Guys some opinions please if you will...

With so few of the 330d's being manual it got me thinking 'should i just plump for an auto' - or is that the start of the end - will i want a pipe and slippers next!??

The golf will need to go in the next 9 months (if i've got it in me - theres a clue!) for something larger, and i really like the 330d tourings!

Who has one?

Cheers
Tom

 

Ive got a 204bhp 330d sport touring manual. Personally if i was you i would keep looking for a manual as the autos are shite on fuel. Im getting over 40mpg round town on my manual. Mine is on a cat d so was a bit cheaper (Ł3700). Keep looking they are out there

 

I did see quite a difference quoted for the mpg sometime last week, but subsequently forgot all about it - thank you for reminding me - that's plenty a reason to look harder!

Any common faults to look out for, or should i pull my finger out and just google those?

Tom

 

I was looking for months, every night on ebay auto trader piston heads etc to find one. Most common faults i believe are swirl flaps & crank case breather. I removed my swirl flaps the other week & it didnt cost anything. Vortex crank case filter was Ł20 from bmw. Not sure about other faults. If you cant find a 330d with a manual how about a 320d? These can be tuned to over 200bhp & there eveb better on fuel

 

Good info - thank you. I had read a bit about the swirl flaps in the past.

The 20d is a cracking engine, and i'm sorely temped - obviously more of them about too, but i just fancy a bit more go :S

Hmm

Tom

 

have a search on e46zone.com if you havent already its a great forum the guys on there are very helpful

 

Thank you - i haven't been on there yet, but will!

Cheers
Tom

 

I have a 07 330d msport manual had it from new with no problems now done 65k.She does late 30s to the gallon great allround power right from 1000rpm and good handling.I tried the auto but just not the same,very hard to work on and a bit worrying as its getting older even minor problems could get a bit dear.
ps Still not a patch on the cos though.

 

I did think about a 320d myself. It would have been the most sensable one all round to buy. I just knew thought that allthough im sure i would have been happy with it, it would have always been in the back of my mind 'i wish id have got the 330d'. Dont forget that after march 03 the are 204bhp rather than the not so tuneable 180bhp

 

Yes i noticed the 204bhp version, and looked also how well it mapped...

It's funny, but in the last few days they have really grown on me!!

Tom

 

I was also looking for a 530d sport saloon (e39). I was a case of which ever came up first for the right money. I do think you get more for your money with the 5series

 

Had the 320d before my 330 great daily drive but no fun seemed flat,also you get the sound of the 6 cylinder with the 330 that the 320 can't match.Totaly different cars go for the 330.

 

swirl flaps as you say, also turbos surprisingly cause they're variable vane the later 204bhp ones...

auto boxes aren't very strong I'm led to believe if your going to chip it.

the hardest thing is finding a sensible mileage manual!!

 

also the only difference between the early 184 and the 204's is the turbo.

 

...I think! lol and the map of course

 

I just think the 5 series is too big, but i'd be daft not to look!

We had a MF 699 (6 clyinder td) for a short while, and my that sounded good!

Another reason for a manual then! Cheers

Tom

 

i used to think the same as you, i used to hate Auto's but now i love em, although it needs to be a big luxury auto.

i used to have a gs300 sport, it was a beauty with the auto box

 

I think the mpg difference between the manual and auto has swung it in the favour of the stick to be honest. My golf return 53mpg brim to brim and although i wont match that (i doubt) i'd like to get as close as possible...

Can you manually control the gears on the bmw auto box - i assume so?

Tom

 

I believe the diesel pump & injectors are also different. The cc is deffo different (not by much though)

 

Can you manually control the gears on the bmw auto box - i assume so?

Tom[/QUOTE]




yes you can but as soon as you get near the red line up she changes,same with the traction control turn it off and it just retards it,270hp rear wheel drive and you can't get it sideways they call it progress.

 

Anyone who thinks the 320d is flat can come and drive mine, it may change your mind at 222bhp at the wheels and 62mpg at 80mph

 

I can only go buy the 2 standard cars i have owned the first was a 2001 320 which was a good car but imo far from a performer the 330 on the other hand i find goes well enough to put a grin on my face.Both where standard and from what i gather can be made a lot better with a good chip-map which i guess yours has benefited from.What can you chip the 330 to genuinely interested.

 

I've had two 330d 204's now one auto one manual , I really liked the auto an thought it really suited the smooth torquey 3.0 eng but as people have mentioned the difference in mpg between the two is quite considerable :-( I'm currently thinking about selling my Audi a4 tdi 130 to get anouther because I'm missing the extra power an the superb 3.0d engine just can't quite decide if i want to pay the extra an go for the e90 model or stick with an e46 , something I've just thought of to mention the e46 do suffer with rust issues in a couple of places but mainly on the rear arches as the plastic liners don't fill the hole of the arch an all the crap collects up behind the arch lip an rots them out ....

 

I've got an 09 325i auto and tbh, I doubt i'll buy another manual...it's got the paddle shift on the s.wheel which is good, changes gear pretty quick and works well.

Next car will be a 335i DSG (7speed double clutch).

You can turn the traction control/DST fully off, press and hold the button for 5 secs instead of just one push which only turns the traction control off, not the stability control as far as im led to believe!

DPF's on higher miler cars are a potential problem, but Ecotune do a bypass pipe and a remap to suit! which I can reccomend

 

The 330d will do over 300bhp and 500lb/ft

 

what year can you remap them on to do that thanks and whats the cost

 

Just a shame the gearbox wont

 

The manual will, ond of our cars ran this for years

 

the pre facelift e46 suffer from front rusty arches they rot from the inside out so id go for the facelift model 03 onwards,

give this site alook http://evotechnik.net/forumdisplay.p...orepairs-co-uk


and check this 330d out http://www.e46zone.com/forum/topic/3...-485lbft-more/

 

Some good ready here as im also on the hunt for a 320d/330d touring m sport. I was actually looking at autos as they seemed more sensible. But if they are sore on fuel and troublesome, then manual it is!!

 

cool. id read that they normally shit themselves at 280bhp. what sort of prices are we looking at for an intercooler & circa 280bhp?

 

I will be having a look for a 320/330d touring next year as a tow car so very interested in this thread. Currently sounds like I'm looking for a pre Mar'03 320d unless the 330 can return 60+MPG at 80MPH too?

 

my 163 e90 320d is showing only 43.9 mpg that was on a run down to cornwall 4 up full of lugguage and i wasnt hanging around i dont know if thats good for a diesel car but it was better than my e46 325ci lol

 

I'd hate to have a car with a clutch as a normal road car!

 

yes you can but as soon as you get near the red line up she changes,same with the traction control turn it off and it just retards it,270hp rear wheel drive and you can't get it sideways they call it progress.[/QUOTE]

Tom u can turn the traction control off completely by pressing and holding the button until a dash warning light illuminates. U have to hold the button for 10/15secs and that completely shuts it down. But becarefull. Myn is very twitchy once it's off.

 

I have the early 184bhp touring on a 51 plate. It's auto with 135000 miles on. It's a great everyday car quick enough for its age and I find economy reasonable. Around town 30ish mpg and on a run around 38/40. I have also towed trailers and caravans with it and it took it all n it's stride. I just need to get swirl flaps replaced. I have had 1 problem and it was the cam sensor. Overall it's been a great reliable car.

 

quick question, can you get a 320d or 330d in a 3 door coupe model?

 

Yes you can

 

agan what year off 330d can you remap to 300 aftr one thats all

 

whats the model called mate? was looking on gumtree but can only find 5 door models, cheers