RE: BMW 330d M Sport Plus | Driven

[LateStarter]

Grindle said:

Anyone after that new 330D, just get a mint 335D X drive for £20K and get a Caterham for the track and occasional road fun.
335D has more power, 4wd, easily slips up to 350 bhp and as an owner i know everyone should own a Caterham once.

That is scarily sensible advice, are you sure you're on the right site?!

[LateStarter]

Skyman said:

No handbags. But I am just thinking, if you can follow the logic. By your own admission, your experience is limited to a pretty poor sample of motoring (not so) greats, Golf R excepted. Therefore, when you say the hot hatch is pretty much all you need, I say, wtf do you really know.

Wow you are a condescending wee man aren't you, don't get out much huh?

[Marvin Trill]

Skyman said:

Marvin Trill said:

Skyman said:

Marvin Trill said:

Skyman said:

Marvin Trill said:

I get the "Diesel is all you ever need." thing, indeed they are efficient lumps. But a weekend over the Cotswolds in a MK7 Golf R confirms to me hot hatches are all the car you ever need.

Nonsense comment.

How so ?

Because there is more to life than a hot hatch. How obvious is that. Hope that responds to your epically daft question. And, fyi, I have a Golf R.

Put the handbags down mate. Of course there is more to life than hot hatches. You've gone on the offensive, but offered zero rebuttal of why it is wrong. Fyi I have several vehicles for different uses, from MAN trucks, a Freelander, a Vauxhall Vivaro and my Golf R. But a hot hatch is the only thing that ticks most of the boxes most of the time.

Edited by Marvin Trill on Monday 22 July 20:30

No handbags. But I am just thinking, if you can follow the logic. By your own admission, your experience is limited to a pretty poor sample of motoring (not so) greats, Golf R excepted. Therefore, when you say the hot hatch is pretty much all you need, I say, wtf do you really know.

I've had many other cars, explain what's wrong with the vehicles I've listed? Those are my current vehicles which do different things. The MAN hauls stuff and makes me money, the Freelander allows me to get around the farm, the Vauxhall Viviaro was(haven't tried the lastest PSA variant) one of the best medium sized van on the market, better MPG and a bigger load area than many other vans in class & allows me to run pallets over the country as customers need. And the Golf is a great multi purpose car that I've gone to places such as Barcelona and Inverness. Yet can seat 4/5 (depending on size) and returns 29 mpg. So now it's clearer what I know, what do you know ?

Edited by Marvin Trill on Monday 22 July 21:36

[Kosy]

Tintop2 said:

Going to show my ignorance... what does “throttle adjustable” mean please? It’s been mentioned in this thread a few times and Google turns up lots of stuff about adjusting throttle cables with the help of spanners... pretty sure no one is going to be doing that to their new 3 series regularly!

Ha!

It’s how you can adjust the attitude of the vehicle in or through a corner by using the throttle, not just the steering.

ie. lifting off to tuck the nose in, tighten the line and lighten the rear. Or pushing on the accelerator in a RWD car to cause the rears to overspin and push you round.

It’s a commonly referred to as a desirable characteristic in ‘driver’s cars’ through increased involvement, options and skill required. Something like a mk3 Megane R.S. has this in spades. Diesel BMWs, not so much. :-)

Edited by Kosy on Monday 22 July 21:40

[Kosy]

John Allison said:

Kosy said:

John Allison said:

9k rpm said:

£50k is ridiculous! For £50k you could have a mildly used Bentley with only 100k miles.

Did you just suggest a 100k-mile Bentley as a reasonable alternative to a new diesel BMW..?
I assume you’re not a financial advisor

It took longer than expected but the bite came.

Dammit. Some kind of Pistonheads test...
I’m off to reply to the email from my bank asking me to remind them of my password...

Haha, there’s usually one in the first few comments on a front page article!

[carl_w]

Poppiecock said:

Nobody is buying a £45k diesel 3-series privately - but I guess some people will take one on a lease deal.

Not driven one yet, but surely the 330e makes all other 3-series redundant?

Err, does PCP count as buying one privately or "a lease deal"?

330e is more expensive than the 330d and offers fewer mpg (and cylinders).

Maybe when this one comes up for renewal in a couple of years the 330e will be a contender.

[gigglebug]

Kosy said:

Ha!

It’s how you can adjust the attitude of the vehicle in or through a corner by using the throttle, not just the steering.

ie. lifting off to tuck the nose in, tighten the line and lighten the rear. Or pushing on the accelerator in a RWD car to cause the rears to overspin and push you round.

It’s a commonly referred to as a desirable characteristic in ‘driver’s cars’ through increased involvement, options and skill required. Something like a mk3 Megane R.S. has this in spades. Diesel BMWs, not so much. :-)

I'm sure that we have an obligation to give at least three funny responses before the actual answer is given.

Edited by gigglebug on Monday 22 July 21:42

[The Vambo]

E65Ross said:

The Vambo said:

From the ultimate driving machine to like a Lexus but uglier.

Who the eff signed off that?

Firstly, clearly we all like different things because the post directly above yours states a different opinion. Secondly, I'm not sure what being the ultimate driving machine has to do with looks? I'm pretty sure a McLaren Senna would be pretty good to drive around a track, yet I don't think many will find it an especially good looking thing, the 2 can be mutually exclusive, so I can't quite understand why you've mentioned that tagline that BMW used to use about a decade or two ago?

That post was so tedious I read it in the voice of Geoff, a 60 year old who wears brown cords and is a member of an owners club.

[anonymous-user]

Lift off oversteer generally occurs when the driving god approaches a corner at excess speed in their rear wheel drive car, realises they're going too fast, bottles it and the vehicle goes arse end first through the hedge/fence/bridge barrier.
Usually blamed on adverse camber or fuel spillage, but NEVER the fault of the driving God.

[Wills2]

You'd think PH would be able to take some photos of the car they drove rather than another model, the pictured isn't an M sport plus, just a sport.

[SidewaysSi]

I would expect a level of throttle adjustability at this level. Old BMWs are hilarious in that respect

[cologne2792]

So it's less powerful than the 335d of 2006 ?

I'm sure it's very good but after 13 years I'd be expecting more - 300 bhp plus for instance...

[Tintop2]

Kosy said:

Ha!

It’s how you can adjust the attitude of the vehicle in or through a corner by using the throttle, not just the steering.

ie. lifting off to tuck the nose in, tighten the line and lighten the rear. Or pushing on the accelerator in a RWD car to cause the rears to overspin and push you round.

It’s a commonly referred to as a desirable characteristic in ‘driver’s cars’ through increased involvement, options and skill required. Something like a mk3 Megane R.S. has this in spades. Diesel BMWs, not so much. :-)

Edited by Kosy on Monday 22 July 21:40

Thanks for that! Seems so obvious now that you have given such a clear explanation!

[Mike335i]

cologne2792 said:

So it's less powerful than the 335d of 2006 ?

I'm sure it's very good but after 13 years I'd be expecting more - 300 bhp plus for instance...

I bet the next 335d will oblige. Isn't here an m340d on the way?

[Onehp]

Don't be blinded by numbers, the 30d engine is a bit of a sweet spot, 40d and even 50d versions exist, but other than more power, they don't up the driving experience/feel much and tend to make less sense purchase and mpg wise...

E65Ross said:

You can't compare a fuel source to a type/niche of car.

A hot hatch is all you need unless you need an estate car.

What about a hot estate? Love mine, did enjoy this review because a 330d estate with the Mdiff is a contender for the next car with more comfort, mpg and still appealing to the at times lone driver.

Oh, torque is nothing without rpm, should read 'the 330d has enough POWER' to make the rear end playful while shod with grippy PS4S tyres...

[Onehp]

cologne2792 said:

So it's less powerful than the 335d of 2006 ?

I'm sure it's very good but after 13 years I'd be expecting more - 300 bhp plus for instance...

BMW has been faily consistent with their numbering since then. A 35d is still more than a 30d, likewise a 35i from then is still more than a 30i today. Etc. What you're asking for is a 40d version.

[unpc]

Max_Torque]Harticle] Maybe it's the added weight of a 3.0-litre unit up front enhancing the mechanical grip of those Michelins [/qote said:

hmmm, i don't want to break it to you, but you just broke the laws of physics!

Was thinking that too...

[Number86]

51k??

I seem to recall the previous 435d with 313bhp had a list price of about £46k.

I know prices go up, but the fact a lesser model now costs about 5k more seems crazy to me...

[numtumfutunch]

Poppiecock said:

Isn't this a bit pointless these days?

Nobody is picking a 330d as a company car - just the basic MSport Plus without any other options will cost you £465 / month in BIK.

Nobody is buying a £45k diesel 3-series privately - but I guess some people will take one on a lease deal.

Not driven one yet, but surely the 330e makes all other 3-series redundant?

I had a leased 335d Touring for 2y recently with ProNav and a modest amount of options for £330/month

It was a bit Steve Davies but had addictive stomp from a standing start and so I decided Id have a like for like replacement but lease prices have become errrrrrr a lot less attractive

Currently in a Volvo barge with electric everything for less cash, I really cant see myself getting into a six pot 3'er anytime soon unless residuals improve.

Note how I didnt say prices fall?

Discounts were rife when I took out my lease and still are but the residuals/GFV have fallen off a massive cliff so PCP and lease deals are just plain rubbish compared to a couple of years ago

Which is fine 'cos I love my Volvo

Cheers

[Plate spinner]

Zygot said:

Lift off oversteer generally occurs when the driving god approaches a corner at excess speed in their rear wheel drive car, realises they're going too fast, bottles it and the vehicle goes arse end first through the hedge/fence/bridge barrier.
Usually blamed on adverse camber or fuel spillage, but NEVER the fault of the driving God.

Lift off oversteer isn’t limited to RWD, ask any owner of an 80s french hot hatch.