... The BMW automatic gearbox is not great; we used to have a 330 petrol automatic and my 300 D manual was much quicker. In any case, these cars are drivers cars, so enjoy them more with a manual gearbox, which for me has returned 42.1 mpg over the 25,000 miles.
My previous car was a BMW ... Read review
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 130 mph - 143 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: M Sport, Sport, SE, ES
BMW 1 Series - Hatchback - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Automatic, 6 Speed Manual - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 127 mph - 122 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: M Sport, Sport, SE, ES
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 140, 143 mph - 163, 177 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: ES, SE, Sport, M Sport
Advantages: power, economy, ride, headroom (no sunroof) Disadvantages: Limited boot space, tyre wear
...point of view. The BMW automatic gearbox is not great; we used to have a 330 petrol automatic and my 300 D manual was much quicker. In any case, these cars are drivers cars, so enjoy them more with a manual gearbox, which for me has returned 42.1 mpg over the 25,000 miles.
My previous car was a BMW 323 petrol and I find the 330D more refined, relaxed, economical and powerful. How many cars do you know are only doing 2,500 revs at 80mph? ...little except perhaps for the tyre wear and limited boot space. The boot space issue is generic to the 3 series, the tyre wear, I think, specific to the 330D. I am looking now for a new set of rear tyres after 25,000 miles. My previous 323i only required new tyres after about 40,000 and the 318i before that , 45,000 miles.
The faults? My PDC (park distance control) has just failed, but I expect to have it fixed under warranty. Other ... more
I am not going to give you all the technical facts and figures for the 330 D, but more what I have come to love about the car over the last 25,000 miles and 18 months, and why you will too.
The only technical information I will give you is the model and specification I bought, which is a 330D SE with a couple of extras,namely leather seats and CD player (which should be standard equipment, but was fairly inexpensive at £200). I liked the fact that metallic paint was free of charge.
You will notice that I did not opt for automatic. I drove the automatic in a test drive and was disappointed with it, from both an economy point of view (only 35 mpg - see later) and a power point of view. The BMW automatic gearbox is not great; we used to have a 330 petrol automatic and my 300 D manual was much quicker. In any case, these cars are drivers cars, so enjoy them more with a manual gearbox, which for me has returned 42.1 mpg over the 25,000 miles.
My previous car was a BMW 323 petrol and I find the 330D more refined, relaxed, economical and powerful. How many cars do you know are only doing 2,500 revs at 80mph?
The downside to the car? Very little except perhaps for the tyre wear and limited boot space. The boot space issue is generic to the 3 series, the tyre wear, I think, specific to the 330D. I am looking now for a new set of rear tyres after 25,000 miles. My previous 323i only required new tyres after about 40,000 and the 318i before that , 45,000 miles.
The faults? My PDC (park distance control) has just failed, but I expect to have it fixed under warranty. Other than that (which is very minor), nothing - touch wood.
Most useless feature? The automatic headlights are a gimmick, and have caused me 2 near accidents when they have come on at the wrong moment (people thought I was flashing them to go!), so I have turned them off!
The future? I'd love to keep this car for a seriously long time - it's great.
Advantages: Performance, Build Quality, Value, Price Retension Disadvantages: Not Much
...December I purchased a new BMW 330d SE 4 door saloon for £27,586 with automatic gearbox, leather seats, wood trim and CD autochanger.
I must say this car is absolutely amazing. So far after six weeks and 2,500 miles I have had no problems at all. The build quality is excellent, no rattles or squeaks. The dealer service was excellent, the car being delivered on time and in pristine condition. The Car
Even though this car is powered by a 3 litre ... ...being picky, I think that BMW could do more work on the automatic gearbox, in sports mode it seams to think the car is petrol powered and not diesel. Unlike petrol powered cars, this car produces peak pulling power between 1750 and 3250 rpm the sports setting on the gearbox changes far to late letting the car rev up to 4900 rpm. Conclusion
If your are interested in buying a car in this price bracket then make sure you test drive this car, you will ...
R.Redworth 17.01.2003 (03.06.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of BMW 330d
Advantages: Dramatic increase in power, speed and suprisingly fuel economy Disadvantages: Cost of conversion, is that really a boot at the back or a cubby hole?
...like it, its a chipped BMW 330D, " he replied.
Now dont get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with BMW's but you know what, they have never done anythying for me and I have never bought into the image thing either, give me a classic Merc any day but, I had agreed and in any case I hadn't actually driven a diesel BM before so I was a little curious to see what the hype was all about. This car is one of the last previous model versions with the small ... ...leather, 6 speed manual, ac, all round electric windows and a cd player - very expensive options I am lead to believe. So, very early on a sunday morning we try to load the 3 series up and I encounter the first problem. Now if you do your weekly shopping or carry a briefcase in it, the boot is........well okay I guess but try and get three bulging suitcases and the usual bags one takes on holiday into it and you soon find that they dont all fit, ...
Blackcat01 25.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of BMW 330d
Advantages: Performance economy and comfort Disadvantages: It does not drive it self ( well not quite )
My first BMW was an old shape 12 year old 728i, even for its age it drove like a dream. I fell in love with BMW engineering. The second was a new shape 318i, this was my first out of the showroom BMW and it was great fun to drive. At the end of March the 318i went back to the lease company an I decide to buy my own and take the company car allowance I get from work.
I saw a beautiful diamond black 330D Sport priced at 33K in the local BMW showroom ... ...is provided by the standard BMW business radio/tape with RDS and all the bells, I ordered an optional 6 disk CD auto changer to complimented the already up rated speaker system provided by Harmon and Kardon. This thing has Airbags every where on the passenger dash and steering wheel, in the front and rear doors and in the sides of the windscreen there are what BMW call inflatable tubular structure head airbags (stops you banging your head against ...
Chadderz 02.08.2002 (14.08.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of BMW 330d
Advantages: great handling and looks Disadvantages: Auto is poor and eats fuel more
if you have decided to go for the 330d then you want the car for the reason of having a diesel for fuel consumption, so get a manual as Auto will hike up your mpg by about 8-9mpg, and to be honest im not keen on the auto in this car its not the best out there and gear change is sluggish i changed it for a manual and straight away noticed the difference in fuel and i just thought the manual was so much more like me, the car has alot of space and a ...
serimem100 20.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW 330d
Advantages: Speed, efficiency, luxury, need I go on? Disadvantages: Can't think of any!
...what is supposedly the best BMW engine, you have to remember what it is best for and that is the amazing torque that it produces. It picks up very quickly indeed and the engine sounds as smooth as any car i've driven before, including petrol engined cars. In terms of speed, the 0 - 60 mph time is 7.8 seconds which is very quick for a diesel, in fact I am unable to think of one quicker. At the top end, it's good for 140+. And the best thing which ... ...After all, this is a BMW and the after sale service naturally would accompany the fact that it is a prestigious marque. The 3.0 l six-cylinder diesel power-plant has been described as the best diesel engine in the world and a test drive certainly explained this to me. I believed that diesel cars were for old men who drive at 50 in the first lane of the motorway, no disrespect meant. If it's your thing, you'll be cruising down the third lane because ...
Trancester 06.02.2001 (03.02.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW 330d
Advantages: Massive Choice, unbelievable savings Disadvantages: I got lost looking for a BMW
I recently went to Car Giant ( aka Great Trade Centre) & bought my BMW330D. I never knew a place like this existed.
There's loads of big scale warehouses to go & buy a telly, but when it comes to car buying you have to see this place to believe it.
Approaching 26 acres of cars, they claim to have 4,000 in stock. I went there to source a diesel BMW, & bought the love of my life. A 2002 330D auto, in silver with all the bits, & £2000 cheaper than a main dealer with its balance of manufacturers warranty & everything.
They claim to have the largest display of used cars in Europe, a quote made by a National newspaper, & they ain't joking, I actually got lost looking for my beemer.
Their website is wicked "cargiant.co.uk" & a good way to find your car.
Sorry to ramble on, but I am so pleased to find somewhere like this to get ...
