI - I ended up getting 12% off the MSRP on the 2016.

bmw-again · 11-17-2016, 02:53 AM

Hey congrats I am happy for you good job!

rapid64k · 11-17-2016, 04:53 AM

Nice.

NitroLX · 11-17-2016, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

Hi all,
I'm in the market for my first BMW and I'm going with the 3 series GT. I can't wait. But, I have a dilemma. Should I find a new 2016 on a dealer lot, or should I order a new 2017? I feel like the major differences are the extra time on the maintenance for the 2016 (and the lower price), versus the iDrive 5.0 (without touchscreen) and the higher price on the 2017.

If touch is not available yet on the 2017, is it even worth the splurge to get the 2017, or would I be just as happy with the iDrive 4.x on the 2016?

If I get the 2016 now, in your experience, would I be able to upgrade to iDrive 5.0 down the road (assuming, then, I'd have iDrive 5.0 running on iDrive 4.x hardware - is that possible?)

To give you perspective, i'm coming off an 18 year old car, so all of this technology is amazing to me!

Thanks for your advice! Hoping to be a fellow GT lover soon!

go with a 16... free maintenance included in the 16 not the 17..

Skald · 11-17-2016, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NitroLX

go with a 16... free maintenance included in the 16 not the 17..

Wow! No free maintenance for the 17 models? Is this true?

JerseyGirl123 · 11-17-2016, 09:45 AM

For 2017, you get 3 years of free maintenance and the 2016's give you 4 years of maintenance. However, the 2017 free maintenance is not as comprehensive. I believe it does not include brakes and brake pads and maybe a few other things. My understanding for 2017 is that it's basically oil changes and some other non-wear-and-tear type parts. They call the 2017 plan the Ultimate Care plan and the 2016 plan is called the Maintenance Program.

Skald · 11-17-2016, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

For 2017, you get 3 years of free maintenance and the 2016's give you 4 years of maintenance. However, the 2017 free maintenance is not as comprehensive. I believe it does not include brakes and brake pads and maybe a few other things. My understanding for 2017 is that it's basically oil changes and some other non-wear-and-tear type parts. They call the 2017 plan the Ultimate Care plan and the 2016 plan is called the Maintenance Program.

thanks for the info

Richbot · 11-25-2016, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skald

Wow! No free maintenance for the 17 models? Is this true?

Yep. One more reason ours will be our last new bmw.

10-24-2016, 09:03 PM	#1
JerseyGirl123 New Member 9 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 3 series GT Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Model Year guidance 2016 vs 2017 Hi all, I'm in the market for my first BMW and I'm going with the 3 series GT. I can't wait. But, I have a dilemma. Should I find a new 2016 on a dealer lot, or should I order a new 2017? I feel like the major differences are the extra time on the maintenance for the 2016 (and the lower price), versus the iDrive 5.0 (without touchscreen) and the higher price on the 2017. If touch is not available yet on the 2017, is it even worth the splurge to get the 2017, or would I be just as happy with the iDrive 4.x on the 2016? If I get the 2016 now, in your experience, would I be able to upgrade to iDrive 5.0 down the road (assuming, then, I'd have iDrive 5.0 running on iDrive 4.x hardware - is that possible?) To give you perspective, i'm coming off an 18 year old car, so all of this technology is amazing to me! Thanks for your advice! Hoping to be a fellow GT lover soon!
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10-25-2016, 07:14 AM	#2
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,080 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	The only change I see that's worthwhile is the addition of LED lights as standard. I'd take a '16 off the lot if the price was right. I don't think iDrive 5.0 is worth paying $5k or more for a '17 to get it.
	Appreciate 1 Skald55.00 Quote

10-25-2016, 10:26 AM	#3
Skald Private 55 Rep 99 Posts Drives: '16 F34 320d luxury Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Hungary iTrader: (0)	I don't think that an upgrade to 5.0 is possible, but that's just a tip. I will tell you my pros and cons - a bonus perspective might help you a bit with your dilemma ( one of the best dilemmas ever... ) LCI pros: -the new m sport leather seats with blue stitching are awesome!!! -there is a new part of ambient lightning under the center console (hifi/AC) which is not a big deal but still pretty. ( the original ambient lightning is pretty good too ) - led lights as standard ( the only thing that bothered me a bit with my pre LCI GT was the turning light bulb but it's not a big deal either) - engine modification for the 325d and 328i (330i)+ 335i (340) (there was an upgrade for the 320d before the LCI) Cons: -to be honest this is not much for a facelift - I like the original tail lights better - the pre facelift model is a totally complete package, the GT is so rare that many people doesn't even recognize it. There was one thing in the first GTs that was weird a bit --- yes... the cupholder... but it was changed before the facelift. If I were you, my decision would depend mostly on the engine options. If you are interested in a 4/6 cylinder petrol then I would definitely take the facelift. 328i is great too but if you have a newer version with the facelift - then hell - why not? If it's diesel power time then I would go with the pre facelift ( unless it's a 325d) . Idrive 4.0 is still one of the bests on the market so I think that it's not a loss at all to choose that. PS.: It doesn't matter which one you choose, the GT will blow your world - believe me. After 8 months and 25k kms I'm still jumping behind the wheels with a satisfied smile on my face and cruise as much as possible. I still have the same excitement that I had at the beginning. Last edited by Skald; 10-25-2016 at 10:48 AM..
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10-25-2016, 11:03 AM	#5
insanecoder Banned 1412 Rep 3,211 Posts Drives: 340isDrive Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast USA iTrader: (0)	If you just want a BMW.. I'd think you could get a better deal on 2016s and that extra year of maintenance is good for a gal (not to be sexist) unless u are a DIY maintainer..
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10-25-2016, 02:34 PM	#7
JerseyGirl123 New Member 9 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 3 series GT Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Thanks all! You have been super helpful! I'm going to go with the 2016.
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10-26-2016, 02:29 PM	#8
kbsilver Captain 142 Rep 634 Posts Drives: 340GT & '22 eDrive40 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (0)	A bit late here but we already did our Euro delivery on a 340GT (have not received it yet in the US). There is no touchscreen on the iDrive, but it does have the advanced menu system that was first introduced in the 7 series. LED lights are nice (once we get the auto features turned back on that are disabled for the US). While the engine is brand new for the GT, it has been in other models already thus some real world use already.
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10-26-2016, 06:46 PM	#10
bmw-again First Lieutenant 76 Rep 381 Posts Drives: 17 440xi GC-15 X1 xline Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Illinois iTrader: (1)	I was at dealer yesterday getting prepared to order 17 440GC turn this GT back in and the 16's they are giving great deals to get rid of them. 16's I am seeing some at over 10% off MSRP and on 340's I have heard people getting more than that. Unfortunately the 16 435 GC's are all but gone on dealer lots. 16 428 GC's are still out there. They want these off lots to make room for 17's. Save yourself some cash and get a 16 you should get one at a really good price. GOOD LUCK!
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11-09-2016, 09:59 PM	#11
JerseyGirl123 New Member 9 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 3 series GT Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Just an FYI - I ended up getting 12% off the MSRP on the 2016.
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11-17-2016, 02:53 AM	#12
bmw-again First Lieutenant 76 Rep 381 Posts Drives: 17 440xi GC-15 X1 xline Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Illinois iTrader: (1)	Hey congrats I am happy for you good job!
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11-17-2016, 04:53 AM	#13
rapid64k Captain 284 Rep 964 Posts Drives: GT 330D M Sport Plus Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Bucks iTrader: (0)	Nice. __________________ E46, F30 lastest F34 GT 330D M-Sport Plus
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11-17-2016, 09:45 AM	#16
JerseyGirl123 New Member 9 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 3 series GT Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	For 2017, you get 3 years of free maintenance and the 2016's give you 4 years of maintenance. However, the 2017 free maintenance is not as comprehensive. I believe it does not include brakes and brake pads and maybe a few other things. My understanding for 2017 is that it's basically oil changes and some other non-wear-and-tear type parts. They call the 2017 plan the Ultimate Care plan and the 2016 plan is called the Maintenance Program.
	Appreciate 1 Skald55.00 Quote