Yeah, my bro had a manual..but I drove automatics too, because at one moment my Dad was thinking to an e46 too. And he only drives auto. So it's not the gearbox, even if I found Benz gearbox better suited to the engine. The Beemer changed gears too high, let some little feeling of the gearchange sometimes...not as impressive as Benzes' tranny.

I drove the A6 2,7tdi auto, too. Impressive, of course, but did not really convince me... Somehow it dod not felt as... impressive as 30d or 320cdi. Powerful, silent, but it did not felt as..you know, as perfect, as torquey, as easy as the two others.

My bro also had an A4 with the 2.5tdi 150cv ...What a noise! really pleasant noise. But too noisy, too slow, and of course turbo/debitmeter went broken...

The best noise ever for a diesel was the old W124 300 turbo 143hp...That sounded better than a 300E The 525tds sounded good too!
No diesel can match these old units for the noise.

Yeah, that could be it. I mean I've been in my friend's family's E46 320d touring with manual and my cousin's 535d (automatic naturally ) and the 535d was on a different level in refinement. On idle you couldn't know if you were sitting in a petrol or diesel engined car! Silky smooth but endless power delivery!

Thank you!

No it's merely how the engine reacts...the 320cdi seems smoother to me, the noise it makes, when you hear it, is more silky I find, and it's less "brutish" I find. Surely partly because of a better work of the auto, shifting sooner and even a bit smoother.

But they are two fabulous diesels. Really really stunning motors.

And you can't compare a 320d and a 535d...even both auto you still would notice a huge difference. 4 cylinders vs 6 cylinders after all! Even if the 20d is an excellent motor I find, the 35d is another world!

LOL It actually had the M-package too. Can't remember the name of the color but it was black/very dark bluish and it changed to shade of dark violet depending on the angle.

Just like my car; Carbon Black!

Thanks! Damn, almost identical cars!

Perforated black Nevada leather and Satin Chrome interior maybe?

As an American I just want to say THANK YOU. It's about damned time we get some diesels here. I don't expect domestic makers to jump on board, they'll just fall flat on their face like last time.

I have to check those from my cousin.