[Dave_3]

I had the inkling that the tracking wasn't totally correct in the 430D so got a full KDS carried out recently.

Glad I did. It is much more planted now, and less fidgety. Always seemed to want to drift slightly to the right before. Annoying when you wind off lock not sure which direction it will settle to. Rear toe was slightly out (from the factory).

I had a quick blast up to the Alps on Saturday, and stayed overnight.

The 430D is great fun now. Pootling down the Autobahn, then up the smaller winding roads with full 180 degree hairpins and switch-backs.

The VSS steering really feels fine now - with the tracking making placing it much more natural, while turn in with the quick rack of the VSS is great fun. Point and go. Really, really tight feeling now. Weighting through the tight corners or sitting on the Autobahn, while different, both feel perfect.

Coupled with the adaptive suspension I was enjoying carving up and around the hairpins effortlessly. Never once felt the need to switch to Sport mode. Just lovely thrust and fluid, crisp handling. I felt comfortable leaning into corners now. A few cars that were following soon faded away .... Not by driving like a looney, just by being able to carry good speed comfortably around the corners.

Compared with my old E92 335D I enjoyed the 430D more. The handling is in a different league. Whereas the E92 would crash and hop the F32 just sweeps around bends, somehow still staying remarkably flat and beautifully fluid. Feels more playful and fun, and no wincing.

The 8 speed means the gearbox always seems to be right in the torque band and quite simply black magic the way it adapted to spirited uphill driving to then limousine faultless smoothness as I cruised innocently into town, then adjusted well when going back down the hill. No jerks, jolts or thinking I was in the wrong gear. Paradoxically only noticeable, because it was faultless. And I still have to check when sitting at tick-over to see if ASS has cut in, it is just so smooth through the controls for a Diesel.

I would say that the 335D certainly had more power outright, and a larger rev range to explore. But with the new 8 speed box I don't really notice that anymore.

The Msport brakes have a great meaty feel to them, really noticed them when coming back down. No trace of fade. Gives great confidence when you know you have braking power in reserve.

Great weekend. Enjoying the 430D more and more. It is a great GT car.

Still mulling over the PPK, but would hate to lose any of the present refinement, and all-round competence that I have now.

D.

[dopper99]

Nice write-up!

Did your old E92 have run flats fitted? That is half the problem with E9x's.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Nice write up, sounds like the 8AT is well suited for that driving.