[RickLS7]

You use a car wash?

Swirltastic!

[NotGotABimmer23]

Originally Posted by JLR1969

I drove a 5 Series Touring once and hated it, felt like it was a mile long and very un-inspirational. I hate all estate/touring's though

I don't think the actual price difference on a 5 series is a million miles away from a 3 series after discounts, a lot more kit as standard on a 5.

If I was specking merino leather on a 3 I would do the same on a 5

I don't think its as black and white as either a poverty spec 5 v fully loaded 3

You cant get merino in the 5, only nappa, and thats 2 grand. Assuming the same level of discount (20%) the 540i touring would be 12 grand more than the 340i touring i ordered with the same options. Its gfv is approx 4k higher, so you are paying 8k more depreciation which is circa £200pm with interest. Massively more expensive.

Is the 5 better equipped than a shadow 3, no i dont think it is. And options cost more, adaptive suspension is double the price for example.

[NotGotABimmer23]

Originally Posted by VR 46 Fan

Quite agree with the comments regarding refinement of the F3x , road noise on 19" withRFTs is horrendous. Great to drive, but not a comfortable car to travel in. Should have been more perseptive on the road test when purchasing, my fault entirely. If I had been thinking straight I would have tested a 5, but was suffering from brain fade.
Used silent cote insulation on entire boot floor, rear arches and under rear seat. Didn't appear to make any difference to noise levels at all.
Regards

Proper tyres on smaller rims would make a huge difference.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by kylemacca01

You cant get merino in the 5, only nappa, and thats 2 grand. Assuming the same level of discount (20%) the 540i touring would be 12 grand more than the 340i touring i ordered with the same options. Its gfv is approx 4k higher, so you are paying 8k more depreciation which is circa £200pm with interest. Massively more expensive.

Is the 5 better equipped than a shadow 3, no i dont think it is. And options cost more, adaptive suspension is double the price for example.

There are differences, like xDrive being part of the standard 540i spec.

Even something like the adaptive suspension option, 5-series EDC is much more sophisticated and advanced than a 3-series.

5-series costs more, for sure, but there is more for your money.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by kylemacca01

Proper tyres on smaller rims would make a huge difference.

But most 3-series users prefer 'fashion over form', NVH is further down the list of priorities than for 5-series users.

[Lynxi2k]

Should we just re-title these threads 'I bought the wrong car' and be done with it? Seen the 3 compared to an A6 and a 5 series :

They do a faster sportier 5... the M5

The 335d is the fastest 3series with a lower price point than the equivalent 5 and hence less refinement. 3 is generally for driving more enthusiastically and the 5 for wafting around.

I want my 3 series to be another car seems to be a common thread here, does no-one research or test drive cars anymore?

[chris-c]

When I was looking I noticed many subtle differences between the 3 and 5s. The 5s just have a pile of extra nice touches. Some thinks like the deadening are great whilst others like the auto luggage mount cover sliding when you open the boot are just "nice" things but make the difference.

I personally wanted a high spec car kit wise so couldn't go for a 5 due to budget but the differences are worth it if you can afford it.

[JLR1969]

Originally Posted by kylemacca01

You cant get merino in the 5, only nappa, and thats 2 grand. Assuming the same level of discount (20%) the 540i touring would be 12 grand more than the 340i touring i ordered with the same options. Its gfv is approx 4k higher, so you are paying 8k more depreciation which is circa £200pm with interest. Massively more expensive.

Is the 5 better equipped than a shadow 3, no i dont think it is. And options cost more, adaptive suspension is double the price for example.

Would have looked at another car myself or used if the differences is that big.

I just couldn't live with a 3 having had a 5 for 2 years.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Do we really expect a 3-series to be as refined? Designed for a different market segment where lack of noise is not such an issue.

You're right, it's a bit unfair to expect a 3-series to be as refined as 5-series. Having said that I do think there's quite a lot of road noise (and that's after having ditched the Bridgestone run-flats for a set of conventional AS2's!) so I suppose the question is how does the 3-series compare in that regard against the likes of the A4, C-class and Jag XE? Not driven the current versions of any of them but to me they're more the standard against which the 3-series ought to be judged.

On the build quality issue, perhaps I've been lucky with mine but I've had no squeaks or rattles whatsoever in 3 and a bit years and 52k miles. Again, don't know how the quality of the plastics compares to Aldi, Merc and Jag; suspect the A4 might be a bit better but would be slightly surprised if either of the others was a massive improvement over the F3x.

[happycow6171]

should have bought a golf r

[JLR1969]

Originally Posted by happycow6171

should have bought a golf r

My brother has just bought a 2014 Skoda VRs and that has better refinement than a 3 series, interior also surprisingly good.

[Junebug85]

Originally Posted by kylemacca01

Proper tyres on smaller rims would make a huge difference.

Does running 19" wheels with non run flats cancel out a lot road noise? I just thought they made the cabin in the 3 less insulated/padded then the 5...

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Junebug85

Does running 19" wheels with non run flats cancel out a lot road noise? I just thought they made the cabin in the 3 less insulated/padded then the 5...

I suspect the wheel size probably doesn't make a lot of difference where noise levels are concerned; my car's on 18" wheels with conventional tyres and - IMHO - there's still quite a lot of road noise.

In fairness the move away from Bridgestone run-flats did improve things but I'd still say the relatively high level of road noise does more to compromise refinement than anything else; when you're cruising on a motorway engine and wind noise pale into insignificance in comparison!

[tjlees]

Originally Posted by thelowkick

Quality of interior.
Going from 5 series I guess I should expect a little drop but sweet Christ, it's like going from Merc to VW. Poor quality plastic galore. It doesn't feel like one step drop from f11 - more like 2 or 3. Soooo disappointing.

A.

Disagree - I have a VW Golf - the interior of the f30 is actually worse than the Golf!

The LCI is slightly better - but you need to spec merino seats and dash (~£2k option)

Looks, Tech, handling and performance is where they spent the money - they ran out when it came sound deadening and interior finish - or they a did this deliberately for f10 and f30 separation.

[Mottok]

Originally Posted by tjlees

Disagree - I have a VW Golf - the interior of the f30 is actually worse than the Golf!

The LCI is slightly better - but you need to spec merino seats and dash (~£2k option)

Looks, Tech, handling and performance is where they spent the money - they ran out when it came sound deadening and interior finish - or they a did this deliberately for f10 and f30 separation.

Agree about the road noise although it’s was the same in my z4 until I got rid of the run flats, hoping the same will be true when I do the same on the f30. Got to say though i’ve Always found the inside of the golfs or any vw to be boring, all subjective though I suppose.

[harvs43]

Originally Posted by Lynxi2k

Should we just re-title these threads 'I bought the wrong car' and be done with it? Seen the 3 compared to an A6 and a 5 series :

They do a faster sportier 5... the M5

The 335d is the fastest 3series with a lower price point than the equivalent 5 and hence less refinement. 3 is generally for driving more enthusiastically and the 5 for wafting around.

I want my 3 series to be another car seems to be a common thread here, does no-one research or test drive cars anymore?

Totally agree..... its not the cars fault you are finding easy to spot issues. Do thorough research and make an informed choice.

[chris-c]

Also not quite sure where the "335d is the fastest 3 series" gets their information from. Sure its quick to 60 but "fastest" I don't think so.

[JD6]

Originally Posted by Bibbles

The sound is fantastic, loud enough but a little more grown up than the 340i MPPSK with less pops and bangs. For the small BHP gain it's actually very impressive as it gives more torque in all the right places and the car now pulls much harder and is more akin to the remapped 335d I had previously.

Interesting thanks. I hadn't realised it was even available for the G3x. The listed bhp gain seems rather modest, but good to hear that it makes a difference.

[XAlp]

No trim rattles yet in my F31 335d at 43000 miles thankfully.

Had a new 520d Touring Msport whilst in for service - much quieter and more refined but felt like a slug in comparison. Getting back in mine was a step down, but the speed returned the smile to my face!

[1966-TR4]

Originally Posted by tjlees

Disagree - I have a VW Golf - the interior of the f30 is actually worse than the Golf!

The LCI is slightly better - but you need to spec merino seats and dash (~£2k option)

Looks, Tech, handling and performance is where they spent the money - they ran out when it came sound deadening and interior finish - or they a did this deliberately for f10 and f30 separation.

Handling? Pretty much the worst handling car I've owned, thank goodness I bought it for the engine/gearbox/awd

[JLR1969]

Originally Posted by XAlp

No trim rattles yet in my F31 335d at 43000 miles thankfully.

Had a new 520d Touring Msport whilst in for service - much quieter and more refined but felt like a slug in comparison. Getting back in mine was a step down, but the speed returned the smile to my face!

Not surprised given the smaller engine.

[Lynxi2k]

Originally Posted by chris-c

Also not quite sure where the "335d is the fastest 3 series" gets their information from. Sure its quick to 60 but "fastest" I don't think so.

I meant to add "diesel" but missed that off. I wasn't trying to get into the 40i/35d debate or s vs x drive or real world vs track etc

The point was more about where the engine sat in comparison to the trim. I think what happens a lot of the time is that people by a 35d because of the speed on paper couple with some good returns on mpg and on that info somehow convince themselves they are getting a cheap more practical M3/M4. And in this case I imagine the decision was made that they could get a performance engine and expected the trim to match the equivalent of another series for less money.

Had the correct research been done, it would seem the OP would have preferred a lower engine point and higher trim, ie a 5 series with less power. 0-60 probably looked appealing and expected the cabin to be the same, it isn't and this whole thread of "disappointed in a 3 series" would have been avoided, again, had a test drive or some basic research been completed.

Doesn't take much internet searching to find out there is a lot of road and wind noise in the 3 series, especially with RFT's. One sit in the car would have told the story of the cabin quality, a test drive would have told about ride comfort...

It just seems to me these threads are actually about buying the wrong car, instead of the 3 series isn't that good. Not a fan boy response, jut an observation from all the similarly themed posts. Rather than admit I bought the wrong car, the car is always to blame.

A Discovery is not as plush as a Range Rover, it's not meant to be, and it's not the cars fault you thought it would be. This Discovery is rubbish because the interior is inferior to my old range rover... same idea, ludicrous comparison.