[Oli]

Yes sorry the £35, includes the bloody showroom 'robbing bastards' tax! It is £20 after the first year. The car I have is a 10 plate and the tax disc says £35 on it

[bencookman]

Originally Posted by Ham09

Is it possible to swap the wheels to bigger (less efficient lol) ones or do they have KERS like the VW Blue Motions which means you can't?

I'm not sure whether you'd be able to swap them independently of the order process (i.e. after you've got the car) but certainly there are no options on the configurator. I was told when I took delivery that there is regenerative braking on the rear wheels, so perhaps it has something to do with that. Also it is the combination of wheel and tyre that go towards the mpg/CO2.

To the OP what are the noise levels like at 75 on the MWAY? I do 2.5 to 3 hours a day motorway driving and I long for a quiet cruiser (hence the thoughts on the 5). I've had a Golf, 350Z, Passat and now A4 as most recent cars and none have been exactly whisper quiet on the cruise.

The car is quiet on the motorway. There is a little more tyre and wind rustle than you might expect, but perhaps you notice it because the engine is eerily quiet. It's certainly more refined than the two 1 series I previously owned.
That said, I'm sure a 5er would be quieter.

[wilco]

I currently run a new Golf 1.4TSi GT DSG which is nearly a year old and 24000 miles on the clock.

When I bought the car I was also looking at a BMW 320i SE Auto which apart from the boot offered me nothing over the Golf. My work involves lots of Motorway driving at a real 77mph (not what it says on the clock) with the cruise set and then lots of city/town driving visiting clients.

The BMW 320i SE Auto would cost my company about £5000 more for a similiar spec and would have cost me personally another £2000 over the two years I run the car. This 320d ED looks superb on paper, though no Auto/semi Auto on offer. The DSG box in the Golf is amazing but I could live without an auto for the savings.

The only real issue I have had with the Golf is the mpg which is on average 35mpg. At motorway speeds the small engine struggles to get 38mpg on a run.

How have you found the comfort on long trips, the Golf has a foot rest for both feet and the seats are comfortable (not as good as my previous Volvo but what is).

I also have one of the first BMW 330Ci Sport convertibles which I only use in the summer but it will have to go in September as I cant get the four of us in it with me driving.

Superb first post by the way, made me sign up and post this.

[NFS]

I realise that these cars play to the company car buyers and the stats are VERY impressive.

But, I always think that the 'eco' versions go to far (i.e. VW BlueMotion etc).

What we need are cars that use less energy, but don't give you less fun. I'm sure that this will be a pleasure to own, but it concerns me that BMW may have given up to much in the search for additional improvements over the already brilliant 320d.

The electronic power steering is a case in point, this saves only couple of gCO2/km, so it's not massively important, but I really do feel that it's 'bad tech' for a drivers car like a BMW's.

By the way, it may interest you to know that a 335i emits just 1 tonne of CO2 per yr more than the best of the eco-cars. You can save that by installing an A rated boiler at home and in so doing save as much (or more) CO2 as a self rioteous Prius owner, but have the car you want.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

As a higher rate tax payer I would have gone for the ED like a shot had I been able to pick. I doubt that the car is going to feel drastically inferior to the stock 320d and the tax saving is impressive. Life is generally a balance of whats good value. I know the non-ED version will be better. But is it enough better to justify the extra £?

[urfankhaliq]

Hi Guys,

Reading this thread Im confused now about the effecient dynamics in the 320....

I have just bougt a 55 plate 320D so its an E90 but my road tax is 125 I think...so does that mean I dont have the effecient dynamics?

Is there a [/B]newer[/B] 3 series then the E90 I just bought?

Urfan

[Oli]

The 320 ED (specific model) has only just been launched.

But they use efficient dynamics across the range, if that makes sense?

[urfankhaliq]

So is the ED the one with the £35 road tax?

What's different about it?

Urfan

[Oli]

Its £20 road tax!! It has 109g/km emissions, improved aerodynamic low resistance wheels and tyres, 13% BIK for company car drivers, and 100% write down allowances for business in year one. And Ive driven one and they are really rather good - I suspect they will wipe the field as far as company cars go

[urfankhaliq]

And they started in 2008?

Urfan

[Oli]

No, the actual ED model started in the last month, but they have been using efficient dynamics on their cars since 2007 I believe??

[urfankhaliq]

But the e90 started in 2005 and I thought they all have the effecient dynamics..

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Efficient Dynamics is the name for their low emissions platform - start stop engines, power steering pump that switches off etc. My 2008 E91 had a big "BMW Efficient Dynamics" sticker on the drivers window until I removed it 5 minutes after getting the car.

BUT, the 320d Efficient Dynamics is a specific model name for the brand new version with additional tweaks to make it emit only puppy dog tears and angels from the tail pipe.

Its confusing, a bit like when Ford had Zetec as a type of engine AND a trim level. Blimey, BMW driver for one weekend and I'm fielding answers already....

[urfankhaliq]

Thanks for the clarification. On a slightly different note does anyone know if this forum can be viewed on any iPhone app?

Urfan

[m@rk]

I was expecting the colour to be more red than your photos show after seen a few shots of an E93 in the magazine BMW sent through the post this month.

Are your photos doing to colour justice here or does it look redder in the flesh?

[bencookman]

Originally Posted by m@rk

I was expecting the colour to be more red than your photos show after seen a few shots of an E93 in the magazine BMW sent through the post this month.

Are your photos doing to colour justice here or does it look redder in the flesh?

That's a good question. The colour's a strange one, that really does look different depending on the lighting conditions. When it's dull and cloudy, it's a rusty red type of shade, whereas when the sun shines, it is a glistening rich deep red, much more like the promotional shots you're referring to. I suspect the magazine shots were subject to photoshop and/or additional lighting rigs, but I think on this colour, more than ever, it's important to see one in the flesh before deciding if it's one you'd go for.

[bencookman]

... update ...

After 450 miles, the average mpg according to the OBC has continued to rise, and is now showing 65.7mpg.

Can't fail to be impressed at this.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Originally Posted by bencookman

... update ...

After 450 miles, the average mpg according to the OBC has continued to rise, and is now showing 65.7mpg.

Can't fail to be impressed at this.

How hard are you driving it? I'm getting 48mpg from my normal 320d. Driven hard with lengthy high speed cruising...

[bbdivo]

Have been visiting this site regularly to see if anyone had ordered/got one yet! Good to see a few people already have them, ordered mine yesterday (through our company scheme) I've added the following to mine:

Xenons
Prof Sat-Nav
Half Leather Sports Seats
Rear Tint
Electric folding mirrors
Auto lights and wipers
Sport Steering

and in Alpine White.

For those who have theirs how long did it take to get it after you placed the order? I'm guessing this car is going to be in big demand!

My current car is an Audi 2.0 TDI DSG, so am gonna have to learn to change gears again!

[Hairyarse]

Originally Posted by bbdivo

For those who have theirs how long did it take to get it after you placed the order? I'm guessing this car is going to be in big demand!

I order my 330d about 3 weeks ago, delivery is end of June as factory build and they don't even start building until June!

[Dannyrado]

Been researching this for a while, glad the OP is impressed! He should be, the rest of the field have had to resort to a 105ish BHP 1.6l diesel, BMW got 109g/km out of a 163BHP 2.0l!!!
I'm looking for something that is 100% write down in the first year. (Like a van) But it needs a bigger boot to carry all my tools...
Come on BMW, work your magic on the E91, i'll be camped out at the dealer!
Looks like a bluemotion golf estate so far..

[Bungle009]

Originally Posted by bencookman

... update ...

After 450 miles, the average mpg according to the OBC has continued to rise, and is now showing 65.7mpg.

Can't fail to be impressed at this.

Have you checked that against the actual doing a brim test ? My 330d Auto always shows around 47.0 mpg, but actually returns 44 when you check it. I suspect your OBC may be optomistic like mine is.

65.7 would mean around 800 miles to a tank. Hope its right, but have a feleing you will be dissapointed when you actually check.