What is it?
The business class 320d. The version we road tested in February is all well and good for the punters, but even as we lavished it with stars, BMW had this, the EfficientDynamics model, gently warming up in the trouser press for its corporate debut.
Despite looking for all the world like a regular 320d (there is no badging to distinguish the car from its stablemate) the ED is in fact a wheeled loophole intended to help its buyers circumvent as much of the government’s company car tax rules as possible.
It does this by playing the now-familiar technical trump card; output from the 2.0-litre diesel engine is reduced to 161bhp from 181bhp, the six-speed manual gearbox’s ratios have been lengthened, internal friction has been further reduced, ancillary power consumption has been revised and, most importantly, smaller 16-inch aerodynamic alloys have been fitter under the arches.
The result is a drop in CO2 emissions from an already impressive 120g/km to a positively tree-hugging 109g/km. Not only does this drop the ED into a lowly 15 per cent tax band under the latest rules, it also ensures that businesses which purchase outright will be able to write off 100 per cent of the cost against tax in the first year.
What’s it like?
Much as you’d expect; a BMW 320d with some of the starch taken out. Fortunately, there was such an excess of starch to begin with that there really isn’t much of a penalty to pay for the ED’s fiscal finesse.
The 20bhp reduction in power means that even in its Sport mode (BMW’s selectable Drive Performance Control comes as standard) there’s a marginal decline in top-end urgency, which translates into a half-a-second deficiency in the 0-62mph sprint.
Nevertheless, that still means that the ED is capable of breaking the tape in an athletic 8.0 seconds, and with the same 280lb ft of torque available from 1750rpm as before, the car very rarely (if ever) feels like a feeble low-emission special.
Indeed, it’s a measure of the model’s class-leading chassis credentials that nudging it into Sport remains a compelling option - one arguably bolstered by the new wheels, which with a more generous profile and no run-flat rubber, offer a further layer of polish to the 3-series’ already exemplary ride quality.
The same gently heightened sense of comfort is noticeable in the car’s default Eco Pro setting, where a remapped throttle and gearshift indicator help stretch the 320d’s claimed fuel economy from 61.4mpg to a best-in-segment 68.9mpg. (To put that in perspective, the VW Passat Bluemotion manages the same return, but only from a 1.6-litre diesel engine with just 104bhp.)
Should I buy one?
Yes, definitely. With unerring accuracy, BMW constructed an ideal (as it stands at the moment among its peers, virtually perfect) machine for fleet managers and tax-shy execs. They’ve even brought it to market at the same price as the 320d SE, and added the eight-speed automatic option which its customer base apparently craved.
However, if your pride and joy is not subject to company car rules, you should pause before jumping on the bandwagon. Certainly the drop in CO2 emissions is going to benefit you too, but only to the tune of £10 a year, and our long-term experience with the standard engine has already proven it capable of 60-plus mpg without the need to deduct any of its potential energy.
If it were our money on the line, we’d pony up an extra tenner for added thrust, prettier wheels and the quiet satisfaction of experiencing one of the decade’s finest at its undiluted best. But that’s just us.
BMW 320d EfficientDynamics
Price: £28,080; 0-62mph: 8.0 seconds; Top speed: 143mph; Economy: 68.9mpg; Co2: 109g/km; Kerbweight: 1490kg; Engine type, cc: 1995cc turbo diesel, four-cylinder; Power: 161bhp; Torque: 280lb ft; Gearbox: Six-speed manual
Read the What Car? verdict: BMW 320d EfficientDynamics
Join the debate
Re: BMW 320d ED
What does seem odd though is that the only 120d to sneak below the 120mg bracket is the SE spec. on 16 inch wheels - surely in the current financial climate there are plenty of company users in the 1 Series market as well?
There is a 1 series ED now available with a BIK of 13% and 99 g/km Co2.
The 116d ED has now been fitted with the 1600cc diesel and is the only BMW badged car so far with the 1600 engine all others are still 2.0 litres.
Re: BMW 320d ED
As for the 3er ED, it is for badge snobbery of the first order. For people who must have the badge at all costs, but don't care about spirited driving in the least. No one could run one of these over a proper 320d and call themselves a car enthusiast.
I think your personal financial position colours your view of whether the ED version can be suitable for a car enthusiast. The small saving in VED tax and fuel consumption with the tax benefits for the user and employer on company cars can make all the difference for those with a restricted budget.
I don't disagree with what you are saying, Maxycat, but I think if the tax payable is that important, then there are many cars with far lower P11D values at similar or only slightly higher BIK brackets. Hence, I think people who take the ED are more concerned with the badge than other aspects of the experience, as otherwise they could pay even less tax for a perfectly decent motor.
Re: BMW 320d ED
[ I think if the tax payable is that important, then there are many cars with far lower P11D values at similar or only slightly higher BIK brackets. Hence, I think people who take the ED are more concerned with the badge than other aspects of the experience, as otherwise they could pay even less tax for a perfectly decent motor.
You seem to be suggesting that the driving enthusiast who hates paying unnecessary taxes should be considering a BlueMotion Polo or a 1.6 Passat, or an Auris hybrid, when they could have a 160 bhp 140 mph rear-dirve BMW. How absurd.
Re: BMW 320d ED
[ I think if the tax payable is that important, then there are many cars with far lower P11D values at similar or only slightly higher BIK brackets. Hence, I think people who take the ED are more concerned with the badge than other aspects of the experience, as otherwise they could pay even less tax for a perfectly decent motor.
You seem to be suggesting that the driving enthusiast who hates paying unnecessary taxes should be considering a BlueMotion Polo or a 1.6 Passat, or an Auris hybrid, when they could have a 160 bhp 140 mph rear-dirve BMW. How absurd.
Borne of ignorance, there is a large portion of humble pie being taken in the LG household. I was convinced that a quick look at decent performing, "lesser branded" cars (Golf GTD, Octavia vRS diesel etc), would demonstrate equal performance, better handling and a cheaper tax bill than the 320 ED. I was very wrong.
I guess its opened my eyes to what an achievement the most frugal of 3 series is for BMW, as on the face of it, there probably is no better bang for your comany car tax buck out there.
I do, however, stand by my experience of the last gen model that it is a substantially less satisfying drive than the SE or M-Sport equivalents. By my calculations, the 320d SE would cost an additional 28 pounds per month over the ED (for a 40% taxpayer), and I still believe a dyed-in-the-wool petrolhead would try to do whatever it took to find the extra 7 tax pounds per week to make the leap.
I do, though, happily retract my comments about badge snobbery, and will view the ED with a lot more respect than I have previously.
Re: BMW 320d ED
large portion of humble pie
graciously done...
...stand by my experience of the last gen model that it is a substantially
less satisfying drive than the SE or M-Sport equivalents. By my
calculations, the 320d SE would cost an additional 28 pounds per month
over the ED (for a 40% taxpayer), and I still believe a dyed-in-the-wool
petrolhead would try to do whatever it took to find the extra 7 tax
pounds per week to make the leap.
Quite possibly, though you don't always get the choice as a fleet user, especially given the corporate tax advantages of the ED for the employing company.
For myself, I haven't decided yet. I may shortly be in this exact position as there is a possibility that I will need to sell my own E91 320D and take a company car, so am thinking about it all at some length. Also I will want to drive them both in F30 form. With the new eight speed autobox in play, the differences in gearing and power curves between the 320D and 320ED might turn out to be less significant than you found them in the old E90 manual form. Another currently unknown variable is whether or not we will get the ED in Touring form this time.
Then there's the question of what the new 330D will be like, and how that stacks up against the 328i. More information needed...
Re: BMW 320d ED
the foibles of the E90's ride have gone. But unfortunately, so too has some of the character. jumping from the (just as quick) 328i back into my 330i m sport, mine felt much more alert, taught and alive. I would separate them like this - the new f30 with SE suspension is like a Dubai 7 star hotel. Everything is just how it should be, there are no real faults. the old E90 (or E91 in my case) is like a grand old italian palace hotel...prbably better, but with the odd 'flaw', but still what most people would prefer!
I was reading a copy of BMW Car Magazine and they said something along the same lines, yes the F30 is good but it doesn't feel particularly like a BMW, it could be made by anybody and had little character. That said, similar things have been written about new BMWs in the past.
Also interesting to hear that you got such good mpg from the 328i, I'd already thought that if it is likely from others experience that I can get within 10% of the offical MPG (44) then it could be my next car.
As to the looks, I saw about 6 new F30s on the road yesterday, and they do look much better than the E90,
Disagree with you on the looks, I prefer the E9x, but then I always seen to prefer the shape that went before when it comes to the 3-Series.
Re: BMW 320d ED
The 116d ED has now been fitted with the 1600cc diesel and is the only BMW badged car so far with the 1600 engine all others are still 2.0 litres
Yes, the 1-Series ED is the only BMW with the 1.6 diesel engine from the Mini, and vitally, it's the most efficient BMW there is - it emits just 99g/km of CO2!
Re: BMW 320d ED
Then there's the question of what the new 330D will be like, and how that stacks up against the 328i.
I too will be keen to see the outcome of that. Having spent some time investigating the ins and outs of company car tax, it really seems that BMW have got the others (read Audi and MB) completely licked. 335i M Sport is 23% BIK! I honestly believe that the new 330d will likely become the pick of the entire BMW range.
Re: BMW 320d ED
The 116d ED has now been fitted with the 1600cc diesel and is the only BMW badged car so far with the 1600 engine all others are still 2.0 litres.
Maybe there is but that wasn't really my point.
If 3 Series buyers can get as good BIK from a 2 litre model with way more power, surely potential 1 Series owners are being short-changed? Why not put this version of the 2 litre engine in the 1 Series as well?
