BMW 330e ordered...
Discussion
My brother has had his 330e for just under a year now, he's not getting the best mileage from it but that's down to the driving he does, but he loves it.
My car was into bmw last week and I was lent an automatic 420d grand coupe and thought it was superbly smooth until I had a try of his 330e, not only smooth but silent, utterly sublime, so good in fact that I dropped my plans looking at an SUV and I've followed him and I'm getting the same car
Is it worthwhile getting a fixed charger, it will be in the garage over night so I have power points next to it but would a charger be better?
My car was into bmw last week and I was lent an automatic 420d grand coupe and thought it was superbly smooth until I had a try of his 330e, not only smooth but silent, utterly sublime, so good in fact that I dropped my plans looking at an SUV and I've followed him and I'm getting the same car
Is it worthwhile getting a fixed charger, it will be in the garage over night so I have power points next to it but would a charger be better?
Aj93 said:
"I" spy
Also what's stopping a thieving git stealing it? (if they have a screwdriver handy)
Just got a Rolec installed on the side of the house - £140 after the grant. Worth considering, then keep the 3-pin charger in the boot for when you're out and about.
If you want to pre condition the car then you need a proper charger. If you use the 3 pin charger preconditioning eats in to the battery.
Query - as the nights are lighter I have been outside in the evenings a bit more.
I've noticed that even after an 1hr or so of the car being sat on the drive (after not driving the car hard) a fan in the engine bay can start up!
If I disconnect the charge cable it stops, but if I plug it back in it starts again. It's not preconditioning, I assume it's engine cooling. If it is doing it every night it's going to cost me lots in electricity! Is anyone else's car doing it too?
Query - as the nights are lighter I have been outside in the evenings a bit more.
I've noticed that even after an 1hr or so of the car being sat on the drive (after not driving the car hard) a fan in the engine bay can start up!
If I disconnect the charge cable it stops, but if I plug it back in it starts again. It's not preconditioning, I assume it's engine cooling. If it is doing it every night it's going to cost me lots in electricity! Is anyone else's car doing it too?
caseys said:
You may want to modify that a bit - the 3-pin charger isn't weatherproof, it's water resistant .... so on a really rainy day it might have some issues.
Also what's stopping a thieving git stealing it? (if they have a screwdriver handy)
Just got a Rolec installed on the side of the house - £140 after the grant. Worth considering, then keep the 3-pin charger in the boot for when you're out and about.
Am getting a lockable weatherproof outdoor box for the transformer unit and also there's a small padlock on the outdoor plug box, so should be pretty discreet and secure! Currently applying for a free charging unit with the electric-nation trials Also what's stopping a thieving git stealing it? (if they have a screwdriver handy)
Just got a Rolec installed on the side of the house - £140 after the grant. Worth considering, then keep the 3-pin charger in the boot for when you're out and about.
Funkydunc said:
If you want to pre condition the car then you need a proper charger. If you use the 3 pin charger preconditioning eats in to the battery.
Query - as the nights are lighter I have been outside in the evenings a bit more.
I've noticed that even after an 1hr or so of the car being sat on the drive (after not driving the car hard) a fan in the engine bay can start up!
If I disconnect the charge cable it stops, but if I plug it back in it starts again. It's not preconditioning, I assume it's engine cooling. If it is doing it every night it's going to cost me lots in electricity! Is anyone else's car doing it too?
Potentially, as in any modern car , the electric cooling fan for the engine can stay on ( or switch on later ) even after you've arrived home and turned off. But in your case, that shouldn't be effected by the charge cable , so its more likely a cooling fan for the electronics and transformers that control the rate of current etc. to the batteries in the boot.. Query - as the nights are lighter I have been outside in the evenings a bit more.
I've noticed that even after an 1hr or so of the car being sat on the drive (after not driving the car hard) a fan in the engine bay can start up!
If I disconnect the charge cable it stops, but if I plug it back in it starts again. It's not preconditioning, I assume it's engine cooling. If it is doing it every night it's going to cost me lots in electricity! Is anyone else's car doing it too?
Air con aside, Other posts, and I concur, have mentioned all sorts of clicks, humming and fans noises when stationary. I just hope that what's its suppose to do?
So picked up the 330e y'day afternoon, due to traffic took a slightly longer route home, but over the 20.5 mile journey (about 9.5 miles on the motorway) got 117.7 mpg with about 2 mile electric range remaining.
Been doing some city driving today, more than I usually do, and got 16.5 miles before the engine kicked in about 1 mile from home (comfort mode). Currently on charge before a 7 mile journey this evening
Loving the car so much the positives are:
-Super smooth and quiet.
-Very comfortable and supportive seats.
-iDrive is so slick and easy to use (professional system)
-Very quick even when using only the electric motor.
-EV range is superior to the C350e (my mate has one and gets 13miles max)
Negatives:
-Not enough room for me to live in it
Been doing some city driving today, more than I usually do, and got 16.5 miles before the engine kicked in about 1 mile from home (comfort mode). Currently on charge before a 7 mile journey this evening
Loving the car so much the positives are:
-Super smooth and quiet.
-Very comfortable and supportive seats.
-iDrive is so slick and easy to use (professional system)
-Very quick even when using only the electric motor.
-EV range is superior to the C350e (my mate has one and gets 13miles max)
Negatives:
-Not enough room for me to live in it
Edited by Aj93 on Friday 21st April 16:09
evening all
so 2weeks into the new car and 500miles down and still smiling but can anyone tell me why the electric range has gone from 25 the first time it was fully charged to 16 miles today? I have never reached 25 miles and struggle to get the 13 miles to work and back even when driving like miss daisy!! I knew it wouldn't ever get the range specified as my boss has the C350e but I can't understand why the range has dropped at fully charged. Is it based on driving style or history in some way?
By the way the boss says the BMW is a much nicer car to drive than the merc
so 2weeks into the new car and 500miles down and still smiling but can anyone tell me why the electric range has gone from 25 the first time it was fully charged to 16 miles today? I have never reached 25 miles and struggle to get the 13 miles to work and back even when driving like miss daisy!! I knew it wouldn't ever get the range specified as my boss has the C350e but I can't understand why the range has dropped at fully charged. Is it based on driving style or history in some way?
By the way the boss says the BMW is a much nicer car to drive than the merc
Edited by Mf031966 on Friday 21st April 19:24
2 weeks today and waiting!! Had a test drive this morning and didn't want to give it back. Thought I would need to have a quick test due to not ever driving an auto before in over 25 years of driving. I think I've been over thinking and analysing driving an auto/hybrid because it were an amazing yet such a easy smooth drive.
Did some typical driving miss daisy type footwork around town without ever coming out of electric. Then I thought I'd take it on the express way, this is were it really shows it Jekyll and Hyde character when you need that extra burst and it comes out of electric into petrol mode. It also switched effortlessly between electric and petrol with me only knowing because the rev counter going up.
Having this test drive has only made me more excited now, I feel like a kid waiting for his birthday or Christmas... I'm hooked!!
Did some typical driving miss daisy type footwork around town without ever coming out of electric. Then I thought I'd take it on the express way, this is were it really shows it Jekyll and Hyde character when you need that extra burst and it comes out of electric into petrol mode. It also switched effortlessly between electric and petrol with me only knowing because the rev counter going up.
Having this test drive has only made me more excited now, I feel like a kid waiting for his birthday or Christmas... I'm hooked!!
I know this has been asked before but what does it cost to charge? I'm trying to find out the Kw of the batteries and how long it takes so.i can work out costs.
I have to pay for my own fuel and claim back at 0.14 p
I'm trying to work out whether it's worth me charging it at home every night or just drive on petrol? As with my petrol trips I'm seeing 45mpg.
I
I have to pay for my own fuel and claim back at 0.14 p
I'm trying to work out whether it's worth me charging it at home every night or just drive on petrol? As with my petrol trips I'm seeing 45mpg.
I
Gb908010 said:
I know this has been asked before but what does it cost to charge? I'm trying to find out the Kw of the batteries and how long it takes so.i can work out costs.
I have to pay for my own fuel and claim back at 0.14 p
I'm trying to work out whether it's worth me charging it at home every night or just drive on petrol? As with my petrol trips I'm seeing 45mpg.
I
Depends on your electricity tariff. We are with Flow energy and our rate is 12p pKWh. The 330e has a 7.5KwH battery so 7.5 x 12 = <90p to charge as its never truly flat when you'll start charging I have to pay for my own fuel and claim back at 0.14 p
I'm trying to work out whether it's worth me charging it at home every night or just drive on petrol? As with my petrol trips I'm seeing 45mpg.
I
I get about 16 miles on the battery so makes it 5.625p/pmile on electric. Hope this helps!
Edited by Aj93 on Saturday 22 April 16:43
Gb908010 said:
I know this has been asked before but what does it cost to charge? I'm trying to find out the Kw of the batteries and how long it takes so.i can work out costs.
I have to pay for my own fuel and claim back at 0.14 p
I'm trying to work out whether it's worth me charging it at home every night or just drive on petrol? As with my petrol trips I'm seeing 45mpg.
I
I have a separate KWh meter installed purely for my Type 2 charger, I charge every night on an off peak tariff set by the app with pre conditioning, I'm taking a reading every morning and it usually averages around 7.7KW per charge. My off peak tariff is 7p per KWh and costs around 53p - 55p. Peak tariff is 15.2p per KWh so would cost around £1.17, if you have a dual tariff available I'd use it as the savings soon mount up. I'm averaging around 16 miles per charge.I have to pay for my own fuel and claim back at 0.14 p
I'm trying to work out whether it's worth me charging it at home every night or just drive on petrol? As with my petrol trips I'm seeing 45mpg.
I
Giz1972 said:
2 weeks today and waiting!! Had a test drive this morning and didn't want to give it back. Thought I would need to have a quick test due to not ever driving an auto before in over 25 years of driving. I think I've been over thinking and analysing driving an auto/hybrid because it were an amazing yet such a easy smooth drive.
Did some typical driving miss daisy type footwork around town without ever coming out of electric. Then I thought I'd take it on the express way, this is were it really shows it Jekyll and Hyde character when you need that extra burst and it comes out of electric into petrol mode. It also switched effortlessly between electric and petrol with me only knowing because the rev counter going up.
Having this test drive has only made me more excited now, I feel like a kid waiting for his birthday or Christmas... I'm hooked!!
You will not want to get out when you pick yours up (like me). They're incredible machines!! What spec have you had your 330e in? Did some typical driving miss daisy type footwork around town without ever coming out of electric. Then I thought I'd take it on the express way, this is were it really shows it Jekyll and Hyde character when you need that extra burst and it comes out of electric into petrol mode. It also switched effortlessly between electric and petrol with me only knowing because the rev counter going up.
Having this test drive has only made me more excited now, I feel like a kid waiting for his birthday or Christmas... I'm hooked!!
Aj93 said:
Giz1972 said:
2 weeks today and waiting!! Had a test drive this morning and didn't want to give it back. Thought I would need to have a quick test due to not ever driving an auto before in over 25 years of driving. I think I've been over thinking and analysing driving an auto/hybrid because it were an amazing yet such a easy smooth drive.
Did some typical driving miss daisy type footwork around town without ever coming out of electric. Then I thought I'd take it on the express way, this is were it really shows it Jekyll and Hyde character when you need that extra burst and it comes out of electric into petrol mode. It also switched effortlessly between electric and petrol with me only knowing because the rev counter going up.
Having this test drive has only made me more excited now, I feel like a kid waiting for his birthday or Christmas... I'm hooked!!
You will not want to get out when you pick yours up (like me). They're incredible machines!! What spec have you had your 330e in? Did some typical driving miss daisy type footwork around town without ever coming out of electric. Then I thought I'd take it on the express way, this is were it really shows it Jekyll and Hyde character when you need that extra burst and it comes out of electric into petrol mode. It also switched effortlessly between electric and petrol with me only knowing because the rev counter going up.
Having this test drive has only made me more excited now, I feel like a kid waiting for his birthday or Christmas... I'm hooked!!
[Ive gone for the M sport in white with the coral red seats, Glass Sunroof : Interior Comfort Package : Seat Adjustment - Front Electric with Driver Memory : Lumbar Support - Driver and Front Passenger : 18in Alloy Wheels - V Spoke - 398 - Orbit Grey : Exterior Mirrors - Electrically Folding with Anti Dazzle : Interior Trim - Brushed Aluminium with Pearl Chrome Finisher ][[)[Ive gone for the M sport in white with the coral red seats, Glass Sunroof : Interior Comfort Package : Seat Adjustment - Front Electric with Driver Memory : Lumbar Support - Driver and Front Passenger : 18in Alloy Wheels - V Spoke - 398 - Orbit Grey : Exterior Mirrors - Electrically Folding with Anti Dazzle : Interior Trim - Brushed Aluminium with Pearl Chrome Finisher]
]
]2 weeks today and waiting!! Had a test drive this morning and didn't want to give it back. Thought I would need to have a quick test due to not ever driving an auto before in over 25 years of driving. I think I've been over thinking and analysing driving an auto/hybrid because it were an amazing yet such a easy smooth drive.
Did some typical driving miss daisy type footwork around town without ever coming out of electric. Then I thought I'd take it on the express way, this is were it really shows it Jekyll and Hyde character when you need that extra burst and it comes out of electric into petrol mode. It also switched effortlessly between electric and petrol with me only knowing because the rev counter going up.
Having this test drive has only made me more excited now, I feel like a kid waiting for his birthday or Christmas... I'm hooked!!
[/quote]
You will not want to get out when you pick yours up (like me). They're incredible machines!! What spec have you had your 330e in? :
]
]2 weeks today and waiting!! Had a test drive this morning and didn't want to give it back. Thought I would need to have a quick test due to not ever driving an auto before in over 25 years of driving. I think I've been over thinking and analysing driving an auto/hybrid because it were an amazing yet such a easy smooth drive.
Did some typical driving miss daisy type footwork around town without ever coming out of electric. Then I thought I'd take it on the express way, this is were it really shows it Jekyll and Hyde character when you need that extra burst and it comes out of electric into petrol mode. It also switched effortlessly between electric and petrol with me only knowing because the rev counter going up.
Having this test drive has only made me more excited now, I feel like a kid waiting for his birthday or Christmas... I'm hooked!!
[/quote]
You will not want to get out when you pick yours up (like me). They're incredible machines!! What spec have you had your 330e in? :
Edited by Giz1972 on Sunday 23 April 12:41
Giz1972 said:
Ive gone for the M sport in white with the coral red seats, Glass Sunroof : Interior Comfort Package : Seat Adjustment - Front Electric with Driver Memory : Lumbar Support - Driver and Front Passenger : 18in Alloy Wheels - V Spoke - 398 - Orbit Grey : Exterior Mirrors - Electrically Folding with Anti Dazzle : Interior Trim - Brushed Aluminium with Pearl Chrome Finisher ]
Very nice.!!! Mines a sport in black with the red coral seating. They do look great!! Wish mine had the folding mirrors. May be an easy(ish) retrofit. 
Aj93 said:
Does anyone know about charging at BMW dealers? Is it for charge now members only or are they just open? Saw on ZapMap that my local dealer (benham Wolverhampton) has 2 charge points.
Thanks.
Pretty certain it's for BMW customers only but you don't have to be a ChargeNow customer also - that's optional. If you're not a customer you pay the £1.20 connection charge and the x.x pence per KW/H (sounds like in this case it's 9 pence) and away you go. Otherwise as a chargenow customer it *should* be free and included within your subscription. I'd check to be on the safe side first though. I can also confirm that IKEA Wednesbury work with ChargeNow so zero additional cost.Thanks.
On a different note, anyone managed to test the 0-60 in just electric only mode? Just curious if forced to only use electric what we can expect as a rough guide? I guess the same query could be made regarding petrol only if there's no electric. I'd hazard a guess that it'd be a little slower than the 320i due to the extra weight so perhaps 8 seconds ish if only using the petrol motor?
[quote=MaxOverdrive
On a different note, anyone managed to test the 0-60 in just electric only mode? Just curious if forced to only use electric what we can expect as a rough guide? I guess the same query could be made regarding petrol only if there's no electric. I'd hazard a guess that it'd be a little slower than the 320i due to the extra weight so perhaps 8 seconds ish if only using the petrol motor?
[/quote]
0 to 30 is a better test , as its as quick as anything else around you , after 30 the initial torque tails off and then slow but steady acceleration continues, you only achieve speeds above 60 on the flat or down hill. Remember it's a heavy car with only 80hp on the batteries. However i'm sure the engine still starts up in maxedrive if you use kick down /max throttle?
The car never actually lets the batteries run flat , 7% is the lowest i've ever seen so the car produces enough energy to keep an element back for joint power delivery and running other important functions. Even using battery save mode, the car still allows both power plants to maintain performance . It does feel slightly more responsive on a fresh charge but its marginal, the car is quick in any mode or state of battery.
On a different note, anyone managed to test the 0-60 in just electric only mode? Just curious if forced to only use electric what we can expect as a rough guide? I guess the same query could be made regarding petrol only if there's no electric. I'd hazard a guess that it'd be a little slower than the 320i due to the extra weight so perhaps 8 seconds ish if only using the petrol motor?
[/quote]
0 to 30 is a better test , as its as quick as anything else around you , after 30 the initial torque tails off and then slow but steady acceleration continues, you only achieve speeds above 60 on the flat or down hill. Remember it's a heavy car with only 80hp on the batteries. However i'm sure the engine still starts up in maxedrive if you use kick down /max throttle?
The car never actually lets the batteries run flat , 7% is the lowest i've ever seen so the car produces enough energy to keep an element back for joint power delivery and running other important functions. Even using battery save mode, the car still allows both power plants to maintain performance . It does feel slightly more responsive on a fresh charge but its marginal, the car is quick in any mode or state of battery.
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