e46: 325ci, 330ci or 330d
Discussion
hi folks,
looking for some advise as im unsure as to what the 330d's are like compared with a 330ci or even 325i.
Ive had a 325i e90 last year and wanting to get back into a bmw!
the 325i was a little thirsty for me as the previous car was a 1.6 diesel. But i can manage a 325i again.
Will be going for an e46 this time
How does the 325ci e46 compare with a 330ci e46 and the equivalent 330d, in respect to fuel consumption and performance?
c+c's are welcome!!
thank you
looking for some advise as im unsure as to what the 330d's are like compared with a 330ci or even 325i.
Ive had a 325i e90 last year and wanting to get back into a bmw!
the 325i was a little thirsty for me as the previous car was a 1.6 diesel. But i can manage a 325i again.
Will be going for an e46 this time
How does the 325ci e46 compare with a 330ci e46 and the equivalent 330d, in respect to fuel consumption and performance?
c+c's are welcome!!
thank you
I went from a e90 330d to e46 330ci.
The e46 is a lot more raw in how it handles the road it follows every crack, bump, wear mark making it really tiring to drive on long journeys as it won't stay in a straight line. I spent a small fortune on my e46 (46k on the clock) on bushes, suspension, tyres, alignment and whilst it got better it was still there. Even so I still love the e46 but in the end I sold it got a e90 330i and love it, it handles the road better whilst still giving the feedback you want as a driver.
Out of the 3 choices people will ask how many miles do you do and then either say get the 330d or the 330ci. There is no reason to buy the 325i unless your budget can't stretch for a good example 330ci.
The e46 is a lot more raw in how it handles the road it follows every crack, bump, wear mark making it really tiring to drive on long journeys as it won't stay in a straight line. I spent a small fortune on my e46 (46k on the clock) on bushes, suspension, tyres, alignment and whilst it got better it was still there. Even so I still love the e46 but in the end I sold it got a e90 330i and love it, it handles the road better whilst still giving the feedback you want as a driver.
Out of the 3 choices people will ask how many miles do you do and then either say get the 330d or the 330ci. There is no reason to buy the 325i unless your budget can't stretch for a good example 330ci.
hwajones said:
The 330 had noticable bite over the 325 but quite a bit heavier to insure and run at my age (24)...
That is very interesting, I found there to be absolutely no difference at all in insurance when I was looking earlier this year at 19. In fact, I wasn't able to be quoted on an E46 325i sport, but an E46 330i sport was fair game IIRC.
hwajones said:
The 330 had noticable bite over the 325 but quite a bit heavier to insure and run at my age (24)...
Other than insurance, the running costs are identical. The only reasons to buy a 325Ci are:a) You cannot insure a 330Ci
b) You find a particularly nice 325Ci where the condition and history make it worth the sacrifice over the 330Ci.
Like for like, the 330Ci is simply a 325Ci with more spec, more power and more performance but the same running costs.
You didn't mention auto or manual. And I don't know how significant 0-60 is for you in real terms, but based on official figures in BMW manual.
The 325 ci auto compared to manual is 1.1 second slower
330 ci auto : manual is 0.5 second slower
Autos also take (slight) drops in fuel consumption too and are (slightly) higher co2.
I hear on BMW forums that auto 330cis are more plentiful than manuals.
The 325 ci auto compared to manual is 1.1 second slower
330 ci auto : manual is 0.5 second slower
Autos also take (slight) drops in fuel consumption too and are (slightly) higher co2.
I hear on BMW forums that auto 330cis are more plentiful than manuals.
brilliant comments people!
I don't really mind if its a manual or an auto. But where i live it is up hills and down hills where an auto is a pleasure to drive.
But for some proper driving would prefer a manual.
I actually thought that the 330ci would have been more to run on fuel than a 325. But if there isn't much difference or any at all im 330 all the way.
Ive heard that the diesel turbo's have quite a lot of problems?
I don't really mind if its a manual or an auto. But where i live it is up hills and down hills where an auto is a pleasure to drive.
But for some proper driving would prefer a manual.
I actually thought that the 330ci would have been more to run on fuel than a 325. But if there isn't much difference or any at all im 330 all the way.
Ive heard that the diesel turbo's have quite a lot of problems?
I'e got a 330Ci manual and I'd echo the comments made above - much faster and just as economical as the 320/325, and less troublesome than the diesels - I avoided the diesels in the price bracket that I was looking in. There are a number of common faults on the E46 but most apply to the entire range and most are fairly easy fixes.
My 330Ci gets around 31/32mpg and has 120k on the clock (mine is the later 6 speed manual). They are good cars, but like most if not all cars of this age they will need some tlc at some point.
Having said that I may sell mine soon as I've been offered a cheap Jag XF....
My 330Ci gets around 31/32mpg and has 120k on the clock (mine is the later 6 speed manual). They are good cars, but like most if not all cars of this age they will need some tlc at some point.
Having said that I may sell mine soon as I've been offered a cheap Jag XF....
My 330Ci Convertible has 65k miles on the clock and it's currently sat on an overall (according to OBC) 22mpg! Thirsty but I expect more so than the coupe due to weight?
What impresses me about the 330 is the midrange, 3rd gear is a joy.
Mine's a manual and the gearbox is lovely too.
Also, I'm pretty sure the 330 has electric memory seats as well as auto lights and wipers over the 325? May not bother you too much but the seats and the lights I quite like, wipers less so.
What impresses me about the 330 is the midrange, 3rd gear is a joy.
Mine's a manual and the gearbox is lovely too.
Also, I'm pretty sure the 330 has electric memory seats as well as auto lights and wipers over the 325? May not bother you too much but the seats and the lights I quite like, wipers less so.
AB said:
My 330Ci Convertible has 65k miles on the clock and it's currently sat on an overall (according to OBC) 22mpg! Thirsty but I expect more so than the coupe due to weight?
You must spend 100% of your time around town then. My 530i, which is of similar weight to your 330Ci, does 20-22mpg around town across a tank (Town being cold start 5 mile short trips at the most) but because it'll always hit mid 30's on longer runs my lifetime average (Well, since I began recording 2.5 years ago) is currently 27mpg.I got exactly 35mpg over 3200 miles from UK to, and around, Central Europe and the Alps last month.
Fox- said:
You must spend 100% of your time around town then. My 530i, which is of similar weight to your 330Ci, does 20-22mpg around town across a tank (Town being cold start 5 mile short trips at the most) but because it'll always hit mid 30's on longer runs my lifetime average (Well, since I began recording 2.5 years ago) is currently 27mpg.
I got exactly 35mpg over 3200 miles from UK to, and around, Central Europe and the Alps last month.
Probably 80% town driving to be fair at the moment. I can do mid 30's on a run admittedly.I got exactly 35mpg over 3200 miles from UK to, and around, Central Europe and the Alps last month.
I have a 2002 325ci manual gearbox, as my daily runabout. 66k.
They're great cars, I had one before as an interim car I ended up keeping for ages.
Issues with that one, which I took from 67k-130k were CCV breather, rocker gasket, and those were over 100k miles. CCV was a couple of hundred quid, the rocker, I didn't do as I traded, but I think was quoted £800 so that was the only nasty. other things done are generic, wear and tear.
From my recollection, the auto 325 takes a drop in performance and fuel economy, plus I never liked the auto boxes.
They're great cars, I had one before as an interim car I ended up keeping for ages.
Issues with that one, which I took from 67k-130k were CCV breather, rocker gasket, and those were over 100k miles. CCV was a couple of hundred quid, the rocker, I didn't do as I traded, but I think was quoted £800 so that was the only nasty. other things done are generic, wear and tear.
From my recollection, the auto 325 takes a drop in performance and fuel economy, plus I never liked the auto boxes.
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