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STILL LIKE THE BMW DIESEL, BUT STILL DON’T LIKE BMW OPTION COSTS
ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Like the BMW 328d xDrive Sports Wagon we had in here previously, the cost to upgrade to the 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder comes out to be $1,500. As I pointed out in my wagon notes, that’s not crazy, considering that getting leather in the cabin is a $1,450 option. It’s no secret that I like my diesels because torque is a wonderful thing and you can’t argue with the fuel economy that you get with them, but in the case of the 3-series, it means you have to live with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The regular gas 2.0-liter turbo engine in the 328i is offered with a six-speed manual, which is usually the enthusiasts’ choice.
So if you’re a 3-series shopper who can’t quite spring for a M3 and want a sedan that will serve both as your daily driver and the sometimes weekend track vehicle then the regular gas 328i or the 335i may be more appealing because of the offered manual transmission. For an entertaining and efficient daily sled, the automatic-equipped 328d is far from shabby. Maybe you idle through traffic a lot and it is nice to just get into an automatic vehicle after a crummy day in the office.
What also helps is that the ZF-built eight-speed auto happens to be great gearbox, which is employed throughout the BMW lineup and many, many brands like Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin and Chrysler. It features a quick and responsive manual shift mode and the shift themselves are seamless and quick.
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As for the diesel itself, yes, it is a little clanky-sounding on startup and at throttle tip-in, as Graham mentions below. And as revs climb it also doesn’t sound extremely refined when compared to BMW’s six-cylinder oil burners, but the thrust is wonderful. Having 280 lb-ft of torque is grin-inducing, and the EPA high fuel economy rating of 45 mpg is real impressive considering there are no electric motors and odd-feeling brake pedals here at work to help bump up fuel economy.
The chassis setup is what you expect from a BMW, being surefooted and featuring a ride quality that is a little firmer. Our test car had a set of winter tires mounted on it, which certainly helped with the cold, slushy roadways we’ve been dealing with. BMW is always good with its steering tuning offering sharp turn in response, good weight, and also a lot of feedback offered through the wheel. I didn’t throw it around much with the slick road conditions during my night with it, but there’s no reason to think that it wouldn’t track right through bends in a composed manner with the adaptive M suspension system firmed up.
This 328d definitely has all the makings for a really good daily driver, though. Good thrust to shoot you away from dead stops and out of corners, communicative steering, strong brakes (I think the squeaking brakes that Jake mentions later have to do with the cold temps more than anything), a usable backseat and fairly spacious trunk.
The interior is a downer compared to the beautiful surroundings that Mercedes-Benz has installed in the new C-class. The Benz is stylish, comfortable, and very well built, while the BMW looks dated and a bit boring in comparison. The inside of the 3-series is still serviceable, offering a comfortable seating position behind the wheel, intuitive controls, and materials that won’t impress or disappoint.
I remain a 3-series fan for its best-in-class driving dynamics, and the available diesel is a really nice offering. For a daily driver, though, I’m not sure if my love of this diesel is enough to win me over from a new C-class.
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ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: After floating around in the BMW 7-series diesel I had high hopes for this 2015 BMW 328d sedan. Minimally, I’d hoped for an experience comparable to the 328i. But it wasn’t to be, and the overall experience was kind of a letdown.
Since I’ve just started coming around to the inline-four/eight-speed combo in the 328i, I’d have to lay the blame on the diesel powerplant. Though the motor provides a good, torquey punch, it’s just not a particularly refined from NVH perspective. Not only does it thunk and rattle a bit on ignition, it rasps and wheezes when you get on the throttle. Compared to the inline-six diesel available in the 7-series and X5 -- and the diesels I practically forget are under the hoods of the various Benzes and VWs we test -- it feels like something better suited to the Chevy Cruze than a $53,000 BMW.
Of course, your final sticker price doesn’t have to be quite that high. The expensive M Sport package is a questionable value proposition unless you really go in for that hexagonal aluminum trim.
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The 328d Sedan will feature BMW’s 2.0-liter TwinPower diesel 4-cylinder engine. (The 2014 model is shown because it is visually identical to the 2015 model.)
ONLINE FEATURES EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: Well, I was hoping this Bimmer would come in at about $32K for the base price and maybe $40K with options, but more than $50K? That’s too much. You can get a badass gas-powered 335i for about $44K.
BMW interiors are starting to look a little plain, too. I’m really starting to see the whole German equals clinical thing. Also, I’m not a fan of cream interiors, at least with a gray exterior. The seats aren’t very comfortable, either. The whole package feels a little dated. I do like the dashboard setup, the analog gauges and iDrive, the company’s entertainment/navigation system. The trim pattern on the doors is pretty cool, too.
This is a BMW, so it drives better than most of the cars on the road. The thick wheel is just the right size and turn in is near perfect. It had a softer ride than I would expect, but it was welcomed in our post-winter, pothole-stained roads. Like the 428i coupe we had in here a few weeks ago, the brakes were already squeaky, and that concerns me. If I bought this thing, and drove semi aggressively, would my brakes squeak after 5,000 miles? I hope not.
You have to get used to the throttle tip-in. It’s a diesel, so it’s very thrusty, but there’s a tiny bit of lag before it gets up and goes. Plenty of power, but it is a little loud, clunky and raspy. Mileage is pegged at 45 mpg on the expressway, though, so there’s your tradeoff. This standard torque converter eight-speed transmission is fantastic.
The 328d rides low; you sort of have to fall into it gracefully, which isn’t that easy when there’s 3 inches of snow on the ground. You’ll also be blinded at night; all of the bigger cars’ headlights are directly aimed into your rearview mirrors. So that’s annoying.
Unfortunately, I like the options in the M Sport package, so it would be hard to get rid of that. I’d ditch the moonroof, driver assistance package, and leather. You might be able to leave the dealership for less than $45K.
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Options: M Sport package including 18-inch wheels 400M HP tires, adaptive M suspension, sport seats, high-gloss black trim highlight, aluminum hexagon interior trim, M steering wheel, aerodynamic kit, shadowline exterior trim, anthracite headliner ($3,400); navigation system with touchpad ($2,150); venetian beige dakota leather ($1,450); moonroof ($1,050); dynamic handling package including variable sport steering ($1,000); driver assistance package including rear view camera and park distance control ($950); cold weather package including heated steering wheel, heated front seats, heated rear seats and retractable headlight washers ($950); Harmon/Kardon surround sound ($850); glacier silver metallic paint ($550); sport automatic transmission ($500)
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