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      11-08-2013, 05:40 PM   #1
J33lus
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Dilemma ... 318d M Sport or 320d Sport

Hi guys,

Due to order my new company car this month and find myself in a dilemma.

I either have the choice of a 318d M Sport saloon or the 320d Sport Touring.

Ideally wanted a touring in M Sport guise, but due to company policy, the above two are my only choices.


However there is no limit on options, besides my pay check at the end of the month.

So it is either:


318d M Sport saloon with Msport+, visibility pack, adaptive suspension, BPD, pdc, heated seats, in AW with coral red leather

Or

320d Sport touring with visibility pack, 19" individual wheels, coral leather, mineral white paint, Panoramic roof, adaptive suspension, HK, tints, shadow line trim, pdc and BPD.


Looks are important to me, and I love the look of the M sport but I am sure the 1.8d's mpg isn't worth the sacrifice in speed and 0-60 time vs the 320d.

However the 320d sport doesn't look as good as the M sport saloon although it is more practice and quicker.

Cost wise monthly it's a difference of around £50-60.


Any ideas

What would you do?
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      11-08-2013, 05:54 PM   #2
J33lus
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Visual: (if it works)

318d M Sport Saloon

https://www.bmw.co.uk/vc/ncc/xhtml/s...CURRENT_CONFIG

Or

320d Sport Touring

https://www.bmw.co.uk/vc/ncc/xhtml/s...CURRENT_CONFIG


Decisions, decisions

Last edited by J33lus; 11-09-2013 at 02:08 AM.. Reason: Link mistake
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      11-08-2013, 06:12 PM   #3
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Seems there's a lot of variables although it's unclear why. You have 318d vs 320d, Saloon vs Touring, M Sport vs Sport. How come you are left with just two choices here?

Anyway, it seems like a "performance vs practicality vs performance" question (assuming you count the 320d as a performance engine - and I have a 320d so I mean that without any irony).

For me, the engine/performance is most important because, ultimately, it's how you feel from the driver's seat that defines the experience, not how the car looks. The 320d wins hands down there for me so I'd go for that.

However, the decision is muddled because it's not 318d vs 320d but 318d saloon vs 318d touring. I haven't driven the touring but I'm sure it loses a little to the saloon in performance terms so maybe that balances the 318d vs 320d side of the equation? Can you not have the 320d saloon as an option?

As it stands, I'd say neither car is 'better' than the other - they are simply different, so it comes down to your priorities in the "318d vs 320d, Saloon vs Touring, M Sport vs Sport" debate - assuming you really only have two choices!
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      11-08-2013, 06:18 PM   #4
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The first link went to a non-M Sport saloon there.

No matter, as you say looks are important, so surely the elephant in your room is saloon vs touring isn't it?

In your shoes, I think I'd plump for 318 M Sport. In fact in my shoes I'd do that. To me, a touring is bought for those rare occasions you need extra carrying capacity.

Performance difference yep of course, but less of a difference than the visual one.
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      11-09-2013, 02:21 AM   #5
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I would go with the 320, you indicate you wanted touring so you at least get that, with a more powerful engine, 19s and shadow line etc... will look great. If you have the readies, you can then get an aftermarket body kit from a reputable BMW stylist like AC Schnitzer, you only need to install spoiler, side skirts and front splitter, will be very original looking (and subtle like an M Sport);

http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/aerodynamics-61-c.asp

I did this on my older E46 SE, was very happy with it, their products are high quality and lasted the life of the car.
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      11-09-2013, 02:53 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d4springer View Post
I would go with the 320, you indicate you wanted touring so you at least get that, with a more powerful engine, 19s and shadow line etc... will look great. If you have the readies, you can then get an aftermarket body kit from a reputable BMW stylist like AC Schnitzer, you only need to install spoiler, side skirts and front splitter, will be very original looking (and subtle like an M Sport);

http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/aerodynamics-61-c.asp

I did this on my older E46 SE, was very happy with it, their products are high quality and lasted the life of the car.
Not sure you'd start bolting body kits to company cars but agree the AC Schnitzer stuff is good quality.

If it were me, I'd go for the M Sport. Just remove the badge on the back.
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      11-09-2013, 02:57 AM   #7
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Def go for 318d msport.
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      11-09-2013, 03:07 AM   #8
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Its s tough one and a similar situation to what I faced when getting a 1 series a few years ago. The trouble is if you get the 318 you'll always wish you had more power, get the 320 and your heart will sink every time you see an m sport. That said I have always in the past gone for the nice looking car so in your shoes I would probably take the 318.
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      11-09-2013, 05:19 AM   #9
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If it were me I'd go for the 320d. The sport trim is not bad looking. The 318d is a nice car but I'd always worry about the looks writing a cheque the engine can't cash. You spend more time in your car driving it than you do outside the car looking at it. So it would be the more powerful engine for me.
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      11-09-2013, 06:55 AM   #10
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I'd go for the 318d M Sport.

When my first 330d delivery was postponed, my dealer let me have a 318d for 2 weeks. It was a great car, feels like a 320d up until about 2,500rpm, which, lets be honest, in a Diesel, is most of the time. Sure at higher revs the difference shows, but it is still a handy performer relative to other traffic.

I'm not sure I would fork out my own salary on extras that cost twice when you factor in increased P11d. Would rather buy a smoking second weekend car which can be had cheap these days.
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      11-09-2013, 07:00 AM   #11
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I'd go with the most power within budget.

The sport line looks good. I do wonder if the MSport spec is a bit crass. Great for BMW as a margin rich add on but they're not real M cars are they.
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      11-09-2013, 12:12 PM   #12
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I'm not sure we're helping here as there's a real split on the opinions!

As a couple we've had a 118d, 320d, 116i, 318i and 335d (now) and my opinion is to go for the 318d m-sport. It'll make your heart race every time you see it and the links you provided demonstrate that; the saloon 318 is a stunning car.

You could always remap the 318 anyway

So we now have a 335d and a 116i for very different reasons, I love them both for very different reasons.

Good luck mate.
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      11-10-2013, 02:57 AM   #13
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I had a similar dilemma when ordering my car..

320d M-Sport Business Nav, SPG, Business Loudspeaker, Lumbar

Or

318d M-Sport Pro Nav, SPG, HK, Xenons, 19"wheels and Lumbar

For me I took the power, as others have said ultimately a car is about the driving experience, the gadgets are the icing on the cake but IMO don't ultimately define the experience.

7 months on and 23k miles and really happy with my choice and thoroughly enjoy driving my car.

Good luck with your choice
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      11-10-2013, 03:12 AM   #14
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I thought the OP "ideally wanted a touring....", I assume that is for needs or some other reason? If so, then there is not really a choice, IMO.

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      11-10-2013, 05:21 AM   #15
J33lus
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What it ultimately does come down to unfortunately is that with the 320d sport touring, I have to spend a lot more on extras, around £8k and where as with the Msport around £3k.

Have been looking into remapping, but haven't found anything or know of anyone who has had a 318d remapped.
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      11-10-2013, 05:56 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J33lus View Post
What it ultimately does come down to unfortunately is that with the 320d sport touring, I have to spend a lot more on extras, around £8k and where as with the Msport around £3k.

Have been looking into remapping, but haven't found anything or know of anyone who has had a 318d remapped.
Erm, my advice would be to NOT map a company car.

Have you considered opting out? Do you do a lot of miles?
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      11-10-2013, 07:48 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J33lus View Post
What it ultimately does come down to unfortunately is that with the 320d sport touring, I have to spend a lot more on extras, around £8k and where as with the Msport around £3k.

Have been looking into remapping, but haven't found anything or know of anyone who has had a 318d remapped.
Do BMW do a PPK for the 318d, I know they do for the 320d and it's fundamentally the same engine from what I understand?
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      11-10-2013, 09:40 AM   #18
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I have a 318d Sport and whilst the 320d will be faster, I'm not sure you will really notice day to day, and the 318d really does have quite decent performance. Plus you can drive it like you stole it in sport mode and it will still do 50mpg.

Of course, so will the 320d, but in the end you'll be fine wither way, so I would go for the spec you most like the look of.
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      11-10-2013, 12:17 PM   #19
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If you can live with the poorer practiciality and slightly worse performance, I would go for the M Sport on the basis that I wouldn't want to mod a company car.

The M Sport looks much better IMO, and the Steering wheel (which you'll be holding a lot...) is in a different league.

PC
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      11-10-2013, 12:34 PM   #20
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Go for the 320 mineral white touring, I haven't seen any apart from my own !
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      11-10-2013, 01:07 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Postcab View Post
If you can live with the poorer practiciality and slightly worse performance, I would go for the M Sport on the basis that I wouldn't want to mod a company car.

The M Sport looks much better IMO, and the Steering wheel (which you'll be holding a lot...) is in a different league.

PC
This is a good point the M-Sport steering wheel feels just great to hold. Even my wife when she sat in the differing cars in the showroom decided that we wanted "a white one with the chunky steering wheel". My Touring is so useful but then I have to lug a lot of gear around and its a very flexible load space.

I am the ultimate car tart as I had the M Sport for looks but got a model with non MSport suspension as I find it too hard! Given your choice I would go for the touring due to my load needs so I guess it depends on why you wanted a touring.
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      11-10-2013, 01:12 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Postcab
...and the Steering wheel (which you'll be holding a lot...) is in a different league.

PC
Is the M Sport steering wheel substantially different in size & feel to the Sport steering wheel?
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