BMW 320D

May 2000

Had anyone said to me that the next car with real character to hit the market would be a diesel model, I guess I would have responded with a “ya sure!”  Although we are convinced that the new generation diesel cars make good sense, real excitement is not what you should expect from an oil burner. 

Well, having made a hearty meal of my words, I’m wracking my brains for an excuse to have another go at a BMW 320d.

Styling

We all agree that the current 3 series styling is far more harmonious than that of the previous models. The positioning of the side beadings and clever use of creases and bulges helps to effectively break the slab sidedness of the previous E36 shape. The absence of visible flaps and covers from the lower valances cleaned up a previously industrial look. The relationship between the cab and bonnet/boot follow-through creates a balance that is very comfortable on the eye.

Accommodation and Space

Interior space has increased substantially over the E36 models and particularly pleasing is the improvement in rear passenger legroom.  Four well-built adults could easily enjoy a long trip in perfect comfort and the centre of the rear seat squab is sufficiently flat to accommodate a child comfortably. Plenty of space is available for in-car paraphernalia, but boot space is a little conservative. Clever use is made of otherwise wasted space by way of compartments and enclosures for all the usual boot “stuff”. A nice touch is the enclosure for the (non-standard) CD shuttle. The  boot is tall and deep but narrow,  forcing holiday packing for the family to remain sensibly frugal.

Ride Integrity and Safety

   Ride is exemplary over all surfaces, although the tall non-standard 16 inch 225 wheels fitted to the car may have distorted the picture slightly.  Nevertheless there is no bump through over any surface, and body roll is at a minimum in even the tightest of bends. Handling feels neutral to the limits, with ABS, ASC and CBC always on the ready to bail a driver who gets silly.  Harsh corrugations did little to unsettle the ride and transmitted very little in the way of noise or vibration to the cabin. The wheel transmitted just enough feel to communicate the road conditions to the driver. Braking is superb with all six stops having yielded virtually identical times. Pedal feel is nicely weighted towards sharp.  Even a wild crash stop on a slightly water spattered, corrugated surface produced a straight line stop with the ABS braking quietly going about it’s business. Topping the full house of safety equipment are front and side airbags for driver and passenger.

Build Integrity

Beginning with the exterior shutlines, beadings, glasswork and fittings it is clear that a great deal of attention goes into the construction of a 3 series. Although the paintwork on the test car was not quite the standard we would have expected, later inspection of a few other vehicles revealed that this was the exception and not the norm. We put it down to the fact that this was a demo vehicle, probably hurriedly prepared. Interior finishes are excellent, with high quality fabrics, plastics and carpeting. All controls have good tactile feel and are solidly constructed. Quality touches like oil-damped hinges on the glove box and subsidiary flaps and lids impressed us all. Rattles and squeaks are unlikely to intrude and the cabin will endure well for a good number of years.  Tapping around the dashboard, console and roof lining won't produce any hollow sounding thunks and doors shut with switch like precision. Good quality gas struts assist boot and bonnet opening and all hinges are solidly fitted.

Performance and economy

This is the area where the 320d really veers from its almost monotonous sense of quality and durability and shows it’s bleached hair bad-boy appeal. Take the revs up to around 1700, let go of the clutch and the shove in the back is enough to make you forget to change into second – something you need to do very quickly as the rev counter swings past the 4000 mark in the blink of an eye. Change in time and the torque will have you rushing past the traffic,  with an unreserved grin on your face, wishing for the feeling to go on forever. Each change releases another burst of that (wait for it..) 280Nm of torque making for some of the best driving fun we’ve ever experienced in a 2 litre luxury sedan. Turbo diesel vehicles require a modification of ones driving style, the combination bringing about lashings of torque within a relatively narrow rev range. In order to obtain best performance one needs to keep the rpm cooking at between a really lazy 1700 and 4000rpm. Pull-off with the rpm below 1700 will feel very sluggish, the car suddenly springing into action only once 1700 revs are showing on the tacho. The liveliness also disappears after around 4000 rpm. A half hour behind the wheel is all it takes to really get the knack of it.   Once familiar with the characteristics,  0-100 will come up in 10.2 seconds in Gauteng with speed topping out at around 208km/h. Overtaking acceleration is breathtaking with the 80-120 km/h haul taking just 9,9 seconds in fourth gear. BMW claim the 1km sprint to take 31.4 seconds.  Cruising in 5^th gear at 120km/h is achieved with a little over 2400 rpm showing. Fuel consumption is nothing short of astonishing for a mid sized family saloon. Highway cruising yielded a miserly consumption figure of 5l/100 km at 120km/h while the highest recorded was 8.8l/100km in city driving, most of it with foot flat. The DiskDrive model for annual average fuel consumption shows that Mr. Average will use a miserly 6.7litres for every 100km traveled at reef altitudes. 

Usability

The 320d is truly a versatile vehicle, combining space, comfort, performance, economy and style in one unique package. Combine frugal fuel usage, low maintenance costs (thanks to the standard 5 year 60000km Motorplan) with respectable resale values and the 166k price tag seems not at all unattractive. Service intervals should occur at around 15000km intervals, our test car was showing that the next service would be due at close to 13000km after being subjected to some brutal driving. Whether you’re looking for a mid size family saloon, an executive express or a luxury second car for the school run and shopping expeditions, the 320d seems to have it all. If the boot isn’t quite big enough for the annual family holiday, rest assured that towing a trailer will be a breeze. BMW SA places the 320d squarely in the middle between the 318i and 320i with almost exactly R10k between them. In terms of spec the 320d matches the 318i exactly while the 318i Exclusive comes in at about the same price. The dilemma is of course whether to have a 318i Exclusive with slightly better spec, or the 320d with lashings more power and much better fuel consumption. I know which I would choose, make mine the 320d in Titanium silver with black trim.