Discussion
Welshbeef said:
So 35mpg @ worst & 42mpg @ best out of a 5 speed Auto.... very impressive the manual must be 5mpg better too.
Yes I have read the reports about the 231bhp being all the car you'd ever need (not seen one for the 204bhp though). When you look at the VAG/Skoda/Seat forums they all keep going on about "I killed a 330d the other night" clearly the driver wasnt trying or was lol at the though that a little city car was seriously trying to beat him. Anyway as there is a lot of talk about Ive got 330D beating power puts a huge amount of confidence in the 330D - as its what everybody wants really anyway.
Now where to find a good one? Im in Berkshire (Reading).
PM me - I'll give you a ride in mine.Yes I have read the reports about the 231bhp being all the car you'd ever need (not seen one for the 204bhp though). When you look at the VAG/Skoda/Seat forums they all keep going on about "I killed a 330d the other night" clearly the driver wasnt trying or was lol at the though that a little city car was seriously trying to beat him. Anyway as there is a lot of talk about Ive got 330D beating power puts a huge amount of confidence in the 330D - as its what everybody wants really anyway.
Now where to find a good one? Im in Berkshire (Reading).
Hi I just looked at Auto trader and they have a 55 Reg (new shape) 231bhp 330D SE Saloon with pro Nav @ 55,000 miles manual up for £17,899, there is also an Auto with 77,000 miles same reg & SE and thats up for £17,999.
So IMHO given that these and then there are many at £20k 231BHP 330D's then the 204BHP must be somewhere between £10k - £17k (not that big a gap really for the worst oldest examples to the lowest milage newest ones.
So IMHO given that these and then there are many at £20k 231BHP 330D's then the 204BHP must be somewhere between £10k - £17k (not that big a gap really for the worst oldest examples to the lowest milage newest ones.
Welshbeef said:
Olf - just checked out your car very nice
You say its the 330D SE Touring - to me with those alloys it looks like the Sport model! Rear tinted windows too.
Out of interest a similar spec and age car to yours would be worth?
No mines a sport.You say its the 330D SE Touring - to me with those alloys it looks like the Sport model! Rear tinted windows too.
Out of interest a similar spec and age car to yours would be worth?
I don't have tints, I have sun protection glass
Mine is a strange one because it's loaded to the gills with optional extras. I know people say optional extras are worth nothing on the used market but...
Sport, Auto, prof sat nav, TV, xenons, detachable tow bar, leather, harmon hifi, ipod integration, black roof lining (£600 to you new?!), folding wing mirrors, full electric seats, auto dim mirror, universal garage door control thingy, bluetooth with full phone integration, sunroof, service AND maintenance pack for 5 years or 60k.... etc.
So I don't really know what it's worth because there probably isn't another car in the uk like it! It cost 42k new and took me six months to find second hand. People who buy diesel car don't usually piss money away on opt extras you see.
Welshbeef said:
Hi I just looked at Auto trader and they have a 55 Reg (new shape) 231bhp 330D SE Saloon with pro Nav @ 55,000 miles manual up for £17,899, there is also an Auto with 77,000 miles same reg & SE and thats up for £17,999.
So IMHO given that these and then there are many at £20k 231BHP 330D's then the 204BHP must be somewhere between £10k - £17k (not that big a gap really for the worst oldest examples to the lowest milage newest ones.
Ah but you want a touring don't you?So IMHO given that these and then there are many at £20k 231BHP 330D's then the 204BHP must be somewhere between £10k - £17k (not that big a gap really for the worst oldest examples to the lowest milage newest ones.
Depends if it fits into my garage really!
I need to have a look in the garage and see just how big the boot in on the saloon (& try to find one with the ski package!).
I have to say again I very much like the look of your car great colour very nice spec but £600 for roof lining its a rip off new but a very nice to have.
So 330D Sport is the one to go for and ideally (for me) with Manual i think.
I need to have a look in the garage and see just how big the boot in on the saloon (& try to find one with the ski package!).
I have to say again I very much like the look of your car great colour very nice spec but £600 for roof lining its a rip off new but a very nice to have.
So 330D Sport is the one to go for and ideally (for me) with Manual i think.
Price very much depends on what you are after.
I havent come across a manual, 204hp car with under 60k miles for anything less than £16k.
The sports hold their value much better than the SE spec models it appears and touring models hold better value than saloons.
I reckon buying from auction you could get your paws on a 204hp manual for under £15k but you takes your chances as they say.
I havent come across a manual, 204hp car with under 60k miles for anything less than £16k.
The sports hold their value much better than the SE spec models it appears and touring models hold better value than saloons.
I reckon buying from auction you could get your paws on a 204hp manual for under £15k but you takes your chances as they say.
Just bought a 330d SE Touring (184) Auto for £9.5k with 65k miles and leather - bought the SE on 17's because my daily driver is a 911 and the 330d Sport on 18's felt firmer than the 911!
Just moved from Earley to Bracknell, so welcome to come for a ride sometime if you like. I've only had it about ten days but on a cross country commute to Maidenhead (ripping it) i'm getting 33mpg, on the m'way to Wales last weekend i was getting 43mpg at 80mph cruise control after about 100 miles of ups and downs.
Looking at DMS or similar... not for the power, but for the torque.
Just moved from Earley to Bracknell, so welcome to come for a ride sometime if you like. I've only had it about ten days but on a cross country commute to Maidenhead (ripping it) i'm getting 33mpg, on the m'way to Wales last weekend i was getting 43mpg at 80mph cruise control after about 100 miles of ups and downs.
Looking at DMS or similar... not for the power, but for the torque.
Hey, they're good for mega mileage - check this out!
http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/auc/car_details/0,,1260...
http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/auc/car_details/0,,1260...
I've had 4 E46 330d Sports and 1 E90 330d M Sport. All manual.
The 204bhp engine is great. The only thing it lacks over the 231bhp unit is the torque. There's almost 70ft/lbs, or about 22%, between them. A visit to DMS would remedy that one. IMHO, the E46 is arguably a prettier car and seems to be holding up well, residual wise.
My current 330d Sport is a 204bhp model in Carbon Black. It's done 78k miles and has a few of the nice extras. It's a great car and currently returning an average of 43.8mpg. It was at 44.4mpg until a late night 155 lepton dash last week!
I don't know why people rabbit on about the "harsh" ride of the Sport models. The E46 Sport ride is way better than the wallowy SE and streaks ahead of the horrendous E90 Runflat hell.
Matt
The 204bhp engine is great. The only thing it lacks over the 231bhp unit is the torque. There's almost 70ft/lbs, or about 22%, between them. A visit to DMS would remedy that one. IMHO, the E46 is arguably a prettier car and seems to be holding up well, residual wise.
My current 330d Sport is a 204bhp model in Carbon Black. It's done 78k miles and has a few of the nice extras. It's a great car and currently returning an average of 43.8mpg. It was at 44.4mpg until a late night 155 lepton dash last week!
I don't know why people rabbit on about the "harsh" ride of the Sport models. The E46 Sport ride is way better than the wallowy SE and streaks ahead of the horrendous E90 Runflat hell.
Matt
Edited by MattOz on Wednesday 3rd October 23:24
Welshbeef said:
Could someone post the combined fuel consuption (official) for the 184, 204 & 231 their 0-62mph, 0-100mph and 50-75mph (or whatever increment BMW use in their literature).
Im ghuessing that the 184bhp 330D Auto is also 5 speed??
Get yourself on whatcar.co.uk and go nuts, all the info is there Im ghuessing that the 184bhp 330D Auto is also 5 speed??
Edited to add: For the manual vs auto consumption, my fathers E39 530d which has the 184hp engine and 5sp manual, has seen a real world 45-46mpg commuting (Glasgow - Edinburgh, including traffic jams Edinburgh end and severe hole kicking back tother way at night). Trip computer verdict was always a touch optimistic.
I would expect the 330d manual over the same commute to hit the 50's.
Edited by emicen on Thursday 4th October 09:21
I've got a 184bhp manual, and am very happy with it, mpg hovers around 36 around town but can get up to 45 on a long run.
I'd have thought that if the 204bhp model has similar figures to mine, what you gain from having a six speed box and extra oomph are negated by the time you lose with all the extra gear changes, however I'm sure someone will prove me wrong on that one.
Really good cars, I'd try to get one with heated seats though, mine get bloody freezing in the winter!
I'd have thought that if the 204bhp model has similar figures to mine, what you gain from having a six speed box and extra oomph are negated by the time you lose with all the extra gear changes, however I'm sure someone will prove me wrong on that one.
Really good cars, I'd try to get one with heated seats though, mine get bloody freezing in the winter!
Ok just done the Parkers online
330D 184bhp Manual
0-60 = 7.6
Top Speed = 141
Mpg = 42
Ins group = 16
Torque = 287lbf/390Nm
330D 184bhp Auto (differences)
0-60 = 7.9
Mpg = 36
330D 204bhp Manual
0-60 = 7.0
Top Speed = 150
Mpg = 42
Ins Group = 16
Torque = 302lbf/410Nm
330D 204Bhp Auto (differences)
0-60 = 7.2
Top Speed = 146
Mpg = 36
330D 231Bhp Manual
0-60 = 6.5
Top Speed = 155
Mpg = 46
Ins Group = 17
Torque = 369lbf/500Nm
330D 231Bhp Auto (differences)
0-60 = 6.6
Mpg = 42
So on fuel economy both the 184 & 204 bhp models if you choose an Auto you will lose 15% in economy while if you choose the 231bhp then you will only lose 9% in economy.
Looking at performance 0-60 the 184 Manual is 3.8% quicker, the 204 Manual is 2.7% quicker and the 231 is 1.5% quicker
Ignoring the Auto v Manual and looking at the Manual 231 v 184 v 204 the difference 0-60 is between 6.5-7.6 seconds (hardly that big) [ I couldnt find any 50-70 increments for any of these cars if you have them please post].
Mpg 184v204v231 manual is a spread of 42-46mpg so assuming a 12k ave milage the difference between the best and worst @£0.979 is £1166 & £1277 (£111).
So perhaps its more sensible to opt for the 184bhp and chip it to 204bhp performance (is this possible?)
330D 184bhp Manual
0-60 = 7.6
Top Speed = 141
Mpg = 42
Ins group = 16
Torque = 287lbf/390Nm
330D 184bhp Auto (differences)
0-60 = 7.9
Mpg = 36
330D 204bhp Manual
0-60 = 7.0
Top Speed = 150
Mpg = 42
Ins Group = 16
Torque = 302lbf/410Nm
330D 204Bhp Auto (differences)
0-60 = 7.2
Top Speed = 146
Mpg = 36
330D 231Bhp Manual
0-60 = 6.5
Top Speed = 155
Mpg = 46
Ins Group = 17
Torque = 369lbf/500Nm
330D 231Bhp Auto (differences)
0-60 = 6.6
Mpg = 42
So on fuel economy both the 184 & 204 bhp models if you choose an Auto you will lose 15% in economy while if you choose the 231bhp then you will only lose 9% in economy.
Looking at performance 0-60 the 184 Manual is 3.8% quicker, the 204 Manual is 2.7% quicker and the 231 is 1.5% quicker
Ignoring the Auto v Manual and looking at the Manual 231 v 184 v 204 the difference 0-60 is between 6.5-7.6 seconds (hardly that big) [ I couldnt find any 50-70 increments for any of these cars if you have them please post].
Mpg 184v204v231 manual is a spread of 42-46mpg so assuming a 12k ave milage the difference between the best and worst @£0.979 is £1166 & £1277 (£111).
So perhaps its more sensible to opt for the 184bhp and chip it to 204bhp performance (is this possible?)
Entirely possible, but then its also possible to chip 204 to 231 performance and 231 to in excess of 231 performance
Have you considered a lot of BMW management cars are E90 325ds which come fully loaded and with 202hp as well? One of them chipped would be similar to the E46 204hp car chipped but in the newer shape. The 325d engine is actually a 3 litre anyways, I'm quite curious if its actually an emissions tweeked E46 204hp unit.
The 184 cars with the 5 speed manual are reputed to have gearbox troubles possible. Its not an every car occurence but some have a problem with jumping out of 5th due to worn syncros. The 6sp doesnt have this affliction afaik.
(can you guess what descision I have been mulling over for a couple of months now
)
Have you considered a lot of BMW management cars are E90 325ds which come fully loaded and with 202hp as well? One of them chipped would be similar to the E46 204hp car chipped but in the newer shape. The 325d engine is actually a 3 litre anyways, I'm quite curious if its actually an emissions tweeked E46 204hp unit.
The 184 cars with the 5 speed manual are reputed to have gearbox troubles possible. Its not an every car occurence but some have a problem with jumping out of 5th due to worn syncros. The 6sp doesnt have this affliction afaik.
(can you guess what descision I have been mulling over for a couple of months now
)Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff