[DieselRocket]

I can't believe it's finally happening ... my car is arriving at the dealers on Monday and I'm collecting Wednesday or Thursday

Now where are those sleeping tablets ...

[M40WST]

As promised pictures of the loaner I have got - A 62 Plate X1 XDrive20d MSport. I surprised at how well it shifts! Took a bit of getting used to driving an automatic though. The heated seats came in handy this morning.









They are going to let me know at 11 when the post come in whether the DVLA docs have come through or not. Hopefully Good News but still expecting to be driving this until tomorrow!

[MarkW83]

Fingers crossed re. the DVLA, but at least you don't have much of a wait left though!

Nice to see a dealer demonstrator with coral red seats, they usually go for black

[MarkW83]

Just phoned for an update on mine, last was 10th which was 9605 "pre-eu port of exit", I now have, as of today, 9610, "port of exit". Not sure what the difference is?!

[M40WST]

Hopefully that means the car will be in the UK in 2 or 3 days . I know my car was in the country not that long after they told me it was at port of exit.

Does look nice with the Red seats, looks very well spec'd its got what looks like a pro nav

Never thought i'd like an X1, but happy to be in it until I can get my hands on mine!

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by M40WST

Hopefully that means the car will be in the UK in 2 or 3 days . I know my car was in the country not that long after they told me it was at port of exit.

Does look nice with the Red seats, looks very well spec'd its got what looks like a pro nav

Never thought i'd like an X1, but happy to be in it until I can get my hands on mine!

Excellent, I've just also read that 9610 means "at customer at port in Germany"; does that likely mean it'll be boarding a ship today?

My girlfriend has always fancied an X6, but the higher costs for a car that is a lot less powerful, has much worse economy, and will be much worse handling, unfortunately didn't draw me to it :P

[M40WST]

I would have thought so, my dealer told me that once at that status it doesnt change until it hits the UK, which I believe at the moment will be entry to southampton. not sure how often the ships move between germany and the uk though.

I know what you mean the X1 is nice but wouldn't draw me away from my F30 :P

[MarkW83]

I hadn't really ever taken interest in a 3 Series saloon until the F30, didn't like the styling of the E90 compared with the E92, and it was a bit bland. But I think the F30 looks really fresh - inside and out - and it was time for something a bit more practical than the coupés I've always had

Then when looking further into it, it was obvious why the saloon is so popular, it's pretty much perfect, the best of all worlds: practical with good space and 4 doors, but not too big; comfortable, but sporty at the same time; great performance, but also great economy; and relatively inexpensive for what you get, compared with others. It just feels "right"...looking forward to my first 3 Series Saloon (actually my first car - after 8 - with more than 3 doors!!)

[M40WST]

Yep I was sold before I had the test drive, but after the test drive which in my area was a really good mix of roads I was completely sold!!

I've always been a coupe fan, but like yourself wanted something that was the best of 'All' Worlds and as you say the 3 Series Saloon just feels right

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by MarkW83

Excellent, I've just also read that 9610 means "at customer at port in Germany"; does that likely mean it'll be boarding a ship today?

My girlfriend has always fancied an X6, but the higher costs for a car that is a lot less powerful, has much worse economy, and will be much worse handling, unfortunately didn't draw me to it :P

Done yourself a favor, mine was "HUGE"

[M40WST]

Going to pick it up now

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Done yourself a favor, mine was "HUGE"

Looks good John, but yes definitely a beast!

[M40WST]

a few photos now im back at work, she's lovely

[MarkW83]

Looking good mate, bet you're one happy chappy today I saw three F30s on my travels yesterday, and all were white Definitely suits the car.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Very nice car, enjoy

[RichardM]

Are they the winter wheels you mentioned you were getting!

[M40WST]

Thanks Guys, yes one very happy chappy

Yep they are the 16inch Steel's running Bridgestone Blizzaks, the car drives nice with them on. not as visually appealling as alloys but they don't look horrible in my eyes so they'll do the job in the winter and keep the alloys nice for the summer

[MarkW83]

I can't decide whether to have my Blizzaks fitted for when I pick the car up or not; "against" is that they obviously affect the handling of the car (squirmy) as well as lighten up the steering in my experience of them on the 135i, so I won't get a proper feel for the ride/handling/steering of the car for months; "for" is that obviously the temps are very low at the moment with snow/ice about, so the winter tyres would be the more sensible option, and the evening I'm likely picking it up I'm taking my family to a meal in a country pub up winding roads etc!! Hmm...

[M40WST]

You do have a dilemma there, the main thing that would sway me to the winters at the moment is that the weather keeps saying there could be a dump of snow at any minute.

If that happened with the Winters you'd get there, With the summers you'd probably not get off the end of your road!!

Still its all if, buts and maybe's so maybe have it on the summers for a few days and arrange for them to put the winters on the following weekend?

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by M40WST

You do have a dilemma there, the main thing that would sway me to the winters at the moment is that the weather keeps saying there could be a dump of snow at any minute.

If that happened with the Winters you'd get there, With the summers you'd probably not get off the end of your road!!

Still its all if, buts and maybe's so maybe have it on the summers for a few days and arrange for them to put the winters on the following weekend?

Thanks; I'd actually be happy with just a day on the "proper" tyres to see what it's like I wonder if they fact they'll be brand new summer tyres comes into it: full tread, so better in the snow etc. than if they weren't brand new?

[M40WST]

That's a good point, would possibly be ok. I'm no tyre expert but I believe the compounds are different which why the winters work better below 7 degrees

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by MarkW83

Thanks; I'd actually be happy with just a day on the "proper" tyres to see what it's like I wonder if they fact they'll be brand new summer tyres comes into it: full tread, so better in the snow etc. than if they weren't brand new?

I had mine for a day or so on the 19" sport wheels Mark, then changed them myself at home to the Dunlop winter sports, TBH the car handles very well on them maybe because they are 245/18/45 all round, but I am not pushing the car much in these conditions.