320d loaner got me a-thunkin'...

[granville]

Yesterday, as the dread reality of having yielded my trusty old M5 to the local BMW kindergarten dawned upon me, the questionable charms of the anodyne loan car fizzled into non-consideration.

However, having roundly beaten the last tenant of the evening I found myself at a loss and chose to press abroad for some late night deluge-hoonage.

This modest saloon, inconspicuousness incarnate, turned out to be a surprising package and more significantly, a potential signpost to the future of commuting options.

I'm ignorant as to it's engine specifications but it clearly has a small blower somewhere in the plumbing.

One that works, too: in former zones where the NSL roamed, until recently, free, it would have been remiss not to have treated the restrictions with the contempt they deserved so I dutifully obliged: if this was significantly slower ito in-gear pull to higher speeds from shopping velocities than the M5 then I was suitably duped, it genuinely felt that responsive.

Imbued with the usual granite-hew that seems to characterise all the Bangleviggenry of the moment, I speared orf to the local 'bahn.

Impressed would be too stinting a description of the manner in which this budget burner toiled along: deep into sensible figures, the little bullet parted the standing water like an enormous mobile version of Jason Plato's nose in a BTCC Seat around a sodden Oulton Park. It was remarkable.

Then I got to thinking: the glories of the '35d lump are soon to be transferred into the 3 series. What, I began to slightly seep, might a 335d Touring, having accidentally gained an invoice headed 'DMS,' be like?

Potentially the most Q of all Q carriages?


Confused of Melnibone.

[Podie]

'35 with a DMS

Think Rods has got one... might be worth a

[dazren]

Podie said:

'35 with a DMS

Think Rods has got one... might be worth a

He's got the 535d DMS. Goes like stink and is allergic to refuelling stops....

[Podie]

dazren said:

... is allergic to refuelling stops....

Think about it DeR... you can join in RG's cry of "eat my particulates!"

Edited by Podie on Thursday 31st August 10:12

[davidd]

Der

As you probably remember I accidently bought a 320cd a couple of years ago, I've still got it
I do many miles across many roads and it really is a capable car. Of course I'm not suggesting it is a sports car and there is the odd moment when I crave for Cerbera like hoonage but for a workhorse it is ideal (and I'm now used to no servicing bills and dry trousers). I'm waiting excitedly for the 335d and am curerntly working out how when I should get one.

Have the cretins found out what ailment has befallen the ubermonster yet?

D

[StuB]

335d (suitably tweaked) will become the de-facto all rounder as the insurance market & petrol prices presently seem likely to make EVO's/WRX STi's et al a track only option.

They'd be even better without RFT's as well.

I'd thoroughly recommend a re-badge to 318d though

How bout a 135d in the offing? Surely if the 3.0 petrol fits, then the bi-blown dag dag should too!

[granville]

Dave, Stu, cheers for ye thoughts - the 1 series really is a bit too much like 'I must have a BMW' as one cynic justifiably scoffed some time ago but I'm sure a 135d (are they, could they - would it even fit?) = recipe for constant progress @ 45 degrees to the perpendicular.

Going forward, given the shock last night when I scoped the rear legroom in this current 3 - greater than my 5(!) - the overall 'pleasant ambience' of the Tardis cabin generally, I reckon the lightness of the 335d Touring v existing 535d Touring might give it an essential Chapmantage ito acceleraption.

Then again, the 535d Touring looks the mutts' doobries, non?

Dave, what is the power on these things? I can imagine the mpg on a cruise genuinely titilating, especially for those tightly wadded, Yorkshire aristos.

Just one thing, I feel it needs a sportier gait through the corners, maybe the 'sport pack' would sharpen it just a notch or three to stop the clattery lump edging the nose off course?

Joy ahoy, however and no mistake.


M Ironside, Thespian.

[ubernoob]

W I B B L E ! ! !

[alfaspiderman2]

Black debadged 335d Sport Touring it is then?

top of my list for the family wagon of choice

[reggie183]

As DeR knows, I've had my 330d chipped and it goes like stink and still delivers 40mpg. Uber Diesels are the future for everyday motoring,

[reggie183]

DeR - just remembered! a certain 535d that flew past us on the M1 on the way to Brunters - pulling 170 easy and looked the business with the sport pack.

[granville]

Afternoon, squire, you still owe me a slot in the car post-fettle, I bet that thing is superb now.

But seriously, can you imagine the '35 engine in it? New car for us both, perhaps?

(Although I've just had an interesting call re EVO IXs...)

[daver]

So when should we expect to see a 2.0d with twin sequential turbos rock up, presumably under the moniker 325d?

C'est un bon idee, non?

[davidd]

Der

My 04 plate has a mere 150bhp the new shape has 163 and I think about 250 lb ft or torque.

Mine has a sport kit and it certainly does handle it is a lot stiffer than the 320d se we also run. Once the funny rev stuff and turbo thingy are understood (ie where does it have power and where will it run out) then it can be made to make good progress.

As I said I'd like a 335 although I suspect a 535 will be the more sensible option, the touring 5 looks the business with a sport pack on but terrible without it.

This has the bhp of some of them

www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=14761

and then there is this...

I also wonder how good one of these will be..


www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=12019

[Zod]

I've had a 320d courtesy car a couplke of times recently and been impressed by its grunt. Given what I'm used to, I expected it to feel gutless, but it doesn't. The only issue is the narrow rev range in which diesels operate.

[davidd]

Zod said:

The only issue is the narrow rev range in which diesels operate.

Yes that is a pain, even after 30k miles I still get annoyed with it.

[Podie]

davidd said:

Zod said:

The only issue is the narrow rev range in which diesels operate.

Yes that is a pain, even after 30k miles I still get annoyed with it.

Think it depends what you've been used to driving...

Having had the Chimaera, driving a diesel is actually quite a similar experience (in terms of where the torque is)... moving to a freer revving petrol V6 has been a culture shock... in fact, I've effectively been short-shifting as I'm not used to the power delivery...

[outnumbered]

Zod said:

I've had a 320d courtesy car a couplke of times recently and been impressed by its grunt. Given what I'm used to, I expected it to feel gutless, but it doesn't. The only issue is the narrow rev range in which diesels operate.

With a bigger diesel engine in a 3/530d or 3/535d, presumably the slush-matic would be the thing to have ? From what I remember, BMW's autobox is quite good, and it should make the narrow rev range less annoying.

[Zod]

outnumbered said:

Zod said:

I've had a 320d courtesy car a couplke of times recently and been impressed by its grunt. Given what I'm used to, I expected it to feel gutless, but it doesn't. The only issue is the narrow rev range in which diesels operate.

With a bigger diesel engine in a 3/530d or 3/535d, presumably the slush-matic would be the thing to have ? From what I remember, BMW's autobox is quite good, and it should make the narrow rev range less annoying.

I think that's right, but probably not for the 320d.

I just kept hitting the limiter because I'm used to engines that have much higher redlines.

[trackdemon]

I've spent a goodly amount of time piloting a 330d saloon & touring recently. Phenominal car, although I disliked the autobox (but then I dislike all autos). For a 35mpg / 140mph executive saloon to deliver so much genuine at wheel enjoyment is obscene. Its also amazing just how much angle of attack can be attained under complete control behaviour unbecoming of a diesel estate, but then thats what makes it even more fun . Best car in the real world? Could very well be......