[Apollocs]

Hello to you all.

Another new member checking in to say hi and reporting that the deed is now done. Placed my order last Monday, so another F30 will soon be joining your ranks. Delivery hopefully around June.

I have been lurking and soaking up all the great information here for the last month since becoming interested in a 3-Series as my long overdue next car.

Ticked far too many option boxes and spent more money than is sensible. I blame all the talk here of essentials, you are all guilty!


Specification

F30 340i M Sport Saloon - Manual!
Estoril Blue
19" M Star-spoke 403M wheels

ZAKS Cashmere Beige Extended Merino Leather - BMW Individual
XT1 Leather instrument panel - BMW Individual
4FU Fineline Anthracite wood trim

ZIC Interior comfort package
ZMS M Sport Plus package
ZNP Media package - Professional
2VF Adaptive M Sport suspension
3AG Reversing Assist camera
403 Electric Glass Sunroof
488 Lumbar support
5DC Head restraints, folding
8TH Speed limit display


If anyone is interested, I thought about making a longer post with my thoughts about the entire process. My current car and deciding to change, choosing a replacement, options, the sales process and how I got on with the demo loaner BMW UK were kind enough to lend me for a week.

If anyone has any comments/questions please fire away. But please, no suggestions as to what other options I should have added!

Cheers, Justin

[Minty]

Welcome Apollocs, nice choice and good to see a manual; if manual was available on the F31 I would have been very tempted.

Originally Posted by Apollocs

BMW UK were kind enough to lend me for a week

How on earth did you manage to get a loaner for a week??

[Hanchurch]

Welcome I'm a newbie too, 335d f31 on order.

[Drisser]

Gonna be some great 340's around in 3 years when all these new ones get traded ;-)

[deebee]

Originally Posted by Drisser

Gonna be some great 340's around in 3 years when all these new ones get traded ;-)

+1, although a lot of them will probably be about in 1 or 2 years, fingers crossed!

[maziatr]

Originally Posted by Apollocs

Hello to you all.

Another new member checking in to say hi and reporting that the deed is now done. Placed my order last Monday, so another F30 will soon be joining your ranks. Delivery hopefully around June.

I have been lurking and soaking up all the great information here for the last month since becoming interested in a 3-Series as my long overdue next car.

Ticked far too many option boxes and spent more money than is sensible. I blame all the talk here of essentials, you are all guilty!


Specification

F30 340i M Sport Saloon - Manual!
Estoril Blue
19" M Star-spoke 403M wheels

ZAKS Cashmere Beige Extended Merino Leather - BMW Individual
XT1 Leather instrument panel - BMW Individual
4FU Fineline Anthracite wood trim

ZIC Interior comfort package
ZMS M Sport Plus package
ZNP Media package - Professional
2VF Adaptive M Sport suspension
3AG Reversing Assist camera
403 Electric Glass Sunroof
488 Lumbar support
5DC Head restraints, folding
8TH Speed limit display


If anyone is interested, I thought about making a longer post with my thoughts about the entire process. My current car and deciding to change, choosing a replacement, options, the sales process and how I got on with the demo loaner BMW UK were kind enough to lend me for a week.

If anyone has any comments/questions please fire away. But please, no suggestions as to what other options I should have added!

Cheers, Justin

Congrats. My 340i on order is also a manual. You and I must the only ones in the UK with a manual 340i

[InquisitiveA]

Originally Posted by maziatr

Congrats. My 340i on order is also a manual. You and I must the only ones in the UK with a manual 340i

Not quite!

[225]

Welcome! I am wondering if I should have got the folding rear headrests Time will tell I suppose.

[Apollocs]

Thanks for the welcome Minty.

Originally Posted by Minty

How on earth did you manage to get a loaner for a week??

I have no idea how it happened. Perhaps I have 'the force', weaker minds and all that!

Seriously, I just asked for a decent test drive and because my fairly small local dealer didn't have a 340i they asked BMW UK to send one over. As the cars are apparently dropped off and picked up by transporter to keep the miles down it ended up being offered for the week. I assume this doesn't cost the dealer anything other than filling in some paperwork, so why not for a decent sales prospect?

The salesman I have been dealing with is a fairly young chap and I think we clicked and were on the same wave length straight away so this may have helped.

Justin

[Rbrown]

Welcome!

Sounds like a great car. This forum will help you spending more of your well earned cash!!!!!

[Apollocs]

Originally Posted by Drisser

Gonna be some great 340's around in 3 years when all these new ones get traded ;-)

Mine won't be one of them I am afraid. This one will hopefully be a keeper!

Justin

[deebee]

Welcome to the forum, be sure to let us know how it goes especially with the manual gearbox

[Apollocs]

Originally Posted by InquisitiveA

Not quite!

Do you have your manual car yet, or is it on order?

Assuming you have it, how do you find the shift quality and clutch?

Thanks, Justin

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Minty

Welcome Apollocs, nice choice and good to see a manual; if manual was available on the F31 I would have been very tempted.

Yes, excellent though the auto is it's nice to see someone speccing a manual! Must admit I don't follow the logic of BMW continuing to offer the manual with the saloon but not the Touring; can only assume there wasn't enough demand for manual F31 335i's for them to continue to offer it as an option with the F31 340i?

[Minty]

Originally Posted by Apollocs

Thanks for the welcome Minty.



I have no idea how it happened. Perhaps I have 'the force', weaker minds and all that!

Seriously, I just asked for a decent test drive and because my fairly small local dealer didn't have a 340i they asked BMW UK to send one over. As the cars are apparently dropped off and picked up by transporter to keep the miles down it ended up being offered for the week. I assume this doesn't cost the dealer anything other than filling in some paperwork, so why not for a decent sales prospect?

The salesman I have been dealing with is a fairly young chap and I think we clicked and were on the same wave length straight away so this may have helped.

Justin

Well done, my local dealer couldn't be arsed to track a loaner down; I even suggested that BMW should be able to source a car but it fell on deaf ears. I ended up going to Sytner High Wycombe who sourced a car from BMW for the day - they said that BMW charge the dealer £150 per day (although anything the stealer says I take with a pinch of salt).

[Apollocs]

Originally Posted by FS1E

Welcome to the forum, be sure to let us know how it goes especially with the manual gearbox

Thanks for the welcome.

Certainly I will post some pictures and my thoughts on how it drives when it arrives.

I think I am most excited by the interior strangely enough! Always promised myself a leather dash and some decent quality cow on the seats for that 'mini Bentley' feel.

Justin

[deebee]

Originally Posted by Apollocs

Thanks for the welcome.

Certainly I will post some pictures and my thoughts on how it drives when it arrives.

I think I am most excited by the interior strangely enough! Always promised myself a leather dash and some decent quality cow on the seats for that 'mini Bently' feel.

Justin

That will certainly stand out and feel very special! Thats one area the f30 isn't great on as standard so yours will feel much more like how a premium car should, great spec and engine, be sure to post pics!

[snipnoob86]

im a 35d owner, and im starting to get 340i envy. can you please stop posting

[Apollocs]

Originally Posted by JNW1

Yes, excellent though the auto is it's nice to see someone speccing a manual! Must admit I don't follow the logic of BMW continuing to offer the manual with the saloon but not the Touring; can only assume there wasn't enough demand for manual F31 335i's for them to continue to offer it as an option with the F31 340i?

To be honest I was surprised when I realised that BMW actually did still offer a manual with a six pot petrol in a mid size car.

I thank them for that and long may it continue although I have a nasty feeling that this will probably be among the last of them

I have had my current car for over 9 years and considering changing on and off for about the last 4-5 years! It has become very disheartening to see cars with 6+ cylinder petrols and manual boxes disappearing from nearly all manufacturers ranges.

My natural home has been Ford, but Mustang aside, they have nothing for me currently. The options are very limited with most the manual options being coupes/roadsters (Z4, F-type, 370Z).

Engine down sizing and technology driven ease of driving seem to rule the roost. No offence to lovers of the ZF 8speed (it is a great box for it's type) but it does nothing for me. No involvement and no fun.

Justin

[deebee]

So what car do you currently drive?

[Drisser]

Originally Posted by Apollocs

Mine won't be one of them I am afraid. This one will hopefully be a keeper!

Justin

Hope you can resist all the new models in the future ! when the 345i comes out then the 350i in 2-3 years !!

[Apollocs]

Originally Posted by snipnoob86

im a 35d owner, and im starting to get 340i envy. can you please stop posting

Sorry, but no

Just think of all the extra fuel I will be getting through as I howl my way to 7000rpm banging up and down my manual box to the sound of pops and gurgling from the exhaust. Does that make you feel any better?

Justin