I ruled out the Lexus and Audi A4 and A6. I was left with only two options as per my requirements - Mercedes C Class and BMW 330Li M Sport Gran Limousine.

BHPian Motorhead3321 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My new BMW 330Li M Sport LCI Gran Limousine

Hi all. Here is a report on my experience with my car.

• Date of Purchase: 3 April 2023
• Dealer: Deutche Motoren Whitefield Bengaluru
• Color: Carbon Black Metallic with Cognac Interiors
• Usage Pattern: Daily 25 kms in the city with a Bangalore Cochin Drive once in 2 months.
• Kilometers completed as of 29 February 2024: 11000

Likes

• The B48 (D) Petrol Engine churns out a whopping 258 BHP and an impressive peak torque of 400 NM. 0-100 km/h could be achieved in 5.9 seconds (BMW claim 6.2 seconds). The car has a marriage made in heaven with the ZF8 transmission.
• Cabin is definitely the most spacious in the segment. The rear legroom and seat positions are just perfect for both daily use and highway drives. More than enough headroom for tall passengers despite the panoramic sunroof. The leather and plastic quality is top-notch. Everything is firmly put together.
• idrive 8: The LCI comes updated with idrive 8 configured in a curved twin-touch widescreen display and a fully digital instrument panel. Offers connected drive with 'My BMW' app. Resolution is UHD. BMW Navigation is now offered with 3D Maps. (way cooler than Google Maps). I drive touch has handwriting recognition and direct access shortcut buttons. Enabled with remote software update and digital key.
• LCI Design update makes the car look more aggressive and sportier with the M aerodynamics package (comes as standard). Front and rear get sport aprons, revised high gloss chrome kidney grill and bumpers. The interior updates also make the car futuristic with a new gear selector and the screens.
• 16 Speaker 464-Watt Harman Kardon Surround sound system is next level good.

Dislikes

• M Sport trim deserves the anthracite black headlining in the interior. This was offered in the pre facelift 330i standard wheelbase M sport trim. Now offered only in the M340i LCI.
• Iconic sounds and sports + not offered. But BMW chose to delete it to maintain the limousine characteristic. This was offered in the standard wheelbase pre LCI models.
• Rear seat magazine holders deleted in the LCI. However, BMW has chosen to do away with this in all their new models. Even the new 7 series come without it.
• No sun blinds for rear and passenger windows.
• No ADAS and lane keep assist offered in India.

Alternatives considered and why this car

With a budget of Rs. 75 lacs, I was very clear that the car shall be a petrol, rear wheel driven and German. Which ruled out Lexus and Audi A4/A6 from the beginning. So, my two options were the BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine and the Mercedes C Class.

Here is a quick report on the C Class C200 Avantgarde alternative.

Likes

• Timeless and elegant design
• The interiors will blow you away. It's modern, state of the art and in all sense a baby S class. (Please do not go by the YouTube reviews and form opinion on the design. I would urge everyone the experience the car in a dealership)
• IoT, Auto Emergency braking, ISG and ADAS Enabled.
• Wheel design. Though only 17 inch, it gives a turbine-like look when in motion.

Dislikes

• The petrol engine in the C200 to me is a confused being. The 1.5 liter 200 bhp unit lacks punch and has poor mating with the 9-speed gearbox. On downshifts, the car just doesn't know which gear to slot into. When you floor it, the car just revs, and not much power is sent to the wheels (more like a CVT experience). I just couldn't establish any relationship with this engine. Also, the EQ boost feature doesn't last long enough to make an impact. MB India should replace the C200 with a C300 petrol in India.
• Grabby Brakes as a result of the mild hybrid system. Since the engine was underpowered, I tried light-footed driving, but the brakes were grabby and uncomfortable.
• Low ground clearance. Car had to be maneuvered carefully around medium-sized humps.
• Rear legroom and cabin size is small and cramped.

Why finalized with the 3 series?

Well, I got all my answers at the ignition of the BMW (the cold start is a pure joy to the ears) and boy the test drive gave me absolute clarity. Me and family had a big smile on our faces thanks to the way the BMW drove. It was pure driving pleasure and yes rightfully the ultimate driving machine. Zero complaints. Absolutely loved the Carbon Black Metallic color with cognac interior and the family had a clear consensus on the choice. The BMW beat the Merc in a 4-0 raise of hands family vote.

Dealership experiences

In order of visitation. Date of Visits 20 and 21 February 2023.

Sundaram Motors Bengaluru

I had a very good experience with Sundaram Motors and sales advisor Mr. Faiz. He is thoroughly knowledgeable and spent at least one hour with the family explaining the product. Went in with prior appointment (always recommended) and did a good 8 km test drive. Was also offered a highway drive in the Bengaluru airport road.

Mercedes no longer works in a dealer format apparently. Since 2020 all dealers have been converted to franchises. You buy the car directly from MB India and the franchise will execute the delivery on its behalf. Sundaram Motors sounded helpless when it came to price as the final price is system generated and discounts are given through coupons only.

Navnit Motors (Now KUN Exclusive)

Sales Manager Avinash Mammen was very courteous. The car was launched just a week before our visit and hence there were no test drive cars available on that day. There were not willing to go offer any discounts other than insurance. (Navnit Motors transferred their Bangalore business to Chennai/Hyderabad based KUN Exclusive sometime in late 2023)

Deutsche Motoren

To my surprise, they had test drive units available already unlike Navnit. The sales team at Deutsche Motoren is very aggressive. Over and above test drive, we were also offered a visit to the stockyard to see color options on the same day. My sales advisor Ms. Preetha could undercut Navnit Motors and closed the deal in our very first meeting. Very strong and energetic team.

To our surprise, the entire first lot of 20 units delivered to Deutsche Motoren was sold out within a week. We had to wait for the second lot with a tentative delivery for 1st week of April 2023.

Price

Final Negotiated (On the road Karnataka with 1% TCS)

• Sundaram Motors C 200 Avantgarde- (Rs. 70.57 lacs) with Star Platinum Insurance
• Navnit Motors- (Rs. 73.3 lacs) with BMW Insurance and Tyre secure
• Deutsche Motoren- (Rs. 72.8 lacs) with BMW Insurance and Tyre secure and BSI 3-year Maintenance Pack

Review points

• Overall build quality, fit & finish, paint quality and panel gaps- BMW has not left any stone unturned when it comes to these aspects. Full marks to them. I have no complaints or negative observation to date. Very proud that such strong finish is offered from their assembly line in Chennai.
• Wheels & Tyres- 18" inch wheels double-spoke style twin tone with mixed low-profile tyres (Front 225/45 and Rear 255/40). Michelin Pilot sport 4S run flat Tyres offered as standard. The tyres make the ride plush and offer enhanced grip.
• Interior design & quality (plastics, upholstery, fit & finish etc.) - Top notch plastics and quality in the BMW. The Mercedes has a more futuristic design but has a lot of cheap plastics going on. Would recommend everyone to get a good touch a feel of all plastic parts before buying. The Mercedes has better seats in the front and offers ventilation and massage which the BMW misses out on. Instrument panel is wrapped in sensatec leather which adds to the premium.
• Driving position, ergonomics, controls & MID - Front seats are electrically adjustable with memory function for driver. Front seats are sports seats with extension for thigh support. Misses out on Lumbard adjustment. Car is enabled with launch control and cruise control.
• Visibility & size of mirrors- Electrically adjustable and heated. The automatic anti dazzle function helps cut out strong headlamp beams from rear. It misses out on blind side monitoring. The passenger side exterior mirror has parking function (automatically folds to give curb side view). Much needed to save the alloys from scrapping.
• Air conditioner cooling & effectiveness - Offered with 3 zone air conditioning with rear air vents. Have no issues as it offers max cool and auxiliary ventilation for parking in hot sun. Aux ventilation can be accessed through phone as well through my BMW app.
• Audio system & sound quality- Harman Kardon Surround Sound system with 16 speakers and 464 Watts is clearly from a segment or two above. The music system works best with Apple music Hi res lossless.
• Interior storage, practicality & boot space - Decent size glove box. Good bottle holders' spaces which can hold two one-liter bottles comfortably. Boot is compromised because of the space saver spare wheel. Tailgate has an automatic function (do remind the security guards to use the button else the motor may wear out). Wireless charging is seamless with both my iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung S24 ultra. No overheating issues faced.
• Drivability in the city - For bumper-to-bumper traffic better to switch to eco pro mode and turn off the automatic engine on/off. Have averaged 12 kmpl (lifetime) in a mixed blend of city and highway drive. It Returns a mileage of 10kmpl in the city from mostly comfort mode usage. Car is very peppy and will not overwhelm you at any point with its size. The ground clearance is more than adequate and have not faced an issue so far.
• Drivability on the highway - Sheer driving pleasure. Planted drive at high speed and enhanced cornering stability. No turbo lag whatsoever. Engine is refined, loves to be revved and is at the heart of this beast. All kinds of overtakes are easy and can take on anyone.
• Gearshift & clutch- As mentioned above, the ZF8 single torque converter gearbox and the B48 is a match made in heaven.
• Overall NVH levels (including engine, wind & road noise) - Completely cut off from the rest of the world when in comfort mode. No wind or road noise. The Michelins do an incredible job of keeping road noise to a near nil. Acoustic glazing on windows adds to this. The beast comes alive in sports mode. I do miss iconic sounds.
• Handling, on-road behavior, grip levels, stability, body roll & turning radius - Stout and steady. No body roll even in hairpins. W.r.t turning radius, the M sport steering wheel is enabled with BMW servotronic assist and does the job very well for you in U turns especially.

Safety & related equipment

• Airbags for driver and passenger, head airbags in front and rear and side airbags for driver and front passenger.
• ABS with brake assist and auto emergency braking.
• Cornering brake control. Plays a good role in hair pin bends.
• Dynamic stability control and Dynamic traction control.
• Vehicle immobilizer with crash sensor. (great feature in case of crash to avoid getting locked up)
• Side impact protection with absorbers and railings in architecture.

Other particular likes

• Heat protection glazing over and above the acoustic glazing helps contain UV damage to the interior.
• Welcome carpet lights from the side mirrors will wow you all the time.
• BMW LED Automatic headlights come standard and the daytime running lights look much more cooler now compared to the pre LCI variant.

Other particular dislikes

• No wooden trims offered in India unlike other markets. In fact, no option to customize the trims and options at all. However, the same scene with Mercedes and Audi so can't complain.
• No more 12V charging points. Only USB C offered as standard across.

Delivery Experience

Delivery date was 3 April 2023. We did not perform any PDI as the car was produced after our booking and we took delivery within one day of its arrival at the dealer.

Deutsche Motoren picked us up from home in the afternoon. Pooja was arranged for us in the showroom. Documentation was followed with cake cutting and unveiling the car. They had 43 deliveries on that day. Overall, a very smooth and pleasant experience executed to perfection by Deutsche Motoren. 10/10 for their management.

Accessories purchased at the time of delivery:

• Leather Key fob
• All season floor mats (highly recommended). Very easy to maintain interior with these mats.
• Fuel additives

Refueling

• In Bangalore city, I only use shell normal petrol. Costs 12 rupees/litre more but gives great peace of mind.
• When consistent with Shell I use the BMW fuel additive once in 2500 kms only.
• During Bangalore Cochin drives I plan refuel at Shell Coimbatore Avinashi Road.
• In Cochin, I refuel from IOCL Kadavanthara, IOCL Edappaly and BPCL COCO Koonamthai but for every refuel, I finish one full bottle BMW additive (being extra cautious).
• Chennai, Mysore and Hyderabad Highways are enabled with Shell so no worries.
• I am avoiding Jio BP and Shell V power to avoid non-OEM additives in the engine. IOCL 95 octane is very inconsistent on quality so never used in this car.

PPF

• PPF offered by Deutsche Motoren is fulfilled by H1 Car detailing at their service center. Quoted Rs. 1.75 lac for Max decal PPF (Indonesian brand with no proper website also). Unless you are very keen on getting PPF done at the BMW facility itself I would say avoid it. H1 Car detailing offered the same at Rs. 1.1 lac at their Sahakarnagar facility.
• I did a lot of research and finally stuck to XPEL PPF at Carsbuddy RT Nagar for Rs. 1.5 lac.
• H1 Sahakarnagar has become really popular now and is offering PPF from XPEL and Stek but was not available at the time of my purchase.

Rodent entry

No case of rodent entry till date, touchwood. However, no solution to the threat. BMW service advisor clearly advised against getting 3M rodent entry engine coating as it would interfere with AC system. I go to bed every day scared. Hope a solution comes by soon. Praying to God.

First service

My first engine oil service was completed in December 2023 in Deutsche Motoren itself. I had no complaints or issues. Was charged Rs. 28000 for wheel alignment, wheel balancing, fuel additives, wiper fluids, engine cleaning, interior cleaning and AC cleaning. Rest all covered under BSI Maintenance pack. Had a very good support from service advisor Mr Jatin. Car was delivered to me within 6 hours. Went in with a prior appointment (always recommended).

Conclusion

Overall been a great journey with the car and BMW. Touchwood, no issues to date. Loving every second with it.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I was told that the problem has been resolved but when I received my car, I found that the rattles were still present.

BHPian Impulsivemedusa recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Gave my car for engine oil service at 18k kms as per the CBS to a BMW service centre on Hosur Road Bengaluru.

I had fixed up an appointment slot with them for this Tuesday morning (7th Nov) and accordingly arrived there. I parked my car, reported to the reception and was told that someone would attend to me in a bit.

A full twenty minutes passed and no one of the 3 people in the reception area bothered to look up from their laptops. I had to interrupt their busy routine twice to understand one of the heads peering into the monitor was the person who was assigned to me. He then asked for the key and after another wait walked with me to the car.

I blurted out the rattles in the car and how rattled I was with them. He listened and when I suggested that we should go for a drive to understand the noises better, he politely turned the idea down assuring me that the service center folks would look into the same. He then completed the formalities and during the process, I stressed twice that I'd like the rattles to be resolved. I left the service center at around 10:30.

Got a call at 4ish that evening stating that my car was ready. The guy from the service centre gushed that they found the causes behind the rattles and had resolved them (after I prompted him about the rattles) and that the car could be taken. I requested him for a drop and he arranged for the same.

The car arrived and to my utter dismay, I found that the rattles remained. I doubt if anyone even attended to them. I called the service centre guy and told him about this and he defended that they had test driven the car till they found that the rattles were resolved to their satisfaction.

After a few back and forth he now says he'll get my car to the showroom the weekend after next. He mentioned about the feedback form that BMW would send and I have told him that the kindest I can be is to refrain from giving any feedback till the issue is resolved. But I now have no confirmation from the service center that my car would get picked up.

Please let me know if I should escalate or if should I wait till the weekend after next.

Here's what BHPian itwasntme had to say about the matter:

Can understand your predicament as a BMW service centre pulled the same trick with my 330i with severe sunroof creaking issues. I am afraid you erred in not insisting on an in-person test drive at both ends and also accepting their drop-off service. I know it is easier said than done with work commitments / traffic / waste of bandwidth etc., but now you are at their mercy as it sounds as if they have closed the job card.

I suggest you escalate! Why should you have to suffer and wait? They have obviously charged BMW India with the BSI costs, and are now probably unofficially trying to manage the issue. Not acceptable I feel.

Here's what BHPian jfk1975 had to say about the matter:

Your experience with BMW service and the rattles in G20 is unfortunately not that uncommon.

• The rattles in G20 are well documented from all over the world.
• Try the Deutsche Motoren service center in Whitefield instead. Ask for Mr. Aftab Mehti. He and his manager are familiar with common troublesome areas that trigger these rattles - the sunroof, rear seat parcel tray, door trim/rubber seal contact (even more pronounced in the M Sport trim) and so on.
• You don't need to do any favor to your service centre team by holding off on the survey from BMW. If the sequence of events is as you described, the complaint that you raised hasn't been addressed by the service centre. They usually come off their high horse occasionally with a bad rating. That's just my 2 cents.

Here's what BHPian Impulsivemedusa replied:

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I made the BMW service centre take back the car and solve the issue and told them that I don't want it back till the rattle settles down. They took the car a couple of weeks back (arranged a pick-up) and after test driving and solving for the rattle gave the car back last Wed.

I came back earlier today from a business trip and drove it and my trained ears couldn't pick the now-familiar tut-tut-tut. So looks like a happy ending for now. My wife had done a conditional sign-off on the job card stating that the rattle needs customer testing when they had dropped the car last week. If this calm continues in my office ride tomorrow, will be happy to report back to them that this seems to have been resolved. Again, indebted for all those suggestions. Thanks.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

After going almost a year without a luxury sedan, I had really forgotten what no body roll felt like, but the car really handles well.

BHPian TheBimmerBoy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I took delivery of my 330Li on the 28th of September.

I have owned a 320D GT from 2016 to 2022 and something I just couldn't let go off from that car.

The fuel consumption - I live in Bombay and my GT would do upwards of 35 km a day in the city, and still reward me with close to 11-12 kmpl, which was really good. Last year again, somehow on the 28th of September (pure coincidence), we took delivery of an Audi Q5 45 TFSI Technology (2023) after selling the GT. It was really amazing and I expected the mild hybrid tech to really give me some good coasting power. But to my surprise, after over a year of owning the Q5, it only returns an abysmal 4.5 kmpl. So when getting the 330Li, I really had no hopes with regards to efficiency. But to my surprise, the GL in Eco Pro will really coast like a monster. I mean on highways, with feather-footed driving at 80 kmph like I have done a couple of times, I've seen upwards of 14 kmpl. So me too mate. I'm glad I didn't go for the diesel.

It has been just over a month now as I'm writing this and I've already crossed over a thousand kilometers. The car has been an absolute gem except for the first day. On my way back from the showroom after taking delivery, I noticed a juddering sound from the front left of the car, and that left me pretty appalled. I contacted my salesman and my friends at the service center and let them know about the issue. They took the car 3 days later to try and figure out what the noise was. It turned out to be easy to fix as just some sound dampening of the car had not been attached properly which was juddering around. They were very efficient and quick to help me out, but it was just sad to see this on the first day of owning the car.

The comfort is really magnificent. After going almost a year without a luxury sedan, I had really forgotten what no body roll felt like, but the car really handles well. Most importantly, where I think it handles best is during turn-ins into corners. I've driven the 340i, and the 340i doesn't turn into a corner like our 330s. It's probably because of all the weight up front (B58, S-Drive), but that eagerness to just go into a corner is what really amazes me. On certain freeways within Mumbai, I've noticed myself turning into corners which I shouldn't really be doing, which really is a breath of fresh air.

It's my first post on here. Hope you enjoyed reading.

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Best part is, most of these rides will keep the driver as well as the family man in you happy.

There are cars and then, there are cars. As BHPians, we aren't looking at a mere mode of transportation from point A -> point B. To us, the journey is as important as the destination...be it that simple early morning drive in the city, or the pleasurable 1000 km road trip with our families.

Good thing is, the vibrant Indian market offers petrolheads a wide variety of fun-to-drive cars. Turbo-charged petrols and EVs have spiced up the game too. And if you thought you need to spend big bucks to have fun, think again. Excellent options are available at each & every price point.

Best part is, most of these rides will keep the driver as well as the family man in you happy. After all, the car of a typical Indian household just has to be a multi-tasker (ghat cornering on Sunday, work on Monday, kids to football ground on Wednesday, late-night revving on Friday, visit in-laws on Saturday, breakfast run with BHPians on Sunday morning).

Listed below, in no particular order, are the best enthusiast cars on sale today. Only those with a price tag of ~75 lakhs & under have been included, to keep the line-up relevant to gearheads.

Each of these cars will bring a smile to your face (*guaranteed*) in their own special way, every time you head out for a drive ! What's more, if you wish to enhance the driving experience, they are modification-friendly too.

BMW M340i xDrive

What's hot: Ferocious 6-cylinder turbo-petrol motor with 382 BHP on tap! Lives for 7,000 rpm, all-wheel-drive gives the BMW M340i leech-like grip & solid stability levels, sporty and well-tuned exhaust note is addictive at high revs, ZF 8-speed AT is the best gearbox in the segment...fast & smooth, 0 – 100 in 4.4 seconds with 4-door everyday practicality...go touring with the family, lovely cabin, premium build, very supportive seats & a fab driving position, BMW’s strong track record for reliability (among the luxury marques), 5-star NCAP rating, awesome brakes & a laundry list of safety equipment

What's not: Ride is much firmer than a regular 3-Series...liveable, but you feel everything on the road, sad boot space with a spare wheel, we don’t like the radiator grille, rear floor hump is enormous! The car is better as a 4-seater than 5, your fuel costs will be a lot higher than say, a 530d, runflat tyres come with many compromises...wear out soon & are expensive to replace, we hate the all-digital instrument console...also, the rev counter is weirdly inverted, some irritants such as w-i-d-e 6-meter turning radius & annoying speed warnings

Official review

Ownership Report

Citroen C3 1.2L Turbo-Petrol (you'll be surprised!)

What's hot: Striking design! Very funky, yet likeable at the same time, good-looking cabin that is practical too, fast 1.2L turbo-petrol is genuinely fun-to-drive, 6-speed MT is slick and light to operate...definitely one of the better gearboxes in the segment, sorted suspension offers a very good ride & handling package, compact size and light controls are perfect for the urban environment, 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay is excellent to use, lots of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique

What's not: No automatic transmission on offer, quality of cabin materials doesn't feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas, some ergonomic issues like the placement of rear power window switches, unusable rear headrest, cabin width makes the interiors suitable for 4 adults...not 5, missing features like electric ORVM adjustment, climate control, and tachometer! long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is tiny

Official Review

The Hyundai N lines

i20 N Line

What's hot: Aggressive styling with distinctive touches that set it apart from the garden-variety i20, punchy 1.0 turbo-petrol motor with 118 BHP on tap, firm yet compliant suspension coupled with a weighted steering + paddle shifters + fruity exhaust note, tasteful N Line-exclusive steering wheel, gear selector, red accents etc. liven up the interior, feature-rich equipment list includes cruise control, LED projectors, voice-activated sunroof, wireless charging & more, spacious cabin with a 311-liter boot makes this a practical yet fun-to-drive car, price premium over the regular i20 is totally justified by the additions & improvements, safety kit = ESP, 6 airbags, rear disc brakes, Blue Link SOS, Hill Assist…

What's not: Although well-priced in relation to the i20 Asta variant, it is still an expensive hatchback, 1.0L DCT variant shows initial lag...even otherwise, it’s not as explosive as VW’s 1.0 Turbo, some misses such as auto wipers, split folding rear seats, you absolutely need a tyre upgrade...the OEM rubber gives up easily, this 3rd-gen i20’s styling can be polarizing, unlike the more neutral previous generation cars, dual-clutch ATs have had a troubled reliability record in India, more of a warmed-up hatchback in terms of power & handling, rather than a “hot hatch”

Official Review

Venue N Line

What's hot: Aggressive styling and distinctive touches set it apart from the regular Venue, punchy 1.0L turbo-petrol motor with 118 BHP mated to a fast shifting dual-clutch AT, firm yet compliant suspension coupled with weighted steering + paddle shifters + fruity exhaust note that make the Venue N Line a fun little package, tasteful N Line-exclusive touches liven up the otherwise drab interior, feature-rich equipment list includes 4-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, auto-dimming IRVM, cabin air purifier, BlueLink telematics, Home to car (H2C) with Alexa / Google Voice assistant, voice-activated sunroof, wireless charging & more, price premium over the regular Venue is totally justified by the additions & improvements, safety kit = ESP, 6 airbags, rear disc brakes, Blue Link SOS, Hill Assist, factory-fitted dual camera dash-cam, Hyundai's wide & competent after-sales network

What's not: More of a warmed-up compact crossover than a proper hot crossover, 1.0L DCT variant shows initial lag...even otherwise, it’s not as explosive as VW’s 1.0 TSI, handling is not as confidence-inspiring as one would expect from a "hot" crossover...tyre upgrade is mandatory! The OEM rubber gives up easily, diminutive street presence...looks more hatchback than SUV from some angles, especially the rear, strictly a 4-seater; the rear bench has very awkward seating for the middle occupant, no manual transmission even as an option! Long term reliability of the DCT is a concern, missing kit (auto wipers, steering reach adjustment...)

Official Review

Fast Sedans

BMW 330Li

What's hot: Just the right size for a luxury sedan in India, punchy rev-happy engine & well-tuned gearbox deliver superb performance, a great combination of ride and handling; just how a 3 Series should be, big step up in interior quality & design (from the F30), loaded with tech, stylish speedometer & more...iDrive 7 is nice to use

What's not: Sad boot space with the spare wheel underneath, pricing is stiff for some variants, fake engine noise piped in; tad too fake for our tastes

Official Review

Mercedes C300d AMG Line

What's hot: Powerful engine with a 0 - 100 time of ~6 seconds, lovely 9-speed gearbox, AMG Line body kit looks hot, suspension offers the perfect ride & handling balance for India

What's not: Very expensive, spare tyre placed on the boot floor chews into cargo space, some missing features

Test drive report

Continue reading this thread for more insights and information.

The car has a low stance. So the Kushaq will be the vehicle of choice whenever we take parents out.

BHPian msnarian recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This beauty came home this month and I haven't stopped grinning since!

The story/garage so far:

As most people here, I have been dreaming of cars and motorcycles ever since I was in primary school. In fact, most of my margins in school notes were filled with doodles of anything with wheels! When I started earning decent, I finally had the opportunity to buy my first car, a Honda Brio. Fast forward to today, our garage has the good old Honda along with a Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI, a Triumph Street Twin 900 and the latest to join the stable - a spanking new BMW 3 series - a BMW 3GL - a 330LI G28 M Sport LCI to be precise.

Honda Brio:

The Honda Brio is an absolute joy to drive. It's now been exactly 11 years (Oct 2012) and has done a decent 80000 km. It recently went through a bodywork repair and a complete repaint and is the engine is a complete beauty. I have left the car sitting for more than two months and it still cranks without drama after two months of remaining untouched. We replaced the suspension recently and it's on its third set of rubbers. I intend to keep the Brio till end of its life. Fantastic chuckable car for city drives. I recently drove the Brio for 50km straight across the city and though I got tired (mostly because of the clutch in bumper to bumper traffic), the car is an absolute joy and still wheelspins when I shift from the first to the second gear when launched hard!

Last month, the Brio got into a minor accident when it was driven by a call driver and we had to repair the bumper. We also decided to give the Brio a fresh coat of paint. For those interested, we got the bodywork done at TINKR. The founding team is extremely knowledgeable and passionate. Shahrukh used to run the body shop in Kun BMW Chennai and an absolute gem to work with! Highly recommended for anyone in Chennai looking to get bodywork done. They also get insurance sorted if needed. For those interested, Shahrukh is reachable on +919626655722.

Note: I am sharing his details because of their impressive services that I experienced first hand. I am sure will be useful to members of this forum - I have absolutely nothing to gain from this. I took Shahrukh's consent before sharing his number too.

Triumph Street Twin 900:

I have dreamt of motorcycles since a child and a long time dream was to one day own a superbike. We bought the Street Twin 900 just before the pandemic. The motorcycle has seen its ups and downs especially because I haven't ridden the motorcycle as much as I would have liked. It's great for city rides and the occasional long ride. But with a kid, we hardly get to take the motorcycle out. It is still a joy to ride and I plan to keep it for a long time.

Skoda Kushaq:

There was a need for a bigger car once the kid came into the picture. We also needed an automatic because the manual was tiring to drive for long stretches especially in city traffic. The car has its niggles - especially the noisy nature. The brakes are super noisy and give out an obnoxious, loud grinding sound especially when you are manoeuvring in super low speeds. Skoda just hasn't been able to resolve this and they claim that's the nature of the car. I have seen other owners of the Kushaq complain about this all the time. It's mostly annoying and our entire street knows when we are taking the car out.

But it's is a brilliant car + engine + gearbox and we really enjoy driving the Kushaq. Super practical when it comes to space + creature comfort features and it's got enough power on tap with fantastic dynamics for some spirited driving.

Prospective third car:

We have reached a point now when both my partner and I are expected to show up at work in the post-WFH era. We both need our own rides, and the kid needs to be chauffeured from school. We have briefly considered a few cars over the past 2 years.

Tata Nexon EV - The Tata showroom experience was a nightmare. We entered the showroom and it was overflowing. The same sales person was attending to multiple people at the same time. There was a big fight going on in the delivery bay between the showroom folks and a family who had come for delivery. We took the brochures and left in a hurry knowing we would never come back.

Hot hatch (i20) - We very briefly considered a hot hatch like the i20 N-line, because the driving will mostly be within the city. But it didn't quite feel like an upgrade. We didn't even test drive any.

BMW X1 - We drove the diesel and it was good. But the interiors were super outdated and they refused to give any kind of discount which was very surprising, considering the car was badly due for a new generation.

It was a no brainer for us to look beyond the X1 - plus we were also keen on a RWD (with the only exception being a Volvo). The RWD parameter also meant we skipped the Audis though the interiors and technology were mouthwatering.

Mercedes C - The baby S had just launched and there were absolutely no discounts. The C200 was okay to drive and didn't feel special. But the interiors were stunning and made one feel super special and luxurious.

Mercedes A35 - We very briefly considered the A35 (the yellow looks insane!). But they had just stopped production and there was a demo car available. But it sat waaaaaay too low and the ground clearance was a big question on Indian roads.

BMW 3 - We have been evaluating the 3 for quite some time. We test drove the car multiple times - both the pre-facelift and the LCI version. It always left us grinning. The team at Kun BMW (OMR) were so nice that they would insist we test drive the car even though we made it very clear that we were in no hurry to buy! We test drove the 3 over two years and the team would always indulge us. I think this worked out really well in their favor.

Full marks to Sabarish - he is not with the dealership anymore, but he is a wonderful catch! Whichever car dealer hires him will be super lucky to have him selling their cars! Our sales consultant, Ashraf is also another gem. He too indulged us with test drives over the last 6 months even though he knew we were not actively evaluating. More on Ashraf later.

The serious buying phase:

By now, I had to go to office everyday and my partner also had to go to office everyday. We badly needed a third car now as she was Ubering to work everyday since the kid needed the Brio to be chauffeured to and from school.

With the Brio sorted and with an extension in life, we were certain that if we ever needed a third car, it had to be from the luxury/sports segment. My partner always had a thing for Volvo and would longingly suggest we get one of the sedans. Much to my relief, Volvo stopped manufacturing the S60 in India. Fantastic car, but I didn't want a FWD for this big car purchase!

We worked out the finances and figured we can make a big car happen and my partner was kind enough to agree to finance half the car.

Stuttgart or Munich?

I called up the sales manager of Titanium Mercedes showroom and we set up an appointment to check out the C220d. My partner decided to take an Uber auto instead of driving and our kid dozed off with the wind on his face. She arrived five minutes before I could, and was met with suspicious and half-dirty stares. I arrived 5 minutes after she did and even as the sales manager rushed with a smile to greet me, I stared in disbelief at my partner - she was standing in the middle of the showroom, carrying her bag and our kid who was blissfully asleep on her shoulder.

The folks at the showroom had apparently quizzed her on her intentions, and hadn't even offered a seat or a glass of water.

We half-heartedly checked the car out and surprisingly got a good deal right off the bat. But with the borderline humiliating experience, we quickly exited the showroom and I texted the sales person at Sundaram Mercedes. He got back promptly with similar discounts. (They haven't followed up since.)

Armed with this quote, we drove straight to the BMW showroom.

There were no discounts given initially. I shared the Mercedes quote with them and asked them to better that. Somehow, the BMW folks managed to figure out that we were finally ready to make a purchase. Consistent follow up from them was key.

And each time, they called, I was able to get a lakh shaved off from the OTR. I wasn't able to get much done on the ex-showroom price. But a few lakhs off was good enough. I am sure the OTR was jacked up in order to give the sales team a good negotiating cushion, however it helped me a LOT that I initiated the conversation with 10 days to go for the quarter to end.

And the final price we sealed the deal was close to the Mercedes deal. In hindsight, I am pretty sure I could have gotten another lakh shaved off if I had negotiated for some more time. They were clearly in a hurry to close the deal before Sep 30.

Interestingly, the only variant on offer was the M Sport variant. And of course the regular 330i has been discontinued in India.

Full marks to Ashraf for ensuring the deal closed. I literally had him on speed dial throughout the buying journey and he was super patient and involved during the process.

C vs 3:

For someone evaluating The 3, there is a strong probability they are also looking at the C Class. There are also some key differences between the C and the 3.

Where the C Class loses:

• Rear AC controls. Very weird the C doesn't ship with these since Mercs are considered chauffeured cars.
• No rear USB charging point - again, weird for the above reason.
• Rear space feels cramped.
• Boot space is super limited and is occupied largely by the spare.

Where the C wins:

• Electric steering - both reach and rake. You can also store steering position in seat memory settings. Very cool.
• Window shades. The 3 loses out on this.
• Electrically operated rear shade. The BMW lacks shades in the. back as well. I can't even imagine why they left such a minor feature out for a luxury car.
• Sunroof seems larger in the C Class - but that's largely because the cabin is shorter in length.
• I quite like the Merc's instrument cluster. BMW's seems very crowded and noisy.
• I also quite liked the driver seat in the C class. Seemed more sportier and hugged the driver.

PDI:

I have written before about the PDI drama that unfolded. I do not want to repeat the story all over again. But long story short, someone from their team messed up. But the dealer immediately owned up, and made up for it by inviting me to the yard to witness the unloading. They made sure I was completely satisfied with the PDI. Full marks for the honestly.

Here are pictures from the unloading:

Accessories:

Surprisingly, the accessories team had no clue about accessories for the 330LI. They completely denied having black grilles for the 330LI facelift. I had to send them delivery pictures from last month in Bangalore as proof. They claimed there were no official accessories brochure for the LCI - all they shared was the pre-facelift brochure - accessories of which should technically fit the LCI version. After much follow up, they agreed to procure the black grille for around 18K, but I had lost interest by then. I think I will just vinyl wrap the grille in the future whenever I feel like a change.

Same for the BMW ISOFIX child seat - it just wasn't available and the accessories team wasn't too enthusiastic. Surprising since I would assume the 3 was a fast moving product and I always thought accessories were high margin goods.

Continue reading on BHPian msnarain's BMW 330Li LCI for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

It was clearly a bad judgment call someone took in the spur of the moment and I am willing to look past it since they are now doing everything they can to make it right.

BHPian msnarain recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We are looking to buy a bigger car and have been evaluating the C220d and the 330Li. We got a good deal from a BMW dealership - so we went ahead and booked a Portimao Blue 330Li. We have been having the most amazing experience throughout our journey with the showroom so far (started months ago).

The entire experience came to a rude halt when the sales person refused a yard visit for a PDI. His claim was they don't let prospective BMW owners visit the yard anymore for PDI as the rules have changed. The reason - this dealership shares the same yard with multiple dealerships like BYD etc. On top, they insisted that BMW has stopped shipping their cars with the protective sticker/film on the roof and bonnet. He offered to have the car driven to the showroom where I could inspect the car.

I flatly refused to have the car driven around like that for a PDI.

Something felt off, and I told them I was not proceeding further without the yard visit. Finally, they owned up to the fact that the Portimao Blue 330Li they were planning to sell me is a display model from a different showroom.

And that is exactly why they were not willing to let me enter the yard. Because the car had been sitting in a showroom elsewhere with every prospective buyer getting in and out of the car, slamming the doors shut with the least care in the world.

Now, it's perfectly normal for a dealership to offer the display car for sale, but if they had been honest about it from the start, that's a different story.

Now, the apologetic sales person sent me his open stock list - it showed two Blue Portimao 330Lis. Upon quizzing the location of the other, he claimed both were displayed at the dealership's different showrooms.

He then asked me if it was okay if they got me a car allotted from a different location - like Coimbatore etc. I wasn't too keen on this - I told him I would have no idea if it was indeed a fresh car or a display car and he agreed with me. Their final reply to me was it would take 2 months to get a new Portimao Blue 330 allotted to me if I wanted a fresh car straight from the factory. I told them I was in no hurry, though I reminded them of their initial delivery promise - 1 week if the colour was in stock and 1 month if not.

The next day, I got a call from them saying a new Portimao Blue 330LI had left the factory and that they had allotted it for me. They said they will unload the car in front of me. But here's the kicker - they still insist that BMW doesn't ship with protective film/stickers on the roof and bonnet anymore. I asked for the manufacturing month and he said it's August. He claims no way one can get a September-manufactured car.

I normally would not probe this much, but the initial sleight has left a sour taste in my mouth and has made me super apprehensive about their intentions. I have a strong feeling the car that is "on the way from the factory" is probably coming in from one of the dealership's non-Chennai showrooms where it had been on display.

This has been frustrating and definitely not the experience one has to go through for a car that costs 60 lakhs ex-showroom.

I initially wanted to cancel the BMW and explore other options, but good friend and fellow Teambhpian nimishlalwani reminded me not to let a poor sales experience come in the way of driving my dream car.

Update

Dealer invited me to the yard to see the car being unloaded. They kept the truck waiting though they could have started unloading, at least the other cars.

I have been interacting with representatives from BMW India over the last couple of days and they told me the protective sticker on top isn't mandatory anymore - some batches have them and some don't. They are very responsive and helpful - they asked me to give them the VIN once I see the car so they can check from their end about the car's history.

BMW India also offered to take an official complaint against the dealership which I refused - I really like the people in the showroom - especially our sales consultant and the sales manager. The display car tactic was clearly a bad judgement call someone took in the spur of the moment and I am willing to look past it since they are now doing everything they can to make it right.

I am really happy with the way the dealership has turned things around for me. My sales person was away on personal leave, and the sales manager himself traveled all the way to the yard from the showroom for this - it's 30 km one way across the city during evening peak hour traffic - he could have easily asked someone from the other showroom to take me to the yard.

The protective stickers weren't there as BMW India and the dealership had told me earlier.

But everything else was there - plastics on the seats, protective stickers near the floor by the door, protective foam at the edge of the door, stickers on the screen etc. Checked the VIN and it showed Aug 22 2023 as the production date.

I feel a bit bad that I gave them a hard time, but I think I just had to be extra careful because of the initial misleading.

But I am now happy with the turn of events and I can't wait to drive my own BMW - but sadly, this will have to wait as I have a work trip over the next two weeks.

Thank you Ashish2135 and Laks (who replied in the other thread). And once again thanks to Nimishlalwani for guiding me throughout the process and for being a sounding board and the voice of reason!

Watching the car being unloaded itself was a very therapeutic and satisfying experience!

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

To remind everyone of the importance of a PDI. I don't buy a shirt without a PDI, a car is out of the question.

Here's what BHPian shrinath_m2 had to say about the matter:

Your sentiments and brain are absolutely in the right places. Ultimately you are paying them in real money, not stones. So they better tell you everything up front without masking details that you ought to know. Like you said, somebody was having a bad day and made a bad call - all solved now.

Do not feel bad about giving them a hard time if they aren't upfront. At the same time, I like that you decided to put this behind and take delivery of a fresh one.

Congrats on the purchase, and more ++ for the right mindset. Enjoy your sweet blue beemer!

Here's what BHPian dearchichi had to say about the matter:

Just to confirm that I understand your issue, did you want to view the car being offloaded from the truck, so you know that a fresh copy is being assigned to you? Is this now the recommended precaution that every new car buyer needs to take?

If not, what is the drawback of inspecting the same car when not in the yard? Would the fact that it was a display car be less obvious when not in the yard? Would the VIN not have helped you discover its history of manufacture?

Thank you.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This 330Li may be an extended wheelbase version but the BMW has the Superb licked when it comes to sheer handling prowess.

BHPian narula123 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So, brother recently upgraded his A3 to a BMW 330 Li (hunted for an Octy/Superb but no luck, dint want another Audi and the C dint win).

I had the 330 with me recently for a few days when I went home to attend the Indian leg of MotoGp. So a mix of city traffic and some spirited driving on the open highway gave me a good idea of how the 330Li fares against the Superb.

Where the 330Li shines through:

• That Gearbox is MAGIC! Mated to the extra 50 odd bhp on tap, the gearbox on the BMW is probably the best in the segment by a long margin. It being intuitive is an understatement. Its hands-down my favourite part of this car.
• The new dual screen setup is quite well done and the graphics and menus are a notch above the ones on Skoda. Is it perfect? No and I’ll shed more light on it later.
• You cannot ignore the extra poke this engine has vs the 2.0 TSI. The aural note it delivers when revved is also better.
• The overall ‘solidness’ of the interior build quality is definitely a notch above Skoda with the latter itself being quite impressive. The noise isolation inside the cabin is also better. The tan interiors also get more marks from me than the Superb’s beige.
• The handling. This may be an extended wheelbase version but the BMW has the Superb licked when it comes to sheer handling prowess. Its not even a contest when you experience how the Beemer grips the road through tight flowing corners.
• The Steering. Hands down the best steering I have experienced in a car even among the luxury brands. Its a delight to hold and it’s super precise and communicative. Loved it!

• Here is where the Superb outshines the BMW:

• The sense of space in the Superb is unbeatable. The Li has improved rear legroom almost matching the Superb’s but the overall sense of space in the Skoda is a grade higher. Don't even get me started on the comparison on the boot space. Also, 3 abreast is an easier fit in the Skoda.
• I prefer the physical HVAC and ICE knobs in the Superb vs the ‘all-inside-the-touchscreen’ thing in the BMW. I also prefer the driver’s instrument console layout (and its various options) on the Superb vs the Beemer
• The adjustable lumbar support, the ventilated and massaging seats, the rear sleep package, the cushioning on the seats and the ride quality all make the Superb a more comfortable car to be in vs the 3.
• The Superb guzzles lesser fuel vs the 330 relatively. Put the BMW on sports mode and you’ll wonder where the fuel vanished. The Eco mode on the BMW does salvage some points.
• The 17 inch rims on the Skoda lose out on handling but make up for it on ride comfort & practicality vs the low profile setup on the BMW. I honestly was super cautious taking the BMW through bad patches or over nasty expansion joints.
• The Air conditioning on the 330 was a bit disappointing. It did not cool fast enough or intense enough as I expected it to and I honestly was surprised by this. In comparison the Superb’s unit works noticeably more effectively.
• The Price. No contest here. You spend almost 25 lakhs more for the BMW. You get a better badge value and more futuristic interiors with a much more potent engine. But still, 25 lakhs more??

I loved every minute of driving the 330 Li. The way it drives and handles makes every moment spent in the driver’s seat an experience. It makes you understand why BMW has a reputation for making ultimate driving machines. The Li version also makes the 3 series very family-friendly and practical specially for the chauffeur driven (my brother is). The sense of overall luxury in the BMW is a slight notch above the Superb. But then you cannot ignore that this delta vs the Superb comes at a hefty price. My heart wants to ignore the 25 lakh differential but my mind tells me I can buy another bike or another Crossover SUV in that much money.

Lucky for me then that we have both the Superb and the 330Li in the family to keep the decision-making aside.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I get 13 kmpl in Eco & 10 kmpl in Comfort. Which is exactly inline with BMW's claim that Eco gives a 25% boost in fuel economy.

BHPian Stryker recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Six months & 5600 km update

June 18th marked six months to the day since I brought home the Ultimate Driving Machine. Even today, I get a rush whenever I start the car. And I always look back at it while walking away after parking!

We happened to visit Kabini over that weekend and I took the opportunity to do a quick photo shoot.

JLR Kabini has transformed into a green paradise, which is usual for this time of the year. Surprising, mine was the only car in the parking lot when we checked in. I've never seen this in over 15 years of visiting JLR! Of course, by evening it was full. I will post a separate thread on this visit in the Travelogues forum.

Some observations during the six months of running, in no particular order:

• There is absolutely no rattle, squeaks or any other untoward sounds.

• Car performs flawlessly and at no time have I felt any lack of either power or comfort. I'd say this one is the perfect balance between the two prime factors for a car. Power and Comfort.

• I seem to be doing almost all my city driving in Eco Pro mode, which is quite good for city traffic. Above all, it is Q.U.I.E.T. in the cabin which I love more than anything else. My nephew continues to complain that the silence in the cabin puts him to sleep whenever he travels in the car.

• Most of the highways runs are in Comfort mode, which I find is the ideal balance between power and response. Unless you want to break some records!

• This time, the return trip from JLR to home, a distance of 245 kms door to door, was covered in 3 hours 10 minutes. We didn't stop anywhere except at signals in Mysore and Bangalore. Started at 1105 from JLR and was parked at home by 1415. All in Comfort mode. Roads are excellent throughout.

• The answer for "kitna deti hai" varies. I get ~13 kmpl in Eco, ~10 in Comfort. Which is exactly inline with BMW's claim that Eco gives a 25% boost in fuel ecomony. I haven't done any extended Sports mode runs, so I haven't checked mileage in that. I'm guessing it will be in the region of ~7 kmpl if I do a full run.
  

Sports Plus mode is definitely not for the faint hearted! Merely thinking about accelarating pushes the car to insane speeds.

• Some time back, during a quick visit to Melkote (temple town near Mandya on the Mysore highway), while returning, the highway maintenance team had blockaded the road for a few minutes to clear some debris. Traffic had stopped for about ten minutes and I was the second car in the long queue in the middle lane. Put it in Sports Plus mode and you can guess what happened next! Car reaches ultra high triple digits in very little time. All the other cars could see of me were a pair of disappearing tail lights!

• On one occasion, I had to brake very hard to avoid some idiot crossing the road at the wrong place. The hazard lights came on automatically, helping warn the cars behind. I didn't know about this feature and I thought I had somehow hit the button myself, which I found difficult to believe. Has anyone else experienced this? I don't want to try practicals myself again!

• AC performance in Eco Pro is not good, it barely cools the interior especially in hot climates. We had visited Ahobilam (another temple town in Andhra, about 450 kms from BLR, we seem to be doing a lot of temple runs!) in the third week of April and the outside temp was around 43C. We were sweating inside the car until I switched to Comfort. Then it cooled down pretty quickly. I checked the BMW Driver's Guide app after this and it is mentioned clearly that AC output is "adapted" (I'm assuming that means it will not cool much to conserve fue)

• That proximity warning is a total pain in the proverbial in city traffic. Car doesn't like anyone coming within three feet in any direction. A veritable Christmas tree lights up on the main display with yellow, green and red lights popping up on all sides. And the funny thing is that it won't go away until the offenders are at least five to six feet clear.

• The gong sounds while reversing are tonally different depending on whether the rear of the car or the front of the car is close to any obstacle. A nice touch and audible clue to ensure you check the right direction.

• I haven't figured out exactly what this is yet. Any help?

Another happy BMW owner signing off until the next update.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The BMW 330Li scores much better when being driver by chauffer. Ride quality and suspension is better for a person in the rear seat.

BHPian anothercar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

In 2021, I was able to grab a Skoda Superb and owned it for almost one year and three months. I had bought Skoda from Gurugram, after owning BMW X1 for one year. I made the “upgrade” as I am more of a sedan person, however, I have previously owned only crossovers, SUVs and off roaders following the advice of few people of importance. Now, am not getting into an SUV ever.

Anyways, the idea here is to highlight few things as any car buyer in the segment of 40-60L has many things to weigh in as offerings are starkly distinct even if they look similar on surface. I will not get into why not Audi, Merc or Camry and focus only on these two vehicles and both bought from Gurugram.

Let’s look at availability, discounts, buying experience, after sales, servicing, repair experience, issues, key differences, quality, driving dynamics (non-technical) & value for money from a layman’s perspective from a person who both drives and is driven by, in the ratio of about 30-70%

Availability:

Skoda Superb Sportline:

This was available at a week’s notice, fresh from factory as per my choice of external and internal colour. Dealer stock was also available. I only wanted black interiors and once I experienced it at dealer, it removed all doubts as I did not like beige and cognac interiors of L&K variant. It’s totally personal choice and no offense to anyone. Alcantara fabric is definitely a better alternative than leather as I am vegetarian.

BMW 330Li:

This was immediately available as dealer’s stock and with the colour of choice. Though I wasn’t a big fan of tan/oyster colour nor the leather, there was no choice offered in this. The carbon black colour, though it’s a maintenance nightmare is worth buying.

Discounts:

Skoda Superb:

I pinned couple of Skoda dealers against each other and the discounts kept raining. Finally, I believe that I really bought it at a very good deal. The BMW X1 was also sold to them, with a price better than other market players and dealers. Guess, Superb is a hard to sell vehicle after all.

BMW:

Again, I received a very good deal from BMW as well and substantial discounts as I picked two cars, an X1 and the 330Li together. I also sold Superb to them at the value I was getting from market. This of course, with a lot of negotiation. I am so glad to have picked with petrol 2L X1 prior to the engine change, however, I am no expert on the current version.

Buying experience:

This is where Skoda won substantially over BMW.

Skoda Superb: The whole process was smooth, no push of accessories, no hidden charges, nothing that wasn’t previously discussed. Ceremony was done nicely. One key factor was that Skoda salesperson had a lot of knowledge of the vehicle and he gave a proper demonstration of each button. Nothing was done in a hurry and there was no glitch. They charged me 500 Rupees for an optional number plate frame later, which I believe is fine. RC was done within a week and handed over. Car was in immaculate condition with no dents, chips etc.

BMW: The process here was smooth too with no push on accessories, no hidden charges etc. The ceremony for X1 wasn’t as good as for 330Li. The let’s lift the curtain and clap wasn’t there. There was no demonstration offered on the vehicle but may be the salesperson assumed as I had an X1 previously, nothing was needed. However, both vehicles were damaged by bird drop etchings (2-3dozens). We realized this on 3 series sooner than the X1, may be due to the darker multi tone colour. Initially BMW tried to resolve the issue, then they refused suggesting repainting of car (at their expense). Finally, when GTO advised, I took car to detailing and it resolved. BMW paid for it and also committed to one shot of ceramic coating. On X1 however, we were late to observe, and BMW denied to attend it, so we paid from our pocket and got it corrected. It also did not correct completely as I guess we took about a month or two and let the shit mature into the paint.

Thus, Skoda became the clear winner, and all horror stories did not actually match the reality.

After sales:

Skoda:

We let our driver take the car to service centre and on the way he scratched right rear fender, door as well as front door smoothly against the solid tank known as Chevrolet Cruze, which happily escaped with a sprinkle of white talcum paint from my car. The whole of the right of the car. Anyways, Skoda has a real shoddy arrangement when it comes to workshop. I can tell you it’s a shed in a yard with holes to reach sky in the ceiling. Paint shop isn’t up to the mark. Their process of insurance claim management also has hassles and I had to escalate at various points to get it done. Though, their factory staff is decent. The job done was also not proper and waviness could be easily observed in sunlight. Paint matching was fine.

Service:

No fuss service, seriously. Nothing wrong with it. Very well done, updated and professionally managed. I had a 4 year service pack and thus, no charges.

BMW:

Now that I have done both claim process and service on my vehicle on previous X1, I can tell you they are great. The claim is as simple as making a phone call and repair jobs are done very professionally.

Service of BMW:

Under service package, the car was serviced without any fuss and exceptions. However, there was a rip off. The service guy asked me if I need the car washed. As a previous Hyundai owner, I said yes. They sent a bill of 5000 plus taxes later for washing. It was termed as “engine bay detailing”. Now every time I send my car, I have a simple statement: do whatever you have to do but don’t send me any bill. No payments will be made. You want to wash it wash it, don’t want to wash it, I don’t care.

Issues:

Skoda superb:

There were none except one. One of the side compressed panels in boot (cave) was stamped cut a bit under size and it kept falling off. A cardboard insert did the job as I did not want to rip the boot cladding for this. There were no other issues. When I took car for alignment after wheel rotation, it did not require any. Car is rock solid.

BMW:

There were and are. An unidentified rattle on the rear right in 330Li. But I still have to show it to them during service so hopefully they have skills to resolve. The X1 sunroof rattled, and they had to open it and redo the fitting.

Key differences in vehicles:

They both are different. Well, I will try to list what I remember. Some of the this might be repetition and I will write it as comparative:

• Superb, read Sportline, has rear manual sunshades, BMW doesn’t.

• There is an always on power outlet in Superb’s boot, not in BMW. This can be used to wire cameras for 24X7 surveillance without hurting the fuse box and wiring! I had three cameras in my car both DDPAI and XIOMI

• The Superb’s digital cockpit is highly customizable, not so with BMW, though both are good

• Alcantara Vs leather, pick your choice, it’s totally personal

• Sportline doesn’t have front sensors or auto parking, BMW has it and BMW is quite good and fully automated at that, though there are limitations. Then one can argue on L&K but for me it doesn’t come in black interiors.

• Service packages are cheaper for Superb, who doesn’t know that

• There is huge boot in Superb, everyone knows it, so no points for me here

• Build quality has practically no difference. Both vehicles are well built. Build, fit and finish inside and out will not let anything left to be desired. That’s a 40L vs 60L vehicle. Skoda Superb has felt line door bottle holders and umbrellas in the front doors, BMW doesn't. So if you want to get down in rain and want to pull an umbrella from front door, Superb it is.

• Sportline doesn’t come with panoramic sunroof, BMW does

• Superb feels larger, boot beats any SUV. I have shoved in whole cycles and what not in there.

• BMW has a better badge value. And anyone who discards this at the time of purchase should think twice or thrice. I have seen kids in my society telling each other that Honda city is better than superb. But you would have to be very centered with high “self-concept” (found less and less these days) not to be belittled by the lack of badge here. It sounds easier than done and I always thought, if I had put in another 20 and gone for Merc or BM?

• Here’s an important one: SEATS FOLD. Yes, BMW 330Li rear seats don’t fold to give larger boot space if you ever need it. Well, call it wanna-be sports car vs family limo category here or whatever, That’s a key practical difference.

• Design: Both are good, design acceptance is a personal thing.

• The chrome: The excessive chrome on 330Li externals really takes time to get used to. I have thought numerous times to dechrome it but once I saw a dechromed 330Li in carbon black colour, I decided not to do it. Had been it any other colour, it could work nicely, and one can go for professional dechroming. Black and near black don’t work together (for me). There is not an iota of chrome on Superb Sportline. Amazing, not even the wheels. Loved every bit of it (again personal choice here)

• Paint quality: Now this could create debates here. I “felt” that BMW paint requires a bit more maintenance in our dusty environment. However, there is no lack of quality and finish on it. Both paints felt similar. Then why am I writing it under difference :/

• Air conditioning: Skoda has dual zone and BMW has triple zone. Ignore that, the BMW AC is faster and better

• Voice commands: Skoda Sportline has commands? I guess so as it used to give prompts, but these could be limited. BMW voice commands are great and they have improved in newer version too. Namely: individual window roll down/up, all windows up down, air conditioning, internal lighting, audio and few more

• Seat adjustment: Skoda Superb had 12-way electric seat adjustment. BMW has lesser, namely the lumbar adjustment isn’t there. Do I miss it? No. it’s equally comfortable.

• Driver profiles: BMW has it, it can move back seat, apps etc to individual driver setting or you can create seat slide back to welcome easily.

• Customization: Now here is a huge difference. BMW has a very high customizability. You can customize a lot of things. For example, whether you emergency brake at potential side impact or rear etc. Skoda desn’t have it

• Emergency collision protection: Both has it for rear. BM has it for side as well. I guess there is front as well in Superb but am not sure.

• Other Safety equipment: Superb has sufficient, but BMW has more. Its technical so I will avoid deep comparative here.

• Driving dynamics: I think I will be repeating or confirming here of what everyone knows already. 330 is a provoking machine. Way beyond any other, even in its segment, so I will just focus on Superb here.

• Superb doesn’t feel large to drive at all and can be maneuvered easily. The sport mode (push gear lever back twice) puts you in better power definitely and engine gets punchy. After you floor the pedal it will come to a saturation somewhere and won’t just keep on exponentially accelerating. Hey, it’s a family limo kind of thing, still has a good power and driving is a good experience.

• BMW will grunt and push further and further, no comparison there. Horses has a difference of roughly 60-70, but there is much more going on inside on how engines and transmission respond and how that response is brought in the cabin to feed the driver that says, hey floor the pedal. Note to self: Never buy 330 for your 20-year-olds.

• Being driven: Here is an anomaly. BMW 330Li scores much better in being driver by chauffer section. Ride quality and suspension is better for a person in rear seat. I repeatedly fall asleep in BM and it has a lot of space after becoming the Li. So if one is selecting based on rear seat comfort, Skoda Superb isn’t the usual winner.

• Gearbox: The new DQ381 (if I remember correctly) felt great. However, it does gets confused on occasions. it happened 4-5 times during ownership. No comparison with the confident predictive gear box of BM

• Ground clearance: Now its always not the mm, its suspension tuning and weight distribution with wheelbase lengths that determines whether car will scrape the underbody on not. Yes, scrape is what I would be stating in layman terms. Well, I scraped Skoda once, on an exceptionally horrible rural axle or speed breaker, if you can call that. BMW with four will scrape stuff that Superb wouldn’t. Period.

• Value for money: Now I wouldn’t simply say Superb here because there is a key difference for me personally. I estimate the Value as the whole ownership cycle. I generally toss off the vehicle in about a year after claiming depreciation. Now when comes to loss of value of vehicle in resale, one will lose more money on superb (in percentage) than on 3 series as Skoda Superb isn’t considered a brand that retains its value due to supposed after sales issues, unreliability etc. Which I am surprised did not exist for me, short ownership perhaps. I will let experts elaborate this further if needed, to avoid emotional debates.

So what will I buy?

If a situation demands, will I buy superb again? Yes, because I won’t buy a Camry.

If a situation demands, will I buy a 330Li again? No, because there are quite a few more options to explore in this bracket. But I am sure these will leave me dissatisfied. So I renounce my answer. Yes I will!

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This car was made to be driven on the long straights. Put it in Sports mode, lean a bit on the right leg and we are very quickly flying at unmentionable speeds.

BHPian Stryker recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

One month update

Wow, it's been a month since the car came home! Here's how its been in that time:

"Amma, he's sitting in the car again!" goes my daughter.

"What are you doing just sitting there?" my wife wants to know.

"Come let's go for a drive!" I'm waiting for anyone to join.

"You go! You won't go anywhere useful, you just want to drive!" both opine.

And away I go! Just for the "sheer driving pleasure" of it!

I have now driven about 1,100 kms in this time, mostly in city commuting with some very spirited but aimless highway runs thrown in. No destination, just get in the car and go. Which is what leads to conversations like the one above.

Observations

This car was made to be driven on the long straights. Put it in Sports mode, lean a bit on the right leg and we are very quickly flying at unmentionable speeds. The mad Sports Plus mode is not for regular use at all. Even on highways, it is too sensitive on the throttle. Oh, but the rush it generates!

In Eco Pro mode, which is where I have been keeping it in the city, the cabin is very silent and there is very little noise from anywhere, either from the engine or from the world outside. Very insulated feeling. At signals, only looking at the tacho will tell you that the engine is on.

The proximity warning behaves a little erratically in traffic. Sometimes it keeps quiet even if those 2 wheelers are nearly touching the car. Sometimes it blares out alarms even if the next car is a good two feet away. And two feet clearance is considered luxurious gap here in Bangalore. Usually some auto rickshaw will poke its nose and force it wider open. Or some Swiggy delivery agent will do a snake dance between cars. And once that proximity bell starts, it doesn't go quiet until everyone is well clear.

I am still getting used to the low seating position. Yes, I have raised the seat to as high as it can go, but still. I was so used to the lordly position in the XUV, this one doesn't allow me to see what is ahead of the car in front. Even if said car in front is a small hatch.

The Bowers & Wilkins sound profiles (which were installed during the coding session) has done quite a bit to increase audio quality. The "Cinema" mode is perfect and distributes sound evenly. I have set Surround to a high level and that has a very good effect on the audio too. Needless to say, I'm extremely happy with the audio quality. The default setting is very bass heavy, but a full set of controls allow you to tweak it to your satisfaction.

Not liking these

The lack of keyless entry. Most times, I find the key in my hand after I sit in the car. Maybe a carry over from the key based starting days and I'm still getting used to push button starts. But it is an irritant already. W has re-introduced this in the 2023 version.

No easy place to put the phone! If I keep it over the central space between the seats, it will slide off as soon as I take the first turn. Keeping it on the (defunct) wireless charger means I can't quickly check messages during signal stops. Can't keep it on the dash, it slopes too much. Don't want a stupid phone holder looking like some alien's grasping claws.

That's about it, nothing else to dislike.

Looking forward

Going to Kabini this weekend after six months! There will be a separate thread on that of course (assuming we have good sightings) but mainly I'm looking forward to the drive. Especially on the new highway.

We are planning more long drives in the coming months, much much longer ones. The SA at Navnit Motors had called about a week ago to enquire about how the car is performing and the first question he asked was "Where all had you been?" and was a little surprised when I said "Not much". He says most people do at least one long trip within the first month itself. I have no hesitation in believing him.

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