oh gawd now we're (nearly) a 2 BMW household

[mr_tony]

Great news, mrs_t has decided to order herself a spanking new 3 series (320d ES) for work.

Being slightly less of a stickler for tradition than myself she has ordered it online, and hasn't actually driven it yet. Anyone out there got one? What do you think of it?

(And I guess we're not quite a 2 BMW household - though the Mog is mostly BMW in the engine / transmission etc department)

[9one1]

Who cares if she hasn’t driven it. There must be a reason y the 3 series got international car of the year and it is a real looker 2 so what is the problem
and what is a mod

[CatherineJ]

We have a 31i M Sport. The car is absolutely fantastic even with the weedy engine from the BMW range.

[mr_tony]

9one1 said:

Who cares if she hasn’t driven it. There must be a reason y the 3 series got international car of the year and it is a real looker 2 so what is the problem
and what is a mod

Wooooah there neddy - no problem at all - think this is deffo the 'smart' choice. I just like to drive a car before buying it, and giuven I ahven't I'm fishing ehre to find out what you lot think of them as a drivers car.

Figures on paper look good, the EVO give it 4 stars, and it's very highly regarded.

I'm interested in things like...

Whats the T/C like - Nannying, or loose? (and can you turn it off?)

Does it really get the mpg it claims (49.6 mpg - better than a bleeding prius!)

Does it fill with petrol ok, or drip on your shoes?

Any essential upgrades to add (currently selected mettallic paint, leather interior and cruise control). Are Xennons worth it?

Cheers all, looking forward to getting in the driving seat of this one

[wobert]

mr_tony said:

9one1 said:

Who cares if she hasn’t driven it. There must be a reason y the 3 series got international car of the year and it is a real looker 2 so what is the problem
and what is a mod

Wooooah there neddy - no problem at all - think this is deffo the 'smart' choice. I just like to drive a car before buying it, and giuven I ahven't I'm fishing ehre to find out what you lot think of them as a drivers car.

Figures on paper look good, the EVO give it 4 stars, and it's very highly regarded.

I'm interested in things like...

Whats the T/C like - Nannying, or loose? (and can you turn it off?)

Does it really get the mpg it claims (49.6 mpg - better than a bleeding prius!)

Does it fill with petrol ok, or drip on your shoes?

Any essential upgrades to add (currently selected mettallic paint, leather interior and cruise control). Are Xennons worth it?

Cheers all, looking forward to getting in the driving seat of this one

Can't comment specifically on a 3er as I don't have one, although we are considering one to replace Mrs Wobert's current family hack.

I've got a 120d Sport, so the engine related questions I can answer.....

Traction control is very unobtrusive, had mine partially sideways after giving it too much welly on a greasy roundabout, DTC pulled it all back, without any OTT behaviour.

I travel to Brum from Chester 3 days a week (500ish miles a week) and I'm averaging c49 mpg, mostly fast A-roads (A41) and stop/start on the M6. Round town mpg is worse, dropping to low 40's.

Filling with fuel is no probs, filler accepts full flow with no cutting-out.

Options....hmmm.....Xenons are a defo if you do a lot of driving after dark, had them on my MINI, and swore I'd never not have them again. My 1er presented such a bargain, it was a compromise I had to take.

Consider the sports front seats too, much better than the flat ones they give you as standard, plus you get electric bolster adjustment, and multi-height adjustment as well.

My ideal spec would be SE plus xenons, sports seats, metallic & hi-fi-pro speakers.

HTH

Wobert

[rooney1000]

Your serious when you ask about how intrusive the traction control is.....

Unless it was a typo you have bought a 320d....

[PJR]

MPG.. You'll be lucky to get 49mpg out of a 3 series, but you might just scrape your way there, particularly if its a manual instead of an auto.. I also drive a 120D which has the same engine, and even with its auto box, I can just about get it over 50mpg, which is bloody great for an auto
Goes well too. However, being a 4 pot diesel, it still sounds like a bag of angry spanners at idle/low engine speeds. But thats about my only gripe with the car.

Cheers, P

[holbayhead]

I'm currently getting 47 mpg from my 320cd

It's a great car..plenty of power and fast enough.

But yeah it does sound like a box of bolts at idle

[mr_tony]

Interesting info on the economy, it's a manual - so should manage decent economy (well a little better than the auto anyway). Anything over 40mpg is good as company rebate on cc payments for every mpg over 40.

Regarding the t/c - ok it's only a 2.0l oil burner - but if the t/c is already 'keen' (e.g. like on mrs_t's current company hack -2ltr merc clk) then it needs to be toned down / turned off if I get the Bimmer chipped..

Of course a 3 series 2.0d is never a hooning car of choice but then I think I've got a far better option for that kind of driving in the garage anyway - and not a hint of abs / tc in sight

[wobert]

PJR said:

MPG.. You'll be lucky to get 49mpg out of a 3 series, but you might just scrape your way there, particularly if its a manual instead of an auto.. I also drive a 120D which has the same engine, and even with its auto box, I can just about get it over 50mpg, which is bloody great for an auto
Goes well too. However, being a 4 pot diesel, it still sounds like a bag of angry spanners at idle/low engine speeds. But thats about my only gripe with the car.

Cheers, P

320d weighes 100kg more than a 1er....don't think it'll make that much difference TBH