E90 330i Auto v Manual

[GreenArrow]

Sorry, another 330i thread....I've been looking at all manner of cars recently, especially Beemers and note there are tons of autos for sale but few manuals.

I have always preferred a manual and I know the automatic used to rob the older 328i of about 2-3 seconds acceleration from 0-100 according to period road tests....

However for the next 7 months my commute involves the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road works, which maybe familiar to any south coast resident BMW driver and frankly an auto does appeal more than before!!!

Just wondered how much slower the E90 auto 330i feels in everyday driving compared with a manual? This is relevant as there is a 330i touring SE auto for sale at a garage near me and I was wondering about going for a look. I guess this is the last generation of 3 series before the new 8 speed autos came along in the likes of the M135i which are just as fast as manuals.

Edited by GreenArrow on Tuesday 24th November 18:29

[GreenArrow]

I've got to admit I am veering more to a 330i than a 330d, because my budget will get me an 06-08 reg car, with 60-90K miles and things like DMF, DPF, Swirl Flaps, turbos etc worry me on the diesel model....doesn't bother me that it lacks torque, my current daily driver is a petrol 2 litre Mazda 6, which has no guts at all below 3500 RPM and hardly a ball of fire at top end either, so anything with a straight six will feel plenty quick enough. I also own an MX-5, which again needs working, so I am well used to hanging onto the gears.....

Its just seemingly hard to find a manual 330i these days! Even most of the e46 versions are autos. A far cry from the E36 days when it seemed more cars than not were manuals. Perhaps an indication that the 3 series softened in character over the years?

Thanks for all the feedback. Amazing how opinions vary!

[GreenArrow]

Swervin_Mervin said:

I still don't buy that the N52 is that gutless.

I think the trouble is that these days people overlook driveability. Traditionally more tractable engines have had lower peak torque levels but a better spread of pull throughout the rev range. Instead people seem to want either low down thump (meaning turbo), or headline power figures, which with n/a typically means a higher revving engine often considered to be gutless at lower revs.

N52 for me provides the right balance between torque and power, and consequently pulls from low without any drop off or flat spots. It is perhaps leaning more towards the top-endy nature of modern n/a lumps I guess, but not that strongly. It reminds me of the old XU10J4RS lump that was used in the 306 GTI6/Xsara VTS.

I agree, the straight six BMW engine is far from gutless, its hardly a top end screamer! Sure it lacks the shove of the diesel, but its quick enough for me and I don't buy that a 330i can't be sporty, whereas presumably a 330d is considered to be. I like the fact that in 3rd gear it does every increment from 30-50 to 70-90 in around 4 seconds flat, give or take a tenth or two, a nice linear power delivery.

I got all the road tests of the E90 330i back in the day and it was considered almost a perfect road car, which is what I am after, this being a family car after all! I also remember the EVO road test in 2006, of a 330i sport against an EVO 9 and Vectra VXR where it was far from disgraced or left behind on the road against two much gruntier turbo cars....

[GreenArrow]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

It's a SE but seems to fit the bill http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

There's a couple of M Sport on AT but they're more money

good spot and a late model N52 engine rather than a N53 engine with its problems...