BMW E90 facelift 330d vs 330i

[NavZ]

330i :thumbs: Oh & you may find your consumption improves on the 323i depending on your driving style. People with a smaller engine sometimes drive their car harder to feel some power & when they get a 330i they don't need to anymore. I had a 320i E46 which had the torque hidden away in the higher revs while the 330i E90 (especially Facelift) has tons of torque in the lower revs. My consumption improved coming from the 320i to the 330i.
You can't go wrong with a manual sportspack 330i, they are quite rare :inlove:

 

[Iceman007]

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330i :thumbs: Oh & you may find your consumption improves on the 323i depending on your driving style. People with a smaller engine sometimes drive their car harder to feel some power & when they get a 330i they don't need to anymore. I had a 320i E46 which had the torque hidden away in the higher revs while the 330i E90 (especially Facelift) has tons of torque in the lower revs. My consumption improved coming from the 320i to the 330i.
You can't go wrong with a manual sportspack 330i, they are quite rare :inlove:

Nope does not work for me. I feel the need, the need for speed. ai and i sit at 7km/L :fencelook:

If i drive miss daisy it will go to 7.4 to 8km/L in town driving:fencelook:

And thats just a 325 auto.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Yep, 330i manual Sportspack is an epic car!! Thing is, both of these cars are in reality going to be extremely pleasing to own and use, so really up to what you find feels and works best for you. I reckon overall servicing and running costs would also be roughly the same either way.

With regards to the tyre sizes, 17" Sportspack wheels on the Sportspack suspension is probably going to be more practical than the 18" sizes especially with RFT's which you will be "forced" to stick to while still under motorplan - well, BMW Approved tyre brands, so ultimately may as well stick to RFT's. But with the Sportspack suspension the ride is pretty hard as it is. Mine is an Exclusive so does not have the sport suspension, and I am perfectly happy with that since the ride is still firm, but comfortable enough even with the RFT's - plus have 17" narrow/wides with RFT's and works for me!

Yep, new F30 and that 328i Twinturbo 4pot is something else!! :thumbs:

 

[hanopp]

you are making the right choice, i was in the same position 2 months ago, 330d vs 330i, and i took the 330i manual, its a monster, i believe a legend, i just love the engine, the fuel consumption is not bad at all (better than my 325i) Its sure driving pleasure!! 7200rpm, and youtube 330d vs 330i (when stock) the 330i still faster! enjoy bud!!

 

[Ga-3M]

you are making the right choice, i was in the same position 2 months ago, 330d vs 330i, and i took the 330i manual, its a monster, i believe a legend, i just love the engine, the fuel consumption is not bad at all (better than my 325i) Its sure driving pleasure!! 7200rpm, and youtube 330d vs 330i (when stock) the 330i still faster! enjoy bud!!

Hey bud, just to correct you here, with the LCI the 330d will beat the 330i, even at the coast. 330i Engine still epic though in terms of all round ability and sound!:thumbs:

 

[XMAX]

Both are awesome machines.

The diesels are definitely like the diesels of old. They're quiet and power packed.

The 330i is also a serious contender.

In manual form the choice would be obvious, 330i cos they love a manual box.

Seeing as you like the autos, my belief is that the choice can go either way. I would take the 330d cos of the power, matched with excellent economy, yet still providing an engaging drive.

If you have your mind set on a 330i, then go for it. Excellent motor.

Good luck with the purchase.

 

[Driving Pleasure]

Wow guys - thanks for the affirmations! Love the balanced view from both sides.

I must confess though that I do not like the 17" tyres on the 330i I am eyeing. The 323i I am driving has 18" and is also a Sportspack. THe 18s kinda make the car well rounded, give it a bold burly kinda look, without the tyres lost in the arches somewhere if they were smaller! The 17" tyres kinda feel serene on a Beemer - much like the face of a doe if you dig what I'm getting at! No offence Philip - appreciate your views always.

May be it's a mind thing!

I cannot wait to feel the torque now lurking at lower revs!

 

[NavZ]

Wow guys - thanks for the affirmations! Love the balanced view from both sides.

I must confess though that I do not like the 17" tyres on the 330i I am eyeing. The 323i I am driving has 18" and is also a Sportspack. THe 18s kinda make the car well rounded, give it a bold burly kinda look, without the tyres lost in the arches somewhere if they were smaller! The 17" tyres kinda feel serene on a Beemer - much like the face of a doe if you dig what I'm getting at! No offence Philip - appreciate your views always.

May be it's a mind thing!

I cannot wait to feel the torque now lurking at lower revs!

I love the optional 18" Sports Mags (193M). The standard 17" sports is 194M & looks to bulky. I got my car with the 17s & was looking for the 18s but ended up getting the 1M mags instead. If I were you I'd swap the mags with the 323i assuming you have runflats.

 

[Driving Pleasure]

Wow guys - thanks for the affirmations! Love the balanced view from both sides.

I must confess though that I do not like the 17" tyres on the 330i I am eyeing. The 323i I am driving has 18" and is also a Sportspack. THe 18s kinda make the car well rounded, give it a bold burly kinda look, without the tyres lost in the arches somewhere if they were smaller! The 17" tyres kinda feel serene on a Beemer - much like the face of a doe if you dig what I'm getting at! No offence Philip - appreciate your views always.

May be it's a mind thing!

I cannot wait to feel the torque now lurking at lower revs!

I love the optional 18" Sports Mags (193M). The standard 17" sports is 194M & looks to bulky. I got my car with the 17s & was looking for the 18s but ended up getting the 1M mags instead. If I were you I'd swap the mags with the 323i assuming you have runflats.

I have asked the dealer for 18" Sport Mags. If they tell me crap then I am going to swap their mags for mine which are coupled with runflats.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Wow guys - thanks for the affirmations! Love the balanced view from both sides.

I must confess though that I do not like the 17" tyres on the 330i I am eyeing. The 323i I am driving has 18" and is also a Sportspack. THe 18s kinda make the car well rounded, give it a bold burly kinda look, without the tyres lost in the arches somewhere if they were smaller! The 17" tyres kinda feel serene on a Beemer - much like the face of a doe if you dig what I'm getting at! No offence Philip - appreciate your views always.

May be it's a mind thing!

I cannot wait to feel the torque now lurking at lower revs!

None taken! It's like the E46 for me - 17" is the ideal size, bigger just looks silly, 16" is small for the wheel arches. Now with the E90 it's basically 1 inch up - 17" is small, but with RFT's is more comfortable and cost effective. For the wheel arches 18" is good and even 19" for that matter, but personally would hate the ride with RFT's, plus the cost of RFT's in those sizes is just mad!!!

Otherwise I would have quite happily bought a set of 162 Ellipsoids and "trying" RFT's to see if I could live with them...

 

[///Shaun]

Both are excellent choices and the guys have pretty much summed up the pros and cons of each.

For me personally i felt the 330i lacked performance but hey thats just me. As long as you are happy with your choice is what counts most.

Lots of happy motoring , you will love the Beemer.

:bravo:

 

[Driving Pleasure]

Hi fellow fanatics

I eventually bought the 330i that I had made up my mind to buy - thanks to your valuable advice.

I bought the Beemer in Joburg and drove it to Cape Town. What a pleasure! What a joy!

There is no mistaking - one can feel the difference in power especially when compared to the 323i that I had. You challenge this Beemer and it challenges you! And the sound! Ahhhh you gotta luv that deep growl in the vocals of this big boy.

But here is what blew me away with this adolescent - he was not thirsty at all! Okay, granted, my foot was not like a size 11 gumboot on the pedal - I did at most 140km\h. Yet with that, I filled up in Colesburg and drove all the way to Cape Town with ONE tank! Yup, you read right- ONE TANK! That was a total of 777km!

SO far, I am happy. Since I have been back in the Kaap, I am no longer afraid to take on anyone anymore! It feels so good to have this power under your foot when it's necessary - reminds me of a dictator, he does not have to kill you but will do if its necesary!

 

[Bayn46]

Hi fellow fanatics

I eventually bought the 330i that I had made up my mind to buy - thanks to your valuable advice.

I bought the Beemer in Joburg and drove it to Cape Town. What a pleasure! What a joy!

There is no mistaking - one can feel the difference in power especially when compared to the 323i that I had. You challenge this Beemer and it challenges you! And the sound! Ahhhh you gotta luv that deep growl in the vocals of this big boy.

But here is what blew me away with this adolescent - he was not thirsty at all! Okay, granted, my foot was not like a size 11 gumboot on the pedal - I did at most 140km\h. Yet with that, I filled up in Colesburg and drove all the way to Cape Town with ONE tank! Yup, you read right- ONE TANK! That was a total of 777km!

SO far, I am happy. Since I have been back in the Kaap, I am no longer afraid to take on anyone anymore! It feels so good to have this power under your foot when it's necessary - reminds me of a dictator, he does not have to kill you but will do if its necesary!

Awesome news, glad that you are happy with the decision. After all, that's the most important part :joy:

On a cruise these cars are pretty damn efficient, even on short round trip to Hermanus I averaged 7.1l/100km, and that's with a fair amount of fun

Looking forward to the pics :thumbs:

 

[Mike1]

We did Richmond to Cape Town and arrived with a 150km range in a 330d. :rollsmile:

Congrats on the new car, they are lovely machines. :thumbs:

P.S - I may stand to be corrected, I am sure it was Richmond, Jeanre!

 

[Driving Pleasure]

Hi fellow fanatics

I eventually bought the 330i that I had made up my mind to buy - thanks to your valuable advice.

I bought the Beemer in Joburg and drove it to Cape Town. What a pleasure! What a joy!

There is no mistaking - one can feel the difference in power especially when compared to the 323i that I had. You challenge this Beemer and it challenges you! And the sound! Ahhhh you gotta luv that deep growl in the vocals of this big boy.

But here is what blew me away with this adolescent - he was not thirsty at all! Okay, granted, my foot was not like a size 11 gumboot on the pedal - I did at most 140km\h. Yet with that, I filled up in Colesburg and drove all the way to Cape Town with ONE tank! Yup, you read right- ONE TANK! That was a total of 777km!

SO far, I am happy. Since I have been back in the Kaap, I am no longer afraid to take on anyone anymore! It feels so good to have this power under your foot when it's necessary - reminds me of a dictator, he does not have to kill you but will do if its necesary!

Awesome news, glad that you are happy with the decision. After all, that's the most important part :joy:

On a cruise these cars are pretty damn efficient, even on short round trip to Hermanus I averaged 7.1l/100km, and that's with a fair amount of fun

Looking forward to the pics :thumbs:

Thank you man! :ty: Will definitely post pics!

 

[NavZ]

Hurry up with those pics :rollsmile:

 

[Driving Pleasure]

When I pulled into the garage I had a range of 30km.

I am told that sometimes the range reading is not 100% accurate because the fuel moves around in the tank:fencelook: - meaning I may have done more than the 30km the onboard genie was telling me.

Mike, if the petrol was this efficient, I believe your when you say the same about your 330d!

 

[Mike1]

When I pulled into the garage I had a range of 30km.

I am told that sometimes the range reading is not 100% accurate because the fuel moves around in the tank:fencelook: - meaning I may have done more than the 30km the onboard genie was telling me.

Mike, if the petrol was this efficient, I believe your when you say the same about your 330d!

Isnt it simply superb how these cars just eat up the mileage? For us the drive up was better than the drive down (didnt drive much at night) and the car just settles in, gets on with it.

The drive up felt like a walk in the park, BMW makes great cars! :thumbs:

 

[Philip Foglar]

On the open road the 330i is truly superb, and is at its absolute best!!! Driving in and around town it is going to eat fuel, just one of those things - standing still you can often see the average fuel consumption going up, far less the case with a diesel of course!

Just a tip, try and avoid running your car's fuel tank that low, especially when it has run so economically - in the manual they recommend no less than 50 km range left, and that's probably for an average 10 l/100 km consumption. With my car, once 'Moaning Myrtle' has woken up I check the range left and then I know that I will need to fill up within the next 10 - 20 km at least.

Reason, to prevent damage to the fuel pump from air and/or dirt getting into the system!

And yes, we now need pics! And now your 330i is in CPT for the next breakfast run!! :thumbs: