BMW 330Ci (BMW 330Ci Coupe)

Member Name: adamdavid

Product:	BMW 330Ci Coupe
Date:	17/09/00 (5162 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One of the best, smoothest engines in one of the best, smoothest cars

Disadvantages: Anyone got any cash they can give me?

The other day I had a test drive in a shiny new 330Ci. It was stacked to the eyeballs with gadgets and extras, but I was interested in the engine.
Driving this car was quite amazing. The engine is so smooth and so quiet it is easy to go extremely quickly without realising it. The car I drove had BMW's automatic Steptronic gearbox. This means that it can be driven as an automatic (stick it in Drive and leave it) or can be switched to Steptronic mode by moving the gearlever to the right (Sport mode) and change gears manually by nudging the lever backwards and forwards. In sport mode the automatic changes up a gear once it hits the redline. The engine revs very freely and the 6500rpm redline comes around very quickly. Even with the automatic box, this car accelerates very quickly, and is very quick overall.

The car itself is solidly built as you would expect for a BMW. The leather seats were comfortable, the climate control keeps you at the right temperature. Driver, passenger and side airbags keep you safe (allegedly) and a computer tells you how many miles you have left in the tank.

The test car rode astonishingly well considering it came with 18" M-sport wheels fitted with 255/35 Michelin Pilots on the rear and 235/35s on the front. It soaked up potholes and was composed and civilised the whole time.
Floor the accelerator and the car accelerates very quickly and quietly and before you know it you are hurtling towards the horizon. The brakes are equally impressive, hauling you to a stop in next to no time. During my test drive I was never aware of the ABS, or the DSC, or the ASC. This car seems so capable that you would really have to be driving like a hooligan to get the electronic gadgets to start to work.

The only downside of this car is the cost. A basic on the road price of £28000 is more than I can afford (being a student) but it is a small price to pay for a car with a 290bhp straight six. This engine
is probably among the best production engines around. It is so smooth, quiet, powerful and fast that it is an absolute joy. It can also be effortless to drive with the automatic gearbox and cruise control. It can be driven from the multi-function steering wheel as the car will accelerate using the cruise control buttons on the wheel.

The current 3-series is one of the ultimate saloon cars on the road and the 330Ci is the best of the lot. It really is as good as everyone says it is and the version I test drove with the 18" alloys in black looked out of this world. In fact it looked as good as it drove. All I have to do is save up for a few years and I might be able to own one!

Summary: