Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Viral_Jim]

As part of today's BMW Shrewsbury service, I had a very nice man try to do a bit of up-selling by way of my courtesy car, given the RRP, I think he's going to be disappointed, but still, not a bad thing to knock about in for the day...

https://i.imgur.com/Q3buRNa.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iiKmzuz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xABVlr9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/DLPPC69.jpg

The car feels a world away from mine, much more plush inside, but also it feels heavier, much less chuckable, despite being a RWD car, the steering feels extremely heavy and yet somehow devoid of feel, but it has a nice stereo and refused to dip below 40mpg despite some effort on my part.

[deviator]

It's possibly got electric power steering, or electric assisted hydraulic steering. It can feel weird.

[VXL V6]

Like the exterior, hate the interior 

[YZ250]

Although some think the interior is bland, the user friendliness of the steering wheel controls is brilliant. My BMW, when compared to my Audi, is much more user friendly for things like the manual speed limiter/cruise control/stereo/radio etc. All done with just your thumbs, no stupid stalk etc.
The virtual cockpit is a love or hate thing, but does show a lot more info than analogue dials, plus when on nav mode it's right in front of you. Cameras front and rear are fairly standard now, plus 360 overhead parking view. I have front bumper side cameras, which are great for seeing if it's clear when trying to pull out of a hedge lined narrow road in Cornwall. 
They are nice cars to drive, regardless of what people think of them. 

[TheBoy]

Like the exterior, hate the interior 

Not liking the interior either. Just seems a bit overly fussy.

[TheBoy]

They are nice cars to drive, regardless of what people think of them. 

Drive the best of all the Germans, if only they would put some suspension on them, instead of the spine mangling concrete blocks.

[Doctor Gollum]

SE spec F30 rides nicely, even with 19"s

It's just that most people fall for the marketing wank of the sporty models... M Sport/AMG/S-Line etc.

[TheBoy]

SE spec F30 rides nicely, even with 19"s

I find all of them too firm for RWD. And with RWD it doesn't need to be.  Unless its an M3, in which case all is forgiven.

[amba]

Good man for being tuned to Planet Rock

[YZ250]

SE spec F30 rides nicely, even with 19"s

It's just that most people fall for the marketing wank of the sporty models... M Sport/AMG/S-Line etc.

Guilty as charged on both of them. 

M Sport Plus actually, so I get the 19's, blue calipers and Pro Nav, coz then it looks wicked innit. 
The Audi runs on 20's, but feels softer suspension-wise than the beemer, but I will admit, if a pothole is deep and large, the resulting spine jarring bang through the steering makes you wonder how the alloys survive. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Probably because the engine is sticking out of the front bumper on the Audi

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Nice looking car that isn't 'shouty'

What does it have under the bonnet?

[VXL V6]

SE spec F30 rides nicely, even with 19"s

I find all of them too firm for RWD. And with RWD it doesn't need to be.  Unless its an M3, in which case all is forgiven.

Trouble is, SE's are rather spartan when it comes to creature comforts whereas MSport's have a few more of the basics... Even then, as a daily driver, you'd want the business edition extra's and you'd still be lacking some of the standard basics of a 2003 Omega.

[YZ250]

SE spec F30 rides nicely, even with 19"s

I find all of them too firm for RWD. And with RWD it doesn't need to be.  Unless its an M3, in which case all is forgiven.

Trouble is, SE's are rather spartan when it comes to creature comforts whereas MSport's have a few more of the basics... Even then, as a daily driver, you'd want the business edition extra's and you'd still be lacking some of the standard basics of a 2003 Omega.

What sort of equipment would you be needing Andy. I have a load of menus but don't use a fraction of them as I don't need them, but there may be stuff on there that would be of use to you. I know mine has calendar sync, concierge services, google and two phones symaltaniously connection capability. You can sit in a hotel room plotting the next days business route and send the route from your laptop to the vehicle nav system. Just accept in the car as navigation and off you go. It also has e-connect, so if you have a severe crash the sensors react accordingly, the car will wait for you to place a distress call. If you don't make a call they will call you on the vehicle sim, and if you don't respond they hit the emergency button and pinpoint the vehicle position to the emergency services.
To be honest, most of the time I only use google when I'm away from home to pinpoint the nearest take-away. You just ask the car verbally to give a list of Chinese take-always for example, and it lists them in order of nearest first. You choose one from the list (there are reviews as well) and the car will ask if you want to dial your selection. Once you've ordered, the nav will guide you there. It's all so user orientated. This could explain why a lot of bmw's crash, as they're too busy ordering food on the move.   
The bigger engines get memory seats/mirrors as standard, excluding rear view mirror. Oh, and it parks itself if anyone wants unnecessary shite like that. 

[VXL V6]

I'm looking at the 5 series but a fair few years older due to budget and the fact i'll put over 30K a year on it in my job so over 4-5 years I expect it to become relatively worthless. The improved technology on modern cars is a massive step forward from Omega's etc, which is most welcome, but it's more the practical things that seem to be lacking - split fold rear seats, memory seats linked to rear view / wing mirrors. That said, the overall package is as close as I can get to what I want after years of looking 

I did take a long look at the XF but the boot floor is too high and the boot too shallow for work, it's opening is also restrictive and I really wouldn't consider an estate to get around a flawed saloon design!