[parapaul]

After the clutch let go on the Mudaneo, and being faced with a repair bill that was around half the value of the car - a car I resented anyway, I could finally justify getting rid of it and start looking seriously for its replacement

I knew I wanted an E91, I was fairly sure I wanted an auto 330d, and I thought I wanted an M Sport, mostly for the better seats although so many reviews say the suspension is crashy and too hard so I was happy to be swayed.

I went into my local BMW dealer, and the very friendly saleswoman arranged back to back test drives of an SE and M Sport so I could compare. Both saloons, both manual 320d, both on 17" RFT. I took the SE out first, and it was very nice. Very comfortable over some pretty bad roads although the handling wasn't as precise as I had hoped for. 15 minutes later we parked back on the forecourt and climbed straight into the M Sport. As soon as I sat in the sport seat I knew that this was what I wanted, and the handling would have to be seriously, seriously bad to make me choose the SE.

What can I say? I can only assume that the millions of people complaining about the M Sport suspension would rather have a car that handles like a boat. In all honesty, I didn't find the sport setup any less comfortable over potholes and badly made roads, but the handling was light years better. It just felt planted. Obviously I didn't push it too hard with a sales rep in the car, but it just stuck to the road. Coming from a 130bhp diesel Mundaneo, I expected the 320d to feel noticeably quicker, and was quite disappointed that it didn't. It was much, much smoother, but really didn't feel much more powerful. Anyway, that was a good thing, it just fuelled my case for the 330d

So, back home I was straight on Autotrader and PH to see what was available. I didn't have any real demands in terms of spec, iDrive and Nav was a must, Xenons would have been nice, but I wouldn't turn down an otherwise suitable car just for not having them.

As it happened, last week there were none on PH and only 7 on Autotrader within my budget. I needed to palm off my dying Mundaneo as a part ex, so that ruled out private sellers. Of the cars available, only one stood out - a graphite '07 with 80k and full BMWSH, listed with iDrive and xenons. I started a thread last week with a link but the Autotrader ad has been removed so it's obviously a dud now.

It was an hour and a half's drive away, but having driven a couple at the local stealer I was happy to go and look at it, drive it, and buy it as long as nothing was wrong. I gingerly drove the Mundaneo down there, and it looked good. A few stonechips across the front end, 2 fairly minor kerbed alloys but otherwise in very good shape for a car with 80k on it. No fecking xenons though which was a shame, but the salesman accepted they'd made a mistake and made a very generous offer for my part ex, so I was happy with that.

So, after a weekend driving it, I bloody love it Yes, the RFT do skip over small bumps, and they're quite noisy too, but I can't believe how well it handles otherwise. Not a squeak or rattle to be heard, the standard 330d brakes are more than good enough for how I drive it and even the bog standard stereo is way better than I was expecting.

No pics yet because it spent most of yesterday doing runs to the tip and needs a wash already I'll get some taken ASAP

Mods? Of course I'm planning to mod it! So far my list is:

* Lose the RFT - I plan to run these till the end of the summer, then buy non-RFT winter tyres to put on the MV3s and have them refurbed next Spring.
* Lowering springs and new dampers - with how well it handles already, I can only imagine how good this will be!
* Front and Rear ARBs - ditto.
* Blacklines.
* Gloss black kidney grilles.
* Those funky monochrome (CF?) roundels.
* Alpine stereo upgrade.
* Up to date Nav disc - current disc is 2007.
* Second set of MV3s, gloss black, with new non-RFT tyres for next summer.
* Probably remap or box at some point, but I'm happy with the power... For now...

[rich1068]

Congratulations!

Originally Posted by parapaul

What can I say? I can only assume that the millions of people complaining about the M Sport suspension would rather have a car that handles like a boat. In all honesty, I didn't find the sport setup any less comfortable over potholes and badly made roads, but the handling was light years better. It just felt planted. Obviously I didn't push it too hard with a sales rep in the car, but it just stuck to the road.

My thoughts exactly after an extended test drive in an E91 M Sport. I was prepared for it to be teeth rattlingly harsh but not the case at all. Obviously it's firm and some days you just might not be in the mood but the BMW set up is so accomplished. I suppose what I'm saying is that other manufacturers think firm should be hard, crashy and unsettling. Audi, I'm looking at you.

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by rich1068

I suppose what I'm saying is that other manufacturers think firm should be hard, crashy and unsettling. Audi, I'm looking at you.

See, I've heard that, too. Maybe their S Line setup isn't that bad either...

[kaiser]

Maybe I will see you around, I am in Stoke too, I am in a bluewater blue E91 M Sport on a 60 plate

Kai

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by kaiser

Maybe I will see you around, I am in Stoke too, I am in a bluewater blue E91 M Sport on a 60 plate

Kai

Where abouts are you? I'm in Birches Head

[kaiser]

Literally in Stoke, I am a 2 minute drive from Knights, I live in the newer houses on the old Michelin site

[Em135eye]

Nice one Paul!

I have M Sport suspension on an SE car - stealth innit?!

Enjoy the car - they are cracking motors!

[chris330D]

Good choice I know you will enjoy. Mine puts a daily smile on my face

[m1bjr]

About time!

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

About time!

[katie.g]

hi guys

another local girl here ( staffs) looking for a 330d / 325d auto, but finding little choice available, Paul you mentioned autotrader and PH.... what is PH ?

thanks in anticipation, katie .

[kaiser]

Originally Posted by katie.g

hi guys

another local girl here ( staffs) looking for a 330d / 325d auto, but finding little choice available, Paul you mentioned autotrader and PH.... what is PH ?

thanks in anticipation, katie .

Get yourself down to Knights and ask for James Quigley, he will find you something, he brought my car down from Dundee

Kai

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by katie.g

hi guys

another local girl here ( staffs) looking for a 330d / 325d auto, but finding little choice available, Paul you mentioned autotrader and PH.... what is PH ?

thanks in anticipation, katie .

Hi there

PH is PistonHeads - another car forum, but they have a large classified section too.

There aren't many around at the moment for some reason, I was lucky to find the one I did. Good luck looking though

[katie.g]

thanks guys

maybe knights are maybe a bit to expensive for me, but will give him a try

missed out on a really nice 325d touring at pinkstones a few weeks ago, and not really seen anything as good since

auto touring is what i'm looking for, very handy for fitting all me sports gear in the back

thanks again katie xx

[willhollin]

[katie.g]

lovely car Will, but i'm looking for an auto touring

thanks katie.

[seamaster]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Nice one Paul!

I have M Sport suspension on an SE car - stealth innit?!

Enjoy the car - they are cracking motors!

I was going to ask about this I have an SE 325d auto, with 17" wheels, with m sport seats, it handles really well, could it have M sport suspension?

[parapaul]

Managed to chuck a bucket of soapy water over it this morning, so pics as promised:

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by parapaul

Managed to chuck a bucket of soapy water over it this morning, so pics as promised:

Looks great, and very clean.

Is it black sapphire?
It's got a blue tinge to it, so it could be Azurite black?

[parapaul]

I thought it was Sparkling Graphite?

[FieldingMellish]

Congratulations. Agree totally about the M Sport, it's infinitely better than the SE.

Sparkling Graphite is a fantastic colour too. They have replaced it with Space Grey which is fine but not as special, IMHO.

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by parapaul

I thought it was Sparkling Graphite?

I'm off to Specsavers in the morning, Doh!