[EVOgone]

Next company car decision, both cars are tourers:-

320d Msport with privacy glass and 18" wheels Leather and Sat

or

325d SE with sport suspension / seats and swheel and wheel upgrade.

or

330 SE saloon - no extras..!!

Dont hear anything about remaps for the 325 ? the 320 remaped is around the same performance as the std 325 but whats the scope of the 325d ?

Any help greatly recieved.

[Skid]

I would go for the 330 SE with no extras if I had the choice.

The m sports are firm riding but that does't bother me as that's how I like it. The standard SE's still handle exceptionally well especially with our crap road surfaces.

I will let you know what the 325d is like remapped. Most tuners (Evolve, Speed Religion Superchips etc) can get the same performance as a 330 (previous engine 331 hp and not the latest) out of the 325d as they are very similar engines. However if it's a 325 auto the tourque rating of the gearbox is supposed to be the limiting factor according to an old thread. It's a different auto box on the 330. E92Fan is a wealth of knowledge on these things.

The latesd 330d figures are amazing.

Just my 2 pence worth.

[EVOgone]

Originally Posted by Skid

I would go for the 330 SE with no extras if I had the choice.

The m sports are firm riding but that does't bother me as that's how I like it. The standard SE's still handle exceptionally well especially with our crap road surfaces.

I will let you know what the 325d is like remapped. Most tuners (Evolve, Speed Religion Superchips etc) can get the same performance as a 330 (previous engine 331 hp and not the latest) out of the 325d as they are very similar engines. However if it's a 325 auto the tourque rating of the gearbox is supposed to be the limiting factor according to an old thread. It's a different auto box on the 330. E92Fan is a wealth of knowledge on these things.

The latesd 330d figures are amazing.

Just my 2 pence worth.

All options would be manual.

[xenon]

I do love the sixes but if it's a company car I'm guessing you spend quite a bit of time in it and do quite a few miles, as well as company car tax liability. Therefore I'd go for the 320d with the toys. That'll make the cabin a nice place to be and you'll get the economy. If you want to map it up to 330 levels you can for a few hundred quid and all you'll lose is the 6 smoothness. At the end of the day a company car tourer is not a sports car so why spend it all on the engine.

Completely different opinion from Skid but then opinions are like.....

[EVOgone]

Originally Posted by xenon

I do love the sixes but if it's a company car I'm guessing you spend quite a bit of time in it and do quite a few miles, as well as company car tax liability. Therefore I'd go for the 320d with the toys. That'll make the cabin a nice place to be and you'll get the economy. If you want to map it up to 330 levels you can for a few hundred quid and all you'll lose is the 6 smoothness. At the end of the day a company car tourer is not a sports car so why spend it all on the engine.

Completely different opinion from Skid but then opinions are like.....

I do 40k a year so need to like how it drives have a 320d Msport now but really dont know if to have something different. Im syaying to the 325d put not sure on remapping performance ?

[Skid]

If you spend a long time in the car then leather and heated seats are are nice on the bum in winter.
Do you need sat nav or will a tom tom do instead?

[EVOgone]

Originally Posted by Skid

If you spend a long time in the car then leather and heated seats are are nice on the bum in winter.
Do you need sat nav or will a tom tom do instead?

To be fair im not fussed in Leather as you slide all over the place and have a Tom Tom...

[Skid]

Originally Posted by EVOgone

I do 40k a year so need to like how it drives have a 320d Msport now but really dont know if to have something different. Im syaying to the 325d put not sure on remapping performance ?

I too do 40k+ a year.

Speed Religion will take the 325d upto 275bhp and 525Nm of torque (stage 2) which is a lot more than the 320d and they claim a improvement in ecomony Most of the tuners try to keep the power and torque curves a similar profile to stock just more of it.

I you check out Hartge's website their performance figures for a mapped 325d are the same as a stock 330d. They too do a stage 2 tune but only for the manual gearbox.

Check out this thread
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=325d+remap
The subject of mapping a 325d was quite comprehensively discussed.

Economy wise I easily get the 45mpg manufactures claimed figures mostly better (its my own car and I pay for the fuel too). drive consists of mainly M ways and A roads. My previous car was mapped and it was 4mpg better off when driven the same way. So I'm hoping for an improvement as well.

[webby318dEMS]

What about the new Business Edition M Sport which has just been relesased. You will get Sat nav, leather, phone, upgraded alloys etc for a good price.

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesand...tion=showOffer

Worth a look, and then get the 320d remapped by Evolve or one of the other reputable guys out there.

[dxb335d]

Go for the 330d. All day long I rekon.. then map that. Will be a superb car.

Will you be allowed to change the wheels, to other OEM ones? etc? You could get away with a lowering kit i rekon also.

[TMP]

I guess it all depends on what balance of performance/economy/kit you want?

20d is a great engine with sky high economy and to be honest is quick enough for most situtations. With you car list, I would go for this one.

[rogerxp]

Which ever you go for DON'T drive the higher specced model as you'll always feel underwhelmed then!!! I've driven numerous 320d's whilst my 330d has been in the garage and whilst it's OK pootling around it soon runs out of puff on a by-pass/motorway.

A remapped 320d is plenty powerful enough for most poeple though with pleasing mpg/co2 for the pocket in fuel/tax. You'll get some nice toys to keep the place plush inside. I'd alway recommend an upgraded stereo but understand the LCI model MIGHT be improved as has been discussed before.

I'd personally go straight down the middle with a wisely chosen specced 325d (is that classed as sitting on the fence )

[Skid]

How about a D3 Alpina?

Good spec, nice wheels, sports seats, great suspension set up, 2.0l D biturbo engine which is quicker than a 325d and way more economical can be mapped too all for around the same price as a 325d.

[edowen]

I had the same dilemma, as a company car.

I could get into a bog 330d, 325d SE with media prof/sports seats, or a 320d M sport with prof media, logic7 and bum warmers.

I test drove them all (and have owned a 335d).

For me the 18% tax bracket for the 320d and the fact it really doesnt sound like a diesel on the move made my mind up.

Today (on a quiet private 3 lane road) I saw 145 out if it with ease, and in the 8,600 miles I have done since 1st March I am showing 50.4mpg. 60mpg on a motorway cruise is easily done.

For me, the prof HDD media system and being able to send destination to the car from the pc, suck music onto the hdd and 24x7 concierge makes it a great business tool.

Logic7 is also great, and it really hustles along amazingly well for a 4 door 2.0d. I prefer the alcantara seats to leather (resale not a concern on a co. car).

My only gripe at the moment is the bluetooth with people complaining of the sound when I call them.

My only caveat to the above is that my wide and I also have the below on the drive so I have an alternative drive if I feel like some proper B road fun (997 3.8 S)....

[edowen]

PS - you planning to get permission to map a company car?

[dxb335d]

Ed lovely 997 C2S you have there matey!

[edowen]

Thanks chap. Only issue at the moment is getting the keys off my wife. Roads dont seem long enough either!

[Jules6]

I drove all 3 in the coupe.
I found the 320D just a little too bland but certainly competent for most occasions. Also slightly gruff sounding but by no means noisy. Economy was attractive but overall it didn't seem much cheaper than the 325D because the standard spec was a little mean.
The 330D was excellent. Full stop.
However, I ended up choosing the 325D because it came standard with quite a bit more than the 320D bringing the price even closer yet it had that lovely six which really cannot be described how much nicer than a four it is. I was able to get a 13% discount (last September) which at the time was a better discount than I could get on the 330D and hence increasing the price difference.
Yes I know residuals will be less than a 330D but not by more than I saved, which made it a superb compromise.

Personally whichever one you choose will be good on its own merits, but drive all 3 first.

[zltm089]

get the most powerful one! lol

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by edowen

Thanks chap. Only issue at the moment is getting the keys off my wife. Roads dont seem long enough either!

I have a real hankering for one of these at the moment, soon as i see one i cant take my eyes off it!

Thats the 380HP one yeah?

[rogerxp]

Real nice alternative there 'edowen'. My fav car but just couldn't stretch to it... yet.

'EVOgone' - any chance of opting out of the company scheme and then you could bag yourself a cracking used 330d with all the toys (or maybe even a 335d???).

[edowen]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

I have a real hankering for one of these at the moment, soon as i see one i cant take my eyes off it!

Thats the 380HP one yeah?

355 I think. Seems "enough"!!

Ref the comments about spec - there is nothing in it as far as I can tell - you pay for the engine.

Note the OP can take a 320d or a 325d SE with some toys, or a non optioned 330d. I wouldnt be out of Nav especially if you use it for work and spend time going places you havent been before.

Ultimately you need to drive them all to decide - but as someone who owned a 335d, I dont find the new 320d lacking.