New to BMW

Marty123 · 02-03-2016, 07:08 AM

Hi all, we are currently waiting on our new 3 GT 320D Motorsport model in Mineral grey. This is a new direction for us having never owned a BMW and having driven larger (for the UK any way) 4X4s for the last 9 years.

We managed to buy a pre registered car with 9 miles on the clock with an auto gearbox, the M Sport plus package (M Sport Brakes, 598M 19 inch alloys, Sun protection glass, Xenon headlamps with wash and the Harman/Kardon speakers), the professional Media package, heated front seats and folding auto dim mirrors. In addition there was a service package already on the car. In all very happy.

We enquired about the rear view camera as a retrofit but having been quoted £1300 I think we will need to live without it.

Now for some questions which I hope you can help with, having looked through the forums there seem to be a large number of problems with wheels buckling or cracking, are the wheels really that fragile ?

Do the doors auto lock when you reach a certain speed and unlock when the car is put in park ? If not is this a function that can be set ? We have this with out current car, from a security point of view its great.

If anyone can think of any bits of information for a new owner please let me know.

Billfitz · 02-03-2016, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty123

Now for some questions which I hope you can help with, having looked through the forums there seem to be a large number of problems with wheels buckling or cracking, are the wheels really that fragile ?

That problem stems mainly from low aspect ratio tires. Their shorter sidewalls put less rubber, and air, between road hazards and the wheels. I live in pothole country, so I made sure I got 17 inch wheels and 225/55 tires to minimize the potential for damage.

Quote:

We enquired about the rear view camera as a retrofit but having been quoted £1300 I think we will need to live without it

They're indispensable IME, but I'd rather pay 1/10 that amount for an add-on and live with having a separate screen.

sushkr · 02-03-2016, 08:37 AM

On one hand BMW is developing mirrorless technology (cameras in place of sideview mirrors also):

http://www.cnet.com/news/bmw-ditches...camera-system/

On the other, they are stingy with rear view cameras. Can't seem to understand why they still keep those as an option.

sushkr · 02-03-2016, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty123

Now for some questions which I hope you can help with, having looked through the forums there seem to be a large number of problems with wheels buckling or cracking, are the wheels really that fragile ?

Do the doors auto lock when you reach a certain speed and unlock when the car is put in park ? If not is this a function that can be set ? We have this with out current car, from a security point of view its great.

If anyone can think of any bits of information for a new owner please let me know.

I am not aware of wheels buckling or cracking specific to BMW 3-GT. If you dig for such problems, I am sure you could find someone mentioning a similar problem for almost any type of car.

Yes, door auto lock almost instantaneously as your drive. ***But, they don't unlock as you park. At least I don't know of a way to make them unlock automatically as you park. As much as I know, BMW chooses to keep it this way, one of the bimmer quirks, a safety feature as they call it lest you may get robbed at a gas station. To top that off, you have to unlock the door handle twice to open the door. I learned to live with it long time ago. ***

Billfitz · 02-03-2016, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sushkr

On one hand BMW is developing mirrorless technology

Nissan will have those too, and they won't be the last.
http://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ni...-with-cameras/

Quote:

On the other, they are stingy with rear view cameras. Can't seem to understand why they still keep those as an option.

They won't be an option only for long.

DJHakim · 02-03-2016, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty123

Do the doors auto lock when you reach a certain speed and unlock when the car is put in park ? If not is this a function that can be set ?

It is possible to re-program the BMW to unlock as you wish (or something close). Some on this forum actually go that far, but there is risk of voiding your warranty, and of course you have to get the right person/resources to get it done.

allachie9 · 02-03-2016, 11:01 AM

Hi Marty,
Congratulations on joining the rather exclusive 3GT club. Sounds like a well specced car, and of course in the best colour !

I'm currently driving my second 3GT and, overall my 7th BMW and I've never had the slightest problem with wheels on any of them, so don't worry.
The rear view camera is nice and handy. I had it on my previous 328i GT and have gone one better with Surround View on my new 335i GT, but I'm not sure I'd want to pay what you've been quoted to retrofit the rear view camera. It looks from the spec that 320D M Sport comes with rear parking sensors anyway, so just use those.

Ronstein · 02-04-2016, 03:21 AM

Welcome to the GT club. Top choice and the (second) best colour ;-)

Wheel buckling (especially on rubbish British roads) will always be an issue with low profile tyres. I've got the standard 225/50 R18 - 255/45 R18 setup on mine and it handles great and rides better than the loaner I had running on 19's.

Door release when you stop is just a press of the button under the hazard switch.

rapid64k · 02-04-2016, 06:10 AM

My door releases when I turn the car off.

tores · 02-04-2016, 09:13 AM

Hi Marty.

Congratulations with your new F34, hope you will enjoy it, I certainly do with mine!

*Tires. I have had one 3 series with original 18"(E91) and two with original 19" (F31/F34). I drive a lot and the roads in Norway are not exactly the best either. To my opinion the original rims are not fragile at all.

*As mentioned earlier the door lock after you have started driving can be configured in the menu. On my Norwegian spec car they open after I have pressed the stop button. I the car is still running I have to tap the door handle twice.

Tore.

Billfitz · 02-04-2016, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tores

I drive a lot and the roads in Norway are not exactly the best either.

I'd be willing to bet that what a Norwegian calls a poor road a New Yorker would call smooth as silk.

Marty123 · 02-04-2016, 04:01 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies. We were hoping to pick the car up this weekend but it looks like it will be next weekend now. Can't wait now !!

rapid64k · 02-05-2016, 05:52 AM

You will really enjoy the vehicle.

The GT is a great car ignore people who think a car should look a certain way.

jacf34 · 03-16-2016, 01:10 AM

Hi all, this is my 3 week of owning this gorgeous bit of kit. I'm from the UK and have all the m sport kit apart from reverse camera and I can say I love the look. Feel and style of the car.

I'm also liking the fact that there does not seem to be many on the road. The only other one I have seen was being driven out of the bmw showroom (does that count?)

02-03-2016, 07:08 AM	#1
Marty123 New Member 13 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 320D GT Motorpsort Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	New to BMW Hi all, we are currently waiting on our new 3 GT 320D Motorsport model in Mineral grey. This is a new direction for us having never owned a BMW and having driven larger (for the UK any way) 4X4s for the last 9 years. We managed to buy a pre registered car with 9 miles on the clock with an auto gearbox, the M Sport plus package (M Sport Brakes, 598M 19 inch alloys, Sun protection glass, Xenon headlamps with wash and the Harman/Kardon speakers), the professional Media package, heated front seats and folding auto dim mirrors. In addition there was a service package already on the car. In all very happy. We enquired about the rear view camera as a retrofit but having been quoted £1300 I think we will need to live without it. Now for some questions which I hope you can help with, having looked through the forums there seem to be a large number of problems with wheels buckling or cracking, are the wheels really that fragile ? Do the doors auto lock when you reach a certain speed and unlock when the car is put in park ? If not is this a function that can be set ? We have this with out current car, from a security point of view its great. If anyone can think of any bits of information for a new owner please let me know.
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02-03-2016, 08:37 AM	#3
sushkr Private First Class 29 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 2015 335i xDrive GT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Pennsylvania, USA iTrader: (0)	On one hand BMW is developing mirrorless technology (cameras in place of sideview mirrors also): http://www.cnet.com/news/bmw-ditches...camera-system/ On the other, they are stingy with rear view cameras. Can't seem to understand why they still keep those as an option.
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02-03-2016, 11:01 AM	#7
allachie9 Grumpy Old Man 1334 Rep 1,306 Posts Drives: G30 520i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: North East Scotland iTrader: (0)	Hi Marty, Congratulations on joining the rather exclusive 3GT club. Sounds like a well specced car, and of course in the best colour ! I'm currently driving my second 3GT and, overall my 7th BMW and I've never had the slightest problem with wheels on any of them, so don't worry. The rear view camera is nice and handy. I had it on my previous 328i GT and have gone one better with Surround View on my new 335i GT, but I'm not sure I'd want to pay what you've been quoted to retrofit the rear view camera. It looks from the spec that 320D M Sport comes with rear parking sensors anyway, so just use those. __________________ Alan
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02-04-2016, 03:21 AM	#8
Ronstein Captain 416 Rep 941 Posts Drives: 2019 640i GT MSport Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Wiltshire iTrader: (0)	Welcome to the GT club. Top choice and the (second) best colour ;-) Wheel buckling (especially on rubbish British roads) will always be an issue with low profile tyres. I've got the standard 225/50 R18 - 255/45 R18 setup on mine and it handles great and rides better than the loaner I had running on 19's. Door release when you stop is just a press of the button under the hazard switch.
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02-04-2016, 06:10 AM	#9
rapid64k Captain 284 Rep 964 Posts Drives: GT 330D M Sport Plus Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Bucks iTrader: (0)	My door releases when I turn the car off. __________________ E46, F30 lastest F34 GT 330D M-Sport Plus
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02-04-2016, 09:13 AM	#10
tores Private 37 Rep 71 Posts Drives: F 34 M sport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	Hi Marty. Congratulations with your new F34, hope you will enjoy it, I certainly do with mine! Tires. I have had one 3 series with original 18"(E91) and two with original 19" (F31/F34). I drive a lot and the roads in Norway are not exactly the best either. To my opinion the original rims are not fragile at all. As mentioned earlier the door lock after you have started driving can be configured in the menu. On my Norwegian spec car they open after I have pressed the stop button. I the car is still running I have to tap the door handle twice. Tore. __________________ 2015 320 Xd GT F34 M Sport 2012 320 d F31 M Sport 2009 318 d E91 M Sport
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02-04-2016, 04:01 PM	#12
Marty123 New Member 13 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 320D GT Motorpsort Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone for your replies. We were hoping to pick the car up this weekend but it looks like it will be next weekend now. Can't wait now !!
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02-05-2016, 05:52 AM	#13
rapid64k Captain 284 Rep 964 Posts Drives: GT 330D M Sport Plus Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Bucks iTrader: (0)	You will really enjoy the vehicle. The GT is a great car ignore people who think a car should look a certain way. __________________ E46, F30 lastest F34 GT 330D M-Sport Plus
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03-16-2016, 01:10 AM	#14
jacf34 New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 3 Series GT M Sport Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Hemel Hemstead iTrader: (0)	Hi all, this is my 3 week of owning this gorgeous bit of kit. I'm from the UK and have all the m sport kit apart from reverse camera and I can say I love the look. Feel and style of the car. I'm also liking the fact that there does not seem to be many on the road. The only other one I have seen was being driven out of the bmw showroom (does that count?)
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