320d X-drive Msport - WHY?
Discussion
I have a belting headache.
I also have been kindly lent a brand new 320d X-drive Mpsort in espadrille blue with the Bradford Plus pack (that's 19" "Innit" wheels with concrete filled rubber band tyres and tinted windows).
WHY does this car exist? Just, why?
On the one hand the engine could provide worthy propulsion to a cooking saloon, and is marginally more refined than an old 405 diesel. But it has around 3 seconds of turbo lag, making the excitement of seeing a manual transmission wane as you have to change, press, wait, go (with rattle), change, press, wait, go (with rattle). Sporty? Er, no. Fun? Er, grater/nuts.
And 4WD? Is this to either help those stupid tyres through a ploughed muddy field? Or is it to prevent traction loss from the mighty tarmac-shredding 20d? Or is it to just add weight to an already overweight car?
And the steering? The feedback option was clearly not ticked - but worse than that it is quick, but with a really light zone at the straight ahead. No feel, no control, no feedback.
And the suspension? Yes is stays flat as you guess your way around a corner (taking an arc that it decides as you hope it was the arc you think you have asked for) but the combination of the hard springing, over-damping, heavy wheels and concrete tyres causes a constant high frequency bouncing that relates to a headache/time graph of unexpected steepness. It's vile.
320d RWD with soft/luxury options and an auto as a motorway hack? Why not.
But this thing?
And yet every third car on the road is one of these.
Incidentally, I'd love to know who signed off the headlights. A 2CV is better. Blotchy, wavy and very blurred cutoff, not much light on the left. Can't see where you're going at all, which just adds to the "excitement".
I also have been kindly lent a brand new 320d X-drive Mpsort in espadrille blue with the Bradford Plus pack (that's 19" "Innit" wheels with concrete filled rubber band tyres and tinted windows).
WHY does this car exist? Just, why?
On the one hand the engine could provide worthy propulsion to a cooking saloon, and is marginally more refined than an old 405 diesel. But it has around 3 seconds of turbo lag, making the excitement of seeing a manual transmission wane as you have to change, press, wait, go (with rattle), change, press, wait, go (with rattle). Sporty? Er, no. Fun? Er, grater/nuts.
And 4WD? Is this to either help those stupid tyres through a ploughed muddy field? Or is it to prevent traction loss from the mighty tarmac-shredding 20d? Or is it to just add weight to an already overweight car?
And the steering? The feedback option was clearly not ticked - but worse than that it is quick, but with a really light zone at the straight ahead. No feel, no control, no feedback.
And the suspension? Yes is stays flat as you guess your way around a corner (taking an arc that it decides as you hope it was the arc you think you have asked for) but the combination of the hard springing, over-damping, heavy wheels and concrete tyres causes a constant high frequency bouncing that relates to a headache/time graph of unexpected steepness. It's vile.
320d RWD with soft/luxury options and an auto as a motorway hack? Why not.
But this thing?
And yet every third car on the road is one of these.
Incidentally, I'd love to know who signed off the headlights. A 2CV is better. Blotchy, wavy and very blurred cutoff, not much light on the left. Can't see where you're going at all, which just adds to the "excitement".
Maracus said:
As for headlights, the adaptive xenons I had on my 328i were excellent. The halogens, probably not so.
A new 320d M Sport will have LED headlights.The reason why the xDrive exists is because about 6 years ago we had some snow in winter and now everyone in the South East needs an xDrive just in case it happens again, because being able to hopelessly spin 4 low profile summer runflat tyres is better than spinning two.
The biggest issue is not really BMW, but the consumers who buy the badge.
BMW still do better engines, better steers, etc.
I sat in the back of an X3 being test driven by my wife the other day and almost laughed at how s
t it seemed.
Just the 4 pot diesel clatter alone, then the side to side jiggly bumpiness, and the general harshness of the ride.
The 335d on the other hand felt much much nicer to passenger in.
Smoother, serene, a pleasant engine note, etc.
It's a shame that Alpina seem to have gone down the same road now too.
There needs to be another co like Alpina who make the best out of the BMW parts bin and if in doubt, rework the engines too!
BMW still do better engines, better steers, etc.
I sat in the back of an X3 being test driven by my wife the other day and almost laughed at how s
t it seemed.Just the 4 pot diesel clatter alone, then the side to side jiggly bumpiness, and the general harshness of the ride.
The 335d on the other hand felt much much nicer to passenger in.
Smoother, serene, a pleasant engine note, etc.
It's a shame that Alpina seem to have gone down the same road now too.
There needs to be another co like Alpina who make the best out of the BMW parts bin and if in doubt, rework the engines too!
My mrs has a 320d, all be it an E90. It's nowhere near being the 'ultimate driving machine' granted but when we compared it to a Audi A4 or a Merc it's still a nicer car. I cant imagine it having any less power or anymore weight though, it's just fast enough to be acceptable IMO so I expect a xDrive would be a bit naff. Ours does have silly staggered wheels though, to accommodate the 255 rear tyres to help put down the whole 163bhp. 
Fox- said:
The reason why the xDrive exists is because about 6 years ago we had some snow in winter and now everyone in the South East needs an xDrive just in case it happens again, because being able to hopelessly spin 4 low profile summer runflat tyres is better than spinning two.
The baffling thing is the roads in the SE are as bad as they are elsewhere in the UK - are people in the SE immune to the crashes and bangs, and having to replace cracked wheels and torn tyres?Is it not because people just read a magazine and then start ticking?
3 series: read somewhere that that is good, and I like the badge, go to configurator.
20d: economical, cheap, tick.
Msport: costs a bit, looks good, must be "better", tick.
X-Drive:costs a bit, sounds like a good idea, must be "better", tick.
Huge wheels with concrete tyres: cost a bit, look good, tick.
Net result: a bag'o'ste.
3 series: read somewhere that that is good, and I like the badge, go to configurator.
20d: economical, cheap, tick.
Msport: costs a bit, looks good, must be "better", tick.
X-Drive:costs a bit, sounds like a good idea, must be "better", tick.
Huge wheels with concrete tyres: cost a bit, look good, tick.
Net result: a bag'o's
te.xDrive was same price as sDrive on lease when last on company car list. Why not have the additional traction for the same cost?
Yes, it's a 320d so who's driving it that spiritedly to need 4WD, but then the same argument to have it as most wont get benefit of RWD.
No brainer for me if the cost is the same. Probably a bit less on MPG but not worth worry about.
Yes, it's a 320d so who's driving it that spiritedly to need 4WD, but then the same argument to have it as most wont get benefit of RWD.
No brainer for me if the cost is the same. Probably a bit less on MPG but not worth worry about.
I think OP is being too harsh... M Sport it’s a trim so in the case of the car you tried the buyer just likes the colour and M Sport trim, why not, what’s wrong with it? Is it necessary? No but it’s personal choice. If he likes bigger wheels and blue colour and tinted windows and doesn’t mind the worse ride comfort why the heck could he not buy what he wanted?
On the engine/transmission side the 320d has 190bhp and decent torque so it’s not like he has a litre 3 pot ashmatic unit so he can take corners fast with it so a better suspension and brakes are not necessarily a waste.
Lastly the X drive... how many Audi A3 or A4 are sold with Quattro? No one seems to mention it even when they come with a 150bhp diesel unit. On our greasy roads and with a bit more torque it can help if the driver just wants to mash the throttle.
Off course the 320d SE does everything well and it’s all you need but why should people not be able to buy the spec they want without being flogged in a car forum. For the record I do not have a 320d x M Sport.
And for road use... I have a feel that 320d is fast enough...
On the engine/transmission side the 320d has 190bhp and decent torque so it’s not like he has a litre 3 pot ashmatic unit so he can take corners fast with it so a better suspension and brakes are not necessarily a waste.
Lastly the X drive... how many Audi A3 or A4 are sold with Quattro? No one seems to mention it even when they come with a 150bhp diesel unit. On our greasy roads and with a bit more torque it can help if the driver just wants to mash the throttle.
Off course the 320d SE does everything well and it’s all you need but why should people not be able to buy the spec they want without being flogged in a car forum. For the record I do not have a 320d x M Sport.
And for road use... I have a feel that 320d is fast enough...
CrgT16 said:
I think OP is being too harsh...
Possibly - but the car is truly dreadful. The combination of M Sport suspension and 19" wheels and runflats makes the car rock hard and bouncy. Fair enough if you don't get headaches. But it's that chassis combined with the asthmatic and laggy 4 pot diesel (that doesn't play well with the manual transmission) that makes the car so bad. "Racing" chassis + "shopping" drivetrain.4WD doesn't offend me, it just seems a pointless addition of weight and expense. Did not consider the effects of buying on the drip.
apotts said:
CrgT16 said:
I think OP is being too harsh...
Possibly - but the car is truly dreadful. The combination of M Sport suspension and 19" wheels and runflats makes the car rock hard and bouncy. Fair enough if you don't get headaches. But it's that chassis combined with the asthmatic and laggy 4 pot diesel (that doesn't play well with the manual transmission) that makes the car so bad. "Racing" chassis + "shopping" drivetrain.4WD doesn't offend me, it just seems a pointless addition of weight and expense. Did not consider the effects of buying on the drip.
To be fair any 3 series with M suspension, 19" wheels and runflats is going to be a crappy ride in the UK.
Like others, BMW don't take the state of many of our roads into account when they design, and why should they?
Wills2 said:
You guys must all drive incredible cars and have very high expectations, every time I drive a 320d or 420d I think they are quite nice for what they are.
They always seem comfy, ride well and have well a calibrated engine/gearbox, perfect for mile munching.
They are much better with an auto - a manual 320d is quite a frustrating experience.They always seem comfy, ride well and have well a calibrated engine/gearbox, perfect for mile munching.
apotts said:
Wills2 said:
They always seem comfy, ride well
With M Sport suspension and 19" runflats?Run flats are a lot better than they used to be in my opinion, I have no dog in the fight I don't have one of these cars but over the last few months I've been given them as loaners and I couldn't find much wrong with them.
In fairness a RWD BMW is properly hopeless in the snow. Utterly useless. However I've seen 3 X-Drives in alpine resorts (on winter tyres no doubt) doing some seriously impressive stuff. And let's no forget they are built in a country with mountains and proper snow...I do get why they exist. I have a Defender fully kitted out for off roading and I can't get anywhere in the snow in the UK, simply because no other bugger can so unless I'm going to drive up the hard shoulder it's still going to useless. But other European countries make winter tyres or snow chains compulsory in some areas remember.
And also let's not forget Audi has been punting the Quattro thing for decades, so no doubt BMW were after a bit of that market share.
And also let's not forget Audi has been punting the Quattro thing for decades, so no doubt BMW were after a bit of that market share.
I'm fancying x drive with winter tyres n wheels for the cooler months.
I think it's a good idea for people who want a decent BMW who also want awd capability for the roads and weather they encounter.
Going SE suspension is great too. I've always thought BMW models needn't have to look like turds to have a nice ride.
For people in N.yorks with hills, snow, and local councils who let their roads go to crap, an xdrive msport makes lots of sense!
I think it's a good idea for people who want a decent BMW who also want awd capability for the roads and weather they encounter.
Going SE suspension is great too. I've always thought BMW models needn't have to look like turds to have a nice ride.
For people in N.yorks with hills, snow, and local councils who let their roads go to crap, an xdrive msport makes lots of sense!
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