Talk to me about the 3 series convertible

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

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Last couple of weeks has given me real thoughts about getting a Z4 next year.

1 - seeing by the current maths I don't do enough miles to justify 2 cars
2 - putting down £20k on a hard top Z4 is too much
3 - A few occasion in last week in wedding/shoots I ended up needing the rear seats for clients, I can't exactly ask them to walk! This is the more important part. I found out that at times, I actually require 4 seats, even for 30min. I had the groom in the back seat on Saturday to drive down 300 yards with the bride in the front. Can't do that in a Z4.

I was going to get a Mini Cooper S as a stop gap to a Z4 until the hardtop version comes down a bit more but one of relative age cooper S (2008+) isn't cheap for what you get and tbh, it's Not that different to my Yaris and I think it is more a side step, not leap forward.

So now, even though it is about 6 months before my 1 year NCB here, I am thinking a 330 or sorts convertible? Best of both worlds? I wanted that convertible, and the 3L engine in one with 4 seats.

Or are my logic flawed?
 
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I am not getting it until I get my NCB wo I'm only doing research.

I am not sure what E numbers, I have no idea what they stand for...cars are not my strong point, nevermind specific BMW car sort codes! I like a 2007 onwards 330 petrol convertible, idrive, leathers, climate, cruise and parking sensors and the like.

The Yaris will be traded in for it so £15k is doable, £17k may be.
 
You may be able to get insurance now, my wife paid 1200 at 25 with 0 NBC its now, 780 with 1 years NCB but we have a good post code which helps a lot (300 quid cheaper compared to our family home a few miles away)

I think you will find a good one when the time comes as you can find them for 15k so in 6 months time you may even get a M-Sport.

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classi.../page/2/postcode/cr81dd/radius/1501?logcode=p

Personally I would get a 335i Se as it has many of the M-Sport toys and its very quick.
 
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M Sport adds M Sport body styling, anthracite headlining, M Sport steering wheel, M Sport gearstick, M Sport wheels, M branded door sills, Sport seats and M Sport suspension (335i SE has M Sport suspension and seats as standard).
 
To me the Sport seats and M Sport suspension is probably the most important part of the M-Sport. The body styling is much nicer bit it would not stop me from buying a SE as you can fit a M-Sport body kit for around 1100 pounds.

The SE's are generally a few k cheaper
 
Right, so a 335 SE has a faster engine with sme M sports bits, and potentially cheaper than a 330i M sporrts?

That sounds good, if one doesn't mind the cosmetic side of the M sports kit.
 
As fox said the 335i is faster, quite a lot faster.

It comes with a lot more toys as standard, Sport seats, M Sport suspension, electric seats with memory, xenons, rear PDC....

They do not seem to cost much more to buy then a 330i, running costs are a little more but if you do not do too many miles I would not worry.

EDIT: you can also remap a 335i to around 380 bhp for 400 quid
 
Raymond Lin said:
Right, so a 335 SE has a faster engine with sme M sports bits, and potentially cheaper than a 330i M sporrts?

That sounds good, if one doesn't mind the cosmetic side of the M sports kit.
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Pretty sure the 07 plate 335i SE Cab is in the £445 a year road tax bracket.

Also, you absolutely do not want to own one of these cars without a comprehensive BMW warranty. It will cost you about £550 a year if you get one with less than 60k on it.
 
[TW]Fox;20168816 said:
Pretty sure the 07 plate 335i SE Cab is in the £445 a year road tax bracket.
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Yes it is but I don't get why it bothers people, if you have 15k to 30k to splash on a car why would you care if you pay 250 quid a year more in tax for the 2 or 3 years that you own the car.

How much is the bmw warranty for a 335i compared to a 330i?
 
[TW]Fox;20168816 said:
Pretty sure the 07 plate 335i SE Cab is in the £445 a year road tax bracket.

Also, you absolutely do not want to own one of these cars without a comprehensive BMW warranty. It will cost you about £550 a year if you get one with less than 60k on it.
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Right, with insurance, it will be £2k just to keep this on the road with no petrol. Not cheap. Double my Yaris. (more than double the car tax too), I mean I can afford it, but do I want to, that needs some more thought.

What about the the 330i in tax bracket and reliability wise? I don't NEED all that extra power of the 335 really from the sound of it.

Also, I take it buying a BMW 3 series and buying warranty practically goes hand in hand?
 
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