BMW 330e ordered...
Discussion
Accelebrate said:
Yes sorry, it's this guy.All models with the BMW 3 series range appear to enjoy substantial BMW UK and BMW Financial Services funded deposit contributions on PCP arrangements, with the exception of the 330e, for which no deposit contribution from either BMW UK or BMW Financial Services is offered.
May I ask if anyone knows why this is the case and whether BMW will change their approach within Q1 2016 or for Q2 2016, please?
Thank you.
May I ask if anyone knows why this is the case and whether BMW will change their approach within Q1 2016 or for Q2 2016, please?
Thank you.
supermono said:
I don't think that's right. If the engine is delivering its maximum power there can't be any left to generate the significant quantities of electricity to power the motor. And if there was, well it'd be better off using that power to the gearbox directly and then the losses generating electric then powering the motor would be eliminated.
Its all about balancing the load. Unless you are ragging it, you will only be using a few 10s of horsepower. A 60HP car can easily do 70 on the flat, so that would leave 120 HP of charging capacity for the battery. The engine management will ensure that the battery is charged using the capacity of the engine when you are not flooring it. When you do floor it, then whatever is in the battery will be used. If the battery is flat, then all you have is 180 HP. If I think of the drivers I know who will be attracted by the BIK numbers, most won't charge - their mileages are too high to make it worthwhile. And unless you have a house with a drive, you are going to struggle to charge it - I don't see people trailing cables across pavements to do it. If you live in an urban area, that pretty much rules out charging unless there is some massive investment in charging points. Live in a flat - nope, the cord won't reach.
A friend has a Mitsubishi PHEV - always wanted a Tonka toy, the BIK numbers make it a no brainer, and he is now driving a petrol powered SUV with a real world MPG of something between 35 and 40 MPG. Fairly impressive for an SUV, but far short of the 150 MPG claim that gets him the BIK reduction and a 5K grant!
rxe said:
supermono said:
I don't think that's right. If the engine is delivering its maximum power there can't be any left to generate the significant quantities of electricity to power the motor. And if there was, well it'd be better off using that power to the gearbox directly and then the losses generating electric then powering the motor would be eliminated.
Its all about balancing the load. Unless you are ragging it, you will only be using a few 10s of horsepower. A 60HP car can easily do 70 on the flat, so that would leave 120 HP of charging capacity for the battery. The engine management will ensure that the battery is charged using the capacity of the engine when you are not flooring it. When you do floor it, then whatever is in the battery will be used. If the battery is flat, then all you have is 180 HP. If I think of the drivers I know who will be attracted by the BIK numbers, most won't charge - their mileages are too high to make it worthwhile. And unless you have a house with a drive, you are going to struggle to charge it - I don't see people trailing cables across pavements to do it. If you live in an urban area, that pretty much rules out charging unless there is some massive investment in charging points. Live in a flat - nope, the cord won't reach.
A friend has a Mitsubishi PHEV - always wanted a Tonka toy, the BIK numbers make it a no brainer, and he is now driving a petrol powered SUV with a real world MPG of something between 35 and 40 MPG. Fairly impressive for an SUV, but far short of the 150 MPG claim that gets him the BIK reduction and a 5K grant!
Glad I found this thread, as my local BMW dealers seem to have limited knowledge of these vehicles..
I have ordered a 330e MSport, and waiting for late March delivery... My question; which dealers have not yet answered clearly: does the car come with the LED Headlights? BMW configurator suggests it does, but dealers saying maybe not.. So slightly confused.. Any knowledge on this matter would be helpful.
LED Headlights look awesome btw.
I have ordered a 330e MSport, and waiting for late March delivery... My question; which dealers have not yet answered clearly: does the car come with the LED Headlights? BMW configurator suggests it does, but dealers saying maybe not.. So slightly confused.. Any knowledge on this matter would be helpful.
LED Headlights look awesome btw.
Happy_Harris1431 said:
If the engine is rotating at all then it is generating the power for the electric motor, only difference it makes when you put the foot down is that you use more petrol. You still have all the 250bhp! Same way any hybrid works, the only advantage of PHEV is that it can take strain off the petrol motor and help with economy - there is no effect on performance!
it can't, it's not possible. If the engine only generates 180bhp, you can't get 250bhp. Seriously, where do you think that extra 70bhp comes from? It can't come out of thin air and if the engine isn't capable of producing it then it has to come from somewhere else. Same with any other hybrid, when the battery is flat you have a lot less power at your disposal.
One of the first reviews I've seen now up on AE: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/3-series/94188/bm...
Ordered mine on Monday so taking a keen interest!
Ordered mine on Monday so taking a keen interest!
Yep, looks like all the press cars rolled off the production line an have arrived in the UK.
My delivery date is end of March and my company has just added 6 more charging points in the car park
Although I noted most of the spaces were being used by Diesels. Will have to practice my disapproving look in readiness.
My delivery date is end of March and my company has just added 6 more charging points in the car park
Although I noted most of the spaces were being used by Diesels. Will have to practice my disapproving look in readiness.
Super Slo Mo said:
t can't, it's not possible. If the engine only generates 180bhp, you can't get 250bhp. Seriously, where do you think that extra 70bhp comes from? It can't come out of thin air and if the engine isn't capable of producing it then it has to come from somewhere else.
Same with any other hybrid, when the battery is flat you have a lot less power at your disposal.
Where do I think the other 70bhp comes from? Errrmmmm... the batteries! Which drive the electric motor! OK, the petrol engine has 180 full stop. The batteries generate another 70, anytime the engine turns it feeds the batteries which in turn feed the electric motor hence the 250bhp, the car never let's the batteries fall below 20% so the full 250 power is always available, the engine will of course use more petrol when the bateries are low but it's still able to deliver all the power. Honestly Same with any other hybrid, when the battery is flat you have a lot less power at your disposal.
Happy_Harris1431 said:
Super Slo Mo said:
t can't, it's not possible. If the engine only generates 180bhp, you can't get 250bhp. Seriously, where do you think that extra 70bhp comes from? It can't come out of thin air and if the engine isn't capable of producing it then it has to come from somewhere else.
Same with any other hybrid, when the battery is flat you have a lot less power at your disposal.
Where do I think the other 70bhp comes from? Errrmmmm... the batteries! Which drive the electric motor! OK, the petrol engine has 180 full stop. The batteries generate another 70, anytime the engine turns it feeds the batteries which in turn feed the electric motor hence the 250bhp, the car never let's the batteries fall below 20% so the full 250 power is always available, the engine will of course use more petrol when the bateries are low but it's still able to deliver all the power. Honestly Same with any other hybrid, when the battery is flat you have a lot less power at your disposal.
On the Toyota hybrids, it's possibly to force the batteries to go flat by running the car solely on electric mode. The handbook warns against it and also mentions that power will be reduced while it's recharging.
I think BMW plans are no electrification in the current gen 1 series.
Line up from this year will be 225e (MPV thing), 330e, 530e, 540e, 740e and whatever they call the X5e
Is anyone going to get a charger installed for this? I was just going to use it on the 13A supply, but that is still going to require plenty of cabling to be fitted, whereas I think for £200 a proper charger can go in that is going to be reasonable future proof.
Line up from this year will be 225e (MPV thing), 330e, 530e, 540e, 740e and whatever they call the X5e
Is anyone going to get a charger installed for this? I was just going to use it on the 13A supply, but that is still going to require plenty of cabling to be fitted, whereas I think for £200 a proper charger can go in that is going to be reasonable future proof.
Interesting stuff.
BMW rang me today to talk me through it all and said as much about the 1-series.
One of my concerns is that working for myself my client-base may change at any time. At present, it's all very local. But i could end up with one 200 miles away as per last year. This keeps me thinking down the diesel or range-extender route.
Other reason is that, reading the Autocar article, you're likely to get 330d economy and 330i performance levels in the 330e, but a big saving in terms of BIK. So great if it's a company car. But i'd be funding this myself. I've done company cars before and they're great for fairly trouble free motoring at minimal cost (Passat 2.0 TDI costed me circa £180 a month in BIK tax and that's it) but i found it difficult transitioning back to my own car in terms of having some cash saved up to buy it and having no insurance history for a few years (other than 3 crashes - 2 none fault, 1 fault - in 2013!). So, keen for current and future cars to be my own rather than through the business. Thus, a £37k car, albeit very nice indeed, isn't really an option.
Might still put a deposit down on the Tesla Model 3 though - subject to it looking ok - in March. Looks like a 200 or so mile range - PLUS i'm hoping this 330e will have shaken the Tesla pricing team up in making their car nice and affordable!
For now, i think i'll stick with the trusty old Octavia!
Good luck to all those getting a 330e though - looks fantastic and if i had someone else paying the lease for me i'd certainly be looking a little closer!
BMW rang me today to talk me through it all and said as much about the 1-series.
One of my concerns is that working for myself my client-base may change at any time. At present, it's all very local. But i could end up with one 200 miles away as per last year. This keeps me thinking down the diesel or range-extender route.
Other reason is that, reading the Autocar article, you're likely to get 330d economy and 330i performance levels in the 330e, but a big saving in terms of BIK. So great if it's a company car. But i'd be funding this myself. I've done company cars before and they're great for fairly trouble free motoring at minimal cost (Passat 2.0 TDI costed me circa £180 a month in BIK tax and that's it) but i found it difficult transitioning back to my own car in terms of having some cash saved up to buy it and having no insurance history for a few years (other than 3 crashes - 2 none fault, 1 fault - in 2013!). So, keen for current and future cars to be my own rather than through the business. Thus, a £37k car, albeit very nice indeed, isn't really an option.
Might still put a deposit down on the Tesla Model 3 though - subject to it looking ok - in March. Looks like a 200 or so mile range - PLUS i'm hoping this 330e will have shaken the Tesla pricing team up in making their car nice and affordable!
For now, i think i'll stick with the trusty old Octavia!
Good luck to all those getting a 330e though - looks fantastic and if i had someone else paying the lease for me i'd certainly be looking a little closer!
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