330i how fast really? 1/4mile 0-100 any info

[alfa daley]

Hi folks

Does anyone have any links to, or details of, 1/4 mile, 0-100 figures for the E46 330i, preferably the estate but I guess that is unlikely. Perhaps you have run your car at Santa Pod or another strip.

I am tempted to buy a 330i Touring (manual 2001, 2002 model) but if it can't outdrag a few of the standard hot hatches Civic type R, Clio 182 etc I think I will find it a bit disappointing in the go factor. So far I have driven a 1996 328i Sport (friends) and thought that that drove very well just needed more power (lovely sound). I sure some people will say get an M3 but most of the 1999 and before ones seem to look a bit well...ropey and I have a real thing for the MV wheels on the E46s. Am I wrong about the M3? Budget of around 8kish and probably buying after christmas.

[ipwn]

scrap that

Edited by ipwn on Sunday 14th December 19:59

[gizlaroc]

It is over 15 seconds in an estate manual, and the auto is around 16 seconds.

[Shropshiremike]

Autocar tested a manual saloon and recorded 0-100 in 16.5 and ss 1/4 of 15.0 @ 98 terminal. ( Issue of 1/11/2000 )

[alfa daley]

Cheers guys and Shropshire Mike for the source. Seems the kerb weight is 1575kg and with 231 bhp it works out as 145bhp per ton. Are BMW usually conservative with power figures or do most make 'spec sheet' power?

I've been reading the thread on M3 prices with interest, and it seems like the whole world is waiting for E46 prices to fall below 10k making the E36 prices look to expensive in comparison. Shame they didn't do an E36 m3 touring, now I would love that!

[gizlaroc]

http://www.m3touring.co.uk/

[Fox-]

alfa daley said:

Cheers guys and Shropshire Mike for the source. Seems the kerb weight is 1575kg and with 231 bhp it works out as 145bhp per ton. Are BMW usually conservative with power figures or do most make 'spec sheet' power?

The power figures are pretty spot on - I've had my 530i on a rolling road and it made 232bhp so within the margin for error compared to the quoted power output. It's the weight thats inaccurate - the weight is measured to some euro standard so includes a load of pointless crap like luggage, passengers or something. My 530i is quoted as 1605kg. When I took it to a weighbridge it weighed 1530kg with me and half a tank of fuel in the car.

I would have thought it would be at least as quick, probably more so, as my 530i. I have obtained some accurate figures for the 530i - tested at Millbrook Proving Ground with proper Racelogic timing equipment. They are as follows:

0-60 6.8 seconds
0-100 17.6 seconds
Standing Quarter 15.7 seconds @ 95mph
30-70 6.4 seconds

The only problem with my figures is that the conditions at the time of test are listed as 'wet'. I don't know what sort of difference the dry would make to these figures. Can any of the more learned amongst us hazard a guess as to what changes they would estimate were they obtained in the dry?

Interestingly, a 4 year old 528i SE with 192bhp equalled the 0-60 figure of 6.8 seconds but in the dry, which makes me think it would probably be a bit better given it's 40bhp up with similar weight.

So take those figures as a 'worst case scenario' - in the dry, a 330i Tourer is at least as quick as that, probably more so.

Obviously these figures are for the manual gearbox.

[alfa daley]

gizlaroc said:

http://www.m3touring.co.uk/

Now that is gorgeous. Nice and subtle only the wheels give it away.

Am I correct in saying that like most N/A engines the 330i is a complete waste of cash and time with regard to tuning for extra performance with minimum ££££ outlay? Anyone have a sportier non chavy exhaust on theirs?

[alfa daley]

Fox- said:

alfa daley said:

Cheers guys and Shropshire Mike for the source. Seems the kerb weight is 1575kg and with 231 bhp it works out as 145bhp per ton. Are BMW usually conservative with power figures or do most make 'spec sheet' power?

The power figures are pretty spot on - I've had my 530i on a rolling road and it made 232bhp so within the margin for error compared to the quoted power output. It's the weight thats inaccurate - the weight is measured to some euro standard so includes a load of pointless crap like luggage, passengers or something. My 530i is quoted as 1605kg. When I took it to a weighbridge it weighed 1530kg with me and half a tank of fuel in the car.

I would have thought it would be at least as quick, probably more so, as my 530i. I have obtained some accurate figures for the 530i - tested at Millbrook Proving Ground with proper Racelogic timing equipment. They are as follows:

0-60 6.8 seconds
0-100 17.6 seconds
Standing Quarter 15.7 seconds @ 95mph
30-70 6.4 seconds

The only problem with my figures is that the conditions at the time of test are listed as 'wet'. I don't know what sort of difference the dry would make to these figures. Can any of the more learned amongst us hazard a guess as to what changes they would estimate were they obtained in the dry?

Interestingly, a 4 year old 528i SE with 192bhp equalled the 0-60 figure of 6.8 seconds but in the dry, which makes me think it would probably be a bit better given it's 40bhp up with similar weight.

So take those figures as a 'worst case scenario' - in the dry, a 330i Tourer is at least as quick as that, probably more so.

Obviously these figures are for the manual gearbox.

Cheers Fox good to see some real figures, I'm assuming the 530 is slightly heavier than the 330.

[roofer]

They are brisk, not quick as such. Not bad through the gears, but they won't romp away from a hot hatch.

[Ment-Al]

You wont pull away but they will just about keep up. However, for you it will be effortless.

[okgo]

Ment-Al said:

You wont pull away but they will just about keep up. However, for you it will be effortless.

Depends on the hatch, there are plenty of hatches that would bury a 330 these days..

[Fox-]

okgo said:

Ment-Al said:

You wont pull away but they will just about keep up. However, for you it will be effortless.

Depends on the hatch, there are plenty of hatches that would bury a 330 these days..

'bury'?

[okgo]

Yes, bury, as in cover from sight by being that much faster.

[Fox-]

okgo said:

Yes, bury, as in cover from sight by being that much faster.

I suspected thats what you meant. IMHO it takes a considerable performance advantage to 'bury' another car being driven hard. Which hot hatches do you have in mind?

Nb: Impreza doesn't count.

I can think of only the Audi S3. And even then I don't think it's performance advantage - considerable though is it is - is sufficient for any burying to take place.

[okgo]

I agree its never going o be the hare and the tortoise, but I should think a chipped st would shake it off, (lets face it lots of them have been chipped)

I would think the s3 as you say would pull on it, I should think the works mini would pull on it.. Maybe a vxr that had been fettled with like lots have would pull on it..

[Fox-]

Given that many of us cannot be bothered with the hassle involved in modified cars I don't think tuned v standard is particularly fair.

[okgo]

Fair enough.

In which case there probably are not many std hatches that would.

[Fox-]

Don't get me wrong I appreciate the benefits of remaps etc but I had enough trouble insuring my 530i completely standard when I got it, let alone a tuned hot hatch.

[roofer]

A Focus ST would probably see off a 330 in all honesty.