330 ci sport convertible
Discussion
okay so ive finally bought a 330 convertible, thing is its auto/triptronic, i aint so used to using the triptronic yet, but in auto/drive mode, it dont seem that fast unless i floor it, i thought these cars are suppose to shift instantly, im getting really paranoid now. its like the gear changes arent so rapid, and the transmission is all over the place, im going to get my mechanic to give it a blast and see what he thinks, but has anyone got experience on these cars, how are they supose to be? also the mpg gauge just flies to the lowest mpg range, even though im on like 2 or 3k revs
Good work, get some pics up man 
I don't know about the way a 330 drives, but I've put a few thousand miles on an E46 318 and the MPG-meter always seemed to be really low down. The digital readout on the trip was always steady at mid 30s mpg however, and that's generally what I got when brimming a tank and measuring the miles too.
Check how many MPG you are getting by brimming your tank, driving about for a few gallons, then brimming the tank again and dividing the miles you drove by however many gallons you put back into the tank. If it's not very good you could have a problem, but the dial on the dash is just to make you think about eco-driving, or something, I think!
I don't know about the way a 330 drives, but I've put a few thousand miles on an E46 318 and the MPG-meter always seemed to be really low down. The digital readout on the trip was always steady at mid 30s mpg however, and that's generally what I got when brimming a tank and measuring the miles too.
Check how many MPG you are getting by brimming your tank, driving about for a few gallons, then brimming the tank again and dividing the miles you drove by however many gallons you put back into the tank. If it's not very good you could have a problem, but the dial on the dash is just to make you think about eco-driving, or something, I think!
The engine doesn't particularly lack torque. Your problem is weight. The e46 cab is a massively heavy car. They are nice to waft about in but they are heavy on fuel especiay if you are
Driving in town and have an auto. The auto blunts performance as well though they are by no means a rocketship to begin with. Enjoy for what it is..
Driving in town and have an auto. The auto blunts performance as well though they are by no means a rocketship to begin with. Enjoy for what it is..
I've had both the manual and auto versions of these. I loved the manual, in fact it was one of the best cars I've owned. However, I hated the auto one.
It just didn't make much sense to me. I liked it on the initial test drive, but after a couple of months of ownership I found it totally boring!
The gearbox was slow to respond to tiptronic changes, and the fuel it drank was criminal in relation to the performance (it wasn't that much different from my E39 M5 around town). Also, if I left it in full auto mode, it could never make up its mind what gear to be in. The changes were smooth, but it just felt a little confused.
It was a lovely looker (manual was an SE, auto was the sport model), but I wouldn't touch another auto. In contrast the manual was pretty swift and fun to drive, whilst being remarkably frugal for the engine size. The auto was none of these.
It just didn't make much sense to me. I liked it on the initial test drive, but after a couple of months of ownership I found it totally boring!
The gearbox was slow to respond to tiptronic changes, and the fuel it drank was criminal in relation to the performance (it wasn't that much different from my E39 M5 around town). Also, if I left it in full auto mode, it could never make up its mind what gear to be in. The changes were smooth, but it just felt a little confused.
It was a lovely looker (manual was an SE, auto was the sport model), but I wouldn't touch another auto. In contrast the manual was pretty swift and fun to drive, whilst being remarkably frugal for the engine size. The auto was none of these.
Yea it really does seem a little confused driving around town, and its definately quite a heavy car, i just thought it would really wow me, and it hasnt ive come from a e46 318ti compact to a 330ci sport and it really aint impressed me, it is my first auto to be fair, so maybe i got to get used to it, but im regretting not getting a manual now, im not knocking the car because it does go, but driving around london n sticking to 30/40 mph the auto box seems all over the place, and the intial reason i went for a auto was due to stop/start driving in traffic jams grrrr lol knew i should of bought a manual clubsport
ive come from a e46 318ti compact to a 330ci sport and it really aint impressed me, it is my first auto to be fair, so maybe i got to get used to it, but im regretting not getting a manual now, im not knocking the car because it does go, but driving around london n sticking to 30/40 mph the auto box seems all over the place, and the intial reason i went for a auto was due to stop/start driving in traffic jams grrrr lol knew i should of bought a manual clubsport Chan6192 said:
Yea it really does seem a little confused driving around town, and its definately quite a heavy car, i just thought it would really wow me, and it hasnt ive come from a e46 318ti compact to a 330ci sport and it really aint impressed me, it is my first auto to be fair, so maybe i got to get used to it, but im regretting not getting a manual now, im not knocking the car because it does go, but driving around london n sticking to 30/40 mph the auto box seems all over the place, and the intial reason i went for a auto was due to stop/start driving in traffic jams grrrr lol knew i should of bought a manual clubsport
I have a 320td compact and a 330ci both in manual (330 is 6 speed). The 330ci does seem torquey when you boot it. I find it pulls quite well in all gears. Maybe its a quirk of the auto that is bogging it down a bit? Mine feels quite nippy, I managed to get some accidental sideways action a few times now booting it out of corners in 2nd ive come from a e46 318ti compact to a 330ci sport and it really aint impressed me, it is my first auto to be fair, so maybe i got to get used to it, but im regretting not getting a manual now, im not knocking the car because it does go, but driving around london n sticking to 30/40 mph the auto box seems all over the place, and the intial reason i went for a auto was due to stop/start driving in traffic jams grrrr lol knew i should of bought a manual clubsport 
Chan6192 said:
Yea it really does seem a little confused driving around town, and its definately quite a heavy car, i just thought it would really wow me, and it hasnt ive come from a e46 318ti compact to a 330ci sport and it really aint impressed me, it is my first auto to be fair, so maybe i got to get used to it, but im regretting not getting a manual now, im not knocking the car because it does go, but driving around london n sticking to 30/40 mph the auto box seems all over the place, and the intial reason i went for a auto was due to stop/start driving in traffic jams grrrr lol knew i should of bought a manual clubsport
So did you not think of test driving it before you handed over your money????? ive come from a e46 318ti compact to a 330ci sport and it really aint impressed me, it is my first auto to be fair, so maybe i got to get used to it, but im regretting not getting a manual now, im not knocking the car because it does go, but driving around london n sticking to 30/40 mph the auto box seems all over the place, and the intial reason i went for a auto was due to stop/start driving in traffic jams grrrr lol knew i should of bought a manual clubsport 
St John Smythe said:
obscene said:
This.
Agree. I had a 330ci with the Auto box and it was rubbish. Hated the car and sold it in the end because of it. Lesson learnt and all that Also wandered about all over the place but I think the tracking was f
ked up 
Yes there is a big weight problem accross the whole E46 range, it is meant as a cruiser so enjoy it for that!
If you want an A to B thrash, a manual coupe is a much better bet!
Auto won't help you either and the mpg is awful, especially in the 6 pot's. Also is it due a service? Oil and filter change etc may give it a couple more bhp!
If you want an A to B thrash, a manual coupe is a much better bet!
Auto won't help you either and the mpg is awful, especially in the 6 pot's. Also is it due a service? Oil and filter change etc may give it a couple more bhp!
rich85uk said:
convetible+auto will dampen the enjoyment compared to a manual coupe version. thats what i have and its far from sluggish with near instant pick up.
also what year is it? i believe some of the earlier models suffered throttle delay
Ah yes, a throttle delay valve or something, or was it the clutch? I'm on the mobile and can't be bothered faffing about searching for it, but I did read a fair amount about it.also what year is it? i believe some of the earlier models suffered throttle delay
Apologies if it is the clutch and not the throttle, in which case this is a pointless post
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