[CaptJack]

Originally Posted by anthony_h

Hey guys!

I'm about to order the car in the next week but I cannot seem to make a 100% decision. here's my choices:

- 325i, sports, premium and nav package and adaptive headlights.
- 330i, sports package and Logic 7

The differences are that the 325 has iDrive and 330i does not. the 325 has also power folding exterior mirrors (but I don't care about that). The 330i is also $500 CND more expensive but that's nothing when speaking of a $50,000 CND car.
This is a very hard choice since I'm going to keep the car for 6-8 years.

Basically, it's Idrive Vs Extra Power.

Any suggestions? You're opinions will help.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT __ 330i

Follow my earlier postings. i-Drive stinks. Been there done that!!!!

Jack

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by voltron1011

I don't think the 3-stage intake accounts for that much power difference. I think it is just marketing. I think BMW is doing the same thing as other companies have been doing with their turbo motors (except with no turbo), instead manipulating the Valvetronic timings. I believe they downtuned the motor through the software so that there would be sufficient HP difference between the 325 and 330. Saab does the same thing with their 2.0t motor. They turn down the boost on the entry level models to 175hp, so that the 215 hp looks really appealing to high-perfomance folks. I think companies have realized that is far cheaper to have a few motors that can be tuned accordingly, than have a bunch of specialized motors. With technologies like variable valve timing and lift controlers, they don't even have to put in 'Hot Cams' for the high-performance model anymmore. The manufacturer can also choose what kind power-band to give a particular model without turning one wrench. I am sure that Dinan will have a nice EPROM-flash upgrade for this motor that will make it sing.

If Dinan could really do that so easily, why couldn't they extract more out of the E46 330i? It's a known fact that these mods get more & more difficult to pull off with each new generation engine. I highly doubt that software is all that's involved. The cams could be different in order to work with the different intake, etc. There's no way that it's going to be that simple.

[ziv]

I agree with RichReg. I was thinking the same thing before placing my order, since I knew that the Dinan chip does work well. But I don't think it will this simple, to make the 325 behave like the 330. There are several mechanical differences. I would go for the 330i, AND chip it when the Dinan product is out :-) Maybe... I loved the car so much when I drove it on Monday, that I don't think I would touch it. Also, maybe if the "delayed reaction" issue does exist, BMW will issue a letter that will ask us to bring our cars to the dealers to reprogram the ECU... I'm not worried about it at all (RichReg is though...)

[pharding]

330 with a manual 6 speed tranny all the way. It is a blast to drive. You can always buy a Garmin device if you need NAV. The radio controls on the steering wheel work quite well.

[AskNiko]

Me personally, I think the 325i with SP has more value. The main reason I love BMWs is for its handling and suspension. I currently drive an E34 5 Series with a 2.0 6-cylinder engine (520). Let me tell you, it has enough punch to get me going. I can drive over 200 kph / 120 mph and enough get up and go to pass when I need to.

What really impresses me with BMW's is how it tackles cobble stone roads. I have driven numerous European made cars and nothing even comes close.

Bottom line, as long as you have the sports suspension, you have a BMW that handles like no other car on this planet. Sure you can get a bigger engine, but that is not what BMWs are all about.

[ziv]

My 2 cents -- 330 with sports pkg, and that's it :-) That's what I did. The other guys are right -- if you want NAV, just go to Costco or any store and buy a good GPS device. iDrive isn't worth it, IMO, and the other options are really nice to have, but not a must. I think the sports pkg is a must :-)

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by AskNiko

Me personally, I think the 325i with SP has more value. The main reason I love BMWs is for its handling and suspension. I currently drive an E34 5 Series with a 2.0 6-cylinder engine (520). Let me tell you, it has enough punch to get me going. I can drive over 200 kph / 120 mph and enough get up and go to pass when I need to.

What really impresses me with BMW's is how it tackles cobble stone roads. I have driven numerous European made cars and nothing even comes close.

Bottom line, as long as you have the sports suspension, you have a BMW that handles like no other car on this planet. Sure you can get a bigger engine, but that is not what BMWs are all about.

Yeah, you're correct in that respect.
They are not all about that. However, one of the reasons that we here in the U.S. don't get to experience the full engine range of BMW's products is because driving here in the U.S. is kind of like all or nothing. The roads are tight and not as well made as they are in Europe for traveling at high speeds, in the sense that you can't really travel very far without getting held up by a traffic light, another car, intersection etc. And since the competition is stiff with Infiniti, Lexus & Acura around, many of us could use that extra OOOMPF.

[JBOO]

I for one think the idrive/nav option is worth it. For one, you get the high-end BMW navigation which on it's own is worth at least $1K. Second, you get an improved and much more modern (IMO) version of the dash. Not that the dash is bad without it, but it seems most people prefer the look with. Finally, you get idrive which I absolutely love. I have it on my 5 and I would not buy another BMW without it.

I have no problem paying the extra $2000 for idrive and nav, but I do think twice about spending $5K for a half a second difference 0-60. Again, does anyone have a comparisons between the E90 330i and 325i?

I'd have a hard time taking recommendations without hearing some reviews, seeing some more stats and most importantly, testing it myself.

Good luck anthony-h ... with either choice you're going to have a great ride :rocks:

[anthony_h]

I test drove a 2002 330Xi 5spd trany on saturday. They won't have any E90 available to test drive for AT LEAST another 2 weeks and I don't want to wait that long to order it. They didn't have any other 330 or 330xi with manual trany available for a test drive.

On paper, the 330xi seems to be a bit slower that the E90 325i w/ 6spd (but that doesn't mean much). So my thinking is that if I am happy with the level of acceleration I get from the 330xi then I should be happy with a 325i. I think the e90 325 will be slightly less powerful than the e46 330xi.

My question is the following: will the new 325 be as fast as the 330xi? the 330xi has considerable more torque and HP but the AWD does waste some of it.