[Dr G13]

So today I took my 335i to my local dealer for cracked wheels possibly and wastegate rattle, they need to keep the car so they can hear it from cold in the morning, few days they said.

I said fine but only if I get a loan car so off she goes to hand me the keys to a 1 series, not having it, so finally got a brand new 320d msport coupe manual with 400 miles on the clock.

Rest assured by now its run in properly by me hard 1st gear launches all day long

Anyway very impressed with the car, amazing torque and excellent manual box, makes me wish i bought my 335i in manual.

So i'v been ragging it around most afternoon and still its giving me high 30s which is excellent considering every start was in some way or another a full bore launch

I may have been convinced that the 320d is the way forward.

A lot of fun driving it whereas in the 335i i'm constantly on the brakes as it picks up speed just too quick for our roads and other drivers on the road.

So I think what I am saying is I'm having more fun in this 320d than I do in my own car.

Am I going insane or maybe its just because it isn't mine ?

[rs939]

Just wait until you have yours back the 320 will be forgotten I am sure.

[CarAbuser]

I think it's because its a loaner.

I always have way more fun when I know the tyres and clutch aren't gonna cost me anything

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Dr G13

i'm constantly on the brakes as it picks up speed just too quick for our roads and other drivers on the road.
?

You need to use the throttle pedal properly, that car will go as fast as you tell it to.
I went from a 320d to a 135i, which for me was the right direction.

[rjs]

I had a 320d when my 335i went in to have bluetooth retrofitted

I was glad to get mine back! - didn't try to kill the 320d though

[SO8]

I went from a Z4M Roadster to a 320d auto ... as I loved exactly like you have found .... you can thrash it, get good economy, etc. I thought less was more as I could use all the performance more of the time without risk of losing my licence.

After 9 months I got bored and changed it for a 330d - which ticks all the boxes for me in that it still has economy but goes a lot better than a 320d.

I did try a 335i and would love it but not the economy and potential reliability issues I read about.

I do think that whilst a 320d is great to try you would struggle with it as your only car after a short time.

I do miss the 320d for it's ease of use and good performance .... but when you do need that bit more performance in the 335i it is there ... and you would notice not having it in a 320d ... believe me !

[LexS]

My second car is a 300bhp 200sx. Its faster than the majority of cars you'll come across on the roads and makes the E90 handling look truly awful but every time you put your foot down your doing twice the speed limit without intention and the car never feels as if it gets used. A 320d you can bomb around in all day, get twice the mpg and ultimately feel that the car has had a good thrashing without getting nicked.

What i'm trying to say is power isn't always a prerequisite for having fun

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by Dr G13

Rest assured by now its run in properly by me hard 1st gear launches all day long

So i'v been ragging it around most afternoon and still its giving me high 30s which is excellent considering every start was in some way or another a full bore launch

Wonder if your dealer reads this forum...?

Although what was wrong with the 1? A free courtesy car is a free courtesy car?

[Dr G13]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

Wonder if your dealer reads this forum...?

Although what was wrong with the 1? A free courtesy car is a free courtesy car?

I'm sure they don't read this forum, nobody at my local dealer has any information on hpfp problems on a 335i or at least thats what they claim.

Nothing wrong with the 1 series, quite nice actually in isolation, it's just the fact that there was this nice new 320d msport right beside it that looked like it wasn't spoken for

[Fox530]

I bet you'd be first to complain if they ragged your 335i yet you think it's ok to do hard first gear launches in a brand new car they've been good enough to loan you?

[pjs]

Everyone rags courtesy cars, as they do hire cars. In the name of research of course

[rich1068]

I don't. Someone has loaned it to me or I've rented it. I look after it just like my own.

[Kerr]

I had a 320d when my car was in. Never felt the need to rag it about.

It was also nearly new and I behaved myself with it knowing it was not mine.

Someone will have to buy that one day.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by pjs

Everyone rags courtesy cars, as they do hire cars. In the name of research of course

I don't. And expect them to show my car the same respect.

[Dr G13]

Originally Posted by Fox530

I bet you'd be first to complain if they ragged your 335i yet you think it's ok to do hard first gear launches in a brand new car they've been good enough to loan you?

Thats the problem right there, I know they will rag my car and there is nothing I can do about it. So I am only returning the gesture.

Plus on a side note the car they gave me was from bmw rentals as my car is off the road due to wheels cracked so they have to provide me with a car. So none of this they have been good enough to lend me the car, i payed over the odds to buy from a bmw dealer for this service.

Not my fault the shitty wheels keep cracking and they have a stupid long winded proccess to deal with it.

[Kerr]

I don't have one of those fancy GPS recording things that caught another dealer out in another thread.

I do however reset my trip computers and note the mileage etc.

On any occasion my car has been test driven it's only managed a handful of miles with a low average speed and good fuel economy. This gives me the impression nothing too bad has happened.

I'd guess they have seen hundreds of 335s and the novelty of ragging them might have worn off?

They probably will only do a few miles in your car and it sounds as if you are going out of your way to abuse the car rather than just spirited driving.

Has the dealer or BMW done something to anger you?

[Kerr]

Beating the life out the car will hardly affect BMW anyways.

Just the next person who "pays over the odds" to buy it from BMW.

[edowen]

Originally Posted by Dr G13

hand me the keys to a 1 series, not having it

why not?

[edowen]

Originally Posted by Fox530

I bet you'd be first to complain if they ragged your 335i yet you think it's ok to do hard first gear launches in a brand new car they've been good enough to loan you?

+1.

[edowen]

Originally Posted by pjs

Everyone rags courtesy cars, as they do hire cars. In the name of research of course

Speak for yourself please.

[Candy 01]

[pjs]

Originally Posted by edowen

Speak for yourself please.

My sincere apologies

Originally Posted by uke92dude

I don't. And expect them to show my car the same respect.

fair enough

Originally Posted by Kerr

I had a 320d when my car was in. Never felt the need to rag it about.

It was also nearly new and I behaved myself with it knowing it was not mine.

Someone will have to buy that one day.

very noble of you

Originally Posted by rich1068

I don't. Someone has loaned it to me or I've rented it. I look after it just like my own.

fair enough


Jesus guys, maybe its just that when faced with an underpowered but great handling loaner (318i, 320d, x120d, 120d etc) with a manual gearbox I discover the basic joy of driving again. lighten up.