[MrPogle]

Modern diesels are fantastic. I drive one quite regularly and it's fast, quiet, smooth and economical. I like it a lot but I can't love it. I think it might be because during my formative motoring years (XR2's, RS Turbo's etc) diesels were rubbish and I just love petrol due to my age (I'm 48).

My children love diesels and I expect their children will love electric motors but I can't. So the question is, if you won your choice of E9x (excl. M3) for 3 years (with running costs paid so you could make a choice with your heart) what would you get? And how old are you?

[335tim]

M3 all day long of course, no question!

Im 34

[sohlman]

I currently run 330i petrol as it was cheaper to run over 3 years then diesel when I worked out purchase price, depreciation and fuel. Actually it worked out I would need to run car for 6 years to be out of pocket.

Anyway I digress. I would have 335i manual with genuine performance pack engine, suspension, steering wheel, seats, body kit and wheels. I am 35 years old.

[briers]

I find this hard to answer because I just buy what I feel like at the time.

I never had a diesel myself, always petrol but fancied a change and the 335d didn't drive like a typical diesel. Right now I'm going back to petrol, so it would be a 335i, maybe even a 330i as I love that n/a engine.

Sometime in the future I may buy another diesel, maybe a tri turbo or whatever takes my fancy. I may even be buying a sporty hybrid 10 years from now but I'm going to try and own a few v8 or v10 engined cars whilst its still possible. I feel n/a big engined motoring will be quite rare off the production line next decade.

29

I must also say if circumstances were different, perhaps I did very high mileage I might be forced into choosing diesel which again is a different discussion but one that doesn't apply to me as I've never done above 15k per year.m

[coopersim]

33, love my diesel, even though I don't do the mileage to justify it really. Would like the sound of a petrol!

[HighlandPete]

I've gone back to petrol.

Don't do the mileage anymore, to need a diesel for financial reasons. Plus when trying the F10 530d and 535i, I felt the petrol was the better car.

Was going for a new F31 328i, but when costed out, was well over £40k. Buying a nearly new F11 535i at a sensible price, ticked all the boxes (and toy count) and will be less cost to run than the 328i over the next 3-years.

I'm heading into retirement, so had my share of petrol and diesel over the years (with 'for and against' for both) and just love the N55 engine.

HighlandPete

[mtr123]

im 21 and drive a 320d, when i bought it i was doing journeys where it was worth it, now i'm round town i think i'd be more suited to a petrol coupe, something i fancy changing to or a z4 but i've just paid 1200 for a new turbo so i think i should get a little more use out of my current car first.

[Woody80]

32 and never liked diesels. Was looking for a manual petrol and ended up with my auto 335d! Effortless shove won me over. I do miss the sound and rev range of a petrol though. I've got a motorbike for that fix though which revs to 16.5k which helps balance my choice!

[skins83]

I really enjoy my 320d which was bought for economical reasons but my god do I miss the engine sound and the way my previous e46 m3 was. Diesel for sensible reasons being the wife commuting but I am working towards a e92 m3 for my petrol fix!

[diaz92376]

30 and actually always had my heart set on a 335i since they came out but could never afford one. When the day came were I finally could I came home with a 335d. I use my car for work so it just made more scene. Love the car but like others I miss the sound of the gas engine.

[AWBimmer]

26 - if costs were paid for, it'll be an M3 / M5 thank you, or if the 'grant' can be postponed, an M4!!! Realistically however, a 335i just so I could 'JB4 it up' and drive around enjoying the noise which even until now I've never experienced 1st hand! I love the D and have always, bar one ocassion (alfa romeo 156 2.4), had Diesels. This the 335 Dirty Derv/Dirty D of course, is by far the best I've had - it's the torque that does it for me everytime!

[gangzoom]

I'm 30, never have owned a diesel and don't intend to ever get one. Wife has a diesel civic, but she wants a petrol for her next car. Personally cannot wait for electric motors to take over from internal combustion engines, considered buying a Leaf at one point but current battery technology is just too rubbish...

I see BMW and Toyota have teamed up to develop a fuel cell car, 100% of torque available from 0rpm, cannot wait for the first fuel cell powered electric M car

[hobo mofo]

I'm 27 and have never owned a diesel. So i'd go with what im used to and say a 335i.

[verysideways]

36 years old - I've owned about 55 cars in the last 19 years, and one of them was an LPG Range Rover (which i loved) and one of them was an E46 330d Touring (which was a great car but didn't inspire me at all).

In amongst that lot were about 20 BMW's - all with 6 or 8 cylinders, all petrol (apart from the 330d mentioned above).

With the technology that's now out meaning that an 8 speed auto M135i can achieve 40mpg at 75mph (yes really!) and yet crack 60 in 4.5 seconds (BMW say 4.9 but it's already been magazine tested quicker) all whilst running 95 unleaded, i can't see myself buying a diesel any time soon...

Oh, and to answer the original question, i'd be having a 1M if that's allowed?

[av_guy]

Second new Diesel (first was new X5 35D MSport loaded). Love the car, especially the torque and very respectable 0-62 times with power on tap all the way. I do miss the warbly noise of a petrol though.

I would have a new M3 (once kids grow a little older) or better yet, the new M5. The Aston Martin DB9 in Highline guise would be my weekender.

38

[MEGA]

I'm 26.

I bought my first 320d when I was 20. The reason was simple.

What other 200bhp (after a remap, which I planned as first mod long before buying) car can a 20 year old insure?

The tuning capabilities of the diesel was what made me buy one. I'd only previously been in (that is, even been driven in. The 320d was the first BM I'd owned) petrol BMWs as I feel it was probably the E9x where for the first time the 2 litre diesel overtook sales of the equivalent petrol (even though the 330d E46 is a brilliant car).

I then went back to a high powered (relatively) petrol at 25 (I got it for my 25th birthday in fact as I could insure a group 18+ car for the first time). But that didn't last long. The 350z. Ahh the exhaust. The exhaust was just stunning. The engine was great. But 15mpg around town coming from 29 in the 320d was unbearable. I was spaffing £150 a week on fuel as it was my commuter car.

So the 335d, which is a car I'd wanted ever since reading of the epic adventures of Carlos Fandango in the starship enterprise cira 2006/7: Was the obvious choice for me. I was looking for one with all the options I required for over a year - and when it came up I simply had no choice but to buy it ..

I've driven circa 300bhp petrol and diesel cars and I love the power delivery of the big lady d. I just wish wish wish it sounded better.

The mpg is a great factor too - goes without saying. I get 23 ish around town (Average speed is only 17.. boo hiss. Stupid West London), over 40 on the motorway - and from a car that can go off the indicated 160mph without any difficulty at all (I'd imagine if the dials went up you'd get an indicated 170). What's not to like.

However, the fact that the M135i has similar economy in a petrol engine is a huge temptation now. If the M2 when it does come out test drives on a hard drive anything above about 19, I might have to go back and chase the white rabbit towards a decent exhaust note again!

[chrismanchr]

I'm 43 and petrol all the way Ive had a diesel years ago and i know theyre great now ,but not for me they dont rev and dont have the same delivery of power ,the 6cyl petrol engines bmw make are probably the best engines ever made and ive had many from e30,e46 and now e92

[xPETEZx]

Im 25 and have only owned 2 cars
Both Petrol!

I would love to have got a 330d, but was just out of price range.
The 320d was my other option, but being the 177 engines I just did not want to risk it.

Very happy in my 325i
Will see where it takes me next!

[MEGA]

I guess you meant "being the 164 engines"

The 177s are bulletproof.

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by MrPogle

My children love diesels and I expect their children will love electric motors but I can't. what would you get? And how old are you?

Very interesting that you say this...

As maybe it's an age thing...but I would never like an electric car!!!!...or hybrid thingy....even that new porsche! ....meant to be very fast etc....but it just doesn't feel right to me...

I don't mind fast diesels...would have considered a 335D....

but then, I have to say...if i had to chose...between 2 cars...with same bhp levels and same 0-60 times, 0-100 times....I would take the petrol one...just for the sound... and i'm 32!

[Ryan87]

Iv had 2 diesels now and although I like them very very much I cant say I love it.

Had an Astra VXR with the remus exhaust prior to my 325d and that sounded awesome. I loved that but as a performance car it was flawed.

The bmw is a much better drive but due to its rev range and lack of noise it just doesnt feel the same.

Any e9x would be a 330i lci m sport auto. Plenty of oomph, no dpf and no turbos to worry about.

Oh and im 25.

[Phil325i]

I'm nearly 60and been running turbodiesels for over 20 years. Now my annual mileage is much reduced I've reverted to petrol. Why? IMHO emissions legislation has ruined all that was good about the diesel engine. It's spoiled the mpg and introduced EGRs and DPFs which are nothing but trouble.

So now I enjoy my 6-cyl petrol burble through my Performance Exhaust...and still get 40+mpg on a run. Bliss!