Comments on: BMW 330d Convertible Review & Road Test

By: Evan

Evan — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 05:32:31 +0000

Carl, enjoyed your review- it reflects my own enthusiasm about this amazing engine. I was looking at a 335i but at “normal” speeds it is just a little bland and uninspiring really. You may as well have a 320i for the jolly factor it allows: here in Perth you just can’t afford to inhabit the upper rev ranges of a 220kW twin turbo six for more than a few seconds without losing your car and/or licence, so unless you want to race the real life practicality’s not there.

Then I test drove the 330D. Or should I say 330 .
I have never smiled so wide when driving. It has that rarest of things these day: character. I love the gargly, growly exhaust note as it grunts through the shifts with a big shove in your back. Or burbles along sweetly- but knowing you have an insane 520Nm of torque to unleash whenever you feel like a laugh. Just like a big V8 but so much nicer. I couldn’t give a damn about the economy- for sheer fun the 330D beats the 335i by a wide margin at real-life driving speeds. People need to drive these things before they can have any idea what they’re missig out on.

I am getting one of these as soon as I can butter up the missus.

By: Shak

Shak — Sun, 30 May 2010 22:23:31 +0000

They were testing a mule with the 3.0 from BMW a while back, and also one from VM Motori, but then it mysteriously disappeared.

By: vehicle check

vehicle check — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:57:43 +0000

Finally I have found what I am looking for. I am a great fan of new cars. Any more cool information? Than you for posting: D

Thank you.

By: nickdl

nickdl — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:11:18 +0000

How does this compare with the 335i? That’s a brilliant engine as well.

By: ADLover

ADLover — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:15:49 +0000

Looks good, too good.
CA please provide video review like this car, or any diesel cars.

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:40:23 +0000

As a long time Mercedes owner, I’d say BMW have always had it over Mercedes and Audi as far as driving dynamics go.

You are deluding yourself if you think the Mercedes E coupes and Audi S coupes drive better than the BMW 3.

By: The Realist

The Realist — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:26:11 +0000

Great car – and eligible for the recent $75K LCT threshold too…

By: Karl Peskett

Karl Peskett — Thu, 27 May 2010 05:01:42 +0000

Devil666, the only way you sound like you’ll be convinced is to test drive them all. Steering feel on the Audi and Benz is numb – and that’s being kind.

Once you’ve done a test drive on them, please come back to me and let me know if you still disagree with me.

By: Devil666

Devil666 — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:58:27 +0000

As the owner of the late CLK cabrio, Benz has always had the upper hand with rear legroom. It’s about time the 3 series caught up, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the E Class cabrio best BMW again.

Furthermore, surely it is a contradiction to call out the Audi and Benz on soft tops when you immediately contrast their driving dynamics as not up to scratch? Admittedly I haven’t driven the new E, but the 335 was a heavy beast. Not to mention having that big heavy roof either over your head or hanging over the arse end of the car is terrible for the centre of gravity in both cases. This doesn’t smell right, and I’m not going to eat it.

By: Karl Peskett

Karl Peskett — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:55:13 +0000

Hey Fenno, you’re talking two completely different markets.

While no-one is going to argue the EOS is brilliant value for money, the 330d is twice the price, and as far as performance goes, it’s twice the car.