[batty]

hi everyone
thanks to the advice and banter on this forum, I've persuaded myself to go for the 330d M Sport. Final spec, after much deliberation as follows:-

330d M Sport sdrive touring
Mineral Grey
Coral Red leather
Burr Walnut trim (seems to work with the red, but might regret it.!)

Pro Media
M Sport + Package
Visibility Package
Interior Comfort Package
Advanced Parking Package

Seat Heating Front
Lumbar Support
Exterior mirrors folding and auto dim
Adaptive Suspension
Variable Sport Steering
Surround View (couldn't resist it..!)

delivery due mid-Sept

thanks for the advice and support so far - it's a great forum....

[Defero]

nice spec congrats

[Triple777]

Great spec

I went for the Surround view also after getting some good feedback & advice from this forum

[mactrack]

The surround-view is indeed excellent however you need to spec the reverse-assist camera in order to add surround-view. Hopefully your dealer has factored it all in the deal.

[Flakmunky]

nice! When did you place your order?

Reversing Assist camera is part of the Advanced Parking Package as is PDC Front & Rear.

I almost went for the Advanced Parking Package but I don't often parallel park so went for Surround View instead.

[batty]

Also for Surround View, you have to spec folding mirrors (to house the side cameras). The Youtube videos also helped to sell it to me....

The order was placed 5th Aug. Expected delivery on the order is 27th Aug, but realistically it's mid-Sept available to me.

[ukbeemerboy]

I am a Burr Walnut fan and have specced a Black Sapphire with Coral Red and Burr Walnut on the configurator. I think it blends a bit of Sportiness with Luxury.

Sounds like a very nice car!

[batty]

thanks for the comments, guys.

I had fun configuring the multitude of options on the BMW configurator and also on my own spreadsheet (I'm a bit of a techy geek). Catching up on all the F30 posts gave me a few tips as well.

Generally the 330d F30 ticked all the boxes for me. I've been looking for a used E90 330d or 335d touring for a few months, but they seem pretty rare and fetch good prices (a testament to BMW popularity). The F30 is bigger, faster, more practical and more economical for a little (or somewhat, depending on spec) more money. So I thought I'd go for it.

[Defero]

What made you go for the adaptive suspension?

[Flakmunky]

Originally Posted by batty

I had fun configuring the multitude of options on the BMW configurator and also on my own spreadsheet

good to know it wasn't just me doing this?!

[Defero]

Originally Posted by Flakmunky

good to know it wasn't just me doing this?!

Your not alone, sadly this new car has become an obsession

[batty]

What made you go for the adaptive suspension?

hmmm - tricky one - I've owned a few Audi's with less than perfect spring rates / damping. I nearly went for this option on the Audi TT mk2, but it was over a grand. I know BMW's generally have better ride & handling, but I wanted the best chance for perfection. And also, to change it afterwards i.e. aftermarket suspension, is very expensive and effects re-sale.

[Defero]

Originally Posted by batty

hmmm - tricky one - I've owned a few Audi's with less than perfect spring rates / damping. I nearly went for this option on the Audi TT mk2, but it was over a grand. I know BMW's generally have better ride & handling, but I wanted the best chance for perfection. And also, to change it afterwards i.e. aftermarket suspension, is very expensive and effects re-sale.

I found the passive setup great but thats just me .

[batty]

I wouldn't say you've made the wrong choice by going with the passive, sir.

I didn't have the chance to drive a passive sdrive (only an active xdrive), so couldn't form judgement for myself. The adaptive is really for me to cover all eventualities.

And after all, it's not a huge cost - the same as a lot of the options - "I'll just add this, and this looks interesting, and this might be useful", and before you know it you have £7k of options..oops..!

Those BMW marketing guys certainly know how to make you want to spend more money.!

[batty]

well guys, the time is looming near for collection of my new F31.

I placed the order on Aug 22nd (after cancelling my first order and chamging dealer, but that's another story), and my dealer took delivery last friday 13th Sept. I think that's incredibly quick for a car built to my spec. The dealer was jammed out with a sales event and I was more than happy to agree collection this wed 18th Sept.

My dealer - Lister's BMW Boston have given superb service throughout, and they agreed to loan me an F31 MSport 330d for a couple of days last weekend as a clincher for the order against a similar deal with another dealer.

The loan car gave me a good chance for an early feel of what to expect with my own car, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. But it did raise a question or 2 in my own head. The biggy was "have I made a mistake"... by ordering active suspension (on a 330d sDrive), because the loan car's passive suspension was in my opinion absolutely superb. It controlled the car well over some truly awful fenland (undulating due to movement over pete subsoil) and generally rutted roads. It made me think "have I wasted money on active" which could have gone towards a very gadgetty HUD..

I guess I'll see how the active performs and it'll give me a pretty good back-to-back test...

In the meantime I'm getting far too excited for a man of my age..!

[dopper99]

Dont worry, I'm sure the active suspension will be fine. A lot of people on here have it and really like it. Read this and put your mind at rest. http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=802149

[Ngunguru]

Hi Batty - I can imagine your excitement building up to Wednesday - I have an F31 330d MS+ on order and I too spent too much time on the configurator and then FAR too much time scanning this forum to help me fine tune some of my spec.

I've gone for the adaptive for similar reasons - like the idea of being able to change the feel of the car (solo blasts v family motorway trips), but was in two minds coming from a E91 320d MS with 18s which reviews had blasted, but actually rides very well. It comes down to personal choice and don't want to turn your thread into another suspension debate!

Really hope you enjoy the car from Wednesday - don't forget to post some photos and your initial thoughts - will help to keep the rest of us still waiting excited pending delivery...

[335dJa]

Looks a great spec, seems you're not too far from me either. I've ordered mine from Lincoln. Maybe see you around

Also +1 on the over excited old man

[batty]

thanks for the link dopper99 - interesting reading there.

I guess the fact that it's using more up-to-date technology and that it's fully tested and developed by the BMW engineers must mean it's an overall better system. Sometimes you have to put your trust in BMW - they should know what they're doing.

Generally, The F31 MSport passive setup was far superior to any Audi I've owned or driven, so everyone's a winner..!!

[Ngunguru]

+1 on superior to Audi - I test drove an A4 and knew within two turns away from the dealers that both the suspension and overall feel wasn't on a par with my BMW. Fine if you're not too into your driving and I can see why Audi's sell themselves (the dealers certainly don't!), but not for me.

[batty]

In terms of spec, the only thing I've changed since my initial post is to add a towbar - I'll need it occasionally if I carry more than 2 people and cycles. Incidentally I was chuffed to find that my bike fitted in the loan car in one piece with the rear seat folded down - didn't even have to remove (bike) front wheel, and the (car) rear wheelarches were wide enough to accept the height between rear wheel and saddle.

Looking forward to trying out the variable sports steering as well. That's another option that I ordered "blind" - at least it wasn't expensive.

Still not sure about the burr walnut trim matching in with the coral red interior - I've not seen any photo's yet - will just have to wait until wednesday to see it in the flesh.

[E60MKF]

For that amount you could have got an F10, which is in a league of its own.