[SEW247]

I'm starting to think about what to do with my 335dx March 2015 pre LCI saloon. I have a GFV of £17k and my 4 year PCP ending in March 2019 I'm thinking that with the first MOT, plus the potential costs for brakes / tyres etc, plus the crusade against Diesel engines (particularly large ones) I can't see there will be much point seeing out my 4 year contract as i will likely be in massive -ve equity come the end plus also considering the remaining monthlies and car tax and warranty extension costs for year 4.

The car is loaded with options and I've ended up doing very low mileage due to a job change and it will only have about 25k on the clock come March 2018 - It would make a fantastic (and probably cheap!) car for someone.

I'd be interested in your opinions on my best course action- I'm considering VTing, or maybe speaking with TRL to see what he can do; not sure if it would be VT then go to him or part ex and see what can be done with -ve equity. I'm considering an X3 (maybe even a old model for the right deal) but also potentially something secondhand. With new child, the saloon is feeling a bit small and a hearse too big for where I live in London.

For those who have gone from saloon to X3 - is there really much more room / convenience for 2 adults and a kid (in your experience). Also, those with the 4GC (particularly those who've also had a 3 series saloon) what is your experience with having kids in the back and boot space?

Thanks!

[bunzo]

I have gone from a 3 saloon to a 4GC, and during the same time my wife had an X3. We have 2 kids and the X3 was great for it's height (dealing with car seat straps etc) and room in the back seats generally. The boot is also vastly more convenient than the saloons if you're getting prams and stuff in and out all the time.

The 4GC boot is great - feels about the same size as the 3 but much easier access as it's a hatchback.

Powered tailgate is great, you will appreciate this with armfuls of kids stuff! The rear seats are about the same as the 3, maybe slightly less legroom but very similar. The seats are a bit more sculpted so car seats can dig into the leather a little - but not enough to annoy me at least.

X3 dashboard is looking a bit dated now, but for size and convenience it's still a good car.

My wife has a 4 series convertibe now - easy lifting kids out with the roof down!

[Tengocity]

If your mileage is that low then not seeing how you will need to spend much on maintenance to be honest. An MOT costs about £40.

You've a GFV so negative equity at the end isn't really an issue, and if you sell now you'll have to clear it instead. Unless you put in a massive deposit I'm not sure you'd be in a position to VT yet either.

Totally get that a saloon isn't the most practical for small kids, but not how a tourer is too big, but that a X3 is ok?

And I'm pretty sure the X3 is diesel only, though the new one when it has the hybrid option could well be ideal.

To be honest it just sounds like you want to change and are scrabbling around for rational reasons to justify it! Which is a prelude to Man maths of course.

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by SEW247

I'm starting to think about what to do with my 335dx March 2015 pre LCI saloon. I have a GFV of £17k and my 4 year PCP ending in March 2019 I'm thinking that with the first MOT, plus the potential costs for brakes / tyres etc, plus the crusade against Diesel engines (particularly large ones) I can't see there will be much point seeing out my 4 year contract as i will likely be in massive -ve equity come the end plus also considering the remaining monthlies and car tax and warranty extension costs for year 4.

You are thinking about things way too soon.
The first / second MOTs are unlikely to throw up any issues. I also have a Kia and it is now on it's 3rd MOT and never even had an advisory listed. Do you really think a BMW will be worse? Plus an MOT is ~£50, tyres ~£800 how much is the cost to change and fund cars for the next 2 years to avoid this?
With a new car, you will also have to duck under the £40K MRP price to avoid a bigger VED hit.

A PCP protects against any concerns regarding diesel residuals as you have a GFV. Therefore, no worries there.

I really struggle with people VTing. You have to pay 50% of your car, in this case within 2 years of ownership. That's a huge cost per month.
By the time the car is at the end of the PCP, it will be much closer to the GFV value and a lower cost per month. Certainly not the £'000 different that BMW will have you believe. If it is in significant negative equity then just hand the car back.

Do the maths. I calculate cost per month BEFORE I SIGN the PCP and if that meets a palatable figure I'm good to go for the next x years. Painicing halfway through because the GFV is looming, and BMW have given you a 5hit trading offer is pointless.

[JD6]

The sensible option is to run the car until the end of its term. The fact that diesels could be hit by higher rates of depreciation isn't your problem. Your car is Euro 6 and exempt from the T-Charge.

It also allows you to see whether the diesel furore has died down and whether it has spread to include petrol, before you choose your next car. In my opinion an X3 would be better suited to a diesel engine in any case - SUVs really need low end torque to cope with their weight.

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by JD6

In my opinion an X3 would be better suited to a diesel engine in any case - SUVs really need low end torque to cope with their weight.

That's a bit of a misnomer. Many SUV's are based on regular saloon chassis. For example, my AWD Sportage is 1650kg. That's no more than an average car.
The reason for short first gears and low torque is probably more for the towing market

[JD6]

Originally Posted by Nobby Clark

That's a bit of a misnomer. Many SUV's are based on regular saloon chassis. For example, my AWD Sportage is 1650kg. That's no more than an average car.
The reason for short first gears and low torque is probably more for the towing market

I'm not sure that the S part of SUV really applies to the Sportage. The current X3, is 1935kg with a 3 litre (35d) engine. I think there is a good reason that the vast majority of SUV sales are diesel - it just suits heavy cars better IMO.

[saltyamigo]

Would be interesting to know the difference in volume of registrations of 335D pre VED change and post VED change. I would assume they're down quite a bit as even without any options they are above 40K list and the general bad news regarding diesel emissions. Will this actually help their second hand value?

[XWV]

Originally Posted by JD6

I'm not sure that the S part of SUV really applies to the Sportage. The current X3, is 1935kg with a 3 litre (35d) engine. I think there is a good reason that the vast majority of SUV sales are diesel - it just suits heavy cars better IMO.

Goodness, that's a whopping 10kg more than an F33 435xd.

[JD6]

Originally Posted by XWV

Goodness, that's a whopping 10kg more than an F33 435xd.

Err yes. So?

[firewallguy]

You know the tourer is the exact same size as the saloon, just with a higher rear roofline, right?

[x-m4n]

[cough] 3 Series GT [cough]

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by JD6

I'm not sure that the S part of SUV really applies to the Sportage. The current X3, is 1935kg with a 3 litre (35d) engine. I think there is a good reason that the vast majority of SUV sales are diesel - it just suits heavy cars better IMO.

181bhp - more sporty than some BMs including 2l X3's and not that much heavier than the petrol saloons

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by JD6

I'm not sure that the S part of SUV really applies to the Sportage. The current X3, is 1935kg with a 3 litre (35d) engine. I think there is a good reason that the vast majority of SUV sales are diesel - it just suits heavy cars better IMO.

In Europe the vast majority of SUVs may be diesel but that just because taxation has been focused on CO2 emissions.

In the States, Canada, Australia, Japan, diesel is still very much a minority fuel and the big SUVs (which make a Range Rover look small) are petrol powered, either big V8s or increasing turbocharged V6s and 4 cylinder engines.

[vadimo]

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

In Europe the vast majority of SUVs may be diesel but that just because taxation has been focused on CO2 emissions.

In the States, Canada, Australia, Japan, diesel is still very much a minority fuel and the big SUVs (which make a Range Rover look small) are petrol powered, either big V8s or increasing turbocharged V6s and 4 cylinder engines.

Sounds thirsty

[JD6]

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

In Europe the vast majority of SUVs may be diesel but that just because taxation has been focused on CO2 emissions.

In the States, Canada, Australia, Japan, diesel is still very much a minority fuel and the big SUVs (which make a Range Rover look small) are petrol powered, either big V8s or increasing turbocharged V6s and 4 cylinder engines.

Yes I'm aware that where fuel is cheap, they tend to use petrol for SUVs. Having run a petrol SUV (4.4 X5) for some years I just don't think that petrol works well with heavy car, unless it is exceptionally powerful like an M5. The low end torque of diesel suits proper SUVs much better in my view. Just as a petrol engine suits a light/sporty car like a Cayman.

[Jack_is_Back]

Originally Posted by firewallguy

You know the tourer is the exact same size as the saloon, just with a higher rear roofline, right?

A lot of people assume it's bigger (i.e. longer), optical illusion I guess?

[Soul_Glo]

I'm going to hang on to my f32 435d x M until it is outlawed. I love it. Never known a car that can return 40+ mpg on a track run of 110-120mph. It is a perfect balance between power and economy for me.