[Rich9600]

Originally Posted by teaston

I think i am finding that there is a compromise in economy in the 330d compared to the F30 320d at 70-75mph, about 52mpg in 330d vs high 60's in 320d! Less difference at lower speeds but will cost you a fair bit more to run if you're constantly up and down the motorways!

That's good going! A 240 ish mile round trip on hilly northern A roads and the motorway at similar speeds returned 47 mpg for me. Just a touch of local driving at the end and partial cool down before returning home. About 900 miles on the car when I set off...

The flat southern roads must be the key...

My E90 320d LCI returned between 52-57mpg on the same run and cruse control settings.

The previous older 4 pot diesel only claimed 1mpg more on the combined figures than the newer 330d.

With great power comes not so great economy...

The 4 pot diesels really are a fantastic balance of power vs economy.

[deeno]

Originally Posted by teaston

I think i am finding that there is a compromise in economy in the 330d compared to the F30 320d at 70-75mph, about 52mpg in 330d vs high 60's in 320d! Less difference at lower speeds but will cost you a fair bit more to run if you're constantly up and down the motorways!

Funny you say this, i've been getting around 43mpg from the Xdrive 330d pootling around town which i'm delighted with, however hit the motorways and even at a steady 70mph the mpg barely increases.

Good thing i'm driving in towns 95% of the time!

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by ChesterX5

+98Ron

My local Tesco is vending Momentum 99 at 1.29 per litre. Lovely.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

My local Tesco is vending Momentum 99 at 1.29 per litre. Lovely.

Ah good fir you. I've only just started paying attention to this as diesel for many years. Momentum near us still £1.31. Not bad though.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by F30AM

Yes, I must admit, there is nothing like a powerful piston engine fuelled by the juice of the gods.

Usually I would totally agree, however,

[u2b]http://youtu.be/oiFoOgLHWZk[/u2b]

Admittedly I love the sound of a Griffin

[MRPoisson]

Originally Posted by dazzapb

I wouldn't get a Mondeo again unless I was keeping it for years as it lost 70% of value in just a few years.

I wouldn't buy a modeo even if I got a 70% discount from new

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by MRPoisson

I wouldn't buy a modeo even if I got a 70% discount from new

Make that a Ford. Two of blokes at work have new Ford company cars...a Focus and a Mondeo and the interior in them is horrendous. I could find no redeeming features for either car.

[dazzapb]

Originally Posted by MRPoisson

I wouldn't buy a modeo even if I got a 70% discount from new

Hehe yes never again on the basis that I can continue to afford my nice beemers I had 3 of them hopefully no more.

[RobUK]

Mate bought a Mondeo ST220 Estate new. That thing lost value like a tree loses leaves in autumn!

Agree with the comments about interiors - the inside of a Beemer is a much nicer place. Ford seem to still favour acres of hard silver plastic and fascias that wouldn't look out of place on a 1920's cinema frontage!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by RobUK

Mate bought a Mondeo ST220 Estate new. That thing lost value like a tree loses leaves in autumn!

Agree with the comments about interiors - the inside of a Beemer is a much nicer place. Ford seem to still favour acres of hard silver plastic and fascias that wouldn't look out of place on a 1920's cinema frontage!

Agreed, even though we have a Mondeo 2007 mk4, for some reason they are unable to get interiors right. We went with a gear as the plastic wood looked better than silver stuff.

Drives ok but it is a tank, so bloody big on par with 5GT.

The focus drives great but is let down by interiors.

The options and extras included in price are usually better than German makers

Regarding residuals, this was true for both ford and vauxhall, as they were the big fleet car sales.

The same residual issue will hit the current big fleet car sales at some point.
Great for used market, not for someone buying cash new.

All those lease, pcp etc deals will flood the market, it's a curse of being in top ten of sales. Okay not likely to loose quite as much as ford or vauxhall but they will. Common as crap = cheap as crap.

[happycow6171]

I'm only a working dairy farmer who has a passion for bmws, I only go for the top of the range, its not out of snobbery though bigger engine means a more relaxed drive, less stress, big smile, had a chat with a few mates and they're planning coming out of a 5 or 7 series, cant get xdrive on f10 535 d or 740d, so opting for fully loaded 335d!!...

[digitall.rebel]

Originally Posted by happycow6171

I'm only a working dairy farmer who has a passion for bmws, I only go for the top of the range, its not out of snobbery though bigger engine means a more relaxed drive, less stress, big smile, had a chat with a few mates and they're planning coming out of a 5 or 7 series, cant get xdrive on f10 535 d or 740d, so opting for fully loaded 335d!!...

You are right about this mate. I don't think it's snobbery because let's face it the 3.0 engines are better. If they were the same cost to buy and run / insure we would all be driving them. That's not to say the 2.0 engines are bad but the 6 cylinders are better. So it's snobbery because it's a fact.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by billy.213

You are right about this mate. I don't think it's snobbery because let's face it the 3.0 engines are better. If they were the same cost to buy and run / insure we would all be driving them. That's not to say the 2.0 engines are bad but the 6 cylinders are better. So it's snobbery because it's a fact.

Regardless of whether the bigger engines are better or not, I still don't think many who post feel that they are better or their views and opinions any more valid just because they happen to have a bigger engine.... Which was kind of how this all started!

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by billy.213

You are right about this mate. I don't think it's snobbery because let's face it the 3.0 engines are better. If they were the same cost to buy and run / insure we would all be driving them. That's not to say the 2.0 engines are bad but the 6 cylinders are better. So it's snobbery because it's a fact.

You need to define "Better" and have it in context....

Whilst my 3.0L Petrol sounds "Better" than a 4 cyclinder diesel (or petrol) and definitely puts out more power, it certainly does not have better economy, and it's also heavier.

So "better" is entirely dependent on context really. For blatting around the lanes I'd rather be in a 3.0L (or 2.0 for lightness) petrol, for doing a million miles on a motorway I'd rather be in a 2.0 diesel.

In essence all the BMW engines are very good, they are just very different at different things.

[Dag]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Usually I would totally agree, however,

[u2b]http://youtu.be/oiFoOgLHWZk[/u2b]

Admittedly I love the sound of a Griffin

Total PITA, send the dog bonkers when they fly over.

Usually get a free flying display most weekends from either Spitfire, Hurricane or Lancaster though it's been a bit quite this year, most of the time it's just been the Dakota milling around.

Griffon good, Merlin better but 320d is definitely in a different league (Northern Prem ).

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Dag

Total PITA, send the dog bonkers when they fly over.

Usually get a free flying display most weekends from either Spitfire, Hurricane or Lancaster though it's been a bit quite this year, most of the time it's just been the Dakota milling around.

Griffon good, Merlin better but 320d is definitely in a different league (Northern Prem ).

Lol my dogs a bit of a spotter (pun), he sits down and watches jets or helicopters lol.

I miss the low level Lancaster ( literally just above the house) fly pasts.

[digitall.rebel]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

You need to define "Better" and have it in context....

Whilst my 3.0L Petrol sounds "Better" than a 4 cyclinder diesel (or petrol) and definitely puts out more power, it certainly does not have better economy, and it's also heavier.

So "better" is entirely dependent on context really. For blatting around the lanes I'd rather be in a 3.0L (or 2.0 for lightness) petrol, for doing a million miles on a motorway I'd rather be in a 2.0 diesel.

In essence all the BMW engines are very good, they are just very different at different things.

Yes the economy is going to be worse in the six cylinder engines but hence why I said if running costs were not an issue they bigger engines have better noise, performance and are more fun to drive. Having said that in the real world of course the economy does matter and you have to make a compromise on something and have to decide what is more important. I have ordered a 4 cylinder diesel

[Dag]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Lol my dogs a bit of a spotter (pun), he sits down and watches jets or helicopters lol.

I miss the low level Lancaster ( literally just above the house) fly pasts.

We've a picture somewhere where you'd swear the Lancaster was going to knock the chimney pot off the house at the back of ours, I think we're on the final approach to the Dambuster's memorial in the village.