[erawamai]

Looks like BMW has got its hooks into me again.

I have traded by 330i for a G21 3 Series Touring 330i in Tanzanite blue.

More pictures and impressions to follow!

[westozy]

Every one to their own taste.
But what is the facination with a station wagon over the sedan?

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by westozy

Every one to their own taste.
But what is the fascination with a station wagon over the sedan?

Want a bit more room for growing family but would prefer not going down the SUV path.

It's this or an X3, Q5, xc 60, Mazda Cx5 or Lexus NX or going full SUV (say a base Rav 4 or Forester) and buying an 86 or something for fun.

X3 is probably fine but I'm just not drawn to it.

Q5 seemed cheap inside.

The volvo was nice but the drive train is very average.

The Cx5 has a nice drive train but the seat base is super short/uncomfy front seats for a longer legged driver. Overall the cabin is pretty small.

Lexus NX is ancient and is probably pretty average to drive.

[Airplane]

Originally Posted by erawamai

Looks like BMW has got its hooks into me again.

I have traded by 330i for a G21 3 Series Touring 330i in Tanzanite blue.

More pictures and impressions to follow!

Nice, the ultimate driving machine with the functionality of the station wagon. Congrats! Tanzanite blue is a nice color and nice rims as well. What color have you chosen for the interior?

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by Airplane

Nice, the ultimate driving machine with the functionality of the station wagon. Congrats! Tanzanite blue is a nice color and nice rims as well. What color have you chosen for the interior?

I didn't have much of a choice the touring is rare in Aus, so its black. But at least this time I get the HK sound system.

[Airplane]

Originally Posted by erawamai

I didn't have much of a choice the touring is rare in Aus, so its black. But at least this time I get the HK sound system.

Black is timeless. Fits well to almost any exterior color if not all, in my opinion. Also easy to maintain .
Nice that you could add the HK.
This shortage is madness, hopefully will be over soon enough.

[erawamai]

Have done a hundred or so after pick up.

• Interestingly, the Adaptive M sport suspension in the 2021 in comfort mode is definitely softer than my early 2020 I traded. I'd say 15 percent softer. Steering is ever so slightly lighter. Steering wheel is thinner.
• Also interestingly the M sport seats are more padded. I noticed this immediately. Did a specific market complain that the 2019 and 2020 cars are too hard riding/to hard edged/seats too hard? To me it looks like it.
• Bridgestone Turanza T005 RFT. Seem alright. Perhaps quieter than the PZ4 on my prior car?
• Tanzanite blue is very pretty. But it's going to be harder to look after than mineral white.
• The way the adaptive cruise control shows distance in the head up display is very slightly different. The distance bars are closer together. No idea why.
• HK is definitely better than the 200w hi fi system. Just better separation. Will probably get better with age. It's not mind blowing but its more enjoyable than the Hi Fi System. The 6 speaker in the X3 must be pretty poor. Part of the reason I went for this instead of an X3 30i.
• no creaks or rattles from the show room. Always a good sign *Crosses all my fingers*.

[texter]

OP, this colour looks great! Love to get an update from you about how easy or hard it is to maintain? Did you do a build to order?

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by texter

OP, this colour looks great! Love to get an update from you about how easy or hard it is to maintain? Did you do a build to order?

Did not build to order but hunted down one that still had adaptive cruise and all the goodies. The only thing missing is lumbar for the passenger. Luckily my passenger doesn't care about that. Bonus that it came with Harman Kardon.

Unfortunately I had to deal a dealer who I had no experience with previously.

The sales process was probably the worst I have ever experienced from a dealer, and in my years I have bought a fair few cars, premium and non premium.

- Incredibly low/insulting trade in offered (and yes, I'm aware its wholesale but the car sales instant offer offered me $7K more (the bloody local Subaru dealer would buy it for more via car sales!). We eventually got to an acceptable wholesale price but it was a PITA and wasted my time.

-Bad faith negotiations. Half truths to my face (I'm not an idiot) Vagueness. ("So is this offer available on this car?" "Oh I don't know. I'll check and get back to you". I know its not but I'd just prefer you say "no" rather than do the shifty 'maybe' when you know its a 'no'.

- Guilt and pressure tactics. Insinuating that's the best for my wife and that she would like me to buy it for her.
- Did not spell my name correctly on the contact.
- Making me jump through hoops I have never had to jump through to qualify for Corporate Servicing, which wastes my time.

At least the car is good/what I wanted.

I can't wait for survey time

[Jay328i]

Hey Erawamai,

Congratulations on your purchase! We are after very similar build (e.g. tanzanite blue with min deletions e.g. lumbar only, visibility pack included etc). Would be keen to learn what you ended up negotiating towards a drive away deal... (Will PM you).

On a side note, It's been an absolute pain to deal with dealerships in general.. the caliber of people involved has fallen massively.

Enjoy the ride!

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by Jay328i

Hey Erawamai,

Congratulations on your purchase! We are after very similar build (e.g. tanzanite blue with min deletions e.g. lumbar only, visibility pack included etc). Would be keen to learn what you ended up negotiating towards a drive away deal... (Will PM you).

On a side note, It's been an absolute pain to deal with dealerships in general.. the caliber of people involved has fallen massively.

Enjoy the ride!

I practically got $3k off the quote price and 5 years BSI. However, they distorted the figures in the invoice to get to what I wanted on changeover.

I'd expect to pay very close to the quoted amount.

Due to lack of stock negotiations are going to be a complete pain.

[joe328]

Originally Posted by erawamai

Did not build to order but hunted down one that still had adaptive cruise and all the goodies. The only thing missing is lumbar for the passenger. Luckily my passenger doesn't care about that. Bonus that it came with Harman Kardon.

Unfortunately I had to deal a dealer who I had no experience with previously.

The sales process was probably the worst I have ever experienced from a dealer, and in my years I have bought a fair few cars, premium and non premium.

- Incredibly low/insulting trade in offered (and yes, I'm aware its wholesale but the car sales instant offer offered me $7K more (the bloody local Subaru dealer would buy it for more via car sales!). We eventually got to an acceptable wholesale price but it was a PITA and wasted my time.

-Bad faith negotiations. Half truths to my face (I'm not an idiot) Vagueness. ("So is this offer available on this car?" "Oh I don't know. I'll check and get back to you". I know its not but I'd just prefer you say "no" rather than do the shifty 'maybe' when you know its a 'no'.

- Guilt and pressure tactics. Insinuating that's the best for my wife and that she would like me to buy it for her.
- Did not spell my name correctly on the contact.
- Making me jump through hoops I have never had to jump through to qualify for Corporate Servicing, which wastes my time.

At least the car is good/what I wanted.

I can't wait for survey time

Which dealer gave you this run around. I bought from Macarther BMW and they were up there with the worst I feel it must be the same dealer

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by joe328

Which dealer gave you this run around. I bought from Macarther BMW and they were up there with the worst I feel it must be the same dealer

I'd prefer not to say. But it was one of the biggest. I mean. We got there but it was more stressful than it should have been.

The best/easiest buying experience I've had was Col Crawford BMW, but I think it depends on the salesperson more than anything.

[DrMilan]

can i ask what rims / wheels those are? looks absolutely incredible!!
congratulations on the lovely car, those rims make it looks really classy imo.

[erawamai]

Originally Posted by DrMilan

can i ask what rims / wheels those are? looks absolutely incredible!!
congratulations on the lovely car, those rims make it looks really classy imo.

Those are 19" BMW 793i Wheels.

Seems like most 330i get 19" BMW 791M Wheels or 19" BMW 793i Wheels.

[texter]

Originally Posted by erawamai

Those are 19" BMW 793i Wheels.

Seems like most 330i get 19" BMW 791M Wheels or 19" BMW 793i Wheels.

The 791M is the default wheel for 330s so having the 793I definitely makes the car more distinctive!