Looking at a tourer - mpg should be double right ?
Insurance a lot less too ?
Anyone got one got any experiecnce worth sharing.
Performance is near a Scoob especially if u chip it.

Cheers
Mark

 

quote: "Performance is near a Scoob especially if u chip it"- If by 'scoob' you mean a sport then the 330D is a bit better than that. Even a standard UK Turbo is a fair bit quicker over most increments. The diesel owners/dreamers on here will most probably have a thing or 2 to say about it but even the meanest intelligence can do the sums- it's all about power/weight ratio. I've had a good crack at various BMW higho output diesels and all have been shown a clean pair of heels in straight line acceleration in the 'real world' ie an Autoroute. I won't even mention how poor they are in comparison in the 'twisties'.

Mid range is good as I'm sure people will tell you- not as good as an Impreza though, the Impreza will DESTROY a 330D chipped or not over most increments. I

As for MPG I've heard reports of owners getting 30mpg ish when ragging it, not bad at all for a sustained 100mph+ cruise.

I can't understand why people feel there is any point comparing a small executive car using a diesel power plant and driving the rear wheels to a small AWD Turbo charged petrol mass market jap saloon/estate. Both cars serve different markets and if truth be told I think the 3 is the more complete car, it is however in diesel engine format slower than even the lowliest Turbo Impreza, chipped or not.

 

Thanks - yes I appreciate I'll be sacrificing a lot of performance, (I've had the scoob over 300bhp on Ledas etc etc) - wasn't really trying to compare them- just trying to get a handle on running costs.

Mark

 

BMW inspection services aren't cheap but are variable. You should be able to save cash by driving sympathetically.

Similar MPG as I said booting it 30mpg ish or over 40 at a steady 80mph cruise. We had one as a utility vehicle when doing a show last year. What I would say is that the tourer doesn't have that much room in the back, about the same as an Impreza wagon, so I wouldn't class it as a true estate car.

What did your insurance come in at? We had a quote on a 530D and it was £100 more than the Impreza.

 

oo right better check insurance - thanks

 

Anyone else think the owners get the idea its the fastest thing on the road, quick ish but not as quick as they think, my old MK2 Golf (8 valve, few mods) Held one to sixty

 

I'd like to see your Mk2 Golf do 150 - maybe offa cliff

 

We chip 330D's they are pretty fast, 245 bhp and 500Nm of torque!

and you are going to see 30-45 mpg out of one

 

i would like to hear from someone who regularly got 40+ mpg from their 330d. Personally, i doubt that it happens. Sure, you might see 40 mpg when cruising at 80 mph for 1/2 an hour, but i doubt anyone gets this with mixed, "spirited" driving.

maybe it's just me, but i never seem to get more than 75% of the mpg that other people claim. (Don't have a 330d, just based on my experience with a variety of petrol and diesel motors)

 

Are you allowed to say which company? Drop me a mail if you'd rather - kav@thekavanaghs.net.

Cheers
Kav

 

MattOz is your man - he has owned several of these and by all accounts he is pretty impressed. In the hands of a good driver (i.e. Matt) it is a very quick and very capable car. I remember being at the Ring with Matt, passing the (M5) Ring Taxi Personally I reckon they are the pick of the entire 3 series range.

Chris

 

They're very good indeed! Not as quick as a Subaru, but then you don't need me to tell you that. I'm averaging 39.8 mpg according to my trip, so as Charlie says, clearly you can't get 40 mpg average Have done 225 miles today and have 375 left in the tank apparently. Was mostly motorway cruising at 85.

The servicing is cheap. At a dealer, expect to pay £130 for an oil change, £200 for an inspection 1 and £300 for an Inspection 2. If you provide your own oil, knock £50 off those prices. BMW charges £11.50 per litre and the 330d takes 7 litres.

All new 330d's come with the servicing pack for an extra £500. This does all your servicing for 75,000 miles or 5yrs, whichever comes sooner. AFAIK it includes wipers and pads etc. Service intervals range from 15k to 18k depending on how you drive.

Insurance is OK, at around £500. That's fully comp, protected, business use etc. My last Scoob was £960 and my R33GTR V-Spec was £1400.

A much better prospect than a Subaru for everyday use and much friendlier on the wallet. The satisfaction in owning one far outweighs the slight performance disadvantage you might have.

Matt

 

I don't understand how BMW make those service deals work - had it on the MINI for £100. when you think that £100 doesn't cover the first service on most cars, it's really good value. i would probably buy a 330d or 530d if i had 30k lying around. but i haven't.

oh well

ps - Matt, you must be driving granny stylee

 

Charlie,

I am the real life "Hoke" from driving Miss Daisy!

Matt

 

"I'd like to see your Mk2 Golf do 150 - maybe offa cliff "

With a 330D bringing up the rear at 141 MPH.

 

Jacko,

Latest 330d does 151 flat out. Have seen 155 on the clock of mine at just over 4300 rpm in 6th.

Matt

 

JB got done at 144 didn't he.

 

Mark,

He did indeed. On the A1 in France I believe. Good Lad! When I got caught speeding in my old 330d, the WPC commented that it went well for a diesel. I refused to profer a reply and merely smiled!

Matt

 

Have they bumped the power up a little ?

Diesels always amaze me how they feel like they will go flat out all day without complaint, My Fiat Coupe Turbo would do 150+ but either implode/Explode or otherwise fail expensively.

 

The M57N makes 204bhp...which is the latest engine fitted to the 330d, so yeah, they have bumped up the power a little.

Don't be one of the many fools that put petrol in your 330d if you buy one though, 'coz if you drive it, it will require a complete fuel system...ouch.

Rich

 

Jacko,

As Rich says, they have increased the bhp and torque on the latest 330d. It is better than the previous model, but still £27k+ even 2nd hand. The previous model can be chipped to at least the same figures, if not more.

I remember putting my first 330d (X-reg) on cruise control at 130mph in Germany and just sitting there for 25 mins.

Matt