330 Diesel Information
Discussion
Hi first post in this section,
been looking at picking up something a bit more economical but not sacrificing too much performance and the 330 Diesel sport is looking like a good contender. so i have a few questions about them.
- is about 10-11k enough?
- what sort of mileage do they start to cost money on maintenance as ill be looking at ones with about 80-90k on the clock and will look to take it to about 120k before shifting it.
- what things are there to look for on the 330d sport?
- it'll be a manual as I still want a proper gear box so is there much to be aware of with them?
- what sort of MPG is realistic with these with fairly hard everyday usage?
- what are servicing costs like?
- remaps, are they worth it with these and what sort of realistic figures are available from them as there seem to be some wildly varying claims out there.
it'll be my 1st rear wheel drive car so are there any handling characteristics that i need to be aware of other than the usual?
Cheers
Rich
been looking at picking up something a bit more economical but not sacrificing too much performance and the 330 Diesel sport is looking like a good contender. so i have a few questions about them.
- is about 10-11k enough?
- what sort of mileage do they start to cost money on maintenance as ill be looking at ones with about 80-90k on the clock and will look to take it to about 120k before shifting it.
- what things are there to look for on the 330d sport?
- it'll be a manual as I still want a proper gear box so is there much to be aware of with them?
- what sort of MPG is realistic with these with fairly hard everyday usage?
- what are servicing costs like?
- remaps, are they worth it with these and what sort of realistic figures are available from them as there seem to be some wildly varying claims out there.
it'll be my 1st rear wheel drive car so are there any handling characteristics that i need to be aware of other than the usual?
Cheers
Rich
Rich VRS said:
Hi first post in this section,
been looking at picking up something a bit more economical but not sacrificing too much performance and the 330 Diesel sport is looking like a good contender. so i have a few questions about them.
Rich
and my first reply in this section, I bought an e46 54reg with 90k miles 2 months ago so the following may help.been looking at picking up something a bit more economical but not sacrificing too much performance and the 330 Diesel sport is looking like a good contender. so i have a few questions about them.
Rich
Rich VRS said:
- is about 10-11k enough?
I paid 12K.
Rich VRS said:
- what sort of mileage do they start to cost money on maintenance as ill be looking at ones with about 80-90k on the clock and will look to take it to about 120k before shifting it.
After I bought it I found at high speed braking the steering wheel juddered, turned out all four discs needed replacing + front 2 bushes. The work was done at the sellers expense at approx 1K cost by an indie (PMW chelmsford did a very good job).I intend to keep mine longer but if you work out the depreciation of a 120K car against the length of time you intend to keep it, it might work out better to lease a new 330d (coupe is nice IMHO). The Efficient dynamics will save you money as well.
Rich VRS said:
- it'll be a manual as I still want a proper gear box so is there much to be aware of with them?
I've had no problem with it, changes smoothly. 1st and 2nd changes are really quick, 3rd gear onwards is where all the real fun is (amazing engine). On reflection 1+2 are a bit hectic but after that its all good.Rich VRS said:
- what sort of MPG is realistic with these with fairly hard everyday usage?
I do a mix of A-road + motorway, so on A roads I get about 38mpg and on the motorway 40+. I regularly get 500 miles to a tank, and around 550. if I've been on the motorway. Booting it doesn't seem to hurt the economy that much either. I hear the autos aren't as frugal.Rich VRS said:
- what are servicing costs like?
oil service due in 1500 miles, I've been quoted approx 200 by my local indie and well I didn't ask the dealer.Rich VRS said:
- remaps, are they worth it with these and what sort of realistic figures are available from them as there seem to be some wildly varying claims out there.
will be trying it out after the oil service. so we'll see. You can (only) just stay ahead of a cooper S because of the engine but a remap should trounce it.Rich VRS said:
it'll be my 1st rear wheel drive car so are there any handling characteristics that i need to be aware of other than the usual?
Not noticed anything too different, handles well for a heavy car, my nerve goes before the car does. Feels solid.Sport suspension is firm you really do feel every bit of the road but I didn't mind because I knew what to expect, try an SE and Sport if you really want to be sure. SE may wallow more in the corners. Mine does tramline but considering the size of the rears and the quality of the roads its not too bad. Its not something that put me off and I've got used to it. It may be disconcerting to those who haven't experienced it.
Other stuff:
Warning Triangle in the boot and rechargeable torch in the glovebox were missing in mine but you can get them off ebay cheap (check it when you buy).
The engine is the best part of the whole thing, It gives smooth lazy power everywhere because of the 6cyl. My friend has the latest 320d coupe with 177 horses but it doesn't deliver the power in the same way, its more frantic (IMHO). Its a subjective thing I much prefer the 6cyl to the 4.
I don't regret my choice at all it's an excellent car.
Hope that helps.
p.s. the xenons are cool.
RE 204bhp upgrade.
There are few comman mistakes about this.
In early(march) 2003 there was a very mild facelift which included a six speed manual gearbox, and LED rear lights. This does not mean it is the 204 bhp model.
The engine upgrade happened in late(September) 2003. The only way to be certain that it is the newer engine, is to get someone at a BMW service department to check it for you using the chassis number. If it has the engine code(M57 I think) with "TU" after it, then it is the newer engine.
If you are looking at a 2003 car with a six speed manual gearbox, one important clue would be to find out when it was built, and ignore when it was first registered. A car might have been built in early 2003 and not registered for a few months. Most staff in any BMW dealer with access to the "IVS" system will be able to tell you this.
Another important factor is to know is that there was a shortage of these newer 3.0 diesel engines in 2004 because this is when the 535d(same engine unit) was launched, and therefore very few were registered then. This makes them incredibly hard to find a used car now. Either extend your search/budget to include higher mileage 2005 cars or lower mileage 2003/2002 cars.
There are few comman mistakes about this.
In early(march) 2003 there was a very mild facelift which included a six speed manual gearbox, and LED rear lights. This does not mean it is the 204 bhp model.
The engine upgrade happened in late(September) 2003. The only way to be certain that it is the newer engine, is to get someone at a BMW service department to check it for you using the chassis number. If it has the engine code(M57 I think) with "TU" after it, then it is the newer engine.
If you are looking at a 2003 car with a six speed manual gearbox, one important clue would be to find out when it was built, and ignore when it was first registered. A car might have been built in early 2003 and not registered for a few months. Most staff in any BMW dealer with access to the "IVS" system will be able to tell you this.
Another important factor is to know is that there was a shortage of these newer 3.0 diesel engines in 2004 because this is when the 535d(same engine unit) was launched, and therefore very few were registered then. This makes them incredibly hard to find a used car now. Either extend your search/budget to include higher mileage 2005 cars or lower mileage 2003/2002 cars.
kentmotorcompany said:
RE 204bhp upgrade.
If you are looking at a 2003 car with a six speed manual gearbox, one important clue would be to find out when it was built, and ignore when it was first registered. A car might have been built in early 2003 and not registered for a few months. Most staff in any BMW dealer with access to the "IVS" system will be able to tell you this.
An easier way is to check the BMW label on the suspension mount to the right side of the engine. Mine says Built Aug'04 and the manual tells me its 204bhp. The chassis number on mine has no such engine code (M57/TU).If you are looking at a 2003 car with a six speed manual gearbox, one important clue would be to find out when it was built, and ignore when it was first registered. A car might have been built in early 2003 and not registered for a few months. Most staff in any BMW dealer with access to the "IVS" system will be able to tell you this.
mhussa said:
kentmotorcompany said:
RE 204bhp upgrade.
If you are looking at a 2003 car with a six speed manual gearbox, one important clue would be to find out when it was built, and ignore when it was first registered. A car might have been built in early 2003 and not registered for a few months. Most staff in any BMW dealer with access to the "IVS" system will be able to tell you this.
An easier way is to check the BMW label on the suspension mount to the right side of the engine. Mine says Built Aug'04 and the manual tells me its 204bhp. The chassis number on mine has no such engine code (M57/TU).If you are looking at a 2003 car with a six speed manual gearbox, one important clue would be to find out when it was built, and ignore when it was first registered. A car might have been built in early 2003 and not registered for a few months. Most staff in any BMW dealer with access to the "IVS" system will be able to tell you this.
The engine code is not in the chassis number. I meant someone at BMW can find the engine code using the chassis number on the BMW system.
Further to what's been said above..........
A 6-spd manual box means it a 204bhp car by default. The oil cooler is located in a different place on the 184bhp car and there are other mods under the bonnet that give the game away. My March 2003 car is a 204bhp car.
Unless the car is a coupe, they will not have LED rear lights. There was a mild facelift (indicators, wings and bonnet suages) in late 2001, so any 3 series built after that date will have the revised bonnet, wings, indicators and different bumper shape, both front and rear. They also changed the steering rack in the 2001 facelift.
HTH
Matt
A 6-spd manual box means it a 204bhp car by default. The oil cooler is located in a different place on the 184bhp car and there are other mods under the bonnet that give the game away. My March 2003 car is a 204bhp car.
Unless the car is a coupe, they will not have LED rear lights. There was a mild facelift (indicators, wings and bonnet suages) in late 2001, so any 3 series built after that date will have the revised bonnet, wings, indicators and different bumper shape, both front and rear. They also changed the steering rack in the 2001 facelift.
HTH
Matt
MattOz said:
Further to what's been said above..........
A 6-spd manual box means it a 204bhp car by default.
This is the bit that is the most comman mistake I was referring to in my earlier post. The are some cars that were built between early 2003, and late 2003, when they had the mild facelift(including the 6 speed box) but not the engine upgrade. A 6-spd manual box means it a 204bhp car by default.
kentmotorcompany said:
This is the bit that is the most comman mistake I was referring to in my earlier post. The are some cars that were built between early 2003, and late 2003, when they had the mild facelift(including the 6 speed box) but not the engine upgrade.
I know of a 335d *without* Efficient Dynamics, now all the new ones come with it. I can imagine the same sort of confusion over engine variants re-occuring in the future.
As a general tip its a good one, the only way for us mere mortals to know exactly what we're getting under the hood is to get the dealer to verify the engine variant from the chassis number.
Thanks.
kentmotorcompany said:
MattOz said:
Further to what's been said above..........
A 6-spd manual box means it a 204bhp car by default.
This is the bit that is the most comman mistake I was referring to in my earlier post. The are some cars that were built between early 2003, and late 2003, when they had the mild facelift(including the 6 speed box) but not the engine upgrade.A 6-spd manual box means it a 204bhp car by default.
Edited to add the following info. My March 2003 car is 2993cc and has a c02 rating of 177. Now unless BMW changed the engine from the 2926cc unit and kept the bhp the same at 184bhp, then mine is 204bhp. These "uprated" M57 units were being tested by journos in early Feb 2003 when the 330cd came out. The coupe never had the 184bhp engine, so the unit was availble from early 2003. Coupled to that, and regarding my earlier post, the oil cooler was resituated on the 204bhp unit.
Matt
Edited by MattOz on Sunday 18th May 19:18
Edited by MattOz on Sunday 18th May 19:26
According to the e-maps website 
the 184bhp version ECU is the Bosch DDE4.0, whereas the 204bhp one is the Bosch EDC16, thats another way of checking. As a used buyer I didn't/wouldn't consider any of this. I just assumed when I bought it that anything with a six-speed and no-led's would be the 204.
I guess it's all (potentially) useful info for anyone looking to buy one in the future.
P.S I think the 204 was the Euro IV compliant engine (177grams co2 for the manual) whereas the 184 version wasn't.
the 184bhp version ECU is the Bosch DDE4.0, whereas the 204bhp one is the Bosch EDC16, thats another way of checking. As a used buyer I didn't/wouldn't consider any of this. I just assumed when I bought it that anything with a six-speed and no-led's would be the 204. I guess it's all (potentially) useful info for anyone looking to buy one in the future.
P.S I think the 204 was the Euro IV compliant engine (177grams co2 for the manual) whereas the 184 version wasn't.
Edited by mhussa on Sunday 18th May 23:44
I was a used car sales manager for a BMW dealer during this time, and I'm sure I seem to remember having had a six speed car that was not the 204 bhp engine. Hence my posts.
However this is all in the memory, and Ill have to leave it there, unless I find a 2003 car with a 6 speed box and the older engine.
However this is all in the memory, and Ill have to leave it there, unless I find a 2003 car with a 6 speed box and the older engine.
I used to have a '54 plate 330d Sport auto so in response to the comment from RichVRS, I would agree the auto is not as frugal as the manual. 480-500 miles from a tank was about the norm from mixed driving. That said, I loved the auto (my first) and would suggest at least trying one before going for a manual. Yopu can sit sit on a wave of torque! Great car - mine would still be on the drive if it wasn't for an expanding family!
kentmotorcompany said:
I was a used car sales manager for a BMW dealer during this time, and I'm sure I seem to remember having had a six speed car that was not the 204 bhp engine. Hence my posts.
However this is all in the memory, and Ill have to leave it there, unless I find a 2003 car with a 6 speed box and the older engine.
You may well be right. I was simply pointing out that the 204bhp unit was available from early 2003. There may be some of the last 184bhp cars that have a 6-spd box, but I've never heard of them. That certainly doesn't mean that they don't exist though! LOL However this is all in the memory, and Ill have to leave it there, unless I find a 2003 car with a 6 speed box and the older engine.
Matt
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