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      08-13-2012, 04:24 PM   #1
mgarvey
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My new F30 318d Sport

Following my recent post comparing the F30 with the Merc C-Class I have now got my 318d. Pics and details below.

The car

Alpine White 318d Sport manual
18" two-tone wheels (397 style I think - really improve the look of the car)
Sun protection glass
Servotronic steering

Otherwise it is stock, the car was a showroom model that I did a deal on as I liked the look of it and the price was right.

The deal

I got a decent discount - £1500 when the part-ex given for my Mini is taken into account - plus 3.9% APR, finance charges waived and free servicing for 5 years. Not bad for a new model that is still relatively scarce. As always Danny at Wood BMW in Hook was brilliant. This is now the 4th 3 series I've bought from him and the 5th car from the dealership including my Mini.

First impressions

Amazing drive once you get used to the offset pedals again, and remember you have to manhandle the gearbox a bit - I had a few graunchy gearchanges before I did this!

As always with a BMW, it handles like it is on rails and is very fluid and rewarding to drive. What is very different to the E9x is that the ride is superb, even on standard suspension with 18" runflats. The car is supple and comfortable, and whilst the wife still grumbles that she feels car-sick, to me it is a revelation. I cannot imagine what the adaptive suspension is like, but let me put it this way, in the dealer I drove a 320d with absolutely barking mad 20" wheels that on an E90 would be a guaranteed back-breaker, and the car was really quite comfortable.

The controls are all very familiar and just work as expected, very intuitive coming from an E9x or my Mini. The new idrive controls are fairly simple and very smooth, though there are still a few options that took some finding.

The audio isn't the best, but not bad compared to what I thought it might be like.

With hindsight I may miss some of the storage and comfort options, as it is slightly lacking in pockets and nets etc, plus it doesn't have the split fold seats you'd expect in a car costing nearly £30k. I also would've liked nav and auto, but the extra £3k didn't seem worth it.

My only niggle so far is that the gearstick rattles, which you can feel more than hear, but there is a very quiet rattle that stops when you put pressure on the gear lever. If this doesn't go away soon I'll get it looked at.

The pics

The bit you've been waiting for! They were taken on my Blackberry so not brilliant but you get the gist.







Spot my Mini being driven away in the background (goodbye Mini, you'll be missed)





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Previous: F30 318d Sport, R56 MINI Dooper 2010, E93 325i M-Sport auto 2007, E91 320d SE 2005, E46 318Ci Coupe 2002

Last edited by mgarvey; 08-13-2012 at 04:30 PM..
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      08-13-2012, 05:47 PM   #2
dopper99
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Looks very nice. I just need to get more used to the front end a little more, but what I'm hearing about the F30 to drive - sounds a great car.

I bought my current E90 brand new from Wood In Hampshire too last September, got a cracking deal at the time. I think I spoke to Danny once but dealt with Glenn in the end. Also bought my previous 330d from them second hand a couple years before.
Was thinking of giving them a shout on a new 330d and see what discounts are on offer. Broadspeed are knocking over £3700 off a new 330d so if Wood could come close to that..........
I got around £5K off my current car - although a virtually outgoing model at the time of course.....
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      08-14-2012, 06:55 AM   #3
hsirk
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Simply superb! She's looking hot. How much did the alloy's cost? I'm wondering if I could have mine changed now. My delivery is due in the 1st week of Sept. Congrats again...drive safe
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      08-14-2012, 07:13 AM   #4
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I think the alloys were around £540 to upgrade, and they do improve the look of the car, without too much of a penalty on ride quality.
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      08-14-2012, 10:10 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hsirk View Post
Simply superb! She's looking hot. How much did the alloy's cost? I'm wondering if I could have mine changed now. My delivery is due in the 1st week of Sept. Congrats again...drive safe
Have a look here if you like the wheels

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2610778769...84.m1423.l2648
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      08-14-2012, 10:48 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Msporty View Post
Have a look here if you like the wheels

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2610778769...84.m1423.l2648
Yeah I've been thinking to place a bid on those for the last one week. I believe that's the price for 1 wheel isn't it. If its the price for all the 4 I'll make my way to Cambridge ASAP...lol. Maybe for now I stick with the SE alloys. Can't believe I've exceeded my budget so much. I had the Golf in mind before I stepped in to the BMW dealership for a test drive.
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      08-14-2012, 10:48 AM   #7
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Nice car by the way, and an excellent choice of colour
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F30 320d M Sport, Alpine White, Black Dakota, 19" 403M Style Alloys, Adaptive M Sport Suspension, Xenons with Visibility Pack, Interior Comfort pack, Harman/Kardon, DAB, Servotronic Steering, Heated Steering Wheel, Folding and dimming Ext. Mirrors, Heated seats with Lumbar Support, Enhanced Bluetooth with voice control, Full black panel display
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      08-14-2012, 10:50 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hsirk View Post
Yeah I've been thinking to place a bid on those for the last one week. I believe that's the price for 1 wheel isn't it. If its the price for all the 4 I'll make my way to Cambridge ASAP...lol. Maybe for now I stick with the SE alloys. Can't believe I've exceeded my budget so much. I had the Golf in mind before I stepped in to the BMW dealership for a test drive.
Think its the price for all 4! Reserve not met yet though, the seller is on here somewhere, i remember reading his post about the vibration issue he was getting on his 320d ED with them.

P.s its only money, will soon be forgotten once your in the drivers seat ;-)
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      08-15-2012, 03:03 PM   #9
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Garage List
Nice!
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      08-15-2012, 05:54 PM   #10
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Welcome back to BMW that looks SICK!!!!
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      09-02-2012, 07:56 AM   #11
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Looks good in white, and liking the Sport line red trim
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