The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Well my POS 320d M-Sport is in the dealership again for more repairs , and they gave me a 118d M-Sport as a courtesy car. First off I thought, "Oh great, something even less exciting than the thing I'm dropping off", but I have to say I'm really impressed with it! Sure, it's got absolutely ZERO grunt from 70 on the motorway, but apart from that everything about it is great. It handles seriously well and has a perfectly fine amount of acceleration for a non-motorway commute and for around town. Also I was sat in traffic for 20 mins tonight and still managed 54mpg on my commute home.... and none of that is motorway. It's hard for me to say it after years of driving big petrol engine BMW's (generally 3 to 5 litres), but this little 118d has truly amazed me. So much so that I actually wish I'd bought one instead of this overrated 320d POS that I'm currently stuck with.

On that subject I honestly can't get my head around all the rave reviews of the 320d. Having owned one for a while now, I can honestly say that I still can't wait for the day to get shot of it. It's simply the worst BMW I've ever owned - and considering I love BMW's and have driven nothing else but BMW's for at least the last 15 years, I think I'm qualified to make that statement. It's just boring, gutless, uninspiring, plus it's not even that economical! Overrated crap.

In fact tonight I've been speccing up a brand new 330d M-Sport Convertible on the BMW website. The one drawback? The £50K price tag after you add a few toys. Hmmmmmm........

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Driver8

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hey D8 i have a 135i cab goes like a rocket and handles exceptionally much better value than a 330 and more fun

Sorry to hear that D8, hope they sort it out.

I never was a fan of diesels, actually I hate them. They may have better MPG but that noise (especially when the engine is cold) really spoils the fun. It's strange however that you don't get better MPG on your 320d. Maybe it's related to the problems you're experiencing with it? Because the 320d must come up with around 69 MPG.

Having owned BMWs, as you know by now, with about the same engines as you have, I believe it is very difficult to downgrade from a 6 or V8 cylinder engine to a 4-cylinder one and a diesel one at that. I experienced it twice (318i and 316i) and I sold them after only a few months.

I also have to say that with EfficientDynamics measures MPG is much better that it used to be, in fact you'll be amazed with the economy. However, even if a 330d is more economical that its petrol counterpart, it is also more expensive to buy. Problem is BMW practically have two petrol engines now, a 2 liter and a 3 liter that they use in various versions and the same is valid for diesel engines (2 or 3 liter). So, if you like 6 cylinders, you're looking at 3 liters. I also think it's a sacrilege the way they're calling their cars now: 325i has a 3 liter engine, a 750i a 4 liter etc.

As for the price tag, well, you're absolutely right. And you can't order a naked BMW with no toys.

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Thanks, yes they managed to sort it out, so I'm back in the 320d now.


I was in the same diesel-hating boat too, but I have to say I think the 3.0 litre diesel is a great engine. It only sounds vaguely diesel-like at start-up : as soon as you are moving, even very slowly, it loses that horrible diesel rattle. And at speed I actually really like how the 3.0l diesel sounds! It sounds like a Spitfire to me! (The crappy 2.0 litre that's in mine on the other hand is an entirely different story!). I personally wouldn't hesistate to own a 330d (or 530d) or indeed a 335d (535d).


69 MPG?! That would just about make it bearable to own. As it is I'm getting 39.7 MPG.


This 320d is actually the first 4 cylinder BMW I've ever owned...... and I GUARANTEE it'll be my last. I'll be getting back into a 6 cylinder beast next time - no question at all in my mind.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Old Model 535D M-Sport

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN4-KA0VGzs

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

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Tom Ford, a journalist you might know, managed even 75.9:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/05/25/bmw-3 ... ngle-tank/

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On a follow-up D8, I stumbled on this article:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/06/04/bmw-3 ... nd-review/

They achieved 40MPG but with the 335d...

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My new (to me) 135i is an absolute blast. Only trouble is that it is hard to find places to really run it out. Really enjoying it. That said, I don't know why they couldn't put a lively diesel in it, too. I'd have loved to have had a 335 diesel, but the pricing is ridiculous. That, and I enjoy the tidier dimensions of my 1.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
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Vintage gold Corum
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There has to be a difference between the 1 and 3 series and not only in pricing.

But there is a lively diesel in the 1 coupe, the 123d. Granted, not as lively as the 335d but for a 2-liter diesel engine it defends itself pretty good. Pricing is more attractive and for the UK it has lots of advantages compared to a 3-liter engine. But it is a 4-cylinder engine.

EDIT: Unless you want to consider the new upcoming 1 series:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/06/05/world ... -1-series/

But no high end engines have been announced as yet.

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I'm sure there's something wrong with my 320d. No matter how I drive, I can't get it above 39.7mpg! I was just chatting to a guy at work and he gets just over 33 mpg from a 14 year old, 165,000 mile, 2 litre PETROL Merc! And his journey to work is pretty similar to mine in terms of being predominantly non-motorway. Heck, even my father who drives a 2 litre diesel Ford, and hardly ever ventures onto the motorway gets over 45mpg.

I'm pretty sure I don't have lead feet, and I'm pretty sure no-one has filled by car boot up with bricks or gold bullion, so I'm at a loss as to why it's so poor. Tyres are pumped up and I don't drive along with the windows down, so there's no reason for such poor economy. By my reckoning I should be at at least 50mpg. Just another nail in this car's coffin.......

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Driver8

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Did you manage to engage the second gear?

Just kiddin'. What does your dealer has to say about it?

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I had a chance to test a 118d cabriolet on our automobil club test center. Sensational, how this car handls. On wet road, this car was going like on railroadtracks, easily avoiding obstacles, really good traction. And You don't feel like beeing in a diesel at all. Only thing, that disturbed me, was the engine full stop, when You stop the car, wich lasted for about only 10 seconds, as the aircondition needed energy (with the water obstacles I had to close the top!).

BG
Thomas

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Yeah, you're not the first person to make a similar quip about 2nd gear!

I've not been back to the dealership about this because frankly I don't hold out a lot of hope of them doing anything. I'm sure the words "driving style" and "traffic conditions" would be liberally used by them to "explain" it. If I was getting sub-30 then they would have to do something, but at just under 40 they could easily claim I was just driving like Jensen Button.

No, I'll just live with it for now and hopefully get myself back in a proper BMW (i.e. one with a decent-sized engine, and ideally petrol) before too long.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

You have the option to turn the device off if it is interfering too much with the situation, as the one you described or if you make frequent stops at which case the on/off system doesn't produce the results it was designed for.

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