[StraightSix-d]

Well, I'm really glad that the 'Luxury' model's getting some love from M-Sport crowd

Brief answers to various points:
Road noise reduction by ditching the run-flats: sadly, not possible as this is a lease vehicle. So, I'm stuck with the noise.

Comfort & Suspension
I have to re-emphasise just how comfortable and smooth the ride is. It's like sipping a pint of Guinness with that extra creamy head. Really, really smooth, and that on 18” run-flats. So the adaptive suspension must be doing something right.

My old Alfa GTV (below) gave me enough rock-hard suspension to not wish to repeat the experience.



MPG difference from E90 325d to F30 330d
My previous E90 returned an average 45-50 mpg from a well run in engine on around 30,000 miles. So far, I'm getting around 39-42 mpg after having only done 1380 miles on a mix of A-roads and motorway driving. I'm hoping that the mpg number improves after 10k miles.

Engine Noise: for a diesel, this is as good as it's going to get. My previous E90 with its M57 engine had a really bassy rumble, which I really grew to like.

Blanking the wing mirror indicators
I stood behind the car in the approximate position of a driver in my blind spot, locked and unlocked the car to get the indicator lights to work and saw bright flashes from the wing mirrors. So, my mod is effective at not blinding me and being visible to drivers behind me.

8KA Oelservice Int. 30.000 Km/24 Months (Oelwartungsint. 30.000km/24monate)
This is an option listed in the VIN decoder for this car. I'm guessing that this really means an oil service is only required at 24 months or 30k Km. On my previous E90, I changed the oil after 10-12k miles. Is it really safe to go for 30k Km without an oil service and rely on CBS?

A few more minor annoyances
• Lack of printed manual for Navigation/CD/Music system. I've had to find US versions to better understand the system. Pathetic cost cutting by BMW?

• It's now impossible to select cabin temperature for both driver and passenger with one button, as you could with the “ALL” button in the E90. You have to push two separate buttons. Why?

It's all about the Drive
So in the end, despite my (justified) moans, it all comes down to the drive, right? And here, 330d delivers. As others have commented, its grip, power delivery, the feeling of sure-footedness and seemingly inexhaustible reserves of torque and power puts a smile on my face, every single time I drive this.

it's a real shame that US drivers doesn't get this model.

....I almost forgot to mention..

Where the Fiat 500 Sport beats the F30 330d
• Split-folding rear seats at no extra cost.
• Daytime Running Lights which can be turned off.
• Auto Stop/Start which can be permanently disabled.
• Driver and passenger cabin temperature can be set with one button.

[Rhino at Work]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Green indicator on the gear stick? Can't actually think I noticed it.

Admittedly I tend to be looking out the windscreen

That and stick pushed left.

Is it actually that noticeable?

+1. Does make me laugh the things people get upset about!

[Andrewthefirst]

Cracking car & excellent write-up

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by StraightSix-d

Where the Fiat 500 Sport beats the F30 330d
• Split-folding rear seats at no extra cost.
• Daytime Running Lights which can be turned off.
• Auto Stop/Start which can be permanently disabled.
• Driver and passenger cabin temperature can be set with one button.

On points 2 and 3...

DRL is now legally required on new cars I believe so not sure a new Fiat 500 would still be the same. It could be coded if you really wanted

I understand Auto Stop/Start needs to be the default mode for the tests etc. But again, it can be easily coded to stick with the last manual setting, so on my car it's switched off all the time to all intents and purposes. I sometimes forget this though when I select Eco Pro when crawling in traffic and it gets switched back on!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Green indicator on the gear stick? Can't actually think I noticed it.

Admittedly I tend to be looking out the windscreen

That and stick pushed left.

Is it actually that noticeable?

It's one of those corner of the eye distractions for me. Once you know it's there kind of thing.

[Tom Tallon]

I agree that the saddle brown ( a rather difficult colour to match) is not at all bad with the Imperial Blue.

The colour match here has to be my beige seats with Imperial Blue. Unfortunately I had to get the Mineral Grey with beige. I think beige with Imperial Blue is cool, dignified and classy.

To each his own.

[matt_320d]

Excellent review...really nice layout and pictures and whatnot.

Disagree about the wingmirror indicators though - I think they are useful and increase visiblity.

[StraightSix-d]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

On points 2 and 3...

DRL is now legally required on new cars I believe so not sure a new Fiat 500 would still be the same. It could be coded if you really wanted

I understand Auto Stop/Start needs to be the default mode for the tests etc. But again, it can be easily coded to stick with the last manual setting, so on my car it's switched off all the time to all intents and purposes. I sometimes forget this though when I select Eco Pro when crawling in traffic and it gets switched back on!

DRL is on the new Fiat 500, but can be turned off, permanently. I read somewhere that in the UK it's not yet compulsory. Coding the ASS isn't an option for me (it's a lease, so if anything goes wrong, I'm fecked). But like you, I always manually turn it off, but sometime forget and get held up at junctions and joining roads!

[AP_75]

Really nice car, great choice and thanks for the comprehensive review. Would also like the tan leather but seeing my wife and child ruin it would not be so good.

I was also keen on a 330D touring luxury and first car that put me onto an F31 but weren't many about at BMW dealers so went with MSport in the end but respect your choice - also fan of the alpina look this is a basis.

This is my personal view only but in an era of tax efficient company cars, so many premium brands are running the full fat big wheels and bodykit look with the small engine - that makes a Q-car spec a welcome change in my opinion. BMW is better at this, but see so many 'AMG' badged basic diesel mercs and Audi's with RS style wheels.

[james d]

Welcome to the very exclusive 330D Luxury Imperial Blue club. Mine's a Touring with black leather but guessing it may be a just the two of us on here?

[FSE23]

Nice car and review, congratulations. I like luxury model to some point. It looks a bit superior to other models IMHO but I prefer M sport anyway.
I'm really surprise that someon mentione about green light in gearshift can be annoying - I can't remember if I have ever noticed it while driving

[Roberto71]

After driving my 430D GC a few days, the engine is just fantastic. I game from a 520D and was not expecting the difference to be so pronounced. Sure I knew the headline torque and power were well up, but the feeling even at idle in the 3 litre is that of a big petrol engined 6 cylinder. It's so damn refined and you feel the endless power. It's a completely different experience. Diesel has hit EUR1 a litre here today so even better news!

A stunning engine. beats all my expectations.

[AP_75]

Originally Posted by Roberto71

After driving my 430D GC a few days, the engine is just fantastic. I game from a 520D and was not expecting the difference to be so pronounced. Sure I knew the headline torque and power were well up, but the feeling even at idle in the 3 litre is that of a big petrol engined 5 cylinder. It's so damn refined and you feel the endless power. It's a completely different experience. Diesel has hit EUR1 a litre here today so even better news!

A stunning engine. beats all my expectations.

Agree with the analogy of the petrol 5, feels as good as a diesel could sound. In a way it makes me want a V8 petrol next as can't be long left for big engined cars like this where the engine has big influence on character of the car.

[Roberto71]

Originally Posted by AP_75

Agree with the analogy of the petrol 5, feels as good as a diesel could sound. In a way it makes me want a V8 petrol next as can't be long left for big engined cars like this where the engine has big influence on character of the car.

I agree. I used to always buy a car with the engine first and foremost as the prime criteria. I had an E46 M3 years ago and I just adored the sound of that engine. Even though I had a HK stereo, I rarely had it on as I just liked to drive with the engine the only sound. I then got sensible in 2008 as fuel went bananas and I had 2 520Ds in a row....A very fine car no question and a super engine that had enough power really day to day. But I missed the big engine, the character as you say it gives a car.

I was looking at seriously going for the Audi S3 last summer and then looked at the 428i as well as I was keen to go petrol again. But then I drove a 430D M Sport coupe and the sound and feel of it made the choice for me. Couldn't believe it was a diesel. So the choice was 4 cylinder 428i or a classic straight 6 3 litre. Easy choice in the end as you get the straight 6 smoothness and much lower fuel costs, road tax and better residuals...

[StraightSix-d]

Originally Posted by Roberto71

I agree. I used to always buy a car with the engine first and foremost as the prime criteria. I had an E46 M3 years ago and I just adored the sound of that engine. Even though I had a HK stereo, I rarely had it on as I just liked to drive with the engine the only sound. I then got sensible in 2008 as fuel went bananas and I had 2 520Ds in a row....A very fine car no question and a super engine that had enough power really day to day. But I missed the big engine, the character as you say it gives a car.

I was looking at seriously going for the Audi S3 last summer and then looked at the 428i as well as I was keen to go petrol again. But then I drove a 430D M Sport coupe and the sound and feel of it made the choice for me. Couldn't believe it was a diesel. So the choice was 4 cylinder 428i or a classic straight 6 3 litre. Easy choice in the end as you get the straight 6 smoothness and much lower fuel costs, road tax and better residuals...

I'm totally with you on this. I had an Alfa 156 2.0L Twinspark (a 'normal' four cylinder engine) and it produced a lovely metallic rasp. Listening to it going through the gears was a buzz. I guess this is what makes us car nerds

Just to illustrate the point, a neighbour of ours, when discussing cars said something like, "I don't really care what I drive, as long as it gets me from A to B. So, I went to the Peugeot garage around the corner and bought something." I resisted the urge to say that she was Peugeot's target customer.

[StraightSix-d]

Originally Posted by james d

Welcome to the very exclusive 330D Luxury Imperial Blue club. Mine's a Touring with black leather but guessing it may be a just the two of us on here?

.. maybe we should get some special stickers made

[StraightSix-d]

Originally Posted by AP_75

Really nice car, great choice and thanks for the comprehensive review. Would also like the tan leather but seeing my wife and child ruin it would not be so good.

I understand how kids' mess might damage the leather .. but asking a dangerous question, how would your wife ruin it?

[AP_75]

Originally Posted by StraightSix-d

I understand how kids' mess might damage the leather .. but asking a dangerous question, how would your wife ruin it?

Ha, see how this reads. What I really mean is my wife takes no care of the car or her leather handbags come to think - so always my job to clean the car. Biro marks on seats, scratches with jewellery etc (esp on the metal of the console).

[.BMW.]

Great review of a beautiful car!

[Wills2]

Nice car, it's interesting though that you said you went for the luxury spec for comfort over the handling of the M-sport, but then put the M-sport suspension on making it handle and ride like an M-sport?

Which is why you probably like it so much.

[StraightSix-d]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Nice car, it's interesting though that you said you went for the luxury spec for comfort over the handling of the M-sport, but then put the M-sport suspension on making it handle and ride like an M-sport?

Which is why you probably like it so much.

You got it! I really don't know how much extra/better handling you'd get from a stock M-Sport with adaptive suspension, with the M-Sport being lowered by 10mm(?).

Has anyone driven/compared the Luxury version in this set up against a M-Sport with adaptive suspension?

Anyway, having now chucked this car around a few nice twisty, turny roundabout exits, it really stays planted on the road. The rest of the time, it's just very, very comfortable. And with the state of our hyper-crappy roads, that's probably more important than feeling every bump, pothole, crack and road surface irregularity.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by StraightSix-d

You got it! I really don't know how much extra/better handling you'd get from a stock M-Sport with adaptive suspension, with the M-Sport being lowered by 10mm(?).

Has anyone driven/compared the Luxury version in this set up against a M-Sport with adaptive suspension?

I could be massively incorrect, but I think the suspension is exactly the same in all respects, ride height/dampers/springs, whether you spec it on the M sport model or Luxury model.

Anyways you have the best of both worlds really, the looks you wanted + great handling.