E46 330ci ........ any good?
Discussion
as im sure some of you will know im currantly looking at buying a E36 M3 Evo
i have just seen a 01 E46 330ci for the same sort of money as im looking at spending on a older E36 M3 Evo
are the 330ci's anygood? as long as its compairable performance to my T5 i wont really need anymore poke
what do you guys think?
i have just seen a 01 E46 330ci for the same sort of money as im looking at spending on a older E36 M3 Evo
are the 330ci's anygood? as long as its compairable performance to my T5 i wont really need anymore poke
what do you guys think?
soprano said:
Cracking car - but don't expect to get M3 performance!
looking at the stats its about the same as my Volvo 850 T5 231bhp and 300NM of torque 1500kilos 0-60=6.3secs 155mph limited...so it should be ok for me i recon
i find my T5 perfect performance wise,it just doesnt feel too happy being flung around when the mood takes me,plus i like the creature comforts so the 330ci could well be perfect
I had a 330i saloon and loved it. I would never say it is a good compromise for a M3 though (unless you are going to be pootling around town or doing lots of motorway work).
The 330 was superb for it's everyday role but when you wanted to push on say over 7/10ths some things became apparent:
1. Sport suspension was not good enough-firm but didn't soak up bumps and still allowed some heavy body roll.
2. The engine was sweet as a nut but the power delivery was very linear and lacked a that extra surge at the top of the rev range.
3. High speed stability was poor. The car literally hops and skips at big speeds on anything but a smooth surface.
4. No LSD. This is no problem in normal driving but when fancy some nice smooth power oversteer, the lack of LSD is a problem. In the wet it also easy to get one wheel spinning away uselessly.
The 330 made me feel like I was 'abusing' it rather than relishing a good hard drive. However, it was excellent at fast, involving driving at about 7/10ths.
Great cars but migt not be focused enough. IMO BMW have always made their M cars a much more focused product for the more demanding driver and see to it that there is a gap between the range topper and the M derivative.
Running costs should be similiar regarding fuel consumption, oil and tyres. The M3 may have shorter service intervals though?? I believe there were some VANOS problems that can be pricey to fix. There has been much discussion on here about that so have a dig around.
PS: What do you drive now and what do you intend using the M3/330 for?
The 330 was superb for it's everyday role but when you wanted to push on say over 7/10ths some things became apparent:
1. Sport suspension was not good enough-firm but didn't soak up bumps and still allowed some heavy body roll.
2. The engine was sweet as a nut but the power delivery was very linear and lacked a that extra surge at the top of the rev range.
3. High speed stability was poor. The car literally hops and skips at big speeds on anything but a smooth surface.
4. No LSD. This is no problem in normal driving but when fancy some nice smooth power oversteer, the lack of LSD is a problem. In the wet it also easy to get one wheel spinning away uselessly.
The 330 made me feel like I was 'abusing' it rather than relishing a good hard drive. However, it was excellent at fast, involving driving at about 7/10ths.
Great cars but migt not be focused enough. IMO BMW have always made their M cars a much more focused product for the more demanding driver and see to it that there is a gap between the range topper and the M derivative.
Running costs should be similiar regarding fuel consumption, oil and tyres. The M3 may have shorter service intervals though?? I believe there were some VANOS problems that can be pricey to fix. There has been much discussion on here about that so have a dig around.
PS: What do you drive now and what do you intend using the M3/330 for?
Dino D said:
PS: What do you drive now and what do you intend using the M3/330 for?
at the moment i drive the car in my profile 
i will be keeping it and giving it to my g/f so we still have a fast estate car between us 
for the handy things,like taking the dog away for a long walk and shopping and the likethe M3 or 330ci will be driven daily.... (40 min round trip commute of 90% country lanes) and then motorway/dual carrageway trips at weekends
so the lower running costs of the 330ci are a bonus if you see what i mean
Coming from a FWD Volvo Estate (no offence!) the outright handling advantage of the M3 over the 330 might not be that big of a deal. The 330 sports might be a bit firm over the lanes but IMO it's worth having over the SE suspension even if it's not perfect. The other thing to do is go for a cheaper SE and fit some good springs with the change.
You might find it down on power compared with the T5-not sure what they make but I remember they were rather fast...
Not sure the 330 is noticeably cheaper to run than the M3 though...someone more knowlegable will be along soon though...
PS: Nice 'unmarked cop car' you have there.
You might find it down on power compared with the T5-not sure what they make but I remember they were rather fast...
Not sure the 330 is noticeably cheaper to run than the M3 though...someone more knowlegable will be along soon though...
PS: Nice 'unmarked cop car' you have there.
Dino D said:
Coming from a FWD Volvo Estate (no offence!) the outright handling advantage of the M3 over the 330 might not be that big of a deal. The 330 sports might be a bit firm over the lanes but IMO it's worth having over the SE suspension even if it's not perfect. The other thing to do is go for a cheaper SE and fit some good springs with the change.
You might find it down on power compared with the T5-not sure what they make but I remember they were rather fast...
Not sure the 330 is noticeably cheaper to run than the M3 though...someone more knowlegable will be along soon though...
PS: Nice 'unmarked cop car' you have there.
the "stock" 850 T5's made 225bhp and 300nm of torqueYou might find it down on power compared with the T5-not sure what they make but I remember they were rather fast...
Not sure the 330 is noticeably cheaper to run than the M3 though...someone more knowlegable will be along soon though...
PS: Nice 'unmarked cop car' you have there.
compaired to the 330ci 231bhp and 300nm torque
so shouldnt be miles apart performance wise,BUT the T5 spins-up in 2nd on the boost in the dry so RWD grip will be a very welcome change
my T5 curtainly goes alright,and the white is a bonus on the motorways as people tend to move over when i approach
i recon the 330ci will match my T5 on running costs tbh..the M3 will be slightly higher
Edited by y2blade on Sunday 4th November 19:19
y2blade said:
Dino D said:
Coming from a FWD Volvo Estate (no offence!) the outright handling advantage of the M3 over the 330 might not be that big of a deal. The 330 sports might be a bit firm over the lanes but IMO it's worth having over the SE suspension even if it's not perfect. The other thing to do is go for a cheaper SE and fit some good springs with the change.
You might find it down on power compared with the T5-not sure what they make but I remember they were rather fast...
Not sure the 330 is noticeably cheaper to run than the M3 though...someone more knowlegable will be along soon though...
PS: Nice 'unmarked cop car' you have there.
the "stock" 850 T5's made 225bhp and 300nm of torqueYou might find it down on power compared with the T5-not sure what they make but I remember they were rather fast...
Not sure the 330 is noticeably cheaper to run than the M3 though...someone more knowlegable will be along soon though...
PS: Nice 'unmarked cop car' you have there.
compaired to the 330ci 231bhp and 300nm torque
so shouldnt be miles apart performance wise,BUT the T5 spins-up in 2nd on the boost in the dry so RWD grip will be a very welcome change
my T5 curtainly goes alright,and the white is a bonus on the motorways as people tend to move over when i approach
i recon the 330ci will match my T5 on running costs tbh..the M3 will be slightly higher
Edited by y2blade on Sunday 4th November 19:19
After a Turbo FWD you won't find the lack of LSD a problem on the 330. With the 255section tyres wheelspin is non exitent in the dry except if you really provoke it.
You will love the sound too, lovely and bassy. IMO the 330 has a sweeter exhaust note. The M3's lose the bassy idle and have a high strung sound which is nice but when you just cruising along the 330 emits a much sweeter bassy note.
I take it your T5 is not 'stock' then...
y2blade said:
it all sounds good to me
i will have to see if i can get a drive in a 330ci and see what i think of it
there is one local to me on a used car lot for £7k its a 2001 car with 80k miles on it
does that sound about right?
errr that sounds pretty cheap to me? make sure you check it out thoroughlyi will have to see if i can get a drive in a 330ci and see what i think of it
there is one local to me on a used car lot for £7k its a 2001 car with 80k miles on it
does that sound about right?
soprano said:
y2blade said:
it all sounds good to me
i will have to see if i can get a drive in a 330ci and see what i think of it
there is one local to me on a used car lot for £7k its a 2001 car with 80k miles on it
does that sound about right?
errr that sounds pretty cheap to me? make sure you check it out thoroughlyi will have to see if i can get a drive in a 330ci and see what i think of it
there is one local to me on a used car lot for £7k its a 2001 car with 80k miles on it
does that sound about right?
Seems an OK price.
I spent a week driving a freind's 330i Sport saloon in the lake district in september. Was very very impressed. It's probably the most complete car i've driven in terms of being very very capable in standard trim (i seem to kill brakes on any car i drive, but not this). Plenty of space for a week away too. My only two gripes are that the suspension is a little too hard to be compfortable arond town and a little soft when really geting a move on. Also it's a bit "keen" when coming onto the power at high revs; it's hard to feed the power in gently i find. Other than that it was great and has been faultlessly reliable for the 18 months he's had it (30k miles).
I spent a week driving a freind's 330i Sport saloon in the lake district in september. Was very very impressed. It's probably the most complete car i've driven in terms of being very very capable in standard trim (i seem to kill brakes on any car i drive, but not this). Plenty of space for a week away too. My only two gripes are that the suspension is a little too hard to be compfortable arond town and a little soft when really geting a move on. Also it's a bit "keen" when coming onto the power at high revs; it's hard to feed the power in gently i find. Other than that it was great and has been faultlessly reliable for the 18 months he's had it (30k miles).
Dino D said:
Coming from a FWD Volvo Estate (no offence!) the outright handling advantage of the M3 over the 330 might not be that big of a deal. The 330 sports might be a bit firm over the lanes but IMO it's worth having over the SE suspension even if it's not perfect. The other thing to do is go for a cheaper SE and fit some good springs with the change.
You might find it down on power compared with the T5-not sure what they make but I remember they were rather fast...
Not sure the 330 is noticeably cheaper to run than the M3 though...someone more knowlegable will be along soon though...
PS: Nice 'unmarked cop car' you have there.
I haven't driven a M3, but currently have a Z4MC and recently was running a 330 saloon as a daily driver, and I think there's a noticeable difference in running costs. I used to get about 300 miles out of £40 of petrol in the 330, the Z4M struggles to do 200 miles on the same amount. You might find it down on power compared with the T5-not sure what they make but I remember they were rather fast...
Not sure the 330 is noticeably cheaper to run than the M3 though...someone more knowlegable will be along soon though...
PS: Nice 'unmarked cop car' you have there.
Not to sure about the other running costs yet but I expect a similar difference for everything else.
I've had my, admittedly auto, 330ci for over 4 years - a record and am made up with it but I do have a Chimaera and a bike for extra fun (if I hadn't put my back out 2 weeks ago).
My wife and I hated the sport suspension as it was extremely jiggly in town so ended up with an SE.
Compared to the Tiv it doesn't cost anything to run. I have only had to have 3 services in 48k miles and new front discs and new pads all round.
It's a great car for everyday driving and the only thing I can remotely think of to replace it would be a 330 Touring or and Audi S4 Avant.
My wife and I hated the sport suspension as it was extremely jiggly in town so ended up with an SE.
Compared to the Tiv it doesn't cost anything to run. I have only had to have 3 services in 48k miles and new front discs and new pads all round.
It's a great car for everyday driving and the only thing I can remotely think of to replace it would be a 330 Touring or and Audi S4 Avant.
agent006 said:
Seems an OK price.
I spent a week driving a freind's 330i Sport saloon in the lake district in september. Was very very impressed. It's probably the most complete car i've driven in terms of being very very capable in standard trim (i seem to kill brakes on any car i drive, but not this). Plenty of space for a week away too. My only two gripes are that the suspension is a little too hard to be compfortable arond town and a little soft when really geting a move on. Also it's a bit "keen" when coming onto the power at high revs; it's hard to feed the power in gently i find. Other than that it was great and has been faultlessly reliable for the 18 months he's had it (30k miles).
ive just rang the place with the 330ci for sale and its gone now! "sold at the weekend"I spent a week driving a freind's 330i Sport saloon in the lake district in september. Was very very impressed. It's probably the most complete car i've driven in terms of being very very capable in standard trim (i seem to kill brakes on any car i drive, but not this). Plenty of space for a week away too. My only two gripes are that the suspension is a little too hard to be compfortable arond town and a little soft when really geting a move on. Also it's a bit "keen" when coming onto the power at high revs; it's hard to feed the power in gently i find. Other than that it was great and has been faultlessly reliable for the 18 months he's had it (30k miles).
he has another coming in at the end of the week from a Audi dealers (was a trade-in) its a "330ci M sport"...51 plate 50k miles .....around £9k does that sound right "model-wise"
he said i can take it for a test drive no problems....i'll keep you all posted
There was a 330Ci Sport (not M sport) at that time. I had one myself. It has a different front spoiler and rear bumper to the standard car and a sort of fake carbon interior trim, which doesn't look too bad in reality. It's also got a rock hard suspension and 18" wheels as standard. Not a great combination for UK roads. I've driven a few M3s of the same era and they are much more aggressive. Personally I think the 330Ci is a better long distance tourer. A little easier to live with, but still decently quick. I wouldn't bother with the sport version though.
uktrailmonster said:
There was a 330Ci Sport (not M sport) at that time. I had one myself. It has a different front spoiler and rear bumper to the standard car and a sort of fake carbon interior trim, which doesn't look too bad in reality. It's also got a rock hard suspension and 18" wheels as standard. Not a great combination for UK roads. I've driven a few M3s of the same era and they are much more aggressive. Personally I think the 330Ci is a better long distance tourer. A little easier to live with, but still decently quick. I wouldn't bother with the sport version though.
ok,thanks for your input....i'll aim more towards the "normal" 330ci's what sort of spec are they as std...what "toys" do they have? ive seen a couple with cruise control etc etc
cheers
Chris
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