Bmw 3 series touring petrol or diesel?

[99Chimaera]

Evening all.

I am thinking of buying a BMW 3 series touring, I'm thinking of either getting Petrol 320i or a 320d preferably in M sport trim. Either manual or Automatic.
The car will mainly be used for getting to getting to work using A mixture of A roads, dual carraigeway etc 12 miles each way. The car will also be used local runs and occasional longer trips. Annual mileage probably 8k-10k tops
I am struggling to find petrol M sports, but there are plenty of choice in diesels, but am concerned that the mileage I do will not be enough for a diesel and would have problems.
Would I be better sticking to petrol, or diesel?

Any replies would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[pattyg]

My e90 320d does approx 8k pa with most short and occasional longer runs. No issues to date. I much prefer it to the 320i I drove which felt gutless.

[Locknut]

I have a F30 320d which is fitted with an oil temperature gauge on the dash. I can tell you that it takes at least 12 miles and usually 15 miles for the engine oil to reach full operating temperature. If your drives are no more than 12 miles it will be difficult for the DPF (diesel particulate filter) to regenerate.

On the other hand the 320d moves pretty well with an 0 to 60MPH time of 8 seconds and loads of torque, so you could consider changing your driving habits and have a good blast once a week.

[Mr Tidy]

You don't specify a budget OP, which will have a bearing on which generation 3 Series you may be considering.

FWIW I bought an E91 325i in March. I only wanted a petrol as it will do no more than 7 or 8K a year so diesel didn't make sense and the N47 Diesel engines have their issues, especially with the cam-chain! (Google is your friend).

And as I've read that the 4 cylinder petrol has similar problems, and the later N53 petrol engine has issues with Injectors, coking-up and High Pressure Fuel Pumps the N52 that I have was the one I wanted.

After 6 months and 3K miles the OBC is showing 34.8 mpg, which seems great to me - but then as I've stopped working I don't commute (thankfully).

Mine isn't a Sport, but as a daily it's probably better because of that!

Good luck finding the one that suits you.

[99Chimaera]

Locknut said:

I have a F30 320d which is fitted with an oil temperature gauge on the dash. I can tell you that it takes at least 12 miles and usually 15 miles for the engine oil to reach full operating temperature. If your drives are no more than 12 miles it will be difficult for the DPF (diesel particulate filter) to regenerate.

On the other hand the 320d moves pretty well with an 0 to 60MPH time of 8 seconds and loads of torque, so you could consider changing your driving habits and have a good blast once a week.

Thanks that's useful to know, I could use another route which is a bit longer and has more dual carriageway which may help the diesel..

[99Chimaera]

Mr Tidy said:

You don't specify a budget OP, which will have a bearing on which generation 3 Series you may be considering.

FWIW I bought an E91 325i in March. I only wanted a petrol as it will do no more than 7 or 8K a year so diesel didn't make sense and the N47 Diesel engines have their issues, especially with the cam-chain! (Google is your friend).

And as I've read that the 4 cylinder petrol has similar problems, and the later N53 petrol engine has issues with Injectors, coking-up and High Pressure Fuel Pumps the N52 that I have was the one I wanted.

After 6 months and 3K miles the OBC is showing 34.8 mpg, which seems great to me - but then as I've stopped working I don't commute (thankfully).

Mine isn't a Sport, but as a daily it's probably better because of that!

Good luck finding the one that suits you.

Thanks, I m looking at the current model, may consider going for a 328i touring if I can find one!!

[99Chimaera]

pattyg said:

My e90 320d does approx 8k pa with most short and occasional longer runs. No issues to date. I much prefer it to the 320i I drove which felt gutless.

Thanks that's useful. I'm looking for a f generation 3 series. My parents have a e91 touring which has been very good.

[99Chimaera]

pattyg said:

My e90 320d does approx 8k pa with most short and occasional longer runs. No issues to date. I much prefer it to the 320i I drove which felt gutless.

Thanks that's useful. I'm looking for a f generation 3 series. My parents have a e91 touring which has been very good.

[Mr Tidy]

Locknut said:

I have a F30 320d which is fitted with an oil temperature gauge on the dash. I can tell you that it takes at least 12 miles and usually 15 miles for the engine oil to reach full operating temperature. If your drives are no more than 12 miles it will be difficult for the DPF (diesel particulate filter) to regenerate.

On the other hand the 320d moves pretty well with an 0 to 60MPH time of 8 seconds and loads of torque, so you could consider changing your driving habits and have a good blast once a week.

Sounds acceptable, but my E91 325i does 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds - I had an E46 320td and a 123d before I saw the light! Straight 6 N/A petrol for me now!

[willttqs]

i have had a 328i f31 and now run a 335i f31.

328i sounded rubbish and was an auto - a bit dull. was quick though.

love my manual 335i. try finding one

[Locknut]

Mr Tidy said:

Sounds acceptable, but my E91 325i does 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds -...

That's nice, but he was specificly asking about a 320.

It's not like you to stray off-topic, Mr Tidy.

[Mike335i]

Petrol, they are both 2.0 turbos but one will warm up quicker, sound better, be faster and be more efficient. The other will be a (cold) diesel.

[Mr Tidy]

Locknut said:

That's nice, but he was specificly asking about a 320.

It's not like you to stray off-topic, Mr Tidy.

I thought I did sometimes, but hopefully just to try to widen people's horizons!

But regardless of that, I hope people find the car that suits them.

[gizlaroc]

I found a mate a 63 plate 320i Touring last week. He had been looking at XC60s, A4 Avants and other dull stuff.

It was a nice dark grey one, auto, beige leather, nav, harman, xenons, and looks the tits.

He paid £8k for it with 100k on the clock, which to me was far better value than the 2008/9 XC60s with 100k on them for the same money and made the 2009 A4s look crap value.

Have to say it looks and drives like a year old car with 10k on the clock.

Also, so nice to be in a petrol, super smooth compared to the 320d and feels plenty quick enough. He is thinking of a remap, they map really well.

Oh, and so far he averaged 38mpg from the first tank, which is pretty good if you ask me.

To be honest, I wish I had bought it myself.

[99Chimaera]

gizlaroc said:

I found a mate a 63 plate 320i Touring last week. He had been looking at XC60s, A4 Avants and other dull stuff.

It was a nice dark grey one, auto, beige leather, nav, harman, xenons, and looks the tits.

He paid £8k for it with 100k on the clock, which to me was far better value than the 2008/9 XC60s with 100k on them for the same money and made the 2009 A4s look crap value.

Have to say it looks and drives like a year old car with 10k on the clock.

Also, so nice to be in a petrol, super smooth compared to the 320d and feels plenty quick enough. He is thinking of a remap, they map really well.

Oh, and so far he averaged 38mpg from the first tank, which is pretty good if you ask me.

To be honest, I wish I had bought it myself.

Thanks for your informative post, good to know that the fuel consumption is good. I just to need to find one in M sport to try easier said than done!!

[Craikeybaby]

I'm in a similar boat. I currently drive an E87 120i, with the dreaded N43 engine, and need something bigger. The obvious choice is an E91, but as I'll probably be doing less than 6,000 miles a year, I'll be wanting another petrol. Judging by this post I need to look for one with the N52 engine, as I don't want another £1,500 timing chain bill from an N43.

Are any of the newer petrol engines better?

[Fox-]

gizlaroc said:

I found a mate a 63 plate 320i Touring last week. He had been looking at XC60s, A4 Avants and other dull stuff.

It was a nice dark grey one, auto, beige leather, nav, harman, xenons, and looks the tits.

He paid £8k for it with 100k on the clock, which to me was far better value than the 2008/9 XC60s with 100k on them for the same money and made the 2009 A4s look crap value.

That was incredibly cheap - assuming it was the least desirable zero spec 320i SE manual a 53 plate with 100k on it has a trade value of £10k and a retial value somewhat higher. Even WBAC would give you more than £8k for it. Very much not representative of the £8k car market, no wonder it was 'good value' compared to everything else, it was massively under priced.

[rayyan171]

Mileage isn't high enough for a diesel, newer diesels really hate short distances. The 328i seems like the best option, we were considering buying one, they seem like good cars and are normally better equipped than 320d's. If I was considering keeping a 3 series for a long time, a 328i or 340i would be on the list.

[gizlaroc]

Fox- said:

That was incredibly cheap - assuming it was the least desirable zero spec 320i SE manual a 53 plate with 100k on it has a trade value of £10k and a retial value somewhat higher. Even WBAC would give you more than £8k for it. Very much not representative of the £8k car market, no wonder it was 'good value' compared to everything else, it was massively under priced.

Not sure it was that massively underpriced.
There were quite a few out there at £8500-9000.
This was £8600, we offered £8k and said come back if you want it gone. He said OK.

It was really well specced for that price point though.
Nav with Harman, adaptive xenons, heated beige leather etc.

I think the fact it was an SE puts people off, but on the F31 I think it looks good in SE trim, especially in the dark greys etc.

[iSore]

Fox- said:

That was incredibly cheap.

Not really. I was at a BMW BCA sale last month and saw a few 100'000+ mile cars - mostly 320d Tourings around 15 plate - sell for £6500 plus fees and BCA is not cheap. A 320i is probably less desirable because it doesn't have the go of a 328i or the economy of a 320d. Why would you want one? Unless it was cheap.......

At the same sale was a Carbon black 15 plate 535d M Sport Plus, 100'000 miles and £16'500. they're secondhand cars and plentiful with it.

£8000 was about right for that. Why pay more?