AB's Sophisto Grey MY20 G01 BMW X3 M40i

[Audi Bairn]

So this is were ye all are hiding life after Audi...eh SUVs and caravans......lol not wired that way....l only need one seat....no passengers allowed in my S3 domain....

Personally it’s still life WITH Audi, as have the TT.
Should probably take it as a compliment my X3 ownership thread’s being used for all sorts of other talking points eh

 

[NevMan]

So this is were ye all are hiding life after Audi...eh SUVs and caravans......lol not wired that way....l only need one seat....no passengers allowed in my S3 domain....

All that based real estate, you need to get into a 2 seater James

 

[Jassyo06]

All that based real estate, you need to get into a 2 seater James

I know mate got another 18 months to sort it..that's if l do get rid of my saloon which for me will be a extremely hard act to follow l still get a huge buzz from driving it and admiring it when its clean lol

 

[Audi Bairn]

Right, back on topic. I thought I’d post some pics while the car was clean for at least 24 hours. Before all you detailers slag me off, it was only a quick snow foam then sprayed with Easycoat to repel some of the spray off the roads. It’ll do for now

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[Audi Bairn]

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[NevMan]

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Nice work Brian

 

[Audi Bairn]

Nice work Brian

Cheers Nev! Not up to you professionals standard but it’ll do for now. Will be dirty on Monday again lol

 

[Bristle Hound]

X3 looking fab @Audi Bairn !
Did you SF the caravan too by chance ...

 

[Audi Bairn]

X3 looking fab @Audi Bairn !
Did you SF the caravan too by chance ...

Cheers @Bristle Hound
Not done the van yet but will need it to be clean before the storage cover goes on

 

[SaraS3]

You got one then. I was losing track in all of the chat. Looks great. I do like 3 litres+petrol

 

[wab172uk]

Just had these fitted to my X3 M40i. Look and feel fantastic. Much better than the small cheep, hard to reach standard paddles on the car. Indeed, and those fitted to all Audi cars. Even the R8.

Now just a small finger flick away from selecting a gear. Quite expensive at nearly £200. But well worth the money, if you like driving in manual mode.

Company is called `Paddle Shifterz` in Germany.

 

[Audi Bairn]

You got one then. I was losing track in all of the chat. Looks great. I do like 3 litres+petrol

Thanks Sara

Yeah got this mid January. Loving it so far especially the engine. Loved my 3 litre S5 and missed the engine when I got the S3. So having the “theatre” of this 355bhp motor is great. Partly got it for towing and it’s effortless even with the van on the back (too effortless tbh lol).

 

[SaraS3]

Oo be careful with that foot. You don't want any points. Nice colour, the black grill looks really nice. I had a grey 330d touring. I did look at the m40i when I realised I wanted to swap the s3, stratstones had some pre regs on at reasonable prices but I'd had a couple of c classes so knew what to expect. I knew I'd love it so played safe.
I do like the sound of the 3 litre, even just starting up. Mine makes me giggle.
The m40i are certain proving popular on here

 

[Audi Bairn]

Oo be careful with that foot. You don't want any points. Nice colour, the black grill looks really nice. I had a grey 330d touring. I did look at the m40i when I realised I wanted to swap the s3, stratstones had some pre regs on at reasonable prices but I'd had a couple of c classes so knew what to expect. I knew I'd love it so played safe.
I do like the sound of the 3 litre, even just starting up. Mine makes me giggle.
The m40i are certain proving popular on here

It is deceptively quick as it’s so smooth too. The deals in December were really good which is ultimately what made me jump ship. Tried the SQ5 but a few aspects disappointed me and Audi couldn’t live with the BMW deals. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Merc

 

[Snake Pliskin]

Car & detailing looks ace @Audi Bairn

Like Merc, BMW have really raised their game ... these cars look superb

 

[wab172uk]

It is deceptively quick as it’s so smooth too. The deals in December were really good which is ultimately what made me jump ship. Tried the SQ5 but a few aspects disappointed me and Audi couldn’t live with the BMW deals. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Merc

The deals were ridiculous weren't they? Mine was 28% off list. Pre-registered with 6 miles on the clock. Still sat in the showroom.

With that deal, I couldn't say no.

 

[Audi Bairn]

The deals were ridiculous weren't they? Mine was 28% off list. Pre-registered with 6 miles on the clock. Still sat in the showroom.

With that deal, I couldn't say no.

Exactly, completely my thoughts too

 

[Audi Bairn]

Doing what it was intended for.......
Towing, dog carrying and performance, all before the lockdown (no pics of performance, so these will need to do for now!)
Hope you’re all staying safe

 

[Audi Bairn]

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[Audi Bairn]

A couple of cr@p pics after I opened the free car care kit I got with the car. Tried the tyre stuff on Saturday just to see what it was like. Not too bad imho

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[NevMan]

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Looking good Brian, one heck of a towing wagon, and nice motor for your pooch

 

[RGBARGEE]

Here’s a brief review.
I didn’t bother test driving the BMW M40d as there were none available under the December deal.
The M40i was impressive. The sound alone from the 3.0 straight six and the M Performance exhaust was stunning on start up, daily driving, changing up and down at speed...... what a beast. This thing can shift.
The SQ5, which has now returned to diesel and unlike BMW there’s no petrol option, also has amazing performance only the power is delivered differently. The bit I’m not convinced by is the noise. It admittedly sounds powerful however the fake noise sounds too fake and I just couldn’t love it.
Also I never thought I’d see the day where I said I thought the BMW interior was better than the Audi one but it just seems better quality.
I won’t divulge person finance details but having been to BMW first on Saturday, and negotiating just under £10k discount on a fully loaded (other than pano roof) pre-built car, and the balance being on 2.9% APR I thought Audi would struggle to get near that deal. They did, but not by as much as I thought. They were offering me about £8k off and I reckon there was a bit more wriggle room if I’d been prepared to push the button today, which I wasn’t. It still ended up around £40 - £50 per month dearer over a 48 month PCP though.
Long story short, I’ve done a deal for the M40i but subject to the stock car they sourced being secured for me by this dealership.
@Bristle Hound amazingly for me this stock car also had the electronic tow bar fitted too!
So, if everything falls into place over the next couple of days my lengthy spell of Audi ownership will be coming to an end (although we’ll still have the TT for a wee while yet).
What was noticeable, although something we all knew anyway, is all the small bits where Audi are penny pinching by standardising parts and branding, BMW don’t appear to be doing so to that extent. All goes in cycles I guess.
Pretty sad to be leaving Audi as I always considered myself an Audi man but maybe it’s time for a change eh.

Good luck, I have no doubt you will be back!!!


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[Audi Bairn]

Looking good Brian, one heck of a towing wagon, and nice motor for your pooch

Cheers Nev
We only hope that the wee man is still around when we finally manage to get away in the ‘van

 

[Audi Bairn]

Good luck, I have no doubt you will be back!!!


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Thanks bud
I’ve no doubt I’ll be back in an Audi at some point in the future, although we still have the TT for now too.

 

[Pinky1959]

The caravan could be part Audi as it states Quattro EB.
Both car and van are really nice but a lot of polishing when you do them .

 

[Audi Bairn]

The caravan could be part Audi as it states Quattro EB.
Both car and van are really nice but a lot of polishing when you do them .

Very true!
I think the caravan will get a snow foam, soft brush on a pole (detailers squirming as I write this) and a rinse

 

[Audi Bairn]

Snow foamed the front and back part of the rig. Long overdue!

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[Snake Pliskin]

Snow foamed the front and back part of the rig. Long overdue!

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Great looking car & caravan mate

Some surface area to cover there between the two

impressive finish though & definitely the year to own & enjoy a caravan.

 

[Audi Bairn]

Sorry, no idea how a pic of the dog, post-op shaved, got in there. Apologies.

 

[Audi Bairn]

Great looking car & caravan mate

Some surface area to cover there between the two

impressive finish though & definitely the year to own & enjoy a caravan.

Cheers bud!
Yeah the ‘van is easier as it’s big flat surfaces. Although the roof needs ladders lol
Hoping to get our first trip in it very soon mate.
How’s the AMG going? Sorry if I’ve missed any updates, things have been a bit crazy here recently.

 

[NevMan]

Sorry, no idea how a pic of the dog, post-op shaved, got in there. Apologies.

I did wonder Brian

 

[Audi Bairn]

So, following closely on the heels of my caravan mentor @Bristle Hound we are just back from our first trip away in the van.
I think on BH as my caravan Yoda, with me being a slightly naive / less competent Skywalker lol.
One extremely sad note for us was that our wee dog Brodie didn’t quite make his first trip away in the van by less than a week, losing has battle against long term illness the week prior.
Anyway, the M40i was virtually effortless on the 3 hour trip Each way on roads which, although A Class roads, challenging in places.
Retuned 19mpg on the way up and 22 mpg on the way home (it’s down hill, anyway it looks that way on a map lol).
I‘ve previously overtaken slower vehicles a couple of times on motorways with an empty van and no additional payload in the car, but yesterday was the first overtake of a car on an A Road whilst fully loaded lol. All legal, the guy had driven for an hour at 35 / 40mph on national speed limit roads causing huge tailbacks (many of which probably thought they were stuck behind me until I passed him lol).
Looking forward to our next outing now.

 

[Pinky1959]

A/B Sorry to hear about the dog passing but glad you had a good trip in the van .

 

[Bristle Hound]

So, following closely on the heels of my caravan mentor @Bristle Hound we are just back from our first trip away in the van.
I think on BH as my caravan Yoda, with me being a slightly naive / less competent Skywalker lol.
One extremely sad note for us was that our wee dog Brodie didn’t quite make his first trip away in the van by less than a week, losing has battle against long term illness the week prior.
Anyway, the M40i was virtually effortless on the 3 hour trip Each way on roads which, although A Class roads, challenging in places.
Retuned 19mpg on the way up and 22 mpg on the way home (it’s down hill, anyway it looks that way on a map lol).
I‘ve previously overtaken slower vehicles a couple of times on motorways with an empty van and no additional payload in the car, but yesterday was the first overtake of a car on an A Road whilst fully loaded lol. All legal, the guy had driven for an hour at 35 / 40mph on national speed limit roads causing huge tailbacks (many of which probably thought they were stuck behind me until I passed him lol).
Looking forward to our next outing now.

@Audi Bairn - You give me to much credit Brian

Our thoughts are with your wife & you at this time at the the loss of Brodie my friend

With those mpg figures you are making my X3 look decidedly uneconomical towing the 'van lol

 

[Audi Bairn]

A/B Sorry to hear about the dog passing but glad you had a good trip in the van .

Thanks buddy

 

[Audi Bairn]

@Audi Bairn - You give me to much credit Brian

Our thoughts are with your wife & you at this time at the the loss of Brodie my friend

With those mpg figures you are making my X3 look decidedly uneconomical towing the 'van lol

Thanks BH appreciated.
Yup, 3 litre turbo petrol is the way forward lol

 

[BarryG79]

Sorry for the loss of the wee dug Brian.

Hope u had a good trip otherwise.


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[Audi Bairn]

Sorry for the loss of the wee dug Brian.

Hope u had a good trip otherwise.


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Thanks Barry.
The break was what we needed although we weren’t sure we wanted to go initially.

 

[NevMan]

So, following closely on the heels of my caravan mentor @Bristle Hound we are just back from our first trip away in the van.
I think on BH as my caravan Yoda, with me being a slightly naive / less competent Skywalker lol.
One extremely sad note for us was that our wee dog Brodie didn’t quite make his first trip away in the van by less than a week, losing has battle against long term illness the week prior.
Anyway, the M40i was virtually effortless on the 3 hour trip Each way on roads which, although A Class roads, challenging in places.
Retuned 19mpg on the way up and 22 mpg on the way home (it’s down hill, anyway it looks that way on a map lol).
I‘ve previously overtaken slower vehicles a couple of times on motorways with an empty van and no additional payload in the car, but yesterday was the first overtake of a car on an A Road whilst fully loaded lol. All legal, the guy had driven for an hour at 35 / 40mph on national speed limit roads causing huge tailbacks (many of which probably thought they were stuck behind me until I passed him lol).
Looking forward to our next outing now.

Really sad Brodie didn't make this trip Brian ;-( At least this hopefully took your minds off it for awhile, and let you experience the power of the beast M40i in full towing glory

 

[Audi Bairn]

Really sad Brodie didn't make this trip Brian ;-( At least this hopefully took your minds off it for awhile, and let you experience the power of the beast M40i in full towing glory

Thanks buddy. Yeah we defo needed away and the M40i did good