01-18-2020, 12:15 PM | #1 |
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My 330i loaner experience
Yesterday I dropped my X3M40i for its routine 40,000 mile service. I ordered it new January 2018.
The M40i has been flawless during the 40,000 miles. I wore out the original runflat Bridgestone Duellers @ 39,000 miles. I just bolted on 4 new Good Year Eagle Exhilirates, what a difference in the ride and handling compared to the hockey puck noisy runflats. OK, I asked the BMW service dept @ the Stratham NH dealer if they had a G20 330i available as a loaner and they did. A black stripper base model xdrive, sticker showed a $48,000 +- list. Standard hifi, standard suspension, heated wheel, seats, moon roof, not much else. Car was fairly new with 4,000 miles on it. I took the G20 330i loaner for a real good spin. Burned 3/4 tank of fuel over the day. Went from Stratham NH to Portland Maine up the Maine Turnpike INT 95, then back south down 95 to RTE 128 north in Peabody Ma. to Gloucester, Ma. and back to Stratham NH end of day to pu the M40i. Cruised at 90 mph on the turnpike, 128 north is a twisty with rough roads. Drove state and town roads 25-50 mph...overall a very good mix of driving. 1st impressions: What a great 4 door sedan for the money. Although I'm used to the M40i's 6 cyl B58 power, the 4 banger in the 330i is PLENTY of power for this car. Plenty fast from a stop, smooth, will hit 90 mph in no time. Good power band. Has an overdrive gear that keeps rpms around 1600-1700 @ 80mph on the highway. Press the peddle and she'll downshift just a bit. All very smooth, no herky jerky crap. Yesterday was about as windy as it gets for highway driving. 80mph the car was rock straight down the highway. Wind didn't bother the 330i like in my M40i and IMO the 330i is super quiet with little wind noise and road noise even with the Pirelli P7 18" runflats. The new passive suspension is notable. Smooth when need be, stiffer when need be. It's a great passive suspension IMO with great handling and ride when pushed on lousy pavement. Doors are solid when shut. This a great car, I'd by one just like it if going to a 3 series sedan. No need IMO for the big motor in the M340i. For what it's worth, |
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01-18-2020, 12:46 PM | #2 | |
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01-18-2020, 06:37 PM | #3 | |
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The new Good Year Eagle Exhilirate is a very nice tire on the M40i. I'd bolt a set on the 330i when the P7s, if that's what you have now, get noisy One last observation. The 4 cyl in the 330i loaner was about vibration free at a stop. And yes the auto/off was OFF. |
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01-18-2020, 06:42 PM | #4 | ||
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As far as vibration free, do you mean when coming to a stop? If so, yes I agree, no vibrations whatsoever. Auto start/stop is a different story though |
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01-18-2020, 07:11 PM | #5 | |
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1st thing that gets shutoff/ I'm thinking the RWD must be even a bit better for driving vs the xdrive |
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01-19-2020, 10:57 AM | #6 | |
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At first i was a bit peeved that BMW didn't put a high performance all season tire and opted for a grand touring a/s-that too in fairly skinny 225/45/18 set up but the P7's have really grown on me. Much better than the continental runflats that came on my F30. Super quiet and smooth and actually have tons of grip. Hold the road really well and have sharp steering. I wonder how much better this car would feel on Michelin pilots?? How much tread life did the P7's have left at 38k? I am trying to figure it out if i can squeak through my lease (45k miles) without changing tires. |
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01-19-2020, 12:20 PM | #7 |
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I am in a 330I base from Enterprise now. My sister backed into my wife's BMW 330I convertible on Christmas eve and did 5k in damages. I will say I am thoroughly enjoying this car. Everything you say is spot on and I am not looking forward to turning it back in. I will be getting rid of my 7 in April and ordering a M340I in September.
I do not need the 6 cylinder but I have driven a 7 series for the past 10 years, 5 to be exact and am looking forward to a smaller car and revive the hooligan in myself on occasions. 😂 |
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01-19-2020, 09:58 PM | #9 |
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I just had a G20 330 xdrive loaner for 3 days, or about 300 miles. I think it's a fantastic car for a non enthusiast. It feels like it has enough power until you really get on it; and the suspension is fine until you push it. Even the base audio system is fine if you don't try and listen at too high a volume or have high expectations.
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01-19-2020, 11:02 PM | #10 |
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Am the only one who doesn’t think the 330i is underpowered ? I guess it’s all relative and this is a forum for enthusiasts but I’ve never been in a single situation in this car where I felt like I needed more power. Every morning I merge on the highway and I’m at 90mph before I can even blink. Transmission is always lightning fast too. I do have the lighter RWD 330i and maybe some of these loaners have been running 87 octane. All this while averaging 37mpg!
Genuine question - Where/when are you guys using the extra power In day to day commuting ? |
01-19-2020, 11:50 PM | #11 | |
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Got to remember also that it seems like there are more m340i owners on this forum vs. a 330i, so anyone driving an m340i and then a 330i will feel the lack of power. |
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01-20-2020, 02:12 AM | #12 | |
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As to the power issue: it depends on your driving style. If you're getting 37mpg we're not driving the same way. I get 14mpg, and got about the same (~17mpg) in most of my previous 3-series cars. I don't drive recklessly or cut people off, just spiritedly. On my 10 minute commute there's an onramp onto a bridge that's basically empty and I get to go full throttle daily. This puts a huge grin on my face every time. When I punched it to kickdown in the loaner, it felt as if the 330i wasn't moving and the car didn't make any noise. So if you drive spiritedly it's a bit underpowered. Can't point and shoot into holes in traffic if you need to. Otherwise it's a great car.
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Retired: 2016 340i, 2015 335i, 2011 335is, 2007 328i Last edited by praxis218; 01-20-2020 at 02:19 AM.. |
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01-20-2020, 08:34 AM | #13 | |
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01-20-2020, 10:38 AM | #14 | |
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01-20-2020, 07:23 PM | #15 | |
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For comparison, I've owned/own n54, n55 and s55 engined cars. |
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01-20-2020, 07:29 PM | #16 |
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I think “underpowered” is a variable. What is “underpowered” to one person might be too much power to another. I own a 140bhp tuned car in India and when I moved to America and got my first car, it had more than twice the power of the car I had in India. I told my friends about it and they were like “That’s way too much power!”. To someone who owns M3s or M5s, the same car will feel grossly underpowered.
Also, like someone else mentioned. One can hardly utilize the full potential of a 250bhp car on the roads here. I can’t imagine driving a 600+ bhp car in the same setting. I’d be extremely frustrated on the highway, being forced to do 75-80mph, barely feathering the throttle and resisting the urge to floor it. But does that mean I don’t want more power? Hell no. There’s never enough power Also yes. The 330i is a lovely car for what it is. When I first got it, I was sad letting my B9 A4 go and regretted getting the G20. But I’ve grown to love it and now, I have no regrets getting it. Well. One regret. That it isn’t an M340i.
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01-20-2020, 09:36 PM | #17 |
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I was trying to say that I thought the 330i felt peppy at normal part-throttle driving, but felt slow at full throttle.
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01-20-2020, 10:42 PM | #18 | |
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But that changed for me with a JB+. Idk how or why but it did. I hated sport mode in the city before I got the JB+. Now it’s sport mode in the city too.
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01-20-2020, 11:15 PM | #19 | |
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01-21-2020, 01:27 AM | #20 | ||
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01-21-2020, 03:26 AM | #21 | ||
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01-21-2020, 08:50 AM | #22 | |
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I have been driving BMW's for 35 years. BMW's should be 6 cylinders. I have had a V8 540 and a V8 M3. Didn't love either of them. We have a 320 that is a VERY nice car, but the sounds the 4 banger makes are simply not BMW sounds. Neither is the sound of a 330. The legend of BMW is all about the engine. Their straight 6 engines made the brand. They have the best straight 6 engines in the world. They are just the sweetest engines on the planet. If you are going to splurge on a BMW, do yourself a favor. Get it with a SIX. |
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