F30 320D Experiences

F30 320D Experiences

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Discussion

Dr Jekyll

Original Poster:

23,820 posts

261 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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Will be doing a lot of 250 mile round trips, often 4 days a week, but paying for it myself. So a 320d seems the default choice. What it's going to be like at 8PM in winter after a hard day is more important that handling though.

What MPG could I expect covering the distance almost entirely on motorways, sticking to 70 except for the occasional hold up?

How do BMW diesels compare for motorway refinement? I've had a couple of people reckon they are noisier than Skaudiwagens or Mercs.

IroningMan

10,154 posts

246 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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Dr Jekyll said:
Will be doing a lot of 250 mile round trips, often 4 days a week, but paying for it myself. So a 320d seems the default choice. What it's going to be like at 8PM in winter after a hard day is more important that handling though.

What MPG could I expect covering the distance almost entirely on motorways, sticking to 70 except for the occasional hold up?

How do BMW diesels compare for motorway refinement? I've had a couple of people reckon they are noisier than Skaudiwagens or Mercs.
Go up a class if you can - a two-year-old 520d is a nicer place to be than a new 320d.

Pioneer

1,309 posts

131 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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IroningMan said:
Go up a class if you can - a two-year-old 520d is a nicer place to be than a new 320d.
+1

We have a 2016 F31 320d Sport and a 2015 F10 520d M Sport. The 5 is a HUGE improvement, a much nicer place to be

Brett748

919 posts

166 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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I recently got given a 320d Sport as a company car. It is three years old so it is a pre LCI so has the 185 bhp engine with a manual box.

I think as a daily it is a stunning car. The fuel economy v the performance is staggering. At 70mph on cruise it will do 60-65mpg with ease.

It is also pretty quick for a daily driver, it isn't quick compared to a proper performance car but for getting around it is more than adequate whilst being comfortable and refined. It is slightly slower than a Clio 182, say a car length to 100 as a comparison (I recognise your username from CS).

I'd recommend one definitely, as people said above though the 5 series is a better car but then it's more expensive.

Trabi601

4,865 posts

95 months

Monday 27th March 2017
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That kind of mileage is definitely better in a 5 than a 3.

GTEYE

2,096 posts

210 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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As a counter, sure a 5 will be a nicer more refined car, but the 3 is hardly a chore to drive day to day.

One thing to bear in mind, the 5 is a seriously large car, which isn't a problem on the motorway but makes itself apparent on British B roads and garages/ tight car parks - for me the 3 is much more nimble.

The 3 is also extremely efficient, so 60mpg on a motorway run is easily possible. Running costs on the 5 are going to be more, probably not that much in fairness.

anonymous-user

54 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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You would forget the size of the five very quickly. They don't feel that big at all and at the end of the day are only 50mm wider than a 3 series. I live in the country and it's never been a problem.

The 520 is also capable of 60mpg in the conditions you describe but I guess the 3 will be better in that respect.

Pioneer

1,309 posts

131 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
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I had to do a 300 mile trip yesterday with a whole mixture of single track country roads, b roads onto the A1 down to the M25. Didn't even cross my mind to take the 3. If the 5 is on the drive I always take it.