[mgarvey]

Welcome, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the 330d, even if not quite as quick or tuneful as the SLK!

[beemerbird]

Welcome steve_p - nice spec. BTW

Merc. looks good.

[PhilR]

I'm kinda new - well 3 weeks old anyway

HELLO there!

I've added to a few threads and must say it's good to talk (vision of Bob Hoskins on the dog and bone) with fellow beemers alike.

dxb335d..........do you not have a job to do man (7000+ posts)

PhilR

[pete_d]

Welcome Steve! I am a similarly new member here, having just taken delivery of a nearly-new 335d Touring. Mine also has a "generous" spec: pro nav, bluetooth, adaptive lights, electric mirrors, PDC, heated memory seats, logic 7 hifi, USB, panoramic sunroof and no doubt more things I've forgotten about - I'm glad someone else paid the depreciation on that lot! Based on one days' ownership, I'm sure you'll love yours.

Interesting quote about the tax regime and attitudes relating to large engined cars. That was a key reason for me to move out of my 130i, watching values plummet as the tax went up. I'm hoping large diesels aren't so badly affected, especially since the 335d only emits 178g/km CO2, and mine has managed to average 36mpg during its previous life as a demonstrator.

The oddest thing I'm going to have to come to terms with is the lack of sensation of speed from the low revving diesel. I'm used to tuneful, high revving petrol engines, but in the 335 you put your foot down, the scenery blurs, and the speedo needle shoots around the dial. The torque curve is so flat and the auto box so smooth that there's very little to indicate just how fast it is.

Looking at your car history, are you "Steve" P the ex-TVRCC Berkshire RO who had a lovely ocean haze Griff? If so, it's a small world. I haven't been along to the TVRCC meetings regularly for a few years, but I do still have a Tuscan for sunny days

Cheerio,
Pete

[steve-p]

Hi Pete, yes that's me. When the Rover engine went out of production I was hoping TVR would buy in something like the 400 bhp Corvette LS2 engine to replace it, which is light, reliable, long service intervals, lasts forever, relatively cheap etc. They didn't, and I like V8s, so that was that for me. Maybe not just me, since they went bust eventually as sales dried up I see a few people on PH are talking about retrofitting that engine now. I nearly bought a 515 bhp Corvette Z06 at the beginning of the year but I talked myself out of it due to the high probability of something bad happening to my license in a genuine 200 mph car

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by steve-p

Hi Pete, yes that's me. When the Rover engine went out of production I was hoping TVR would buy in something like the 400 bhp Corvette LS2 engine to replace it, which is light, reliable, long service intervals, lasts forever, relatively cheap etc. They didn't, and I like V8s, so that was that for me. Maybe not just me, since they went bust eventually as sales dried up I see a few people on PH are talking about retrofitting that engine now. I nearly bought a 515 bhp Corvette Z06 at the beginning of the year but I talked myself out of it due to the high probability of something bad happening to my license in a genuine 200 mph car

and over to OFF TOPIC then or Vivski gets well mad

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by squeezebm

and over to OFF TOPIC then or Vivski gets well mad

Viv

[steve-p]

Good news and bad news today.

A dealer made a good offer for the SLK and collected it earlier. I was very sad to see it drive off up the road

On the other hand I have an allocated registration number and more importantly a firm delivery date for the BMW - the morning of Tuesday 15th April

[steve-p]

Well, it's here

I've been out to take some pics but I won't have time to do anything with them today. Here are my initial impressions warts and all.

First, let's get the bad stuff out of the way. The nav voice sounds synthesised and very low quality at that. If you wear polarised sunglasses you can't see half of the nav display at all which is not so good. The paint finish and quality of the leather, well they are as expected but not really on the money for a £44K car if I'm honest. The iPod cable wasn't supplied, only a normal USB cable which is a bit annoying. I tried a normal iPod cable and the car could see it by name but wouldn't do anything with it. And iDrive... well no comment. Let's just say as a software and user interface designer and developer, I think it is somewhat suboptimal

Now the good stuff. The ride is actually fine on 19" wheels which I was worried about. It's occasionally a bit crashy at low speed but it's very well damped and otherwise more than acceptable, and it certainly seems planted on the road. The sports seats are really comfortable too, and of course I had the perfect driving position in seconds as I knew I would with a BMW. It looks great in Sparkling Graphite (when it's clean and the sun is shining anyway) and I love the interior. I opted for the brushed aluminium trim instead of the standard M Sport crystal. DAB reception was perfect over a 60 mile round trip and the individual audio system is superb, way better than the HK system I had on the Merc. Comfort access works really well but it will take some getting used to as it seems weird not to need to use the key to get in or drive the car. The gearing will take some getting used to as well, as it's so tall. Especially when it is telling you to change up at about 1500 rpm and then the revs drop to about 1200 at 50 mph in 6th. The gearchange is a bit notchy between 1st and 2nd but perfect thereafter, I expect it will improve with use.

I've still got to figure out a few things like making the mirrors fold automatically and pairing my phone with the car but there's no rush.

Fuel economy was pretty unimpressive though. I went out for a leisurely rural drive just to make sure everything was working so I was taking it easy. Even so, it took 5 miles to get it over 20 mpg and 10 miles to better 25 mpg. After 60 miles it was 35 mpg so I hope it's going to improve. At the moment, for journeys up to about 7 miles the 5.5 litre petrol Merc was better on fuel The last diesel I had was economical right from day 1 so it's a bit worrying.

Pictures to follow sometime this week

[steve-p]

OK here's my day 1 pictures





















It's going great now. MPG is up to 42 average. The iPod integration is excellent after parting with £40 for a cable. Comfort access works a treat. The radar cruise control works great on the motorway, and the adaptive headlights don't really make that much difference, but they are cool anyway Pairing the phone was easy and it works well. The colour is great and I love the interior. It's so comfortable too. I think I'm really going to like this car

[PhilR]

Originally Posted by Kiwirobbie

Since BMW are or have already stopped production of the V8 diesel I think that this won't happen.

I wasn't actually aware that BMW had even began, or, indeed did produce a 4.0Diesel engine?

I know Audi have one (and a 6.0 W12) and Mercedes in the GL and ML (420) - seems highly likely BMW will need one to compete.

Whatch this space...............

[scottc]

Originally Posted by steve-p

Partly because I reckon there's going to be a big realignment of values of big engined cars over the next year or two. At the moment it's worth more than the 330d so I will get some cash back as well, but it's possible that could change quite a lot, so now seems like as good a time as any. It would be three years old in September but actually I ordered it four years ago this month so it seems longer if you know what I mean. I will miss it for sure as I even collected it from the factory in Bremen (why don't BMW offer that?) but on the other hand it will be fun to have a new car with lots of new toys to play with. Plus it will cut my fuel bill by 50% or more, and having a four seater with a proper boot means I can also get rid of my E320 and save even more cash

Nice car mate, love the spec and colour

Although I do agree on the prices changing slightly for big engined cars I think it will only really have a impact on cars over 225co2 as this will cost £400 a year in tax alone.

[330cdsport]

Originally Posted by steve-p

OK here's my day 1 pictures


It's going great now. MPG is up to 42 average. The iPod integration is excellent after parting with £40 for a cable. Comfort access works a treat. The radar cruise control works great on the motorway, and the adaptive headlights don't really make that much difference, but they are cool anyway Pairing the phone was easy and it works well. The colour is great and I love the interior. It's so comfortable too. I think I'm really going to like this car

Great car! Great Spec! Great Pictures!

To begin with I thought you had bought 2 cars
I am still a big fan of Sp. Gr. after a years ownership. It stays clean looking for longer too.
Best of luck with your new car.

[- Paul -]

Very nice and the first pics I've seen of a members car with the camera thing on the front!

[steve-p]

You mean the radar sensor for the cruise control. I think I will just refer to it as the nipple from now on

[- Paul -]

Originally Posted by steve-p

You mean the radar sensor for the cruise control. I think I will just refer to it as the nipple from now on

Yep that's it - didn't BMW do an option for a forward facing wide angle camera aswell for "tight" junctions?

[steve-p]

They do, yes, and a rear camera too on the accessories website:

Front camera For safe turning at road junctions with poor visibility. The camera is located in the middle of the car under the front bumper. A camera and a special prism glass record the cross-traffic and show the image on a colour display which is integrated in the ventilation duct in the upper area of the centre console. Requires retrofit kit switchbox and retrofit kit monitor (monitor will be integrated into the ventilation nozzle).

Reversing camera Ensures maximum safety when reversing. As soon as reverse gear is selected the area behind the car is filmed with a wide angle of 131º by a camera in the luggage compartment lid. The image is then shown on a display which is integrated in the ventilation duct in the upper area of the centre console.

I don't think you can spec them on a new car though. I should think if your driveway has poor visibility when joining the road and you can come out forwards then the front camera could be really useful. Otherwise, probably not.

[creepy coupe]

Stunning car Steve, I love SG as a colour, it would be my next choice seeing as moonstones a £3k option. enjoy you weekend.

PS did you zero the MPG display before you set off, I'm only thinking all that transportation, moving to and fro, might of killeed it.

[steve-p]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

PS did you zero the MPG display before you set off, I'm only thinking all that transportation, moving to and fro, might of killeed it.

I think that was probably it. It says in the manual that it measures average consumption since the engine was last started (like previous cars), but what it actually appears to do is measure consumption since it was last reset. The gearbox notchiness has almost gone completely already. I still haven't figured out how to auto-fold the mirrors on locking though. Maybe you can't but it would be a strange oversight.

[berb_uk]

Nice car Steve - what hi-fi system did you go for and how does it sound?

[Ant397]

Originally Posted by PhilR

I wasn't actually aware that BMW had even began, or, indeed did produce a 4.0Diesel engine?

I know Audi have one (and a 6.0 W12) and Mercedes in the GL and ML (420) - seems highly likely BMW will need one to compete.

Whatch this space...............

They have done a 740d on the continent for a while, but with the power it produced, the 35d isnt that far away and with a lighter and more mass produced 6 cyl.

Great choice of car by the way Steve, great combination too.

I think the auto fold mirror option is a 'car and key memory' dealer program i'm afraid and chargeable too unfortunately.

Hope you enjoy it!

[scottc]

I have the folding mirror option and I all I do is hold the lock button longer when locking the car and the mirrors fold in.