520D SE or 320D M Sport Touring?

maddness

I am in the lucky position of having to pick one of these two for my company car. The thing is they are both standard with no extras and both are manual transmissions. I like the size of the 5 but it's a bit boring and the 3 is cooler and more practical.
The problem I have is that I am finding it very hard to get a drive in a manual 520 or a 320 M Sport.
Does anyone on here have either car? And if so what are they like?

Thanks.

Anan1

Would a 320d SE touring auto be within budget?

veetwin

The 520 (presumably 520d) is the better car in almost every respect but not having the auto option is just plain wrong. If you don't need the space then the 320 is as good as it gets in the class and you are obviously leaning that way. Should be lower BIK also.

maddness

Anan1 wrote: »

Would a 320d SE touring auto be within budget?

Yes but I would prefer the msport 320 in a manual.

maddness

veetwin wrote: »

The 520 (presumably 520d) is the better car in almost every respect but not having the auto option is just plain wrong. If you don't need the space then the 320 is as good as it gets in the class and you are obviously leaning that way. Should be lower BIK also.

I kinda agree about needing the auto in the 520D. I would love to have a drive in a manual to see what it is like though.
BIK is the same for both cars as price is very close.

650Ginge

maddness wrote: »

I am in the lucky position of having to pick one of these two for my company car. The thing is they are both standard with no extras and both are manual transmissions. I like the size of the 5 but it's a bit boring and the 3 is cooler and more practical.
The problem I have is that I am finding it very hard to get a drive in a manual 520 or a 320 M Sport.
Does anyone on here have either car? And if so what are they like?

Thanks.

How is a 3 more practical than a 5 assuming they are both touring version. Anyway no one buys a manual bmw anymore?

maddness

650Ginge wrote: »

How is a 3 more practical than a 5 assuming they are both touring version. Anyway no one buys a manual bmw anymore?

I can't get the 5 series in a touring as it is too expensive.

veetwin

maddness wrote: »

I can't get the 5 series in a touring as it is too expensive.

In that case the 3 series all the way. I assumed both were Touring. Be nice to see a 3 that's not a 316d on the road.

maddness

veetwin wrote: »

In that case the 3 series all the way. I assumed both were Touring. Be nice to see a 3 that's not a 316d on the road.

True. Not easy to find one for a drive though!

Satanta

650Ginge wrote: »

Anyway no one buys a manual bmw anymore?

Unfortunately they do!

bazz26

If the 6 speed manual box in either is similar to the E90 then it is nothing special imo. Had an E90 manual for 3 years.

Anan1

maddness wrote: »

Yes but I would prefer the msport 320 in a manual.

Have you driven both? The gearbox is a very central part of the driving experience, and that engine is peaky enough - it's a lot nicer in auto.

unkel

veetwin wrote: »

Be nice to see a 3 that's not a 316d on the road.

316d and 320d use the same small 4 cylinder 2l diesel engine

Northern Monkey

Go for the 320d in estoril blue.

Edit: JKC have a manual touring in stock. Might be worth the drive up north to try it out?

R.O.R

I really don't like the manual box in the 5 Series, and very few are sold at all, so you'll struggle to find one to test.

Manual box feels better in a 3 Series for some reason, but you'll struggle to find a 320d to test drive, as most cars on the ground are 318's at the moment.

BMW are registering a 318d Sport Saloon as a demo - should be available next Thur/Fri after I've had it out with someone. Only other 3 series they offered was a 320d xDrive SE Auto.

318d would give you a decent idea of what a 320d is like to drive.

No Superbs on the list? :pac:

maddness

Northern Monkey wrote: »

Go for the 320d in estoril blue.

Edit: JKC have a manual touring in stock. Might be worth the drive up north to try it out?

Yeah Estoril Blue it is if i go for the 3.

Where is JKC?

Northern Monkey

maddness wrote: »

Yeah Estoril Blue it is if i go for the 3.

Where is JKC?

Its in Coleraine, probably 2 1/2-3 hours of a drive from Dublin, but more than likely worth it if there is nothing down here in a manual.

http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/3-Series/2.0TD-320d-EfficientDynamics-BluePerform-Touring/Coleraine/3728442-604218578-3497068.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

YbFocus

I have one in my e60 and it's good.

The only draw back is a very short first Gear.

Its got a nice clean shift and not a massive throw either. Pretty nice all round.

maddness

R.O.R wrote: »

I really don't like the manual box in the 5 Series, and very few are sold at all, so you'll struggle to find one to test.

Manual box feels better in a 3 Series for some reason, but you'll struggle to find a 320d to test drive, as most cars on the ground are 318's at the moment.

BMW are registering a 318d Sport Saloon as a demo - should be available next Thur/Fri after I've had it out with someone. Only other 3 series they offered was a 320d xDrive SE Auto.

318d would give you a decent idea of what a 320d is like to drive.

No Superbs on the list? :pac:

That's the problem I have! I do want a 5 series but am a bit worried that the manual will ruin it. I tend to prefer a manual in most cars but not in something like that. Ever drive a manual 320?

Last two superb's were great but time for a change now.

carsfan

Can you push for an auto 520d?
I would have thought that a manual would be a false economy, as in three years it will be worth a fair bit less than the equivalent auto. Certainly more than the 2.5k that the auto costs when new.

Leonard Hofstadter

Why not get a 320d SE, and add on the automatic, as well as the adaptive suspension option? The general consensus is that neither car will drive like a BMW should unless you get the fancy suspension. It also makes the car ride better, and in both cases, the adaptive suspension is exactly the same for both SE and M Sport, so that means the only upgrades on the M Sport are cosmetic, and that's a lot of money just to make a car look better. Also, you could consider getting a 320d Sport, that still looks somewhat sharper than a standard SE.

bazz26

Are BMW still doing the free upgrade to auto on the 5er or did that finish when the LCI F10/F11 appeared?

Sobanek

bazz26 wrote: »

Are BMW still doing the free upgrade to auto on the 5er or did that finish when the LCI F10/F11 appeared?

It was for a limited time on the LCI actually. Gone now