I know there are hundreds of you lurking on here

I'm not getting rid of the cossie for one so dont panic

Fed up with cheapo run arounds so looking at 3 series 330D. A few questions that could do with answers please:

1) What year did the common rail diesel engine start on the 3 series?

2) 330D M Sport - is it only cosmetic changes or is there a power increase as well?

3) Some adverts say 180bhp, some say 204bhp. Is it the M Sport that has the 204 bhp or does the normal 330d come with it as well?

4) Is the auto box good and reliable or should i look at manual ones only?

Seems to be a decent spec list for the money imo and they seem to average in the late 30 MPG

Thanks in advance if you supply some answers

 

1) What year did the common rail diesel engine start on the 3 series?

The clue is in the name - 330d is common rail where as a 325tds is a rotary pump.

2) 330D M Sport - is it only cosmetic changes or is there a power increase as well?

3) Some adverts say 180bhp, some say 204bhp. Is it the M Sport that has the 204 bhp or does the normal 330d come with it as well?

Depends on the engine...

4) Is the auto box good and reliable or should i look at manual ones only?

Its good for about 100k...


Seems to be a decent spec list for the money imo and they seem to average in the late 30 MPG

And dont forget a remap!

 

Thanks Alex.

 

even the 320ds are plenty fast enough for a normal car mate, my mate steve had one and it shifted even unmapped!

 

Jim,

I fancy the 3.0 6 pot engine

Especially if i can find the 204 bhp with shed loads of torque engine. Is there a particular year that the 204bhp engine was introduced?

Alex - How much extra horses and lb/ft is to be expected from a remap?

 

rhys had a 330d remapped and it did 50mpg,

and sounded loved , went like stink

 

Excellent Spiky. thats what i like to hear mate

Is 100k miles ok (ish) for a bmw diesel lump?

 

christ yeah,

i'm thinking of getting a 3 series for the mrs, i'd like the saloon but not sure the boot is going to be big enough

looking at 320d sport, but would love a 330d sport, i loved rhys' in fact both of them

 

Luca's beemer (although not diesel) is over 180k and still runs sweet as a nut.

dont they say that beemer engines arent properly run in till 100k miles?

 

Rich,

Where about's in Surrey are you as I have a 55 plate 330cd M sport auto you can have a go in if you like.

I'm in Windlesham by the way.

Let me know

Cheers

(also) Rich

 

100k is ok...

watch out for the usual turbo disel problems - turbos, pumps and injectors...

 

ive just sold a 320d yesterday with 198000 miles on it and drove sweet as a nut

 

from memory rich, the earlier 330's have a 2.9 engine and the later ones have a 3 litre engine which may or may not explain the boost in power and the switch to common rail and other stuff

apparently the butterfly flaps inside the inlet break and kill the engine so people take them out