bmw 330d 4 wd
27 July 2002, 08:46 PM
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YOu can get a 330ix. And Alpina makes a conversion to lower the car plus 260hp. Not bad. I e-mailed evo numerous times to feature this car- however they refuse. It could be a great competitor to the Impreza?
27 July 2002, 11:55 PM
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Yes, the 330xd saloon/touring is a standard model in Germany,France,Italy etc but not the UK. Doesn;t have std sports suspension.
I somehow reckon that they don't sell it in the UK because BMW advertising (for their road cars not off-roaders) is all about how fantastic rear wheel drive / weight distribution. ie Maybe Audi have a point with Quattro.
Having owned a chipped V6 Quattro diesel, the 330Xd is the only BMW I'd buy out of choice.
I somehow reckon that they don't sell it in the UK because BMW advertising (for their road cars not off-roaders) is all about how fantastic rear wheel drive / weight distribution. ie Maybe Audi have a point with Quattro.
Having owned a chipped V6 Quattro diesel, the 330Xd is the only BMW I'd buy out of choice.
28 July 2002, 09:49 AM
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Diesel engine have good torque but a narrow power band and are currently underpowered IMHO.
My ma ordered and got an Alpina B3 3.3 which is a 330xi base with forged internals and reprogrammed ECU / 16:9 GPS, hand made leather interior, 18 inch wheels etc etc. It's a very nice cruiser but not a sports car.
I tried it out and was expecting more grip from the front. In fact (with DSC off), when entering curves at high speed (for the care this is), the car first understeers, then understeers less, but to make it tail happy, you have to force it (scandinavian flick). Not something I recommend with the Michelin tyres
I believe this handling is due to the way the AWD system works, a little bit like Audi's HALDEX, with the car being a RWD and the front axle only being clutched in when you lose rear grip. I believe the y do this to save petrol or something...
You can order a 330xd here, why wouldnt they make them in RHD? Contact Alpina, they do everything www.alpina.de
My ma ordered and got an Alpina B3 3.3 which is a 330xi base with forged internals and reprogrammed ECU / 16:9 GPS, hand made leather interior, 18 inch wheels etc etc. It's a very nice cruiser but not a sports car.
I tried it out and was expecting more grip from the front. In fact (with DSC off), when entering curves at high speed (for the care this is), the car first understeers, then understeers less, but to make it tail happy, you have to force it (scandinavian flick). Not something I recommend with the Michelin tyres
I believe this handling is due to the way the AWD system works, a little bit like Audi's HALDEX, with the car being a RWD and the front axle only being clutched in when you lose rear grip. I believe the y do this to save petrol or something...
You can order a 330xd here, why wouldnt they make them in RHD? Contact Alpina, they do everything
www.alpina.de
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28 July 2002, 10:45 AM
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The UK importers decide which models are imported - at current prices I would guess that an X version 330i / d dwould be over £30,000 without extras, which makes the price too close to the X5 to make it worthwhile ranging it here.
A one-off Alpina version would be even more expensive !
Anyway - the 3.0 diesel Audi is soon to launch for the A4 will have a 'proper' Quattro transmission rather than the Haldex on the A3 etc. I'm hoping this will deliver 210-220ps before chipping
A one-off Alpina version would be even more expensive !
Anyway - the 3.0 diesel Audi is soon to launch for the A4 will have a 'proper' Quattro transmission rather than the Haldex on the A3 etc. I'm hoping this will deliver 210-220ps before chipping
28 July 2002, 10:59 AM
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Isn't it just than BMW AG don't/can't (feasibly) engineer RHD 4x4 3 series? They used to do a 5-series 4x4 in this county but is had a very poor uptake.
Question is though, why would you want a 4x4 3-series? Inferior on the road to a good RWD (which they are) and not enough clearance to really need AWD (snow/off road). Fine a worthy model for Audi's as the base cars are FWD and thus AWD/4WD will be better on road, but does seem a big of a pointless model in a '3'?
Question is though, why would you want a 4x4 3-series? Inferior on the road to a good RWD (which they are) and not enough clearance to really need AWD (snow/off road). Fine a worthy model for Audi's as the base cars are FWD and thus AWD/4WD will be better on road, but does seem a big of a pointless model in a '3'?
28 July 2002, 06:12 PM
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Isn't it just than BMW AG don't/can't (feasibly) engineer RHD 4x4 3 series? They used to do a 5-series 4x4 in this county but is had a very poor uptake.
Could be, since they cant engineer any decent (fast) LHD either!
28 July 2002, 06:18 PM
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Claudius,
Has your Alpina been lowered? Or is it still at regular (too high) height of the standard ix?
Thanks, JL
Has your Alpina been lowered? Or is it still at regular (too high) height of the standard ix?
Thanks, JL
It's my mother's car! Please dont insult me by saying it is mine!
It has "sports suspension" from either Alpina or BMW, not sure. Better than the 328 (E46) but nothing special. I think it's an inch lower than a standard Black Man's ***** 3 series
Oh, and I took than pic while the car was about to go into my garage (downhill) so it may look lower than normal here.
28 July 2002, 07:11 PM
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2/3 years ago BMW UK used to offer 4wd drive on virtually every 3 & 5 series, it was an option, just like metallic paint! Cost around £1400 IIRC.
Why not buy an A4 2.5TDi Quattro instead?
Why not buy an A4 2.5TDi Quattro instead?
28 July 2002, 07:44 PM
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Bloody ell that one passed me by - I know they did the 525iX and 325iX (LHD only) before it - how come none of the motoring press ever tested anything other than these two 'official' models ?
Call me cynical and extremely cynical about BMW's marketing.
Re the Audi - I agree 100% and had 50,000 enjoyable miles in one - including lapping a sprint circuit 0.4 seconds slower than a modified S4 - not a great driver, just loads of torque.
Call me cynical and extremely cynical about BMW's marketing.
Re the Audi - I agree 100% and had 50,000 enjoyable miles in one - including lapping a sprint circuit 0.4 seconds slower than a modified S4 - not a great driver, just loads of torque.
29 July 2002, 09:54 AM
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In the dry I agree about how good a great RWD chassis can be.
In the wet,ice,grease and snow and combining these factors with unfamiliar roads, give me a decent four wheel drive system anyday.
Lets suppose that the new 3.0 Audi diesel will have 210bhp and about 300lb/ft torque. Chipped this will be say 235bhp and 350lb/ft without affecting reliablity.
With the 'proper' quattro transmission rather than the Haldex (and no I'm not knocking it!) this should make an extremely capable long distance and A road stormer. I reckon it will still understeer, but the grip levels will still be top notch.
Maybe not 'ultimate fun' but I'd definitely have it at the top of my list when it arrives.
In the wet,ice,grease and snow and combining these factors with unfamiliar roads, give me a decent four wheel drive system anyday.
Lets suppose that the new 3.0 Audi diesel will have 210bhp and about 300lb/ft torque. Chipped this will be say 235bhp and 350lb/ft without affecting reliablity.
With the 'proper' quattro transmission rather than the Haldex (and no I'm not knocking it!) this should make an extremely capable long distance and A road stormer. I reckon it will still understeer, but the grip levels will still be top notch.
Maybe not 'ultimate fun' but I'd definitely have it at the top of my list when it arrives.
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