2010 BMW 330D Links
The Range | Photo Gallery | News & Reviews | Cars for Sale
Times are changing and so is BMW. Now with Australian luxury car buyers increasingly looking for diesel power, the German great has introduced a sporty six-cylinder turbo-diesel version of its elegant 3-Series Coupe.
With BMW’s abundant luxury inclusions and 6.2l/100kms fuel consumption, the 330d is right for today.
And it’s a BMW, so high performance and pin-sharp cornering are naturals.
What You Get
The 330d and four-cylinder 320d are the first diesel-powered BMW coupes.
Typically BMW they arrived bristling with the latest technologies to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. BMW calls this program EfficientDynamics and it includes Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering and common rail high-pressure direct fuel injection.
The entry-level 320d Coupe is priced at $67,500 while the 330d as tested by Car Showroom is stickered at $94,050.
Arrival of the 330d in the Car Showroom garage brought admiration from our female colleagues who instantly fell in love with the beautiful styling and sumptuous interior while the boys were impressed with the hearty V6 turbo-diesel and breathtaking technology.
This elegant, sophisticated high performance coupe is about as far removed as you can get from yesterday’s old dirty, smelly diesel clunkers. The tragedy is that in many Australian cities and country towns you still have to head to the diesel fuel pump used by big rig truckers…surely this will change soon.
Under The Hood
Not surprisingly from one of Europe’s automotive greats, BMW’s straight six-cylinder 3.0-litre turbo-diesel is at the cutting edge of diesel technology. It features an aluminium crankcase, variable geometry turbocharger and common rail direct fuel injection with piezo-injectors delivering fuel at up to 1,800 bar of pressure.
Delivering 180kW of power at 4,000 rpm and 520Nm of torque between 1,750 rpm and 3,000 rpm, it propels the 330d from zero to 100km/h in just 6.1 seconds. Audi’s 3.0l TDI A5 Coupe (176kW/500Nm) is just shaded by the 300d.
Drive is to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual mode.
The Interior
Inside, the 330d shares its specifications with the range-topping 335i Coupe – and that means it’s got the lot, starting with beautiful Dakota leather for the four individual seats (the rears separated by their own center console). Our test car was fitted with the standard high gloss black trim, but you can choose between three wood types or aluminium for no extra cost.
The front seats adjust electronically and come with the automatic ‘Seat Belt Handover’ belt guide system. Combine those seats with the superb, thick, leather wrapped sports steering wheel (adjustable for rake and reach) and the driving position is top-shelf.
BMW’s version of steering wheel paddle shifters is stunning. Behind the wheel spokes are paddles for upshifting while downshifts are handled by nicely machined and curved buttons on top of the spokes – it’s Formula One style gear changes for every day driving.
Rear seats are superb although – typical in this segment – access and legroom in the rear is tight. The seats split fold for extra luggage – fortunate because the boot space isn’t large.
330d comes with BMW’s 10-speaker, in-dash six-CD HiFi audio system with MP3 and auxiliary input. A 6.5-inch colour monitor is centrally counted on the dashboard.
Instrumentation is typical BMW with conventional dials superbly presented and the revised i-Drive controller on the center console.
Exterior & Styling
Without a doubt the latest 3-Series is one of the best-looking coupes – ever! Not surprising when you start with the glorious 3-Series sedan.
Naturally the front features BMW’s wide, kidney grille and excellent adaptive bi-xenon headlights.
At the side are elegantly curved windows and a sharp crease running from behind the front wheels to the rear lights.
The rear is superbly proportioned, elegantly curved and the twin tailpipes emerging from the under-bumper diffuser add a sporty touch.
The 300d runs 17-inch alloy wheels, eight inches wide at the front and 8.5 inches wide at the rear.
On The Road
Underneath, the 300d features BMW’s double joint spring-strut front suspension with a five-link rear design. Combine that with the nicely weighted electric power steering and the result is superb ride and handling.
Response from the six-cylinder turbo-diesel is sharp and over our high-speed mountain roads test loop the 330d was a delight. We drove in full auto mode and also in manual mode and those standout paddle shifters manipulated the six-speed transmission just as you like.
It’s a diesel so you don’t need to rev it hard to get maximum performance, but even at the upper end of the rev range, the 330d was refined with a purposeful growl from the exhaust.
Around town, the trademark firmness of the suspension was taut and precise but not uncomfortable even over Melbourne’s tram and train track crossings. And negotiating our tight city car park was no problem thanks to park distance control – a feature all manufacturers should make standard.
Challenges
We love the styling of the 3-Series Coupe but we just wonder if BMW’s stylists could have done just as good a job but also provided some more boot space.
Verdict
Unquestionably BMW has succeeded in delivering one of the very best sports/luxury European coupes. Its style, performance and on-road dynamics are amongst the very best…and the same does for that glorious 3.0-litre turbo-diesel.
The Competition
If you’re shopping in this segment, you’ll also be thinking Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and Audi A5 – it’s a toss of the coin, individual offers from dealers and the suitability of the various interiors that would sway the vote. Tough choice there.
Likes
Beautiful style; superb engine; great to drive
Dislikes
Limited boot capacity
2010 BMW 330D Links
The Range | Photo Gallery | News & Reviews | Cars for Sale
BMW 330D Photos
