[djfreex]

Well I agree with the horsepower debate - You cant have enough horsepower (kinda like the Hard Disks on the computers)
However, there is the money factor and there are options.
Personally if I am not buying a M3 - I am not really interested in performance gains, but I am really interested in comfort/luxury gains (NAV, XENON etc). Because its a sedan and I believe sedans are made for comfort.
If one day I can afford to buy an M( M6 maybe well then I would spend all my options money to horsepower, who cares about heated seats when I can kick Ferrari ModenaSS!!with >500HP
But for the moment I am planning to go for a 3.25 with comfort/luxury options.

[Dani]

I have a 325 and I can't imaging anyone complaining about the hp or handling so unless you have money to spare I wouldn't even think about the 330.

[loihisteve]

Before deciding upon a 325i, I went thru the 325 vs. 330 perf. comparison for a week or so ... in the end, I concluded the "very-respectable" 0-60 time of the 325 w/ manual (6.7 seconds) was sufficient for my needs ... however, there are two perf. issues I'm not too happy about with the 325: 1.) only 185 lb-feet of torque (although the cam-profile is nice, with peak torque at a very low 2750 rmp), and 2.) the brakes are too small for safely driving aggressively.

One other primary factor that played into my decision was my desire to transition to 18" BBS RGR wheels (in silver) ... I knew I would want to upgrade to these wheels whether I got the 325i or the 330i ... I eventually decided my pain threshold for my new car was south of $40K (which couldn't be achieved with the 330), so I ordered my 325i, and am now planning my wheel & tire upgrade. I couldn't be happier; no regrets at all!

[JamieA]

If I lived in the US, I would get the 330 without even thinking about it. I find it amazing that you guys are talking about $3-5k difference in price like it is a big deal - here the price difference is $97k for the 325 vs about $115k for the 330 - both well optioned. So we are talking a serious price difference of $18k (ie $US13.5k)...

You only live once, do you want to think I got the car I liked, or the car I really loved.

The other interesting difference between here and there is that the 2.5L engine in the 325 here has all the technology, while the 325 in the US is the 3.0 with bits taken off - that would really irritate me, at least with the 2.5 you know the difference is scale, there is still the good techo stuff like the 3 stage induction.

My final observations is that it is funny the deals guys seem to have to do with wives to get what they want. Our CEO wanted a Porsche but his wife said "that isn't a family car!" so he bought her a 5 Series, then waited 4 years to get his Porsche... he's like totally under the thumb!

[Nikki]

the 330i is worth it because you'll get up to that price even with a couple options on the 325i--that's what happened to me.

[loihisteve]

The price difference here in the States is $5,700 (325i w/ Sport vs. 330i w/ Sport) ... IMO, the engine differences don't warrant the increase; the better brakes are probably the biggest perf.-differential between the two models (and the more expensive of the two 325i limitations to change).

Spending $2K in aftermarket 325i Intake & Exhaust upgrades (after the warranty expires), is always on the table for me to consider ... and something I would seriously consider (in the future) if I could bump the torque by 20 lb-ft to 205 lb-ft (at the same 2750 rpm as stock) ... the fact that the U.S.-spec. 325i comes with the 3.0-engine "should enable" Tuners to offer desireable (and cost-effective) upgrades ... I took this into account when I pulled the trigger on my 325i order.

[HRC]

Originally Posted by loihisteve

...IMO, the engine differences don't warrant the increase...Spending $2K in aftermarket 325i Intake & Exhaust upgrades (after the warranty expires), is always on the table for me to consider ... and something I would seriously consider (in the future) if I could bump the torque by 20 lb-ft to 205 lb-ft (at the same 2750 rpm as stock) ... the fact that the U.S.-spec. 325i comes with the 3.0-engine "should enable" Tuners to offer desireable (and cost-effective) upgrades ... I took this into account when I pulled the trigger on my 325i order.

40 Hp and 35 ft. lb. of Torque is not easy to buy inthe aftermarket. Intake and exhaust won't even come close, nor will $2K.

I'm not trying to burst the bubble, just trying to help a fellow e90 owner.

Danny

[Nikki]

either way, we're assuming that there will be no aftermarket modifications. let's just compare what you get stock vs. stock.

[noflash]

Originally Posted by loihisteve

Before deciding upon a 325i, I went thru the 325 vs. 330 perf. comparison for a week or so ... in the end, I concluded the "very-respectable" 0-60 time of the 325 w/ manual (6.7 seconds) was sufficient for my needs ... however, there are two perf. issues I'm not too happy about with the 325: 1.) only 185 lb-feet of torque (although the cam-profile is nice, with peak torque at a very low 2750 rmp), and 2.) the brakes are too small for safely driving aggressively.

One other primary factor that played into my decision was my desire to transition to 18" BBS RGR wheels (in silver) ... I knew I would want to upgrade to these wheels whether I got the 325i or the 330i ... I eventually decided my pain threshold for my new car was south of $40K (which couldn't be achieved with the 330), so I ordered my 325i, and am now planning my wheel & tire upgrade. I couldn't be happier; no regrets at all!

Same here!

'cept my brakes have never been lacking and my wheels aren't silver.

[JonnyCrash]

Originally Posted by HRC

40 Hp and 35 ft. lb. of Torque is not easy to buy inthe aftermarket. Intake and exhaust won't even come close, nor will $2K.

I'm not trying to burst the bubble, just trying to help a fellow e90 owner.

Danny

I don't know if you'll be able to make up the extra 40hp and 35 torque for under $2k USD, but you WILL be able to make it up. If BMW can get a reliable 40 extra hp and 35 extra torque out of the identical engine for the 330, an aftermarket company will be able to as well. It will not take aftermarket tuners long to figure out how to reverse engineer the 330's exhaust and 3-stage intake, and remapping the ECU is child's play these days for any tuner with access to a dyno.

I'm kind of torn on this decision myself. I am leaning towards the 330, but I don't want the chrome window trim, the chrome grill slats or the adapive headlamps that come with the 330. What's more, I would prefer 17" wheels, and the 330 sports package only comes with 18" wheels. So, basically, I want the engine and brakes of the 330 but actively don't want any of the aesthetic "enhancements"... and I'm not crazy enough to pay extra to get rid of them! What to do, what to do

[JonnyCrash]

Originally Posted by loihisteve

Before deciding upon a 325i, I went thru the 325 vs. 330 perf. comparison for a week or so ... in the end, I concluded the "very-respectable" 0-60 time of the 325 w/ manual (6.7 seconds) was sufficient for my needs ...

Where do you get the 6.7 0-60 time? BMW is claiming 7.1 seconds for the 325, and about 6.5 for the 330... at least that's what they list on the Canadian web site. Interestingly, fuel consumption is almost identical for the two cars, with the 330 having a barely noticible penalty in city driving economy.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by Mr.Abulia

Where do you get the 6.7 0-60 time? BMW is claiming 7.1 seconds for the 325, and about 6.5 for the 330... at least that's what they list on the Canadian web site. Interestingly, fuel consumption is almost identical for the two cars, with the 330 having a barely noticible penalty in city driving economy.

I don't know about the 325i, but the C&D comparison test rates the 330i at 6.1s
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=9993


and this article from C&D rates it at 5.6s

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=3

[JonnyCrash]

Those two magazines always have slightly unbelievable 0-60 times; I keep wondering if they are on crack. I've driven a 330i sport, and there is no way it was a 6.1s 0-60 car, and even less way it was a 5.6s. If the 330i could make it from 0-60 in 5.6s, then the same watch would have to clock my c4s at 0-60 in about 3.1...

It's funny, though, how these times are constantly getting lower and lower, to the point where it really is unrealistic. In reality, it takes my car a good 5.1s to get from 0-60, but believe you me, that is incredibly throw-you-back-into-your-seat fast. 500+hp supercars only get there .6-.7 seconds faster. Having a BMW sedan at 255hp getting there in anything under 6.2 -6.3 seconds is utterly unrealistic, and even then they would likely have to reduce its weight considerably!

Originally Posted by Nikki

I don't know about the 325i, but the C&D comparison test rates the 330i at 6.1s
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=9993


and this article from C&D rates it at 5.6s

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=3

[Nikki]

well if they say that the is350 runs a 5.1 then i'll stick to the 330i's time of 5.6s

[bingstarr]

i made my decision.... and i stand by it.

[BiMMa b0i M3]

i wondered the same question. 330's are obviously better equipped than the 325's but if your only planning on doing subtle mods and keeping it near stock, then a 325i 6 speed is not a bad investment. they increased the horsepower a lot from the previous models. I think E46's were punching about 184hp, while the E36's were punching 189hp, and for some who dont know, I think its 215hp, and its the first 3 series witha 6 speed manual in the states, not bad now. from what I also know is that bmw's are known to have lots of problems with the first line of cars that they produce in a new design. in my personal opinion it would be better to get one in a few years just so that they make much more improvements on them.

[longtran]

i have the 325 6 spd. i was gonna get the 330 but automatic. its more fun with 6 spd for bmw or any car. ahahah... no regrets here. i set my mind on it when they debut in may at my local dealer. 330 6 spd, about 5k more for what??? i beleive its 40 more horses??? not worth it. i rather spend that money on making the car look good.

[longtran]

Originally Posted by BiMMa b0i M3

. from what I also know is that bmw's are known to have lots of problems with the first line of cars that they produce in a new design. in my personal opinion it would be better to get one in a few years just so that they make much more improvements on them.

ummmm...i dont think so. every so often cars go bad, even if its a 2008 e90. thats why they have warranty. think about this. if you get one now you will be driving a new car for about 7years before they do any major changes. wait 2 years and you only have it for 5 years. and plus those are rumors. i take it you are asian, older asian, like my parents and aunts/uncle would say this a while back because they dont want to buy their kids bmws, mercedes, audis, basically on any german cars. in a simple way of saying this, they are cheap......

[Tykes22]

Interestingly, fuel consumption is almost identical for the two cars, with the 330 having a barely noticible penalty in city driving economy.

I have the same argument as Mr. Abulia on the fuel consumption between 325i and 330i...which means you get more of your money's worth on 330i.

But my initial choice was between a 530i (E60) and a 330i which I thought the former was too big to be a daily car. Well if ever I'll have regrets it will be for choosing a 330i.

[Hula-Hula]

I'm gonna but the 325i... and everyone with 325 has as fun as any 330i driver.. they just get there faster...

[BMW786]

The only thing the 330i has that I want is the 162 rims. To me, the price difference isn't really justified.

[odct]

Last time I checked 0-60 mph is not the same as 0-100 km/h