I have also Bought a New Car...

[martinbo]

^ Don't quite know what to make of that post, but anyhow think what you want...

 

[LaArtist]

^haha its just jokes

 

[JLBM]

2012 BMW 320d (wait for it) Auto (wait, wait for it...) Luxury Line.

Xenons, rear PDC, 'Tooth, Leather, 17"... and that's it, No ConnectedDrive, no Comfort Pack, nada...

Brilliant all-rounder, congratulations Martin! I have driven the 320d, it goes like stink on the whiff of an oil rag!

 

[Cashmere]

Congrats boet! Enjoy it

 

[Tumbo]

Nah, you're behind the times. The cocks are now in Audis.

Nah man, Im sorry Martin but BMW will never be beaten in this area. Ever.

 

[martinbo]

Dudes, show a bit of respect... I don't go wading into your threads casting aspersions.

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Is it Car buying season? Congrats, and enjoy in good health.

 

[ateekt]

Great car, wise choice. Enjoy & be safe!

 

[Zafiro]

What car and their 12 months ownership experience

 

[Mark]

Congratulations Martin! You went Bavarian! Wish you many great miles and joy driving your new toy!!

 

[Deckhook]

As Klier suggested keeping the 4 series free of off topic stuff (rightly so) I decided to ask the question here instead.

Having the 182hp diesel in the X1 I do know how smooth, economical, etc it is but I'm more interested in the performance in your 3 series as it's without the X1's xDrive robbing some of its sparkle. Do you personally feel short changed when asking it to overtake or does it perform these tasks with enthusiasm?

 

[martinbo]

Realistic answer: the 320d with ZF 8-Speed, whilst adequately rapid, doesn't really cut it as a once marvel of diesel performance that could live with GTIs back in the day. Everything's just moved on so much in the last 2-3 years - I mean heck an Audi S3 with 221 kW? Madness. Overtaking performance is, again, satisfyingly adequate or adequately satisfying but that's it and no more. It's the gearbox that makes a good fist of the turbodiesel's modest torque figure (in the modern context) and just elevates the 320d out of mere cooking status. Again, I'd say it's a quick car as opposed to a fast car.

Do I feel short-changed? That feeling can only be assessed in relation to what is spent on a car. In this case - emphatically not. The thing about the 320d is that it's probably one of the fastest cars per MPG in the world. I can stonk it and get 5.9 litres per hundred on a mixed cycle. It's a wonderful, carefree mindset to have and certainly the car's greatest "surprise and delight" factor - performance without a conscience.

What do I really want as my next car? A 330d Sport Line with toys would be a very serious consideration.

 

[Deckhook]

^What ever I end up with it will be M/Sport Touring with the usual toys but definitely equipped with their adaptive suspension. Here the difference in price between the 320d and 330d when specced the same is roughly £2k, not a huge amount but I'd rather not pay the extra if its not absolutely necessary because almost all this extra expensive will disappear at resale time.

The real problem is sampling the 3 litre diesel in a 3 series because no dealer in the area have one to test drive so its a leap of faith that its improvement in performance is that vast, no question on all out performance floor it and the difference between the two will be sizeable but is it still as noticeable in normal day to day drive that's the question I need answered.

P.S.
The wife's X1 is now returning 41mpg average, don't know if that's good or bad for the type.