E46 Sport & M Sport - fool proof way to tell the difference?

[PartsGuru]

I'm actually quite jealous because back in April I spent a similar amount on a 53 plate RX8 whilst looking for a 330ci. I'd always liked the RX8 so I bought it on impulse!! I got bored with it and P/X it for a 330ci a couple of weeks ago.

[dooosuk]

Thanks, seemed to drive nice on my way back home last night. There's some slight bolster wear I need to sort out but hopefully that'll be it.

Thanks for the info again.

[SJobson]

Don't know if it's just the angle of the photos, but it looks like the rear wheels are the same size as the fronts when they should be staggered (wider rears).

[sonnyb]

PartsGuru said:

I'm actually quite jealous because back in April I spent a similar amount on a 53 plate RX8 whilst looking for a 330ci. I'd always liked the RX8 so I bought it on impulse!! I got bored with it and P/X it for a 330ci a couple of weeks ago.

At one time I too was quite interested in an RX8, though I never drove one, as I went for my 05' 330Ci.
Having driven both how does the RX8 compare? Did it feel fast in comparsion?
The figures say the RX8 is very peaky with the same power as a 330 but a lot less torque.

[AB]

I've not read the thread so apologies for any duplication.

Sport and M-Sport are the same. M-Sport came in circa. 2004. After the facelift IIRC.

There should be no differences in spec.

[PartsGuru]

sonnyb said:

PartsGuru said:

I'm actually quite jealous because back in April I spent a similar amount on a 53 plate RX8 whilst looking for a 330ci. I'd always liked the RX8 so I bought it on impulse!! I got bored with it and P/X it for a 330ci a couple of weeks ago.

At one time I too was quite interested in an RX8, though I never drove one, as I went for my 05' 330Ci.
Having driven both how does the RX8 compare? Did it feel fast in comparsion?
The figures say the RX8 is very peaky with the same power as a 330 but a lot less torque.

I bought a 231ps version and it was very peaky lol!!! limiter would come in at 9.5k or so and you had to rev it to get it to really go. It was ok at commuting speeds as well, but as you said with the lower torque you had to be in the right gear to get any rolling pickup. The main difference is in the handling, my 330ci is a 2000 and even though it has sports susp as an option it doesn't feel as planted as the RX8. My 330ci is an auto as well so I just drift along to work and back in the traffic lol!! I've been lucky to have had a nice selection of company cars thru working at a dealer, from a E39 520 msport as my first car, thru to JCW tuned MINI's and a very nice 330d msport touring with a cool nav and media option. The RX8 was fun but I do like the 330. I just got fed up paying all that money to the taxman and having nothing to show for it so I opted out back in April.

[dooosuk]

SJobson said:

Don't know if it's just the angle of the photos, but it looks like the rear wheels are the same size as the fronts when they should be staggered (wider rears).

Blimey, that's good eyes. On checking just now the tyres are indeed the same size 225/40/18's. I guess I'll have to check the size of the actual alloys sometime this week/weekend.

Should they be 8" at the front and 8.5" at the rear? Hoping they just have the wrong tyres on them.

Edited by dooosuk on Tuesday 29th September 09:15

[PartsGuru]

Could be just a simple case of money saving although I do recall reading a thread on PH where fitting smaller rear tyres was a recommendation to improve ride or traction or something similar??

Good call and well spotted on the different sizes though!!

[fivesixseven8]

Thought I recognised that username You finally parted with the Golf then Andy? The 330 looks a nice buy.

Dave R.

[ipwn]

dooosuk said:

SJobson said:

Don't know if it's just the angle of the photos, but it looks like the rear wheels are the same size as the fronts when they should be staggered (wider rears).

Blimey, that's good eyes. On checking just now the tyres are indeed the same size 225/40/18's. I guess I'll have to check the size of the actual alloys sometime this week/weekend.

Should they be 8" at the front and 8.5" at the rear? Hoping they just have the wrong tyres on them.

Edited by dooosuk on Tuesday 29th September 09:15

If theyre the same as mine size wise then it should be 255 and 225

[dooosuk]

fivesixseven8 said:

Thought I recognised that username You finally parted with the Golf then Andy? The 330 looks a nice buy.

Dave R.

Fingers crossed it turns out a reasonable buy...couldn't justify the 911 in the end with a possible move to London on the horizon and not knowing where I'll be living. Figured this should give me a little bit of fun for a few months.

I've still got the old Golf at the minute. Failed it's MOT on the exhaust downpipe, 1 front brake flexi hose and rusted rear suspension strut top caps. Don't fancy / probably can't do the downpipe myself and was quoted £250 labour for that and the manifold to be replaced (think there's a small crack in it since the 'ring trip). With 3 advisories on tyres etc and a water pump that sounds like it's probably on it's way out I decided its probably going to be scrapped/broken.