Any difference between an 06 and 07 E90 330i

[Maxx-Waxx]

What the title says really, ive seen some info refer to the engine as 255 bhp and some just over 270 bhp and wondered if specs had changed.
Also what would you expect mpg for normal non motorway driving.

btw - the cars for my wife, we are also considering a 330d, again have there been any changes.

We would be looking between 06 and 57 regs

Any options that are considered crucial

Im surprised also that so few have satnav - but have heard that the bmw system is poor

Thanks

N

[TheCaseAce]

I just bought an 07 plate 330i.

Engine - well, it used to use the N52 engine ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N52 ), but in 2007 they switched to the N53 engine ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N53 ). I don't know what exact point in 2007 though!

Trouble with those wikipedia articles is that the stats for both engines are listed as exactly the same... which isn't the case, I don't think.

Power: 268 bhp @ 6700 rpm
Torque: 320 N•m @ 2750 rpm

It's confusing as hell because there are about 10 different applications of each (e.g. for the Z4, X3, X5 etc) but if you look at the front of the car's engine there's a little sticker that says something like N53B30-O0... or N52B30-O0

There is a definite difference in fuel economy, I think - my old car was a 325i with the N52 (detuned - I said it was complicated) and was about 2 or 3 mpg LESS efficient than the new 330i.

Edit: current average mpg is 32.4 so far but I do quite a bit of motorway driving.



As for spec - I would never buy a 3 series without Professional Nav... especially a performance model like the 330i.

BMW sat nav is excellent - far better than any touchscreen bks. If you ask me, a 3 series without iDrive and a big widescreen satnav is only half a car... it feels like all the nice bits have been removed.

Apart from that - Leather's good. Electric/Heated seats are pretty nice but I could live without. Xenons look cool. Upgraded hi-fi is utterly brilliant but not very common... you need to shop around, I guess - see what spec you can find!

Mine is an ex-press car apparently - it's british registered but has had both its services (predelivery and 3000 mile inspection) at the factory in Germany. Weird.

Hope that helps! Any questions fire away.

Edited by TheCaseAce on Friday 28th November 20:24

[the_g_ster]

Bah humbug, how about spending the money on a sat nav and a big screen to a 335i and concentrate on driving the car rather than predicting where you're going. Most people getting one of these will be think road angels or something akin to them are a good idea, so you may as well just get a 335.

[TheCaseAce]

Pah! With cables trailing everywhere and crap stuck on the screen?

What would you rather have...

This:



Or THIS

(er... but with more power!)

[Webber3]

TheCaseAce said:

BMW sat nav is excellent - far better than any touchscreen bks. If you ask me, a 3 series without iDrive and a big widescreen satnav is only half a car... it feels like all the nice bits have been removed.

Edited by TheCaseAce on Friday 28th November 20:24

I specced my 2006 330i without the satnav and I'm glad I did. It was an expensive option and I already had a decent tomtom, so I decided to upgrade the stereo and a few other bits instead.

I've got iDrive on my 6 series and I really can't get along with the navigation. It's slow and nowhere near as easy to use as a tomtom. I do agree with your point about it making the car look better, but I've still got trailing leads across my dash as I need the tomtom to warn me of speed cameras

[Maxx-Waxx]

Thanks for the info,

Weve just bought on 06 330i with a massive spec should get the car next week, one thing that amazed me is the dealer wants £200 for updating the satnav with current disc. What a rip off

N