BMW 330 - 2001 Review

Buying: I bought my car used certified at the end of 2003, and after more than 5 years, I still love it as much as I did the first day. The 330 inline 6 cylinder engine has the perfect blend of power, responsiveness, sound, and even gas mileage (at least on the highway). The low end pick-up is amazing, and the power curve is perfect for city driving. If you have the triptronic and want a little more zip, the 'sport' mode gives you almost an entirely different experience. In normal drive mode the car get's around 30 mpg highway (better than my fiance's 4 cyl car), but only about 20 in-city if you're lucky (depending on the mode it's in and your foot).

Handling: Handling is where this car shines. Acceleration is a breeze, and passing isn't a concern. I've clocked it unscientifically in the 6-7 second range for 0-60 times under the right conditions. In fact if you're too quick on the accelerator, the low end torque will snap your head back just enough to remind you it's got a great engine. The inline V-6 accelerates smoothly, and the engine note, especially first thing in the morning when it's cold, sounds like a well-tuned sports car.

With good tires the 330i corners better than any unmodified street car I've ever driven or ridden in. This is probably due to its nearly even weight distribution front to rear, combined with it's precise steering and even power application. Even in inclement weather (rain... and rain only!) the car handles really well.

Ride: As noted above my version of the car has the sport package. Therefore while the handling of the car is excellent, the ride is not quite as nice. It's a bit stiff, and my wife doesn't find the car too comfortable for long trips. I find that the multitude of seat adjustments (including what is surely a Nike shoe-inspired 'pump' lumbar support cushion that inflates) doesn't quite make the driving comfortable past the 3 or 4 hour mark. That said, we did drive the car accross the country with no major fatigue injuries, so it's can't be too bad.

Safety: The safety features of my 330i such as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) keep the car on the road and running straight. When accelerating, if one of the rear wheels tries to slip, DSC kicks in and retards power to the slipping wheel while providing power to the wheel with traction. When braking, the combination of ABS and DSC work together to pull the car back heading straight even if you veer off center. Even while braking in snow and ice (which I would NOT recommend driving the car in), while it's not easy to stop, the car keeps a straight line in a forward slide and doesn't pull one way or the other when the wheels are trying to lock up.

Where the car does *not* shine safety-wise is in snowy and icy conditions. With rear-wheel drive, in any little bit of snow the car barely moves as the DSC is constantly working to keep you going straight, the result being that neither wheel is allowed to turn, and you go nowhere. And with breaking in snow or ice, the greatness of the brakes in dry weather makes them that much more prone to locking on slick ice very easily. That said, in icey conditions, between the DSC and the ABS running almost continuously, it's nearly impossible to drive it. (I can only hope the http://www.viewpoints.com/BMW-330-2001-review-70921# '330ix' version fares better.)

Features: Other great features of this car besides the ride and handling are the Harmon Kardon sound system, the onboard computer with outside temperature (a relatively new feature when this car was new) and a current mile-per-gallon gauge that's fun to watch when you're trying to drive conservatively in a vain attempt to save gas (trust me, it's nearly impossible to keep the needle over 30 for an extended period).

Also, the car has an auto/manual Triptronic transmission, which is basically a mode where you can move the shift lever up and down to pretend your actions actually matter. It's fun, but not nearly as much fun as a real manual transmission. Where I find the Triptronic most useful actually is in coming down a hill. You can more precisely select the best gear to keep you off the brakes. The transmission does also have a 'Sport' mode, which really does add a little more fun by holding the RPM's out slightly longer.

Other Information

Milage: With good gas (premium only) and 93 octane I manage to get a relatively impressive 30-31 mpg. In the city I get a much less impressive 16-23 mpg, but I suppose it's all relative.

Reliability: While in general after 7 years my car has held up really well, it has had its share of service calls. While I've heard many things about what 'B-M-W' stands for, I'm pretty sure that the 'M' stands for 'Money'. Although no major engine mechanical things have broken, even minor repairs at the shop are costly. Probably the most costly repair depending on how you drive it is the regular brake jobs that are necessary. The brakes are high peformance, and they work well. Too well. Typically I go through pads every 10-15k miles for about $200 a change, and every second or third pad job is a full set of new rotors. At the dealer that's about $1 Million in reparis. At other shops, you can find it for around $600.

Conclusion

In general, while the car is getting on in years now, I still love the body style of my 330i as much as the day I got it. I remember when I first bought it, I got stares at intersections, and comments in parking lots about how nice the car is. And while those comments have slowed down, I still love walking up to the car (when it's clean); and from a distance thinking to myself 'wow, nice car'. Even now, I like it more than the newer versions that are out.

Basically, it's a great car, and as long as I can afford premium gas, and as long as I can avoid regular multi-thousand dollar repair bills, I plan to keep it as long as possible.

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