BMW and M Power Owners

I have adaptive on my M340i, I have driven other 3 Series without. I don't really think it makes a huge difference personally.

The 330i is often quite overpriced for what it is though - I think the 3 Series choice is either the 320i or the M340i, the 320i offering a significant purchase price benefit meaning you can buy a much newer or lower mileage 320i for the same sort of budget. The 330i sits in an odd place in the market, they are rarer, more sought after, more expensive but ultimately just a slightly more powerful 320i.
 
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[TW]Fox said:
I have adaptive on my M340i, I have driven other 3 Series without. I don't really think it makes a huge difference personally.

The 330i is often quite overpriced for what it is though - I think the 3 Series choice is either the 320i or the M340i, the 320i offering a significant purchase price benefit meaning you can buy a much newer or lower mileage 320i for the same sort of budget. The 330i sits in an odd place in the market, they are rarer, more sought after, more expensive but ultimately just a slightly more powerful 320i.
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I considered the M340i but I have a baby on the way (due in a few months) and tbh I think my mindset on the power will completely change when we're all in it. Need something that the wife can happily pootle around in with the baby and a decent amount of space but something I can have a bit of fun in when needed - 330i seems to tick most of those boxes whilst being a fair bit cheaper than the M340i.

The M140i on the other hand just feels like it was designed to be driven like a yobbo all the time.
 
I've certainly found the 320i to be plenty enough - it's still 185PS with a decent amount of torque. It's only a few seconds worth of booting it and you're past the speed limit.
 
Fireskull said:
I reckon your mates E46 had a problem with it, which plenty of them do, poor maintenance and they will run sluggish.
I have a 330 Clubsport and it shifts for what it is and is still a great car for its age, I would choose it everyday over a 320D :cry:
But them being rust buckets is correct :p
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It didn't have any mechanical issues as far as I'm aware. It had plenty of rust. Sure you don't have some personal bias...? The E92 320d was a better car than the E46 330Ci. I'll gladly die on this hill.

However, I'm not saying the 320d was a great car; the 330ci was just that bad. People should realise that I'm not overly praising the 320d - I'm using it to define how mediocre the 330ci is.

Sorry to hate on your car, but it is my opinion of it.
 
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aaronyuri said:
It didn't have any mechanical issues as far as I'm aware. It had plenty of rust. Sure you don't have some personal bias...? The E92 320d was a better car than the E46 330Ci. I'll gladly die on this hill.

However, I'm not saying the 320d was a great car; the 330ci was just that bad. People should realise that I'm not overly praising the 320d - I'm using it to define how mediocre the 330ci is.

Sorry to hate on your car, but it is my opinion of it.
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I mean even on paper the E46 330 is quicker than the 320d :p
In terms of more modern, sure the E92 320d will feel nicer, but as a fun car, or faster, absolutely not.

And I have driven an E92 M3 around Europe, now that is a car :cool:
 
aaronyuri said:
It didn't have any mechanical issues as far as I'm aware. It had plenty of rust. Sure you don't have some personal bias...? The E92 320d was a better car than the E46 330Ci. I'll gladly die on this hill.

However, I'm not saying the 320d was a great car; the 330ci was just that bad. People should realise that I'm not overly praising the 320d - I'm using it to define how mediocre the 330ci is.

Sorry to hate on your car, but it is my opinion of it.
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I think it's probably fairer to say your particular example of the 330i was bad. Generally, it was far from a bad car. It was very good car and whilst its replacement improved on it in a number of areas it wasn't a massive leap forward and several aspects took a backward step. I owned one - though it was a 335i not a 320d. There wasn't much to like about the 2 litre diesel engine other than it's reasonable fuel economy.
 
He's would be saving 200KG / mpg / insurance too with his 330i g20 in touring guise, over 340 - 3 passengers.

aaronyuri said:
Every car with hardly any oomph is controllable.
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e36 didn't have any of this namby-pamby DSC either, which compliment engine linearity/NA, going around corners.
 
I found the 320i a bit underpowered when given one as a loaner but YMMV.

edit- I had a 2010 A6 2.0 diesel at the time. The engine just felt sluggish with 2 adults and 2 kids in the car.
 
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[TW]Fox said:
I think it's probably fairer to say your particular example of the 330i was bad. Generally, it was far from a bad car. It was very good car and whilst its replacement improved on it in a number of areas it wasn't a massive leap forward and several aspects took a backward step. I owned one - though it was a 335i not a 320d. There wasn't much to like about the 2 litre diesel engine other than it's reasonable fuel economy.
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I think it's fairer to say that we don't agree on our opinions of the 330 Clubsport and probably never will. :D
 
aaronyuri said:
I think it's fairer to say that we don't agree on our opinions of the 330 Clubsport and probably never will. :D
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Absolutely not when you are claiming a 4pot 2L diesel is better than a 3L Petrol 6pot :p so best we leave it at that.

The problem isn't the Clubsport, you are claiming all the E46 330ci engines are bad based on one friend who had one which clearly had a problem, the clubsport is just a 330ci with some tarty bits and minor weight loss.
 
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Sounds like someone who just likes the instant torque of diesels - can't remember who else on here was similar and would argue that diesels were just better.
(despite the fact that almost all petrols have turbos and the same instant torque these days, and EVs are another level of instant torque)
 
Gentleman, I have a 718 GT4. I know what NA power is and drive it everyday. ;)

I am no praiser of 2 litre diesels. I'm definitely not claiming a 4 cylinder diesel engine is better than the 6 petrol. I never said that.

I'll say it again: the E92 320d was a better car than the E46 330Ci. Better car. Car.
 
aaronyuri said:
Gentleman, I have a 718 GT4. I know what NA power is and drive it everyday. ;)

I am no praiser of 2 litre diesels. I'm definitely not claiming a 4 cylinder diesel engine is better than the 6 petrol. I never said that.

I'll say it again: the E92 320d was a better car than the E46 330Ci. Better car. Car.
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You would say that, diesel fanboy



;)
 
Funky-Melon said:
Anyone here moved from an M140i to a G20 330i?

Love the M140i but fancy something with a bit more space, also the suspension is just awful on our roads, it's so harsh and bouncy, especially where I live. I've not been out in a G20 yet but hoping it's not the same story on one with passive suspension, or are adaptive dampers the only way to go?
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I did this exact move, from a 2017 M140i to a 2019 330i.

It’s a nicer calmer place to be, but all the fun of the M140i is gone… I was expecting this, and yet i still miss the M140i sometimes. But then I'm enjoying the soft cruising, less thrashy, better sound system for music and podcasts.

Powerwise as people mention, it's quite down on the M140i obviously, but that always felt overkill (lovely sounding tho!). Against a 320i i have no personal experience, but when mine was in BMW I got a 2024 220i manual loan car, and it certainly felt powerful enough and the manual box surprised me, nice solid gear changes.

The thing thats taken me longest to adjust to is no rear window wiper, I like my visibility and even after a year in the 330i I still go to pull the wiper stalk towards me.

Both of mine were adaptive, the M140i in comfort was still harsh-ish, the 330i in comfort is more whafty. The defference I felt in both cars is when in sports/sports plus and the cars became a lot more 'focused', stiffer suspension to the point of feeling a lot more of the road, the heavier steering too.

Oh actually two friends have passive 330e's, and they do seem to provide a nice soft ride!
 
[TW]Fox said:
I have adaptive on my M340i, I have driven other 3 Series without. I don't really think it makes a huge difference personally.

The 330i is often quite overpriced for what it is though - I think the 3 Series choice is either the 320i or the M340i, the 320i offering a significant purchase price benefit meaning you can buy a much newer or lower mileage 320i for the same sort of budget. The 330i sits in an odd place in the market, they are rarer, more sought after, more expensive but ultimately just a slightly more powerful 320i.
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The 330i I think is the sweetspot.

The 320i is, in my opinion, too low on torque. It changes gears more frequently than I like in a cruising car.

The 320d is ample in this regard, but is a diesel and comes with the compromises of one.


The 330i has the same torque as a 320d but also generally quicker. Plus, it's nowhere near the price of a 340i or 330d.


Lastly, a 330i with M Sport Pro pack comes with the LSD, which the 320x models do not offer.



A 330i would be my choice of G20 if I was buying one again.
 
I had not noticed how much cheaper they are now than the M340i - you can get a decent enough 330i for about £20k. So, I agree, it has its place for that reason.
 
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