[rogerxp]

Thought I’d give me little old 330d a little praise seeing as I’ve been giving it some stick for a while now (including nearly buying an M5!!!).

I’ve just been on holiday for a week and so drove my car this morning for the first time in that time. It really does shift and it’s only in ‘standard’ form. Driving it in the ‘real world’ it is plenty quick enough for the majority. Yeah, OK, the extra turbo of the 335’s would help to jump out of junctions with a little more confidence however the torque, with a few revs, is all you need. Once rolling there can’t be ‘that’ much between the 330d’s and 335d’s (can’t be bothered checking for comparison but surely not hugely noticeable in physical terms).

Heading up the by-pass on my short journey to work I was really paying attention to the way it accelerates (in 6th) from 70 to 100 and it’s just an effortless surge all the way. Other speeds it’s just the same (of course with gear changes at lower speeds) but my manual box is sweet as a nut which helps.

Still need to change the tyres to non-RFT’s to soften up the suspension a bit however will probably put that off until the rears need changing unless I discover some cash somewhere. Might treat it to a remap at the same time for a double-whammy treat.

My dreams (that could easily become a reality) of getting an M5 are still niggling away however common sense, at this stage, is winning. Just can’t justify the extra fuel costs (let along long-term maintenance costs). However, if the right one appears at the right price, who knows...

The new 330d does sound exceptional though and I’ve already got the dealers e-mailing me & phoning me with some tempting offers however I’m staying put for now (maybe when I see one in the flesh I might be persuaded). Shame the Electronic Damper Control (EDC) systems haven’t filtered down from the M cars to the normal versions as that would certainly tempt me (best of both worlds i.e. family cruiser and sports demon).

In summary, as I write this, I’m a happy bunny with my 330d, sure I’ll be itching to change by the morning though!!!!!!!!!!!

[MOB]

Get it remapped - they then REALLY shift!!! Seriously, it makes a big difference to the 330d - mine has 292bhp and 510lbs now.

I test drove an M5 on Saturday - great car but felt gutless in the midrange compared to mine...........but when the M5 revs........OMFG

Managed 11mpg on the test drive, nice car but not THAT (11mpg) nice lol

[rogerxp]

Yeah, I drove an M5 a couple of weeks ago and, even thought it's dificult to tell on a test drive (with someone sat next to you) I felt it only did really shift once you'd got the revs higher. BUT, it did REALLY shift. Problem is, this is when the mpg drops like a stone (less than 10mpg), however even when going gently you only get 15mpg-ish. Motorway is morelike 18-19mpg. My conclusion has been don't buy an M5 unless you're happy with sub-10mpg as that is invariably what you'll end up getting if you drive it 'properly'.

That said, it's still damn tempting....

[jw2000]

You can get 26mpg easily on the motorway on an M5. With city driving 15mpg. Tearing down on the track will probably be around 10mpg. I don;t think the mpg is an issue with these car. The size of the tank is more of an issue. 250 miles between refill. Similar to a lot of 4x4. Not a car to use as a company car that does lots of miles otherwise a practical fun & fast supercar. Out runs a R8.

[willhollin]

Great car 330d manual, I love mine, don't drive it often but when I do it puts a big smile on my face.

[tisme]

My 330D M Sport manual is now in the UK, expected at the dealers in one week. BMW will not allow dealer to tax before the 20th, so they will tax in advance for the 20th. Cant wait.

[rogerxp]

Been reading your 'excited bunny' threads about your new car 'tisme' so looking forward to hearing from you, and seeing photos, once it arrives on this forum...

[dxb335d]

I love the 330d, ive been in a remapped one now and i would say its when mapped its as quick as a stock 335d.

[mjh93sa]

You tend to forget how good a car it is when you're just stuck in the daily commuter traffic. But something like a meet or a weekend away driving the car on empty roads and it all just makes so much more sense again.

[gIzzE]

A manual 330d has a 2.35 final drive ratio, comapred with the 335d auto that has 2.81 it should pull alot harder, that is why manual 330d's feel so much more aggressive through the gears, they pull like a train!!

[polyfiller]

Tisme ... not sure if others experience matches mine, but if you're getting a nice new 2008 e92 330d ... then it'll have the ED engine with the electronic throttle body ... in which case throttle response makes the drive as entertaining as cold porridge. I reckon all those folk who love their 330D's must have pre ED engines.

[mjh93sa]

Mine is a pre-ED... and I must admit I haven't tried an ED.

[polyfiller]

That's what I suspected. Unless an ED owner has dirven a pre ED model or an E46 330D, sad thing is they won't know what they're missing :-(

Just whish I could rip all the ED emissions control rubbish off mine .. but sadly it's a company wagon. Only thing I want to do with it now is write it off.

[tisme]

Originally Posted by polyfiller

Tisme ... not sure if others experience matches mine, but if you're getting a nice new 2008 e92 330d ... then it'll have the ED engine with the electronic throttle body ... in which case throttle response makes the drive as entertaining as cold porridge. I reckon all those folk who love their 330D's must have pre ED engines.

Now you have me worried, all I know is I am getting the N57 engine and the waiting is almost over. AutoCar reckons it is ok, we will just have to wait and see wont we .

Dealer should be confirming delivery of the car any day now.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by polyfiller

That's what I suspected. Unless an ED owner has dirven a pre ED model or an E46 330D, sad thing is they won't know what they're missing :-(

Just whish I could rip all the ED emissions control rubbish off mine .. but sadly it's a company wagon. Only thing I want to do with it now is write it off.

Perhaps a remap would sort it out?

[rogerxp]

What physical difference would the 'electronic throttle body' make to the actual driving experience and how is it noticed i.e. under acceleration, cornering, everything, etc.

Do enlighten us pre-ED owners who are craving the additional power, ligher engine & lower emmissions of the new car...

[polyfiller]

Well ,... on the E46 you get a slightly detached feeling (due to the electronic throttle), but the engine responds faster than you can push the pedal = good, responsive drive. On my ED E92, you can shove the throttle as fast as you want below about 3K, and bugger all happens = very detached response = Ultimately Dissapointing Machine. Get's worse the harder you drive.... therefore trying to drive in a spirited fashion around country lanes is, TBH, quite quite pointless. Some comapnies make lemons from time to time, in this instance the E92 ED is, IMHO, a festering pool of lemon juice leftover from pancake day 10 years ago.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by polyfiller

Well ,... on the E46 you get a slightly detached feeling (due to the electronic throttle), but the engine responds faster than you can push the pedal = good, responsive drive. On my ED E92, you can shove the throttle as fast as you want below about 3K, and bugger all happens = very detached response = Ultimately Dissapointing Machine. Get's worse the harder you drive.... therefore trying to drive in a spirited fashion around country lanes is, TBH, quite quite pointless. Some comapnies make lemons from time to time, in this instance the E92 ED is, IMHO, a festering pool of lemon juice leftover from pancake day 10 years ago.

Are we talking turbo lag? Have you expressed your concerns to your dealer or tested another car to see if there is any diference?

[dxb335d]

That would be major lag Will if the fooker aint spoolin up till 3k lol.

I know what matey is saying. A totally detatched feeling. I have driven cars like that before. Awful.

[polyfiller]

Not sure whether or not it's turbo lag or something else. Can confirm that the EGR valve is erroneously (from a performance POV) being opened under hard acceleration. If you detach the EGR, pickup below 2.5 k is a little better, suggesting exhasut gasses being allowed in under hard accel.... probably to do with restricting emissions. I hope the bunny rabbits are banned grateful.

other stragne things also happen ... if you give the accelarator a real prod below 2.5k in, say, second gear, the car lurches forward as though to say ... "yay I can do this" ... the holds itself back is if someone has reminded it ... "no you can't ... if you do you'll wear out the gearbox / clutch / propo shaft quicker than your daddy (BMW) are prepared to replace under warranty if someone really tries to drive you like the ultimate driving machine".

Have also noticed that the E92's performance varies more in relation to air temp... i.e. when it's warm it's much much worse, and when it's cold it brightens up a little.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by polyfiller

Not sure whether or not it's turbo lag or something else. Can confirm that the EGR valve is erroneously (from a performance POV) being opened under hard acceleration. If you detach the EGR, pickup below 2.5 k is a little better, suggesting exhasut gasses being allowed in under hard accel.... probably to do with restricting emissions. I hope the bunny rabbits are banned grateful.

other stragne things also happen ... if you give the accelarator a real prod below 2.5k in, say, second gear, the car lurches forward as though to say ... "yay I can do this" ... the holds itself back is if someone has reminded it ... "no you can't ... if you do you'll wear out the gearbox / clutch / propo shaft quicker than your daddy (BMW) are prepared to replace under warranty if someone really tries to drive you like the ultimate driving machine".

Have also noticed that the E92's performance varies more in relation to air temp... i.e. when it's warm it's much much worse, and when it's cold it brightens up a little.

What have the dealers said about this or has it not been back yet?

[alpini]

starting to get fed up with the performance of my 320i (granted it's only a 320i) but all the same I don't feel like I have 170 horses! drove my sister's audi a3 1.6 and it felt as lively as mine

am hoping to upgrade soon - had thought on the 335i or 335d but now you got me thinking on a 330d. i'm used to petrol - will the diesel be quicker off the mark that it's petrol equivalent? i'm really not sure what model to go for - i don't think it's worth changing to 325 - i'd be as well to go for 330+ i think...