[aruffell]

Hi all, my name is Andy from Ashford in Kent. I've owned my E46 for around 15 months now and love it to pieces but coming towards 100,000 miles on an 04 plate, I am now looking to sell it.

On a brighter note, I've potentially bought a 2008 E91 320D M Sport Touring from BMW main dealer. I've put down a deposit subject to viewing it and test driving it, and if all is well I will be handing over the cash.

It's a 2008 on an 08 plate with 42,000 miles, manual, diesel in titanium silver with fantastic condition black dakota leather (from the pics i've seen). Lots of options including sliding armrest, comfort windscreen, lumbar support for both driver and passenger, professional nav with idrive, rain sensor wipers and auto headlights, part electric heated seats, USB and voice control.

Paid the fantastic sum of £13,400 with a full tank of diesel and 3 years gap insurance. Good deal I think?

So is there anything I should know about the car?

Mod wise, I'm not going to crazy as I don't want to lose much value in the car but want some extra bits and bobs, so am thinking of doing the following:

Tinted rear windows (should look good on a silver car)
Team Heko Wind Deflectors
HID kit (anyone know which one I need due to the Canbus system?)
Luggage net (to strap down stray things in the boot)
Black kidney grills (Matt or gloss? These should also look good on a silver car i think)
LED number plate bulbs
LED interior kit (change all bulbs inside for LED including map reading lights etc...)

How do my plans sound? Not too over the top I hope?

Anyone know the best place to get the bits? So many on ebay, and not sure what can be trusted in working with the canbus system and being good quality etc...

Many thanks and I hope to stick around here a lot more.

Do you guys ever do meets or anything?

Thanks,

Andy

[dest]

Welcome!

The mods all sound good, nice and subtle.
The only one I disagree with is estate cars with rear tinted windows, it makes them look like a van!
Light tint all round is the only way for me

[P 5UML]

sounds like an awesome spec mate and congrats on your new toy!

definitely get some pictures up so we can have a look!

i would also recommend getting a remap done, it will completelty transform your car and one of the best things about the diesels is their remap figures

regarding the grills i would definitely go gloss black as it would match the m sport window trims which are also gloss black

[creepy coupe]

Welcome. I'm based in Ashford. I'll keep a look out for someone in a 320d touring, with a big grin on his face.

[aruffell]

Ha, thanks for the warm welcome. This seems like a great place to be

I'm based around Repton Park so you'll see me I'm sure

Remap:
Where is the best place to get this done?
Will it affect the BMW warranty?
What gains should I be looking to get?
Any increase in fuel economy?

Gloss black seems to make sense with the high-gloss Shadowline trim

Thanks,

Andy

[creepy coupe]

Ha,We're neighbours I'm nest door in Orchard Heights.

This place emaps has a great rep.

http://www.e-maps.co.uk/

So too does Evolve

http://www.evolveautomotive.com/

[aruffell]

Ha, small world

e-maps want £349 and evole £399 but was told it will affect the warranty with BMW

Andy

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by aruffell

Ha, small world

e-maps want £349 and evole £399 but was told it will affect the warranty with BMW

Andy

If BMW find out and you end up with a warranty claim which is related to the engine/drivetrain, they will kick it out.

[Icekube]

welcome!

sounds a good spec of car, the only thing i would highlight is it most likely being the N47 engine, which was on watchdog recently for high failure rates of the Timing Chain, but given you've got a warranty, i guess you shouldn't be too worried about that.

i would tend to agree with Dest about the rear tints, to me it looks weird having that light dark split between the front and rear.

For the HID kit, i would not be fitting an aftermarket HID kit into standard halogen lamps, you will be blinding everyone on the road. HID's are meant to be directed through a projector to aim their light output away from peoples eyes, and onto the road. For me you have 2 options, fit OEM xenons, or buy some aftermarket projector headlamps (like Depo V2's) and then fit a HID kit to them. personally i would be going to OEM route, given Depo's track record for terrible beam patterns

i would definitely go for gloss black grills over matt ones, in my opinion they have a touch more class than their matt siblings.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by dest

Welcome!

The mods all sound good, nice and subtle.
The only one I disagree with is estate cars with rear tinted windows, it makes them look like a van!
Light tint all round is the only way for me

Problem with a light tint all round is that it could make the car illegal as the glass will have a slight tint already. Front side window need to let in 70% light, so even a 70% tint (allows 70% light through) could get you a tug.

[dest]

I've never had any problems, just don't go stupidly dark with them

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by aruffell

Paid the fantastic sum of £13,400 with a full tank of diesel and 3 years gap insurance. Good deal I think?

Not if the GAP is from BMW.
Ridiculously over priced mate.

You have 14 days to cancel and you can do it by phone.
Get the cover here for at least half of the cost:

www.ala.co.uk

Mines a pint of Stella next time I'm at the Holiday Inn Canterbury Road

Steve

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

N

Mines a pint of Stella next time I'm at the Holiday Inn Canterbury Road

Steve

Still dragging strange women back there are you Steve?

[m1bjr]

An excess of them in that Harvester across the way

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Still dragging strange women back there are you Steve?

[aruffell]

The car was £13,980 and I got them down to £13,400 with a full tank of fuel and the gap insurance thrown in

Definitely have to organize a meet and a drink

Andy

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

An excess of them in that Harvester across the way

I bet there is mate

[aruffell]

So I bought the car and it is now sitting outside my house ready for me to snow foam it tomorrow.

Dealer tried a few things on like the windscreen having FOUR chips in it, so I got them to give me a cheque for £100 to cover my windscreen excess, cheeky gits.

Also, there is a chunk missing from one of the tyres, of which I'm going to take it to a few MOT places to see what they think. If they think it's a fail, I will be back onto the dealership for a new tyre for free or I will be contacting VOSA as to why they passed it with a chunk missing from the sidewall, as clearly their MOT tester should be investigated etc... but we shall see

Other than that. Love it

Andy