[ken m sport]

Hi all,

I took delivery of a 318d M sport GT a month ago and thought I would post my thoughts and opinions on the car so far. This is a company car and I can drive upto 30k a year and this is mainly motorway driving. I have had various BMW over the years (1 series x 3, Z4, E92 Coupe, Minis X 2, E90 Tourer). My wife also has a Mini Countryman SD.

Spec is as follows:
318d M sport
Power Mirrors
Sun Protection Glass
19" Wheels (Style 598M)
Brushed Aluminium Trim
High-gloss Back trim finisher
Heated front seats
Xenons
Media BMW Business


So here goes:

The Good

I love the size of the car, this was the main attraction for going for a GT. Lots of space in the boot and rear passengers feel like they are in a 7 series. We have a 7 month old daughter, and it swallows everything for a week away with ease.

Love the general design and shape, I know its not to everyone cup of tea, but it looks different to a tourer or saloon (no offence to any one who has one). I could have chosen a 5 series or a 3 tourer / saloon. I just wanted something a bit different.

Like the frameless doors, neat design and the pop up spoiler (active at 70mph).

Neat 19" wheels and design and easy to clean.

Love the interior design and materials. I adopted for black gloss trim / brushed alloy finish and I feel it makes it a classy place to be. Some of the plastics are ok, but coming from my 1 series I feel this was a good trade up. Yes I could have had a 5 series (although an SE), but I love the M sport designs.

The steering wheel has a beautiful feel to it. Love the material and design.

Neat design for the underfloor boot. Managed to hide a away all the general things that need to carry.

The bad

Engine, slightly my own fault here but I opted for the 318d, to try and keep the tax down, in reality I should have gone for the 320d. Don't get me wrong at 70-80mph on the motorway in cruise it is fine, just doesn't sound the nicest engine and with five people in, you need to work it hard. I would love a 330/335d but I am not prepared to pay the co2 tax.

Sat Nav - again I should have had Pro Nav but went for the Business Nav, its ok for what I need but I still think the Business Nav in my old 1 series was better. Lesson for the future when speccing my next car.

The electronic boot release by the right foot drivers door is hidden away to well for my liking, would have liked on the dash board.

I would like an electronic handbrake. Had one in our Range Rover Evoque (only good thing about that car) and liked the idea and piece of mind, plus it de-clutters the transmission tunnel.

Faults, none to report although I had to have a new rear tyre at 550 miles as a screw destroyed the run flat.

Overall very impressed with the car, love the space, and its a bit different on the road. I have only seen 4 other 3GT's since I have taken delivery of mine and that has been over 3k of travelling across the UK.


So a big smile from me so far!!

I know the shape, design and engine choice will not be to everyone's liking but I think this is going to be a nice place to be for the next 3 years and 90k.

Any questions, happy to answer.

[Hprice1099]

Originally Posted by ken m sport

Hi all,

I took delivery of a 318d M sport GT a month ago and thought I would post my thoughts and opinions on the car so far. This is a company car and I can drive upto 30k a year and this is mainly motorway driving. I have had various BMW over the years (1 series x 3, Z4, E92 Coupe, Minis X 2, E90 Tourer). My wife also has a Mini Countryman SD.

Spec is as follows:
318d M sport
Power Mirrors
Sun Protection Glass
19" Wheels (Style 598M)
Brushed Aluminium Trim
High-gloss Back trim finisher
Heated front seats
Xenons
Media BMW Business


So here goes:

The Good

I love the size of the car, this was the main attraction for going for a GT. Lots of space in the boot and rear passengers feel like they are in a 7 series. We have a 7 month old daughter, and it swallows everything for a week away with ease.

Love the general design and shape, I know its not to everyone cup of tea, but it looks different to a tourer or saloon (no offence to any one who has one). I could have chosen a 5 series or a 3 tourer / saloon. I just wanted something a bit different.

Like the frameless doors, neat design and the pop up spoiler (active at 70mph).

Neat 19" wheels and design and easy to clean.

Love the interior design and materials. I adopted for black gloss trim / brushed alloy finish and I feel it makes it a classy place to be. Some of the plastics are ok, but coming from my 1 series I feel this was a good trade up. Yes I could have had a 5 series (although an SE), but I love the M sport designs.

The steering wheel has a beautiful feel to it. Love the material and design.

Neat design for the underfloor boot. Managed to hide a away all the general things that need to carry.

The bad

Engine, slightly my own fault here but I opted for the 318d, to try and keep the tax down, in reality I should have gone for the 320d. Don't get me wrong at 70-80mph on the motorway in cruise it is fine, just doesn't sound the nicest engine and with five people in, you need to work it hard. I would love a 330/335d but I am not prepared to pay the co2 tax.

Sat Nav - again I should have had Pro Nav but went for the Business Nav, its ok for what I need but I still think the Business Nav in my old 1 series was better. Lesson for the future when speccing my next car.

The electronic boot release by the right foot drivers door is hidden away to well for my liking, would have liked on the dash board.

I would like an electronic handbrake. Had one in our Range Rover Evoque (only good thing about that car) and liked the idea and piece of mind, plus it de-clutters the transmission tunnel.

Faults, none to report although I had to have a new rear tyre at 550 miles as a screw destroyed the run flat.

Overall very impressed with the car, love the space, and its a bit different on the road. I have only seen 4 other 3GT's since I have taken delivery of mine and that has been over 3k of travelling across the UK.


So a big smile from me so far!!

I know the shape, design and engine choice will not be to everyone's liking but I think this is going to be a nice place to be for the next 3 years and 90k.

Any questions, happy to answer.

Nice write up Ken, any pics? Don't think I've seen any descent ones of the GT

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

Good review, how's the hatch for space .

Pics

[johno]

Nice review Ken. I love these sort of posts - so useful to potential purchasers, and I'm always interested in different perspectives people have on cars.

[mactrack]

Just out of interest what did you not like about your Evoque? The only reason I ask is that I nearly bought one but chose a F10 instead.

[ken m sport]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Good review, how's the hatch for space .

Pics

Really good. I had the opportunity to do a back to back review with a tourer before I placed my order and managed more in the GT. Yes the sloping hatch does loose some space, but the boot is deep. Remember the GT is a extended chassis.

[ken m sport]

Originally Posted by mactrack

Just out of interest what did you not like about your Evoque? The only reason I ask is that I nearly bought one but chose a F10 instead.

Nice design and materials, but had more rattles than mothercare, the sat nav was a backward step. The touch screen was slow and poor.

The issues were mainly around unresolved rattles, poor paint finish and shocking dealer network. Sold when the prices were high.

[ken m sport]

Picture1

[ken m sport]

Picture 2

[ken m sport]

Originally Posted by johno

Nice review Ken. I love these sort of posts - so useful to potential purchasers, and I'm always interested in different perspectives people have on cars.

Thanks, I thought it would useful given that there isn't that many 3GT's on the roads.

[dopper99]

Ken, your picture 2 is upside down (well it is on my laptop)

[d4springer]

Good write up, very nice looking car, didn't realise they came with a pop-up spoiler! Only seen one whilst out and about, I couldn't tell it's based on the 3 series, looked good cruising up the motorway.

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

Originally Posted by d4springer

Good write up, very nice looking car, didn't realise they came with a pop-up spoiler! Only seen one whilst out and about, I couldn't tell it's based on the 3 series, looked good cruising up the motorway.

Yeah spoiler goes up at 70 or there is a manual up button but no down button.

Had one for a weekend, however at the time was limited engine range.

They are a really good drive though.