Discussion
Well given how, where and when I use my 330i I really didn't have any need to consider an Auto so mine is a manual and with the 7,000 rpm red-line it seems to work really well, especially if I am in a hurry!
If you are ever in Berkshire you'd be welcome to try mine "cerb4.5lee". :thumbsup:
If you are ever in Berkshire you'd be welcome to try mine "cerb4.5lee". :thumbsup:
Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 30th November 23:14
I think the 330d in normal driving picks up speed better than the 330i but having now had both (auto only) I suspect that’s down to the combination of torque and the auto box’s standard setting which is quite lazy. When in sport, with the reprofiled throttle (which may be lci only; my 330ds were pre lci) the 330i feels much livelier and quicker than a standard 330d (I stress feels as I suspect ultimately they’re very similar?). That said I rarely drive in sport mode as it’s not particularly relaxing.
It's completely down to how they are driven. A derv driver expects the engine to run out of puff by 3000 rpm so they presume the petrols are the same. Not true for nat asp petrol.
Everyone forgets torque is a factor of final gearing as much as the engine. Torque to the tarmac is what counts. The difference between a diesel and a petrol is purely that initial shove vs linear build up of power. Draw the revs out in a petrol and they make good progress without the initial shove - much smoother.
Everyone forgets torque is a factor of final gearing as much as the engine. Torque to the tarmac is what counts. The difference between a diesel and a petrol is purely that initial shove vs linear build up of power. Draw the revs out in a petrol and they make good progress without the initial shove - much smoother.
I had a manual 130i before and it definitely required you to stir the box to make it really go but it go but it’s was faster than my current 330d when you properly extended it. For lazy in gear acceleration the 330d feels much quicker. The n52 petrol engine is a much more enjoyable device to use though - much smoother, much sharper throttle response and the massively broad linear power band were something special. The d is just effective
That's a great bargain by mistake, well done.
I bought a similar 325i earlier this year after a series of turbo diesels. Despite having a bit less mid range punch they're an absolute joy to drive after diesels, and a great all rounder for motorways, b roads and anything else you throw at it.
Enjoy.
I bought a similar 325i earlier this year after a series of turbo diesels. Despite having a bit less mid range punch they're an absolute joy to drive after diesels, and a great all rounder for motorways, b roads and anything else you throw at it.
Enjoy.
I'd agree mostly. I sold my 330d for my 330i.
Did the 330d feel bloody rapid? Yes. But catching it off boost made it feel really quite stodgy. Not to mention that in cross country driving it felt like hard work to drive. It was either too many revs, or too few. I found it really difficult to rev match too.
However, as a motorway machine it was unbeatable. Mat the pedal at 70+ in 6th and it would roll on really quite convincingly. I used to really take to upsetting Golf GTD drivers when they were trying to bully people out of the outside lane of the M4.
Needing a glove to fill it up irked me too.
Did the 330d feel bloody rapid? Yes. But catching it off boost made it feel really quite stodgy. Not to mention that in cross country driving it felt like hard work to drive. It was either too many revs, or too few. I found it really difficult to rev match too.
However, as a motorway machine it was unbeatable. Mat the pedal at 70+ in 6th and it would roll on really quite convincingly. I used to really take to upsetting Golf GTD drivers when they were trying to bully people out of the outside lane of the M4.
Needing a glove to fill it up irked me too.
First major (ish) expense in a while; 2 new tyres on the rear caused by:
What’s the chances?! The metal in this is so soft I can bend it with my hand but it managed to puncture the rear offside and create a hole too big to repair.
Fortunately the rears were down to about 3mm and were runflats which I’m happy to replace with non runflats.
I needed the car and the local garage had a pair of Khumos in stock so I went for them although they wouldn’t be my first choice in normal circumstances. I’ll report back on how I get on with them.
What’s the chances?! The metal in this is so soft I can bend it with my hand but it managed to puncture the rear offside and create a hole too big to repair.
Fortunately the rears were down to about 3mm and were runflats which I’m happy to replace with non runflats.
I needed the car and the local garage had a pair of Khumos in stock so I went for them although they wouldn’t be my first choice in normal circumstances. I’ll report back on how I get on with them.
Edited by Sn1ckers on Friday 20th December 17:57
Sn1ckers said:
First major (ish) expense in a while; 2 new tyres on the rear caused by:
What’s the chances?! The metal in this is so soft I can bend it with my hand but it managed to puncture the rear offside and create a hole too big to repair.
Fortunately the rears were down to about 3mm and were runflats which I’m happy to replace with non runflats.
I needed the car and the local garage had a pair of Khumos in stock so I went for them although they wouldn’t be my first choice in normal circumstances. I’ll report back on how I get on with them.
Does that mean you have RFT on front and non RFT on the back now??What’s the chances?! The metal in this is so soft I can bend it with my hand but it managed to puncture the rear offside and create a hole too big to repair.
Fortunately the rears were down to about 3mm and were runflats which I’m happy to replace with non runflats.
I needed the car and the local garage had a pair of Khumos in stock so I went for them although they wouldn’t be my first choice in normal circumstances. I’ll report back on how I get on with them.
Edited by Sn1ckers on Friday 20th December 17:57
Sn1ckers said:
No, I now have non rfts all round having briefly had rfts on the rear and non rfts on the front.
I have a repair kit in the boot (fingers crossed I don’t need it).
My winters are non RFT and my Summers are now also non RFT - I bought a 17 inch space saver spare and a bmw jack - the jack lives beside the battery in the spare wheel well and the space saver spare lives in the boot in a tailored bag.I have a repair kit in the boot (fingers crossed I don’t need it).
Not a huge fan of "cans of goo" as they've never worked very well on my motorcycles
B'stard Child said:
My winters are non RFT and my Summers are now also non RFT - I bought a 17 inch space saver spare and a bmw jack - the jack lives beside the battery in the spare wheel well and the space saver spare lives in the boot in a tailored bag.
Not a huge fan of "cans of goo" as they've never worked very well on my motorcycles
Agreed, I use a repair kit like this one;Not a huge fan of "cans of goo" as they've never worked very well on my motorcycles
This, plus an electric pump, have served well for a few years now. Easy to use and reliable. I believe many garages use similar kits themselves these days and, if you’re lucky, you can find what caused the puncture, remove it, and do the repair without taking the wheel off the car.
Major milestone reached today:
Since my last post things have been relatively uneventful. Things done amount to;
- rear brake light build replaced (free with next item).
- offside xenon bulb; £46 plus £10 to fit (bit of a faff with lci E91’s compared with pre lci models - why did they change??).
- new battery; £124 from ECP plus £10 for coding (the old battery was the original so had done good service).
The car’s asking for a brake fluid and oil change so is booked in for both tomorrow morning. I changed the oil 1 year / 6,000 ish miles ago but intentionally didn’t reset the service indicator. For the sake of £50 of oil and £15 to change I’ll get it done annually regardless of mileage.
Since my last post things have been relatively uneventful. Things done amount to;
- rear brake light build replaced (free with next item).
- offside xenon bulb; £46 plus £10 to fit (bit of a faff with lci E91’s compared with pre lci models - why did they change??).
- new battery; £124 from ECP plus £10 for coding (the old battery was the original so had done good service).
The car’s asking for a brake fluid and oil change so is booked in for both tomorrow morning. I changed the oil 1 year / 6,000 ish miles ago but intentionally didn’t reset the service indicator. For the sake of £50 of oil and £15 to change I’ll get it done annually regardless of mileage.
ahenners said:
Lovely car this. Keep the updates coming!
Thanks.Though not an update as such, I’m looking again at Bluetooth installation.
For some strange reason I’ll never fathom the original owner ticked the box for pro nav but decided against adding Bluetooth.
I can go for an aftermarket installation like parrot but don’t like the idea of separate controls when I’ve got the idrive and steering wheel buttons. A retro fit of an oven type system costs 2-3 time more than a Parrot system though.
Decisions, decisions....
My two pence is that if you're going to retrofit anything, get a combox fitted. I've had one put into my car and it feels SO much better. USB connectivity, and the extended bluetooth package, which includes bluetooth audio streaming. BMW Apps can also be enabled which takes the whole nav system up a level.
If you're on Facebook at all, Simon at Bavarian Coding is good for this sort of thing. Mobile, and will leave it looking like a factory fited example. He did some wiring changes and coded my combox.
If you're on Facebook at all, Simon at Bavarian Coding is good for this sort of thing. Mobile, and will leave it looking like a factory fited example. He did some wiring changes and coded my combox.
After just over 18 months of enjoyable ownership it's time to part company with my 330i.
The car has been a joy to own with the combination of being relatively cheap to own, quick, fun and both practical and comfortable.
I have been completely spoilt by the Individual HiFi. In the past what speakers were fitted were never a consideration but the replacement for this car had to have Harmon Kardon as a minimum!
I now need to give the car a good clean and get some pics ready for selling it.
I'll probably start a new thread for the replacement but as a preview the next car in the Sn!ckers household is a 435i (dealer pics):
The car has been a joy to own with the combination of being relatively cheap to own, quick, fun and both practical and comfortable.
I have been completely spoilt by the Individual HiFi. In the past what speakers were fitted were never a consideration but the replacement for this car had to have Harmon Kardon as a minimum!
I now need to give the car a good clean and get some pics ready for selling it.
I'll probably start a new thread for the replacement but as a preview the next car in the Sn!ckers household is a 435i (dealer pics):
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