Discussion
Hello, i'm thinking of selling my TVR Chimaera for a 330ci, the extra seats, the more forgiving nature and reliability of the BMW is becomming more of an attraction. I don't know much about the cars. Is there anything i should look out for? And what is special about the clubsport?! Lets hope none of the TVR boys see this post!!
The 330ci is generally bullet proof comparied to a TVR as you would expect LOL
And theres not a huge amount to look out for on them either....Except for the wear and tear items ie front lower arm outer ball joints, and compliance bushes, discs, clutch etc. Rear road springs are prone to fracture.
If it has Sat Nav make sure it works, heater blower is working(if it works flat out and then nothing it wants a resistor pack/hedgehog).
The clubsport various extras like a spoiler, different bumpers etc but it does have a 6 speed box which is generally very notchy and can feel uncomfortable in gear changing, very little can be done about this-when they first came out we replaced boxes and clutches but didnt overcome this issue........So basically make sure you drive it to make sure your happy with the way it feels.
For me personally its TVR everyday
And theres not a huge amount to look out for on them either....Except for the wear and tear items ie front lower arm outer ball joints, and compliance bushes, discs, clutch etc. Rear road springs are prone to fracture.
If it has Sat Nav make sure it works, heater blower is working(if it works flat out and then nothing it wants a resistor pack/hedgehog).
The clubsport various extras like a spoiler, different bumpers etc but it does have a 6 speed box which is generally very notchy and can feel uncomfortable in gear changing, very little can be done about this-when they first came out we replaced boxes and clutches but didnt overcome this issue........So basically make sure you drive it to make sure your happy with the way it feels.
For me personally its TVR everyday
I love the TVR and if i could afford a 2nd car i would keep it. But the cost of keeping it on the road is getting higher and higher! as it is my everday car it can get a little tiresome and exspensive to keep it on the road.
Thanks for the info on the 330, i think it will have the right balance of reliablilty and reasonable performance
Thanks for the info on the 330, i think it will have the right balance of reliablilty and reasonable performance
There was a thread on the Clubsport a few days ago which should help - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I do have quite a few customers that have gone from TVR to BMW M3's or 330's and they are all generally relieved to have the reliabilty and cheaper running costs. Although the drive of the TVR is greatly missed, a BMW doesnt put the same grin on your face like the TVR can.
Im going to try and change that later in the year/next year by putting the V10 BMW M5 engine into a Cerbera....should get the big grin with that hehehehehe
Im going to try and change that later in the year/next year by putting the V10 BMW M5 engine into a Cerbera....should get the big grin with that hehehehehe
I'm lucky enough to have a 1997 450 Chimaera and a 2002 330ci.
Even though the BMW is an auto (for day to day convenience) I don't feel it second rate to the Tiv and have had the car for nearly 6 years now (the longest I have ever kept a car - the TVR is second at nearly 5 years)with minimal running cost.
Obviously there are times when you wish you were in the Tiv but my wife certainly prefers it for 2 hour+ journeys.
I am sure you won't regret buying the BMW even if it is sad to lose the Tiv but the BMW is a great car and I wouldn't know what to change to if I had to replace to to be honest.
Even though the BMW is an auto (for day to day convenience) I don't feel it second rate to the Tiv and have had the car for nearly 6 years now (the longest I have ever kept a car - the TVR is second at nearly 5 years)with minimal running cost.
Obviously there are times when you wish you were in the Tiv but my wife certainly prefers it for 2 hour+ journeys.
I am sure you won't regret buying the BMW even if it is sad to lose the Tiv but the BMW is a great car and I wouldn't know what to change to if I had to replace to to be honest.
I sold my Chim last year and then went for a 330ci. They are great cars, quick, reliable, etc. Make sure you get one fully loaded with sat nav/tv, xenons, etc. But! you will lose the event of driving the Tiv. On the other hand, knowing you'll reach your destination each time you set off is quite comforting 
jdl1981 said:
Mines only a 4litre Chimaera so the performance is nowhere near that of a 500 griff. My Chim is more comparable to a Z3/Z4 3.0. Am i right in thinking the 330 will share the same engine as those 2 cars?
Erm, I'm not an expert but I think in the Z3 it was the 231bhp engine. The newer ones have about 265bhp I think. What age car are you looking at?
I think that's the 231bhp engine, but hopefully someone with more knowledge will confirm.
I've got this engine in the 530i, so carrying more weight than a 330ci. But the powerplant really is a peach, it's superb. Sounds lovely at low revs with plenty of torque and refinement - but then howls at high revs where there's plenty of power. It's smooth and well balanced as most BMW sixes are and loves to be revved all the way to the red-line, which is not something you say about some of the V6 engines out there. And when crusing can return some pretty good mpg figures for a big straight-six.
Beaten to it, good work Fox
I've got this engine in the 530i, so carrying more weight than a 330ci. But the powerplant really is a peach, it's superb. Sounds lovely at low revs with plenty of torque and refinement - but then howls at high revs where there's plenty of power. It's smooth and well balanced as most BMW sixes are and loves to be revved all the way to the red-line, which is not something you say about some of the V6 engines out there. And when crusing can return some pretty good mpg figures for a big straight-six.
Beaten to it, good work Fox
Edited by matt uk on Thursday 22 January 12:42
It definitely won't be the same performance of the Tiv but it is pretty respectable. You'll still have you teeth left afterwards as well!!
As a guide, I would certainly give myself a little more overtaking gap in the BMW than the Tiv but you can use the traction control back up to plant it rather than the 'feed it in' method with the Tiv.
I would miss the TVR terribly but wouldn't feel distraught if it had to go and I had to have only the BMW.
Don't forget the Tiv is around 1 tonne and the BMW around 1.5 tonnes.
As a guide, I would certainly give myself a little more overtaking gap in the BMW than the Tiv but you can use the traction control back up to plant it rather than the 'feed it in' method with the Tiv.
I would miss the TVR terribly but wouldn't feel distraught if it had to go and I had to have only the BMW.
Don't forget the Tiv is around 1 tonne and the BMW around 1.5 tonnes.
Edited by DavidLScott on Thursday 22 January 13:00
They don't have the performance of a well sorted 400 Chimaera. Whoever described them as feeling 'brisk' was pretty much on the mark. The difference is though that the BMW is certainly quicker point to point. You don't have to concentrate so much on driving the thing as you do in the tiv, especially with all the driver aids, DSC, etc. You can sit at 100 leptons plus all day in the BM, it's effortless.
Also bear in mind that although they are much better on fuel than the Chim (obviously) they are still pretty juicy (especially about town).
I went for the steptronic model just to try something different and I really enjoy driving it. I tend to leave it in normal auto mode about town then use sports or manual when going for a blast. The manual mode works really well even though it isn't a true replacement for a clutch and changing gear yourself!
One thing I wanted to add is that even though the build quality and mechanicals are excellent make sure you check all the electrics in the car. The E46 is known for getting the occasional electrical gremlins. The only other car I considered was an RX8. Certainly worth a look
Also bear in mind that although they are much better on fuel than the Chim (obviously) they are still pretty juicy (especially about town).
I went for the steptronic model just to try something different and I really enjoy driving it. I tend to leave it in normal auto mode about town then use sports or manual when going for a blast. The manual mode works really well even though it isn't a true replacement for a clutch and changing gear yourself!
One thing I wanted to add is that even though the build quality and mechanicals are excellent make sure you check all the electrics in the car. The E46 is known for getting the occasional electrical gremlins. The only other car I considered was an RX8. Certainly worth a look
Edited by SiTheBad on Thursday 22 January 16:13
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