330ci test drive leads to 330xi purchase

[Prolixer]

Hello all,

I have been lurking on this list for a few months now, but yesterdeay I finally took the plunge and bought my car - an '04 330xi, silver grey w/black leather and aluminum trim, steptronic, premium and cold weather packages.

Went to my local BMW dealership here in Eugene, OR to test drive a 330ci. I was quite sure the coupe was the model I wanted. They only had one in stock with the color and options I was looking for, so I took it out for a drive. Although it performed well, I had a few problems with it - 1) I could not get comfortable in the sport seats, I spent quite a bit of time adjusting all the seat controls to try and get comfortable, but could not.........the middle of my back was aching after 30 minutes in the car. Secondly, I could feel my hair touching the headliner - I am only 5' 10" tall - so I was surprised my hair was in contact with the headliner - and it became annoying for me after awhile when everytime I would turn my head I would feel my hair scrape the headliner. If I was an inch taller, my head would have been rubbing against the headliner..........what do people who own coupes who are 6' and taller do?

When I got back to the dealership, I took some brochures off the rack and compared the interior specs. on the coupe to the sedan, and discovered that while the coupe has a distance of 37.5" from drivers seat bottom to the headliner, the sedan has an extra inch - 38.4" - so I decided to test drive a sedan. They didn't have one in the color/options I wanted, but they did have an AWD model that did, so I test drove that. The first thing I noticed was how much more comfortable the standard seats were for me - I realize this is an individual thing and there are probably many people who find the sport seats more comfortable for them. The next thing I noticed was that the AWD sedan had noticably better acceleration, especially in the lower rpm - this was a pleasant surprise. If anything, I expected the AWD sedan to be a little less quick considering it weights 200 lbs more and didn't have the sports package like the coupe did. I mentioned this to the salesperson, and he said the AWD might have a different gear ratio, but a quick check of the brochures revealed that all 3 models of the 330 series have the same gear ratios. So maybe there are differences from one new car to another depending on how the guys on the assembly line were feeling the day they were built. The coupe did have 128 miles on it, and the AWD sedan had only 12, so obviously the coupe had been out on several test drives and the sedan had been out on one or possibly none. The build date on the coupe was 10/03 and the build date on the AWD was 12/03. So, in making my final decision, the fact that the AWD sedan had lower miles, a later build date, more comfortable seats for me, and noticably better acceleration, it was an easy decision to get the AWD model instead. I thought about ordering a coupe, but if it turned out to not have as good acceleration as the AWD sedan I had test driven, I would not have been happy about it. I decided it was better to buy something that performed well even if it doesn't look as nice as the coupe, maybe I can lower it to get rid of some of that ugly space in the wheel well.

While I was at the dealer, I asked the manager if he was aware of the slipping problem with the steptronic transmissions, and he said he was. I asked him if he had any cars brought in with the problem, and he said there had been two of them - both 325's, but so far no 330's. He said if I ever noticed the slipping problem while shiting from reverse into drive, to just bring the car in and they would replace the transmission for me, no problem. I was relieved to hear this from him and felt that I would not have to fight the dealership for a new (rebuilt) tranny should my car develop this problem. The build date on my car is 12/03, and the TIS says the problem affects the 330 series cars with a build date "up to 12/03" as opposed to "through 12/03", so maybe my car is exempt from developing this problem anyway.

Questions for you all -

1) There must be several 6' and taller 3 series coupe owners on this list - doesn't your head hit the roof? Do you recline the seat a bit to fit in the car?

2) Has anyone else noticed that they just can't get comfortable in the sport seats, or am I a freak of nature?

3) When test driving new 3 series cars at a dealership, has anyone else noticed a difference in acceleration between cars with the same engine?

4) Are there any 330xi owners on the list who have lowered their cars? If so, what brand did you use and are you happy with the results?

5) Anyone have a car with a build date of 12/03 or later that has developed the slipping problem in the tranny?

I want to thank everyone for how much you have taught me while I have been lurking here these past few months. It is great to finally be a part of the BMW owners community!

Prolixer

 

[jrt67ss350]

I don't have any answers for your questions, but I just want to congratulate you on your purchase and welcome you to the BMW ownership circle! I know we all expect to see pics of your new ride!

 

[pardi]

Hm... that's strange. I thought the xi is slower than the ci by about half a second in 0-60.

I test drove a 330xi manual last week, and I just came back from test driving both 325ci and 330ci (both with auto). I didn't have problem about my hair touching the headliner, but then I am 2" shorter than you.

I kinda like the sport seats but can't justify paying so much money for them. What I really like about the sport seats, though, is the extending piece. It DOES make a difference (i was told it would make a difference in long trips), and I would imagine it will.

 

[donmbmw]

Congrats on the new car. a bimmer is a bimmer, they are all great cars to drive. I can't help but think that your AWD car "felt" faster but was actually slower than the coupe. The sport suspension prevents some of that feeling of being thrust into the seat, so you don't get the sensation of speed when the car is actually turning in a faster acceleration time.
Speaking of seats, I have the standard seat and had to play with it for a couple of weeks before I found the right fit. (thank God for the lumbar adjust and the memory button). As for your head brushing the roof. I wonder, did you lower the seat position completely? There is alot of height travel on these seats and at 5'10" you should not have had this problem. The sport seats are great, but like you said thats a personal preference. I like the 330i w/o the sport package better because of the softer suspension tuning, but I would have loved to get the sport seats. Once again, good luck, be safe, and have fun with your new BMW

 

[Kirby]

Congrats on your new car! Regarding headroom, I'm a bit over 6' 3" and don't have any problems at all. In fact, I have straight, thick hair, and when I cut it short in the summer it adds another 1" or 2" to my height, still no problems with either the softtop or the hardtop. I do have the seat all the way down, reclined somewhere in the middle. I don't think the convertible has more headroom than a coupe (unless the top is down!!) but maybe it does?

 

[codex57]

Congrats!

I love the sports seats. I don't find them uncomfortable at all. I actually prefer them over the standard ones. I think it all depends on your body shape. I have heard other people who just didn't like the sports seats so you're not the only one.

I'm 5'7" and my hair does brush my sunvisor. Part of the reason is cuz I have a moonroof and it takes up some headroom. The main reason is the driving position I prefer. I like sitting high enough so that I can see the end of my car. I also have my seatback almost vertical cuz that's the proper driving position. If I recline the seat and lower the position, I have tons of headroom so it just depends on how your set up is I think.

 

[mrblonde]

skip the ci w/steptronic cause of the recall but don't tell me the xi is quicker. also the xi doesn't have the same feel as the ci either, especially when taking bends around the highway when you're up at 80 or 100.

 

[bmwrocks]

I love my sport seats with their lumbar adjustment and extendable thigh support. The thigh support is amazing as it extends all the way to my knees almost. I can ride in the car for hours without discomfort. I am only 5'8" though. I have to lower my head to slide out sideways but my head never hits the headliner or visor.

You are a freak of nature dude..... [joke]

 

[MrElussive]

Congrats on the car!

As others have said, the 330xi is actually slower than the 330Ci by half a second to 60mph (assuming both are the same transmission setup). The Sport seats vs regular seats is all personal preference. I prefer the Sport seats because they hug your body so well when taking the turns and I feel like they hold me in place better. Eibach makes a nice lowering spring kit for the 330xi that should make you pretty happy. The good part about the 330xi (and the 325xi) is that whether the car has the Sport Package or not, the AWD models just do not get sport suspension (so I guess this is kinda bad), so it's not like you're "missing out" for opting for a non-Sport Package model due to sport seats not suiting you. Checkout TireRack.com, there should be 1 or 2 spring sets available. I believe the Eibach kit is the best, it lowers the car by 1.2" front and 1.0" rear (if I remember correctly).

Anyways, congrats, enjoy your new car, and don't worry/think about any problems unless the car gives you any!!

 

[Prolixer]

Mr Elussive said -
<As others have said, the 330xi is actually slower than the 330Ci by half a second to 60mph <(assuming both are the same transmission setup).

Yes, I didn't mean to imply that I thought that all 330xi cars were quicker than all 330ci coupes, just that the particular 330xi that I test drove (and bought) had more low end torque than the particular coupe that I test drove. Why this is I don't know, but I imagine there can be some small but noticale differences in the performance within the same series of engines depending on their assembly or slight variations in the tolerences of the parts used. I don't think, as donmbmw speculated, that it was because the coupe had the sport suspension and the sedan did not (the sports suspension preventing some of the feeling of being thrust into the seat), the difference in torque was too much to account for this, IMHO. I do wish the sedan cornered like the coupe, but I can always make some suspension changes to rectify that.

Mr Elussive - I had narrowed my car search down to either an Audi S4, a G35 coupe, or a 330ci, but the closest Infiniti and Audi dealerships were a 2 hr drive away, and I did not feel comfortable buying a car from a dealership that far away. Of course, the Infiniti salesman said to me -"Don't worry, nothing is going to go wrong with this car, you won't need to come in until your first scheduled service". But shit happens, and I didn't want a 2 hr drive in between me and warrantied service. I could have gotten any problems fixed at my local Nissan dealership, but I would have had to pay for them. So that made me decide to get the BMW, and I'm glad I did!

Thanks to all for your feedback,
Prolixer

 

[skrangeo]

I'm 6'2" and have the 330i. no problems with headroom

Also, I absolutely love the sport seats in both my 325 and 330.

 

[Xyrium]

Congrats on the car!
SNIP 8<-------------
The good part about the 330xi (and the 325xi) is that whether the car has the Sport Package or not, the AWD models just do not get sport suspension (so I guess this is kinda bad), so it's not like you're "missing out" for opting for a non-Sport Package model due to sport seats not suiting you. Checkout TireRack.com, there should be 1 or 2 spring sets available. I believe the Eibach kit is the best, it lowers the car by 1.2" front and 1.0" rear (if I remember correctly).

Anyways, congrats, enjoy your new car, and don't worry/think about any problems unless the car gives you any!!

Strangely enough, my dealer told me that it would be dangerous to lower an xi because of the AWD differential (can't remember the exact name of the part)hanging low in the center of the vehicle

I ordered a 330xi a few weeks ago in that same color, very nice. Congrats and good luck!

 

[AWD330XI]

If I lived in a climate where it did not snow, I would have bought a ci instead. If you could drive both the ci and xi each day over the next month, you would surely have chosen the ci. You will regret your decision in the long run IMO.

 

[Xyrium]

I doubt any regret will be had. A suspension upgrade will turn that car into the machine it was meant to be.

 

[oregonbmw]

Prolixer,
Congratulations on your purchase.

I live in Eugene and have test driven the same 330Ci a number of times. I am 6' and when I lowered the seat I still had an inch or so before my hair touched the moonroof.
I agree that the 330ci they have on the lot feels a little sluggish. I test drove a used 01 330ci that they have at the MB dealership and it felt like it had a lot more kick to it.

I have put in an order for a 330Ci myself that I will pick up in Europe this July. The wait is killing me. Good luck with your xi.

 

[AWD330XI]

The only reason a new 330ci felt sluggish is because it is not broken in yet. My engine has 6000 miles on it and it feels faster every week. BMW engines need at least 5000 before it really approaches its peak HP.

 

[Susie520]

Xyrium, when are you getting your car?

 

[Xyrium]

Xyrium, when are you getting your car?

Please, I wish I knew!!!

I don't even have a VIN yet!!!

 

[Xyrium]

However, the dealer did say mid-May

 

[Susie520]

You HAVE got to let me know when it arrives! What color again? I have gone over-board buying supplies/products for this car. I have purchased new everything including a porter cable 7424 and can't wait to perform a full detail - I am just waiting until it really needs it - it will be a day long event.