BMW 330dA Sport Saloon (BMW 330d)

Member Name: mark_foote

Product:	BMW 330d
Date:	20/09/04 (9910 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Performance, Fuel Economy, Handling

Disadvantages: Tyre wear, Suspension over potholes

Firstly I’d like to point out, that after reading numerous reviews on this car, saying just how wonderful it is, how good the fuel economy is, how good the performance is … they are all correct.

I used to own a BMW 318i (E46 model) and was happy going from A to B and not thinking about performance. Driving like I would any other make or model of saloon car. Then, I went for a test drive in a BMW 330d Sport saloon with an automatic gearbox and my experience and opinion of BMW diesels had changed. The performance is amazing (for a diesel), but not a 330i petrol beater, though you can’t have it all ways, as you’ll get more miles to the gallon. The ride is stiff, but this is well worth putting up with, because when you drive round a ‘U’ shaped corner at high speed (such as a motorway exit road), you’ll appreciate the sports suspension. The car does not lean or want to roll one bit. Grip can sometimes be a problem, due to the amount of power going to the rear wheels and the tyres need to have plenty of grip, both front and back to remain in a straight line when breaking. However, you’ll never lose control, thanks to the very intelligent Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and traction control.

The engine isn’t quite all of the time … most notably is when the engine is idle, you’ll be able to hear it is a diesel (but what do people expect from having a gigantic diesel engine in front of you!!??).

Now for the best feature of this car, driving on motorways. I do about 20,000 miles a year, most of which is spent driving on a motorway. I cannot say how wonderful the 330d Sport is on a motorway. It’s hard to describe just how good it really is. My advice is to take one on a test drive, and experience it for yourself. The car cruises with absolute ease, and is an absolute pleasure to drive. Buy one, and you’ll never want to go back to a petrol car again!

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