[Foreman05]

Hey guys I just registered on the site but have been reading a lot on here prior to this. I just got done driving the car I thought I wanted 06 330i with sport and premium packs. I was kinda disappointed, after reading so much about how awesome this car was I thought I was going to be blown away. The car had 60k miles and the price was 20400. Which was a good deal from the ones I was finding. The acceleration didn't seem that fast ok it was fast but I think my wife's 08 maxima is faster...maybe not on paper but it does lay me in my seat more. It also road about the same as the max, she has the sport pack. I don't want to start a fight about how the 330 can spank a maxima it's just what I felt. I test drove a 2010 535 and that thing was fast and I didn't even know when I looked down I was going 80 in a 60. So I'm still on the hunt for a BMW I guess I can cross 330 of the list and look for a 335 to test. I was looking for the reliability of the 330 with some speed. The back seat was also a little cramped for the little guys in the back, they got to come with this time. The wife really like the bimmer also so that's a plus. I was just wondering what you guys thought I should do? I can only assume
the 335 is as fast or faster than the 535 I drove. Is the backseat any bigger
On the 335 vs the 330 I also felt a little cramped 6'1 220#s. Thanks for
your help sorry the post is so long. I would also like to stay around the low 20's so I can get a warranty.

[Denny347]

I've never driven a 5 series. I have owned a 5.0 Mustang that I drag raced and a Passat Vr6 and my POS "company car" 2011 Crown Vic. None of them were as fast as my 330i. My 5.0 was close, it had more low-end torque. However, that 3l is SO smooth from stop through highway speeds. It is plenty fast to satisfy my need for speed.

[issabmw]

The 335 will "feel" fast no doubt about it. You really gotta wind up the 330 to get that punch. Assuming this was a test drive, you probably didn't push the 330 out of courtesy. On a regular drive, the 335s torque, no doubt, is extremely useful down low, as there is tons of it. The 330 is an NA machine, that's for sure, but offers the properties of just that: an NA motor.

Originally Posted by Denny347

I've never driven a 5 series. I have owned a 5.0 Mustang that I drag raced and a Passat Vr6 and my POS "company car" 2011 Crown Vic. None of them were as fast as my 330i. My 5.0 was close, it had more low-end torque. However, that 3l is SO smooth from stop through highway speeds. It is plenty fast to satisfy my need for speed.

Yes that inline 6 is butter smooth, and winding it up always puts a grin on my face from ear to ear. For reference, a motor of similar performance, the VQ35 is quite brash at top end.

[Foreman05]

I will have to agree that the 330 was fast especially from 60 to 80 oops. I did get it up to 6000 rpm from a stop sign and that thing sounded sweet. Your right I only drove it about 5 miles and don't like beating on a car that isn't mine especially when it just came in off of trade a couple of days before. I do have to give the salesman props he seen me pull in and went to get the keys, cooled it off and told me he would see me later, not something I was expecting. Maybe I was just expecting to much from the car. Question about logic7 the music sounded great but I thought it would have more bass with 2 subs, I looked at the eq the bass was at 8, I didnt mess with it to see how high the bass went. I put alpine 6.5's in all 4 doors and two 8" subs under the back seat of my truck and that thing pounds and is loud and clear. By no means am I complaining about this car I still want one and soon will have some sort of BMW, they just look to damn good. Thanks again for the replys.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by Foreman05

I will have to agree that the 330 was fast especially from 60 to 80 oops. I did get it up to 6000 rpm from a stop sign and that thing sounded sweet. Your right I only drove it about 5 miles and don't like beating on a car that isn't mine especially when it just came in off of trade a couple of days before. I do have to give the salesman props he seen me pull in and went to get the keys, cooled it off and told me he would see me later, not something I was expecting. Maybe I was just expecting to much from the car. Question about logic7 the music sounded great but I thought it would have more bass with 2 subs, I looked at the eq the bass was at 8, I didnt mess with it to see how high the bass went. I put alpine 6.5's in all 4 doors and two 8" subs under the back seat of my truck and that thing pounds and is loud and clear. By no means am I complaining about this car I still want one and soon will have some sort of BMW, they just look to damn good. Thanks again for the replys.

BMWs are known to lack low end bass. I have my underseats externally amped and a trunk sub.

[Volasko]

Expectations are the first step to disappointment. The 330i only has 255 HP, but its a very buttery smooth power delivery, but not much torque. You really need to ring it out to feel the power. If you want that punch in the seat of your pants power delivery you need to try the 335.

[username604]

It's a $20,000. Go test drive a new civic and tell me how much power that has LOL.
Seriously though, you haven't even taken the car up to redline and you're complaining that it's slow. Then again, hey maybe a maxima's just right. And i'm sure you wife likes the name BMW more than she likes the car.

-i'm tired, so allow me to apologize for everything i just said above, especially the wife joke.

[Foreman05]

That's funny you mentioned buttery smooth... That's how I described the 535 to my wife when she asked how it was, I told her it felt like I was driving butter. In a good way I did notice that once I pressed the gas I had to push it down about 1/4 of an inch before I moved On the 330 is that normal? The dealer said he could get me a NAC warranty for about 2200 does that sound right? I think he said 4 year 100k from the purchase date. Do you think that would be around the same price for the 335? I know there has been a lot of talk about warranties, sorry.

[Foreman05]

Originally Posted by davidkneiber

It's a $20,000. Go test drive a new civic and tell me how much power that has LOL.
Seriously though, you haven't even taken the car up to redline and you're complaining that it's slow. Then again, hey maybe a maxima's just right. And i'm sure you wife likes the name BMW more than she likes the car.

-i'm tired, so allow me to apologize for everything i just said above, especially the wife joke.

No worries, It took me a lot of convincing for my wife to ok the BMW. She thinks it's a status car and didn't want me to get one. I would have to agree to a point, but I just think there bad a**.

[ItsmeX5]

i just bought an 06 330 yesterday 67k miles...love it! ive had a 1999 clk 320, 2001 330ci, and 2004 525i this 330 is def fastest yet...

[bob.g]

there's a lag when you tap on the gas that makes it feel sluggish off the line, which you can fix using a bms powerbox for about 280$. Not that ive ever test driven a 330 but from what i recall that dead zone on the pedal is on all the na 3 models.

[me90]

OP didn't mention if the car was auto or not. If it was auto, did you put it in sport mode? Night and day difference if you want to feel it.

[Gravy]

Originally Posted by *********

BMWs are known to lack low end bass. I have my underseats externally amped and a trunk sub.

sorry for ot but i was jw how did you externaly amp the underseats, wattage, and did you get the input to the new amp from the output wires from the oem one that were going to the underseats? Do they distort?

[Foreman05]

The car was an auto, I didn't put it in sport mode didn't know it had it/ didn't see a button. There were no pics on that site to see your car but it is out of my price range. That brings up a good point though, why are most of the 06 330i the same price as 07 08 335i's? Maybe because they only made them in that style for 1 year? Thanks again guys.

[JulieDriving]

You need to drive it in sport mode. Push lever to left. Called DS mode. Much better but will use more gas.

Originally Posted by Rekla

Whatever you do, I would stay away from 2007 335i's. Their engines are (over) sensitive and may be equipped with the sluggissh GM automatic transmissions.

The 328i autos have a GM-sourced transmission. The 335i's have a ZF transmission.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by Gravy

sorry for ot but i was jw how did you externaly amp the underseats, wattage, and did you get the input to the new amp from the output wires from the oem one that were going to the underseats? Do they distort?

lol tread jack.

Right now, they aren't amp'd "properly." I have them at 8ohms 75W per channel using an Alpine M500.

I didn't want to risk running them at 250W at 2 ohms....tooooooo easy to blow them.

But they sound better because they are band passed so they don't really bottom out at all like they do when you have them running 150Hz down to about 30hz or so.

And I can adjust the output separately via gain on the M500 so it gives me a bit more flexibility.

I mainly did it so I can band pass them....150Hz to 65Hz, 24dB slope. I have my trunk sub low passed at 65Hz with a 12dB slope.

[Volasko]

^^
Speaking of thread Jacked......

[Foreman05]

Your car is clean I like it same car I drove minus nav and cold weather. Is the idrive as bad as some say? I like cool toys even if it takes some time getting use to.

[IllLojik]

Originally Posted by Foreman05

The back seat was also a little cramped for the little guys in the back, they got to come with this time. .

You've got to think about what's your priority with getting this. Are you looking for space for the lil guys? At 6'3, yeah the backseat passengers get no love behind me. You may want to forgo the 3 series all together then and look at the 5 series. 535 perhaps. Or even an a last gen 545/550 if maximum grunt and go is that important.

[Foreman05]

The 5 series is sweet, I love the interior and the fact that every 5 Ive looked at have idrive and those sweet pillow headrests. There is just something about the exterior that I don't like as much as the 3 series. Maybe cause the're a little longer I'm not sure, the hood does seem really long. Dumb question, does the 535 have the same hpfp issue? From what I gather they have the same engine right? I by no means have to go 0-100 faster than everyone else but it is fun every now and then.

[Licit]

Originally Posted by IllLojik

You've got to think about what's your priority with getting this. Are you looking for space for the lil guys? At 6'3, yeah the backseat passengers get no love behind me. You may want to forgo the 3 series all together then and look at the 5 series. 535 perhaps. Or even an a last gen 545/550 if maximum grunt and go is that important.

OP mentioned 535 wasn't a choice after driving it. OP you saved yourself the dilemma I ended up in where I bought a 330xi in March and then a 335xi this month. Now I have to sell the 330xi and am not getting much response. I can make the payments fine but with a newer 335xi I don't want to drive the 330xi at all. I thought the NA 255hp was going to be enough. But with a hemi 300C and an ls3 vette in my garage as well it just was too weak for spirited driving like I am used to. The 335 cured that problem, it pulls comparably to the hemi which is near 380 crank hp. It is so much lighter and well balanced than any sedan I have driven previously.

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by Gravy

sorry for ot but i was jw how did you externaly amp the underseats, wattage, and did you get the input to the new amp from the output wires from the oem one that were going to the underseats? Do they distort?

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