[xenon]

The e46 (m54) engine was 184bhp to start with rising to 204bhp for the facelift. I don't know the emmisions but would be around 225g/km

[rogerxp]

204bhp no wonder I've been longing a little more power!!! I'm loving the car but does need a little more welly. Shouldn't really grumble for what I paid for it . Wish I hadn't asked now .

[xenon]

Actually I've quoted e46 330d figures. Your engine is 231bhp or thereabouts.

[rogerxp]

Phew; that sounds more it

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by doughboy

The N52 (256bhp) that my car had was very different to the E46 engine as said.

The later N53 (272 bhp) again was different (valvetronic etc) and lower emissions.

No valvetronic on N53 - direct injection, lean burn engine, ala Audi FSI. Valvetronic on six cylinder engines has only just appeared on the new single turbo 3 litre petrol.

Originally Posted by xenon

Actually I've quoted e46 330d figures. Your engine is 231bhp or thereabouts.

As a former 330Ci owner, definitely 231. But BMW quote PS for their engine outputs (although they actually work in kW) not BHP and call it HP. So, a little lower in BHP terms (100PS is about 98.5BHP). Confused!?!

Brilliant engine on the old 330Ci; sounded great. Much better than the rattly new direct injection engines at idle! But I guess that's just the lean burn mode for you.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

No valvetronic on N53 - direct injection, lean burn engine, ala Audi FSI. Valvetronic on six cylinder engines has only just appeared on the new single turbo 3 litre petrol.

Double mix up I think - N52 did have Valvetronic, but they dropped it on the N53 due to insufficient space in the Direct injection cylinder head.

The N55 single turbo has re-used valvetronic due to the latest 'compact valvetronic' hardware.

[Vaheed1]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Yes I agree,

One is quick, one is slow.

Mapped 330d FTW.

I suspect this is a tongue-in-cheek comment - but for my own curiosity, I took the car out last week and took advantage of the nice weather. Now I don't know how accurate the iphone Apps are for testing the 0-60 times - but my first run (standard 330d manual) got me 5.9s according to the GPS. My second run was done on a standard stop watch and showed 6.1s.

Not bad for a slow car

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Vaheed1

I suspect this is a tongue-in-cheek comment - but for my own curiosity, I took the car out last week and took advantage of the nice weather. Now I don't know how accurate the iphone Apps are for testing the 0-60 times - but my first run (standard 330d manual) got me 5.9s according to the GPS. My second run was done on a standard stop watch and showed 6.1s.

Not bad for a slow car

Er buddy, I meant the 330i is slow and 330d is the quick car.


I would have a 330d over a 330i, and then map it!

[NFS]

It's like some sort of diesel worshipping brain washed cult here at times.

The op asked a question about the 330i and the majority of responses want to talk about how great the 330d is and why you should buy it.

It's as if some people think any enthusiasm for a petrol car is an attack on the diesel cult.

At the end of the day I can see why people would buy a 330d, but I personally don't want one. I've driven it and didn't like it at all.

It's not a replacement for a 330i - it's an utterly different experience.

I couldn't give a shit which one is quicker, but anyone who says the 330i is slow is talking bowlacks

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Double mix up I think - N52 did have Valvetronic, but they dropped it on the N53 due to insufficient space in the Direct injection cylinder head.

The N55 single turbo has re-used valvetronic due to the latest 'compact valvetronic' hardware.

Ooops! You're right!

[ss134]

Originally Posted by NFS

It's like some sort of diesel worshipping brain washed cult here at times.

The op asked a question about the 330i and the majority of responses want to talk about how great the 330d is and why you should buy it.

It's as if some people think any enthusiasm for a petrol car is an attack on the diesel cult.

At the end of the day I can see why people would buy a 330d, but I personally don't want one. I've driven it and didn't like it at all.

It's not a replacement for a 330i - it's an utterly different experience.

I couldn't give a shit which one is quicker, but anyone who says the 330i is slow is talking bowlacks

+1 and the 330i engine sounds fantastic, better than my 335i.........and almost as good as a 330d.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Er buddy, I meant the 330i is slow and 330d is the quick car.


I would have a 330d over a 330i, and then map it!

Oddly enough, I looked at 330i, 335i and 335d. Didn't even consider a 330d.

And would disagree. The 330i is not slow. But then I would I guess. But I can only speak from experience and not through blinkers.

[dxb335d]

It is not slow. Im not blinkered.

I was having a little fun mate. But a re-mapped 330d is quicker than a 330i.

Standard for standard the 330i is faster, and its a cracking car that sounds good.

I wouldnt consider it myself though, but I wouldnt consider a 330d either.

I do prefer the 330d to the 330i for the ''potential'' performance.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

It is not slow. Im not blinkered.

I was having a little fun mate. But a re-mapped 330d is quicker than a 330i.

Standard for standard the 330i is faster, and its a cracking car that sounds good.

I wouldnt consider it myself though, but I wouldnt consider a 330d either.

I do prefer the 330d to the 330i for the ''potential'' performance.

Ummm, yeah. And a Eurofighter Typhoon is faster than a mapped 335d. And a supercharged 330i is faster than a mapped 330d. And so it goes on. But then are we comparing apples and apples?!?! To compare a "tuned" car to a stock car surely is no comparison at all?

[dxb335d]

Of course its comparable, because anyone who owns one can do it. For minimal outlay.

Not everyone can go and spend 8-10k on a supercharger conversion.

[beemerbird]

I owned an E90 330i m sport for 13 months and wouldn't say they are slow BUT for me personally it did feel like it ran out of steam when you really wanted to 'play' and certainly you have to work the engine to a degree, but yeah, does sound nice that straight six.

They're not in a high state of tune, so realiability is good.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Of course its comparable, because anyone who owns one can do it. For minimal outlay.

Not everyone can go and spend 8-10k on a supercharger conversion.

Will have to agree to disagree. In my book, you can't compare an engine that has been fiddled with and one that hasn't. How about an E46 330i and a supercharger? Would that meet your new cost criterion?!?

[Swiller]

Ladies, let me explain...

330i is a sensational motor and moreso a complete bargain on a 55/06 plate.
Just sold mine about 2 months ago to a family member and will be buying it back v soon. never missed a car as much as that. Have been driving an 09 plate 330d off and on (the boss's) 09 plate. Its very very good, but doesnt satisfy me as much as the 330i. Why?

The exponential delivery of power and the sound is just sensational and the engines are getting a reputation for being bulletproof.

The 330d is not quicker, unmapped. In fact its the same performance to 60. My old engine N52 is the same performance as the boss's 09 330d to sixty. I could put nitro into a 330i and it will trounce a remapped 330d (potential power). My point is that being fast is not why most people buy cars, and not why most people ask for advice on here (carlos).

Second hand on a 55/06 plate-Its more expensive to buy the 330d and you would need to do about 50,000 miles to recoup the difference in price at todays fuel prices. Same miles, same spec etc.

When it comes to selling it 2-3 years on, you should get about the same, especially as the world is going eco mad. 330is will be sought after motors in a few years as they dont make em anymore.

Surely the only metric worth considering for most drivers (not going in a straight line at santa pod) is the hit on the wallet over a 2-3 year /40-50k ownership.

Some other facts:

I get 37.6mpg regularly on a long run, with plenty of foot down action the length of the m4. London to swansea costs about £33 at todays prices. If you go a bit more conservative (cruise locked at 80), 39mpg is what the computer says. Doing the same journey in a ford focus 2.0l c max, the mpg was about 4mpg worse.

If you look about, a 55 plate 330i with 50k on the clock should set you back between 10 and 14k depending on spec.

Completely sensational motoring for next to nothing on the wallet over 2 years. Sports seats are a must, then se or msport it doesnt really matter.

I WANT MY CAR BACK NOW lol

[E60525d]

Originally Posted by NFS

It's like some sort of diesel worshipping brain washed cult here at times.

The op asked a question about the 330i and the majority of responses want to talk about how great the 330d is and why you should buy it.

It's as if some people think any enthusiasm for a petrol car is an attack on the diesel cult.

At the end of the day I can see why people would buy a 330d, but I personally don't want one. I've driven it and didn't like it at all.

It's not a replacement for a 330i - it's an utterly different experience.

I couldn't give a shit which one is quicker, but anyone who says the 330i is slow is talking bowlacks

Agree with you there mate. I have a diesel myself which has been remapped and its a great car but personally i would of gone petrol if i had the choice again.

Mentioning no names, some people 'think' that 335d's are the best cars in the world and nothing comes close. Of course they are fanatastic engines, the best diesel BMW has ever made and up there with one of the best diesel engines in world.

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by Swiller

The exponential delivery of power and the sound is just sensational and the engines are getting a reputation for being bulletproof.

Sounds nice but 'exponential delivery of power' is stretching it a bit imo. Depends on how much ultimate power you like I suppose. As I said before, the engines are not in a high state of tune and are N/A, so they should have longevity.

I get 37.6mpg regularly on a long run, with plenty of foot down action the length of the m4. London to swansea costs about £33 at todays prices. If you go a bit more conservative (cruise locked at 80), 39mpg is what the computer says. Doing the same journey in a ford focus 2.0l c max, the mpg was about 4mpg worse.

You're talking about the 330d I assume! No way in hell did I EVER get more than 32mpg out of my 330i. Averaged 28 mpg most of the time as can be proven by various witnesses lol.

If the OP wants one, then bloody well buy one n'owt wrong with them. Just saying why I sold mine.........needed more grunt - end of.

[NFS]

The 330i is a quick car. Not as quick as a Cayman S or a 911 Turbo (Beemerbird ), but quick enough for most people.

I think the power output is actually very well suited to UK driving conditions. Enough urge to give you a thrill, but not so much power that you couldn't find space on the road to enjoy it. It's a car that rewards the use of the entire rev range, with a very linear response building to peak performance above 4000rpm. Ragging the nuts of a car up to the redline is good fun in my opinion and the 330i is perfect for this.

The 335i has a lot more power and as a result you tend to run out of road, long before you hit that redline. It's big fat (diesel like) torque plateau also means that there is less reward for using the upper limits of the rev range.

The 330i also has a more sonorous engine note, with a proper induction noise rather than a tuned exhaust.

I really do think it's a very well balanced and sorted car. In some ways I regret parting with mine.

[nicko44]

Originally Posted by NFS

The 330i is a quick car. Not as quick as a Cayman S or a 911 Turbo (Beemerbird ), but quick enough for most people.

I think the power output is actually very well suited to UK driving conditions. Enough urge to give you a thrill, but not so much power that you couldn't find space on the road to enjoy it. It's a car that rewards the use of the entire rev range, with a very linear response building to peak performance above 4000rpm. Ragging the nuts of a car up to the redline is good fun in my opinion and the 330i is perfect for this.

The 335i has a lot more power and as a result you tend to run out of road, long before you hit that redline. It's big fat (diesel like) torque plateau also means that there is less reward for using the upper limits of the rev range.

The 330i also has a more sonorous engine note, with a proper induction noise rather than a tuned exhaust.

I really do think it's a very well balanced and sorted car. In some ways I regret parting with mine.

I really agree with the comment about the 330i having a level of performance that is very usable on UK roads. My son has a C63 which I have driven quite a lot, and which makes my 330i seem fairly wimpish. After all 0-100 in 9.7 seconds is around 5 seconds faster than what my car can manage.

But when I get back into my 330i I really do not miss that fantastic performance. My car is smooth, very willing, sounds wonderful, and feels just right. If anything, the aspect of the Merc that I would swap for my 330i, is the incredible feel to the steering and the outstanding combination of fluid ride and sharp handling. My 330i does run on Goodyear F1 Asymmetric non Run flats, and this change was a great improvement over the original Potenza RFT's, but the C Class chasis is IMO way ahead of the 3 Series.