[pani_K3]

Hi to all,

My name's Pani and have recently joined the forum. If any of you frequent passionford or the ffoc you will know me as pani_k but I've decided to come out of the Ford scene and go for something a bit different in a E92 330d M Sport within the next few months so I will be scouring around on the hunt for one! My old man has an E60 520i SE as well so hopefully I'll be using this forum more and more. Seems like a good place!

Cheers!

Pani.

[The_Bear_Yid]

Hi Pani, welcome mate. In relatively new myself. I know of those forums.

What's made you go for the 330d and not the 335d?

[pani_K3]

Originally Posted by The_Bear_Yid

Hi Pani, welcome mate. In relatively new myself. I know of those forums.

What's made you go for the 330d and not the 335d?

Number of factors really mate but the main one being a manual gearbox! I've tried an auto and really don't get on with it, really doesn't suit my style at all and the fact that you can't get a 335d with a manual box puts the final nail in the coffin for that idea really. Other factors too like purchase cost will obviously be more and insurance and also the fact that there seems to be varied thoughts on the actual economical side of the 335d so for me the 330d is quite well poised. Don't want a 325d and certainly don't want a 320d. I drove a 320d SE Coupe at a dealer and hated it. Granted it wasn't with the newer 2.0 diesel, this was with the 163 version but it felt properly lethargic under about 1300 or so rpm with no turbo and off the blocks my focus felt a lot more nippy and reckon I could probably do it all the way up to about 90-100mph where my focus will run out of puff. For those interested it is a 1.8 Zetec with a fair few engine mods running Stage 2 Comp cams amongst other things from the states and had a custom Motorsport Developments map on it and ran a proven 145bhp before the map.

[The_Bear_Yid]

Yeah I don't think there's many BMWs that are considered nippy lol. My gfs Corsa is nippier than my car.

1300rpm? Blimey that's not much over idle, I know it's a diesel but still.

I can't comment on the diesels as I've never driven one. But I'm surprised at how disappointed you were wit the 320d.

145bhp doesn't seem much but I bet the Focus was quite quick. My old Saxo only had 113 but was quick off the mark weighing under a ton.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by The_Bear_Yid

Yeah I don't think there's many BMWs that are considered nippy lol. My gfs Corsa is nippier than my car.

1300rpm? Blimey that's not much over idle, I know it's a diesel but still.

I can't comment on the diesels as I've never driven one. But I'm surprised at how disappointed you were wit the 320d.

145bhp doesn't seem much but I bet the Focus was quite quick. My old Saxo only had 113 but was quick off the mark weighing under a ton.

The 2.0d diesel has nothing before 1400rpm and you only have another 2000-2500rpm before it dies a death. It ends up effort to keep it within its narrow power range.

The 330d is considered the best all round bmw. It's got good power and economy.

If you don't do big miles the 335i suddenly becomes a very good option.

Bargain prices, great performance and noise.

The 335i pulls from below 1000rpm and hits maximum torque from 1300rpm and has pull.through the rev range.

Not diesel economy with average drivers getting 25-27mpg average, the cost to buy and smile factor make the 335i more of a bargain than it reads on paper.

[pani_K3]

Originally Posted by Kerr

The 2.0d diesel has nothing before 1400rpm and you only have another 2000-2500rpm before it dies a death. It ends up effort to keep it within its narrow power range.

The 330d is considered the best all round bmw. It's got good power and economy.

If you don't do big miles the 335i suddenly becomes a very good option.

Bargain prices, great performance and noise.

The 335i pulls from below 1000rpm and hits maximum torque from 1300rpm and has pull.through the rev range.

Not diesel economy with average drivers getting 25-27mpg average, the cost to buy and smile factor make the 335i more of a bargain than it reads on paper.

I've actually had a look at a few 330i's too because you can offset the buying price against the savings on economy but over longer periods and where I plan to keep the car for a good while, diesel wins it. Having been in a friend's 330d Convertible M Sport, I know what they are like and I absolutely loved his. I don't really fancy a convertible though so just a coupe for me

[BanziBarn]

Welcome!

I can vouch for the 330d

How new are you going? FYI, the new 325d has the same engine as the 330d so can be remapped to 290bhp. If you're going to remap anyway, might be worth considering saving the money and going for the 325 as the power results will be the same.

If you're going for something a bit older though, then this doesn't apply.

I found it really hard finding a manual 330d in the spec I wanted so had to go for an auto in the end. Not what I wanted really, but now I really like it.

[pani_K3]

Cheers mate!

Can't stretch to the newer ones unfortunately and will be bending a bit to even get the first gen E92 330d but imo it is worth it and I plan to keep it for a good while. Whereabouts in London are you? Is your car remapped?

[BanziBarn]

Near Kingston...

Not remapped. The only place that I know of that can do the new engine is up in the Midlands so that's put me off a bit. Plus, the car is quite rapid as standard! I do fancy getting it done though

[pani_K3]

Does DMS in Southampton not have the capabilities yet to offer a remap for the new engine?

[BanziBarn]

Originally Posted by pani_K3

Does DMS in Southampton not have the capabilities yet to offer a remap for the new engine?

They don't list it on their site, not many do. I think it's a faff to map so I guess a lot of companies haven't bothered if they are getting enough business from the older non encyrpyed cars.

I guess in time they'll have no choice though.

Plenty of choice for early cars so you won't have any issues!

I've never been in a mapped 330d or a 335d even, I'd like to. Around town my car feels quicker than an RS4 (although of course it's no way near) so god knows what it'd be like mapped!