[Apl440i or 335d?]

Right oh'

I thought I would share the story so far, after picking up my F30 335d yesterday.

I decided I wanted to change my 2012 320d m sport after chaning jobs. This was because my new job is a lot closer to where I live, and requires me to travel across some busy roads in SW London every day. I wanted something with more performance, and specifically GOOD automatic gear box.

The cars I were originally looking into were a 428i OR a new Cayman 2.7.

After sitting in a 4 series, I decided that it was a bit bland, and not worth the extra money vs my e92. I then spent an afternoon at Porsche in Guildford. Where I fell in love with the new Cayman. What a gob stopping beautiful car.

I had a spec and finance agreement laid out, just waiting for me to start my new job.... THEN I found out that as a term of my car allowance, my car had to have four seats Do'h!

This changed my short list of cars to a Used Carrera (997 phase 2) OR a new F30.

I went to see a few Carreras, but due to the way the used car finance worked, the most I swing for was a 2008/ 2009 model. I looked around the one below, and was completely underwhelmed and disappointed with the fit and finish.

So, this left me with the F30. I was a little concerned as I have always had Coupe's, but as the F32 was not "special" enough for me to consider the price difference vs the E92 and F30, I decided I would stick with the F30.

As you can see from my initial short list, I was planning on getting a performance petrol, so originally I was looking at the 335i. Right up until I spoke with a salesperson at BMW Park Lane, who told me about the deals ont he 335d and the fact the 335d will be almost as good as the 335i in a straight line, with an obvious economy advantage and better residuals.

Soooooooo, I mulled it over for a few weeks, (got the go ahead from the little lady) and placed an order though BMW Barrons.

I have already spoken about the deal I got. Time line as follows.

Ordered 03.12.13. Build complete 17.12.13. Shipped over Christmas. Collected 04.01.14. Pretty quick! I then chased the dealer and BMW customer services to get it to me ASAP. I was told on Thursday, that it still had not been shipped from the port to the dealer, and I would have to wait until next weekend.... Then on Friday, my best mate (who lives next to Barrons Farnborough) sent me the photo below (car on transporter)

this turned out to be my car. So called Barrons, and told them the car was on the back of a transported outside the dealership. They did not even know, and were a little puzzled at how I knew!

So I collected yesterday at 16:30. The hand over took about an hour, where I filled in all the paperwork and got a demo of how everything worked. I left the dealer at 1730 and went for a bit of a drive.

Over the 80 mixed miles I did, the car returned 43mpg.

On the whole, I am very VERY happy with the car.

The colour choice is perfect, with the black interior and brushed ali.
You can read a review I wrote of the 335d here from when I test drove one.http://www.f30post.com/forums/showth...35d+test+drive
My views are still the same on the whole.

So finally, here are some photos of my car.

[Tengocity]

Can't believe how quickly you got your car! Interesting decision making journey you went on... from a 911 to a 4WD diesel!

I've started looking at swapping the Z4 for a 997... the other half wants back seats in the second car! Interested to hear you were underwhelmed by it...

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Can't believe how quickly you got your car! Interesting decision making journey you went on... from a 911 to a 4WD diesel!

I've started looking at swapping the Z4 for a 997... the other half wants back seats in the second car! Interested to hear you were underwhelmed by it...

I would 100% have one as a second car. The interior design and quality does not matter so much for a weekend car. However, I could not have lived with it as a daily driver. It would have bugged the hell out of me! ETTO!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Apl335d

I would 100% have one as a second car. The interior design and quality does not matter so much for a weekend car. However, I could not have lived with it as a daily driver. It would have bugged the hell out of me! ETTO!

I know what you mean, it is an early 90's design, and almost identical to the Boxster/Cayman too. I'm not sure I can justify it though as it would have to be a daily driver, rather than an weekend only car.. not sure I have deep enough pockets to run a 911 on 55 mile daily commute! I think going to an E92 330/335 will be more realistic.

The F30 as a daily driver for a dull commute is perfect though... I'm hoping the Adaptive cruise will well on the M25 in rush hour!

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Great car and choice of dealer!

I'd be interested to hear what the Cayman deal was like... I may look at the Macan next!

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Cayman was suprisingly competitive really. With £1000 deposite +£2000 dealer contribution, a low spec 2.7 pdk was around £600 pcm over 4 years.

This is a lot, but much better than I was expecting.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by Apl335d

Cayman was suprisingly competitive really. With £1000 deposite +£2000 dealer contribution, a low spec 2.7 pdk was around £600 pcm over 4 years.

This is a lot, but much better than I was expecting.

Interesting, what sort of mileage?

[Apl440i or 335d?]

8k pa. The deal was only about until end of 2013 tho...

Doubt there will be anything on the Macan for its first year or so...

[dopper99]

Very nice indeed
Another happy 335d owner.

[Pablo68]

Interesting journey! Didn't the APR on the porsche concern you? Or did you get a deal?

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

Interesting journey! Didn't the APR on the porsche concern you? Or did you get a deal?

It was 6.8%, which was not that bad...

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by Apl335d

It was 6.8%, which was not that bad...

Ok that's not too bad but still far more than I'd be prepared to pay... The Porche website is showing Cayman at 9.6%

I just specced up a Cayman 2.7 PDK to the similar spec/options as my 335i and the finance was eyewatering numbers compared to what I got from BMW. Of course it's not a Porche though

Personally I think you made the right choice of car

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Yeah, that deal ended in 2013, along with the £2000 contribution.

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by Apl335d

Yeah, that deal ended in 2013, along with the £2000 contribution.

A few miles in the F30 and all thoughts of a Porche will be long gone from your mind

[PrinceBarin]

Congrats, great looking car. A friend if mine drives a Cayman and, lovely as it is, the interior really puts me off... The new one looks much better though. Anyway, enjoy...

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Something to add to the list in a couple of years none the less.

Thanks.

[d4springer]

Nice write-up, the E92 looks good also. You seem to have the same OCD I have (both driver and passenger seat leg supports pulled forward to the same distance), or it it just me?

[DazC]

Enjoy the car buddy!

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by d4springer

Nice write-up, the E92 looks good also. You seem to have the same OCD I have (both driver and passenger seat leg supports pulled forward to the same distance), or it it just me?

It's not just you

[M4dski11z]

Looks lovely mate, such a cracking car.

Love the unveiling Barons do. They really made me feel special. Can't recommend them enough.

Ahhh the Cayman. Can't say I care for the old one at all, or the Boxster. Ugly car IMO. But the latest one. Wow...what a stunning car. There were some great lease deals on them in Q3/4 and I nearly went for one. It was the two seats that put me off in the end.

Lovely E92, I would have been hard pressed to say goodbye to that. It has even got my perfect 19s on.

I think once the F32 has the Msport+ pack and some harder looking 19" alloys it will look a lot better. By that time though, I'm sure there will be some amazing M4 deals

[d4springer]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

It's not just you

I also don't like the env control temperature display showing different on each side!

[Rich9600]

Great looking car. Love the unveiling pictures! Enjoy!