... a D3 BiTurbo Switchtronic Touring

Post by **Charles** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 5:35 pm

This was against a couple of other cars as a little back to back test and, quite frankly, the D3 was rubbish!

Ran out of breath at 5k rpm, rolled all over the place and just got left behind in a matter of seconds.

Not sure what you guys see in them.

ade and liz flint · Post by **ade and liz flint** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 5:43 pm

Rolled?

Must be the big bit sticking out the back causing you problems

Post by **Charles** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 5:44 pm

Possibly, but it was all over the place.

Seriously disappointed

Post by D4 » Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:10 pm

What were the other cars that you back to back tested it against?

Certainly compared to the stock BMW Diesel products using the same engine the D3's I've driven both Mono and Bi Turbo variants where anytjing but disappointing..

But say against a C63 AMG - yeah i'd probably agree it could be seen as such!

ade and liz flint · Post by **ade and liz flint** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:36 pm

D4 wrote:What were the other cars that you back to back tested it against?

Probably his Espace

Bugger...at least ours is manual...and a saloon; or we could have just bought the wrong car

Chas · Post by **Chas** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:54 pm

Charles wrote:quite frankly, the D3 was rubbish!

Flippin' 'eck Charles! That makes my grenade lobbing habit look subtle

Is there a punchline?

Post by **Charles** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:08 pm

Perhaps not quite as fair a fight as it might have been:

599 GTO

997 Series 2 Turbo

Back early from holiday so I've been out playing with my friend's fleet

ade and liz flint · Post by **ade and liz flint** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:37 pm

Charles wrote:Back early from holiday so I've been out playing with my friend's fleet

At least he has one classy motor

Araf · Post by **Araf** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:19 pm

ade and liz flint wrote:At least he has one classy motor

...but just a shame it's a soft-top.

Charles,
Just tell them about the MPG, and it will keep the oil burner brigade happy.

ade and liz flint · Post by **ade and liz flint** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:14 pm

Araf wrote:
ade and liz flint wrote:At least he has one classy motor
...but just a shame it's a soft-top.

Soft top touring.....cool

Post by **Charles** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:25 pm

ade and liz flint wrote:
Charles wrote:Back early from holiday so I've been out playing with my friend's fleet
At least he has one classy motor

The D3 belongs to his wife!

In a few weeks time there will be another diesel on his fleet though - a Range Rover Evoque

Hodge · Post by **Hodge** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:11 pm

Is this your first play in a D3BT Charles, and will there be any chance of perhaps dare I say "objective" report

just to see what you thought the 10yr leap in progress, if indeed their is a leap

Thanks

Hodge

Post by **Charles** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:31 pm

Hodge wrote:Is this your first play in a D3BT Charles, and will there be any chance of perhaps dare I say "objective" report just to see what you thought the 10yr leap in progress, if indeed their is a leap

At last - someone asking a sensible question in response to my little tease of D3 owners

Amazingly, this was my first drive in a D3 BT ST Trg - indeed my first in any form of BT - and it was actually most enjoyable. The ALPINA DNA is very clearly there and the auto box meant that I wasn't getting frustrated by gearchanges at 5k rpm - unlike my experiences in a D3 MT a few years back. This meant that I was able to enjoy the obvious performance that existed.

I was faced with a relatively new cockpit but ignoring the fact that I have never been a fan of the way BMW have laid out the E9x cabin, I liked the steering feedback, suspension feel and engine response.

However, compared to my "ancient" B3S, even though the D3 was rapid when I wanted it to be, it didn't quite match what I already have in terms of response and performance. Understandable, I guess when you are 100bhp down, even though the torque is there - as I prefer the longer smoother power delivery from the petrol engine rather than shorter chunkier bursts from the turbo diesel.

The other obvious difference is the engine/exhaust note - as I don't believe that you can really beat the induction roar from a large bore normally aspirated straight six.

In all though, the D3 was a wonderful motor car and the likes/dislikes reflect far more on my personal tastes rather any negative criticism of the D3.

Oh and I managed to destroy the fuel economy of the D3 for a brief period which made me very happy indeed

vblanche · Post by **vblanche** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:34 pm

Charles wrote: At last - someone asking a sensible question in response to my little tease of D3 owners

we all knew it was a "teaser" (can I say that?), and you will give us an objective feedback

Post by **Charles** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:38 pm

vblanche wrote:
Charles wrote: At last - someone asking a sensible question in response to my little tease of D3 owners
we all knew it was a "teaser" (can I say that?), and you will give us an objective feedback

More importantly, in terms of real world driving around leafy Oxfordshire, the D3 held it's head high in the esteemed company it was in.

But by God that GTO is something else

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... a D3 BiTurbo Switchtronic Touring

... a D3 BiTurbo Switchtronic Touring

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