330ci or 325ci
- Thread starter dmicgrif
- Start date
330ci for sure! I shoulda just spent the money and gotten the 330. I was thinking the better gas mileage would make me feel better about not having enough power, but it turns out the gas mileage is basically the same.
Just this past weekend, I went tooling around with my friend in his 330Cic ZHP convert. I figure the extra weight of the convert top cancels out the ZHP performance gains. The power difference is quite noticeable.
Just this past weekend, I went tooling around with my friend in his 330Cic ZHP convert. I figure the extra weight of the convert top cancels out the ZHP performance gains. The power difference is quite noticeable.
If you can swing it, I would definitely go with the 330. My wife and I had been considering a 3-series for about a year, and we were looking at Factory Executive E46 cars with about 16,000 miles on them. We figured if we could get a good one for under 30 grand, it would be doable.
Well, after driving lots of 325s, we found a 2003 330ci, 5-speed CPO car with 38,000 miles on it, at the right price, and we bought it last weekend.
Here's what we found - all the 325s felt good and solid, but we came away just feeling that the power was a little lacking. I may be lambasted for this, but in our eyes, the 325 is sort of BMWs "secretary's car" - you know, lots of bells and whistles, really comfortable, handles well, but not a whole lot of power. The 330 has that "missing factor" in the equation that brings a smile to our faces when we drive it - instant throttle response.
Now, you can always do a lot of tweaks and mods to the 325 to give it more power, but why bother if you can get a 330 which had it from the factory.
Cheers,
Paul Kile
330![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
Newbie and Loving It!
Well, after driving lots of 325s, we found a 2003 330ci, 5-speed CPO car with 38,000 miles on it, at the right price, and we bought it last weekend.
Here's what we found - all the 325s felt good and solid, but we came away just feeling that the power was a little lacking. I may be lambasted for this, but in our eyes, the 325 is sort of BMWs "secretary's car" - you know, lots of bells and whistles, really comfortable, handles well, but not a whole lot of power. The 330 has that "missing factor" in the equation that brings a smile to our faces when we drive it - instant throttle response.
Now, you can always do a lot of tweaks and mods to the 325 to give it more power, but why bother if you can get a 330 which had it from the factory.
Cheers,
Paul Kile
330
Newbie and Loving It!
Only downside of the 330 I would guess is a slightly heavier lump up front. Don't think that the 325 is a slow car however, it isn't. We are still talking about a 2.5 litre straight six.
Edit - Maybe if you guys are in the US you may have less powerful engines than we get in europe. I would still not describe the 325 as a hairdresser car as someone did above. That is what the 316, 318 and 320 are for.
Edit - Maybe if you guys are in the US you may have less powerful engines than we get in europe. I would still not describe the 325 as a hairdresser car as someone did above. That is what the 316, 318 and 320 are for.
Bobajobbob said:
Only downside of the 330 I would guess is a slightly heavier lump up front. Don't think that the 325 is a slow car however, it isn't. We are still talking about a 2.5 litre straight six.
Edit - Maybe if you guys are in the US you may have less powerful engines than we get in europe. I would still not describe the 325 as a hairdresser car as someone did above. That is what the 316, 318 and 320 are for.
Edit - Maybe if you guys are in the US you may have less powerful engines than we get in europe. I would still not describe the 325 as a hairdresser car as someone did above. That is what the 316, 318 and 320 are for.
Nope, it's just the typical American 'bigger engine' syndrome, don't worry some folks here realize the potential of the 'slow' cars (Woot .5 sec slower OMG).
I tested a 2005 325xi and loved it. But I went to the salesman and bought a 2005 330xi without even thinking about it. If you like power you will be disappointed with the 325. Not because it is slow but because 330 is a more exciting powerplant that can be used fully without feeling like your overdoing it. If you drive alot of city stop and go than you would be wasting your money with a 330. Then a 325 is the better choice. Same great look either way. By the way. The 330XI I have is incredible in the snow. great start traction and superb handling and feedback.
I agree, it seems many people are putting very low and wide
tires on their car (because it looks good?)
Ran low profile tires once, and couldn't wait for them to wear out
(I gave them lots of help wearing out ) to put the correct tires
back on the car.
Wide, low profile tires and truck ruts are a nightmare. Same with
rain, hydroplane city. Then there's the harsh, bumpy ride 100% of
the time...
tires on their car (because it looks good?)
Ran low profile tires once, and couldn't wait for them to wear out
(I gave them lots of help wearing out
) to put the correct tires back on the car.
Wide, low profile tires and truck ruts are a nightmare. Same with
rain, hydroplane city. Then there's the harsh, bumpy ride 100% of
the time...
