[Eccles Ken]

Do you recall seeing the thread with the Alpina reviewed in the Sunday Times where they compare it at the end with other options ie the 335D.

Their downer on the 335D was that it was not exclusive - I think their words were "commonplace" or some such words.

Isn't this a little weak. Unless I've gone blind or everyone debadges nowadays I've never seen one in Newcastle including the city centre.

[kitster]

I guess it depends on where you live. I live and work in Canary Wharf; I've seen loads of F3X 320d/330d/335d, but not a single 325d and plenty of more exotic cars like a McLaren P1 and some Veyrons.

[Eccles Ken]

Originally Posted by kitster

I guess it depends on where you live. I live and work in Canary Wharf; I've seen loads of F3X 320d/330d/335d, but not a single 325d and plenty of more exotic cars like a McLaren P1 and some Veyrons.

Fair point. I guess it depends on your view of "commonplace".

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by kitster

I guess it depends on where you live. I live and work in Canary Wharf; I've seen loads of F3X 320d/330d/335d, but not a single 325d and plenty of more exotic cars like a McLaren P1 and some Veyrons.

What no petrol versions?

[kitster]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

What no petrol versions?

Yeah few petrol's floating around but most are diesels.

Originally Posted by Eccles Ken

Fair point. I guess it depends on your view of "commonplace".

I go back to my parents, you see the occasional F3X but most are Ford's, Vauxhall etc. Come back into London and it's nothing special. Not knocking the higher end F3X, I would of loved one but I only use the car for weekends, couldn't justify the price difference.

[DazC]

I have never seen another F30,335d on the road.

They may seem common on here but will not be on the road.

[Steve C]

I've seen quite a few de-badged cars. Are there any visible differences between a de-badged 330d and 335d?

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by Steve C

I've seen quite a few de-badged cars. Are there any visible differences between a de-badged 330d and 335d?

First rule of Debadge spotting...expect it to be the lowest possible engine for the visible signs.

And if it has an ///M badge on the boot expect it to be a 316i SE

[Jules6]

In 2012 barely 2% of all 3 series were 30d (584 out of 27,676) so I would imagine the 35d is even rarer. In which case you could hardly call it common. Maybe just not as rare as the Alpina.

[Pablo68]

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=F30+335d

[Zagga]

I suspect when they say common they are referring to BMW F30's in general as they are hardly an exclusive sight especially in saloon form.

An Alpina badged car even though it's pretty similar looking to every other F30 would make it that bit more special and exclusive.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by gazwas

I suspect when they say common they are referring to BMW F30's in general as they are hardly an exclusive sight especially in saloon form.

An Alpina badged car even though it's pretty similar looking to every other F30 would make it that bit more special and exclusive.

Agreed

[Tengocity]

A 335d looks almost the same as any other F30 so doesn't feel at all exclusive.

I've said it before but I think some modest visual differences for the range topper would have been good... like what Audi do with the S cars.

[gtsussex]

I love the fact my car looks like a 318d (except the two pipes at the back). Love having it debadged and funnily if I went for an M3, would have that completely debadged although the four exhausts will probably still give the game away but again Stealth Grey for me.

Most people think it's just a repmobile which suits me fine. Those in the know realise it may be a weeny bit more than that and actually having driven back in convoy with the wife the other weekend, looking in rear view mirror whilst driving the Disco it does actually appear a weeny bit aggressive with Xenon DRL's and the black grille combined with Stealth Grey (MG).

[Zagga]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I've said it before but I think some modest visual differences for the range topper would have been good... like what Audi do with the S cars.

I disagree and personally love the whole understated look. In M-Sport trim they look plenty aggressive enough without all the Audi chaved up bling.

10 year old 3ers are still great looking cars today IMO. A guy who lives close to me has a E46 330d touring in red and I think it looks and sound beautiful today. The E20 and of course the E30 325i (that I lusted after as a kid) are future classics IMO and none have fancy body kits.

[Cootie]

To be honest most things look commonplace next to an Alpina. My mate reckons he gets more attention in his D5 than he got in his old Porsche 997 Turbo. Plus, if you go for the right exterior and interior colours (i.e. understated and not shouty..), plus the extended leather to cover the entirety of the dash, it does feel much more bespoke that even your top of the range BMW, Audi and Mercedes models. The finish is much more akin to an Aston or Maserati. Had I been prepared to fork out the upfront capital outlay (in the absence of competitive PCP deals) I would have gone for a D3 rather than the 335d I have on order, partly for that reason.

[Waitey]

TBH they are A LOT more common place compared to the Alpina.....

[RobUK]

Well according to that HowManyLeft link - there were EIGHT 2012 328i Luxury's

Mind you, the way I'm feeling right now, they can have this particular 328i back...!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by gazwas

I disagree and personally love the whole understated look. In M-Sport trim they look plenty aggressive enough without all the Audi chaved up bling.

10 year old 3ers are still great looking cars today IMO. A guy who lives close to me has a E46 330d touring in red and I think it looks and sound beautiful today. The E20 and of course the E30 325i (that I lusted after as a kid) are future classics IMO and none have fancy body kits.

I said visual differentiation, not chav bodykits. There are ways to visually differentiate cars without resorting to a bigger bodykit. The twin single exhaust were one wa for example. colours that were unique to the 335d could have been another. Perhaps a different alloy wheel design could have been offered... seems odd to me to have just one choice of 19" allow wheel.

Perhaps there could have been a little extra flourish to the seats as an option.. like the sporty 'quilted' ones you seen in Astons... I'm not saying its everyone's cuppa, but hopefully you get my point.

I don't think an S4 looks particularly chavvy, and I can't believe anyone thinks that De-badging an M3 is somehow turning it in to a Qcar!

I really don't give a hoot what anyone else thinks when they see my car, hence why I debadged it. It's about what I think when I see it.. hence why I put Paint protection film on it and take the effort to clean and polish it.

If my car looked just a little more 'special' to me, without resort to bodykits, then I can't see anyway in which I can think it would be bad!

[Waitey]

Since debadging requires ticking an option technically it's caring more....

[Nick the Greek]

Crawling with them here in Cheshire.

Not seen another 328i though.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Waitey

Since debadging requires ticking an option technically it's caring more....

Yes, my preference was no badges. As I said, this is not about what other people think of my car, it's about what I think or feel about the car. I know it's a 335d, so a badge is superfluous! And besides, they are pain and get all clogged up when you are applying wax or a sealant!

So yes, I would like my car to feel a little more exclusive, not sure that's too untoward?! It's certainly not about flaunting it to anyone else. I could go down the route of the M Performance bodykits, but as said, this is not about that kind of thing.

I probably should have looked more closely at the Individual options.