[Blacky]

G'Day all

Don't know if anyone on this forum has one yet but I am thinking of picking up one of the new facelift 330d sedans with a M-Sports pack.

Current drive is a 130 and I love it, all be it a little small.

Took a 330d for a drive yesterday and I have to say I was a little underwhelmed by the pace of the car.

Lot of raves about this car in the press but for me it did not seem that fast, was it the way it delivers the power or am I missing something.

Don't get me wrong I am still liking the idea of the car, as figures do not generally lie 0-100 6.1 sec which happens to be the same as the 130.

I did not get a chance to take it out on the open road for overtaking trials etc which we I think it will excel.

Anyhow feedback is appreciated.

Oh, FYI the reason I like the 330d is the price saving over the 335 for very similar car.

comments appreciated.

[ecnirp]

Haven't driven one yet but looking forward to doing so. Was it at a Sydney dealer ? As I have been waiting for a demo to arrive. If you happen to have driven a 320d, how did it compare ?

[Blacky]

Melbourne BS, sorry.

They had one in the show room with M-Sports and and execute demo.
No 330d was my first Diesel to drive.

[Zen]

Is it because the diesel doesn't rev as much as the petrol, hence the boredom?

[Swift135]

I've had mine for 3 weeks now and I also have a 135i, the 330d pulls just as hard in the 2000-4000rpm range as the 135 does in the 4000-6000rpm. The speed climbs fast but the engine note stays quiet and unfussed, it messes with your senses, the engine note and the g-forces don't match up. It's an aural illusion but the car is fast and handles like a dream (m-sport).

[Blacky]

"It's an aural illusion but the car is fast and handles like a dream (m-sport)"

I do think this is the problem with me, I think of the N/A six and likes to rev.

MMMmmmmm something to think about, looking forward to possibly a more extended drive in the country.

[samchuang33]

Yea, i think diesel engine doesn't rev so it does not feel as exciting. But it should be still very fast. Some ppl might not agree but I feel that 335 does not have as much pulling power compare to diesel. I was given a 335 coupe with DCT last time i was at service and to be honest, i think it doesn't pull at well compare to diesel coz it has slightly less torque. Obviously it is still quicker coz it has more kw so it does accelerate faster off the lights with higher revs to 7000rmo and less lag.

Dont forget u can chip it with less worries with diesel engines. I will be chipping mine when i run it in properly. I think u can get it to 210 kw and close to 600nm after chipping.

Diesel engines do not rev so if u r used to high rev petrol engines, u might not like it.

Just my thought... THEY ARE ALL EXCELLENT ENGINES at the end of the day

[MFKN3]

Don't mean to sound like a smart ass but there is no comparison between a 330d and 335i

Also, the 335i is a torque monster, or at least my 380whp baby is

[Blacky]

Originally Posted by xsboost

Don't mean to sound like a smart ass but there is no comparison between a 330d and 335i

Also, the 335i is a torque monster, or at least my 380whp baby is

No Smart Assing around, 520 Nm from the oil burner out twists the 400 Nm petrol burner sorry!

Look at the over taking times and the 330d stomps on the 335i (50 - 75 mph 4.8 sec vs 5.3 sec), it is only from a stand still the 335i has it on the 330d.

Anyhow the 330d is better value for money compared to a 335i and suits my budget better.

[Beejay]

Originally Posted by Blacky

No Smart Assing around, 520 Nm from the oil burner out twists the 400 Nm petrol burner sorry!

Look at the over taking times and the 330d stomps on the 335i (50 - 75 mph 4.8 sec vs 5.3 sec), it is only from a stand still the 335i has it on the 330d.

Anyhow the 330d is better value for money compared to a 335i and suits my budget better.

Well, they don't call them 'rev-heads' for nothing.

Power delivery from a diesel engine is very deceptive. I find the most telling sign is the kick in the back it delivers from standing. And I already like the surprised look on people's faces when what sounds like a purring cat leaps off the line well ahead of anything around it (most days). And then of course it's the turning in to fetch petrol, err, diesel, at much longer intervals then with a petrol-engined car. Just imagine how much of the precious stuff could've been saved had they started thinking about this, say, 10 years earlier.

[Swift135]

Not to mention the fuel consumption, the first tank was OK but second tank with 90% city driving has averaged 7.2 l/100km. If its anything like mt TDi Golf then the engine may take up to 5000km to really loosen up.

[samchuang33]

I was in the same situation before early this year deciding between a 335i and 330d. I picked 330d because of the following reason.

1. Price due to lower LCT
2. Newer Engine coz 3rd Gen Common rail has only been release last year and N54 has been around for a few years already
3. Efficiency of diesel engine. 6.8l/100ks vs 9.6l/100ks plus diesel is slightly cheaper now compare to 98 unleaded so it will not coz u a fortune when u put pedal to metal.
4. Better for environment. The emission meet with new EU6 standard coming in after 2014 with Blue performance however not an option is Oz.https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/press...tem=node__2223
5. The popularity of diesel engine in Europe which is the most likely trend in oz in years to come
6. Fun to drive with so much torque making acceleration effortless (maybe not as exciting as u know). Excellent with my wife in the car. She does not feel the car pushing as hard therefore making feel like we r not going fast so she wont complain as much .
7. The fact that I can be sure the chipping or any performance increase will not stress the tranny coz the diesel gear box (6 hp-28) can handle 700nm of torque according to ZF spec where tranny in 335 (6 hp-21)will only handle 450nm. That is why the new performance upgrade kit available recently from BMW dealers only push the torque up to 450nm exactly. http://apps01.zf.com/zf.productDataB...n_EN_2006s.pdf
   Diesel engine is also more durable therefore making it less likely to stress the engine too much. I have my x5 chipped for several years now and I have not problems with it what so ever. Plus if u go with the DPChip option, if ur engine does play up, u r cover by their warranty which is the only company in oz that offer this guarantee. http://www.dpchip.com.au/index.html

Don't want to sound too bias but I hope this helps

[samchuang33]

Originally Posted by Swift135

Not to mention the fuel consumption, the first tank was OK but second tank with 90% city driving has averaged 7.2 l/100km. If its anything like mt TDi Golf then the engine may take up to 5000km to really loosen up.

So u ended up getting it anyway SWIFT. Congrad, glad u are enjoying it. I'm still waiting for mine to get here.

Dealer said the recieved the car today, so I should get it in the next few days.

[Zen]

Originally Posted by samchuang33

So u ended up getting it anyway SWIFT. Congrad, glad u are enjoying it. I'm still waiting for mine to get here.

Dealer said the recieved the car today, so I should get it in the next few days.

Congrats, post some pics once you took delivery.

What's the maintance cost for your x5 diesel so far? Being a diesel noob, I would think that after the warranty, the diesel would cost a bit to maintance and maybe eventually cost more to maintain than a Petrol engine. Do you take it to the $tealership or do u take it a qualified bimmer mechanic to get the job done?

[Blacky]

What's the maintance cost for your x5 diesel so far? Being a diesel noob, I would think that after the warranty, the diesel would cost a bit to maintance and maybe eventually cost more to maintain than a Petrol engine. Do you take it to the $tealership or do u take it a qualified bimmer mechanic to get the job done?[/quote]


This is something that interested me last night while doing a bit of research.
In particular there was something about the 330d squirting something into the exhaust to reduce emmissions.
Does this mean another upcharge by BMW service i.e. window washer fluid LOL

[Swift135]

It's only in the U.S. that the exhaust spray system is used, not to say the Australian version's not clean, i've done 1200km and you could wipe your finger in the exhaust tip and there is not a speck of soot. Same can be said about my 09 diesel Golf.

[MFKN3]

Originally Posted by Blacky

No Smart Assing around, 520 Nm from the oil burner out twists the 400 Nm petrol burner sorry!

Look at the over taking times and the 330d stomps on the 335i (50 - 75 mph 4.8 sec vs 5.3 sec), it is only from a stand still the 335i has it on the 330d.

Anyhow the 330d is better value for money compared to a 335i and suits my budget better.

Must be my 15-16 pounds of boost

Just playing guys, can't go wrong either way - lovely cars!

[samchuang33]

Originally Posted by Zen

Congrats, post some pics once you took delivery.

What's the maintance cost for your x5 diesel so far? Being a diesel noob, I would think that after the warranty, the diesel would cost a bit to maintance and maybe eventually cost more to maintain than a Petrol engine. Do you take it to the $tealership or do u take it a qualified bimmer mechanic to get the job done?

I think maintance cost is higher as u need to change the engine oil more frequent compare to petrol. Petrol engine should be fine without oil change till at least 25000ks where as diesel need oil change between 15000-20000 ks depending on how u drive.

My X5 tells me to get oil change around every 15000 on average (coz i push it hard most times) which is aroud every 12 month. Most mechanics recommand oil change every 12 month anyway coz engine oil will degrade over time therefore regardless of the number of ks it has done, most cars should change engine oil every year atleast. But then again, BMW will say not to bring it in until the car tells u to so the option is urs.

I personally will get a oil change in the first 5000k for my new car, and then follow what the on board comp saids after that which should be around every 15000k.

[samchuang33]

Originally Posted by Swift135

It's only in the U.S. that the exhaust spray system is used, not to say the Australian version's not clean, i've done 1200km and you could wipe your finger in the exhaust tip and there is not a speck of soot. Same can be said about my 09 diesel Golf.

That's good to hear. No more black smoke! I think the fact that the diesel standard in OZ has singificantly increase in the last few years also plays a major part. But i still have a bit a somke on my X5 and 530d under hard acceleration. Must be because it is a older engine.

Gee, i wonder if we can add/retro fit an exhaust spray system down the track.
That will be good.

[mmmmQuattro]

I find diesel's not sporty at all to drive. Comming from a 130, you will be missing the high reving smoothness and instant throttle response of the petrol engine. Also, the sound is much better.
I found them better on the highways in Europe, when you spend lots of time at one speed, they can be quieter as they have so much torque that they don't need to rev as much. They are also great going up hills.
But they are a totally different drive.

[Swift135]

Originally Posted by jp330Cic.au

you will be missing the high reving smoothness and instant throttle response of the petrol engine.

Apart from idle this engine is as smooth at a petrol 6, and it revs like a bastard and the throttle response is better than my 135i (at least in gear stab), you are correct about the sound, it is way different to a straight 6 one reviewer compared it to the engine note from and older V12 Ferrari.

[JamieA]

I am really in love with the idea of a 330d, hopefully I will be in a position to place my order in the next month or so. BMW usually introduces their running updates in the September builds, so the timing could be great for me.

I haven't test driven one yet, and the only fly in the ointment for me could be the lack of RPM and the difference in engine sound, but I suspect that I will get over that once I sample the loverly seam of torque on offer (esp compared to the 325i I drive currently).

My question is what about turbo lag? These things go great when they are up and running, but do any of the 330d owners notice any lag, esp in stop and go traffic... a friend has a Merc 3.0 diesel and that goes like the clappers but does have lag. I would imagine that BMW's engine would be even better, but to ultimately dial the lag out would require a twin turbo set up I would guess... anyway and opinions on this from 330d drivers would be appreciated.