Alan - nope. Driven an older 330i, an X5 (!) with the latest 3.0d engine and a 535d. I need to drive the actual cars to make a decision.
If I got a 330d, I'd chip it.

 

Agree with you again, about the tuneability.

The seats look the stuff, and BMW Car mag said that they were really comfy too!

The steering wheel is a nice gadget to have, it's 50/50 (like/dislike) from buyers, from what I understood.

When I get the info from the dealer, I'll post the info.

 

My Golf R32 actually had pretty similar seats (Konigs) - they look the mutts nuts BUT as a passenger, you cannot sleep while sitting in them! Not an issue for most but we found it a right pain as we did long journeys in the Golf. I also found it hard to get properly comfortable and because they are so "tall", they are a bugger to fold forwards (they touch the roof). Silly practical points but ones that get really annoying! Those do look cool though.

 

Is 0-60 in 6.7 and 155 mph top end not quick enough Matt?

Chalk and cheese compared to your Astra

 

You won't be in the market for a Lotus Sunbeam then?

 

Compared to 0-60 in 5.9/6.0 and stupid mid range torque, no it's not.

Yes I know it's a big step up from the Astra but so what? I've done big steps up and down in the past, driven all sorts yet STILL rate the Astra as an extremely competent car that does pretty much everything for naff all money.

It's also almost 300kgs lighter than the BMW so naturally more nimble. But of course the BMW has many better points - although less space and everyone will hate me (even more) when I get one.

 

You can ask BMW for a free Teflon coat for those dishing out the stereo-typical crap that we all hear every now and again...

You also get issued with '101 Great Put Downs' too... works a treat on morons...

Either way, you get used to it.

 

Matt, I'm not dissing you Astra which is a very capable car, just questioning the real world need to spend the extra on a 335d when a standard, warranty intact 330d 0r as posted above 330i would be a hugely competent car.

Two friends have a 335d coupe and a 330d touring and while, yes, the 335 is ultimately the faster, the 330d is not noticably slower on the road.

384 lbs/ft at 1750 is hardly shoddy, and only 44lbs/ft down on the 335d

And I'm going to edit my 0-60 quote - apparently its 6.2 dead for the 330d against 6.1 for the 335d (crap measure, i know, but used for comparative purposes)

 

Devil - I have a slightly irrational criteria - it must be a good bit faster than my Golf (mk4 R32) was!

I will have a look at the 330d though.

 

Can I just add that a chap I know runs his DMS mapped 335d coupe at Santa Pod and on Saturday ran a 13.0 @ 106mph...He was smoking E46 M3's for fun all day. Just incase you were wondering, its running about 350bhp and 530lbs ft. I watched him run most of the day and his worst run was 13.3secs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXndCQeU__k

The 335d is stunningly quick standard even more so when mapped. If you look on YouTube you can find videos of his car neck and neck with a 400bhp 335i. You can't argue with that sort of go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZIsc...eature=channel

Oh and him taking out a Z4M for good effect....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b51l...eature=channel

 

I take it the 335d is a semi-automatic then i.e. paddleshift because of the torque on a standard box?

Can the 330d be had with a manual box?

 

335d is only available with 6-sp Auto, with steering wheel paddle change as standard.
330d is available with 6-sp Manual or 6-sp Auto.

 

You know Carlos?

I've posted his pod times here a few times as he's a good bench mark for a well driven, tuned D owned by a true petrol head.

It's only RR ECU tuned too. No other internals or exhaust.

 

This is an added bonus for the 330 if you are looking and don't fancy the paddles and want a proper manual.

They decided that the manual isn't strong enough to take the torque. Especially with the tuning available making well over 500 Ft Lbs. There is talk of the car going into limp mode at anything beyond 700nm, but people have run it beyond that with no issues except when doing some track work... (I think this was Carlos from the BMW forums too...)

 

when you tune a manual 330d you will get a bit of a grumble form the manual box with the extra torque, its noticable in 5th and 6th gear on full throttle low revs so im not suprised the manual cant handle the 335ds torque. According to bmwland auto box doesnt have this problem.

having owned 2 330ds the only problem with them is that you keep wishing you had a 335d!!

 

Therein lies the problem for anyone having the choice of cars, direct from the horse mouth (unless of course you MUST HAVE a manual.)

Bit like WRX owners.... when a STI passes... Sorry.. I couldn't resist, but you get the idea..

This is one reason I didn't consider the 330. I also thought the 335 box, with the paddles, to be pretty special.

 

The well driven is the kicker - seeing as most of those cars he was against should be able to match those times when well driven. Hell, my boat will do a 13s 1/4 bone stock with less power and less torque.

 

No point discussing power to weight....

The whole point is that he's competing with tuned 400 BHP 335i's, and beating M3's and Z4M's.... regardless of the semantics of how they were driven (we don't know the people or the cars)

I suppose all this is doing is showcasing the modern Diesel engine..

 

was going to say that but thought it was safer not to!!
drove a 335i last week, its got serious shove low down the rev range. Did find the auto box a little jerky under braking when in sport mode is this normal or is it just me not being used to an auto? (other than an SMG and no one on earth can drive those smoothly)

 

I have a WRX wagon, and the "boss" thought that a blue STi with golden rims, a massive spoiler and air intake were good enough reason to make me sleep outdoors...................
The purchase decision was taken fast enough.