CptBread01
New member
Hi All,
After a long search for my first BMW, I'd like to introduce my new-tome 2014 F30 320d Modern Line Auto. At 23 years old, I feel incredibly fortunate to finally own one.
With around 175,000 km on the clock, it's by no means a new car, but it has been exceptionally well looked after. I'd been searching for quite a while and really the only non-negotiables were a decent service history, Hi-Fi sound system or H&K and had to be in decent shape. My dad and I would often spend Saturday mornings when I was not working going to look at cars and this particular one was actually the last one we wanted to look at that day (and we almost skipped it because it was "brown").
When we actually got to viewing the car, the "brown" turned out to be Sparkling Bronze Metallic (B06). I do quite like a color that is less common. The tyre mobility kit and first aid kit were both still in their original packaging, completely unopened. They could have been replaced at some point, so I can't say for certain they're the originals. Either way, little details like that gave me confidence that the car had been looked after throughout its life. The interior was quite well kept, and I thought it was quite striking. I don't think I'd ever seen a Modern Line F30 up close before, particularly one with this color interior. As per BimMer.Work, the interior is Oyster Leder Dakota/oyster/akzent Oyster Dunkel (LCL9).
In terms of factory options, it had Hi-Fi sound, so I was happy, but a few more notable options, 3AC Trailer Tow Hitch (This car has a button to bring out and retract the towbar?), 3AG Backup Camera, 459 Seat Adjustm., Electr. W. Memory & 6NS Enhanced Telephony with Extended Smartphone Connectivity (Bluetooth for me tunes!). I will include a full list at the end of the post if anyone is interested.
The car has an almost complete BMW service history since new through Leo Haese BMW (Now Centurion BMW) & Fountains Circle, including brake work. There is one gap of roughly 26,000 km, although after spending some time at BMW Centurion on Saturday and finding records that weren't reflected on the printed Motorplan history, I'm hopeful I'll be able to track down the remaining out-of-Motorplan records from Fountains Circle as well.
Aside from giving it a wash and hand polish, I've spent most of this weekend cleaning and conditioning the leather. Detailease Leather Cleaner has made a noticeable difference already. Mechanically, the plan is preventative maintenance over the next few months. The ZF gearbox service is first on the list, as I couldn't find any evidence of it having been done. After that, the timing chain. There isn't any hint of a rattle, but after reading enough about the N47 engine, I'd rather be proactive than reactive. I am currently looking for a reputable garage to take the car to. Fourways/Midrand/Randburg.
As for modifications, one thing I'd really appreciate some advice on is Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. I'd love to keep the interior looking OEM, as I'm not a fan of the aftermarket Android screens. If there's a way to integrate Android Auto or CarPlay with the factory display, I'd much rather go that route. I know the standard screen isn't particularly large (it's probably not much bigger than the one in my Atos!), so I'm not sure how usable it would be, but I'd be interested to hear what others have done. If the Professional Navigation retrofit ends up being the better route, I'm more than happy to go down that road too, although I suspect that route becomes fairly expensive. Beyond that, I'd like to maybe get a pair of LCI taillights and maybe a set of different rims perhaps a set of Style 414 wheels, as I think they really suit the Modern Line without trying to make it something it isn't.
As for power, coming from a 49 kW Hyundai Atos, this already feels properly quick. Fuel is not too bad either if you drive gingerly. The amount of torque available from low down is genuinely impressive and makes the car feel effortless to drive. Overall, I am super happy with it. My daily commute isn't particularly long, so it probably won't rack up mileage very quickly, but I already find myself looking for excuses to take it for a drive.
After a long search for my first BMW, I'd like to introduce my new-tome 2014 F30 320d Modern Line Auto. At 23 years old, I feel incredibly fortunate to finally own one.
With around 175,000 km on the clock, it's by no means a new car, but it has been exceptionally well looked after. I'd been searching for quite a while and really the only non-negotiables were a decent service history, Hi-Fi sound system or H&K and had to be in decent shape. My dad and I would often spend Saturday mornings when I was not working going to look at cars and this particular one was actually the last one we wanted to look at that day (and we almost skipped it because it was "brown").
When we actually got to viewing the car, the "brown" turned out to be Sparkling Bronze Metallic (B06). I do quite like a color that is less common. The tyre mobility kit and first aid kit were both still in their original packaging, completely unopened. They could have been replaced at some point, so I can't say for certain they're the originals. Either way, little details like that gave me confidence that the car had been looked after throughout its life. The interior was quite well kept, and I thought it was quite striking. I don't think I'd ever seen a Modern Line F30 up close before, particularly one with this color interior. As per BimMer.Work, the interior is Oyster Leder Dakota/oyster/akzent Oyster Dunkel (LCL9).
In terms of factory options, it had Hi-Fi sound, so I was happy, but a few more notable options, 3AC Trailer Tow Hitch (This car has a button to bring out and retract the towbar?), 3AG Backup Camera, 459 Seat Adjustm., Electr. W. Memory & 6NS Enhanced Telephony with Extended Smartphone Connectivity (Bluetooth for me tunes!). I will include a full list at the end of the post if anyone is interested.
The car has an almost complete BMW service history since new through Leo Haese BMW (Now Centurion BMW) & Fountains Circle, including brake work. There is one gap of roughly 26,000 km, although after spending some time at BMW Centurion on Saturday and finding records that weren't reflected on the printed Motorplan history, I'm hopeful I'll be able to track down the remaining out-of-Motorplan records from Fountains Circle as well.
Aside from giving it a wash and hand polish, I've spent most of this weekend cleaning and conditioning the leather. Detailease Leather Cleaner has made a noticeable difference already. Mechanically, the plan is preventative maintenance over the next few months. The ZF gearbox service is first on the list, as I couldn't find any evidence of it having been done. After that, the timing chain. There isn't any hint of a rattle, but after reading enough about the N47 engine, I'd rather be proactive than reactive. I am currently looking for a reputable garage to take the car to. Fourways/Midrand/Randburg.
As for modifications, one thing I'd really appreciate some advice on is Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. I'd love to keep the interior looking OEM, as I'm not a fan of the aftermarket Android screens. If there's a way to integrate Android Auto or CarPlay with the factory display, I'd much rather go that route. I know the standard screen isn't particularly large (it's probably not much bigger than the one in my Atos!), so I'm not sure how usable it would be, but I'd be interested to hear what others have done. If the Professional Navigation retrofit ends up being the better route, I'm more than happy to go down that road too, although I suspect that route becomes fairly expensive. Beyond that, I'd like to maybe get a pair of LCI taillights and maybe a set of different rims perhaps a set of Style 414 wheels, as I think they really suit the Modern Line without trying to make it something it isn't.
As for power, coming from a 49 kW Hyundai Atos, this already feels properly quick. Fuel is not too bad either if you drive gingerly. The amount of torque available from low down is genuinely impressive and makes the car feel effortless to drive. Overall, I am super happy with it. My daily commute isn't particularly long, so it probably won't rack up mileage very quickly, but I already find myself looking for excuses to take it for a drive.
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based on the recommendations from the forum alone, lots of stellar reviews. Arranging for the car to go for an inspection next week!
