330i 2006 - good choice?

[Lavo84]

The 330D is/was in the running too, I just fancied giving the petrol a go as I have heard so much about it.
So I test drove one yesterday... 2006 auto... I did like it... But I didn't love it. I can't put my finger on why not, possibly I'm too used to the turbo power delivery at the moment from my last few cars or maybe I need to try a manual? It just seemed a little... Lazy? Lovely and smooth though... Lovely place to be too... I'm used to wringing the neck out of my little MX5 to get it moving so I have no issues with NA engines... I did really like the way it drove... Hmmm decisions hahaha sorry just writing exactly what Im thinking in the noggin! 😅

[cerb4.5lee]

Lavo84 said:

The 330D is/was in the running too, I just fancied giving the petrol a go as I have heard so much about it.
So I test drove one yesterday... 2006 auto... I did like it... But I didn't love it. I can't put my finger on why not, possibly I'm too used to the turbo power delivery at the moment from my last few cars or maybe I need to try a manual? It just seemed a little... Lazy? Lovely and smooth though... Lovely place to be too... I'm used to wringing the neck out of my little MX5 to get it moving so I have no issues with NA engines... I did really like the way it drove... Hmmm decisions hahaha sorry just writing exactly what Im thinking in the noggin! ??

I totally get how you felt about it and you sum it up very well for me. The 330i auto won't ever set your world on fire for me, but as something to live with and something with a nice smooth engine they are great.

I'd try an auto 330d though because they don't feel lazy at all, and the auto gearbox suits that engine so much more imo. I think that a manual is pretty much essential in the 330i though, so it changes the character of the car from lazy to much more interesting.

[Mr Tidy]

Lavo84 said:

The 330D is/was in the running too, I just fancied giving the petrol a go as I have heard so much about it.
So I test drove one yesterday... 2006 auto... I did like it... But I didn't love it. I can't put my finger on why not, possibly I'm too used to the turbo power delivery at the moment from my last few cars or maybe I need to try a manual? It just seemed a little... Lazy? Lovely and smooth though... Lovely place to be too... I'm used to wringing the neck out of my little MX5 to get it moving so I have no issues with NA engines... I did really like the way it drove... Hmmm decisions hahaha sorry just writing exactly what Im thinking in the noggin! ??

My 330i is a manual, and it really does thrive on revs - if you drove a manual one like you drive your MX5 I don't think you would find it felt lazy!

I've got the BMW brochure for the early E90s and they quote a 0-62 time of 6.3 Seconds for the manual, but 6.6 for the Auto. But maybe more telling is the 50-75 mph time in 4th/5th gear of 6.5 seconds for the manual and 8.1 seconds for the Auto.

Anyway if you can't find one and are any where near Berkshire you'd be welcome to try mine if that might help you decide.

[SidewaysSi]

rassi said:

cerb4.5lee said:

SidewaysSi said:

Depends what you look for but I wouldn't discount the 330D. My mum has a 2006 one in SE spec - about 120k miles and it has been perfect.

I quite like driving it too - low down torque means it quite likes spinning it's wheels at every single opportunity...slow speed oversteer becomes its natural cornering style

Also agree with this and I've had both. I had the 330d for 6 years and the 330i for 4 years, and as an overall package I give the edge to the 330d. Both great all round cars though for sure.

But old diesels, a 2005 330d euro 4 presumably, are unfortunately on borrowed time, so as an ownership prospective in 2019/2020 it doesn’t look promising

How are they on borrowed time? I may be missing something so apologies if so.

I think the 330i petrol is a heavy car and coming from an MX5, will likely disappoint as they aren't sports cars.

The advantage of the diesel is it can smoke its tyres with ease. Though that engine is even heavier..

[Mr Tidy]

SidewaysSi said:

How are they on borrowed time? I may be missing something so apologies if so.

I think the 330i petrol is a heavy car and coming from an MX5, will likely disappoint as they aren't sports cars.

The advantage of the diesel is it can smoke its tyres with ease. Though that engine is even heavier..

Probably thinking of the ULEZ in London, which seems bound to spread to other cities in time.

The 330i is heavy, but at least the engine block in an N52 engined 330i is made of magnesium alloy - much lighter than a 330d boat-anchor!

And my 330i can smoke it's tyres with ease when TC is turned off. While it may be heavier than an MX5 it does have nearly twice the power, which does provide some compensation for its dynamic limitations.

But an MX5 doesn't seem to meet the OP's criteria anyway as he wants a 4 door - otherwise my Z4 Coupe might be a better option.

[Court_S]

Lavo84 said:

The 330D is/was in the running too, I just fancied giving the petrol a go as I have heard so much about it.
So I test drove one yesterday... 2006 auto... I did like it... But I didn't love it. I can't put my finger on why not, possibly I'm too used to the turbo power delivery at the moment from my last few cars or maybe I need to try a manual? It just seemed a little... Lazy? Lovely and smooth though... Lovely place to be too... I'm used to wringing the neck out of my little MX5 to get it moving so I have no issues with NA engines... I did really like the way it drove... Hmmm decisions hahaha sorry just writing exactly what Im thinking in the noggin! ??

By modern standards, they’re not that quick are torque-light compared to a modern engine and they need revs. I’d also say that they’re deceptive speed wise; doesn’t always feel quick until you look at the speedo.

The auto box of that era whilst fine is pretty ponderous if you’ve ever driven a newer box. It works pretty well in sport mode, normal mode is a bit sluggish / dim.

[bmwmike]

Court_S said:

By modern standards, they’re not that quick are torque-light compared to a modern engine and they need revs. I’d also say that they’re deceptive speed wise; doesn’t always feel quick until you look at the speedo.

The auto box of that era whilst fine is pretty ponderous if you’ve ever driven a newer box. It works pretty well in sport mode, normal mode is a bit sluggish / dim.

They are deceptive speed wise especially coming from a tractor engine (30d/20d) because they don't vibrate / shake to tell you you're going too fast nice and smooth and linear. Whats not to like. Oh and no smoke.

[cerb4.5lee]

bmwmike said:

They are deceptive speed wise especially coming from a tractor engine (30d/20d) because they don't vibrate / shake to tell you you're going too fast nice and smooth and linear. Whats not to like. Oh and no smoke.

If they smoke they are broke!

I didn't like the 30d(or any diesel engine in fairness) at idle, but once up to speed they are nice and smooth. Strangely from inside the cabin I actually preferred the noise the 330d made to the 330i, the 330d sounded more gutsy to me. Whereas the 330i was incredibly muted and it didn't sound as good as it should have to my ears.

[rassi]

SidewaysSi said:

How are they on borrowed time? I may be missing something so apologies if so.

I think the 330i petrol is a heavy car and coming from an MX5, will likely disappoint as they aren't sports cars.

The advantage of the diesel is it can smoke its tyres with ease. Though that engine is even heavier..

Euro 3 diesels are banned from 1 January 2020 in Belgium (I know this thread is for the UK, but the LEZ in London indicates it is not an isolated case), and euro 4 diesels from 1 January 2021. Not a diesel scare mongerer or anti-diesel at all but older diesels, with no DPF and pre euro 5 just don't have a future.

[helix402]

rassi said:

Euro 3 diesels are banned from 1 January 2020 in Belgium (I know this thread is for the UK, but the LEZ in London indicates it is not an isolated case), and euro 4 diesels from 1 January 2021. Not a diesel scare mongerer or anti-diesel at all but older diesels, with no DPF and pre euro 5 just don't have a future.

It really depends where you drive. If you drive regularly in large cities, having a diesel may be an issue in the future.

If you rarely do having a diesel isn’t a problem. Some old diesels are also ULEZ except due to a glitch in the system.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Lavo84 said:

The 330D is/was in the running too, I just fancied giving the petrol a go as I have heard so much about it.
So I test drove one yesterday... 2006 auto... I did like it... But I didn't love it. I can't put my finger on why not, possibly I'm too used to the turbo power delivery at the moment from my last few cars or maybe I need to try a manual? It just seemed a little... Lazy? Lovely and smooth though... Lovely place to be too... I'm used to wringing the neck out of my little MX5 to get it moving so I have no issues with NA engines... I did really like the way it drove... Hmmm decisions hahaha sorry just writing exactly what Im thinking in the noggin! ??

It's worth bearing in mind that it has an adaptive throttle and gearbox, like most modern cars. So it could well be farly doddery if it's only ever been driven in such a way. Added to that, my understanding is that as well as the main adaptations, it also monitors on a journey by journey basis, and my experience seems to tally with this. Granny it from the off and it will adapt to changing up earlier and generally being less responsive - give it some from the off and it will change down earlier, hold on to gears a little more etc.

Some days mine feels thoroughly lethargic, and other days it can seem like it's on a hair trigger, which I'm sure must relate to the above.

[Court_S]

cerb4.5lee said:

bmwmike said:

They are deceptive speed wise especially coming from a tractor engine (30d/20d) because they don't vibrate / shake to tell you you're going too fast nice and smooth and linear. Whats not to like. Oh and no smoke.

If they smoke they are broke!

I didn't like the 30d(or any diesel engine in fairness) at idle, but once up to speed they are nice and smooth. Strangely from inside the cabin I actually preferred the noise the 330d made to the 330i, the 330d sounded more gutsy to me. Whereas the 330i was incredibly muted and it didn't sound as good as it should have to my ears.

The Performance intake makes a good improvement to the noise. Expensive but my ears like it! The Performance exhaust sounds lovely too.

The Massey Ferguson engine sounds pretty good under load but on start up / tick over it’s not pleasant although the N53 doesn’t sound all that pleasant at tick over either.