New 330d (LCI) Touring vs 335d Touring

[debanks]

Afternoon All,

I have the pleasure in picking one of the above as my new company car.

This will be my 1st Diesel (and 1st BMW) and I am looking forward to it. However after extensive resarch I am still no closer to choosing.

Basically what is the main difference between the 2?

Having previously had a Jag S-Type R I want to keep a full auto but don't want to sacrifice too much performance.

I have read all about the mods that are available for the 335d but nothing on the 330d as it is so new.

All advice welcome.

Daz

p.s. can anyone confirm that a Maxi Cosi Cabriofix plus base will fit?

[gizlaroc]

If you have a fuel card then go 335d.

Simple as that really.



Yeah it will fit, make sure you tick isofix and airbag disable though.

[Welshbeef]

Mate - the 330d has just been updated to a 245bhp lump & 50mpg combined cycle on the manual or 46mpg on the Auto.

The 335d is 286bhp and an educated guess would be that it will be upgraded power wise sometime soonish along with the 325d.


0-60mph is now under 0.2 seconds difference between the two. Top speed is identical.

Also the new 330d revs to 5500rpm and going from the press releases its petrol like right at the top of the rev range unlike normal diesels where power dies. Its a big step up from the old 231bhp unit.

[debanks]

No fuel card but will get approx 14p per mile @ current fuel prices that is roughly a break even MPG of 35.

Is this realistic with a 335d?

[Welshbeef]

debanks said:

No fuel card but will get approx 14p per mile @ current fuel prices that is roughly a break even MPG of 35.

Is this realistic with a 335d?

Official combined

335d = 42.2mpg
330d = 49.6mpg

Pence per mile @£1.209 & official combined
335d = 13pence per mile
330d = 11pence per mile

So lets take this further what would the cost of diesel/ltr have to be for your fuel card 14pence per miles to be equal/not costing more.

335d = £1.295
330d = £1.413

So as we all know long term fuel is going up & its current base there isnt that much room with the 335d.

Or another way of looking at it what is the MPG youd have to be achieving or bettering @ £1.209:-

335d = 39.4mpg Margin of safety 2.8mpg
330d = 39.4mpg Margin of safety 10.2mpg

let me know what you think of the analysis.

[debanks]

All looks good to me, I love a nice spreadsheet.

However I never get close to any official MPG, must have a right foot made out of dark matter!

Also I would probably run it on 'performance diesel' as that is what I have always done for my petrol cars.

This will add another 6p or 7p per ltr.

At the end of the day anything has got to be better than the 18MPG that the Jag returned!

Guess it all comes down to which is the 'better' car.

With the latest improvement to the 330d and the savings in tax it might just be my preferred choice. However the 335d will always be the fastest and to me that has normally made my mind up.

Bugger, I'm no closer to choosing than when I started.

[Welshbeef]

Trust me performance Diesel does nothing, totally pointless.

If your Jag was doing 18mpg @£1.09 then cost per mile:-

Jag = 28pence.

So running your Jag on fuel alone was costing you double what you received in milage allowence!!!!

[debanks]

I know, I know but 400 BHP and 400 Lb/ft is difficult to resist.

Also looking like an old man's slipper but going like a M5 or RS6 (old versions) used to make me laugh.

Especially when the boy racers fancied having a go.

Back then I got 58p/mile but had to run the car myself.

So not much difference in overall cost taking into account that the Jag was 2nd hand and an absolute bargain to service, relatively.

[gizlaroc]

Welshbeef said:

Mate - the 330d has just been updated to a 245bhp lump & 50mpg combined cycle on the manual or 46mpg on the Auto.

The 335d is 286bhp and an educated guess would be that it will be upgraded power wise sometime soonish along with the 325d.


0-60mph is now under 0.2 seconds difference between the two. Top speed is identical.

Also the new 330d revs to 5500rpm and going from the press releases its petrol like right at the top of the rev range unlike normal diesels where power dies. Its a big step up from the old 231bhp unit.

I know that, but I would still take the twin turbo set up over the single turbo set up.
If I was paying for fuel then it is worth considering the 330d as it will be more economical.



I can't get 35mpg from the 335d, not even on a run, I am sat at around 26-34 when I drive one.
The 320d auto was at 36-45mpg.

Would expect the new 3.0 version based on the 2.0 engine to return around 30-40mpg, but mainly about 32-34mpg.

[Welshbeef]

[/quote]

I can't get 35mpg from the 335d, not even on a run, I am sat at around 26-34 when I drive one.
The 320d auto was at 36-45mpg.

Would expect the new 3.0 version based on the 2.0 engine to return around 30-40mpg, but mainly about 32-34mpg.


[/quote]

Well on a 535d thread I asked owners to do the following test find a flat M way and ensure its in 6th gear - about 1500rpm - reset the ave MPG and then drive at that steady 70mph for 2 miles.

People posted back with numbers in the low to mid 40's and the best was a pre LCI 272bhp M Sport touring which got 45mpg.
If yours doesnt match this in a much lighter car and with the efficient dynamics package then there is something wrong with your software/engine/tyre inflation level?

[SJobson]

Surely those performance and economy figures for the new 330D are for the manual version, while the 335D is auto only? I'd guess there'd be more of a gap between the 330D auto and 335D.

Not sure what the BIK difference amounts to; but I'd always want the 335D personally because otherwise, I'd feel like I'd gone for the lesser model when a 335 came past.

[bobthemonkey]

The LCI 330d gets the new engine, while the 335d, both pre and post LCI retains the old, iron block engine.

[Fox-]

Welshbeef said:

Well on a 535d thread I asked owners to do the following test find a flat M way and ensure its in 6th gear - about 1500rpm - reset the ave MPG and then drive at that steady 70mph for 2 miles.

People posted back with numbers in the low to mid 40's and the best was a pre LCI 272bhp M Sport touring which got 45mpg

Bit of a pointless test, no? It's not indicative of the sort of figures you'll get day to day as motorways have hills etc. I did the same thing in my 530i - after 2 miles it was reading 43mpg. Does that mean I'd ever see an average in the 40's? Not a chance!

[Bernie-the-bolt]

On a normal run of a few miles in my 535d I get no less on average than about 29mpg. On Tuesday I drove into town (London) via M23, A23 via Croydon in very heavy traffic. Then out to the far reaches of Essex on the A12, then around to Borehamwood and then back home around the M25 via Guildford to near Worthing. About 260 miles in total and around 30mpg average - I'm happy with that However, drive around London all day and you'll see no more than 25mpg.

I'd go for the 335d as you'll have a car with less turbo lag and it's a lovely machine.

[Olf]

Bernie-the-bolt said:

I'd go for the 335d as you'll have a car with less turbo lag and it's a lovely machine.

Have you driven the LCI 330d? If not then I think that's possibly poor advice.

[Bernie-the-bolt]

Olf said:

Bernie-the-bolt said:

I'd go for the 335d as you'll have a car with less turbo lag and it's a lovely machine.

Have you driven the LCI 330d? If not then I think that's possibly poor advice.

Olf, no I haven't driven an LCI 330d, but the TT is designed amongst other reasons to give less lag than a single turbo.

I have driven a few 3.0d turbo's previously and they can't be a million miles away from an LCI....

Not sure it's poor advice, but may not agree with your advice and each to their own

[pgilc1]

Welshbeef said:

Mate - the 330d has just been updated to a 245bhp lump & 50mpg combined cycle on the manual or 46mpg on the Auto.

The 335d is 286bhp and an educated guess would be that it will be upgraded power wise sometime soonish along with the 325d.


0-60mph is now under 0.2 seconds difference between the two. Top speed is identical.

Also the new 330d revs to 5500rpm and going from the press releases its petrol like right at the top of the rev range unlike normal diesels where power dies. Its a big step up from the old 231bhp unit.

You're comparing a manual 330d with an auto 335d.

If the o/p wants a manual, then its the 330d he'll have to go for.

I would assume an auto boxed 330d will lose 0.5s 0-60, plus it will have to drop a cog more often to do what it has to do.

The 35d engine is a better proposition because of how it delivers its power - much smoother and less kick down.

I would have the 335d all day long over the 330d, new engine or not.

[gizlaroc]

Welshbeef said:

Well on a 535d thread I asked owners to do the following test find a flat M way and ensure its in 6th gear - about 1500rpm - reset the ave MPG and then drive at that steady 70mph for 2 miles.

WTF is that going to tell you??!!


If I do that in my M3 it will show around 38mpg, if I do that in my E320 V6 petrol estate it will show 41mpg.

However, get to a roundabout, junction, set of lights and the mpg starts to plummet.

[roofer]

I would wait and see if an updated 335d engine appears based on the new block.

My 335d has 42k up and its getting tired. (not mapped) The box is not as crisp, and the bushes are feeling lazy.
I get low 20's in town, high 20's out of town. Power is used at every reasonable opportunity though.

[gizlaroc]

roofer said:

I would wait and see if an updated 335d engine appears based on the new block.

My 335d has 42k up and its getting tired. (not mapped) The box is not as crisp, and the bushes are feeling lazy.
I get low 20's in town, high 20's out of town. Power is used at every reasonable opportunity though.

Have you left the run flats on??

Loads of 535d's I have been in that have stayed with run flats have felt really tired.
Apparently quite a few have had cracked wishbones because of this.
I guess we will see this alot on the 3 series too.

Why can't BMW just admit run flats don't work??