WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001028621
<NAME> METROPOLTIAN WEST FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND - CLASS M
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> APR-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 251830940
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 247534989
<RECEIVABLES> 19138526
<ASSETS-OTHER> 17513
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 10030117
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 276721145
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 9624317
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 16303142
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 25927459
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 256931856
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 23348746
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 10941629
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1633440)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (4504730)
<NET-ASSETS> 250793686
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 13463233
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1055412
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 12407821
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1380470)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (4272937)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6754414
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 12407821
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 208878
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 18600711
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 7343817
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1150223
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 135560528
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (44092)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 895646
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1247090
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 161463028
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.53
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.78
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.44)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.78
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.01
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.08
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.65
</TABLE>
