RE: BMW 320d: Driven

[greenarrow]

Is the 320d still using the N47 engine (albeit with upgrades) , i.e the one with the dodgy timing chain?
Tha'ts what always put me off buying one of these.

The headline stats are now really impressive for a 2 litre diesel. That 0-60 time is similar to a 330i from a few generations back and I know the 320ds deliver proper economy unlike many.

[lord trumpton]

Interior whilst refreshingly different to the outgoing model, looks a bit VW to me.

[griffdude]

simonbamg said:

scottygib553 said:

Hurry up with the Touring already, BMW.

no one buys them, thats what the X3 is for

Sorry but I have no desire whatsoever to drive a SUV. An estate is a different matter, having driven the 3 series touring for 10+ years I really rate them.

[vanschpunk]

Absolutely brutal looking. How can the F30 look so good. And this heap look so bad??

[Burnham]

It looks a little bit Mercedes-esque from the front 3/4 view. Not that its a bad thing...just a little softer than before.

[Levin]

vanschpunk said:

Absolutely brutal looking. How can the F30 look so good. And this heap look so bad??

Try not to notice where the front of the F30 bonnet ends or it'll ruin your enjoyment, for it will be the first thing you see.

[Limpet]

greenarrow said:

Is the 320d still using the N47 engine (albeit with upgrades) , i.e the one with the dodgy timing chain?
Tha'ts what always put me off buying one of these.

The headline stats are now really impressive for a 2 litre diesel. That 0-60 time is similar to a 330i from a few generations back and I know the 320ds deliver proper economy unlike many.

BMW has been using the newer B47 engine for a few years now, including in the F30. Not heard of any horror stories with it.

[BFleming]

Limpet said:

greenarrow said:

Is the 320d still using the N47 engine (albeit with upgrades) , i.e the one with the dodgy timing chain?
Tha'ts what always put me off buying one of these.

The headline stats are now really impressive for a 2 litre diesel. That 0-60 time is similar to a 330i from a few generations back and I know the 320ds deliver proper economy unlike many.

BMW has been using the newer B47 engine for a few years now, including in the F30. Not heard of any horror stories with it.

Fuel economy isn't supposed to be spectacular with the B47 engine. I'm on my second car with the N47 engine, and I've had no issues with either (260,000 cumulative miles on them). The N47S in my current 525d is a peach - in my opinion only.

[Shiv_P]

Limpet said:

greenarrow said:

Is the 320d still using the N47 engine (albeit with upgrades) , i.e the one with the dodgy timing chain?
Tha'ts what always put me off buying one of these.

The headline stats are now really impressive for a 2 litre diesel. That 0-60 time is similar to a 330i from a few generations back and I know the 320ds deliver proper economy unlike many.

BMW has been using the newer B47 engine for a few years now, including in the F30. Not heard of any horror stories with it.

Apart from the massive EGR recall they are doing on it?

BMW seem incapable of making reliable 4 cylinder engines as of late

[Limpet]

I put 100k on two N47 320ds (60k on one, 40k on the other) with no issues on either. I found it a bit agricultural, particularly in the manual car, but the performance and economy compromise was staggering. I saw regular trip averages into the low 60s on longer motorway runs, and had an indicated 140, four up with a boot full of luggage in Germany in the manual car.

[iSore]

greenarrow said:

Is the 320d still using the N47 engine (albeit with upgrades) , i.e the one with the dodgy timing chain?
Tha'ts what always put me off buying one of these.

The headline stats are now really impressive for a 2 litre diesel. That 0-60 time is similar to a 330i from a few generations back and I know the 320ds deliver proper economy unlike many.

It uses the latest B47 from the G30 520d, an excellent engine. The petrols use the new B48 20B fours, both from the G30 520i/530i, all new designs with rear mounted timing chains and basic architecture from the diesel so they're machined on the same equipment. They use the same timing chain tensioner set up as the B47 diesel which has proven reliable, finally dumping that stupid cassette type arrangement used on the N42-N20 petrols.

Edited by iSore on Monday 18th March 17:54

[griffdude]

I do think it’s a con that the 330i isn’t a 3 litre though, is that the same for the diesel?

[Wills2]

It's interesting when you download the brochure you'd hardly know the car has an engine, no showcase or pictures like BMW used to do, in fact no mention at all about them....how times have changed.

Reading Autocar's review they state that the new 320d has two sequential turbos now instead of a single twin scroll one as in the F30 version.

[Slippydiff]

Tom_Spotley_When said:

Which is probably irrelevant outside of PH's weird "everyone pays with cash" idea.

They'll be between £350 and £450/month and that's all people will care about. List price could be as much or little as they want for all the difference it'll make to your pocket.

Yep get that, I just don't see a 320 at the thick end of £50k

[cerb4.5lee]

griffdude said:

I do think it’s a con that the 330i isn’t a 3 litre though,

I'm in the minority but I much prefer the power delivery of the 2 litre turbo 4 cylinder in the 330i now as opposed to the old 3 litre N/A in the 330i. In my old E90 330i you had to absolutely kick its backside to get anything meaningful from it performance wise.

[900T-R]

Um, Mercedes-Benz lists the C220 d saloon as 1450 kg /1470 kg with autobox, and the coupé including automatic transmission at 1,505 kg... Not sure where the 1,715 kg comes from - an E-Class maybe?

[simonwhite2000]

I have quickly grown to quite like the new exterior look but the interior is where it just doesnt look different enough and the attempt at a virtual cockpit is terrible. I get BMW interiors 'evolve' ie barely change but Mercedes and Audi change quite a bit between models.

If standard dials are a no cost option i will be going to see a 340 though and have a drive.

[simonbamg]

griffdude said:

Sorry but I have no desire whatsoever to drive a SUV. An estate is a different matter, having driven the 3 series touring for 10+ years I really rate them.

X3 is a lot better it’s widely recognised

[JimboDeanie]

Looks nice. I just hope the electrics are better than the last model 320d I had. Drivers window often went down of its own accord and needed ignition to be switched off to raise it up. Not amusing on the M6 in the pouring rain.....regular warning light issues too and numerous interior trim rattles. Maybe I had a Friday afternoon special?

[BFleming]

cerb4.5lee said:

griffdude said:

I do think it’s a con that the 330i isn’t a 3 litre though,

I'm in the minority but I much prefer the power delivery of the 2 litre turbo 4 cylinder in the 330i now as opposed to the old 3 litre N/A in the 330i. In my old E90 330i you had to absolutely kick its backside to get anything meaningful from it performance wise.

A 330i hasn't been a 3 litre for a few years now. But the 340i gives you a 3 litre engine (although you may be disappointed it's not a 4 litre).
A blagger won't have been able to guess the capacity of any recent BMW. They might get lucky with any 320d though, as they're all 2 litres.