2008 BMW 3 Series 320d M Sport 2.0 turbo diesel
Summary:
A decent all round car
Faults:
The plastic intercooler return pipe came loose from the intercooler, resulting in oil covering everything under the bonnet.
General Comments:
So far, apart from the intercooler issue (fixed for a few £), the car has been faultless.
For an M Sport with run flats, it is firm but comfortable.
The handling is brilliant, very safe in the dry, and much more manageable in the wet than BMW's of old.
The 177bhp engine pulls well for a 2 litre diesel, but it's no rocket ship in the real world. 0 - 60 can be achieved in just under 8 seconds, which I've tried and apparently it will run on to 143mph.
This car's best attribute has to be its MPG figure, which even though at an average for me of 44.8 MPG, still less than the claimed 58.9 MPG average, is excellent, especially when you consider the 0-60 and top speed.
The cabin is a great place to be; black leather seats, iDrive and aluminum trim in places all make it a pleasant place to be.
Plenty of space in the boot too, even if the boot hatch is a little on the small side and the rear seats don't fold down.
Overall the car has exceeded expectations in some areas, and not been what I was expecting in others.
I would recommend one if you're looking, but there are lots on the market so take your time, choose wisely, and don't get ripped off just because it says BMW on the bonnet.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 13th January, 2013
23rd Dec 2014, 13:14
Watch out for cam chain failure caused by poor crankshaft sprocket design, which slowly eats the chain. Whole cam chain assembly is located at the bulkhead end of this infamous engine (N47 designation). Extremely expensive to rectify.