Leaving Audi behind...
- Thread starter Spin140
- Start date
I am waiting to hear today on a deal with an "in stock" BMW and part ex on my S3. I am looking at the M Sport 135i Coupe, it's the same 306 BHP twin turbo engine as the 335i but in a lighter car ;-). I was tempted by the 335d as a colleague of mine has one and they are awsome performance (even better when run on V Power diesel). I am prepared to hang on for a good deal though so if it's not attractive enough I will walk away. Remaps are available for the petrol engine too, so that could be interesting. Book 0-62 is 5.3 (same as the old M3), but road tests have had them under 5sec's to 60 in standard form, so a very quick car and only a little smaller than a 3 series.
Clarkson reckons the 135i is the best car BM make ( make of that what you will ) as said same engaine , lighter, more fun. 4.7 0-60 on the drag strips.
I'd have one ( in the right spec ) i'll wait a while though.
p
I'd have one ( in the right spec ) i'll wait a while though.
p
Now you can see whay i'm Tempted....they do it in a convertible too and it looks realy nice, even if I personally are not a lover of convertibles. I will see what they say when they call me later today.
What sort of moneys are they talking for the BM and the S3?
I would need the 19's and side skirts on it though...minimum LOL
p
Glasses says 22900 for my S3, so he is calling around to see what is offered today. The car I am looking at is a Black M Sport so side skirts, front/read bumpers, brakes, suspension, wheels etc are uprated 18" I think not 19". the car should be £33k when ordered with the extras it has but it will be uder £30k as it is sat in a showroom "up north" (unregistered), but not sure by how much. They need to get a change for cash to about £5k for me to go for it. fingers crossed eh ?
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2008
- Messages
- 617
- Reaction score
- 56
- Points
- 28
Not easily anymore, they changed their discount scales as of 1st January this year.
I looked at the 135i, before the S3, and its an amazing car, but only a four seater, and quote often I need to carry 5. The performance figures for it are very conservative. With an LSD it would be amazing.
I had a 123 D on a weeks demo, and had great fun in that, a really chuckable chassis
Enjoy it, Im sure you will, the 35 petrol engine is awesome, with re-maps now available to 350+ BHP, and tuning boxes taking it to nearly 400BHP - Watch out M3
IMHO ( to make it look nice lol ) the 19inc Performance wheels , side skirts ( there different to the M ones ) and maybe the rear spoiler are a must, thats what bring up the price to circa 35k
Heres a vid of one kitted out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe6mM4ordnw&feature=related
In black that would be sex weeeeeee!
p
Not easily anymore, they changed their discount scales as of 1st January this year.
I looked at the 135i, before the S3, and its an amazing car, but only a four seater, and quote often I need to carry 5. The performance figures for it are very conservative. With an LSD it would be amazing.
I had a 123 D on a weeks demo, and had great fun in that, a really chuckable chassis
Enjoy it, Im sure you will, the 35 petrol engine is awesome, with re-maps now available to 350+ BHP, and tuning boxes taking it to nearly 400BHP - Watch out M3
5% on a factory order is still easilly achievable if not more, on a built car in the system you'll get 10% without too much effort, especially if it is sat in the dealers.
J.
^^^^Madman! 
I think it looks mean and muscular.
This time last week i thought they were ugly as sin ( Std ) , but after seeing that vid with all the bits on......i just wish i had 30k worth of car to trade in , as i could find the CTC.
p
I think it looks mean and muscular.
This time last week i thought they were ugly as sin ( Std ) , but after seeing that vid with all the bits on......i just wish i had 30k worth of car to trade in , as i could find the CTC.
p
I had a really good tussle with a bloke in a 330D touring, yesterday morning.
19" dynamics on it, look nice.
I had to thrash the paps off my car to keep up, but no denying his car was considerably quicker (may have been chipped, no way of knowing)
I just had to rely on braver braking/cornering to keep up.
If the 335D is quicker again, it must shift a bit!
19" dynamics on it, look nice.
I had to thrash the paps off my car to keep up, but no denying his car was considerably quicker (may have been chipped, no way of knowing)
I just had to rely on braver braking/cornering to keep up.
If the 335D is quicker again, it must shift a bit!
The quality of the drive/chassis/engine/handling blah blah will not be in doubt. It'll be brilliant (although evo weren't too enthusiastic about it their review it has to be said).
Its the styling which will divide opinion. Clarkson's quote on the styling: "The BMW 1 series is just plain ugly - viewed as a whole it looks like a van." On this he is right IMO and I could never get past that. Every time I approached it I'd be saying "Urgh !" but every time I approach my S3 (still) I'm saying "Aahh !"
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though ......
Its the styling which will divide opinion. Clarkson's quote on the styling: "The BMW 1 series is just plain ugly - viewed as a whole it looks like a van." On this he is right IMO and I could never get past that. Every time I approached it I'd be saying "Urgh !" but every time I approach my S3 (still) I'm saying "Aahh !"
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though ......
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2008
- Messages
- 617
- Reaction score
- 56
- Points
- 28
10% is all the dealers have in them, so you'd have to have a very desperate dealer to do it, so like I say its not easy anymore - I buy about 15-20 BMW's a year, and good discounts are harder to come by this year than last!! BMW now can't pay intro commissions to brokers, or invoice to a broker and register to a private owner, they are trying to cut third partys out.
This time last year 16% was readily available on most BMW, bar limted run vehicles and M cars. I got 19% off my 335D, ran it for 6 months and sold it for more than I paid for it!!!!!
I think its a good thing that BMW wound their discount scales back in as it was devaluing the brand. Dealers are now getting round it by pre-regsitersing and using mobility fleet codes.
I agree, it's one of the ugliest cars on the road IMO. I actually find it quite uncomfortable to look at from just about every angle. I spent some time in a 118d last year, and whilst it drove quite well I found it to be quite unrefined and the interior cheap and plasticky. The build quality was so-so in places; OK overall but not outstanding and certainly not class leading. That was a pre-facelift model though and I know they've improved the interior on the newer ones (I saw them at the Geneva show).
We are going to have to agree to disagree. Only a 10% profit margin? Hmmm I doubt that very much. I agree discounts were bigger last year. But like I said you can get 10% off a built car.
J.
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2008
- Messages
- 617
- Reaction score
- 56
- Points
- 28
Fair enough, but thats what they are working to and the only reason you get more, is if BMW UK are supporting it, like with the outgoing 7 series Sport, which you are getting approx 13-14%, hence a 2 year contcat hire on these cars is under £500, which is amazing value for a £50k+ car!!
Spin140
Registered User
The dealers tried to convince me of the new BMW pricing strategy, I listened and then commented "...thats fine but how much of your margin are you willing to give up to get an order for this quarters figures ?.." They played hard ball for 3 days initially saying "..7% is the absolute max.."
I got 12.5% and the PX I asked for, The pX was approx £1,000 lower than I would have got from my preferred Audi Dealer but the overall deal was still better than going for the TTs, the car is built and awaiting delivery so a current order, but I got the impression that if persistent 10% would be easily achievable even on a factory order.
The car I ordered has all the desireable items but was one of the few in the 'system' that didn't have sat nav - this may have made a difference but I doubt it.
They did make a point of stressing this was a one off deal - until next time anyway
They did make a point of stressing this was a one off deal - until next time anyway
LOL...they always are
Spin140
Registered User
I nipped in BM on the way past before and they had a 335D in , they remind me of a Jag/Bently GT.
Too big for me though.
p
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2008
- Messages
- 617
- Reaction score
- 56
- Points
- 28
They did make a point of stressing this was a one off deal - until next time anyway
Ha ha, heard that one before. Looks like the discount is acheivable, but looks like they've made it up on the p/x - They now get audited by BMW UK on all their paperwork - They'll work it out somehow - they risk loosing their franchise is they give away too much. When this new discount system was introduced to us (independant dealers), in December last year, it was a real kick in the teeth, as there is avery little way in making money on a new BMW, bar charging a document fee. It's like they are almost discouraging the sale of new BMW's to the independant network!! Sounds all a bit price fixing/monopolising to me......
The waiting now begins for the new car - When are you collecting?
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2008
- Messages
- 617
- Reaction score
- 56
- Points
- 28
Its funny, probably like you I've had umpteen new cars, and yet I still get excited about them, even down to the point I find it hard to get to sleep the night before, and I sell the ****** things!
It's why we are here
I still get exicited about getting anew car even if it's for the wife!
Spin140
Registered User
Got the call yesterday, seem the new 135i is too far away form where I can get too, also offers on my car are £2250 below glasses guide which didn't help. 3 ex Demo cars are avail ib the uk with good spec at about £34k which I can get for £27k with 1200 miles on them, so that is a possible, but they don't have Black ones. Sedona Red is what I can get, not sure about the colour, it is unusual and growing on me. The use this colour in all the marketing information. Waiting for a call today to see if they can loose another £1k by getting a little more on my car and get the dealer with the ex demo to budge a little too.
^^^I nipped in BM yesterday and went on the Config when i got home i didn't spec much really , just heated leather, cd changer and electric mirrors 33k, thats before 2.5k for the perfomance wheels , then skirts , spoiler and splitter, i'd be looking at a 37k car after discounts.....too much for me.
Simon i'd hang fire for the colour ( black ) you want at that sort of money.
Crazy wim really , yeah it'll be quicker than the S3 , but it wouldn't kill it.
p
Simon i'd hang fire for the colour ( black ) you want at that sort of money.
Crazy wim really , yeah it'll be quicker than the S3 , but it wouldn't kill it.
p
Simon,
If your after a black car get a black car. Buy anyother colour and you'll regret it down the line.
J.
If your after a black car get a black car. Buy anyother colour and you'll regret it down the line.
J.
Spin140
Registered User
Never, never compromise on the colour as it will cost you more in the long run, there is no rush and the right car will come along, its really easy to get caught up in the deal and talk yourself into stuff - I've done it enough times !!
Get the car you want mate, makes better financial sense in the long run.
awesome car, i used one for the day and had a play with my mates r32 and left it for dead.
i was shocked.
i was shocked.
The sedona red is growing on me, a silver one is available with a lower spec for £1k more. The misses like the colour. I like Black, but I do have to admit is looks dirty so quickly and washing it is like a clinical proceedure due the ease it shows the slightest swirl etc.
Spin140
Registered User
^^^^^Looks good , but it doesn't look like a 34k car IMHO , defo need the performance kit on to lift it some.
p
p
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Agree, very ordinary looking, which makes it a real`sleeper`.
Im with Phantom on this, doesnt look 34K.
Although some may not think the S3 doesnt look 30+K! (I do of course).
As above, not much looks as good a clean black car.
My old CTR was Nighthawk Black and looked amazing after a good clean.
Yes its a pain but you get a lot of pleasure from it too, you just need to be ***** to keep it nice.
cheers
Paul
Im with Phantom on this, doesnt look 34K.
Although some may not think the S3 doesnt look 30+K! (I do of course).
As above, not much looks as good a clean black car.
My old CTR was Nighthawk Black and looked amazing after a good clean.
Yes its a pain but you get a lot of pleasure from it too, you just need to be ***** to keep it nice.
cheers
Paul
Are there ANY photos of this car from the back knocking around ? Or is there not a camera lens invented that's up to that level of ugliness ?
Its all a matter of taste I know - but understanding how anyone could like the look of these things is like trying to understand how anyone could like shagging goats. Some people do but its just WRONG ....
Not that I'm pointing the goatshagging finger at you Phantom !
Its all a matter of taste I know - but understanding how anyone could like the look of these things is like trying to understand how anyone could like shagging goats. Some people do but its just WRONG ....
Not that I'm pointing the goatshagging finger at you Phantom !
