| Long Term Test | BMW 330d M Sport saloon |
Been anywhere interesting?
Nowhere out of the ordinary actually, but that's given us a chance to evaluate the BMW as a real everyday car rather than something that's only used for special trips. The most eventful part of the car's life over the past few weeks has been a much-needed trip to a car valet. It wasn't cheap, but we treated the 330d to the works and it has come back looking shinier and newer than it ever did. It really is a handsome looking car. We won't want to take it out in the rain now for a while!
Anything stand out...?
I'm feeling rather smug about the 330d's refusal to return anything other than fuel economy the right side of 42mpg. This figure beats the averages returned by our Mazda6 2.0-litre diesel and the Jaguar X-type 2.2-litre diesel, yet the BMW is a much faster car than either of those and it's not like I've been afraid to use its formidable performance. Admittedly, many of my longer journeys have been in the company of organic speed limiters (aka my wife and baby boy), but by the same token, the boot is usually full of baby stuff and we're running late...
I mentioned car maintenance in my last report and soon after a couple of warning lights indicated that the windscreen wash bottle was close to empty and that a brake bulb had blown. This latter warning is a massively useful one, as few drivers will ever be in a situation to check that their own brake lights are working. Replacing the blackened bulb was a job of seconds too, as the rear bulbs are accessible without using any tools - something that can't be said for a lot of new cars.
...and for the wrong reasons?
Time at the wheel of a flurry of test cars recently served to remind me just how stiff BMW's M Sport suspension is. As a keen driver I really don't mind the compromise, and most passengers unwittingly appreciate the excellent body control, but there are many more comfortable cars available. Am I getting old?
Where next?
The month of May will be spent in the lower half of England and Wales, with an extended trip to the southern tip of Cornwall in the offing. That means loads of motorway miles with some excellent scenery and twisting roads at the end of the journey. The organic speed limiters will be installed of course, but that should only add to the experience. Nothing out of the ordinary about that now, is there?
