Attu

Im looking for a new car for the wife and would like some peoples thoughts of the 320i vs the 320d, ive never been a diesel person but looking at the specs of the 320d it really does look pretty good compared to the petrol version.
Also is it worth going for the M Sport version over the SE ?

Thanks

///\oo/\\\

BMW are about to update several engines so worth checking on the specs with your dealer first.

As it currently stands, though, the 2.0D is the better engine by far, if not one of the best 2.0 tds out there.

M sport will look much better, but make sure you drive them both for comparison of ride comfort.

Don't discount the Alpina D3

Cheaper (IIRC) than the MSport, looks much better and is supposed to ride better too.

Shark Man

The way I look at it in my book:

Is either you want a car that performs, or a car that is good on fuel.

So in my book I would look at a 325 as a minimum, or a 320d as there is no point in having a 320petrol as its slower (current model year), than the diesel but uses more fuel. The same rule works for the 318 petrol too.

I should ask at which year car your looking at, as the e46 (old shape 3-series) 320 was a 2.2 6cylinder and the latest 320 is a 2.0 4 cylinder. So they are very different engines.

I personally am not a fan of M-sport suspension. Its too jiggly at lowish speeds for the crap (british) roads I have to drive on.

I prefer to opt for larger alloys and have SE suspension, its works for me as a good compromise (can't say on new model though) - most people don't notice the minor bodykit differences anyway. I should also forewarn of thr run flat tyres that are used on the new models, as they do make the ride quality more hard.

J_sca001

Depends what year your looking at?

The 320d changed in 2001 from 136 BHP to 150 BHP. I bought my Mrs a 320d SE a few years ago, last ones of the 136 BHP. Best car weve had, bar my Scooby. It's geting old now on a Y plate but the depeciation is so low on them, alot less than the 320i. I had the Mrs's mapped to 165 BHP. Was so easy. Payed a bloke £200 and he plugged his laptop into a port hole just below the steering wheel, downloaded the cars details, emailed germany, they sent a re-map via email. He uploaded it and job done all in an hour. Couldn't believe it! Smoother in the lower rev range, loads more torque. That was 20k ago and still going strong!

Attu

Thanks guys, were looking at a new one or as close to new as possible depending on what they are willing to do a deal on, I must admit the thought of the 320d is growing on me but ill get a test drive of both of them, same goes for the M Sport, but the wife does like the looks of the M Sport but if the ride is to hard (compared to a Subaru ??) she may change her mind.

Petem95

Anymore info on this? Ie which engines, and what are the updateS?

TopBanana

A colleague has the new shape 320d auto. It's a brilliant car.

///\oo/\\\

Hi mate

I don't know if it will apply to all model ranges, but here are the changes for the 1 series:


130i: World’s lightest six-cylinder production engine with VALVETRONIC and Bi-VANOS technology achieves zero to 62mph in 6.0 seconds (five-door is 6.1 seconds) and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Output is 265bhp while peak torque is 315Nm. Combined fuel consumption is 34.0mpg and CO2 emissions are 197g/km.

120i: New four-cylinder engine with high-precision direct injection and Bi-VANOS technology achieves zero to 62mph in 7.7 seconds (7.8 seconds for five-door) before going on to a top speed of 139mph. Output is 170hp (up 20hp) while peak torque is now 210Nm (up 10Nm). Combined fuel consumption is 44.1mpg (improves by 17 per cent), CO2 emissions are 152g/km (down 16 per cent).


118i: New four-cylinder engine with high-precision direct injection and Bi-VANOS technology achieves zero to 62mpg in 8.7 seconds (8.8 seconds for five-door) before going on to a top speed of 130mph. Output is 143hp (up 14hp) while peak torque is now 190Nm (up 10Nm). Combined fuel consumption is 47.9mpg (improves by 24 per cent), CO2 emissions are 140g/km (down 20.5 per cent).


120d: Second generation common-rail diesel engine with aluminium crankcase achieves zero to 62mph in 7.5 seconds (7.6 seconds for five-door) before going on to a top speed of 142mph. Output is 177hp (up 14hp) while peak torque is 350Nm (up 10Nm). Combined fuel consumption is 57.6mpg (improves by 16 per cent) and CO2 emissions are 129g/km (down 15.1 per cent).


118d: Second generation common-rail diesel engine with aluminium crankcase achieves zero to 62mph in 8.9 seconds (9.0 seconds for five door) before going on to a top speed of 130mph. Output is 143hp (up 21 hp) while peak torque is 300Nm (up 20Nm). Combined fuel consumption is 60.1mpg (improves by 19 per cent) and CO2 emissions are 123g/km (down 18 per cent).

monkeysan

are they not making something similar to the 335 in a diesel version?

twin-turbo jobby?

misty

320d were susceptible to turbo failure prior to late 2003 mate.. I looked into getting one before the astra.
Dave

zip106

We're looking to change the wifes 320d M Sport (E46) very soon.
Initially I was very disappointed with the handling, ride and performance from new. BUT, after nearly 40k miles in 2 years, it really is a cracking car! Nicely loosened up engine wise, but the ride is quite firm and jigly on our roads.
We're now looking at the D3 but it's very poorly specced compared to the new M Sport. Alpina have tweaked the engine slightly with new induction and Garret turbo, better lower suspension than the M Sport so it rides better and it now gives 200 bhp! That's not bad for a 2 litre diesel, but as I said, it is almost as if they took a 320d ES model, did the engine, gave it some half leather seats and a front spoiler and 19" alloys, and that's it!
If you want to add any options you HAVE to pay a £2000 surcharge ON TOP of the cost of the options!

What we also found is that there is no official co2 rating for it so if it's a company car you have to pay 28% ( 320d M Sport is 24%) as the tax is worked out on the engine size.

I think we may up-spec the M Sport........

GCollier

I test drove a 320d SE before deciding on my 335d M-Sport. The ride is a bit better on the SE, though the steering doesn't feel quite as good as the M-Sport. Plus you lose things like the sports seats which are very good. The 2.0 diesel is a decent engine and nice and torquey, but you still can't get away from the fact that it's a 4-pot diesel in terms of refinement. I'd still almost certainly take one over the 320i though.

Gary.

TopBanana

Gary, you can add sports seats as an option, but I don't think you can delete sports suspension for the M-sport model. I much prefer the SE setup on UK roads.

Dave Thornton

I have a 2004 330d and borrowed a 2006 320d SE Auto as a loan car last week. In short, I wouldn't recommend a 4 cylinder BMW - there's a world of difference in the way it drives.

johnnyroper

320d over 320i any day bm 4 cylinder petrol are not very good would only consider another bm petrol if it was a nice sounding 6 pot
the diesel has got more power yet is better on fuel