E46 BMW Auto Boxes Good or Bad?

MrMagoo · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:20

Thanks for the comments, off to look at a 330ci shortly

iaind · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:24

Link to the ad?

Morba · 15 Nov 2009 at 15:42

makintraxru said:
go for the later facelift 330d
remap the ecu
and laugh at all the other 330,s
trying to keep up with you
also mpg is fantastic
no brainer m8

Will say hi before you get banned...

Hi!

MrMagoo · 15 Nov 2009 at 16:17

Well didn't go and see it as they are closed today... will have to go and look tomorrow if possible.

Advert is here:

http://www.davidbrowncars.co.uk/veh...n=&intMax=&RSpage=2&ID=1029019&popup=&Modela=

[TW]Fox · 15 Nov 2009 at 16:22

I would expect nothing less than an absolute minter with 1 owner for that money.

MrMagoo · 15 Nov 2009 at 16:24

Will find out when/if I go and see it, only 15-20 mins away and they have a couple of other cars just so I can look and see what they are like.

No harm in going to look and ask questions

Dave L · 15 Nov 2009 at 16:41

Morba said:
fully agree. If you want economy then a 330d is not what you want. If economy is not an issus then a 330d is not what you want.
Go for the better 330i

-1

I take it you havn't been in a remapped 330d? :cool:

Morba · 15 Nov 2009 at 16:48

Dave L said:
-1

I take it you havn't been in a remapped 330d?

mine is remapped

Participant · 15 Nov 2009 at 16:51

Lol

You can remap petrols as well you know.

Dave L · 15 Nov 2009 at 17:02

Robbie G said:
Lol

You can remap petrols as well you know.

Indeed, with great results too!

Alex UK · 15 Nov 2009 at 17:32

Robbie G said:
Lol

You can remap petrols as well you know.

Yes, because you're going to get the same power/torque/performance gains from a remapped 330i as a remapped 330d. Oh, wait...

[TW]Fox · 15 Nov 2009 at 17:34

Alex UK said:
Yes, because you're going to get the same power/torque/performance gains from a remapped 330i as a remapped 330d. Oh, wait...

A remapped 330d E46 is about 220bhp a remapped 330i E46 is about 260bhp. The torque benefit is cancelled out by the fact you can change gear in a 330i, so the torque at the wheels is the same if not more.

This is why the 330i is faster.

Alex UK · 15 Nov 2009 at 17:36

[TW]Fox;15321653 said:
...a remapped 330i E46 is about 260bhp.

Over 30BHP from a remap?! On which planet?

Edit: Just to expand slightly. A remapped 204BHP 330d will see 250BHP to 260BHP. DMS for example offer this, see here. So MUCH more than 220BHP then.

A remapped 330i I'm not so sure about but I can't imagine you'll see anything more than a 5BHP gain in reality.

So that's 260BHP vs. maybe 235BHP. Suddenly the 330d seems a lot more appealing.

[TW]Fox · 15 Nov 2009 at 17:41

This is what the remapping companies claim. I've not remapped mine so I couldnt tell you how accurate it is. Most are 255bhp, some claim 260bhp.

At 231bhp standard despite 3 litres of displacement the M54B30 is not a particularly stressed engine as standard.

Sparky · 15 Nov 2009 at 17:42

Most of the remappers that frequent the BMW forums i post on, claim no more than 15 BHP increase on a standard 330Ci. Although with intake and exhaust upgrades they can hit 255-260.

Strap a ess stage 3 on it.

Alex UK · 15 Nov 2009 at 17:54

[TW]Fox;15321700 said:
This is what the remapping companies claim.

Well unfortunately remapping companies tend to pull figures out of their backsides. As I said, I'd be extremely suprised if you dyno'ed a 330i before and after remapping it and got anything more than a 5BHP gain. As with any turbocharged car however, there is far, far more room to increase the power of a 330d. It's very difficult to see any meaningful power gains from remapping a N/A car, really.

Sparky · 15 Nov 2009 at 17:57

I got a very healthy gain on the 172,higher rev limit and a much smoother drive. Cant see it being any different on a 330i.