BMW 330d

LG1234 · 24-12-2016 4:14pm #1

I'm going to buy a car in the new year, have a budget of 10k max and am thinking of a bmw e92 330d.

I do about 16k a year mostly on motorway so I'm thinking of the diesal rather than the 330i which I'm also considering.

Reliability wise how does the 330d compare to the 330i? I hear performance is similar.

I think I'll get a manual, are the auto boxes on these decent though?

If I bring a post 08' one in from the UK do I get cheaper tax on it?

Is there anything else I should consider for similar price and power? Not mad on the audis, I'd like a dsg gti but think the BMW is a better all round package

bmwguy · 24-12-2016 6:14pm

330d is a variant of the engine that has so much documented timing chain failures, much more widely reported on the 2.0d but just something to be aware of.

If your 16k you mentioned is miles, go diesel, if it's kms go petrol. Nice cars both so you are choosing nice machines. Similar power in both

08 will qualify for lower tax, yes.

LG1234 · 24-12-2016 6:25pm

bmwguy wrote: »

330d is a variant of the engine that has so much documented timing chain failures, much more widely reported on the 2.0d but just something to be aware of.

If your 16k you mentioned is miles, go diesel, if it's kms go petrol. Nice cars both so you are choosing nice machines. Similar power in both

08 will qualify for lower tax, yes.

OK I didn't know the 330d had potential for the timing chain issues like the 2 litre. Don't want the hassle of that.

325i seems to be the pick then, less tax than the 330i and not much less power...

BorneTobyWilde · 24-12-2016 6:27pm

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-is-2-2-220-d-executive/13686502

Another option maybe?
Rarer sight too
BMW are every where

Idbatterim · 24-12-2016 6:28pm

the petrols allegedly go through the coil packs. Id be going for the 330 personally, if the sale price of car is similar to the 325... 0-100 is 6.6 in 325 and 6 flat in the 330... motor tax difference is E180 year.

LG1234 · 24-12-2016 6:33pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

the petrols allegedly go through the coil packs. Id be going for the 330 personally, if the sale price of car is similar to the 325... 0-100 is 6.6 in 325 and 6 flat in the 330... motor tax difference is E180 year.

It appears the 2007 m57 330d should be solid and not suffer from timing chain issues

LG1234 · 24-12-2016 6:35pm

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-is-2-2-220-d-executive/13686502

Another option maybe?
Rarer sight too
BMW are every where

I think the BMW looks a lot better

colm_mcm · 24-12-2016 7:01pm

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-is-2-2-220-d-executive/13686502

Another option maybe?
Rarer sight too
BMW are every where

They're not a good car in diesel form.

Oafley Jones · 24-12-2016 7:07pm

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-is-2-2-220-d-executive/13686502

Another option maybe?
Rarer sight too
BMW are every where

Avoid the diesel IS. 250 auto is a great reliable car though.

Idbatterim · 24-12-2016 9:31pm

It appears the 2007 m57 330d should be solid and not suffer from timing chain issues

yeah, you just get done on the tax. that said, the cc based large engined cars here, will probably be asking a good deal less, so it can negate the motor tax issue...

bazz26 · 24-12-2016 10:06pm

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-is-2-2-220-d-executive/13686502

Another option maybe?
Rarer sight too
BMW are every where

The reason they are rarer is because the rattle box under the bonnet is ****e. That Toyota 2.2 litre diesel engine is rough and is well known for head gasket problems too, the gearbox ratio is absolutely terrible too making it a frustrating car to drive.

bazz26 · 24-12-2016 10:09pm

Older and more reliable M57 engine was sold in the 3 Series right up until it got a facelift circa 2009 when it switched to the newer N57 which can suffer from timing chain issues. Though not as common as it's smaller brother the N47 engine, still something to be aware of.

BorneTobyWilde · 24-12-2016 11:25pm

Maybe a is250 then.

Can anyone tell me what is a good luxury diesel. Does one exist.

bazz26 · 24-12-2016 11:34pm

Diesel engines by nature are agricultural so many would it could be argued they don't belong in a luxury car.

Blazer · 25-12-2016 11:33am

bazz26 wrote: »

Diesel engines by nature are agricultural so many would it could be argued they don't belong in a luxury car.

Crock of ****e, a fully loaded 730d is a luxury car over €100k, that's definitely a luxury car, anyone that says otherwise is a moron.
The m57 engine is a fantastic engine in the 330d and the 5 series , if you got a 2008/09 330d with the m57 engine it would be a good buy.

James Bond Junior · 25-12-2016 11:39am

I had a manual 530d and no way would I go manual again. An engine that size needs an auto box, it just doesn't feel right in manual.

bazz26 · 25-12-2016 1:09pm

Blazer wrote: »

Crock of ****e, a fully loaded 730d is a luxury car over €100k, that's definitely a luxury car, anyone that says otherwise is a moron.
The m57 engine is a fantastic engine in the 330d and the 5 series , if you got a 2008/09 330d with the m57 engine it would be a good buy.

Keep your knickers on. You seem to be missing the point. It's not just how much it costs or how loaded it is, the main feature of a luxury car is refinement and no matter how many cylinders it has or how well insulated it is, a diesel engine is never going to have the same refinement as a similar petrol engine. Anyone who thinks a 3.0 litre diesel engine is a yardstick of a luxury car needs to go out and drive a 7 Series or S Class with a v8 or v12 petrol engine.

Blazer · 25-12-2016 5:06pm

bazz26 wrote: »

Keep your knickers on. You seem to be missing the point. It's not just how much it costs or how loaded it is, the main feature of a luxury car is refinement and no matter how many cylinders it has or how well insulated it is, a diesel engine is never going to have the same refinement as a similar petrol engine. Anyone who thinks a 3.0 litre diesel engine is a yardstick of a luxury car needs to go out and drive a 7 Series or S Class with a v8 or v12 petrol engine.

I wasn't having a go at you. I was just saying anyone that thinks is obviously a Petrolhead. I'd drive a 3l BMW diesel by I'd swap it for a 3l petrol in the morning , unfortunately in this county they're impossible to get really. Plus the price the government puts on new cars is scandalous. I keep saying it, without PAYE and motorists this country would be a third world country

TanFlash · 25-12-2016 5:26pm

Classic choice of car, I love both for different reasons

maddness · 27-12-2016 5:44pm

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-is-2-2-220-d-executive/13686502

Another option maybe?
Rarer sight too
BMW are every where

Rare for a reason. Chug chug etc.

Rowley Birkin QC · 15-01-2017 5:59pm

Did you buy in the end?

LG1234 · 18-01-2017 11:09pm

Not yet will be buying over the next couple of months

LG1234 · 02-02-2017 4:52pm

Bringing an 08 330d from the UK is going to be over my budget by the looks of it.

I might settle for a 325i auto, looks like I'll get 30mpg from it. It's the later 3.0l engine, is this a good car? Anyone own one or have any experiences with one?

James Bond Junior · 02-02-2017 8:27pm

LG1234 wrote: »

Bringing an 08 330d from the UK is going to be over my budget by the looks of it.

I might settle for a 325i auto, looks like I'll get 30mpg from it. It's the later 3.0l engine, is this a good car? Anyone own one or have any experiences with one?

Can you save a little longer or hold out for prices to drop slightly. A 325i will always be the car you wish you'd held out a little longer for the 330 and the day a 330 pulls up beside you, burns you at the lights or overtakes will be the day you die a little inside!!!:eek::D

Rowley Birkin QC · 02-02-2017 8:39pm

LG1234 wrote: »

Bringing an 08 330d from the UK is going to be over my budget by the looks of it.

I might settle for a 325i auto, looks like I'll get 30mpg from it. It's the later 3.0l engine, is this a good car? Anyone own one or have any experiences with one?

Have you driven a 330D auto yet?

I drove 3 of them recently, really great experience. Couldn't justify the costs involved though, an unexpected one being insurance which fully doubled. A manual 325D though was only €200 more expensive. Another factor to consider!

A mate is selling his red M-Sport 325D Coupe soon but it's manual and no i-drive. Very conflicted!

LG1234 · 02-02-2017 11:03pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Have you driven a 330D auto yet?

I drove 3 of them recently, really great experience. Couldn't justify the costs involved though, an unexpected one being insurance which fully doubled. A manual 325D though was only €200 more expensive. Another factor to consider!

A mate is selling his red M-Sport 325D Coupe soon but it's manual and no i-drive. Very conflicted!

Not sure if I'd go with a 325d, don't they have the timing chain issues? I reckon id be happy enough with a 325i, going to take one for a spin over the weekend and see.

LG1234 · 02-02-2017 11:29pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Have you driven a 330D auto yet?

I drove 3 of them recently, really great experience. Couldn't justify the costs involved though, an unexpected one being insurance which fully doubled. A manual 325D though was only €200 more expensive. Another factor to consider!

A mate is selling his red M-Sport 325D Coupe soon but it's manual and no i-drive. Very conflicted!

The 330d is 300 more to insure than a 325i, not to bad...

bazz26 · 02-02-2017 11:48pm

Timing chain issues depend on the year of the car. The 325d/330d and 335d upto mid 2008 had the M57 engine which didn't have timing chain issues. They then switched to the N57 engine in the E9x from 2008 which can suffer from timing chain problems but not on the same scale as the smaller 320d engine.

millington · 03-02-2017 8:50am

LG1234 wrote: »

Not sure if I'd go with a 325d, don't they have the timing chain issues? I reckon id be happy enough with a 325i, going to take one for a spin over the weekend and see.

The 325d is a detuned version of the 3.0 in the 330d. Chain issues seem few and far between in the 6 cylinders but have heard stories all the same.

MetzgerMeister · 03-02-2017 3:17pm

millington wrote: »

The 325d is a detuned version of the 3.0 in the 330d. Chain issues seem few and far between in the 6 cylinders but have heard stories all the same.

One has to ask though if that's only due to the scale of 4 cylinder to 6 cylinder sales. Much more 320d's sold I would imagine therefore the issue will be better known.

With that said, I've yet to hear of a 6 cylinder with chain issues.

ddire33 · 03-02-2017 5:07pm

Had 330i e46 and now 330d e92, both auto, the 330d is way better with auto box. M57 is generally built proof, plus easily remapped to near 335d power and soon there will be DIY remap on the autobox out which will improve the small issue I would have which is delay from standstill. https://www.facebook.com/xhpflashtool

MetzgerMeister · 03-02-2017 8:38pm

Is that applicable to the 8 speed auto box in the F30 330d?

ddire33 · 03-02-2017 9:02pm

Waiting for release so not sure, seems just the 6 speed for now but they will then work on others

Leonard Hofstadter · 04-02-2017 10:31am

LG1234 wrote: »

Not sure if I'd go with a 325d, don't they have the timing chain issues? I reckon id be happy enough with a 325i, going to take one for a spin over the weekend and see.

A 325i is plenty fast, I've got an E46 325Ci and it's not wanting for performance. It needs a bit of revs to get the most out of it like all non turbo petrols but it's got plenty of oomph if you're prepared to give it a little welly.

The M57 is a great engine, but it's still no six pot petrol. Compared to a straight six petrol BMW, it's still going to rattle more, it's still going to sound crap, it's still not going to have the throttle response of a petrol, it's still going to have a less even power delivery and it's not going to be anywhere near as much fun to work hard.

It's still a lovely engine to drive (although it really needs an automatic), it's smooth and refined even by petrol standards (just not straight six petrol smooth and refined and it's a heck of a lot nicer than a four cylinder diesel), and has a very smooth power delivery, it even sounds half decent when revved, and if you're doing a bit of mileage it's still a great choice but if you're not doing big mileage I'd favour the petrol.

As for what models have the M57, well all bodystyles, any pre-facelift six cylinder diesel will use the M57. All 335ds, regardless of year or bodystyle, use the M57 engine.

Any 330d built from July 2008 will use the N57, while any 325d built after February 2010 will use the N57. In practice, this means all 330ds switched the time the LCI (facelift) for the saloon and touring came out (meaning that a pre-LCI Coupé or Vert could have the N57), and all 325ds switched when the LCI was introduced to the Coupés and Vert (meaning that there are LCI 325d saloons and tourings using the older M57 engine).

LG1234 · 04-02-2017 2:59pm

captainspeed wrote: »

A 325i is plenty fast, I've got an E46 325Ci and it's not wanting for performance. It needs a bit of revs to get the most out of it like all non turbo petrols but it's got plenty of oomph if you're prepared to give it a little welly.

The M57 is a great engine, but it's still no six pot petrol. Compared to a straight six petrol BMW, it's still going to rattle more, it's still going to sound crap, it's still not going to have the throttle response of a petrol, it's still going to have a less even power delivery and it's not going to be anywhere near as much fun to work hard.

It's still a lovely engine to drive (although it really needs an automatic), it's smooth and refined even by petrol standards (just not straight six petrol smooth and refined and it's a heck of a lot nicer than a four cylinder diesel), and has a very smooth power delivery, it even sounds half decent when revved, and if you're doing a bit of mileage it's still a great choice but if you're not doing big mileage I'd favour the petrol.

As for what models have the M57, well all bodystyles, any pre-facelift six cylinder diesel will use the M57. All 335ds, regardless of year or bodystyle, use the M57 engine.

Any 330d built from July 2008 will use the N57, while any 325d built after February 2010 will use the N57. In practice, this means all 330ds switched the time the LCI (facelift) for the saloon and touring came out (meaning that a pre-LCI Coupé or Vert could have the N57), and all 325ds switched when the LCI was introduced to the Coupés and Vert (meaning that there are LCI 325d saloons and tourings using the older M57 engine).

Cool, thanks for clarifying. It would have been a post July 08 330d I'd go go for cheaper tax, and that the n57

Would it be a good idea to get a 325d and remap it? Cheaper insurance, tax and a bigger selection in Ireland to choose from. I'm struggling to get a 330d with my budget

BMW 330d

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