2011 BMW 330d M-Sport - Exciting white....
Discussion
Well after a month and it not breaking(more than once) I thought I would make a thread to show of my replacement daily driver.
Originally, I got a 2010 MINI JCW back in early Jan as a replacement for my ZT 260 as 25mpg wasn't really encouraging saving and ideas of superchargers and straight through exhausts were being thought about, no ideal for a 50 mile round trip...
My MINI;
Sadly, after 4 different returns to different dealers, it was diagnosed with requiring a lot of work. Typically, all the typical N14 engine problems, were on my 28k example and after 3 months, engine failure among other issues made my dealer somewhat apologetic.
After a meeting with the dealer principle, it was suggested that a possible exchange for another car within the BMW family of cars would be a better option than waiting for my MINI to be repaired(it was in for 3 weeks and had an indefinite lead time due to demand) so being the excellent salesman he was, a white manual 330d had come in and if I was free to take it for a test drive.
As you all know, the 335d is the pinicle of performance etc etc but compared to the 330d, its more to tax, does a lot less mpg, more to insure and bloody hard to find on low mileage.
After a lot of negotiations and a very unexpected promotion at work, I signed on the dotted line and got the car. It is a 2011 LCi model on 28k in Alpine white in M-Sport spec. The spec is rather high apparently and I am not totally sure of all the extras but some of the main ones are;
Manual Gearbox
Pro Nav with 8.8" screen
Projector lights which turn with the steering
The nav and iDrive system is fantastic, very intuitive and the bluetooth streaming works very well with spotify. The only thing I am missing is DAB, however I have been told(happy to be corrected) that its either DAB or BT streaming available in the LCi cars. The M-sport seats are really comfy and supportive, if I was being picky I wish they were electric like in the ZT but its not really a deal breaker.
Enough with the rambling about the car, I hope its PH-worthy now I am using the black stuff!
Cleaned by paulcjtaylor1, on Flickr
Front Quarter by paulcjtaylor1, on Flickr
Rear View by paulcjtaylor1, on Flickr
Engine by paulcjtaylor1, on Flickr
Engine Cover by paulcjtaylor1, on Flickr
Beading by paulcjtaylor1, on Flickr
Comments are always welcome, if anyone knows much about these I am always interested to hear about other owners experiences!
Originally, I got a 2010 MINI JCW back in early Jan as a replacement for my ZT 260 as 25mpg wasn't really encouraging saving and ideas of superchargers and straight through exhausts were being thought about, no ideal for a 50 mile round trip...
My MINI;
Sadly, after 4 different returns to different dealers, it was diagnosed with requiring a lot of work. Typically, all the typical N14 engine problems, were on my 28k example and after 3 months, engine failure among other issues made my dealer somewhat apologetic.
After a meeting with the dealer principle, it was suggested that a possible exchange for another car within the BMW family of cars would be a better option than waiting for my MINI to be repaired(it was in for 3 weeks and had an indefinite lead time due to demand) so being the excellent salesman he was, a white manual 330d had come in and if I was free to take it for a test drive.
As you all know, the 335d is the pinicle of performance etc etc but compared to the 330d, its more to tax, does a lot less mpg, more to insure and bloody hard to find on low mileage.
After a lot of negotiations and a very unexpected promotion at work, I signed on the dotted line and got the car. It is a 2011 LCi model on 28k in Alpine white in M-Sport spec. The spec is rather high apparently and I am not totally sure of all the extras but some of the main ones are;
Manual Gearbox
Pro Nav with 8.8" screen
Projector lights which turn with the steering
The nav and iDrive system is fantastic, very intuitive and the bluetooth streaming works very well with spotify. The only thing I am missing is DAB, however I have been told(happy to be corrected) that its either DAB or BT streaming available in the LCi cars. The M-sport seats are really comfy and supportive, if I was being picky I wish they were electric like in the ZT but its not really a deal breaker.
Enough with the rambling about the car, I hope its PH-worthy now I am using the black stuff!
Cleaned by paulcjtaylor1, on FlickrFront Quarter by paulcjtaylor1, on FlickrRear View by paulcjtaylor1, on FlickrEngine by paulcjtaylor1, on FlickrEngine Cover by paulcjtaylor1, on FlickrBeading by paulcjtaylor1, on FlickrComments are always welcome, if anyone knows much about these I am always interested to hear about other owners experiences!
It doesn't look like its had a hard 3 years, how many miles has it done? Adaptive Xenon's must be a nice feature. 
Before the remap comments start, my mates could hardly put the power down once mapped. It may have been a particularly lairy map and it was an Auto which probably didn't help but it was a bit much really.
Before the remap comments start, my mates could hardly put the power down once mapped. It may have been a particularly lairy map and it was an Auto which probably didn't help but it was a bit much really.
Big fan of these and the engine is a belter for a diesel and I still have days when I think I should have gone back to a E90 330d instead of the 330i, it looks a lovely example too and we took our old 330d from 3k miles to over 150k miles and nothing went wrong it was as solid as a rock.
Enjoy the new motor.
Enjoy the new motor.
SlowStig said:
Cheers for the comments, I'm currently out the country but once I'm back I think its probably going once I'm home. After 2 months I just can't get any enjoyment out of it other than knowing its costing me more than my old 4.6l v8 and I just don't think its worth it.
I have just posted on the diesel thread and sorry that you haven't got along with it, I always thought fuel wise they were pretty frugal as we consistently got around 43mpg in ours...I only ever got around 12mpg in my 4.8 v8 x5 if I drove it with any vigour so the 330d was pretty good on fuel I thought. I'm getting around 40mpg from mine which isn't really much more than my JCW got on the same roads. Plus the BMW is more to buy, bigger and sounds lousy. In the defence of the BMW, it is quieter and much better on the motorway but even on a run to Glasgow at 70mph it only gets 45ish which is crap tbh.
I see where you are coming from the problem with a 330d or 330i is that they are very capable cars but they are just set up to blast up and down a motorway so in most other situations they tend to feel a little numb and unexciting I think and they don't raise a smile very often so you always think you should be driving something else a little more entertaining.
cerb4.5lee said:
I see where you are coming from the problem with a 330d or 330i is that they are very capable cars but they are just set up to blast up and down a motorway so in most other situations they tend to feel a little numb and unexciting I think and they don't raise a smile very often so you always think you should be driving something else a little more entertaining.
Indeed, I suspect a little more excitement would probably make it better. One of my mates runs an ex-taxi mg zs with 135k on the clock and I think its much more fun and enjoyable to rattle round in compared with mine.I suppose its a typical autobahn car with a bit of tarting up to make it look more sporty.
SlowStig said:
ajb85 said:
Halliwell Jones?
Good guess. I haven't a problem with the dealership at all, they have been excellent and certainly I would be happy to buy from them again. Just my car is a bit "meh"
Well I still have this, mostly because it spends so much time broken, I don't get chance to investigate changing it!
Current list of things which have been replaced;
Inlet manifold
Swirl Flaps
ECU update
Brake issues
Window motors
More brake issues
Clutch (at 35k!)
Various squeaks, rattles and knocks
More brake issues
That's the list so far, I am keeping a record for the next owner so they know its been super reliable German engineering at it's finest
Other than that, its been fine, done what has been required and some of the kit which it has, surprising how I miss having it when I drive other cars!
Current list of things which have been replaced;
Inlet manifold
Swirl Flaps
ECU update
Brake issues
Window motors
More brake issues
Clutch (at 35k!)
Various squeaks, rattles and knocks
More brake issues
That's the list so far, I am keeping a record for the next owner so they know its been super reliable German engineering at it's finest
Other than that, its been fine, done what has been required and some of the kit which it has, surprising how I miss having it when I drive other cars!
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