[ztx84]

Well… it’s finally arrived. Only had to wait about 8 weeks (felt longer!) and picked up my new 540i xdrive last night from Ocean BMW in Plymouth. Absolutely brilliant – have driven about 100 miles so far and it is excellent. Engine pulls really well and it seems to make more engine noise than the demonstrator (a welcome addition!), even though I haven’t been over 3,500 rpm yet. I was thinking about adding the performance and sound kit, but having driven it stock I'm not sure I need it.

The only thing I don’t like about the inside is BMW deleting the air mix control in the centre stack – this was a great feature in the F10 and enabled you to quickly vary warm/cool air through the vents. Not sure why they removed this from the G30… Overall though I think the interior is a good step up from the F10, the wood trim looks much better and the ambient light creates a great look at night.

I’ve always had an excellent experience dealing with Ocean in Plymouth – so I’d highly recommend them to anyone in the UK (who is within a reasonable travelling distance). Excellent service, no hard sell and just a really professional outfit. With the snow forecast for this weekend (typical!!) the car is tucked up in the garage but I’m looking forward to putting some miles on her.

A couple of photos attached – sorry about the quality, weather is not conducive to high quality photography today!

My spec is as follows:
G30 540i xdrive M Sport
Mediterranean Blue / Black Dakota leather with blue stitching
HK Sound
Ceramic finish for controls
Sun protection glass
Heated steering wheel
Display key
Dark burled walnut wood trim
Power folding mirrors
Shadowline exterior trim

[ADS-UK]

Looking good. Congrats.

[Ahoydolphin1]

What a beauty! Enjoy it in the best of health

[.BMW.]

Looks great!

Congrats.

[r3amir]

Nice

[clzhong]

The air mix control has been relocated. You can find it by pressing "menu" at the center of temperature control display, then go to the "Temp. Adjustment, upper body"

[SDRX]

Congratulations mate
That colour particular suits the G30
Done 600 miles in mine already, what an incredible car and engine

[Wardy82]

Beautiful machine! Picking my G30 up from Ocean Bmw Plymouth in a week or so! They’ve been very pleasant to deal with so far

[ztx84]

Originally Posted by Wardy82

Beautiful machine! Picking my G30 up from Ocean Bmw Plymouth in a week or so! They’ve been very pleasant to deal with so far

Thanks - yes - I agree Plymouth are very easy to deal with indeed... Wish this snow hadn't arrived again this weekend though - can't take the car out now!!

[Balster]

Originally Posted by ztx84

Thanks - yes - I agree Plymouth are very easy to deal with indeed... Wish this snow hadn't arrived again this weekend though - can't take the car out now!!

Best colour for the G30 by a country mile. The G30 xDrive will destroy the snow, its a joy to have that confidence of 4WD when driving at 70 on the Motorway when its snowing.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Balster

Best colour for the G30 by a country mile. The G30 xDrive will destroy the snow, its a joy to have that confidence of 4WD when driving at 70 on the Motorway when its snowing.

Making that statement, I assume you are on winter tyres, so that you have car control and can stop.

[morellomax]

Xdrive here, on narrow uniroyal rainsports that are brilliant in the wet.

Today, in the snow, well I could get moving, but stopping and steering was just as difficult for me as it was for everyone else.

I wonder if cars with 4wd are actually more likely to crash in this weather as their drivers may have a false sense of greater safety and push harder.

[morellomax]

ps, to the OP, car looks great, enjoy ��. I am also in Devon, near newton abbot. Can’t believe all this snow !

[DavidI]

Originally Posted by morellomax

Xdrive here, on narrow uniroyal rainsports that are brilliant in the wet.

Today, in the snow, well I could get moving, but stopping and steering was just as difficult for me as it was for everyone else.

I wonder if cars with 4wd are actually more likely to crash in this weather as their drivers may have a false sense of greater safety and push harder.

There was a statistic quoted, I think it was from German insurance companies reported in Auto Motor und Sport, that 4wd cars have fewer accidents than 2wd, but when they do have them, they tend to be much larger. The figures appeared around 1994 and 4wd would have been transitioning from an exotic choice into an everyday, practical option.

I suspect a lot of people, as you suggest (and I've been in this category) are over-confident with the grip of 4wd and the performance available in poor conditions, but when the grip runs out it tends to be suddenly and you tend to be travelling very quickly....

[AP]

Yeh 4wd doesn't stop you any better than 2wd. I'd guess 2wd with snow tyres is better than 4wd with summer tyres

[ztx84]

Originally Posted by morellomax

ps, to the OP, car looks great, enjoy ��. I am also in Devon, near newton abbot. Can’t believe all this snow !

I know what you mean - totally covered again this morning... I'm up near Tiverton! Roads are a nightmare so car is staying in the garage again today (fortunately I can work from home today!)... Might see you around sometime while I'm going up and down the M5 / A38!

[ztx84]

Originally Posted by DavidI

There was a statistic quoted, I think it was from German insurance companies reported in Auto Motor und Sport, that 4wd cars have fewer accidents than 2wd, but when they do have them, they tend to be much larger. The figures appeared around 1994 and 4wd would have been transitioning from an exotic choice into an everyday, practical option.

I suspect a lot of people, as you suggest (and I've been in this category) are over-confident with the grip of 4wd and the performance available in poor conditions, but when the grip runs out it tends to be suddenly and you tend to be travelling very quickly....

I think you are right. With 4wd there may be a temptation to be a little over confident. Mind you the amount of drivers of all cars who don't seem to be able to drive to the conditions is incredible. One day a few weeks ago when it was -5 Celsius I was driving carefully at 40mph - and the amount of people who tailgated me was stupid... The ice on the side of the road should have shown them why I was driving moderately!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by AP

Yeh 4wd doesn't stop you any better than 2wd. I'd guess 2wd with snow tyres is better than 4wd with summer tyres

I run RWD and winter tyres, best compromise (unless you run AWD and winter tyres), I don't have to carry the penalties of AWD all year.

Given the choice for winter driving, RWD and winter tyres comes ahead of xDrive on summer tyres for sure. I want car control and the extra stopping power. xDrive does nothing for that. Work on the mantra "if you can't stop, don't move".

More an observation, up here where we get snow through most winters, many AWD drivers do act overconfidently, see themselves as invincible and the evidence is in many end up off the road, in the ditch. Saw a AWD SUV a few weeks back (on an inch of snow) out of control in flowing traffic. Either driver error and/or no grip to slow down behind cars with better grip.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by ztx84

I think you are right. With 4wd there may be a temptation to be a little over confident.

I've spoken to quite a few AWD users up here who really believe they have an advantage in winter conditions. Been sold a false confidence. Ask them how they stop without better cold weather/winter tyres. Most have no idea tyres are the key element to safest driving in winter conditions.

[ztx84]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I've spoken to quite a few AWD users up here who really believe they have an advantage in winter conditions. Been sold a false confidence. Ask them how they stop without better cold weather/winter tyres. Most have no idea tyres are the key element to safest driving in winter conditions.

Yep - you're right... The dealer I bought mine from said the limiting factor is always the tyres. Let's just hope when I do have to go out tomorrow the snow and ice has disappeared... Don't fancy risking the new car in dodgy conditions!

[AP]

Snow is such a rare event here in london, so I don't go the route of having Winter tyres although I certianly acknowledge the advantage they give. I just leave the car where it is.

I treat Xdrive as a way for me to accelerate hard from a standstill /slow speed and not have the wheels spin . With the 540ix here in the UK, I obviously don't get a choice on the matter!

and ztx84, nice jam jar! you won't be disappointed.
Waiting for the nice weather to arrive and get my car cleaned, clayed and waxed again.

[Nivarox]

Congrats, that's a nice car
Happy Driving