Sign in   |  Join   |  Help
Untitled Page

ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022
READ ONLY FORUM

This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022

 

Wanting BMW 320d or 330d touring

rated by 0 users
This post has 16 Replies | 2 Followers

Chris Harrison
Top 200 Contributor
Peak District
Posts 381
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
Chris Harrison Posted: Sat, Apr 7 2012 10:01 PM

Does anyone have experience with these? Would you recommend?

 

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

Beobird
Not Ranked
Posts 13
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
Beobird replied on Sat, Apr 7 2012 10:35 PM

I've tested both and I have to say that I really like the touring design. Not only the exterior looks great but the interior is one of the best minimalistic designs I have ever seen in mid-range cars.

The 320d is good for every day use. It has a really good diesel/mile ratio and it has enough power to drive with a lot of fun en comfort. Especially when you choose for the sport seats (I really recommend those).

The 330d is the real deal. It's what BMW should be about. But I have to say that BMW is German and their cars should also be on the autobahn instead of other European highways. In my case (Holland) you will only get more speed tickets when you choose for the last one. It's so easy to drive fast, and you won't notice the difference between 120kmh or 160kmh. 

When you have the money and you don't care about extra maintenance costs, get the 330. Maybe you will get some speed tickets, but the car will make you smile and the 6 cilinders are good sounding. When you want a sporty car with bang for buck get the 320. You won't be disappointed. If you care more about comfort you should maybe check Volvo's V50.

beopiranha
Top 500 Contributor
Germany
Posts 125
OFFLINE
Bronze Member

Chris, in this case I must ask why you want to have touring? BMW 3 touring is useless if we are talking about the trunk space... In this case I recommend you Mercedes E series... Simply untouchable trunk space.

BMW gives you the feeling that you can drive each curve over 100 mile Smile It is really sporty and makes you definitely happy. However, it has really small interior, even touring model it is not really family car.

320d or 330d is just the question of where and how you drive. My RRS also has 245 HP diesel engine and even with 2,7 tonnes I'm happy with the performance of the engine and I know how this engine fits to BMW. It's a driving experiance. But do you really need it? 

 

Beovision Avant 55 / BV 11-40 / BV7-40 / Beovision Avant / Beosound 9000 / Beosound 5 Encore / Beosystem 4500 / Beosystem 6500 / Beocenter 9000 / Beolab 5000 / Beolab 18 / Beolab 19 / Beolab 11 / Beolab 17 / 3 sets of Beolab 4000 / Beovox Red Line 60.2 

9 LEE
Top 10 Contributor
Eastbourne, UK
Posts 7,218
OFFLINE
Founder
Moderator
9 LEE replied on Sun, Apr 8 2012 6:38 AM

330d every single time.  BMW's are made for 6-cylinder engines!

There's not much in fuel economy difference (well, not vast amounts) - so get some enjoyment out of driving..  I've had the 3.0d engine in several cars, and it's superb.  I've got the latest 3.0d in my current vehicle and i've never been happier.

If you can stretch though and want more space, the E320 CDi Estate is a cracker as mentioned.

Lee

 

beocool
Top 25 Contributor
Alankomaat
Posts 6,194
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
beocool replied on Mon, Apr 9 2012 8:46 AM

The 320d is a really good car, but that is before you've driven a 330d. Like Lee said, you have to have a 6-cylinder in a BMW. BMW is famous for it's inline 6's. This particular type of engine is getting rarer all the time as most manufacturers prefer V6 arrangements or 4 cylinder turbo engines. Even BMW is choosing the latter option as a consequence of reducing fuel figures even further. So get an inline 6 while you still can. You won't regret it.

The only downside to a 320d is that the car is slightly heavier in the front. Not much, I am nitpicking here, it's not like a frontwheel drive car. You still get the nearly 50-50 front to back weight distribution, another well known BMW feature.

Like Beobird I recommend the sport seats.

If you need more space there are alternatives. Personally I would avoid an E320 CDi estate. It probably is a good car with more space, but fun is not on the agenda.

 

Vähintään yhdeksänkymmentä prosenttia suomalainen! 

Chris Harrison
Top 200 Contributor
Peak District
Posts 381
OFFLINE
Bronze Member

Going to look at a 320d touring on Sunday. 

 

Does anyone in northern parts of the world use block heaters? Does it make much difference? Will the engine warm quicker?

 

Thanks

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

tournedos
Top 10 Contributor
Finland
Posts 7,357
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
Moderator
tournedos replied on Sat, Apr 14 2012 12:53 PM

Chris Harrison:
Does anyone in northern parts of the world use block heaters? Does it make much difference? Will the engine warm quicker?

Those were excellent in the age of cast iron engine blocks, where the heating element actually went into the block and was able to do something. Generally they start to be useful when the temp stays below +5°C.

Nowadays, on most cars they are either attached on the exterior of the oil pan or even worse, inline with a cooling hose where it doesn't do much unless the system is equipped with a circulation pump as well. In your climate, I wouldn't bother especially if you pay for your electricity. Fiddling with the cable every time you park & leave is another annoyance. I'd much rather have a Webasto with remote control...

--mika

Chris Harrison
Top 200 Contributor
Peak District
Posts 381
OFFLINE
Bronze Member

Tournedos,

 

I was up in Kitilla a few months ago and noticed plug in sockets in car parks, when would you plug the car in? What does it do?,will it keep the engine at temperature?

Thanks

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

Steffen
Top 75 Contributor
Denmark
Posts 1,408
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
Steffen replied on Sun, Apr 15 2012 12:52 AM

Why do I suddently feel like I'm on the homepage of  "Top Gear"...or BMWworld... ? Stick out tongue Whistle

tournedos
Top 10 Contributor
Finland
Posts 7,357
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
Moderator
tournedos replied on Sun, Apr 15 2012 10:12 AM

Chris Harrison:
when would you plug the car in? What does it do?,will it keep the engine at temperature?

Optimally you'd use it for ½ - 2 hours before start depending on outside temperature, longer than that will just waste electricity. The socket posts often have individual timers, or the electricity feed of the entire parking lot may be timed.

The old style engine heater that has an element in an internal coolant passage in the block can raise the coolant temp up to 20°C. These however can usually only be installed in cast iron blocks, where the element replaces a cast plug and reaches the coolant directly.

The oil pan heaters mostly serve to ensure that the engine oil is in liquid form before you start... if you have ever tried to coax especially mineral oil out of a bottle in -20°C you know what I mean Smile

Neither of these can keep the engine anywhere near running temp, but will speed the warming up, and in really cold weather can make the difference whether it will start at all or not.

 

--mika

Magnus
Top 200 Contributor
Norway
Posts 331
OFFLINE
Gold Member
Magnus replied on Sun, Apr 15 2012 10:45 AM

tournedos:

Neither of these can keep the engine anywhere near running temp, but will speed the warming up, and in really cold weather can make the difference whether it will start at all or not.

Indeed, it makes quite the difference on cold mornings. It's particulary nice if you install a interior heater too, then the car is nice and warm when you get in. Makes all the difference if it's downhill all the way to work and you have a diesel engine which takes forever to warm up!

Chris Harrison
Top 200 Contributor
Peak District
Posts 381
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
Would any block heater fit a 320d?

In regards to an internal heater then if one can be retrofitted great, if not it could be a pain.

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

Chris Harrison
Top 200 Contributor
Peak District
Posts 381
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
Just to let you all know I bought a 320d SE 2007 model. Absolutely stunning car.what bits should I buy for it? It has a Professional stereo system with it with aux but no USB. Looking at connecting my iPod to it somehow - the aux is of very poor sound quality.

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

gizze
Not Ranked
Posts 39
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
gizze replied on Thu, Aug 9 2012 9:05 AM

Retrofitting usb is possible if you have the prof radio, and along with that you also get bluetooth. 

If you have bluetooth already you just need the wiring harness to add usb, they use the same module. 

Get over to www.e90post.com and the UK section to get more info. 

 

gizze
Not Ranked
Posts 39
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
gizze replied on Thu, Aug 9 2012 9:05 AM

Retrofitting usb is possible if you have the prof radio, and along with that you also get bluetooth. 

If you have bluetooth already you just need the wiring harness to add usb, they use the same module. 

Get over to www.e90post.com and the UK section to get more info. 

 

Chris Harrison
Top 200 Contributor
Peak District
Posts 381
OFFLINE
Bronze Member

Thanks for the info, sadly I do not have bluetooth. I've joined E90post!


Thanks.

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

butch1
Top 200 Contributor
Posts 384
OFFLINE
Bronze Member
butch1 replied on Mon, Aug 20 2012 8:11 PM

320d is renowed for the turbos going had many in with this,and the 330d has problems with the swirl flaps,you can buy blanking plates though.As for performance they are good for diesels,but I am a petrol head and a if you buy a bmw it should be a inline 6 petrol,Thats my opinion though.

The mazda 6 2.2d sport is a good estate and has won many awards,if you dont do the miles the dpf can cause problems.

 

just my 2 cents.

Page 1 of 1 (17 items) | RSS