F31 Sport Wagon buyer commiseration thread

Just got a confirm in the Ask-A-Dealer forum that MY2013 is available March. Jon was confirming that MY2014 is still July.

All I can say is.... Whew! We've booked tickets and vacation in anticipation for a June ED, and my heart sunk when I saw it may be delayed. Although it's too bad the 328d isn available sooner. But no complaints. I'm glad the F31 is finally here.

Originally Posted by d geek

They showed the 328d at the Montreal Show. Canada historically has a higher demand than the US. I'd be quite surprised if it is not available in Canada this year.

Canadian configurations are notoriously moronic and availability sucks. For example: We never had RWD E91, or to get leather would cost me more than 8g of unwanted stuff plus taxes.
So, nothing would surprise me...

Originally Posted by Galt

Here you go. I figured this would have been posted in the Ask-A-Dealer forum by now.

Jon@Bimmerfest just posted in the Ask-A-Dealer forum that we're still 5 months from seeing the F31 in the US despite his earlier comment that we'd see it sooner. Maybe I misunderstood him, but I hope this price list is the definitive answer (which states MY2013 production beginning in March).

So correct me if I'm wrong, This confirms, at least for the short term, that RWD only will not be available in the 328 Sport Wagon?

Originally Posted by Billd104

So correct me if I'm wrong, This confirms, at least for the short term, that RWD only will not be available in the 328 Sport Wagon?

True...contact BMWNA and let them know you want RWD.

Originally Posted by dexter

True...contact BMWNA and let them know you want RWD.

Oh... I have!!

Saw this on the BMWCCA website: http://www.bmwcca.org/node/5369

Last paragraph: "The Sports Wagon does have one handicap versus the GT: When it goes on sale this spring, the Sports Wagon will only be available as a 328i with xDrive all-wheel drive. The GT will come in either 328i or 335i variants. However BMW says a diesel version of the Sports Wagon is in the cards for later, which might attract yet another group."

Originally Posted by 55

Ademitt, are we getting a diesel in Canada?

Not out of the gate. Perhaps added later across the entire line up. Only the N20 engine will be available with the auto transmission. Modern line is standard and MSport is the only option.

Originally Posted by 55

Canadian configurations are notoriously moronic and availability sucks. For example: We never had RWD E91, or to get leather would cost me more than 8g of unwanted stuff plus taxes.
So, nothing would surprise me...

Leather is now standard, provided you like Black, Oyster or Coral Red.

Originally Posted by Billd104

Oh... I have!!

Me too!

Originally Posted by ademitt

Leather is now standard, provided you like Black, Oyster or Coral Red.

Leather is standard? It’s weird..
I like saddle brown. Black will do. Anyway I have zero interest in N20 with auto.

Originally Posted by 55

Leather is standard? It’s weird..
I like saddle brown. Black will do. Anyway I have zero interest in N20 with auto.

One of my E91s was space grey on saddle. Best combo I have ever owned.

I have oyster now and it takes a bit of work to keep clean, especially in winter.

I agree with you on auto and N20. My 535 is my first bimmer with an auto not including my my wife's cars. BMW is going more towards the auto transmission for fuel economy and emissions I think. We better get used to it as I think we will see fewer manuals across the product line in the future. For example, you cannot get an xdrive F10/11 with a manual.

I know BMW will be well rewarded for 4 cylinder diesels in terms of sales gains, all I can say is it is about time - they will steal back a lot of Audi sales lost for those who want utility and good mileage - and also get some VW sales IMHO. Ideally I would like the X Drive Wagon Manual 4 cyl diesel N20.

Our next car will be a diesel wagon, my wife prefers manual transmission and is a life long VW owner so we will see, mileage interior room will be important considerations. One thing I do prefer in the BMW diesel over the Jetta Sportwagen is urea over particulate exhaust filters.

QUOTE=dorkus;7370730]hi all,

thought i would start a new thread for potential F31 wagon buyers to fraternize and discuss topics relevant to purchase. the intent is for *serious* F31 discussion only - no idle commentary please. no need to tell us what a niche buyer we are and how we are lucky to even get a F31 at all - we know, we know.

hopefully this will be constructive for us!

cheers,
dorkus[/QUOTE]

BMW must not consider the Western PA market worthy of getting a peek at the F31. Too bad . Put the time to good use, though. Sat in an X1, 3.5. Was expecting a less solid feel behind the wheel than my '09 335xi. That might be a bit harsh, but the Toureg SE 4Motion gave me more of what I wanted there. I will say though that the X1 back seat space seemed tiny. Back seats down, the cargo space is about as long as my 3sedan. May be a tad wider, certainly taller. Bottom line for me: the wagon will be worth the wait.

Originally Posted by ZGator

... One thing I do prefer in the BMW diesel over the Jetta Sportwagen is urea over particulate exhaust filters.

Both of those cars have a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The BMW uses the urea injection to meet NOx emissions while the smaller Jetta acheives that by other means.

I've just downloaded the current ETK (02/2013), and the RWD F31 is there. This is another evidence that RWD will be sold here, but with late intro.

This car already has my heart, but holy smokes Batman, $3,000 higher base price than an X3? The X3 is not up for consideration in my family (non-flat folding rear seat, among other things) but this pricing seems to be from bizarro land.

The other option is the 3 GT which starts production on July 1, 2013.

Looks like I found the right place! I too am planning to do ED. My time frame is September so it looks like I can get 328ixd! I was sold on sight when I saw the MSport kit on Estoril. We had an Estoril 4.8is X5 and its still my two top favorite colors along with LSB. the F31 looks to be everything our family is looking for. Style, function, capacity, efficiency, utility, capability, awd, etc you name it!

I'm not a big fan of buying a car new or 1st/2nd model year but the time is right in my life that I'm willing to just do it and enjoy a great family vacation at the same time. I plan on loading it up with options so its comparable to my M5. After using SMG for the past 4 yrs, I think in almost over shifting a car myself. Both the wife and I have our own 6spd Minis but shifting is overrated when a computer can do it faster and better. So I'm all for the 8spd auto. I find myself preferring driving my M5 more than my GP.

We also need Awd for our snow trips and since the xDrive system is actually pretty damn good, I'm glad its standard. It's rwd biased and really only engages on take off and or turning situation to help keep the car controlled so I don't understand the disdain for it other than the extra weight and reduced mpgs. Awd when implemented correctly improves a cars handling!

Hopefully examples of the F31 start appearing in showrooms soon as I'd love to test one out in person!

Originally Posted by dexter

True...contact BMWNA and let them know you want RWD.

Originally Posted by Billd104

Oh... I have!!

what is the best way to go about this? i am definitely in the 328d RWD camp.

after some further thought, i think i'm gonna hold off for for the 2015 MY and aim for summer '14 ED. will allow me to save some money while running my current car into the ground... hopefully they will have the RWD option by then.

in the meantime, i'll harass BMWNA and live vicariously through you guys.

Originally Posted by JT///M3

We also need Awd for our snow trips and since the xDrive system is actually pretty damn good, I'm glad its standard. It's rwd biased and really only engages on take off and or turning situation to help keep the car controlled so I don't understand the disdain for it other than the extra weight and reduced mpgs. Awd when implemented correctly improves a cars handling!

extra weight + reduced MPG are pretty major negatives if you ask me.

i'll have to try the latest incarnation of it. hated it in the E90 loaner i got (felt very heavy and numb). i *think* the E61 530i i got once was an xDrive (did the touring come only in xDrive here?), and it felt ok there, probably because the car is much heavier and different in character from the 3 to begin with. or maybe it was sDrive...

agree AWD is great when done right, e.g. Subaru, Audi or Nissan's insane system in the GT-R. in Audi's case, the cars were really designed with Quattro in mind and it surely beats FWD (at least with "real" Torsen-based Quattro). but with the exception of the X models, BMWs are born RWD first and foremost, and feel best to me that way.

Originally Posted by dorkus

extra weight + reduced MPG are pretty major negatives if you ask me.

i'll have to try the latest incarnation of it. hated it in the E90 loaner i got (felt very heavy and numb). i *think* the E61 530i i got once was an xDrive (did the touring come only in xDrive here?), and it felt ok there, probably because the car is much heavier and different in character from the 3 to begin with. or maybe it was sDrive...

agree AWD is great when done right, e.g. Subaru, Audi or Nissan's insane system in the GT-R. in Audi's case, the cars were really designed with Quattro in mind and it surely beats FWD (at least with "real" Torsen-based Quattro). but with the exception of the X models, BMWs are born RWD first and foremost, and feel best to me that way.

Not sure if you have driven an F30 X-Drive. IMO it's feels lighter, more agile plus the suspension seems more planted than a E90/92. I don't think the extra weight of the F31 will make that much of a difference. Regarding MPG that stat has more to do with the driver.

Originally Posted by JT///M3

I'm not a big fan of buying a car new or 1st/2nd model year but the time is right in my life that I'm willing to just do it and enjoy a great family vacation at the same time. I plan on loading it up with options so its comparable to my M5. After using SMG for the past 4 yrs, I think in almost over shifting a car myself. Both the wife and I have our own 6spd Minis but shifting is overrated when a computer can do it faster and better. So I'm all for the 8spd auto. I find myself preferring driving my M5 more than my GP.

Remember that the F31 with the 320dx (same engine that will be called 28d in the US) has been around in Europe since the F30 was introduced in the US, so the F31 you buy will not be the first F31 that the factory in Munich spits out.

Sorry to be the skunk at the party, but there is only one station wagon currently available in the US, that offers a Diesel engine and manual transmission.

http://www.vw.com/portal/en/configur...39L/2013/0/F14 B4B4/F56 NT/+/+/+

I hope BMW will choose to join the exclusive group of manufacturers offering Diesels with manual transmissions.

Originally Posted by dorkus

extra weight + reduced MPG are pretty major negatives if you ask me. ...

xDrive adds about 200lbs
fuel economy: the xDrive will use less than 7% more fuel (still almost 50 mpUSg for combined ECE cycle )
price: The German pricing for 320d (sedan- wagon pricing not showing up yet) has the xDrive version costing about 2500 euros (~6.6%) more.

It will be interesting to see how BMWUSA prices the xDrive wagon.

Originally Posted by alpinweiss

Sorry to be the skunk at the party, but there is only one station wagon currently available in the US, that offers a Diesel engine and manual transmission.

http://www.vw.com/portal/en/configur...39L/2013/0/F14 B4B4/F56 NT/+/+/+

I hope BMW will choose to join the exclusive group of manufacturers offering Diesels with manual transmissions.

surprised they are still selling that in the US - great car though, gives you a taste of a premium German car (much nicer fit 'n finish than the current-gen Jetta) at a reasonable price. cavernous cargo area too (33 cu. ft. with the seats up!).

obviously not in the same class as a BMW though... this past weekend i drove mom-in-law's A3 TDI (basically the same engine/powertrain as the SportWagen) into the city on an all-too-familiar route (Jersey City through Hoboken to Lincoln Tunnel and up the West Side). the roads are atrocious and you can really feel the difference in quality between the E46 and the Golf-based A3... the chassis is neither as composed nor responsive. the worst part by far are the brakes. there's no initial bite whatsoever, the pedal feels spring-loaded like an 80's arcade racing game, and then about halfway through the travel it grabs all of a sudden. just horrible...

granted it is a different class of car, but it's pretty pricey and not as solid as the 1 series i test drove, which basically felt like my E46. at the end of the day it really just is a gussied up Golf, which is fine, if that's what you want. anyway, i'm guessing the SportWagen drives pretty similarly... it's very tempting in many ways but i dunno if i'm mentally prepared for the downgrade. i have a feeling i'd end up pointing out every little thing that bothered me about the car, which would drive my wife insane...