[evanevan]

My God.

Whilst trying to sell my classic BMW 330i Msport Auto
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...60hz?logcode=p
I have come to a terrible conclusion.

Although this car is everything that a BMW should be there is no interest whatsoever in it. Straight six, luxury, natrually aspirated and beautifull in every way count for nothing these days.

I have taken delivery of a MSport plus 318d that is a good car but still a tractor at the end of the day, i fear that we may have seen the end of the era of cars made for the enjoyment of the driver and the start of an era defined by the cost of fuel and tax burden.

I wish I had the resources to keep the 330i and take it out sometimes.
A foray up the M6 into the Scottish Highlands ,V6 thrumming, heavy steering comforting, powering into the A roads -unruffled performance and dominace on the tarmac. What a Car.

This my ode to my 330i.

Times are changing for the worst. Sad day when the future promises less than the past.

P.S. Sorry about the negative tone, but I thought it was worth a post.

[mjh93sa]

Who put the V6 in it?

[jimmylad]

reminds me of the 90's when insurances went through the roof & I virtually had to give my cosworth away as the premiums were silly money. Car halved in price in 15 months from 11k (2nd hand) to 5.5k from 27k new. Car was only 2 years old whn I got it with 30k miles on the clock. Got pulled up loads of times in London driving it & was arrested on the A13 & taken to Bow street police station on suspicion of having a "ringer".................. got it back 3 days later and all was ok. Suspected it was dodgy cos it had the latest style lights on it. The police we arguing between themselves who would ride in my car back to the police station. A week later got stopped on trafalgar square........


Like you say its a sad day yet petrol is something like 5 p a litre in venezueala.

[webwysard]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Now you understand why the 330i engine has been dropped from every model.

Just doesnt sell like it used to.

Also your wrong in considering the 330i is made for enjoyment.

I personally get far more enjoyment from other engines in the range. the 330i has never even been on my shopping list. The only 3 are 335d 335i and 330d.

a 330i will always be slower than a 330D with the tuning potential in the Turbo cars. the 330i will always depreciate like a stone and cost more to run and tax.

So where is the pay off?

Dont see OP comparing the performance of 330i with turbo charged 3 series in his post anywhere.

Had a 130i and it was a great car.

[JJD]

So long as they make diesel they will also make petrol and so long as they make petrol they will need someone to sell it to...

Yes big engined cars are not flavour of the month but then car sales in general are depressed too.

I've owned a 330d and it is a great car, in fact I consider it to be the best all rounder by far.

That said I'm currently happy to pay the premium required to run a "big engined" petrol car and I suspect a lot of other people are too. The day we are all forced into 4 pot diesels will be a very sad day indeed.

P.S. a 3 litre NA or FI is not what I call a big engine.

[- Paul -]

Shame you had to let it go but some of us are still running around in big engined Bm's - they aren't all dead.

[webwysard]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

No but basically the point was made saying that BMW dont make engines for enjoyment anymore which i disagree with totally.

What BMW dont make anymore is engines that people dont want to buy.

If they did want to buy the 30i engine they would have kept on selling it.

Many manufacturers are dropping N/A engine from their line up due to many other reasons not just because people are not buying their cars.

I made the point when you said....

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Also your wrong in considering the 330i is made for enjoyment.

I personally get far more enjoyment from other engines in the range. the 330i has never even been on my shopping list. The only 3 are 335d 335i and 330d.

a 330i will always be slower than a 330D with the tuning potential in the Turbo cars. the 330i will always depreciate like a stone and cost more to run and tax.

.

Seriously, get behind the wheel of a 30i and then tell us which one sounds and feels better.

[m1bjr]

I think its fantastic news.

For us petrol heads with some spare cash.

It must be very unpleasant to not be able to drive the car you want too.

I'm waiting for the little M6 and the VXR8 to crash some more in value and I'll buy one and strip it for track


The sad truth is yet to come.
Remember the 70s when everyone shipped out and bought LPG conversions.
What happened to the price?

Same with Diesel.
Most of the reps and many private consumers move to cheaper diesel power in the noughties.
What happened to the price of diesel?

Yup, once we are all in electric shitboxes guess where the taxes will hike to pay for the lost revenue of fossil fuel...

[The_Bear_Yid]

Originally Posted by evanevan

I have taken delivery of a MSport plus 318d that is a good car but still a tractor at the end of the day, i fear that we may have seen the end of the era of cars made for the enjoyment of the driver and the start of an era defined by the cost of fuel and tax burden.

I wish I had the resources to keep the 330i and take it out sometimes.

Start of an era, we're well in it. You've answered why your not getting a buyer in your own post pretty much; People want cars that are economical and low on emissions (for cheaper tax).

Throw in the performance modern day diesels give and it's a no brainer on the face of it.

You do pay a premium for diesels which means there are petrol 'bargains' to be had.

It's just hard to sell someone 20mpg when they can get 40 mpg with a different engine.

I think most petrol heads would like to have fun in a high revving petrol engine over a slugger, just fewer willing to live with them.

I've seen a 2009 Alpina B3 for under £25k as an AUC. That's half price (afaik) for a car thats not 2 years old yet, crazy imo!

[evanevan]

Yes thats my point. The larger petrol engines are not economically viable anymore. I call that a sad day.

About Diesels:

I had the pleasure of a brand new 335d msport as a courtesy car for 6 weeks earlier this year-huge and regal permformance making it probably one of the most relevent cars on the road today but:

Not as refined or classy as the my 330i. It was faster full stop but tell me you don't fell a sinking felling when your'e waiting for your cheeseburger at Mcd's and you hear that tractor reverberating back into the cockpit.
My point is both technolgies have their finer points but as the previous poster pointed out a truly large 8 or 10 cylinder petrol engine is probably the last word in real quality driving

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by evanevan

Yes thats my point. The larger petrol engines are not economically viable anymore. I call that a sad day.

I prefer to think that most household incomes are not viable anymore.

Half of the country have lived beyond thier means for years, now its payback time.
Simply put the car is an area where 'average man' can save some pennies without it impacting on his other wasteful habbits.

My car is my hobby.

I will always have a fast petrol car on the drive no matter what it costs me.

I'm a long way from being alone too.

And in zero hour when they become illegal, I'll trailer it to a racetrack.

If the track is closed down, I'll go to Europe or the states

[evanevan]

Noble. See you down there.

[chedixon]

I totally understand what you mean, I recently had a really nice R32, it was a blast and I'll always miss it, but I'll never miss running it. People seem to like taking a pop at the 4 pot diesels and yes there not the last word in refinement but I think as BMW enthusiasts we should be pretty proud of the fact the we make the best 4 pots by a country mile. 55mpg, crazy cheap tax and a suprising turn of pace, if thats a serious consideration in your monthly budget then you'll be happy trust me
Might not be able to own the lights anymore but i still have a smile on my face each morning, and right now lol

[JJD]

There is an air of fatality in this thread. I don't see it as a fait acompli.

But, if it does come down to it I'll take the train, bus, walk, cycle, crawl to work each day if it means I can own a car that makes me smile at the weekend rather than pay for a car I don't want.

[buckethead]

in real world motoring there's not a lot between a 330i and 320d both cruise at 70mph

yes the 330i is quick off the mark and sounds the nut's but with road tax and nearly double the mpg its expensive to run

when bmw started to offer the sport spec across the whole range the bigger engined cars lost some of their dersirability imo

[BGM]

Originally Posted by mjh93sa

Who put the V6 in it?

indeed..

[creepy coupe]

I’m sure the same was said back in the days when Triumph switched their 6 cylinder 2 valve engine to the Pi version. Nobody wanted engines fitted with carburettors anymore. Things move on, they have to. Car manufacturers are forever having to cut emissions and up power outputs and need to have some kind of forced induction to achieve this.
Straight 6 powered 330i will have a modern classic status in a few years, just like a BM’s powered with the M20 engine do today. If you look over on the E92 M3 section, they’re all crying into their V Power because the new M3 with lose the N/A V8.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Its worth noting that the M3 V8 is about as useful around town as as a F1 car around speed bumps.

The engine is not at its best until high up in the rev range and you really need somewhere you can drive one to get the best out of that fantastic V8.

But i bet the next M3 will be far superior to the current M3's engine in every way.

Imagine the torque and power delivery of the next M3, its going to be a killer on "Real" roads.

Not these imaginary roads people keep buying big V8 engines for.

I remember getting in my mates old E46 M3 and hm trying to show me what it could do. My neck was all bent up in 5 mins him trying to get it up to 6000 revs only to hit a set of traffic lights and other obstacles every 300 yards.

You've obviously not driven and distance in one, as the V8 drives like a 2.0lt Mondeo around town.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Your exactly right!

But i have been in one on many occasions and this is my point..

There just arent the roads in the UK for the V8. Some lucky few might live near some roads but if you live near any city or town then you really have to go out of your way to find them.

Even the motorways have variable speeds limits now!

You can say the same about anything with say 200+bhp.but you're missing the point of the M3 if you think it's all about power. They’re so much more in terms of dynamic ability. BUT just like a 335i or a 335d really an indulgence.

I’ll be the first to admit my first test drive of the E92 M3 left me cold, but for some reason I persevered and it’s not until you live with one for a few miles, you appreciate, just how good M Division is.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

You've obviously not driven and distance in one, as the V8 drives like a 2.0lt Mondeo around town.

is that not what he said?

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by BGM

is that not what he said?

When did he say that?

[BGM]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

When did he say that?

maybe i'm mistaken.. ?

Originally Posted by Diseasel

The engine is not at its best until high up in the rev range and you really need somewhere you can drive one to get the best out of that fantastic V8.

Not these imaginary roads people keep buying big V8 engines for.

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

You've obviously not driven and distance in one, as the V8 drives like a 2.0lt Mondeo around town.