HELP! save me from the sooty devil........
Discussion
Righto, it's time to replace my E46 330d tourer with a current shape one, and, oh god, i think i'm going to have to buy another diesel.............
I'm really trying to repent, but i just can't see how anyone would buy anything but a 330d if you want decent performance with decent (ish) economy?? I must have a manual, so the 35d is out (sorry) so that leaves 325i, 335i and 330d. the 25i is easy to discount because it can't tow a trailer over 1600kg (which i need to lug my rally car around occasionally), so that leaves the 30d and 35i.
Now looking at the figures, the 35i is a smidge (0.5s) quicker to 60 (6.2 plays 5.7) but the 30d pretty much matches it's in-gear times (give or take 0.1s here or there to either).
Fuel economy, well, the 30d walks it, and i am buying the car to keep for at least 3 years, and in 3years will anyone want a 3.0turbo gasoline car that only does 30mpg??? (i.e. will the 35i depreciate a bit faster??)
I would love to buy into the creamy smooth gasoline 6, but the lutherian pull of the ship oil powered version is difficult to ignore???
I'm really trying to repent, but i just can't see how anyone would buy anything but a 330d if you want decent performance with decent (ish) economy?? I must have a manual, so the 35d is out (sorry) so that leaves 325i, 335i and 330d. the 25i is easy to discount because it can't tow a trailer over 1600kg (which i need to lug my rally car around occasionally), so that leaves the 30d and 35i.
Now looking at the figures, the 35i is a smidge (0.5s) quicker to 60 (6.2 plays 5.7) but the 30d pretty much matches it's in-gear times (give or take 0.1s here or there to either).
Fuel economy, well, the 30d walks it, and i am buying the car to keep for at least 3 years, and in 3years will anyone want a 3.0turbo gasoline car that only does 30mpg??? (i.e. will the 35i depreciate a bit faster??)
I would love to buy into the creamy smooth gasoline 6, but the lutherian pull of the ship oil powered version is difficult to ignore???
Max_Torque said:
I must have a manual, so the 35d is out (sorry) so that leaves 325i, 335i and 330d.
Any reason why you've ommitted the 330i? I had one (272bhp ED E90) and the engine was brilliant. 30-35mpg is realistic in a manual and possibly more if you're on the motorway a lot.I say it was brilliant, but I still swapped it for a diesel auto...
According to the brochure, there is no 330i in the current car, it lists a 325i, which just happens to have a 3.0l engine....... maybe people found the comparison between 335i and 330i confusing??
The In-gear times i have seen are from various autocar tests, which obviously are not directly comparable because they were done on different days etc
The In-gear times i have seen are from various autocar tests, which obviously are not directly comparable because they were done on different days etc
I'm not exactly too worried about costs (as you have said, any new car immediately "costs" a huge amount more in depreciation), but my current car has now got 150k on the clock. However, if we were sat here, with fuel still at say £1 a litre, then buying a 35i would be my choice. But considering where fuel ££ could be going, is spending £35k, then getting landed with a car that can only do say 30mpg, a smart move?? tbh, i have had an excellent trade in value for my existing car (FBMWSH). Also, although i don't tow my rally car that often with my car (use a van usually) the 30d is a fantastic tow-er.
I think the 330i has been dropped. A shame as its a belter of a car and some say purer than the turbo'd 335i.
The 335i is very good but there have been a lot of HPFP failures with them. The 330d us rock solid, rapid in current form and very good on fuel with astonishingly low emissions - much more so than my 335d. Only issue is that most reckon the diesel is better suited to an auto box. I'd try both but be aware that manual six pots are harder to shift with manuals. Strange but true.
The 335i is very good but there have been a lot of HPFP failures with them. The 330d us rock solid, rapid in current form and very good on fuel with astonishingly low emissions - much more so than my 335d. Only issue is that most reckon the diesel is better suited to an auto box. I'd try both but be aware that manual six pots are harder to shift with manuals. Strange but true.
Funnily enough, i have found exactly the opposite with my current manual 330d, maybe becuase they are known to get better fuel economy, maybe becuase there aren't that many of them (especially in the "right" spec as well) but i've got about 5 people waiting to rip my arm off for my manual sport tourer at the moment (assuming i don't PartEx it first)
Indeed the 330i saloon and touring were both discontinued some time either late 2009 or early 2010. This makes the facelifted (LCI) ones fairly rare as they were only in production for about a year and were dropped due to poor sales. I suspect people wanting a 'fast one' were either economy foccussed and ticked 330d/335d or weren't and ticked 335i - the buying masses simply don't appreciate the virtues of NA petrol sixes like we do here.
Personally if I were in the OP's shoes I'd either buy something that has already depreciated a bit, maybe even hunt out an elusive LCI 330i manual E91 if such a thing exists, or take a look at the F10 (F11?) touring - I think the 528i has an NA 3.0 six and of course there's the 245bhp 530d - or just hang on a bit until the F30 is on the horizon. E9x values are taking enough of a hammering as it is right now, and I suspect that the next generation replacement is going to be considerably better, judging by the qualities of the F10 and new X3 compared to their predecessors.
Personally if I were in the OP's shoes I'd either buy something that has already depreciated a bit, maybe even hunt out an elusive LCI 330i manual E91 if such a thing exists, or take a look at the F10 (F11?) touring - I think the 528i has an NA 3.0 six and of course there's the 245bhp 530d - or just hang on a bit until the F30 is on the horizon. E9x values are taking enough of a hammering as it is right now, and I suspect that the next generation replacement is going to be considerably better, judging by the qualities of the F10 and new X3 compared to their predecessors.
If you don't want to do your biscuit financially don't buy a new outgoing model, the F30 or F31 whatever it is called will have been out for 18 months by the time you sell your car and you will loose shed loads.
I would hunt down a used e91 with 5-10k miles on it and saving a nice 30% off list, they are out there, a 330i manual would be my choice, the later 272bhp version, or look at an F11 touring. The new 5 series feels a lot like the E91, far more so than the E61 did.
The new 245bhp 330d is now far more desriable I reckon, it is nearly as quick as the 335d and far more frugal, plus you can have a manual, although I would never buy a manual diesel myself, personally hate the combo. If going manual would have to be 330i or I would consider the 335i.
I would hunt down a used e91 with 5-10k miles on it and saving a nice 30% off list, they are out there, a 330i manual would be my choice, the later 272bhp version, or look at an F11 touring. The new 5 series feels a lot like the E91, far more so than the E61 did.
The new 245bhp 330d is now far more desriable I reckon, it is nearly as quick as the 335d and far more frugal, plus you can have a manual, although I would never buy a manual diesel myself, personally hate the combo. If going manual would have to be 330i or I would consider the 335i.
gizlaroc said:
I think it arrived with the LCI cars, so the newer shape.
Double check that, but don't think there are any of the older 231bhp cars on that shape, only .3 seconds behind the 335d and around 25% better consumption.
The gap widens a fair bit once to get to 100 though Double check that, but don't think there are any of the older 231bhp cars on that shape, only .3 seconds behind the 335d and around 25% better consumption.
Worth also pointing out that the 330d only has a single turbo so there is a bigger power "gap" at lower revs. It also has electrically assisted steering - only the 335i and 335d have proper fully hydraulic steering. Any 3 series below the 335d/335i/M3 has steering that feels a bit artificial.
Oh and the 335d has a 500rpm higher rev limit.
Edited by Vladimir on Thursday 10th March 08:58
Vladimir said:
The gap widens a fair bit once to get to 100 though
Worth also pointing out that the 330d only has a single turbo so there is a bigger power "gap" at lower revs. It also has electrically assisted steering - only the 335i and 335d have proper fully hydraulic steering. Any 3 series below the 335d/335i/M3 has steering that feels a bit artificial.
Oh and the 335d has a 500rpm higher rev limit.
I thought the 30d revved to 5500?Worth also pointing out that the 330d only has a single turbo so there is a bigger power "gap" at lower revs. It also has electrically assisted steering - only the 335i and 335d have proper fully hydraulic steering. Any 3 series below the 335d/335i/M3 has steering that feels a bit artificial.
Oh and the 335d has a 500rpm higher rev limit.
Edited by Vladimir on Thursday 10th March 08:58
Can't remember the exact figures but it's about 5000rpm as far as I know for the 330d, the 335d is 5500ish (I need to check the exact figure on mine!)
One fact I DO know for sure that indicates I'm correct is that the peak power for a 330d is generated at 4000rpm, for the 335d it's at 4400rpm.
One fact I DO know for sure that indicates I'm correct is that the peak power for a 330d is generated at 4000rpm, for the 335d it's at 4400rpm.
Vladimir said:
Can't remember the exact figures but it's about 5000rpm as far as I know for the 330d, the 335d is 5500ish (I need to check the exact figure on mine!)
One fact I DO know for sure that indicates I'm correct is that the peak power for a 330d is generated at 4000rpm, for the 335d it's at 4400rpm.
All very confusing with different BMW models, but I think it is saying they all have 5000rmp redlineOne fact I DO know for sure that indicates I'm correct is that the peak power for a 330d is generated at 4000rpm, for the 335d it's at 4400rpm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N57
Noel - that isn't the engine used in the 335d - it's an M57 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M57
The highest powered version of the N57 (twin turbo) is slightly different and used in the 740d and X5 40d.
Just checked a couple of Youtube clips and the 335d redline is definitely higher.
The highest powered version of the N57 (twin turbo) is slightly different and used in the 740d and X5 40d.
Just checked a couple of Youtube clips and the 335d redline is definitely higher.
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