hi,
an opinions on the above cars?
looking at 2003 models, 330i is an auto 330de is 6 speed manual. the 330d is the later 204bhp engine.
Any owners opinions?
whats faster in the real world?
whats better to drive?
thanks
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Well I much prefer petrol to diesel but even I have to admit that the 3.0d is a cracking engine. I'm not sure real world speed will be much different between the 2 and they are both in such a good chassis driving will be fairly equal as well. I think it comes down to auto V manual and refinement - but even then the diesel is pretty refined - although some may say(quite rightly) that no diesel can compete with a BMW 6 pot petrol for refinement and power.
I think in real world UK driving then an auto would be best.
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The CO2 rating will be considerably lower on the diesel, its a good motor, reputedly quieter than the petrol inside, fuel economy will be considerably different. It'll make you love diesels. Depends what you intend to use it for.
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330i will be quicker but the autobox will mute the advantage it normally holds over the 330d. 330i will sound better and would, given the same transmission type, be more fun and more rewarding to drive. 330d will be about 7-10mpg more economical in any given situation. 330i wont have a turbo to fail on you and give you a big bill. 330i will be several thosuand pounds cheaper and 330d wont recoup that several thousand at resale.
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330i for me simply because this engine is an absolute spine tingler.
I don't believe the 5-10 mpg fuel economy advantage of the diesel will outweigh its extra maintenance costs and the extra cost of diesel fuel, meaning it's really going to come down to the drive. Amazing as the 330d is, that 3.0 petrol BMW unit is one of the world's truly brilliant engines.
It's ironic really that BMW came up with one of the most impressive diesel engines ever, but then lined it up against such a world class petrol engine. If it were a 3.0 petrol from any other manufacturer, the diesel would walk it.
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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True. I am particularly fond of my 3 litre BMW petrol engine :)
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Given some thought to this, it was the 330d that converted me to diesel, I'd only ever driven petrol engined BMWs before that, I did miss the "tingle" of the petrol six then. It was pure economics that put me into the diesel. I was travelling 6 miles to work but adding on work miles on top of that it became a no-brainer. If you were doing something like a ninety mile commute, the savings mount up, I could easily squeeze 40 and sometimes 45 to the gallon so on that 90 mile commute I could potentially save a gallon either way...
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If we leave finance on one side (and say only that for a high-mileage driver, the newer you buy, and the longer the warranty, the stronger the argument in favour of the diesel) - what interests me is where the useable performance is.
For my driving style - and this is of course purely personal - I find torque more useful. The current Golf 2.0 TDI estate is much more suited to me than, say the Honda Civic 2.0 that SWMBO had before her Mini. The Honda was brisk only beyond 4,000 rpm. The Mini One (1.6 petrol) is better in this respect, and there are other petrol engines that can give of their best all through the rev range (the 2.0 FSI engine in the Golf GTI / Octavia vRS for instance).
Going back to the BMWs of this thread, I've driven only a 320d so can't comment on the 6-cylinder engines. But I suspect a decision between 330i and 330d would depend (economy apart) partly on a individual's driving style and partly how good the petrol engine is through the rev range. One needs to have driven both, as you have, PU, to be able to judge objectively.
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I have more than simply driven both - we have a 530d and a 530i and I drive both on a regular basis (530i is mine, 530d is parents). They are also both the same age.
I prefer the 530i, it is a faster car for sure (Both are manual) but there is no denying the mid-range shove of the 530d once you are on the move. The benefit is that if you are feeling lazy, the 530d has performance in every gear, whereas to get the 530i to really shift, you must change down a few gears, when it really will shift.
530d can often feel a bit.. lacking off the mark compared to the 530i.
But then I do 5k miles a year in my 530i and care little about things like MPG and everything about big the grin on my face is when driving it.
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