[225]

https://youtu.be/w2Q3u4OLNh8?si=9xgPwQ2cO2nAuWPl

Interesting to see the performance difference of the stock m lites vs M and Alpina.
As a few of us have one I'd be interesting to see how much a racechip version of the mlites can close the gap (in a straight line at least).
Just shows how much of a beast the current full fat Ms are!

[Herr Gross Byte]

The pre-LCI M340d was much slower than the LCI M340i because of the extra weight of the eight favourite buttons and gear selector.

Not sure about the prices shown at the start. £60+ k is a fully loaded M lite. Not sure £80+ k gets a fully loaded M3 though.

[Charlie (Wessex)]

I'd love a 40d but not brave enough, and actually, while I do some decent length journeys, I do a fair few shorter ones too - long enough for the 40i to warm upm but not a 40d.

The Alpina might be fun to have, but never the greatest fan of the styling, though I am sure that in the right colour it would be good. I did see a D3 in green that looked fab.

The M3 doesn't really hold much interest for me. I'm sure a birlliant car, but I don't need anything more than the 40i (I'd make an exception for the Alpina because of the comfort).

[Charlie (Wessex)]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

Not sure about the prices shown at the start. £60+ k is a fully loaded M lite. Not sure £80+ k gets a fully loaded M3 though.

On BM's site, the starting OTR price for the M3 Touring is £87,825

[AlfaM]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

Not sure about the prices shown at the start. £60+ k is a fully loaded M lite.

A fully loaded M340d is circa £76k. You’re living in 2019 man!

[Herr Gross Byte]

Originally Posted by AlfaM

A fully loaded M340d is circa £76k. You’re living in 2019 man!

What the F....?

I'm living in 2023 actually. I paid £61.5k for a petrol one with everything apart from a towbar.

[Neovo88]

On the rolling start I would have thought the 40d would had the jump on the 40i, with the extra torque it has. Both looked level.

[AlfaM]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

What the F....?

I'm living in 2023 actually. I paid £61.5k for a petrol one with everything apart from a towbar.

That’s with discount. They’re quoting list price. The £76k is list with everything inc. matt paint, diamond cut alloys, service pack etc..

[Charlie (Wessex)]

In the real world there is very little difference between the 40d and 40i, nor the B3 and M3. While there is a difference between the M3 and 40i, it's not huge and not in my mind worth the £30k difference, though I know people place a lot of store on the looks/badge.

Just a shame the politics on ICE is so negative particularly against diesels, as the 40d...... Having had BMW diesels for 20+ years I do have a soft spot for them, and wonder whether I should have gone d rather than i.

[Billy Cheeseman]

on the rolling acceleration test,. surely the 340d would come into its own if they didnt use kickdown and stayed in a higher gear ????

also that Alpina is smoking and much closer to the M3 than I thought

[Charlisdad]

Ive got an M340d and as some have said, first 50 yards or so it will hold its own against most. It's the higher revving of the petrols that let them kick on where the diesel has to change gear and lose ground.

[I800C0LLECT]

Diesels fall flat in higher RPM. Their redeeming quality is the massive torque at very low RPM. They never had a chance.

However, diesel driving characteristics are PERFECT for the daily driver that doesn’t need to go above 3000rpm. There’s a dreaded hill in my wife’s hometown that destroys transmissions because all drivers allow the programmed logic to drive the car…so they all have this massive kick down and high RPM moment 1/3 the way up. My wife’s diesel never shifted and went up at 1,800 rpm. No drama at all. Her parents were shocked.

I wish I could have gotten a M340D here in the USA.

[Tegs200]

I would have the M340i all day regardless.

[beerglass007]

Originally Posted by Charlie (Wessex)

In the real world there is very little difference between the 40d and 40i, nor the B3 and M3. While there is a difference between the M3 and 40i, it's not huge and not in my mind worth the £30k difference, though I know people place a lot of store on the looks/badge.

Just a shame the politics on ICE is so negative particularly against diesels, as the 40d...... Having had BMW diesels for 20+ years I do have a soft spot for them, and wonder whether I should have gone d rather than i.

Ive had quite a few 330D and now in 340i. Few weeks ago spotted a cheapish 340D which had me thinking.

Wish I could have a 340D for couple of months to really see the real world pros and cons. But think I'll keep the 340i just because, it is the B58 at the end of the day 8-)

[Stooo]

Originally Posted by beerglass007

Ive had quite a few 330D and now in 340i. Few weeks ago spotted a cheapish 340D which had me thinking.

Wish I could have a 340D for couple of months to really see the real world pros and cons. But think I'll keep the 340i just because, it is the B58 at the end of the day 8-)

You’d have less residual value on the D by the time you chop it in if the desirability of diesel continues the way it’s going. You dodged a bullet.

[AlfaM]

Originally Posted by Stooo

You’d have less residual value on the D by the time you chop it in if the desirability of diesel continues the way it’s going. You dodged a bullet.

I’d be more concerned by the residuals on electric cars and for those that jump on that bandwagon - £75k for a base i5, what’s that going to worth in 5 years?

The demand for diesels by higher mileage drivers will always be there and with fewer diesels currently being sold, supply may out strip demand. And with all the vans and lorries on the road, fuel is going to be available for a long time too.

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by AlfaM

I’d be more concerned by the residuals on electric cars and for those that jump on that bandwagon - £75k for a base i5, what’s that going to worth in 5 years?

The demand for diesels by higher mileage drivers will always be there and with fewer diesels currently being sold, supply may out strip demand. And with all the vans and lorries on the road, fuel is going to be available for a long time too.

Bugger all is the answer - no way I’d buy an electric car personally, but I’d definitely have one on a company car scheme.
There will be demand for petrol & diesel for long time to come as you say.

[Assassin]

I've got the 40d and very happy with it. The one thing the boat motor versions miss out on is a nice exhaust note..... not loud but a muted V8 sound would top it off nicely.....

These are all great cars depending on your preferences on looks, outright speed (they are all very quick, some just more than others), comfort, handling, engine noise, economy, running costs....... and of course purchase cost.

I wouldn't be sad to own any of them and would rather than own any electric car. Over and above all the price, charging issues / range anxiety, insurance (some companies declining cover) and repair costs it seems that servicing and undercarriage damage are becoming significant issues.
A friend of mine has a Porsche Macan S and just bought a Taycan.
Service interval on the Macan every 2 years, his 1st service £650.
Service interval on the Taycan every 2 years, 1st service £750....... for
Pollen Filter and Air Filter Every 20,000 miles or 2 years
Brake Fluid Every 20,000 miles or 2 years
Battery Coolant Lifetime – Change if Replaced
Tire Rotation Check and rotate every 10,000 miles or 1 year
Wiper Blades & Windshield Wiper Fluid Check every 20,000 miles or 2 years (replace as necessary)

His next service is estimated to be over £1100....... much more expensive than the Macan! And for doing much less as these cars are supposed to be much more easily maintained than fossil fuelled versions. Some other maufacturers are pulling the same trick.

On the undercarriage issue, there have been instances of cars being written off due to very minor damage to the undertray as it seems that any damage at all may impacted the battery pack and may cause a fire or other unknown issues. The batteries are so expensive to replace that some of the cars have been written off for damage that looks to the undertray that is a mere scrape like a parking scuff on an alloy wheel. Apparently its often not deemed cost effective to repair if th ecar is over 1 year old.

Also when EVs have been accident repairers are urged to store EVs away from anything else in "quarantine" in case of fire for at least 48hrs. That, the cost of spare parts, longer time to repair, lack of qualified EV technicians to work on them just makes buying one a non starter for me.

See this article from a motoring industry publication:
https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/lat...ice-equivalent

[paulockenden]

Originally Posted by AlfaM

I’d be more concerned by the residuals on electric cars and for those that jump on that bandwagon - £75k for a base i5, what’s that going to worth in 5 years?

I can’t imagine the RRP will get any cheaper, so the s/h price will probably have the same or better depreciation percentage as an ICE car - far fewer moving parts to wear, or go wrong. Battery will still be fine after 5 years (ignore the tabloid scare stories - there’s now loads of real world data out there).

[Rhino at Work]

Massive thread drift but nevertheless my thoughts on EVs......

At the moment I would only get one on a PCP so the total downside is fixed (excess mileage charges notwithstanding) and I could hand it back if necessary.

I can't help think that when Solid State batteries come on stream, and it seems clear they are coming, the whole EV marketplace will change hugely and the early(ish) Lithium battery adopters could be left high and dry with residuals.

[Stooo]

Originally Posted by AlfaM

I’d be more concerned by the residuals on electric cars and for those that jump on that bandwagon - £75k for a base i5, what’s that going to worth in 5 years?

The demand for diesels by higher mileage drivers will always be there and with fewer diesels currently being sold, supply may out strip demand. And with all the vans and lorries on the road, fuel is going to be available for a long time too.

I’d agree with you on EVs. Always the chance the tech may change and what you own becomes out of favour. Problems of early adoption.

[paulockenden]

Surely we are way beyond early adoption with EVs now? The first mass market models were sold in the UK over a decade ago. (Nissan Leaf, 2011, to save anyone googling!)