[bradsm87]

Any about? No sunroof would be a bonus but I don't like my chances!

[bradsm87]

I just missed out on one with HK Audio AND no sunroof AND M-Sport brakes. The dealer and I were only $300 apart but I stood firm. I wasn't expecting it to sell to somebody else the next day!

[ontheway]

I know it takes a little while but why not a factory order? you can still negotiate hard...

[bradsm87]

Originally Posted by ontheway

I know it takes a little while but why not a factory order? you can still negotiate hard...

Nah it's still $50k vs $83k at best for a car that's just about to be replaced with a new model and will be worth $50k in 2 years. To me, a 2-3 year old car with 20,000km is no different to a new car. If I had that kinda money, I'd get a C63 or an RS4.

I'd accept not having those option as long as it's a good price. At least $3500 cheaper than that one I missed out on.

[ontheway]

Ah. Mention of a dealer made me assume new car.

Agree that a car with 20k kms is effectively new. BMW plays a good game with the options which make second hand purchasing a little frustrating if you are after options like HK.

From what I have seen second hand availability peaks at 3 and 5 years - probably in line with leases and that is when the price really drops back to reality.

Which means the 330 hasn't quite got there yet. Happy hunting!

[bradsm87]

Originally Posted by ontheway

BMW plays a good game with the options which make second hand purchasing a little frustrating if you are after options like HK.

It certainly seems that way! It seems the salespeople are trained to push certain options because most of the ones out there are so similar! Also maybe they bring in certain option combos for the impatient buyers.

I'm not particularly happy with the best price on a few of the 330is at the moment. I'm now considering a couple of B9 A4s and going back to a 535i I was considering.

Yep you're right about the prices getting much more realistic at around 3 years old. I've waited years for used 330i prices to come down so I'm not sure I can wait any longer though. It will likely just be a stop-gap until the updated SEVS importation rules take effect then I'll look at importing a 335d xDrive or 340i.

[donR]

Why not go a 328i F31 if you want to save a bit. Very similar performance and appearance.

Great car by the way and a very enjoyable drive. Surprisingly quick with the 8spd ZF.

I think you will get better value from the F31 compared to the B9.

[ontheway]

There isn't much difference with the 330/LCI vs the 328 - since they are so rare, the lci visual differences are less obvious.

Pretty sure the SEVS/import proposals were killed off but hopefully I am wrong. There is a deep irony that the whole Takata issue will almost certainly kill easier personal imports.

I would go the 535 personally - very nice car and pretty sure you get HK from the 528 up. Used 5ers are fantastic value.

[bradsm87]

Originally Posted by donR

Why not go a 328i F31 if you want to save a bit. Very similar performance and appearance.

Great car by the way and a very enjoyable drive. Surprisingly quick with the 8spd ZF.

I think you will get better value from the F31 compared to the B9.

I've heard great things about electric power steering calibration improvement with the
LCI and same for the adaptive suspension. Also I much prefer the B48 for various reasons. I'm not hating on the N20 though. It does well.

I think at the moment, the best deal I can get on a 330i is a little better value than the best deal I can get on a B9. The asking prices vary a lot more from seller to seller of the same car than they do between the two cars. I think I'd enjoy driving the BMW more but the Audi will hold its value a little better being an all-new model.

[bradsm87]

Originally Posted by ontheway

There isn't much difference with the 330/LCI vs the 328 - since they are so rare, the lci visual differences are less obvious.

Pretty sure the SEVS/import proposals were killed off but hopefully I am wrong. There is a deep irony that the whole Takata issue will almost certainly kill easier personal imports.

I would go the 535 personally - very nice car and pretty sure you get HK from the 528 up. Used 5ers are fantastic value.

N20 vs B48 is my main reason.

New car importation was canned but proposed SEVS changes means cars like the 340i touring and 335d touring will be importable due to being not sold here and above the proposed power to weight threshold that constitutes a performance car. It's going through Parliament at the moment.

I'm a bit put off by the 5's size. In car parks, you either park forwards hard against the wall and stand out in the traffic to load the boot or you need to reverse hard against the wall to fit in the car space, not being able to open the boot. I've had a VF Commodore wagon which is the same length and that's what I found.

[ontheway]

Originally Posted by bradsm87

N20 vs B48 is my main reason.

New car importation was canned but proposed SEVS changes means cars like the 340i touring and 335d touring will be importable due to being not sold here and above the proposed power to weight threshold that constitutes a performance car. It's going through Parliament at the moment.
.

That is good news but I'm holding my breath that the vehicle importers don't find a way to stop this. I wonder how much it really costs them to add another variant to their type approval.

[HiFi]

what about a 2015 335i (sedan though) with both sunroof and HK (and nearly every other option)? its also got most of the LCI upgrades like the 5 strut suspension etc - it was built the month before the LCI started

PM me if interested as im looking at an upgrade

[bradsm87]

Originally Posted by HiFi

what about a 2015 335i (sedan though) with both sunroof and HK (and nearly every other option)? its also got most of the LCI upgrades like the 5 strut suspension etc - it was built the month before the LCI started

PM me if interested as im looking at an upgrade

The only reason I'm changing from 300rwkw E90 LCI 335i is to get wagon.

If all goes well, I'm buying an F11 LCI 535i on Monday.

[Aapparition90]

You will enjoy it just keep in mind its heavy. The ride is so sorted in the 5