[andru]

I have a 2011 ibis white Audi S3 at the moment. I am seriously looking at the 330d but I am getting very confused with all the options available for it. I will be part exchanging my S3 plus cash. I will have around 28k in total to buy one.

Can you please tell me what options are a must for the car. I'm the limited research I have done so far these are a must to me or so I think.

Id like some input to guide me to getting the correct spec for me.

Estonia Blue
Saloon
Sat Nav ( not sure which is best business or pro version)
M sport adaptive suspension
Xenon headlamps
Auto wipers
Reverse camera
Blue style brake calipers ( are they the best type)
Black leather
Auto box not manual, due to ankle injury
Dab radio
Hk sounds
Idrive/ interactive services etc
Stop start system
Bluetooth telephone system
Bluetooth streaming from iphone


These are just what I "think" I want. What are the pro's and cons of each and have I missed out any "must haves" for the car?

Finally I will be having the car remapped soon after I get it and will be researching the best options and prices on that too

Thanks in anticipation of some great advice.

[Andy30D]

Hi mate

Can't help with mapping, but I have the Estoril blue Saloon 330d m sport. These are the options I have and would say are a must!

Pro nav (business is crap and looks it too)
Harman kardon
M sport plus pack (will give 29 403m alloy wheels. Blue breaks as you mentioned, plus xenons, privacy glass)
Heated seats
Possibly head up display but I don't have it.


I would say they're your basics to make it a good reseller and better to drive/be in. Many other people here will provide other options!

[andru]

Thanks for that, I'll start compiling my list after a few more replies.

[xenon]

Yeah Pro Media is essential as is visibility pack. DAB and Bluetooth stuff is standard, Enhanced Bluetooth offers more functionality but can be turned on just by coding.

[workshybum]

Everybody will no doubt have a different list of must haves. I can't think of a single option that I would drop off my spec if I were to order again.

A lot of your desires can be bundled into packs to save you money. M Sport plus pack is great value, especially combined with the vis pack. Slap on the pro media package and almost everything in your list is taken care of. Reverse camera is extra I think.

In general terms I'd recommend everyone to have the pro media pack and the vis pack. Enhanced Bluetooth is great for streaming music, although I don't use it that much as it's a battery killer for my iPhone 6. I've not heard the standard audio but I'm quite pleased with the HK system.

[Chompers]

Hi andru, good to have you on board

Estroil Blue/Black leather is a nice combo and should be easy enough to come by.

I guess with a budget of £28k you are looking at a nearly new demo/ex-BMW car. As a few have said, MSport + pack, heated from seats and pro nav would tick most boxes and again should be on most used cars. After this spec is luck of the draw. I would set up a search on the BMW AUC site ticking the boxes of you 'must' have options but not all you want as this could limit things to much and you could miss out. This is also a very to track the age in dealer stock of a car. Pretty much every dealer runs a 60 stocking policy. A car will be priced with a good profit for the 1st 30 days, I'll then be reduced. If not sold @ 45 days is reduced again and this is the time for the 'deal'

Good luck and be open minded about the spec.

[snipnoob86]

adaptive suspension i assume means your looking at an xdrive.

ive heard the adaptive suspension isnt too great and a quick spring swap at a dealer will give you great handleing and cosmetic improvement and will come in a tad cheaper than speccing adaptive.

id say must have options are

msport+pack (harmon kardon, big wheels, big blue brakes,)
visibility pack (assisted and adaptive headlights)
black panel display
Heated seats
interior light upgrade

those are my cannot live withouts

[robbiep]

Adaptive suspension on sdrive with 19" rims is, in my opinion absolutely fantastic. Absorbs bumps and potholes brilliantly.

[Andy30D]

Originally Posted by snipnoob86

adaptive suspension i assume means your looking at an xdrive.

ive heard the adaptive suspension isnt too great and a quick spring swap at a dealer will give you great handleing and cosmetic improvement and will come in a tad cheaper than speccing adaptive.

id say must have options are

msport+pack (harmon kardon, big wheels, big blue brakes,)
visibility pack (assisted and adaptive headlights)
black panel display
Heated seats
interior light upgrade

those are my cannot live withouts

+1

Black panel is a must I forgot to mention.

Keep it s drive, unless you find a great deal on X drive, or if there are leaves on the road you live on



Andy

[RalphyBMW]

Do you have proper keyless entry on your S3? It isn't standard on the F30. I miss it.
Also note that seat back pockets aren't standard.
Do check out the pricing of new on coast2coast, broadspeed, etc. You may be closer to new money than you think.
Also do be aware the facelift goes into production in June.

[workshybum]

Yep, black panel makes the whole instrument cluster look a bit more modern and upmarket IMO. It is also part of the pro media package I mentioned earlier I believe.

[SkyJawa]

Originally Posted by andru

Estonia Blue

Good old auto correct - sounds a nice spec mate - ditch the s3

Oh - and Head Up Display with Speed Limit - its bloody great.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by andru

EBII
Saloon (Tourer)
PRO MEDIA
MSPORT PLUS
ADAPTIVE LIGHTING
HEATED SEATS
FOLDING MIRRORS
NBT
INTERIOR COMFORT PACK (for saloon drivers)
HUD
SPEED LIMIT DISPLAY
RADAR CRUISE
M sport adaptive suspension

.

Updated to what I believe is needed, italics are nice to have.

It's worth checking Coast 2 Coast as mentioned and dropping RiazC a line to see what 330d deals are available.

[chetalien]

New will work out cheeaper if you are looking at finance- with discounts on offer and also low APR.
go through the forum as there are lots of info re getting discounts on new car.
try Riaz/TRL for quotes.

[dopper99]

As mentioned above, the absolute essentials are when buying a new M Sport are:

M Sport plus pack
Visibility pack (as its cheap to add add once you've chosen the plus pack)
Pro media (as its cheaper that what is was a few months ago and adds value)

Anything else is down to personal preference.

[F30Andy]

Originally Posted by dopper99

As mentioned above, the absolute essentials are when buying a new M Sport are:

M Sport plus pack
Visibility pack (as its cheap to add add once you've chosen the plus pack)
Pro media (as its cheaper that what is was a few months ago and adds value)

Anything else is down to personal preference.

+1.

If I could spec mine again that would be the base spec I would go with. It is everything you need plus some.

On top of that the only other thing which really tickles my fancy is HUD.

[andru]

I never thought in a million years about new, that is something thought would be way over my budget. What type of prices are you looking at new?

The rest of the suggestions are great and I certainly will take them all on board.

My S3 has normal key entry and after the horror stories I have read i'd rather stay that way if I decide to do the swap over.

When you say try riaz/TTL for new quotes,who are they and what do they do.

I could possibly warrant another £13k on top of the price of my S3

What I have noticed looking through loads of adds on Autotrader online are the amount of adverts that are full of waffle and padding to make them sound good. They seem to list every standard part down to the steering wheel just to look good. All that is doing is adding to the confusion and making the adverts hard to read and absorb.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by andru

I never thought in a million years about new, that is something thought would be way over my budget. What type of prices are you looking at new?

The rest of the suggestions are great and I certainly will take them all on board.

My S3 has normal key entry and after the horror stories I have read i'd rather stay that way if I decide to do the swap over.

When you say try riaz/TTL for new quotes,who are they and what do they do.

I could possibly warrant another £13k on top of the price of my S3

Check this thread out.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1080981

[Tengocity]

Welcome to the forum Andru. What are you looking to get from the car by making the change?

Your spec looks a good start.

All 330d are autos anyway so you won't have a choice.

I think most folk will say go with M PSort +, Vis pack and Prof media pack.

The HUD is not essential but a very nice toy!

Active Cruise is good if you spend a lot of time in traffic.

If you're a sporty driver then I'd say go for Adaptive suspension. If you're not then don't bother, and if you're a very sporty driver then don't bother and add a coilover set or other aftermarket option.

For extra power on a new 330d then the official BMW PPK is a no brainer as maintains full warranty. If the car you end up with is older and you're less bothered by warranty then your options are Piggback ECU or a few places do proper remaps. I used DMS, who are not cheap, but I trust them more than others.

[Notechy]

If you go for HUD then add speed limit display for c£220.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Notechy

If you go for HUD then add speed limit display for c£220.

Yeah, that's one of my two spec mistakes. The other being not going for comfort access.

[andru]

I'm looking to better 22mpg and a full tank range of 265. I had a Volvo S60 D5 before this and enjoyed a tank range of 650 miles!

Psychologically I'm struggling with this even though I only do around 8k miles a year. I've had the S3 for about 4 months now and lost count the amount I have put in the tank. I've always liked the 330d especially in the Estoril Blue M sport. I know I will take a hit on the S3 but long term I feel it will be the better option but I want to choose carefully as this will be a long term car.

I've had some great advice so far on this new thread and noted every one down for when I get my research down to the nitty gritty.