BMW F30 320d Manual

[550Anniv]

Morning Pistonheads BMW Collective.
Looking for a little vehicle advice please. I have been looking at a 320d as a daily driver. I have found a 2016 320D M-Sport with a few nice options,
low miles, full BMW history etc, and that ticks a lot of boxes.
BUT, the car is a manual. Now, My current daily is a manual, but it appears that the manual gearbox in a 320d is not favoured by many. Is this
true? Is it that bad? what's the collective thoughts?

And before I get shot down, yes, the easy answer is to go and drive it, but the car is two hours away, so I am trying to save a four hour round trip
if I can.
Thanks Guys!

[E-bmw]

There is nothing wrong with the manual it is just that many people now like autos, personally I hate them with a vehemence that many don't understand, but they just do not do what I want them to do unless you use them in manual mode & that rather defeats the object & adds unnecessary complication.

It is a personal thing, try it & see what YOU think as it is you that will be driving it.

[Uncle boshy]

The auto is an 8 speed and capable of slightly better mpg, particularly if you use eco pro mode where the auto has coasting capability.

The manual is ok, but the auto suits the car better and reduces the risk of dmf failure.

That said, the auto, whilst supposedly sealed for life needs an oil change around 60k miles

For me I’d go auto on the 3 series unless you have a particular dislike of autos or the manual is significantly cheaper

[aturnick54]

550Anniv said:

Morning Pistonheads BMW Collective.
Looking for a little vehicle advice please. I have been looking at a 320d as a daily driver. I have found a 2016 320D M-Sport with a few nice options,
low miles, full BMW history etc, and that ticks a lot of boxes.
BUT, the car is a manual. Now, My current daily is a manual, but it appears that the manual gearbox in a 320d is not favoured by many. Is this
true? Is it that bad? what's the collective thoughts?

And before I get shot down, yes, the easy answer is to go and drive it, but the car is two hours away, so I am trying to save a four hour round trip
if I can.
Thanks Guys!

The only way you'll know is to drive it. Not trying to shoot you down, but it is a good box in terms of reliability. It's subjective as to whether you'll like it or not. Personally I find BMW manuals a bit clunky and the pedals are offset to the right slightly.

If there's one nearer you could try an auto first? If you're not a fan then look at the manual.

[550Anniv]

...Thanks guys for all your comments. So, there sounds like no horror stories, looks like i am off to take a look at the weekend!

[helix402]

Timing chains can still go on these sadly.

[pmorg4]

I generally prefer a manual with a petrol car, particularly if you have the opportunity to wind it out to the the 7000 RPM red line from time to time which is always going to be more engaging in a manual. Much less so in a 4-pot diesel however, where even a die hard manual fan like me accepts that the auto is probably best suited to the power delivery of the engine.

I've lost count of how many manual BMWs I've owned and none of them have been particularly great boxes, but they're fine and actually work better being hustled along quickly; it's the slower speed stuff that they tend to feel a bit notchy and otherwise reluctant.

At the end of the day I hope you enjoy it if you do decide to go for it.

[E-bmw]

pmorg4 said:

I've lost count of how many manual BMWs I've owned and none of them have been particularly great boxes, but they're fine and actually work better being hustled along quickly; it's the slower speed stuff that they tend to feel a bit notchy and otherwise reluctant.

I won't disagree with that, although I have more accredited that to the DBW throttle.

They just beg to be hustled between the gears and it seems that, that is the best way to get the most out of them.