My first BMW! F30 318d Sport
Discussion
So, this is an interesting one. After 18 months of shedding I decided with things opening up, it was time to buy something a little newer as our main family car. I've always had a love hate relationship with BMW. Always quite fancied owning one, but also have not been a fan of certain BMW drivers and the brand image, which can at times be brash. After a number of test drives over the years, I've never actually been able to commit to buying one. Anyway they've been on my radar and I avidly followed the "Do you really need anything more than a 320d" thread which provoked some strong opinions. I'm actually a fan of humble FWD hatches like the Ford Focus and Mazda 2/3/6 and a week ago was looking for a newer Ford Focus. My wife however found a Mercedes on Facebook market-place, one thing led to another and now I have this F30 shape BM on my drive! 
Here it is with my shed Focus which I did a thread on recently. I have to say that I was quite influenced in my choice by BMW devotee RobM77 who doesnt seem to be on Pistonheads these days, but was almost evangelical in his defence of the humble 320d, attracting huge flak in the process. I've enjoyed exchanging views with Rob over the years about BMWs and I havent always seen eye to eye with him, but he argued quite persuasively about the humble 4 pot diesel 3. Rob quite rightly in my view, argued that the 320d models he had owned were basically as competent down the average B road and through the corners as any of the larger petrol (or diesel) engined variants short of the full fat M3/M4. He cited the kerb weight of the 4 cylinder diesel, which is roughly somewhere between 90 and 120KG less than a 335i or 330/335d. Detractors will point to a rattling small pot diesel, but to be honest, for an every day vehicle bought for family duties, is that a problem. Did you know that the 318d is only 10KG heavier than the 320i petrol and actually only 25KG heavier than the lightest F30 of all, the 316i? So all that talk about nose heavy diesel engined handling is really wide of the mark. Of course Rob loves RWD and hates FWD and to be honest after a spell with an old Mazda MX5 a few years ago, I quite fancied RWD myself this time. I'm not someone that fussed with straight-line speed, but balance in the corners I do appreciate. The Mk1 Focus I've loved this past 18 months, fast it is not, but is a lovely sweet car to chuck into a corner!
Anyway, I was rather taken with this immaculate 318d sport which came up on facebook. I would've preferred a 320d auto, if I am honest, but there's not a huge amount of choice at the moment and this one is honestly in superb condition and I love the colour. The shortfall in poke probably wont be an issue most days on our traffic choked roads.
I remember Rob saying that the F30 series needed sports suspension and also that smaller wheels and run flat tyres were a better combo in his experience than larger wheels and non run flat tyres. So I am very happy that my version is the Sport model on optional M sport adaptive suspension with 17 inch alloys and run flats.
Initial impressions? Lovely supple ride and beautiful balanced handling. Folks, you have to remember that my previous family saloon was a Mk1 Insignia SRI on 18 inch alloys that somehow combined concrete suspension with reluctant turn in and understeer tendencies on slow corners. So a RWD saloon for me is obviously a revelation!
Diesels are not at all popular at the moment, so I think I got a very good buy here. It cost me a little over 25% of its original list price and its still a fairly new and very competent car. Yes, it has an N47 engine which I am going to get my garage to inspect for any weird timing chain noises (and get an oil change immediately), but the £30 road tax is good when you are running multiple vehicles and honestly, its a good package for a sensible all round family car. All IMO of course. I realise (as a former BMW sceptic myself!) that this car is despised by many on Pistonheads.
Anyway Rob, if you're reading, well done for persuading a former critic to try a 4 cylinder diesel BMW rather than the usual FWD family hatch fodder. I will report on my experiences as a brand new BMW owner!
Thanks for reading....
Here it is with my shed Focus which I did a thread on recently. I have to say that I was quite influenced in my choice by BMW devotee RobM77 who doesnt seem to be on Pistonheads these days, but was almost evangelical in his defence of the humble 320d, attracting huge flak in the process. I've enjoyed exchanging views with Rob over the years about BMWs and I havent always seen eye to eye with him, but he argued quite persuasively about the humble 4 pot diesel 3. Rob quite rightly in my view, argued that the 320d models he had owned were basically as competent down the average B road and through the corners as any of the larger petrol (or diesel) engined variants short of the full fat M3/M4. He cited the kerb weight of the 4 cylinder diesel, which is roughly somewhere between 90 and 120KG less than a 335i or 330/335d. Detractors will point to a rattling small pot diesel, but to be honest, for an every day vehicle bought for family duties, is that a problem. Did you know that the 318d is only 10KG heavier than the 320i petrol and actually only 25KG heavier than the lightest F30 of all, the 316i? So all that talk about nose heavy diesel engined handling is really wide of the mark. Of course Rob loves RWD and hates FWD and to be honest after a spell with an old Mazda MX5 a few years ago, I quite fancied RWD myself this time. I'm not someone that fussed with straight-line speed, but balance in the corners I do appreciate. The Mk1 Focus I've loved this past 18 months, fast it is not, but is a lovely sweet car to chuck into a corner!
Anyway, I was rather taken with this immaculate 318d sport which came up on facebook. I would've preferred a 320d auto, if I am honest, but there's not a huge amount of choice at the moment and this one is honestly in superb condition and I love the colour. The shortfall in poke probably wont be an issue most days on our traffic choked roads.
I remember Rob saying that the F30 series needed sports suspension and also that smaller wheels and run flat tyres were a better combo in his experience than larger wheels and non run flat tyres. So I am very happy that my version is the Sport model on optional M sport adaptive suspension with 17 inch alloys and run flats.
Initial impressions? Lovely supple ride and beautiful balanced handling. Folks, you have to remember that my previous family saloon was a Mk1 Insignia SRI on 18 inch alloys that somehow combined concrete suspension with reluctant turn in and understeer tendencies on slow corners. So a RWD saloon for me is obviously a revelation!
Diesels are not at all popular at the moment, so I think I got a very good buy here. It cost me a little over 25% of its original list price and its still a fairly new and very competent car. Yes, it has an N47 engine which I am going to get my garage to inspect for any weird timing chain noises (and get an oil change immediately), but the £30 road tax is good when you are running multiple vehicles and honestly, its a good package for a sensible all round family car. All IMO of course. I realise (as a former BMW sceptic myself!) that this car is despised by many on Pistonheads.
Anyway Rob, if you're reading, well done for persuading a former critic to try a 4 cylinder diesel BMW rather than the usual FWD family hatch fodder. I will report on my experiences as a brand new BMW owner!
Thanks for reading....
Edited by greenarrow on Wednesday 26th May 20:08
Harleyboy said:
Looks immaculate! I agree that even the lower power models still drive really well and can be a lot of fun. Nice to have the adaptive suspension too. Enjoy the car
Honestly, it is the cleanest second hand vehicle I have ever purchased. Previous owner was a director of the UK Coastguard and drove it 50 miles each day for work at no more than 70MPH apparently. Its clearly been very well looked after. The seller put a new MOT on it (unusual for a private sale) and it has a new I Drive unit (£1100 - gulp) and four very recent tyres. The only issue I have is that with the new I Drive unit having been installed the early service history is lost. I am hoping my local BMW dealer may be able to help with that. But that wasn't enough to dissuade me from buying what is clearly a very genuine and cared for car. Always buy on condition with second hand cars!!That is lovely.
We’ve just picked up a 2006 E90 320d auto (our first BMW) and I think you’re spot on about them being the perfect all round family vehicle. Comfy, great interior, lazy box and torquey engine but also enough performance for overtaking and it drives very well indeed down a B road.
Hope you get many years of happy motoring out of that.
We’ve just picked up a 2006 E90 320d auto (our first BMW) and I think you’re spot on about them being the perfect all round family vehicle. Comfy, great interior, lazy box and torquey engine but also enough performance for overtaking and it drives very well indeed down a B road.
Hope you get many years of happy motoring out of that.
Looks really smart OP. 
My first 2 BMWs were 4 cylinder turbo-diesels due to workplace car allowance, business mileage rates, etc. and I really liked them.
But that was all in the past by 2014 when I discovered straight 6 petrols!
Anyway I think an N47 engine in a 318d is only a remap away from 320d power should you feel the need.
My first 2 BMWs were 4 cylinder turbo-diesels due to workplace car allowance, business mileage rates, etc. and I really liked them.
But that was all in the past by 2014 when I discovered straight 6 petrols!
Anyway I think an N47 engine in a 318d is only a remap away from 320d power should you feel the need.
Does look smart, and I agree that the colour is nice (It's actually nice to see someone else who has an F3x that isn't white, or black).
What's the interior combination like? The one thing that lets my F33 down is the black interior, though it is extended leather so I guess that's a plus.
What's the interior combination like? The one thing that lets my F33 down is the black interior, though it is extended leather so I guess that's a plus.
318d is a little hidden gem tbh I think and gets a bad performance wrap I think, but it's a good engine, it is quick if you really want to hustle it, and responds well if driven enthusiastically but it's not about that.
I have a 318d E91 Tourer 2012 so just on the cusp of the newer F series, in fact same month they were both sold.
MPG/tank is ridiculous, my record is 890+ miles or something (UK to Chamonix) just before covid, great cruiser engine.
Had it for a good few years now, and up to 135,000 miles and it has been great, make sure you change the oil every 8/10k MAX, people will bark at you regarding the N47 chain issue, but this seriously negates this quite abit.
Another good thing with the 318d tuned cars over the 320d etc, is that they don't have any swirl flaps either, one other thing less to worry about.
Can't see me selling mine at all, £30 tax like you said is a no brainer these days and really helps the overall running costs if your running multiple cars long term.
I have a 318d E91 Tourer 2012 so just on the cusp of the newer F series, in fact same month they were both sold.
MPG/tank is ridiculous, my record is 890+ miles or something (UK to Chamonix) just before covid, great cruiser engine.
Had it for a good few years now, and up to 135,000 miles and it has been great, make sure you change the oil every 8/10k MAX, people will bark at you regarding the N47 chain issue, but this seriously negates this quite abit.
Another good thing with the 318d tuned cars over the 320d etc, is that they don't have any swirl flaps either, one other thing less to worry about.
Can't see me selling mine at all, £30 tax like you said is a no brainer these days and really helps the overall running costs if your running multiple cars long term.
Edited by DailyHack on Thursday 27th May 08:05
I had an F30 318d recently as a company car for around 18 months. It was handed down to me by one of the more experienced members of staff after he'd had it for 2.5 years, usual bumps, scraps and general wear and tear that a rep mobile tends to get so I never really liked it. It was boring to look at in black and there didnt seem to be anything that appealed. Until the day it was going back, fresh from a £10 'valet' and it looked great, it was only when it went that I started to realise that is was actually a bloody good car!!
So when work changed to a car allowance I went straight to BMW and bought an F31 estate as they're a better fit for me, auto, and petrol.....absolutely love it! Such a great, capable car that just does everything, well!
Enjoy. Sure the 318d would respond to a remap fairly well, 320d+ performance and leave the badge on
So when work changed to a car allowance I went straight to BMW and bought an F31 estate as they're a better fit for me, auto, and petrol.....absolutely love it! Such a great, capable car that just does everything, well!
Enjoy. Sure the 318d would respond to a remap fairly well, 320d+ performance and leave the badge on
Maty said:
Enjoy. Sure the 318d would respond to a remap fairly well, 320d+ performance and leave the badge on
Funny on the subject of badges, my 318d came out of the factory/dealership with a 320d badge on! Ha! Known the car from new as it was my mum's company car I purchased off her.
Make of that what you will, it's most definitely a 318d, error somewhere down the line.
So, thanks to a slip road closure, I had an unplanned 20 mile detour through the New Forest today, which is only 7-8 miles from my house. Nice chance to sample the RWD handling and enjoyable on a sunny day, BUT I did find that even in comfort mode, the car did not like the yumpy road surface. Ironically I was thinking that my ancient Ford Focus would probably have demolished the same road without even a murmur and I am thinking "Run Flat tyres". I've noted that ridges, or bumps in the road can upset the car mid-corner and I am guessing it is because those concrete tyres have such little give.
Certainly gave me pause for thought as I see Pistonheads has been full of the subject of run-flat tyres previously. So I am wondering (and I appreciate the input of seasoned 3 series owners here). Do the run-flats ruin the car's capabilities along particularly bumpy B roads? its those little compressions that worry me. The sort of short sharp dips or bumps that potentially could have car losing contact with the road and crashing onto its bump-stops! Or, does the car get better, the faster you drive on such roads? Please let me know, because at the moment, it is a bit of a fly in the ointment, I have to be honest. But overall, enjoying 3 series ownership very much. So positive to drive and throw into a corner after my years of FWD family cars!
Certainly gave me pause for thought as I see Pistonheads has been full of the subject of run-flat tyres previously. So I am wondering (and I appreciate the input of seasoned 3 series owners here). Do the run-flats ruin the car's capabilities along particularly bumpy B roads? its those little compressions that worry me. The sort of short sharp dips or bumps that potentially could have car losing contact with the road and crashing onto its bump-stops! Or, does the car get better, the faster you drive on such roads? Please let me know, because at the moment, it is a bit of a fly in the ointment, I have to be honest. But overall, enjoying 3 series ownership very much. So positive to drive and throw into a corner after my years of FWD family cars!
Edited by greenarrow on Sunday 13th June 19:17
Nice F30, enjoy.
Get rid of the runflats. I removed them and it made the world of difference.
Also I got so many punctures with them. Yet zero without. Bizarre.
It looks like you are on 16 inch wheels? I would go up an inch and fit the conventional tyres. You will notice that the turn in is slightly softer, which will be more noticeable on smaller rims. The ride will still be much better, as well as the handling / sensititivity to sharp bumps. Hope that makes sense.
Unless the dampers have been changed, do that too. Stock dampers at 70k+ miles will be way past their best.
Get rid of the runflats. I removed them and it made the world of difference.
Also I got so many punctures with them. Yet zero without. Bizarre.
It looks like you are on 16 inch wheels? I would go up an inch and fit the conventional tyres. You will notice that the turn in is slightly softer, which will be more noticeable on smaller rims. The ride will still be much better, as well as the handling / sensititivity to sharp bumps. Hope that makes sense.
Unless the dampers have been changed, do that too. Stock dampers at 70k+ miles will be way past their best.
Edited by CousinDupree on Monday 14th June 08:40
Mine is on 17 inches actually which for me is a good size as I appreciate decent ride. The only slight concern for me about changing to non RF is that the suspension is designed around the hard compound of the RF tyre so won’t it affect the vehicle dynamics changing to tyres with a softer sidewall? Our old friend Rob was quite adamant about this in his posts about his 3 series diesels.
greenarrow said:
Mine is on 17 inches actually which for me is a good size as I appreciate decent ride. The only slight concern for me about changing to non RF is that the suspension is designed around the hard compound of the RF tyre so won’t it affect the vehicle dynamics changing to tyres with a softer sidewall? Our old friend Rob was quite adamant about this in his posts about his 3 series diesels.
17" will be perfect.greenarrow said:
Mine is on 17 inches actually which for me is a good size as I appreciate decent ride. The only slight concern for me about changing to non RF is that the suspension is designed around the hard compound of the RF tyre so won’t it affect the vehicle dynamics changing to tyres with a softer sidewall? Our old friend Rob was quite adamant about this in his posts about his 3 series diesels.
I certainly can’t think of any negatives in the case of my other half’s 125i.My 130i is on none fun flats too (although that has Birds suspension).
Another question from me. Checked the tyre pressure today and they should be 29 and 32, front to rear. They were actually 34 and 32. Would that increase in front tyre pressure on a RWD car increase understeer? Certainly wouldn’t help the already strong aversion to potholes and bumps I am thinking.
greenarrow said:
Another question from me. Checked the tyre pressure today and they should be 29 and 32, front to rear. They were actually 34 and 32. Would that increase in front tyre pressure on a RWD car increase understeer? Certainly wouldn’t help the already strong aversion to potholes and bumps I am thinking.
would use the pressures on the door card. use the higher psi values recommended. Junk the run flats for Goodyear F1s, decent OE dampers and start from there.
I just went through this with the F21 118i LCI that my folks have, which is basically the same car and also on 17" wheels. The ride went from poor over broken surfaces and on bumpy B roads, to pretty quite good. It's the first beemer in ages that reminds of the wonderful ride / handling balance that earlier models had.
Almost a bit like a 1.6 Focus or Pug from the early 90s. Not much you can do about the offset driving position, zero steering feel and long gearing. But it is quite adjustable in the wet, being RWD. Good fun.
There is no front camber adjustment on these unfortunately, unlike the E series cars. So you are SOL looking for a quick fix for the understeer. Sportier models had front hubs with a little more camber and you can the switch the LCA / TS with the M models.
I just went through this with the F21 118i LCI that my folks have, which is basically the same car and also on 17" wheels. The ride went from poor over broken surfaces and on bumpy B roads, to pretty quite good. It's the first beemer in ages that reminds of the wonderful ride / handling balance that earlier models had.
Almost a bit like a 1.6 Focus or Pug from the early 90s. Not much you can do about the offset driving position, zero steering feel and long gearing. But it is quite adjustable in the wet, being RWD. Good fun.
There is no front camber adjustment on these unfortunately, unlike the E series cars. So you are SOL looking for a quick fix for the understeer. Sportier models had front hubs with a little more camber and you can the switch the LCA / TS with the M models.
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