[RobUK]

32.8mpg hooning about town for most of a tankful far cry from the 50.1mpg I got on a 300m m-way run!

[yachtchef]

The 330d is not £5200 more than the 320d when you take into account the sports auto, front parking sensors, metallic paint and servo steering! This I would of added to the 320d of £2830 so add that all up and it's only £2400! Bargain eh.....

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by yachtchef

The 330d is not £5200 more than the 320d when you take into account the sports auto, front parking sensors, metallic paint and servo steering! This I would of added to the 320d of £2830 so add that all up and it's only £2400! Bargain eh.....

Yep it also depends on the options you'd be having as to how much the price difference will actually be...

[johnbmw6]

In real world driving the 330D is very close to the 320D, in fact @ 80 MPH it's better.
I have service inclusive so NO extra service costs, tyre wear!!!!
I have never changed a tyre yet.
Insurance depends on , points on licence and location, my insurance is £450 fully comp which is good value to me.
I could not live with low powered cars as Mark has said, once your used to power it's hard to give up.

[MarkW83]

Envy you John paying £450 for your insurance, £950 here; and that's very cheap for us - last year on the 135i (similar group to 330D) it was £1550!! This year is the 5th year since an accident and 3 points (both happened in 2007), so I'm now fully 'clean' so I guess it made a big difference. I'm 29, partner is 27 and only been driving for 3 years and she had an accident (in the snow) within 2 months of passing her test, so I guess that's part of the difference. Nice area and garaged, no points for either of us...

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by MarkW83

As with anything, it depends what you're used to. When you've owned a powerful car, you really can't settle for anything else.

---

I'm sure I won't be alone in saying that - after sampling BMWs finest diesels, in the shape of the 335d and 330d, and also the petrol 135i - I would never personally be happy with a model with less performance, and 4 cylinders vs 6. The car, for me, is all about the engine, and I'm used to a powerful engine, the driving experience is different, and a lot more effortless. Even when you're just pottering about, you can feel the difference - like how a higher-end, more powerful Hi-Fi system, will play music at a lower volume with more depth and detail, it's not just when "loud" that there's a difference - in every day driving; and you have the power available for when you want it.

Just depends on your expectations and what you want from the car personally, we're all different, hence the choice.

I think your comments sum it up for many of us. I've tried the down sizing in engine performance and have considered it with BMW. Hard to pull the trigger, knowing you just won't be happy with how it drives long term, even if you do save a few ££££'s.

As you say, the feel of a more powerful car is something it itself, even if you are not pushing it. Bigger brakes, higher gearing on the cruise, refinement, all help to enjoy the driving experience.

That's not to say the 320 (d and i) don't fit the requirements and budgets of many BMW drivers.

HighlandPete

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by MarkW83

Envy you John paying £450 for your insurance, £950 here; and that's very cheap for us - last year on the 135i (similar group to 330D) it was £1550!! This year is the 5th year since an accident and 3 points (both happened in 2007), so I'm now fully 'clean' so I guess it made a big difference. I'm 29, partner is 27 and only been driving for 3 years and she had an accident (in the snow) within 2 months of passing her test, so I guess that's part of the difference. Nice area and garaged, no points for either of us...

Try LV, your area may be the culprit though, I do garage my car which makes a difference, funny though adding the wife reduced the quote!!!!!!!!

[johnbmw6]

In fairness to 320D drivers, that is the way to go for those with "budget sense", I just can't go to one, they do make a real case for them selves, just not for me
Grunt rules.

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I think your comments sum it up for many of us. I've tried the down sizing in engine performance and have considered it with BMW. Hard to pull the trigger, knowing you just won't be happy with how it drives long term, even if you do save a few ££££'s.

As you say, the feel of a more powerful car is something it itself, even if you are not pushing it. Bigger brakes, higher gearing on the cruise, refinement, all help to enjoy the driving experience.

That's not to say the 320 (d and i) don't fit the requirements and budgets of many BMW drivers.

HighlandPete

Agreed, the 'lower' models are still exceptional cars, just for a different buyer. The purchase of any BMW is a good choice

I actually did go ahead and try a downsize, as I went from a 335d to a 123d, mainly as we'd just bought a house and the 335 was getting on a bit, so we decided on the 123d. Test drive was fine, but after only 3 months neither me nor my partner were happy with it, it's such a different driving experience when you're used to the power and it's just not there, you get used to it, and it's definitely an issue when it's gone! Cost me £5k to get out of the lease, but I relly didn't like it and didn't want to be paying out each month for 4 years for something I didn't like. I learnt my lesson though, never again again, the 123d is a nice car, just not for me.

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

In fairness to 320D drivers, that is the way to go for those with "budget sense", I just can't go to one, they do make a real case for them selves, just not for me
Grunt rules.

Definitely it's the wiser choice financially! Though many of the guys in them are your company car drivers who think they're fast because they've just been upgraded to a 2 litre car; now that does annoy me...

[RichardM]

I bought a brand new e60 520D a few years ago and soon regretted it. Mark summed it up perfectly, once you are used to more power you won't want to settle for less. I ended up changing it in for a e92 335D (and remapped it)

The 330D is in a lot lower insurance group than the CLS350CDI I've just got rid, will use less fuel and cost less to tax so I'm happy.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by RichardM

I bought a brand new e60 520D a few years ago and soon regretted it. Mark summed it up perfectly, once you are used to more power you won't want to settle for less. I ended up changing it in for a e92 335D (and remapped it)

The 330D is in a lot lower insurance group than the CLS350CDI I've just got rid, will use less fuel and cost less to tax so I'm happy.

WIN all round Rich

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by RichardM

I bought a brand new e60 520D a few years ago and soon regretted it. Mark summed it up perfectly, once you are used to more power you won't want to settle for less. I ended up changing it in for a e92 335D (and remapped it)

The 330D is in a lot lower insurance group than the CLS350CDI I've just got rid, will use less fuel and cost less to tax so I'm happy.

Nice one Not sure if I've asked you this before Rich but how are you finding the 330d compared to the (stock) 335d?

[RichardM]

Originally Posted by MarkW83

Nice one Not sure if I've asked you this before Rich but how are you finding the 330d compared to the (stock) 335d?

Haven't got it yet should be with me next week.

I've had a F11 530D, then a X5 then a CLS350CDi since the 335D so it will be difficult to compare

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by RichardM

Haven't got it yet should be with me next week.

I've had a F11 530D, then a X5 then a CLS350CDi since the 335D so it will be difficult to compare

Sorry mate course you haven't; I've had a 123d and 135i since the 335d; though my gut feeling on the extended test drive was that it was identical to the 335d in normal driving, but just lacked a bit of the pace when flooring it (despite the 0-60 suggesting otherwise)...

[RichardM]

What really impressed me was the grearbox. After the slushbox of the CLS gearchanges were just so quick and the paddles actually did what you selected (unlike the Merc). It's the gearbox that won me over!

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Try LV, your area may be the culprit though, I do garage my car which makes a difference, funny though adding the wife reduced the quote!!!!!!!!

Cheers, just got a quote from LV but they were £150 more than Direct Line; been with DL before and I know they're okay with minor mods (cosmetic), so think I'll go with them; excess lower too (£250).

[MarkW83]

Originally Posted by RichardM

What really impressed me was the grearbox. After the slushbox of the CLS gearchanges were just so quick and the paddles actually did what you selected (unlike the Merc). It's the gearbox that won me over!

It is a great box; I have the DCT in my 135i which is fantastic, but I'm hoping the ZF 8AT won't be too far behind

[TMP]

Originally Posted by Carjack

The 330D out accelerates the 320D and has a 6cyl engine against a 4cyl,
but is it worth an extra £5200 plus?
As I certainly would not buy a pre-owned 330D, that was the figure I was looking at in June this year when I made the choice of a 320D.
Fuel consumption? Whatever you lads get on a 330D it’s nowhere as good as the 320D. It never will be.
Tyre wear? The extra wear on a 320D compared with a 320i is quite noticeable. If the acceleration is there, you use it! No doubt about it! The wear on a 330D compared with a 320D? I dread to think!
Acceleration? OK if you are driving for the Police, but for an everyday run around the 330D is too much of a risk for the Driving Licence. The 320D can be bad enough for me.
A 6 cyl engine? For me, the only real advantage: the possibility of smoother running, as a 4 cyl diesel can be a little obvious at low RPM.
But a 330D plus, is the possiblity of better track days at Brands.
For me, extra acceleration and smooth running was just not worth an extra £5200!
The disadvantages of the 330D far outweigh its advantages i.e.
a)Higher servicing costs
b)Greater tyre wear
c)Higher fuel consumption
d)Nose heavy
e) Higher road tax
f)Higher insurance
g)An extra £5200!

You touch on it with smoother running - but its more more than that. The 330d, is more refined, less vibration (diesel tingle) and actually sounds nice under acceleration - it has half a soul*. Something which cant really be said about a diesel.

The 320d is great on paper, but driving it the biggest drawback is engine. Dont get me wrong, i have a 520d Touring as our family runabout and it does the job magnificently. But on a cold start or a set of traffic lights errrggggg i dont like it at all. I dont rev it hard, best to cruise in it.

The 530d and 330d i had previously just make driving so much more fun.

*on petrols have a full soul

[oop north]

I had a 330d for a four day test a few weeks ago - and based on my dissatisfaction with the tyre noise (which was a very personal thing and may have been down to the brand) then drove a 320ed to see if the tyres were silent or not. Anyway, I was rather underwhelmed by four cylinders and then decided a 320d is not for me.

[dopper99]

To be honest I thought the 320d was not bad at all (with sport 'box) and seemed quite rapid up to 30-40mph. But after that significantly lost the pull of a 330d. A great car for around town and if thats all you used it for it would be fine. But on a run I need something with a bit more GO.

[NISFAN]

This is a brand new car, 7 miles on the clock, one junction up the motorway, other wise all done on single carriageway/limited dual carriageway motoring. It also included my 'hard break in' acceleration bursts, and a 'few' full afterburner overtakes. Fuel tank level seems to suggest OBD is reasonably accurate...but as always, to be confirmed with fill up logs.

My C220CDi Blue efficiency (no economy slouch) would have clocked just under 50mpg for this route. I'm stoked