[Jools-Devon]

Well, its been a bit of a wait since I ordered it, but my new car is all scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, and my current 320d Touring Edition is all nice and clean and ready to be picked up!

Will have to try and remember the options I selected, and will give a full review over the coming weeks, but a trip from Devon to Manchester tomorrow evening should give me time to work out how the adaptive cruise works!

[335dJa]

Have a safe journey later, look forward to the review and lots of pictures

[Jools-Devon]

Cars arrived, and had a good run upto Manchester and back - so already 600 miles+ on it!

I will post some pictures - just havn't got any of her yet in all her glory!

Spec is

BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Business
(Business gives leather seats, front seat heaters, and business Nav as standard over the normal ED)

Options
Professional Media Package
Visibility Package (Adaptive Xenons, High Beam Assist etc)
Advanced Parking Package (Park Assist, F+R PDC, Rear camera)
Interior Comfort Package (Extended storage, Split folding seats, Extended interior lights, folding rear head restraints)
Head up Display
Towbar
Folding Mirrors
Sports Automatic
Sports Steering Wheel
Lane Change warning
Driving Assistant (Lane Departure and Collision avoidance)
Active Cruise Control with Stop Start

I think that was all! There were a few options I didn't tick!


So - after a weekend with the car, things I really like......

Adaptive Cruise Control - Great on the motorway, and its amazing how well it will "follow" a car on an A road. Will even keep track of a car in front as makes its way round roundabouts.... Also great in stop-go traffic, like we were when we were stuck in a holdup on the M5 (never great when they close the motorway!)I have found that it will "undertake" if the lane ahead is clear, and someone is in the lane to the right.... (On my Audi test drive with Adaptive cruise the Audi sees the car in the lane to the right, and will not pass on the inside)

Adaptive Headlights / High Beam Assist
Absolutely fantastic!!!!
Having this on my previous 320d this takes it to a whole new level. Previously they would follow the road and dip to oncoming traffic. I also found they would often dip at reflective roadsigns!
The new implementation is stunning as they "Dance" around keeping any other vehicle in the shade, whilst the roadside stays brightly lit.

Self parking
Tried it a few times - and it does a very good job!
I think it will take a while before the wife will trust it, and she was the one who would say "We'll never fit in there!"

HUD
Very nice - especially with the adaptive cruise info.


Well thats it for now, a few questions that I will post separately to keep the treads separate!

Jools

[AndyMD]

Sounds V nice. Congrats

[SomeRandomer123]

Great spec! Yeah High Beam Assist is pretty awesome isn't it! 'Dance' is definitely the best word for what they do and when it creates tunnels for other cars is just insane!

Enjoy and let us know how it goes!

[rich100]

I agree its impressive but I found myself the other night being slightly concerned that the driver in front of me might have thought i'd gone loopy and was flashing him. Turned it off to be on the safe side.

Does anyone have any experience of driving in front of a car with adaptive headlights? Maybe my concern is unfounded.

[rich100]

Sorry..... I think I have probably jacked the thread

[Jools-Devon]

The "Dancing Lights" option is great!

I never had anyone "flash" me to say that they were being dazzled - so I think they are doing a very good job at keeping the other vehicles in the "tunnel of darkness"

Maybe i will have to see what its like to be followed by the wife!

[Jools-Devon]

She's clean again now - so here are a few pics!

Cheers
Jools

[TDK]

Hi,

tell me please why you ordered ED instead of 320d, because you have also sport automatic?

Here the price is the same for both 320d and 320d ED.

Very nice choise about the high beam asistant and adaptive cruiser.

[d4springer]

Looks very nice but you haven't cleaned your alloys properly

[Jools-Devon]

Hi TDK

It's a company car, and here in the UK the amount of tax you pay is based on the CO2 emissions - so, the ED fits in a lower tax bracket... The lease rates were good on the ED too.

Springer - yes I spotted that when I downloaded the photo!

[Defero]

Originally Posted by Jools-Devon

Hi TDK

It's a company car, and here in the UK the amount of tax you pay is based on the CO2 emissions - so, the ED fits in a lower tax bracket... The lease rates were good on the ED too.

Springer - yes I spotted that when I downloaded the photo!

The car looks great.

Keeping the wheels clean is hard. I have done 800 miles, washed the car three times .
My break pads seem to dump loads of dust onto my wheels.
I washed the car yesterday after one short drive, 20 miles max, there is already a film of break dust

[TDK]

Originally Posted by Jools-Devon

Hi TDK

It's a company car, and here in the UK the amount of tax you pay is based on the CO2 emissions - so, the ED fits in a lower tax bracket... The lease rates were good on the ED too.

Springer - yes I spotted that when I downloaded the photo!

Different countries - different rules. Mine is also company car, but here we have N1 certicate rules. The power is not important. 20% VAT credit is a good money redusing.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Very nice looking car - I do like the black look

I've had the MetalMate protection added to my wheels, along with AGlaze paint protection. It's supposed to mean all grime just drops off with a hint of water... we'll see.

[Defero]

Im using wheel wax after washing my wheels. Most of the muck and pad dust drops off when I presure wash the wheels. I then use wheel cleaner from Bilthamber.

[pete18]

I've had a BMW with adaptive head lights come up behind me and it did not dazzle me. What it did do was drop a beam around the car just like the utube video. At first I was "what the heck is this" then I did a bit of reading about adaptive and all was clear. It works!
Pete