3 Series Confusion

Tommy B · 19 May 2008 at 19:15

Dad is looking to buy a new 3 series convertible. We don't understand why the 330i and the 325i share the same engine, practically the same fuel consumption statistics yet there's a huge difference in performance. Why is this the case?

Cheers

Killa_ken · 19 May 2008 at 19:17

I cant tell you much other then...

I LOVE the new 3 series, I drove one a few weeks ago, it was a brand new 328i (3.0 238hp) and I can honestly say it was mind blowing to drive, the power was so smooth and refined. It blows the doors off of my G37.

BUY ONE

Tommy B · 19 May 2008 at 19:19

He is trading in the 525d and looking at the 330i, maybe the 335i if they are willing to put in a good deal. Personally I think he's a mug for buying brand new but it's his money not mine.

Killa_ken · 19 May 2008 at 19:22

The 325 is just a detuned 330, you can tune it back up Im sure.

PMKeates · 19 May 2008 at 19:25

Killa_ken said:
The 325 is just a detuned 330, you can tune it back up Im sure.

Not very easily, though. The basic block is the same but it isn't just one component that is different.

dilated · 19 May 2008 at 20:33

Isnt this the same case with the 525d and the 530d ?

PMKeates · 19 May 2008 at 20:42

dilated said:
Isnt this the same case with the 525d and the 530d ?

It doesn't stop there either

[TW]Fox · 19 May 2008 at 20:43

The engine is the same, but they are in different levels of tune. In the 325i, it's circa 204bhp and in the 330i it's about 276bhp.

It's also the case with LCI 525d and 530d, yes.

Tommy B · 19 May 2008 at 21:25

It seems stupid to pay all that money and not go the extra mile for the 330i in that case. I think he is test driving both the 330i and 325i but he's not obsessed with performance, if he likes the 325i he won't pay the extra few grand for the next model. Have I got any arguments to convince him regarding depreciation?

PMKeates · 19 May 2008 at 21:38

Tommy B said:
It seems stupid to pay all that money and not go the extra mile for the 330i in that case.

Is he going for an automatic? If so, the 325i Convertible auto barely gets to 60mph in 8 seconds, whereas the 330i Convertible auto categorically thunders to 60mph in 6.7 seconds! A 2.0 TDI Golf will match the 325i! Does he want this?!

Ev0 · 19 May 2008 at 21:45

Killa_ken said:
I cant tell you much other then...

I LOVE the new 3 series, I drove one a few weeks ago, it was a brand new 328i (3.0 238hp) and I can honestly say it was mind blowing to drive, the power was so smooth and refined. It blows the doors off of my G37.

BUY ONE

Was in the US last week and there are new shape 328s everywhere, we don't get that engine here do we? Didn't realise it was a 'new' 328 and thought they were just sticking the old 328 lump in their cars still

[TW]Fox · 19 May 2008 at 21:46

Ev0 said:
Was in the US last week and there are new shape 328s everywhere, we don't get that engine here do we?

It's yet another state of tune of the 3.0 - we get it over here as a 330i and a 325i.

Tommy B · 19 May 2008 at 23:42

PMKeates said:
Is he going for an automatic? If so, the 325i Convertible auto barely gets to 60mph in 8 seconds, whereas the 330i Convertible auto categorically thunders to 60mph in 6.7 seconds! A 2.0 TDI Golf will match the 325i! Does he want this?!

Yep he is indeed. He will test drive it and probably find this. If he gets the 325i I will kill him!

Skeeter · 19 May 2008 at 23:48

Killa_ken said:
The 325 is just a detuned 330, you can tune it back up Im sure.

Im not sure BMW 3 Series' work like Graphics cards and Processors, lol

Scania · 20 May 2008 at 04:15

Skeeter said:
Im not sure BMW 3 Series' work like Graphics cards and Processors, lol

Ahh, but a BMW engine is a lot easier to dismantle & re-build than a GFX card or a CPU.

Tommy B · 20 May 2008 at 16:34

Then what's the 335i? Is that a tuned version of the 325i but with twin turbos?

Saytan · 20 May 2008 at 16:40

it's the old 330i lump with twin turbos

PMKeates · 20 May 2008 at 16:43

Saytan said:
it's the old 330i lump with twin turbos

Yep. That and some other differences, most notably direct injection.

Ev0 · 20 May 2008 at 18:50

[TW]Fox;11716898 said:
It's yet another state of tune of the 3.0 - we get it over here as a 330i and a 325i.

Also was reading something about the X6 with the V8 Twin Turbo lump, 400bhp, is that in anything here?

Mad old tory · 20 May 2008 at 19:08

I think it debuts in the X6, could be (and probably am) wrong though.