WE RAVED over the BMW 3 Series diesel when it was first launched in Australia 18 months ago and it has just been made better with the release of an upgraded 320d with more performance combined with even better fuel economy. The third-generation 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine – as recently installed into three other BMW models the 120d, 520d and X3 2.0d – produces 10kW more power and 10Nm more torque than the previous-generation engine, pushing the 320d to 100km/h 0.6 seconds faster than before at just 8.2 seconds. More importantly, being lighter and more efficient, the combined-cycle consumption figure is down to just six litres per 100km - an improvement of 0.6L/100km or about 10 per cent. Better still, there is no increase in price. At $56,700 with a standard six-speed auto, the 320d is a relative bargain.
BMW 320d sedan
Released: July 2006
Ended: December 2007
Family Tree: 3 SeriesBIG-SIX performance combined with four-cylinder fuel economy and ‘best in segment’ dynamics were the touchstones of BMW first 3 Series diesel (the fifth BMW overall to gain diesel power in Australia, following the X5 3.0d, X3 3.0d, 530d and 120d). As in the 120d, outputs from the longitudinally-mounted 1995cc twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder common-rail direct-injection turbo-diesel engine were 115kW of power at 4000rpm and 330Nm of torque at 2000rpm, relayed to the rear wheels via a ZF six-speed Steptronic sequential-shift automatic gearbox. No manual gearbox was available.
Super Test
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