[teaston]

Originally Posted by Bibbles

I've always thought of the saloon as the old mans car and the touring as the family mans car.

For me, sacrificing so much of the aesthetics of a car for practically is an old mans thing, but etto of course.

[drjolokia]

Originally Posted by Bibbles

I've always thought of the saloon as the old mans car and the touring as the family mans car.

I hate the touring also. Something just looks off about it!

[FMIB]

Having gone for a G31 myself, i could not really see where a X3 would be better.
The 5 series is in a higher class in my opinion.

Ok, that seems to make me an old fart according to some posters, each to their own, but i fit into the group that thinks an estate, touring, avant or what ever you call them, generally look better than a saloon with so much more practicality.

[andrewX3M40d]

I am in a similar position at the moment. Current car will be 3 years at the end of this year and been looking at several options - 440i GC, S4 Avant (yuck), X3 and G30. Had a G30 for 24 hours and the comfort and refinement felt miles ahead of the others. A lot lower discounts on the X3 at present compared to the G30 so it worked out similar costs for what definitely feels like a car from the higher class. I am not in any rush so just waiting for the right moment.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by andrew2101

I am in a similar position at the moment. Current car will be 3 years at the end of this year and been looking at several options - 440i GC, S4 Avant (yuck), X3 and G30. Had a G30 for 24 hours and the comfort and refinement felt miles ahead of the others. A lot lower discounts on the X3 at present compared to the G30 so it worked out similar costs for what definitely feels like a car from the higher class. I am not in any rush so just waiting for the right moment.

I'm only hearing of around 6-10% discount on X3 currently compared to 20-23% on 5 Series! :

Lower APR on 5 Series too.

[andrewX3M40d]

Originally Posted by teaston

I'm only hearing of around 6-10% discount on X3 currently compared to 20-23% on 5 Series! :

Lower APR on 5 Series too.

Exactly what I have been seeing. I did even see 25% earlier in the year Feels like a lot of car for the money. Test driving all of them has also made me realise that actually, what I want is the extra comfort and refinement. Must be getting old.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by andrew2101

Exactly what I have been seeing. I did even see 25% earlier in the year Feels like a lot of car for the money. Test driving all of them has also made me realise that actually, what I want is the extra comfort and refinement. Must be getting old.

It is a bit scary adding all the options on the configurator, the spec I'd want is coming out at around £62k, but with those sorts of discounts and 2.9% APR it's really not that bad!

[andrewX3M40d]

Originally Posted by teaston

It is a bit scary adding all the options on the configurator, the spec I'd want is coming out at around £62k, but with those sorts of discounts and 2.9% APR it's really not that bad!

Haha bloody hell I don't feel too bad now. Mine is only coming out at 58K. What engine are you looking at?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by andrew2101

Haha bloody hell I don't feel too bad now. Mine is only coming out at 58K. What engine are you looking at?

530d xDrive. Massive shame there’s no 540d in UK though!

[AP]

I wish there was a 550i , would have been tempted!.
My 540i came out with a list of £61k but with discounts , not too bad.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by ADS-UK

I seriously considered X3 before deciding on G30. I was in a similar situation to you except that we don't have a dog.

My decision was based on these;

1. I found G30 to be lot more comfortable than X3 even in firmer M Sport setup.
2. We hardly ever drive off road or get enough snow to warrant having a xdrive. That said you could always get a G30 with xdrive if needed.
3. X3 is a better option if you are looking for boot space but G30 does the job for us. We can fit all our suitcases for a road trip without any issues.
4. G30 is certainly more advanced from a tech point of view.
5. G30 interior comes across as better quality than the X3. I know X3 improved quite bit but I wouldn't say it's at the level of G30.
6. I do about 80 miles everyday. G30 fared better in my fuel consumption calculations.

Hope these help in some way. Good luck.

X3 is manufactured in the US.

G30 for US market are either manufactured in Germany or Austria.

[andrewX3M40d]

Sorry to hijack your thread teaston and I know this if financial suicide but what packages/options are you looking at?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by andrew2101

Sorry to hijack your thread teaston and I know this if financial suicide but what packages/options are you looking at?

Currently thinking this, but would also like Driving Assistant Plus, Black Nappa Leather & Adaptive Drive!

530d Xdrive M Sport Saloon

Mediterranean Blue
Cognac Dakota Leather

Visibility Package
Comfort Package (Folding Mirrors & Comfort Access) plus Comfort Seats & Parking Assistant Plus

Head Up Display
HK Sound
Sun Protection Glass
12v Power Sockets
Split folding Rear Seats
Steering Wheel Heating
Active Cruise Control
Adaptive Suspension

MSRP £60,995

[ZigmundUK]

Having an x 5 and the g30 there is a world of difference in the way they drive. My wife and I both love driving the g30. The x5 is tolerable for what it is. I'm guess the X3 will be somewhere between the two.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by teaston

Currently thinking this, but would also like Driving Assistant Plus, Black Nappa Leather & Adaptive Drive!

530d Xdrive M Sport Saloon

Mediterranean Blue
Cognac Dakota Leather

Visibility Package
Comfort Package (Folding Mirrors & Comfort Access) plus Comfort Seats & Parking Assistant Plus

Head Up Display
HK Sound
Sun Protection Glass
12v Power Sockets
Split folding Rear Seats
Steering Wheel Heating
Active Cruise Control
Adaptive Suspension

MSRP £60,995

This was my build thread and spec. Love your colour choices

G30 530d xdrive MSport Med Blue Cognac - UK https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1364337

You'll love the 30d xdrive but I have the adaptive drive and I do think that makes a difference.

Also the active steering I have actually gotten on with very well so would encourage it.

Not getting the tech pack? Wireless charging etc...?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

This was my build thread and spec. Love your colour choices

G30 530d xdrive MSport Med Blue Cognac - UK https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1364337

You'll love the 30d xdrive but I have the adaptive drive and I do think that makes a difference.

Also the active steering I have actually gotten on with very well so would encourage it.

Not getting the tech pack? Wireless charging etc...?

I’d really love AD, but £1500 more than just VDC is a lot! Wish I could drive both back to back but there’s little chance of that.

According to the configurator you can’t spec AD and IAS!?

Tech pack was the easiest decision, don’t need wireless charging because I always have my phone in an active Brodit dash mount, don’t need wifi hotspot because my phone can do that, don’t need display key as the iPhone app can do everything it can (and I really don’t want yet another device that needs regular charging!), and gesture control is a complete gimmick.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by teaston

I’d really love AD, but £1500 more than just VDC is a lot! Wish I could drive both back to back but there’s little chance of that.

According to the configurator you can’t spec AD and IAS!?

Tech pack was the easiest decision, don’t need wireless charging because I always have my phone in an active Brodit dash mount, don’t need wifi hotspot because my phone can do that, don’t need display key as the iPhone app can do everything it can (and I really don’t want yet another device that needs regular charging!), and gesture control is a complete gimmick.

Shame you were not in the market a few months ago, my fully loaded 540i M Sport with M Performance kit on it was sold for £47K by Stephen James BMW a real bargain.
The Kit cost me £3350.00 on top of the price. It eats 540i's

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

Shame you were not in the market a few months ago, my fully loaded 540i M Sport with M Performance kit on it was sold for £47K by Stephen James BMW a real bargain.
The Kit cost me £3350.00 on top of the price. It eats 540i's

Hey, since you own a M5, what do you think of the Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo?

Sorry for the thread hijack.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

Shame you were not in the market a few months ago, my fully loaded 540i M Sport with M Performance kit on it was sold for £47K by Stephen James BMW a real bargain.
The Kit cost me £3350.00 on top of the price. It eats 540i's

I definitely wouldn’t consider a 540i doing over 25k pa, has to be 530d for me John.

[ADS-UK]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

X3 is manufactured in the US.

G30 for US market are either manufactured in Germany or Austria.

Not sure about the relevance of this to the points I raised :

[ADS-UK]

Originally Posted by teaston

I'd really love AD, but £1500 more than just VDC is a lot! Wish I could drive both back to back but there's little chance of that.

I've got VDC but I'm not entirely convinced by it. I've tried to figure out the difference it brings by driving on the same road in the two settings. However, I don't know whether there's a significant enough difference.

Can't say much about Adaptive as I couldn't get a car with it to test drive. Suggest you compare M Sports suspension along with VDC and Adaptive. There might not be a massive difference between M Sports and VDC.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ADS-UK

I've got VDC but I'm not entirely convinced by it. I've tried to figure out the difference it brings by driving on the same road in the two settings. However, I don't know whether there's a significant enough difference.

Can't say much about Adaptive as I couldn't get a car with it to test drive. Suggest you compare M Sports suspension along with VDC and Adaptive. There might not be a massive difference between M Sports and VDC.

Apparently G3x’s with VDC do have thinner ARB’s to give more comfort when in comfort mode. That’s what makes me think that AD would be worth it as it would make the car corner so much flatter.