M Sport package for 3 series seems bit silly to me, mostly about showy stuff and only thing I'd want from it is the steering wheel as in other models it feels too much like cheap plastic. Big alloys are not very practical and xdrives come with slightly lowered suspension anyway.
Big alloys not at all practical, but do make you smile every time you look at your car
Having now watched the chipped S4 vs RS4 Harris video on page 2, I'd say definitely go S4. Loads cheaper to run and just as good 99% of the time.
"But it's not an RS" - so what?M Sport package for 3 series seems bit silly to me, mostly about showy stuff and only thing I'd want from it is the steering wheel as in other models it feels too much like cheap plastic. Big alloys are not very practical and xdrives come with slightly lowered suspension anyway.But the S4 is only a V6, not the V8 of the RS4. Boring cars with silly engines are a dying breed so if you've got the chance to buy one, do it!
The standard suspension is woeful on the current F30's; it's really wallowy. The MSport suspension is actually really good. The 330d I had was way better riding than the E90 330 before it even on 19's. The x drive cars ( even M Sport ones) sit a fair bit higher than the two wheel drive jobbies.
Kryton - the 330d is a stonkingly good car and bloody quick too. It'll cost less in repairs than an RS4 and in fuel (although if you drive it hard, it'll drink at an alarming rate), be nicer inside (seats aside) with better tech but you can't really compare them. The 330d still sounds like a tractor and loses a lot of the drama that you get with the Audi (mainly the noise which is amazing). The RS4 does have a cult following and are pretty rare these days (B7's).
There's plenty of horror stories with BM's being nicked too, although I think the F series cars fix the massive black spot in the alarm that made the E series cars all too easy to steal.
That 330 in the photo looks bloody lovely
There's plenty of horror stories with BM's being nicked too, although I think the F series cars fix the massive black spot in the alarm that made the E series cars all too easy to steal.
Personally, I'd rather wake up and find my easily stolen car gone than wake up and see a gang of robbers demanding the keys with a knife to my wife's throat.
My colleague had a c63
Most brutal car I've ever been a passenger in.
Great fun.
He now drives a Nissan leaf.
current 330/335d are great cars for the real world, using them everyday, but you'd never take one for a drive just for the fun of it.......
(they are also utterly ruined by the X drive nonsense, added for the 7 people who actually live in the alps and drive in real snow, and now foisted onto the rest of use by default by BMW....)
Before RS4 world, I was holding out for an Xdrive. I then realised that taking a car 4" off the ground to a Gorrick event would be pointless even if it did have 4WD.
The one I'm looking at is standard Msport with 19's not 20's but has a spec list from the Dictionary of BMW Cliches:
Rear and folding head restraints
Electric front seats with driver memory
Split-folding rear seats
BMW Online services
Headlight power wash
BMW Professional navigation system
Matt aluminium roof rails
Loudspeaker system - harman/kardon surround
M Sport braking system
Storage compartment package
BMW Apps interface
Heated front seats
Extended interior light package
M Sport Plus package
Sun protection glass
19" M Star-spoke style light alloy wheels
Exterior Mirrors - folding with anti-daz
Panoramic glass sunroof
Black panel display - full
Concierge Service
Xenon headlights
Front armrest with sliding adjustment
Real time traffic information
BMW TeleServices.Interior comfort package
Media package - Professional
BMW Emergency call
Remote Services
🙄 😀
I noted the M Sport brakes mean no Mr Winter Wheels for this one.
^^ those alloys on the blue bimmmer look painful. Imagine hitting the expansion joints on the M25 and/or driving on the concrete sections.
😯
Been reading this with interest and I must say that having had a 6 cylinder BMW diesel the engines are great fun and very economical.
335d is only available in 4wd where as the 330d can be had in both 2wd and 4wd.
Neither compare to a V8 though so it really depends on what you want. A friend of mine has just got rid of his RS4 Avant for a 3.0d XF Jaguar and in is words 'it isn't an RS4'
However the XF manages nearly 40mpg whereas the RS4 used to show 7mpg if stuck in traffic.
You either want a near supercar performance family car with huge running costs or you want a cheap to run but fast and practical estate with near 80's supercar performance.
Take your pick but I know that my next car will be a 330 and not an RS4 or M3 just because of the miles that I do.
Take your pick but I know that my next car will be a 330 and not an RS4 or M3 just because of the miles that I do.
Sensibility says I should head in that direction. However...
This is me pushing outside my preconceived lifestyle box in order to test the boundaries and explore life a little
Dude it's a car 😀
I know its not an RS4 - but what about a Golf R estate? I think pretty much as quick and will be alot cheaper to run plus probably less easily stolen.
Concierge Service
Is that a special BMW guy who magically appears to open the door for you and valets it when you go to the shops?
, I don't want that kind of attention near my house.
Wot... Not even in a gated community? Surely the man at the gate will see them off...
It might be costly, there are faster cars out there for less money, there are newer cars out there with less problems for the same price. Jees there's even diesels out there with so much torque they'd give it a run for its money. But there aren't many cars out there with a NA V8 engine. With a manual gearbox. And there won't be again. It's a thing to behold. Test drive one then try to convince yourself that you don't want it in your life. One of the greatest engines ever made said a certain Mr Clarkson.
Much as I like diesels (I have a pretty quick diesel) reving a petrol to 7500rpm is more fun.
Try 8250rpm for the rs4 😀
Ha, I bought a 335d to replace the S4, I am not at all disappointed, it is quicker than the S4 (actually quicker than the old RS6 and RS4, and is also the quickest diesel you can buy!) it will do 0-60 in 4.5s and I get 38mpg out of it driving it the same way as I drove the S4 when I was getting 19mpg!
If a 335d is an option I would recommend it, if you are buying it on finance you should look at a new one as a decent bit of haggeling can get you about 18% off the list price!!
I do still miss the V8 though.
I noted the M Sport brakes mean no Mr Winter Wheels for this one.
You can get 18" wheels over the blue M brakes.
BMW: Personally I hate the look of those alloys and ultra low profile tyres and the ride must be horrible. I am sure the dealer will swap them out if you ask. It certainly seems a lot of car for £26k, how old / miles / maint costs ?
As I posted before you could have Cayman S and a Bike car / Van for £26k
Quick coast to coast example of the discounts you can get £33788 with no options but you get a lot as it is an msport as standard.
I had a cayman S after the rs4. Doesn't even compare.
End of the day if you want an RS4 and have always wanted one then don't let anyone else tell you that something else will do because it won't. A BMW 335d whilst a nice quick car with character and more than enough power for the real world, is, at the end of the day just an every-day 3 Series that happens to have a big engine. The RS4 is a limited run model built completely separately from the main A4 production line and as a result will feel special just sat in traffic.
A nearly new 335d will probably loose you £5-6k a year in depreciation. The depreciation on an RS4 will be minimal (the B5's are now appreciating), yet it will probably cost you £3-4K a year in extra fuel and servicing compared to the 335d. Man maths says get the RS4!
What you are getting with xdrive is stability in all driving conditions, not just on snow and ice. It will not turn the car into monster truck. What you'll lose is mpg (10-20%) and some playfulness. And maybe it might increase the turning radius a bit or at least it feels less agile on the parking lot.
You can get 18" wheels over the blue M brakes.
That's good to know - will make buying winter tyres a bit easier.
BMW: Personally I hate the look of those alloys and ultra low profile tyres and the ride must be horrible. I am sure the dealer will swap them out if you ask. It certainly seems a lot of car for £26k, how old / miles / maint costs ?
The ride on the 19's even with M Sport suspension is very good; loads better than previous gen E90 M sport on 18's which was horrific.
Kryton - that's a nicely spec'd. The HK stereo is well worth it because the stock one is gash. The Pro nav is good too.
I repeat again, depends what you want from a car. If you want power, and are happy with that and just being a passenger then the RS4 will be great. If you want a car you can take to the limit and beyond safely then an MX5 is way better than RS4
Absolute utter bollocks. Proof that you've never driven one let alone owned one. If anything, an RS4 in a straight line is a bit lacking - nothing compared to an M5/6 or RS6. It's the handling and grip that's most impressive, but to do this you need to take it on a track, as you would any car.
An RS4 and a 3 series (regardless of engine) are two totally different beasts. I've had both (335d and 330d) and I'd say they're 'impressive' but not what I'd class as 'fun'. The RS4 was fun, the Cayman was fun - I took my BMW's to a couple of track days and both were fairly useless, especially with the slush box in the 335d. Yet in a straight line it would keep up with an M3 (E46).
As I said before, if you want to do track days, buy an RS4. Otherwise you may as well have the Beemer..
Guys, he's already decided to get the BMW. The RS4 idea lasted two days.
flange
I repeat again, depends what you want from a car. If you want power, and are happy with that and just being a passenger then the RS4 will be great. If you want a car you can take to the limit and beyond safely then an MX5 is way better than RS4Absolute utter bollocks. Proof that you've never driven one let alone owned one. If anything, an RS4 in a straight line is a bit lacking - nothing compared to an M5/6 or RS6. It's the handling and grip that's most impressive, but to do this you need to take it on a track, as you would any car.
Look, 4wd cars can't be fun right. Jeremy Clarkson says so, therefore it must be true. And look at all the cars he's driven, it must be true. It's not like he ever says anything stupid or hyperbolic for effect.
An RS4 and a 3 series (regardless of engine) are two totally different beasts. I've had both (335d and 330d) and I'd say they're 'impressive' but not what I'd class as 'fun'. The RS4 was fun, the Cayman was fun - I took my BMW's to a couple of track days and both were fairly useless, especially with the slush box in the 335d. Yet in a straight line it would keep up with an M3 (E46).
Exactly. The fast diesels are fast and they're designed to make numbers (i.e. Lots of torque). Once you get past that, they don't offer the excitement (for me at least) that an RS4, M3 etc do (start up, revving out etc). There's a tactical something test these cars, even older ones, have that modern faster diesels don't.
Guys, he's already decided to get the BMW. The RS4 idea lasted two days.
Not necessarily, my dealers just come back with a figure of £433pm on the £26k 330d. He won't be selling it to me at that price.
You can lease a 140i for £267 a month with 2k down. I'd be off down that route personally...
Kryton57 - Member
Guys, he's already decided to get the BMW. The RS4 idea lasted two days.
Not necessarily, my dealers just come back with a figure of £433pm on the £26k 330d. He won't be selling it to me at that price.
I'll be paying less than that for a £46k (pre discount) brand new 335D XDrive touring.
As above - I agree there is something about fast diesels that isn't particulary exciting.. I test drove a 335d and whilst quicker than my M135i to 60 (4.8 Vs 4.9 IIRC) I knew within a few minutes it wasn't for me. I actually enjoyed jumping back in my E90 325i after the diesel which was considerably slower but sounded the part and made red-lining it worthwhile!
Those M140i lease deals for £200+VAT a month look attractive. Why don't you get a quote from a lease company and use that as leverage on your PCP to get the monthlys down? Are there any 330/5d lease deals you could do the same with?
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This was mine. (not my house though) Loved it but got burgled for it after 7 months. They smashed through the back doors of the house to get in. Only took the car keys and car. Nothing else.
I just don't get the attraction of supercar performance from an everyday car. Insurance, fuel, parts are all more spendy and it's just going to be an instrument of frustration on busy roads. By the time you're accessing that last 'Nth' degree of performance over a cooking model, the speed involved is going to be a risk to life and licence if it goes Pete Tong. Add in the worry of theft, is it really worth it over a owning a competent diesel estate to take the miles and a small sports car to bring the smiles?
Not for me.
Where are the 140i lease deals? I've had a look on a couple of sites and they're all around £350+vat, so £420, rather than the £200 mentioned above.
I have to say this thread has been an real eye opener for me on B7 RS4 ownership! I had no idea theft of this particular car was so prevalent.. The idea of hearing someone break into my house then hearing my pride and joy being howked towards the horizon (from cold!) is terrifying.
Bails - the one I seen was Vehicle Savers Contract Hire & Leasing.. Popped on FB feed a few weeks back so every chance that batch is gone.
I also seen the brand new shape S5 for £359/month incl VAT on lease - was £3.5k down mind..
danbo - MemberThis was mine. (not my house though) Loved it but got burgled for it after 7 months. They smashed through the back doors of the house to get in. Only took the car keys and car. Nothing else.
Can't help but wonder why owners wouldn't de-badge these things. Yes I know there are other things which denote the fact it's an RS car but at first glance/from a distance/ etc it might attract less attention.
Can't help but wonder why owners wouldn't de-badge these things. Yes I know there are other things which denote the fact it's an RS car but at first glance/from a distance/ etc it might attract less attention.
How would we know what a success they were?
Why don't you get a quote from a lease company and use that as leverage on your PCP to get the monthlys down? Are there any 330/5d lease deals you could do the same with?
Good idea, thanks.
Although, one of my colleagues I just talked to did his best to talk me out of it. He owned a B7 for 2 months, and decided in the job we do (field Sales) his chances of dying went up exponentially becuase he couldn't help wanting to drive the thing fast, it was very expensive to run and he too was lying awake at night (Gloucester) waiting for the tea leaves.
He now drives a Golf GTD on lease, with his family car being a CRV so very similar situation to me (120d/Kuga), his advice was "keep what you have, used that to cruise the speed-limited motorways, and spend any extra on a track day or two / weekend car"
This isn't going well is it, unless I buy one as a weekend project.
