320d Msport: coupe or saloon?

[LunarLamp]

I'm looking to get a 320D Msport, and have managed to get myself completely lost in trying to decide what to get.

So, I'm thinking of spending up to £15k on a manual 2007-2009 320D Msport.

I was originally looking at the coupe, but realised that I could get satnav and other iDrive stuff in the saloon (not seen this in the coupe in my price range). I'm now a little lost as to what the differences are between the coupe and saloon, besides the obvious rear doors. I also get lost every time I try and work out what options are on a car, as even on the BMW used-car search on their website, the options appear to be inconsistently listed. What are the "must haves"?

I've heard lots of negative remarks about the iDrive, but no real explanation of what these are (as an unashamed geek, I like the idea of it). So, what exactly are the issues with it? Also, what's the history of changes, and what are the different versions (it seems there are two versions, but does that cover all options etc?)

Any other general advice/tips?

[GGibbo]

I had a 2008 58 E92(coupe) 320D. With regards to iDrive, if you get a car from around this point or later, it should have the new style controller with shortcut buttons and different interface which makes it easier to navigate. The coupe only has 2 rear seats with a small centre consol between them, but rear seat space(as is boot) is good. Generally, I found the coupe felt (totally subjectice, I know) much more special than the saloon, there are loads of nice details, like the strip lights down the sides of both front and rear sseats; really nice at night. Also, I think there are little spec differences, like part electric seats on the coupe, but can't remember what else.

Hope this helps

[Fox-]

The Coupe has standard fit Xenon lights and better door cards - with felt lined door bins.

Dont spend £15,000 on a diesel though, if you want to save money buy a £1500 Golf TDI or something. Go for a lovely 330i.

[TX1]

Like Fox said with 15K you should be able to get a 330i with idrive.

[LunarLamp]

Surely the 330i is nowhere near to comparable to the 320d in terns of fuel economy? I'd love the 330i but would have to buy myself shares in BP or go bankrupt filling it up...

Thanks for tips on differences though. I'd still appreciate other suggestions!

[Fox-]

The N53 engined 330i has a combined consumption figure of 39mpg. It's not a gas-guzzler.

[Tea Pot One]

I had an 58 plate 320d coupe ... it was superb. Far better l;ook looking than the saloon and 42 - 48mpg average for mostly town driving and a fair amount of go. I moved to a 330d LCI coupe and considered the newest 330i LCI but much as the sound is great it is just not going to return the same economy ...

[1981linley]

You might be shocked just how poor the fuel economy is on a diesel. I have 320d as a courtesy car at the moment and it is only getting 38 mpg combined. I reset it for a steady motorway run and stuck cruise control on 70 and it was coming in at only 45mpg....way, way off what BMW claim. It is an auto though...which may make it a bit worse. Driving position is awful too....just can't get comfy. Dash is so cheap looking too...even though full red leather with metal bits...still poor inside...a few bits have even snapped off and I've only had it 4 days. Steer clear. This is the coupe.

[Tea Pot One]

1981linley said:

You might be shocked just how poor the fuel economy is on a diesel. I have 320d as a courtesy car at the moment and it is only getting 38 mpg combined. I reset it for a steady motorway run and stuck cruise control on 70 and it was coming in at only 45mpg....way, way off what BMW claim. It is an auto though...which may make it a bit worse. Driving position is awful too....just can't get comfy. Dash is so cheap looking too...even though full red leather with metal bits...still poor inside...a few bits have even snapped off and I've only had it 4 days. Steer clear. This is the coupe.

You have a courtesy car ... my fuel consumption figures are from actually owning one. I have no axe to grind re the 320d as I have sold it. It was a nice car.
The consumption is pretty good given the performance it offers.

The coupe has electrically adjustable seats ... in all directions surely + memory ?? Mine did and was the car I managed the most comfortable seating position of the 15 or so cars I have owned !

Edited by Tea Pot One on Sunday 22 January 15:53

[halo34]

I manage between 42 and 47 mpg on my 06 320 saloon, with mixed driving, that's the 164 bhp engine.

Dropped to 39 recently with a heavy right foot and low low temps.

Later cars are much better economy I believe? Have to admit compared to me old e46 330d it's lower which is frustrating.

I can understand the appeal and suggestions for the 330i but surely the 39 combined figure is only with longer runs and optimism? (genuine question).

I would love the 330i but would suspect that figure would drop with me!!

I'm actually thinking of selling mine already, the 330d calls, but 07 onwards.

[1981linley]

Tea Pot One said:

1981linley said:

You might be shocked just how poor the fuel economy is on a diesel. I have 320d as a courtesy car at the moment and it is only getting 38 mpg combined. I reset it for a steady motorway run and stuck cruise control on 70 and it was coming in at only 45mpg....way, way off what BMW claim. It is an auto though...which may make it a bit worse. Driving position is awful too....just can't get comfy. Dash is so cheap looking too...even though full red leather with metal bits...still poor inside...a few bits have even snapped off and I've only had it 4 days. Steer clear. This is the coupe.

You have a courtesy car ... my fuel consumption figures are from actually owning one. I have no axe to grind re the 320d as I have sold it. It was a nice car.
The consumption is pretty good given the performance it offers.

The coupe has electrically adjustable seats ... in all directions surely + memory ?? Mine did and was the car I managed the most comfortable seating position of the 15 or so cars I have owned !

Edited by Tea Pot One on Sunday 22 January 15:53

Do courtesy cars have lower fuel economy then? Maybe driving position is not just the seat, but the height of the steering wheel, which I can't seem to adjust, nor is there anywhere comfortable to rest your arms....the 'arm rest' on the door slopes away too much and the window sill is too high. The centre console is too far back for left elbow too.

[Fox-]

Tea Pot One said:

You have a courtesy car ... my fuel consumption figures are from actually owning one.

Whats the difference? If there is, perhaps its that he's more impartial. FWIW I've had a few 320d loaners as well and echo his sentiments. Covered over a thousand miles in a 318d and never reached the fabled 55mpg average, and had a few week-long sessions in 320d's - they seemed to do the combined figure on a long run, but not really any more.

[roofer]

Fox- said:

The N53 engined 330i has a combined consumption figure of 39mpg. It's not a gas-guzzler.

Don't talk complete bks man! If used to its potential (The whole idea of getting one) it'll drink like a fish. If anything, get a 330d if economy is an issue, the 2.0d is more boring than a boring thing from borington. But the 330d is less boring.

[Fox-]

Done quite a few miles in an N53 E60 LCI 525i. It's not quite got the combined figure of the 330i, I think its 37mpg, but it's certainly frugal on a run. Drove it 4 up from Southampton to Devon and managed 39mpg despite less than 10 miles of Motorway (For comparison sake my M54 530i would do 31mpg on the same trip). On a Motorway trip it was nicely above 40mpg.

It's about 20% better than the M54's in your car and mine.

It's a fantastic engine. Part of the reason they sold almost none of them was people simply assuming that because it's a 3 litre petrol engine it cannot possibly be economical. It is economical - it's a brilliant thing. It uses lean-burn direct injection to acheive very good economy at partial throttle.

Shame that with this new-found frugality comes unreliability, sadly the N53 suffers from fuel pump and injector issues.

[vinnie83]

Tea Pot One said:

I had an 58 plate 320d coupe ... it was superb. Far better l;ook looking than the saloon and 42 - 48mpg average for mostly town driving and a fair amount of go.

I have had a 57 plate 320d coupe for 3 months, having done ~6.5k miles, of which I would say 75% is motorway driving, my trip computer is currently showing 41mpg!

I would imagine I would have to drive like a granny to average that mpg with town driving - either that or there's something wrong with my car??

It is a manual BTW

[vinnie83]

I actually put a deposit down on a saloon, only to walk away after noticing some terrible accident repair (shame on you Stratstone).

I ended up buying a coupe - how glad I am that I made that choice!

I just know that in a saloon, I'd always be looking for something a little more special, whereas with the coupe I don't have that feeling.

Now I know a 320d in any version is never going to be special, but driving a coupe genuinely does feel nice.

I have had more people compliment this car than my previous 535d M-sport. It is genuinely a nice looking car.