With the 2009 3 series being launched, dealers cannot keep the 2008 models on their showroom floors anymore. Additionally, all demo cars need to be sold. This is where I came in.
I walked around the 2008 320d Highline. What a lovely looking machine waiting to rev at all its horses. The inside is contemporary German all the way. Fantastic fit and finish with high end plastic, leather and wood. The speedometer and odometer so typical of a old German car yet, the iDrive which is so perfect. After using it I cannot help but think why all cars do not have an equivalent.
The seat adjustment is kept simple and puts you into place in a few seconds. The driver seat well is nice and large and a tall person need not put their seat all the way back saving some legroom for the rear. The push start/stop and the key are oddly placed but it’s just something one needs to get used to. The car starts and I hear the hushed clatter of the power plant. A simple movement of the gear shift of the steptronic gear box and I was off.
The German feel was at the forefront again. Meaty steering that will not allow you to turn the car with one finger and rightfully so. It took me a minute to get the feel. Next I found some road and pushed the accelerator and she went like a rocket. What acceleration! And what amazingly controlled braking! Very surefooted, precise and solid handling at all speeds. I gave the sales guy some more jitters and drove back to the showroom.
What to look for when buying used: Ensure that the runflats have never gone flat. Its disastrous in road conditions like we have in India. Current price of a single runflat is about Rs18K. It will reduce. The BMW secure plan is an excellent buy.
To highlight the differences between the 320d and the 320d Highline: The former comes devoid of the iDrive, side window blinds and a high end sound system. There is really nothing more left to desire after driving this car. It is just a brilliant piece of engineering.
