Pre 2001 330i - Whats the point?

[alfabadass]

In the market for a new car and seen a few nice n cheap 330i tourings on 'trader but looking at the specs, I'm not sure if there is an error but the 0-60 is 9-5 seconds and its only 170bhp. I've double checked with Parkers and the figures are the same, post 2001, the 330i has a 0-60 that seems more realistic as a 318 seems faster at 9.2secs.

What are the good points of the pre 2001 330...?

[OllieWinchester]

I can't believe those figures. The age old m20 2.5 litre pig iron boat anchor type thing out of various E30's pumped out 170bhp since about 1984. The latest 3.0 litres are like 265bhp, so can't see 170bhp being realistic at all, same with 9.5 to 60. Bizarre.....

[quigonjay]

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Summary.aspx?m...

just an error i think

[mike325112]

Must be wrong, the 2000 325i is listed as having 192bhp and the 320i as 170bhp! Wikipedia lists it as 225 bhp, which sounds much more like it.

[AB]

Definitely a mistake. The earliest 330, which took over from the 328 as TOTR (M3 excluded), had 225bhp. This was then increased to 231bhp later on.

With 225bhp the 330 would still have gotten to 60 in around 6.5 seconds. Its a good engine.

[Shropshiremike]

alfabadass said:

What are the good points of the pre 2001 330...?

Pay attention to the steering feel of an earlier (pre2001) one as compared to a later 2001 car and see which you prefer

[Heathwood]

Early 330's put out 231bhp, reach 60mph in around 6.5 (Evo recorded a 5.9) and can just about nudge 155mph. Looks like the Parkers figures got confused, perhaps with the 320 Auto?!

Early cars had inferior steering and poor (as in heavily delayed) throttle response though apparently.

[alfabadass]

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like Autotrader must get their figures from Parkers then.

[quigonjay]

Heathwood said:

Early 330's put out 231bhp, reach 60mph in around 6.5 (Evo recorded a 5.9) and can just about nudge 155mph. Looks like the Parkers figures got confused, perhaps with the 320 Auto?!

Early cars had inferior steering and poor (as in heavily delayed) throttle response though apparently.

just to be pedantic, the book figure of 6.4 is probably right for the estate (slower again for the auto)
it was the saloon that they got the 5.9 out of, strangely the coupe also only managed book figure

[Fox-]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

If thats the case even BMW get it wrong because it's quoted as 231bhp in my handbook and was, until all the M54 cars got discontinued, also on the BMW website.

[bimmer_87]

OllieWinchester said:

I can't believe those figures. The age old m20 2.5 litre pig iron boat anchor type thing out of various E30's pumped out 170bhp since about 1984. The latest 3.0 litres are like 265bhp, so can't see 170bhp being realistic at all, same with 9.5 to 60. Bizarre.....

Hmmm... The good ol' M20's!