2006 E90 330i Manual what to expect

[griffen]

Hi Guys
Doesnt look like the right M car is going to come up.

There is a black 330i I am waiting to test drive at a dealer, coming from a 2-door E36 M3, just wanted to know what to expect.

Want to go there with the right mindset. Driven a few normal cars but wasnt impressed.

http://www.carmag.co.za/car/bmw-3-series-bmw-330i-e90-2004

That looks decent performance wise? Very good Torque.
Fuel consumption looks decent as well, they about 100kg heavier than the E36 M3s right?

Thoughts?

Dealer wants 164k car has under 100 000k on the clock.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

a 2004 E90?
and for R375k?

Something fishy here

 

[Dippies]

yip only started 2005

def something smelling

 

[abmi0000]

Everything in that add is wrong. Date, power, price!!

 

[Dippies]

he def smoked something :fencelook:

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

Everything in that add is wrong. Date, power, price!!

and for that price he can get a 2009-2010 model

 

[griffen]

guys.
Seriously
READ!

That isnt an AD!
Are you smoking your corn flakes in the morning????? :=)::=)::=):

This is from the carmag website, its not the dealers add
I was googling performance specs on the E90 330i when I came across it.

 

[Dippies]

there is no 2004 E90

---

not that i know off

 

[SP33DYV]

Those specs are for a 2006/7 e90 330i

 

[griffen]

Those specs are for a 2006/7 e90 330i

Thanks
any idea regarding my question.
I cant remember if its a 2005 or 2006

 

[SP33DYV]

The 2005 models were 190kw and 300Nm if I remember correctly. It is definitely not an M car, but you will be impressed as it comes really close.

 

[hanopp]

Best car ever.. Best engine ever!! The 200kw goes well, i think your E36 has 210kw?? look sprint time almost the same, i would say its not gonna have the grunt of your M3 except if you play with the exhaust, its a very balanced car if not Bmw best all rounder!!

have a look at my 330i 0-100

 

[griffen]

The 2005 models were 190kw and 300Nm if I remember correctly. It is definitely not an M car, but you will be impressed as it comes really close.

So I must aim for a 2006
So I can get excited then?

---

Best car ever.. Best engine ever!! The 200kw goes well, i think your E36 has 210kw?? look sprint time almost the same, i would say its not gonna have the grunt of your M3 except if you play with the exhaust, its a very balanced car if not Bmw best all rounder!!

have a look at my 330i 0-100

Thanks
I will check that link out later.

My M3 was pretty strong 208kw and 320nm at KSD, which is a stingy dyno
But I am getting excited now!! it sounds like good value

I know its early days, but how do they handle mileage?
There is one for 140k but it has 135 00km on the clock

 

[griffen]

Having a look at a 2007 330i tonight.

 

[///Shaun]

you going to be very disappointed in terms of power from a M to a 330i. Rather look at 330d or 320d

If you at the Reef, 330i is not the one to be looking at , one might as well buy a 325i if you after a NA car. If you at the coast it wont be so bad.

E90 330i is not a popular car mainly cause of its lack of performance especially with the steptronic box.

I would rather spend the same amount of money on a 325i , 320d. Its much more balanced all round.

---

The 200kw goes well, i think your E36 has 210kw?? look sprint time almost the same

OMG.....

:bangdesk::bangdesk::bangdesk:

 

[SP33DYV]

The 330i motors are strong and will handle 300k km with ease if it was cared for properly, ie never overheated and oil was changed regularly.

 

[///Shaun]

The 330i motors are strong and will handle 300k km with ease if it was cared for properly, ie never overheated and oil was changed regularly.

Mate any car can do mileage if looked afterd correctly.

 

[SP33DYV]

The 330i motors are strong and will handle 300k km with ease if it was cared for properly, ie never overheated and oil was changed regularly.

Mate any car can do mileage if looked afterd correctly.

That's true. It's just that a lot of people think that a BMW will self destruct as soon as MP expires.

 

[///Shaun]

That's true. It's just that a lot of people think that a BMW will self destruct as soon as MP expires.

Yeah I heard a few okes mention that.

99 999kms and

BANG.

:biglol::biglol::biglol:

 

[Philip Foglar]

Yep, almost also got caught out by this advert looking info. Of course E46 still was being sold until early 2005 as the E90 was then launched. The earlier 330i engines like mine are the 190km / 300nm version, it's from 2007 I think that they upped the specs to 200kw / 315nm, but I gather all from the N52 family - been reading of major ongoing issues with the N53 direct injection engines (N52 is valvetronic and not direct injection like many think).

Not knocking the 325i, but cannot expect it to be the same as the 330i - similar performance and character, but certainly not the same, same situation as with the E46 engines. And the diesel versus petrol argument is now getting very tiring - if you want economy and performance for easier daily driving then get the diesel, if you want good daily performance but M engine like performance and character, you cannot go wrong with the 330i in my opinion. With that said, you are going from an M car to a non-M car, and I have never driven an E36 M3, so cannot comment on how they compare, but I would think that going from an E36 to an E90 just by itself is going to take a it of getting used to - E36 is more raw and less driver aid involved, whereas the E90 is maybe a bit clinical, refined but slightly detached by comparison. So best is to test drive and see.

In terms of performance, the 330i is very strong when driven properly! And then at the same time it can be decently economical if it needs to be - obviously not all at the same time, can't always have your bread buttered on both sides. Any well looked after engine should last long, but at least with the 330i there are no turbo or HPFP issues for instance to worry about - keep them fed with good quality oil and don't abuse when cold, they are pretty bullet-proof!

Hope this helps!

Edit: here are some vids of my car from various breakfast runs and so on...

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Engine soundtrack is addictive! :thumbs: