[alinnes]

Am looking to get 330d M Sport (poss SE) Touring. Test drove one yesterday with auto box and the guy at the dealer was very adamant that I should only consider this car with auto.

Any views please - personally I quite like manuals.

Would also be interested to know what kind of average mpg (UK) I could get from 330d with either auto or manual.

Thanks

Al

[SRT]

Hey Al

Nice choice of car - your looking at around 53mpg on the motorways, but according to the BMW website, the automatic gives 'only' 46mpg, I'm guessing that's because of the extra 15kg for the auto

Urban says 31mpg manual, 27mpg auto

I have never driven an Auto BMW, but many say it's better than the manual and less strain on the human senses when driving - I really don't know if insurance is cheaper or not, or if you would feel the difference in fuel economy

Hope I was helpful

[stressdoc]

Great car either way. Hopefully the diesel owners will chime in, but from my limited experience, the auto is well suited to the low end torque.

[chrisbin]

I'd choose auto, given the choice....however, it'll up your CO2 emissions so if its a company car then you'll pay more.....which is why my 320 is a manual....

[LEDZEP]

Auto vs. Manual is really a 'drivers' choice. If you prefer the manual and have no practical reasons why you would need the auto then you should get the manual. I chose auto because during my commuting I encounter heavy stop and go traffic and don't like the constant clutching... otherwise I would have considered the manual as well.

Either way, good luck with your choice and enjoy!

[Red Shift]

Auto suits the engines character. Also the worst aspect of diesels is dropping off the power/torque band as you increase the revs, with the auto it's never an issue. I had a manual E60 530d to reduce the CO2 tax, kept it for 5 weeks...enough said.

[ffej]

Originally Posted by alinnes

dealer was very adamant that I should only consider this car with auto.

My guess is that he's trying to get rid of stock on hand and he only has an auto. The only thing I don't like about my wagon is that it only has two pedals. Even more than the huge power (71hp) difference between my wife's e90 330i and my e46 325i.

My advice would be...get the car that YOU want. Not what the dealer is pushing.

[JonMad]

I'd go with these comments

it'll up your CO2 emissions so if its a company car then you'll pay more.....which is why my 320 is a manual....

and

Auto vs. Manual is really a 'drivers' choice.

which is why I chose a manual. I test drove a 325i auto and the manual mode downshifts were nice but the gearbox not to my tastes otherwise.

I like the manual because, from a driving enthusiast point of view...
- My previous two cars had a 6 speed manual box, after an auto (E30 BMW) before that.
- I want to learn about the performance of the car, how it may or may not tail off at high revs, how it may need a certain number of revs to accelerate cleaning and quickly, and from that learning to then have the choice of driving how I want to, based on my knowledge of how the car will react.
- From limited testing so far it allows heel and toe nicely, with a quick (though very quiet) 'blip'

And also because
- It's more economical because there's no torque converter (I think it'd be down to this, rather than a little extra weight)
- Given the torque and very long gearing you don't need to change gear much in traffic anyway. A 330d will be even better for this than the 320.

Also the worst aspect of diesels is dropping off the power/torque band as you increase the revs, with the auto it's never an issue

Yes, but this is part of the learning process I've certainly hit the rev limiter and it didn't seem to let up before getting there

Jon

[Red Shift]

Must be getting old as I jut can't be bothered with clutches these days. I would accept that a manual is utimately more drivable in a sports car but would prefer an auto in a sporting car. The main reason I sold my E39 M5 was the manual box in day-to-day use, swapped it for a 540 auto.

[JonMad]

swapped it for a 540 auto.

lol my E34 540 had a 6 speed manual. Fairly rare, and amazingly the e90 2.0d is higher geared!

M5.. *drool*

[Red Shift]

.....that's torque for you

[thebigman]

Are you buying or leasing?

I test drove a 330d M Sport E91 Manual, it had a few options which helped the price reach some £35K. I would have thought from a resale perspective if you are buying, the auto would be mandatory on a car of this value.

Whatever you choose it is a cracking engine.

[JBOO]

Originally Posted by Red Shift

Auto suits the engines character.

I think this is the reason the dealer recommended getting an automatic, not because he was trying to unload one on you or make a few extra bucks. Automatics are preferred with diesels because of the engine characteristics. I went through the same dilemma about a year ago when looking at a 525d or 530d manual. I chose a 535d instead, so I didn't have the option ... automatic only.

My wife has a VW 1.9 diesel with a manual. It's not bad, but then again, we don't really rev it much higher than 3-4K. Sometimes I think we should have gotten the auto.

[sirees01]

I just picked up my 330d MSport Tourer today.
It has an Auto box & is as sweet as a nut, I had a loaner 330d Sport Manual as a test car while making my mind up.
The Manual clutch felt heavy to me, my left peg was aching after driving it for a day.
I am so happy I went with the Auto.

Test drive both back to back & go with what your heart tells you.

Best of luck, I know how difficult it can be to choose configuration on a new car. I tend to change my mind on several occasions.

[stressdoc]

Further comment: the 330dT is the only E90 that I would even consider an auto for. I am a died in the wool manual fan, but the 330d and steptronic really seem made for each other. My only concern would be the $. When will the 335d be released in the UK? That might be worth waiting on.

[sirees01]

but you can wait forever live for today as tomorrow may never come.

[BMW0]

E91 330d M Sport - auto or manual

Ofcourse you should get a manual transmission and make the car a real M Sport! This is one of those threads that needs a poll to help you decide alinnes.

[turbo]

For a gasoline engine I would have chosen MT everytime.

For the dieselburners I would have chosen AT everytime because of the high mid-range torque that suddenly dies out at just above 4500 rpm.

It also feels easier to keep the engine on the boil with AT, as it will always keep turbo pressure up during the shifts. It is possible to do this with powershifting on a MT also, but with 500 NM at hand you will kill your clutch in no time at all.

[Monteverdi]

Al,

Don't think twice. Make it an auto. I went from a 320d 5sp touring to a 330d Auto Msport Touring. It is an outstanding car. The box matches the torque perfectly. With a low reving diesel a manual box does not add to the experience and the 330d has so much torque that you would probably drive everywhere in top gear anyway.

Incidently - My dealer also said he would only buy a 330d in Auto.

[cfalzon]

hi Monteverdi. ordered my 330D M sport package auto/step delivery end March. Is it true that suspension is much harderwith M package? it is my first BMW always had Merc before. What's your personal opinion please? All comments much appreciated. Thanks

[Monteverdi]

I don't find the suspension too hard with the Msport package. It can be a touch rumbly over rough roads at low speed. Generally it just feels firm and well damped. Depends of course on the quality of roads in Malta.

[Paul330d]

When I testdrove the dealer's demo 330d manual, I found the gear change ok (better than my e39 530d manual), but it's still a long throw, even with the stubby //M knob, and the clutch is quite heavy. I was really on a tight budget, but decided to go the extra mile and order the expensive Steptronic 'box, as I always regretted it on the 530d and, as I have a Golf DSG at the moment, reckoned I would find it hard going back to a manual. I know it's costly, but you should get a lot of the money back when you come to sell the car (unlike with many other options) and the extra comfort will be worth it, IMHO.