Yay!!! Newbie from old, collected new X today!

[CondorX5]

Can't leave you guys alone for a few hours and look what happens!!! So glad to see the forum resurrected, albeit in a slightly different format - well done, AW8, pvr and anyone else who helped. Please shout if we can help.....what about donations like the other BMW forums? I'd be very happy to help contribute to running costs!

On another totally different note, I've just arrived from my marathon round trip to Hexagon BMW in London to collect my new-to-me 4.8is........had the "little" 3.0i valeted after emptying her of all the "stuff" one collects in cars, and drove her for the last journey I would make in her....Hexagon were pleased with the condition (part ex was subject to survey condition as it was all done via phone / email) and I was equally pleased with the 2005 4.8is in Le Mans blue waiting majestically alongside a very nice Z4 and an equally lovely M3. Wish I had a massive garage and the funds for some of these beauties!!!

The long drive home was sublime and the V8s throaty burble brought a big grin to my face - I've missed the big engine, despite enjoying the 3.0i, whose performance was not bad at all. The Big Mama though, made the miles pale into insignificance and I saw a few people casting an eye on her when I stopped at the services to fill up. So far, with a mix of driving around Islington, heavy traffic and lovely open motorway, the average is around 20MPG, not too bad when I take the 3.0i average of 23-24mpg.

Will post more on the biggie tomorrow or later in the week once I've had a chance to get some good pics. So far I'm quite overwhelmed with this beauty.....all I can say is WOW!!!!

[pvr]

Welcome back, that does sound nice.

I assume you were so depressed about the forum going down that you bought another car?

[CondorX5]

Quite. That's the story I'm sticking to as well!!! It was very therapeutic and I'm now completely recovered!!!

[Pewters]

Love the IS mate................would love to know how you got 24mpg out of a 3.0i though

[AW8]

Glad you made it here.

How sad am I ?

I sat here grinning when I read of your new purchase - genuinely plesased for you

Looking forward to more info but no rush- meantime enjoy the small exclusive community & the new car !

[CondorX5]

Thanks AW8, I've covered about 500miles since collecting the 4.8 yesterday and the grin hasn't faded yet. Will do a write -up in progress on my experience with the Big Mama.

Pewters....I only ever use the most expensive, highest-octane petrol, usually BP Ultimate. Never fill up at supermarkets or Jets or Essos. And although I really did push the 3.0 engine hard, I tend to use engine speed instead of stop-start braking and keep to constant speeds on the open road - as fast as possible (only joking). I don't do a lot of traffic jam / inner city driving, its mostly cross country trips on a motley collection of horrid little lanes and B-roads, A-roads and motorways, so a mix of speed limits. I think the quality of petrol has a lot to do with the fuel economy and engine performance, although many would pooh-pooh this, but in my experience over many thousands of miles it is.

I took a few quick pics on arriving in Norfolk this evening, if I can remember how to post pics I will - and before you point it out Pewters, it's dirty from the journey and needs detailing which I will hopefully get to do soon!!

I'll post more on the discussion onto one of the more appropriate sub-forums. Computer on the 4.8 saying I'm now getting 20.9mpg, so I'm quite pleased so far. Not a million miles from the 24mpg of the 3.0!

[stevox5]

Hi There

Congratulations on the new car I am hankering after a 4.6 or 4.8 myself as my next car but funds dont allow at present . You must be thrilled at the performance difference and engine note after a 3.0i petrol , I have the 3.0i petrol and drive the V8's on a regular basis - what an upgrade !
Must say I am with Pewters on the 3.0 i fuel consumption I can only dream of 20plus mpg . Never mind must keep saving for a V8.
Enjoy your new car sounds very nice.

Cheers

Steve

[AW8]

[quote=""CondorX5""]Thanks AW8, I've covered about 500miles since collecting the 4.8 yesterday and the grin hasn't faded yet. Will do a write -up in progress on my experience with the Big Mama. [/quote]

Great - superb car....................still really pleased for you in getting this

[Turks]

Great choice - Welcome to 4.8is ownership! You won't be disappointed...

Hexagon have some nice examples although they usually look overpriced. Sure you got a good deal though, you should know what you are doing with the long list of cars you have had in the past!


Turks.

[CondorX5]

It was the very long list of options that persuaded me, (over £10K extras when new), including the (for me) important towbar, as I need it, plus the BMW warranty, the freshly done Inspection Service and brake fluid change, single owner from new and the fact I needed to part ex my 3.0i......I did see a similar, much higher mileage car (around 50 000miles) at an independent for £5k less, but it was pretty standard with few extra options (I think it had the retractable load floor but nothing else - IMHO the least desirable of the options as it just adds weight without much extra function) and no BMW warranty. Addded bonus.....I've got the Aux heating that all the diesel guys brag about in winter AND remembered to get the remote for it!! Hexagon have a great used car line up - a gorgeous array of Z4Ms, M3s, and other higher-performance specced very nice BMWs - I was amazed at how busy they are, people seemed to be arriving from far and wide. My ex-X wasn't exotic enough for them to put on the floor, though, and the mileage "too high" at 60 000 - so it'll go to trade somewhere. I took a bit of a hit on it, but the independents offered a lot less so I guess it balances out in the end and it is just coming up to an Insp service. I suppose they charge whatever the market will stand!! What price that V8 burble, though