BMW 320d Business Edition Automatic Pros/Cons

Gunog

Hi, wondering whether to purchase the above type car in England. Its an automatic and im wondering if this will cause any problems in future as ive only ever driven a manual.
Its 2008 with all the extras including leather and idrive. Any assistance with this post or other comment from fellow BMW drivers will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Gumbo

Gunog wrote: »

Hi, wondering whether to purchase the above type car in England. Its an automatic and im wondering if this will cause any problems in future as ive only ever driven a manual.
Its 2008 with all the extras including leather and idrive. Any assistance with this post or other comment from fellow BMW drivers will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

ok, these are personal opinions, but here goes :

I'd buy auto over manual anyday, my last X5, 320d and current 530d are/were all auto.

the 320d BE model IIRC, has iDrive, Sat nav and Bluetooth.
What are the other extras you talk about?

Is it MSport?
Xenon?
Privacy glass?
USB/Logic 7 interface?

have you got a link tot he car?
Also mileage and service history is important here, has the breather filter ever been changed etc?

Eric Cartman

Pros - Lovely car

Cons - why the piddly little diesel engine, idrive wrecks my head

bazz26

kceire wrote: »

ok, these are personal opinions, but here goes :

I'd buy auto over manual anyday, my last X5, 320d and current 530d are/were all auto.

the 320d BE model IIRC, has iDrive, Sat nav and Bluetooth.
What are the other extras you talk about?

Is it MSport?
Xenon?
Privacy glass?
USB/Logic 7 interface?

have you got a link tot he car?
Also mileage and service history is important here, has the breather filter ever been changed etc?

If it is the newer N47 2.0 diesel engine with ED then it doesn't need the breather filter changed to my knowledge. M47 engine would however.

bazz26

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Pros - Lovely car

Cons - why the piddly little diesel engine, idrive wrecks my head

The piddly little diesel engine has 177bhp and will go on to do 140mph.

Gunog

Ah thanks lads for the help. Ive only seen photos but it looks like in good order. Hes asking 10,500 sterling, do you think thats a good price? it has 52,000 miles on the clock.

johnos1984

Gunog wrote: »

Ive only seen photos but it looks like in good order.

All photos are LIES

RedorDead

bazz26 wrote: »

The piddly little diesel engine has 177bhp and will go on to do 140mph.

According to some posters here though everyone here should be driving V8's and V10's with at least 3000hp. 177? Pfftt!! :rolleyes:

Anan1

IMO the 320d really needs auto. An automatic will also be likely to be a bit less spartan in terms of spec than a manual.

macjohn

Gunog wrote: »

Ah thanks lads for the help. Ive only seen photos but it looks like in good order. Hes asking 10,500 sterling, do you think thats a good price? it has 52,000 miles on the clock.

Is that a typo - a 2008(mentioned in the first post) for £10,500 sterling?

challengemaster

macjohn wrote: »

Is that a typo - a 2008(mentioned in the first post) for £10,500 sterling?

Nope, I picked up a 2005 320cd for under £5000 two weeks ago. Buyers market!

macjohn

challengemaster wrote: »

Nope, I picked up a 2005 320cd for under £5000 two weeks ago. Buyers market!

wow, didnt think you could get an a 2008 320d for that money

sounds like a good price on yours at 2005 coupe would be an e46 which I know having been droping in price

Pdfile

Gunog wrote: »

Hi, wondering whether to purchase the above type car in England. Its an automatic and im wondering if this will cause any problems in future as ive only ever driven a manual.
Its 2008 with all the extras including leather and idrive. Any assistance with this post or other comment from fellow BMW drivers will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

buy m sport auto with leather and the nicer alloys... you'll thank me on the motorway home... well, if you get a chance as they are a pretty nippy car for a diesel, smooth too.

Stevie Dakota

Is it and SE or ES Business Edition? A 2008 Business Edition would have preceded the facelift which brought front and rear styling tweaks. When you come to selling buyers may want the newer car which you are just on the other side of. Not a deal breaker but something to keep in mind.

Price is almost too low, Autotrader closest is nearly £14 so I would go the extra mile to ensure there is no flood damage orserious question mark over the car.

Owen

Eric Cartman wrote: »

idrive wrecks my head

I never understand this. People want more tech in their cars, but they don't want to take the time to learn the controls. iDrive's simple once you spend 2 minutes with it.

It's like buying an iPad or a new TV, then leaving it to gather dust cause you didn't want to learn how to use it.

Jimmy Bottlehead

Can I ask why people opt for automatics? I just don't like the disconnected feeling personally... and with the BMW being a nice car to drive, doesn't it seem a bit of a waste? I'm getting the feeling I'm missing something though...

Anan1

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Can I ask why people opt for automatics? I just don't like the disconnected feeling personally... and with the BMW being a nice car to drive, doesn't it seem a bit of a waste? I'm getting the feeling I'm missing something though...

Modern diesels have a very narrow power band, which means a lot of gearchanging to get the best out of them. On top of which, unless you're talking about an out-and-out sportscar, changing gears manually is much like winding your own windows..

Tea 1000

Anan1 wrote: »

Modern diesels have a very narrow power band, which means a lot of gearchanging to get the best out of them. On top of which, unless you're talking about an out-and-out sportscar, changing gears manually is much like winding your own windows..

Add the fact that I've yet to drive a diesel manual with a really nice gear change. They're all clunky and a bit crude, even the best of them.
I think all modern diesels are better suited to an auto, especially taking off from standstill where manuals bog down unless you nail it.

Blazer

Anan1 wrote: »

Modern diesels have a very narrow power band, which means a lot of gearchanging to get the best out of them. On top of which, unless you're talking about an out-and-out sportscar, changing gears manually is much like winding your own windows..

agree completely with this...
just purchased my 520d about 2 months ago and I wouldn't have dreamt of buying an auto..much less for that type of car.
I saw some guys recommending it but dismissed it thinking "manuals are for real car drivers"
How bloody wrong was I...I'm sick of constantly changing gears and will know the next time to get an auto..:o