DAZ 4

All the adverts I've seen say "Auto" are they "tiptronic" ??

Is the "Sport" different ?

polarbearit

None of the 3 series has a standard autobox... Check www.bmw.co.uk

GaryC

The auto is tiptronic, but the 330d (as all 3s do) come with a std manual box. The auto/tiptronic is a £1000+ option. The 'sport' is another option which can be specified with auto box for the same premium. Sport adds, 18" MV wheels, sports suspension, sills/spoilers and sports seats.

I went for an auto 330d as it suited the car better IMO. With all that torque it just gives such seamless progress, although does blunt performance marginally.

Reffro

Just to add to the previous posts. The auto gearbox is a 5-speed tiptronic gearbox, with adptive shift and sports mode. The cost is 1220 pounds as an option. The sport versions are seperate trims, with sports seats, differing interior trim, sports steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels and different front bumpers amongst other things.

One thing to consider with the auto gearbox is the increased fuel consumption (manual 40+ mpg, auto 28-32mpg) and CO2 emissions. I can't remember the exact figures but I know the auto gearbox adds at least 30g/km to the emissions figure, which means if its going to be a company car, paying an additonal 6% of the purchase price as tax, aswell as the 1220 pounds extra you have paid for the gearbox. I just checked the BMW website and its 178g/km rising to 213g/km, so another 7% of the list price, so look at adding 30-40%on your annual tax bill.

MattOz

Gary,

I thought the reason you went for the auto was because you're old!

Matt

DAZ 4

How comes every "used" version I see for sale is an "Auto" ??

paulmon

Reffro,

Where on earth did you get those MPG figures from. I have an auto and on a motorway journey I get 40MPG (Over 500 miles on a full tank) doing between 70-85 MPH. However round town it drops to about 22MPG.

Paul

Reffro

Driving them both back to back is how I came to say what I did. On the roads I drive which are a mix of dual carriageway, fast A-roads and town driving. The auto gearbox is less fuel efficient than the manual, and by some way. Thats why I mentioned the CO2 figures, 178g/km (man) rising to 213g/km, with official overall fuel economy of 42.2mpg failing to 35.3mpg. There are obvious tax implications too, for people driving comany cars. If you compare the above with the figures for the 330i you get CO2 figures of 218g/km (man) rising to 230g/km (auto) and overall fuel consumption 31.0mpg falling to 29.4mpg. Its a shame but the auto gearbox is significantly less efficient when joined with the 330d engine.

I say its a shame because I wish all gearboxes were as good as this GM unit. (P.S. General Motors build this gearbox not BMW) I'd want this on every car I drive if it could be done. But for other people who haven't tried one on the 330d there are obvious cost impplications in choosing it over a manual, company car tax being one. My parents own a 323ci auto with the 2.5 petrol unit by the way, and they get 29-30mpg average over the same roads and 36mpg at 80mph on the motorway, so its not just the gearbox at fault.

I like the 330d auto overall so much that I told my Dad that should be his next car. But he pays his own money and takes his choice, and doesn't have tax bills to worry about, other people might.

GaryC

Reffro - are you taking the mpg from the trip computer? or working it out?

The mpg on the trip isn't accurate. I get between 550 and 600 miles per (£45) tankful. That equates to well over 40 mpg, but my trip cmputer never says over 40. The manuals are far more accurate.

In my experiance the real difference in mpg between manual and auto is almost nothing (miles per tankful).


Matt - FO