[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by pjs

The D's give effortless performance, esp auto, the i's you have to rag unless 335i courtesy of the turbo's

That is why I prefer the 330i over the 335i and over diesels, turbos in comparison never reward in the same way a NA engine car, and is ultimately what makes me loose interest in them far quicker.

365bhp 335i that gets to 60mph in 4.7 seconds vs a 344bhp NA M3 that takes 4.9 seconds and looses another car length by 100mph.

The M3 every time, I was bored of the 335i after 6 months, I went back to the M3 and still hated having to sell it even after a year and it being my second one.

As I get older I am sure I will prefer the Alpina over the M, the comfortable cruiser over the manic missile, I know my old man prefered the 730d over the 750i, but then he is 65 this year!!

[pjs]

as an ex e46m3 owner i concur

[F104]

At the end of the day it is what you can afford and how you use it. My 320D is privately owned, I use it for company travel too, it's evolve tuned, and gives me great performance on 90% of where i use it on 30kmls/year, on motorways and equivalent. Up to 55mpg & some 200lbs less than a 6-cyl on the front wheels. A diesel is great when on speed, if you're daily drive is speeding from round about to round about then a petrol is the better car. But fuel cost, taxes etc have to be taken in account too.

Then I also have a 1200GS I almost only use for motorbike holidays. I've done car track days but way prefer these biking holidays. Sure a (lsd) car can slide around certain corners faster but in my view you'll never get the same kick of taking the outside on unknown country lanes, searching the apex, and accelerating out of it, turn after turn..day after day.

Today there's no way i would sell the bike and take a 335i/d instead of the 320d

[mgarvey]

Just got back from hols and catching up on posts. Going back to the OP - this is the situation I was in with the E91.

I had a sensible car with good performance, lovely handling and superb economy. On paper almost the perfect car. But...every time I pressed the start button and the 4-pot diesel rattled into life I thought to myself 'should've got a six-pot petrol'.

So, I swapped the E91 320d for an E93 325i and a year on I still love it (which is unusual for me, I tend to get bored after 6 months). Even the practicality isn't that bad, as I can get two kiddy seats in the back and a slimline buggy in the boot, providing I keep the roof up, so it can handle the occasional short trip with the kids in an emergency.

To top it off, I took gizze's advice and financed it through Lombard, so I now have a tracker interest rate (currently 3.5%) and am paying off masses of capital each month - though with current depreciation it is probably a good job.

Anyway, what swayed me was something someone said on the forums here - if you knew this was going to be the last car you would ever buy (within reason), what would you get? No contest for me - 6-pot petrol with no roof.

I did consider the 1-er drop-top, but in the end felt I preferred the 3.

[Swiller]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

... same as when I had the E90.....the 320d is so damn efficient - goes well enough and averages over 40 mpg......but..........

its just not inspiring....

Part of the problem is that I no longer have a "toy" car to play with at the weekend - unfortunately can't see that changing for a while/ever......
So, I keep thinking the only viable route is to get something more fun for everyday.....like a V8.....but then the mpg on the M3 is just ridiculous, so then I think what about a 6 cylinder diesel, but then nice as that would be, what would it do that the 320d can't other than sound a little better....so then I come full circle and start again....

Basic problem is that anything that is practical enough to be used everyday needs to have a silly engine to make it interesting, which then means silly mpg, which means its not really practical after all!!!!!!

Comments???

330i every day of the week. 41.2mpg on a 200 miler from carmarthen to chiswick yesterday. A full m4 run at 75-80 speed cam permitting. Does about 25mpg around the london streets. A completely beautiful car to drive in se or msport guise. The engine is superb in its raw form (without the turbos). Sounds much classier than the 335i imho. Loads of fun to be had when you push it.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by mgarvey

JEven the practicality isn't that bad, as I can get two kiddy seats in the back and a slimline buggy in the boot, providing I keep the roof up, so it can handle the occasional short trip with the kids in an emergency.

This is interesting for me. I take it the rear seats of the E93 are the same as the E92? Do you use ISO-FIX seats? I take it they fit no problem?

I'm planning on getting an E92 but I don't want to have to get rid if I end up having kids in the next few years...

I need to get down to a dealer with a baby seat and a buggy (borrowed off a mate) to see if I can fit it all in!!

[NFS]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

This is interesting for me. I take it the rear seats of the E93 are the same as the E92? Do you use ISO-FIX seats? I take it they fit no problem?

I'm planning on getting an E92 but I don't want to have to get rid if I end up having kids in the next few years...

I need to get down to a dealer with a baby seat and a buggy (borrowed off a mate) to see if I can fit it all in!!

Coupes are actually better when the kids are small (I had an e46 when mine where babies). I found it easier to get the 'carry on' car seats in than with a saloon.

[chrisbin]

Interesting posts chaps!

In particular reading that other 320d owners feel the same about the car being just too efficient!

Anyway, I've ordered an Evolve switch now so that should make things a bit more interesting!

6 months time I shall no doubt revisit this topic!!

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by NFS

Coupes are actually better when the kids are small (I had an e46 when mine where babies). I found it easier to get the 'carry on' car seats in than with a saloon.

And when they get older I take it the booster seats fit fine? Then moving on from that once the kids are older still they can just sit in the seats as they are!!

Good news! I can be the "cool dad with the coupe"....ok perhaps "cool" is stretching it a bit.

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

And when they get older I take it the booster seats fit fine? Then moving on from that once the kids are older still they can just sit in the seats as they are!!

Good news! I can be the "cool dad with the coupe"....ok perhaps "cool" is stretching it a bit.

As a four seater the coupe really is very practical. Plenty of space in the back and the boot.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

As a four seater the coupe really is very practical. Plenty of space in the back and the boot.

That was my thought, I'll only ever really need to carry myself and the good lady of the house for the time being. Then in a few years when we have kids we will be ok up to two (god help me if I end up with more than two kids!!! ).

[mgarvey]

I think the E93 has a slightly narrower rear seat than an E92, but it still fits two full size baby seats in easily (even more so if you have the roof down). I think both rear seats have isofix, but my baby seats are the seatbelt-fastened variety so I haven't tested this out.

The boot will take a Maclaren-style slimline buggy, but not with the roof down and the transmission tunnel means you can't really put a buggy on the floor in the rear passenger compartment - so the E93 is for emergency use only really when it comes to kids.

My wife has a Scenic which is our day-to-day babywagon.

The E92 has a proper boot so should be okay provided you travel light. I wouldn't call it a family car, but you'll get by.

[iamjim]

Have you considered a 123d with a remap or even a Alpina D3 (if size matters)?

These are fun. my 123d pushes 250bhp with more torque that you can imagine.

Edit - What Johnny said - hello mate

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by Neversaydie

Have you considered a 123d with a remap or even a Alpina D3 (if size matters)?

These are fun. my 123d pushes 250bhp with more torque that you can imagine.

Edit - What Johnny said - hello mate

Yep, considered both!

I thought the 1 series could well be the answer, but having had one for a day I was less than convinced. Yes they're more chuckable, but you notice the difference in size, and the 3 just feels (and looks imho) a lot more "grown up"...

One of the problems is that its not just the performance in raw terms...its how it does it, and how it sounds....the 320d in standard spec really 'aint too bad, but its a diesel so the sound just really doesn't thrill me...

Anyway, I've decided that for now I will go the remap route - Evolve Switch due for delivery today I hope - and turn up the stereo....!!!!

[iamjim]

Then surely the Alpina D3 (with the 123d engine) fits the bill.

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by Neversaydie

Then surely the Alpina D3 (with the 123d engine) fits the bill.

.......well hopefully the remap on mine will give me a very similar experience....for a lot less cost and hassle!!

[- Paul -]

Not quite the same as I think the 123d has 2 turbos, so the lower down rev range will have increased response?

BTW - you'll love the Evolve map

[iamjim]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

.......well hopefully the remap on mine will give me a very similar experience....for a lot less cost and hassle!!

I don't think so. I guy I know from another forum recently bought one and actually the list of performance mods is just mind bogglingly crazy. Aplina is passionate that is for sure and it extends a lot more than beyond a £400 remap.

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by Neversaydie

I don't think so. I guy I know from another forum recently bought one and actually the list of performance mods is just mind bogglingly crazy. Aplina is passionate that is for sure and it extends a lot more than beyond a £400 remap.

Yeah..Ok...I was being sweeping with that statement.....I know the D3 is a very different kettle of fish to a standard E92.....but in the engine department at least I think it should be similar...not the same as Paul rightly points out....but similar....i.e. a useful boost in performance but still with a diesel soundtrack....

In 6 months time when a change is due then I'll be looking again, but hopefully this will help ease the "boredom" in the meantime

[- Paul -]

It will help the boredom no end - totally changes the car! That said - after a few months, you get used to it again..

[iamjim]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

Yeah..Ok...I was being sweeping with that statement.....I know the D3 is a very different kettle of fish to a standard E92.....but in the engine department at least I think it should be similar...not the same as Paul rightly points out....but similar....i.e. a useful boost in performance but still with a diesel soundtrack....

In 6 months time when a change is due then I'll be looking again, but hopefully this will help ease the "boredom" in the meantime

Okay, no you're still wrong

The *23d Engine is so so so much faster that a *20d. Your back will feel a punch and then you are catapulted of to the stars. The car does not run out of puff, it revs to beyond 5k and pulls like train all the way through all gears, no flat spots at all.

Combine this with a remap and all I can say is OMFG - only the other day I got a EVO X driver going your car cant be that fast when I was dragging him down the M27... Does that put it into perspective?

http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=14707

[JLR1969]

Let me know your views when you get the evolve map installed. I am 100% impressed everytime I drive my 320D with re-map.

For pure power and superb economy its the number 1 choice (20K miles + per year)

For good economy and amazing power I would have the 330D.

If I travelled mainly locally and covered up to 10k a year then 335D with re-map every time.

I just love that push you get with a diesel.