3 Series Touring - getting old an boring
Discussion
Picked up this a week ago and having slogged 600miles around the country in that time, it felt like a good time to share some thoughts and create a little log of my time with this car.
It’s a 2016 F31, 320i xDrive with the M Sport Plus pack.
Funnily enough it replaces a Porsche Cayman in midnight blue which this BMW shade (Tanzanite blue) seems a really close match to.
Having owned the Cayman for near 2 years alongside a Panda (which did all the dog trips and winter miles) I made the sensible decision to get something a little more grown up. Realistically, having two cars was becoming a bit of a headache and I wasn’t really driving the Porsche enough to justify it. Safety rather suddenly became higher up on my priority list after a near miss with a deer the size of the Panda and so, quite quickly my hunt for a ULEZ friendly ‘nice, sensible’ car began.
I’ve always loved the look of a 3 series touring - the practicality was no bad thing either, given how my girlfriend and I love to take bikes, muddy boots and dogs with us on any given weekend away. With the relatively city-friendly dimensions and reputation for decent handling, it was soon top of the list.
In terms of spec, my only real non-negotiable were M Sport for my vanity , a petrol engine 2l> and a build date after 2015 for the updated, more reliable engine that the LCI model brought with it. I went to see one car at a dealer which the shiny, baby-wiped, toilet block air-freshened interior was enough to put me off, before getting to the less than “excellent” - as described - condition outside. And then this one popped up. A good £2.5k above budget but I knew the second I saw it that it was worth it…
- M sport performance pack which brings the bigger, better-looking blue brake upgrade.
- 50k miles
- Harmon Kardon speakers. They’re ace.
- 19” alloys
- xDrive 4WD system
- auto
- privacy glass
- near new Goodyears all around
- xenon LED adaptive lights
So far, I’m really, really chuffed with it. The x drive is certainly not necessary for me, but my gosh does it inspire some confidence, especially at this time of year with the mucky, leafy, wet roads. Excellent. The whole car just feels a real joy to drive, gearbox is quick as lightening and always seems to be in the right place, engine nice and smooth and the steering is just spot on - sticks just where you point it in the corners where you’d otherwise expect understeer. My only gripe is that the economy really isn’t setting the world on fire - from such a sensible feeling, modern 2l engine, topping out at around 37mpg on a motorway run in eco-pro is a little frustrating as I could get this in the Cayman, but given my relatively low mileage, it’s not a huge issue.
So… no major plans other than a very deep clean when I’m back from up north. Other than that I’m tempted to put replace the silver grill with a black one - I’m not a ‘modified’ sort of guy, but the whole car is otherwise free from chrome so I think it would look spot on and finish off the look.
Any questions, fire away!
It’s a 2016 F31, 320i xDrive with the M Sport Plus pack.
Funnily enough it replaces a Porsche Cayman in midnight blue which this BMW shade (Tanzanite blue) seems a really close match to.
Having owned the Cayman for near 2 years alongside a Panda (which did all the dog trips and winter miles) I made the sensible decision to get something a little more grown up. Realistically, having two cars was becoming a bit of a headache and I wasn’t really driving the Porsche enough to justify it. Safety rather suddenly became higher up on my priority list after a near miss with a deer the size of the Panda and so, quite quickly my hunt for a ULEZ friendly ‘nice, sensible’ car began.
I’ve always loved the look of a 3 series touring - the practicality was no bad thing either, given how my girlfriend and I love to take bikes, muddy boots and dogs with us on any given weekend away. With the relatively city-friendly dimensions and reputation for decent handling, it was soon top of the list.
In terms of spec, my only real non-negotiable were M Sport for my vanity , a petrol engine 2l> and a build date after 2015 for the updated, more reliable engine that the LCI model brought with it. I went to see one car at a dealer which the shiny, baby-wiped, toilet block air-freshened interior was enough to put me off, before getting to the less than “excellent” - as described - condition outside. And then this one popped up. A good £2.5k above budget but I knew the second I saw it that it was worth it…
- M sport performance pack which brings the bigger, better-looking blue brake upgrade.
- 50k miles
- Harmon Kardon speakers. They’re ace.
- 19” alloys
- xDrive 4WD system
- auto
- privacy glass
- near new Goodyears all around
- xenon LED adaptive lights
So far, I’m really, really chuffed with it. The x drive is certainly not necessary for me, but my gosh does it inspire some confidence, especially at this time of year with the mucky, leafy, wet roads. Excellent. The whole car just feels a real joy to drive, gearbox is quick as lightening and always seems to be in the right place, engine nice and smooth and the steering is just spot on - sticks just where you point it in the corners where you’d otherwise expect understeer. My only gripe is that the economy really isn’t setting the world on fire - from such a sensible feeling, modern 2l engine, topping out at around 37mpg on a motorway run in eco-pro is a little frustrating as I could get this in the Cayman, but given my relatively low mileage, it’s not a huge issue.
So… no major plans other than a very deep clean when I’m back from up north. Other than that I’m tempted to put replace the silver grill with a black one - I’m not a ‘modified’ sort of guy, but the whole car is otherwise free from chrome so I think it would look spot on and finish off the look.
Any questions, fire away!
Great car, but I am biased 
And yes, IMO the Blue M Sport 370/345mm brakes are a must as is the HK system. It does sound superb
Really like our F31. About to do a full suspension overhaul on ours in Jan once warranty has expired...
They're a great car to be in and drive..very comfy indeed
And yes, IMO the Blue M Sport 370/345mm brakes are a must as is the HK system. It does sound superb
Really like our F31. About to do a full suspension overhaul on ours in Jan once warranty has expired...
They're a great car to be in and drive..very comfy indeed
Yes, loving the car and it really is comfy - I think aided by the non-M Sport suspension that the xDrive cars have. I’m sure people will say it needs replacing immediately, but it all seems pretty capable to me and the bonus of things being a bit smoother is nice.
Can’t help feeling that the xDrive and big brakes make it all feel a tad out of balance with the engine power, but I think I’ll get over that soon!
Can’t help feeling that the xDrive and big brakes make it all feel a tad out of balance with the engine power, but I think I’ll get over that soon!
FieldAtlanta said:
Yes, loving the car and it really is comfy - I think aided by the non-M Sport suspension that the xDrive cars have. I’m sure people will say it needs replacing immediately, but it all seems pretty capable to me and the bonus of things being a bit smoother is nice.
Can’t help feeling that the xDrive and big brakes make it all feel a tad out of balance with the engine power, but I think I’ll get over that soon!
I've got the M Sport RWD; took a few xDrive F30s and 31s out for test drives and didn't like the 'wallowyness' personally; but nor did I want/need xDrive either so stuck with RWD. But I do get how some folk like it...Can’t help feeling that the xDrive and big brakes make it all feel a tad out of balance with the engine power, but I think I’ll get over that soon!
I had an F01 730D SE Luxury before as well as a Japanese import E39 540i Sport; both on M Sport suspension and prefer the firmness personally (not too hard though); but the overhaul of the suspension I'm doing in Jan will make marked improvements on mine, it's showing its age now etc
I really like the brakes; they stop superbly with ours; M Performance 370/345mm slotted discs with OEM BMW pads all round
It's on it's winters currently (397s with Goodyear Vector Gen3 all seasons all round); decided against dedicated winters this time around as even though we'll be heading up to the Highlands; I won't be venturing out into the middle of nowhere to find stones to lift as I' done with that/body's broken enough
FieldAtlanta said:
Yes, loving the car and it really is comfy - I think aided by the non-M Sport suspension that the xDrive cars have. I’m sure people will say it needs replacing immediately, but it all seems pretty capable to me and the bonus of things being a bit smoother is nice.
I considered going over to Schnitzer springs for a while (again SE spec suspension) but never got around to it, and now the '86 is on the drive so I've zero motivation. The only time I've really got got on with the softeness was at autobahn speeds, at 130+ the lack of body control becomes alarming, every expansion gap is an adventure. But hey, it rides really well, quid pro quo. My only other gripe is the refinement, I came from a CLS and E-Class the F31, even with 17"s and premium NRF tires, generates a surpring amount more road and wind noise. But from a Panda/Cayman that's probably not an issue!
Beyond that I can't think of an equivalent; small estate with rwd, zf8, 6-cylinder derv. I'm a bit stumped for a replacement!
Love my F31. Like others have said, I can't think what I'd replace it with, it's big enough for us (two children), more than fast enough (mine is a 340i) and handles really nicely (has some Birds bits on it, suspension diff and remap). It's inconspicuous as well. But the most important point is that it isn't too electronic - no lane keep assist or other nannies to turn off, the traction control can be completely disabled, auto start/stop can be coded out. And there's a really big aftermarket for them, both in terms of parts and support.
Yours looks great
Yours looks great
AmyRichardson said:
I considered going over to Schnitzer springs for a while (again SE spec suspension) but never got around to it, and now the '86 is on the drive so I've zero motivation. The only time I've really got got on with the softeness was at autobahn speeds, at 130+ the lack of body control becomes alarming, every expansion gap is an adventure. But hey, it rides really well, quid pro quo.
My only other gripe is the refinement, I came from a CLS and E-Class the F31, even with 17"s and premium NRF tires, generates a surpring amount more road and wind noise. But from a Panda/Cayman that's probably not an issue!
Beyond that I can't think of an equivalent; small estate with rwd, zf8, 6-cylinder derv. I'm a bit stumped for a replacement!
Good to hear. Yeah, I’m half tempted to start looking at lowering springs but fear it may be unnecessary on a car purchased more for the ability to drag me, girlfriend and dog around the country. My only other gripe is the refinement, I came from a CLS and E-Class the F31, even with 17"s and premium NRF tires, generates a surpring amount more road and wind noise. But from a Panda/Cayman that's probably not an issue!
Beyond that I can't think of an equivalent; small estate with rwd, zf8, 6-cylinder derv. I'm a bit stumped for a replacement!
And yes, coming from a 100k+ mile Panda makes anything feel pretty luxurious! It’s more than impressive for my needs.
What The Deuces said:
Nice motor. Shame it’s xdrive as it’s just no benefit really and spoils the steering (apart from you get a nicer ride! Nice spec apart from that.
Cheers! Yeah, seems to be the consensus that xDrive ain’t much cop. Even if placebo, it’s doing a good job of giving me a nice bit of extra confidence as the road surface and conditions change through into winter. What effect does it have on steering, out of interest?
The other car - of similar mileage and M Sport spec - that I tested was RWD and genuinely didn’t feel much different. Granted on a 15min test drive.
Aluminati said:
What The Deuces said:
Nice motor. Shame it’s xdrive as it’s just no benefit really and spoils the steering (apart from you get a nicer ride! Nice spec apart from that.
You’ve had an x drive ?What The Deuces said:
About 50k miles in x drive 3 and 4 series and about 400k in rwd 3 series yeah.
I’ve put 160k on my 2017 330d. Never found a problem with the steering, it inspires confidence pulling out of wet bends. But then, I’m not expecting it to be a racing car. It’s a run of the mill BMW. It does what it need to competently. Is it worse than a 2 wheel drive ? Nah.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff