BMW 3-Series Saloon (2005 - 2011) 320d M Sport 4d (2007/07) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I don't think the car says anything about the driver. The main statement of the car is you have a sensible approach to enjoying driving. The diesel engine in these cars is a fantastic engine. No wonder there is so many of them about.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

To be honest, not many people have made a comment about it. But that also means nothing negative. The M Sport 320d is a very subtle car. A friend of mine actually who initially called it a tank stated it really is starting to grow on him.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I'm actually considering upgrading to one of the later ones as I am that impressed with it. I would like one with i-drive and all the toys as I like to have the top of the range model if I can help it.

What are you likely to buy next?

I will be a BMW/Audi man for life now. Unless I change my Audi for a high powered Mercedes like a C63. My BMW's will always be diesel though.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£7,500

When did you buy the car?

March 2015

Did you get a good deal and why?

I got a great deal all in all. When I was looking online to purchase and test drove a few models, I couldn't find one with less than 120,000 miles on for my budget. I luckily was found the one I bought for 7500 with just 72,000 miles on with full service history.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I've never really looked at BMW's as a car to own, but a friend of mines neighbours had both the M Sport Saloon and M Sport Touring. They looked great and having had the new 2014 (64) S3 and a 07 Golf GT TSI 170 I knew I had to get one.

What was the dealer like?

He was a private individual and seemed pretty honest. They were selling the car for a pretty genuine reason and all the checks I made didn't lead me to suspicion.

What's it like to drive?

Its a great car to drive, everything you feel, feels solid. Nicely weighted steering and gear changes. The traction control is excellent at keeping you out of a ditch on a wet roundabout. The power is a bit lacking for a base map. Like I said in previous sections, the car really does come to life with a stage 1 remap without destroying your MPG and reliability. Bear in mind, you have to have a good map to keep MPG, reduce smoke on heavy acceleration and keep reliability. Check out your local mappers and check reviews.

What's it like to park?

Very easy to park, but saying that I've never had issues with parking anything. My car came with active sensors which give it aid if you're ever unsure. Still, I think its a very easy car to park, given its size which unnerves a few people.

Have you had any problems with the car?

So far, touch wood, it has never once gave hint of something not working correctly. It is a very well built tough car. We was unfortunate enough to have damaged ours by driving over a rock placed on a speed bump which damaged the front bumper and punctured the sump. Even though it ran with no oil in for a good 16 miles, it is still running absolutely perfect. BMW have tested it thoroughly and it still surpasses all of their tolerance checks. Remarkable. The car is now as new. We have also increased the cars performance with a stage 1 remap and even that has not altered the cars reliability, and we still achieve 47mpg with a nice 210bhp and 424nm torque. Pulls like an absolute train.

What's most practical about your car?

A remapped 320d M sport 163 model is by car the best all round car you can get for around £7-9000. If you get one pre start stop you won't have timing chain issues. You will achieve ridiculously high mpg for such a bulky heavy car and it still has enough power to shift round traffic on the motorway. I would highly recommend a stage 1 remap though for ultimate driving pleasure from this fantastic vehicle.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

We have a lot of options on ours and being an M Sport they do come with a lot on them already. I would have to say the illuminated door handles is a very nice touch. It always gets comments. My £45,000 fully specced Audi S3 doesn't have that lovely garnish. Shocked.