Advice please - what to do if you hate your car?

un1eash

My latest bmw and first auto is the first I've been able to setup the seat where I can actually see the whole of the display under the dials.
Have you any other experience with rwd as I could run circles round a 1600 diesel focus in my old 320d Coupe, old 520d and current 420i GC all M Sport. Won't mention the M140i apart from the 420i having a better turn in due to the lighter front end. All on run flats also.

Arcam_boy

Just to chime in...its quite a bit different driving a RWD car to a FWD on the twisties etc and you can certainly feel a difference.

My own car is FWD and to jump in to the BMW it does feel different on some country roads but I'd certainly never say it feels unsafe etc.

If it feels that bad have you thought about having the suspension / tracking checked and also what sort of tyres are you running?

I know there are one of two other small niggles with the car and a BMW 3 series isn't for everyone but they really do drive very nicely indeed

delanoster

I'm surprised at this too!
I have a Focus diesel and my partner a 320d estate. I much prefer the BMW's handling to my Focus, and having driven it to Italy and back it made a comfy tourer.

A think the major difference is that somehow her car has normal tyres not run flats, even the dealer was surprised to find the tyre inflation kit in the boot when it arrived.

I agree that it is a big car to park and my partner prefers to reverse the Focus with its reversing camera than the BMW with just old fashioned mirrors.

maxwell

Most of us in the BMW enthusiast community ditch the run flats at the earliest opportunity, it is also noted that all ///M cars are not fitted with run flats from the factory because M Division believe they compromise the handling.

nheather

The thing that puts me off is that I am assuming that if I do choose to hand it back then BMW Finance will expect to find run flats on it and if they are not there they might bump the balloon up by £1000 to cover them.

I suppose I could remove them, store them somewhere I haven't really got space for and then refit them before handing back but that feels like a lot of extra expense just to get the car to my liking.

Anyway, it seems like I have at least a year to keep driving it before any realistic options kick it so it may grow on me.

Also given my low mileage at the moment I'm loathed to give it back too early.  Because the balloon and my repayments are based on a car that is 4 years old with 48k miles on the clock.  Looked at the clock today and I have done 3,200 miles in 13 months.  So if I gave it back after two years it may only have 7k miles on the clock but I will be getting treated as if it were 4 years old with 48k on the clock.

Cheers,

Nigel

IronGiant

You could always go back to the dealer you got it from and ask whether they could do a good deal on a BMW you do like?

nheather

Yes that will be my first inquiry - I’ll pop in and discuss options.  Not sure what I would go for though.  Beginning to think that I like smaller cars and hatchbacks so maybe be look at the new front wheel drive 1-Series when it comes out.

Cheers,

Nigel

True Romance

Yep get some part-ex prices so you can see what's still owning and not just from BMW.  The sooner you trade in the more you'll be in negative equity. My last BMW I was 2 years in on a 4 year PCP and it broke even.