[OUGrad05]

I'm thinking I will add the 330i to my shopping list. Also considering a few full EVs like the Q4 Etron, Mach E, etc. Volvo S60 is another gasoline car thats on the list.

My commute to work has recently changed and is now 28 miles each way, about 75% highway, takes about 30 minutes to get to work, so traffic isn't a real concern. In addition to the base commute I have clients all over the city (and state for that matter). So I will probably be driving 25,000 miles a year in my daily for the foreseeable future.

Right now my daily driver is a 2015 335i M Sport. Love the turbo6 but rarely have the need to go full throttle. While I love it, with the added commute getting better MPG and having tires that can actually be rotated makes a lot of sense.

I'm getting around 30mpg on average in my car now and with what I'm reading on the 330i and C&Ds test, I think I could get 40ish plus with one. Have tire setup that could be rotated and generally lower maintenance costs for things like brakes etc. I'll simultaneously get a big upgrade on tech and interior.

Finally getting a CPO 330i is quite a lot cheaper than a 340i or other options I'm looking at, the other one that's comparable is the T5 S60 by Volvo which I like too. This additional savings makes it easier to justify my next sports car purchase, which is a big win. Right now I've got $40k in the sports car pot and saving 10k on this would allow me to bump to 50k.

Thoughts? Insights?

[dr_frankfurter]

It drives better than my old F30 330i did, so you definitely won't be sacrificing fun (minus your inline 6). I've done a couple 450-500 mile road trips on 1.5 tanks of gas, so roughly 40-ish MPG without sacrificing any comforts like AC. On top of that, you're looking at a more premium and roomier interior. Easily carried 3 passengers and all our luggage for a long weekend with no complaints. Throw on some good tires and you have a decent canyon carving toy as well. As long as it's CPO and in good condition, can't go wrong with the G20.

[Merami fan]

The 330i is really the perfect sensible daily/commuter. It has everything except ventilated seats. You can definitely get 40 mpg on the highway. Just make sure it has Live Cockpit Pro for iDrive 7 (Android Auto/Carplay). Standard starting from 07/2020 production dates.

[csctiscalia]

40mpg on the highway is reasonable. For the kind of mileage you're looking at, I recommend the adaptive suspension - smooths things out better than the fixed suspension. The seats are only so-so in my opinion. When mileage gets long Volvo definitely wins for comfort.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Merami fan

The 330i is really the perfect sensible daily/commuter. It has everything except ventilated seats. You can definitely get 40 mpg on the highway. Just make sure it has Live Cockpit Pro for iDrive 7 (Android Auto/Carplay). Standard starting from 07/2020 production dates.

Live Cockpit Pro is $750 option on 2021 330i until recently. My 3/2021 SLO built 330i had analog dash which is nostalgic.

Unfortunately factory ran out of analog dash and now Live Cockpit Pro is a mandatory option(i.e. MSRP of base 330i is now increased by $750).

[dreamisle]

I leased a loaded 330i xDrive earlier this year and have been driving it for about 3 months now. I drive for about an hour total per day and 95% of that is highway.

I've been logging my mileage since I got the car and I'm currently averaging 34.9 mpg over 15 fill ups and a little over 6k miles logged. I normally drive in Eco Pro mode which shows you your average mpg since your last fill up but it seems to be inaccurate, as on my last drive it suggested I got 40 mpg when I actually got about 37 mpg.

I'd say it gets good mileage but I wouldn't expect much else from an I4.

Mileage aside, it's easily one of my favorite cars. Coming from a Tesla with Autopilot, I optioned in the driver assist professional package which offers the steering and lane change assistants in addition to the adaptive cruise control. It makes my drives pretty much effortless - just need to turn it on, set the speed, and keep a finger or two on the steering wheel so it senses you're touching it and the car does all the rest.

Some of my other favorites: laser headlights, 3D surround camera view, automatic parallel/perpendicular parking, ambient interior lighting, welcome "carpet" lighting on approach, power trunk, and head-up display.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by dreamisle

Coming from a Tesla with Autopilot, I optioned in the driver assist professional package which offers the steering and lane change assistants in addition to the adaptive cruise control. It makes my drives pretty much effortless - just need to turn it on, set the speed, and keep a finger or two on the steering wheel so it senses you're touching it and the car does all the rest.

Is BMW's self driving tech at par with Tesla's?

Which Tesla did u have, and what is your opinions of G20 vs. your previous Tesla in terms of fit and finish, handling, character, maintenance/repair, etc, etc?

[Moonbags]

For me, BMW is only really appealing for their sportive models, which is what the bulk of their R&D has traditionally gone toward. For sportive cars, they really offer the best bang for your buck.

For a comfortable and reliable daily commuter sedan that can be a little fun at times, I would look more towards an Audi A4/A6. I had a 330i as a loaner when I took my M340i in. It was a pleasant ride and all, but really the recent Audis I've been in were nicer experiences at that class. Steering was a bit too sloshy and the seats a bit too stiff.

My 2¢

[iceRN09]

Real world MPG? 34 MPG highway on my M340i.

[finn1969]

I have the 21 330 xDrive with premium package. Very nice car, excellent mileage (38mpg at 80mph) on highway drives and can be sporty when you need it. If you are an aggressive driver than M340 is the way to go. If you are the average driver (like me) it does every thing you need it to and then some.

I will mention my steering doesn't have a nice feel like previous BMWs I own. My wifes Z4 feedback is way better. I have the sensatrac interior and feel it is very nice and compliant. Oak Grain trim is a really nice touch and the iDrive 7 is terrific.

If you are looking for a economical, fun and sporty daily driver it is really a decent option. Just my two cents.

[bavarianride]

I looked at 2 other cars before buying 2021 330i RWD a couple months ago, namely, 2021 Accord and Model 3 SR+ RWD.

The Accord EX-L/Touring had $3k markup, so they were $1k cheaper, and $2k more, than 330i RWD(per our OTD). It feels wrong to pay markup on a Honda ....

Tesla Model 3 order was placed first week of April, but it didn't have a VIN till 2 days ago(likely will just delay to Q3 and beyond). It will also be $2k more than 330i RWD.

The 330i RW is nostalgic of E46/E39 DNA's, with great mpg and mph, it is hard to find fault in it.

[DavidXJ]

The 330i is a truly dynamic, punchy, and agile car. And I say this having enjoyed one for a while before moving on to a M340i--the reasons for which have nothing to do with any discontentment with 30i. If you set aside the usual bias against 4-pot engines, what you have in reality is excellent performance, brilliant handling (I disagree with reviewers who have felt that the non-M G20 models have 'lifeless' steering), and an interior that invites you into a delicious world of classy, accessible, driver-focused tech. The 30i has more than enough gusto for daily driving, including for those moments when you want to seek out some spirited backroads. If you opt for RWD version, too, then there's a lot of fun to be had, given how light on its toes it is. Hope these impressions help.

[bavarianride]

I did these 2 builds on bmwusa.com, and I think there are identically equipped:

330i RWD + M sport + convenience pkg + DHP + DAP + shadowline + Live cockpit $48.3k
M340i RWD + 19-inch double M + adaptive $55.8k

So for US spec G20 30i vs 40i, the price difference of B46 vs. B58(+130HP) is $7500, or around 15% price premium.

In comparison, F30 328i vs. 335i price difference of N26 vs. N55(+50HP) was $3500, or roughly 8% price premium.

I tend to think that US-spec 330i RWD base is good mix of comfort and competence already, with no need for extra adds-on.

[Montaver]

The 330i is a great all round car. Comfortable, quiet, well built, fantastic tech, plenty of range (I can get 500 miles on a cruise). Coming from the older cars you will notice how much better isolated it is. In very hot weather for example with the aircon on it's very good at leveling the temperature as its so well sealed. It's certainly not an enthusiast object, and whilst there is a great chassis underneath in base trim its soft and doesn't feel particularly agile. It drives more like a 5 series than an E90 for example. The skinny 225 run flat tires certainly don't help. Negatives are the steering is typical modern BMW, never feels natural. The engine is very good, plenty of torque low down and doesn't feel underpowered. Drives more like a 6 cylinder than a 4. Overall its a very nice place to spend time in and munch up the miles.

I have a 2020 A4 in the family for comparison. The A4 feels smaller, slightly nicer appointed interior (leather is standard), not quite as isolated from road noise, and the tech doesnt feel as well integrated. No wireless carplay, the screen looks stuck on the dash etc. The base sound system is also terrible, the base hi-fi in the BMW isn't anything spectacular but much more listenable. Its an older platform all around from the G20 though and is due an upgrade.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by Montaver

The 330i is a great all round car. Comfortable, quiet, well built, fantastic tech, plenty of range (I can get 500 miles on a cruise). Coming from the older cars you will notice how much better isolated it is. In very hot weather for example with the aircon on it's very good at leveling the temperature as its so well sealed. It's certainly not an enthusiast object, and whilst there is a great chassis underneath in base trim its soft and doesn't feel particularly agile. It drives more like a 5 series than an E90 for example. The skinny 225 run flat tires certainly don't help. Negatives are the steering is typical modern BMW, never feels natural. The engine is very good, plenty of torque low down and doesn't feel underpowered. Drives more like a 6 cylinder than a 4. Overall its a very nice place to spend time in and munch up the miles.

I have a 2020 A4 in the family for comparison. The A4 feels smaller, slightly nicer appointed interior (leather is standard), not quite as isolated from road noise, and the tech doesnt feel as well integrated. No wireless carplay, the screen looks stuck on the dash etc. The base sound system is also terrible, the base hi-fi in the BMW isn't anything spectacular but much more listenable. Its an older platform all around from the G20 though and is due an upgrade.

A4 is pretty mediocre MPG, I like the A4, but I"m not taking a big step back in power only to have MPG be similar to what I have now and be a smaller car. That's just silly IMO.

[dreamisle]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Is BMW's self driving tech at par with Tesla's?

Which Tesla did u have, and what is your opinions of G20 vs. your previous Tesla in terms of fit and finish, handling, character, maintenance/repair, etc, etc?

Personally I think it’s better than Tesla’s basic Autopilot only because BMW’s package includes the lane changing assistant. To get that option in a Tesla you have to spend $10,000 extra to upgrade Autopilot to Full Self Driving, which includes the auto lane changes and other options which I think are gimmicky (like the enhanced summon feature).

As far as keeping you in your lane and taking curves and stuff without throwing you into the lane next to you, both systems perform about the same. The Tesla is maybe a little better at predicting the road ahead when going over dip where lane lines aren’t immediately visible.

I had a Tesla Model 3, long range, AWD. There is no contest in comparing fit/finish of Tesla to BMW. Tesla is a tech company that makes cars. BMW is a luxury car company that makes luxury cars.

Handling, I’d say the 3 series handles a lot better. Less body roll around corners but it’s lighter too since it doesn’t have a bunch of batteries lining the base of the car.

Maintenance wise, this one’s tough but in MY use case, I’m going to say BMW. I’m leasing so all my routine maintenance is covered. I leased the Tesla too, but the extra weight of the vehicle coupled with the high torque of the motors meant the tires went bald at about 20,000 miles.

All that money I saved in fuel was eaten up by a special set of 4 new tires (they have foam in them to ease road noise, which by the way is awful in the Model 3). Outside of the tires there was no maintenance other than windshield washer fluid.

If I were comparing the cars to keep long term, the Tesla would probably win since there’s no transmission fluid to change, no engine oil to change every 10,000 miles, etc. But since I won’t have the BMW long enough to need a transmission fluid change and the oil changes are covered by BMW, the BMW comes out on top for me.

The thing that made me leave Tesla was their support. Their customer service may as well be non-existent. If your car has no issues, it will probably be a decent experience, but if you have a question you need answered or an issue you need addressed, that house of cards falls down really fast.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by dreamisle

The thing that made me leave Tesla was their support. Their customer service may as well be non-existent. If your car has no issues, it will probably be a decent experience, but if you have a question you need answered or an issue you need addressed, that house of cards falls down really fast.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. I had a Model 3 SR+ on order since early April but sold my previous car in late April. Tesla had no VIN except for $60k Performance, so I went to local dealer to grab a fresh-off the truck 2021 330i at 15% off MSRP.

My lightly optioned 330i is $2k+ cheaper than Model 3 SR+, plus tires will last 30k-40k miles, so savings on 2-3 sets are likely extra $2k(?)@100k miles. That $4k savings provides some buffer for ICE maintenance and repair vs. EV.

On the subject of gas savings with EV, on average(without solar + storage) is around $0.07/mile EV, vs. $0.10/mile ICE, at current PGE rate and $4/gallon, so the difference is not that drastic.

[Merami fan]

Originally Posted by dreamisle

Personally I think it’s better than Tesla’s basic Autopilot only because BMW’s package includes the lane changing assistant. To get that option in a Tesla you have to spend $10,000 extra to upgrade Autopilot to Full Self Driving, which includes the auto lane changes and other options which I think are gimmicky (like the enhanced summon feature).

As far as keeping you in your lane and taking curves and stuff without throwing you into the lane next to you, both systems perform about the same. The Tesla is maybe a little better at predicting the road ahead when going over dip where lane lines aren’t immediately visible.

I had a Tesla Model 3, long range, AWD. There is no contest in comparing fit/finish of Tesla to BMW. Tesla is a tech company that makes cars. BMW is a luxury car company that makes luxury cars.

Handling, I’d say the 3 series handles a lot better. Less body roll around corners but it’s lighter too since it doesn’t have a bunch of batteries lining the base of the car.

Maintenance wise, this one’s tough but in MY use case, I’m going to say BMW. I’m leasing so all my routine maintenance is covered. I leased the Tesla too, but the extra weight of the vehicle coupled with the high torque of the motors meant the tires went bald at about 20,000 miles.

All that money I saved in fuel was eaten up by a special set of 4 new tires (they have foam in them to ease road noise, which by the way is awful in the Model 3). Outside of the tires there was no maintenance other than windshield washer fluid.

If I were comparing the cars to keep long term, the Tesla would probably win since there’s no transmission fluid to change, no engine oil to change every 10,000 miles, etc. But since I won’t have the BMW long enough to need a transmission fluid change and the oil changes are covered by BMW, the BMW comes out on top for me.

The thing that made me leave Tesla was their support. Their customer service may as well be non-existent. If your car has no issues, it will probably be a decent experience, but if you have a question you need answered or an issue you need addressed, that house of cards falls down really fast.

Very much agreed. If leasing, there is no comparison. A 3 series is much cheaper and risk-free. Yes, Tesla leases are risky. Why? Because their "service" and "dealer" (using these terms loosely) network is ****ing dog****. They operate like a tech company. They don't give a rat's ass about you as a customer. Much easier to brush people off and sweep things under the rug via emails and phone calls. https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/palo-alto/...216-1000006563
Over 7 times as many "Problem with a Product or Service" complaints as BMW NA has. Tesla sales have just about caught up in the past few quarters, but BMW was obviously leading significantly until then. And there are more and older BMWs on the road in general. The point I want to make here is that I think it's a reasonable assumption that the disparity is at least partly explained by dealerships stepping up to resolve issues. As another example, Mercedes has similar numbers to BMW.

Sure, you don't need oil changes, but in the event that you need any sort of work, the turnaround time is measured in weeks and months, not hours and days as it is with most companies. No loaners. Unending delays on parts. Shady 3rd party shops. It's an absolute joke and I think the lack of a luxury experience is a major issue at this price point. Imagine having an issue with a near or over 6-figure Model S and they tell you it's going to take weeks or months to fix and give you some Uber credits and refer you to Enterprise. I would Uber to the nearest Porsche dealership and drive home in a Taycan. A few trips to the dealership for oil changes or losing your sanity if something goes wrong? Easy choice for me...