[E90F30er]

With so much praise for a BMW diesel engine why would you opt for a petrol instead? I'm thinking of getting a diesel you see. In terms of engines breaking down and servicing costs or extreme winter weather which is better? Is a petrol still always "smoother"? Mpg obviously diesel wins but diesel costs more per litre... Etc. Thank you.

[Nick the Greek]

Petrol handles better - lighter engines, so less weight over front wheels. I also enjoy the rev range of the petrol.

[Eccles Ken]

Lets not start this old chestnut properly running cos there are fine lines on the argument but....


In the extreme if you do 3000 miles a year you'd be mad to buy a diesel.

If you did 50,000 miles a year you'd be mad not to buy a diesel.

[FastLaneJB]

Depends on a couple of things on which you'd choose.

1. Doing a lot of mileage = Diesel. Better fuel economy but also the better motorway mile muncher.

2. Company car = Diesel. Works out better tax wise.

3. Low mileage = Either. If your not doing a lot of mileage the fuel costs don't factor into it much, you can go for whichever suits you.

4. Handling / Sound = Petrol.

5. Speed / Torque = Diesel (At least in 3 series).

Honestly though both are great engines. BMW makes great petrol engines as well as diesel.

[Nick the Greek]

2. Company car = Diesel. Works out better tax wise.

Don't agree the 330d and my car were little difference in bik.

5. Speed / Torque = Diesel (At least in 3 series).

330d same performance as mine, but delivered in different way.

[Apl440i or 335d?]

To be honest, being a petrol head, if I had the choice, I would always choose a performance petrol engine.

The reason why the diesel engines are being held in high regard, is because they are now more revvy and sound better, i.e, they act and sound like a petrol engine. As well as giving good economy.

The 335d (and probably 330d) engines are so good as they give brilliant performance, they sound good(ish) and have good economy. However, I would still prefer the 335i, but I could not live with the economy.

Horses for courses of course!

[christiaan328]

I went for petrol as I only do about 8k miles a year and most of my journeys (day to day) are less than 6 or 7 miles at a time.
I thought that driving profile would kill a modern diesel faster than it would kill a petrol.

It's a private car so CO2 is irrelevant in my mind, as is economy (coming from a 4.2 V8).

On top of that... I prefer the power delivery of the petrol, it's nicely balanced and it doesn't run on Satan's aftershave!

[Nick the Greek]

it doesn't run on Satan's aftershave!

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Eccles Ken

Lets not start this old chestnut properly running cos there are fine lines on the argument but....


In the extreme if you do 3000 miles a year you'd be mad to buy a diesel.

If you did 50,000 miles a year you'd be mad not to buy a diesel.

+1

I do 30k miles a year (330d), if that was halved I would be in a 335i without hesitation.

And if BMW adopt the new ZF DSG in a facelift 335i.....I'm all over regardless of mileage ......actually make that 435i

[Alkidrew]

Both great engines now. I remember when I bought my 120d that it was way better performance than the 120i but now the 320i is a touch quicker on paper than the 320d although the torque is higher on the diesel.

I never considered the 328i but perhaps I should have as I do low miles.

As above had said, they are all great engines and it swings towards diesels a bit for high miles and perhaps the residuals.

[lighthousemoon]

I have the new 2014 328d with M-Sport. For me I bought the diesel as mileage is awesome and driving a BMW because it's a BMW. of course it's not as quick as my old 330i but it's close. I just went to Maryland (from Philadelphia) and back and had more than a half tank left - and getting more than 47 mpg average! Love that!

[Nick the Greek]

IIRC the 328d in the US is the 320d in the UK.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by E90F30er

With so much praise for a BMW diesel engine why would you opt for a petrol instead? I'm thinking of getting a diesel you see. In terms of engines breaking down and servicing costs or extreme winter weather which is better? Is a petrol still always "smoother"? Mpg obviously diesel wins but diesel costs more per litre... Etc. Thank you.

If we are talking BMW, both petrol and diesel give us very impressive and useable engines. But you do raise a couple of interesting questions, particularly associated with use.

However much we may like a particular engine, it isn't always as simple as just going for it, if we are choosing on long term costs.

Diesel is the current choice of many, and as company cars and high mileage use it is clear why, particularly if we don't think past 3 - 4 years of ownership from new.

As a long term buy we do really have to consider use and real costs of long term ownership. Diesel is still a dirty fuel and even with low emissions and the appearance of a cleaned up exhaust, we are clearly seeing that many users are being caught out driving low annual mileage, particularly if short trips from cold. First, mpg isn't then as attractive as first thought, plus the ever increasing DPF, EGR and coking issues. I was going to add turbos, but as the current BMW petrol engines are also turbo, we may be more on a level playing field with associated turbo issues.

Talk to any mechanic who is sorting the issues of diesel engines full of the coke and sticky goo. The issues are increasing, engines even needing de-cokes, engines failing to have DPF regenerations, primarily because the engines are being used so inappropriately, makes you think deeply about which engine is the best choice for the average private motorist, driving local mileage. One £1,000 bill soon wipes out any savings in diesel fuel for the average use driver.

HighlandPete

[Pablo68]

Was doing circa 20,000 miles p.a - Had a diesel.

Now doing circa 8000 miles p.a - Have a petrol.

Modern (especially BMW I6) diesels are phenomenal, but personally I am a petrol head and love the sound and feel of a big petrol.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

330d same performance as mine, but delivered in different way.

330d the same performance as 328i?!

I don't know where you got that idea from! 330d is very nearly same performance as 335i!

[Tengocity]

I've been running BMW diesels for over 10 years now (E46 320d, E46 330d, E90 320d, E60 520d, E90 330d x 2) and in that time (approx. 250k miles) have had only two engine related issues. It was the Glow plug control unit both times. So overall I would say they are good and improve with every new version, in terms of performance and economy.

As mentioned, for anyone who does longer distances or higher annual mileages they are probably the better option.

We also have a Z4 with 3 litre petrol engine. I adore the straight six BMW petrol and once you adapt your driving style to the engine characteristics, it feels faster than the 330d. If you don't, then it can feel a little tardy.

The smoothness of the I6 petrol engine, and the cultured noise it makes is what sets it apart from a diesel. I can't compare it to a 3 series in terms of handling, but would agree that any petrol 3 series I've driven has handled a bit more sweetly than the diesel equivalent.

I've driven a 328 and Z4 28i, and must say that I'm not overly impressed with the 4 cyl turbo engines myself. Great on paper, but just lacked something which makes the inner child smile, or the hairs on the back of the neck stand up... only a great petrol engine does that!

Short answer is, as always, horses for courses, so understand what you want and what you need and choose accordingly. So for me, we have the diesel tourer for practical stuff and long journeys, and the petrol engined Z4 for fun.

[Nick the Greek]

330d the same performance as 328i?!

I don't know where you got that idea from! 330d is very nearly same performance as 335i!

Two places young man.
1. Check out the figures.
2. Back to back with a colleagues car.

[PrinceBarin]

Originally Posted by teaston

330d the same performance as 328i?!

I don't know where you got that idea from! 330d is very nearly same performance as 335i!

It's a fair question although the theoretical performance stats here suggest that in a straight line over a decent distance the 330d and 328i are remarkably similar: http://www.automobile-catalog.com

However, as Nick says, the delivery is very different and I expect that, during shorter 'in-gear' sprints (e.g. overtaking), the immediacy of the 330d's torque would make it the quicker of the two. Undoubtedly it feels quicker. Against that, the 328i will undoubtedly handle better due to the lighter weight engine. I doubt there's anything in it round a track - thoughts people?

[Nick the Greek]

^^^^
Yes agreed, I'd need to be on the ball with my manual to keep up in a straight line. My findings posted in a previous thread is that the 328i edges it against the 330d in handling balance and on the brakes. However, the 330d shades it for long motorway runs and of course for range.

[Pablo68]

On the motorway for miles and miles...a diesel

Round a track .... petrol.


Actually first proper motorway run this weekend and I got just over 400 miles out of a tank. Mind you I wasn't exactly driving for economy

[MWA]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

Personally I am a petrol head and love the sound and feel of a big petrol.

+1

The 335d is my second diesel after the 330d... All my previous were, top end bmw's petrol.. M3's, 335i, 330i's... The joy a petrol engine gives you and the sheer sound, you would never get out of a diesel.

My only hate of the 335d is the engine note when in low gear/speed. I hate it.. Once you floor it sounds lovely.. But unfortunately you don't get to floor it much in traffic...

The reason am in a diesel, I remember switching from the M3 (giving me 230miles per tank/5 days driving) to the 330d (350 miles per tank, 8 days driving)... Made a little sense and wanted to keep my licence longer

[F30AM]

This was my first Diesel and probably my last. I simply love the smoothness/silkiness of a petrol engine. Bugger the Diesel torque and the better fuel economy. It still sounds like a flipping tractor when idling.

I simply love Petrol smoothness.