[crazybones]

I've just ordered a manual 330D as a replacement for my 325 e90. I didn't want the auto box, but see that several people have a strong preference for the auto over the manual in the 330D due to the engine characteristics. Is anybody on this board driving the manual 330D and how do you find the car?

[Paul330d]

Most members on this forum are Americans and we all know how much they like auto boxes... I drove the manual but ordered an auto 330d, because I found the throw of the gearstick too long and the gearchange overall was quite heavy. I always regretted not having chosen the auto on my old e39 530d and, as I will be Upsoluting my 330d once it's run in, I thought the Steptronic 'box would be better able to handle the 560Nm of torque!

[jcoo085]

This is a direct copy from a thread where I compared the 320d steptronic and manual. My 320d steptronic was in the shop having some work done, and they gave me a manual 320d for 2 days. I know it's not a 330d, but I think the principles are roughly the same.

To get to the point, they gave me an E90 320d manual as a loaner. After the novelty wore off, I'm still glad I chose the steptronic for a couple of reasons.

1: In city traffic I found I was constantly shifting between 2nd and 3rd. Sometimes 4th if I was lucky. The steptronic is much more relaxing for obvious reasons. Although maybe I'm just getting lazy.

2: Fuel consumption. I found that the fuel consumption was much higher (10.2L/100km for the manual vs 8.9L/100km). I think this is due to the fact that the manual gives me a heavier foot. The BMW 6-speed encourages revving.

3: In my case, I found the steptronic to be a little faster off the mark than the manual because you can just plant your foot and go. Although someone who has been driving the 6-speed for a while would of course be faster because they know their gearing.

What I like about the manual: Absolutely everything! If my driving wasn't 90% city I would have gotten it in a heartbeat! Gear changes are smooth, there's no gate vagueness, clutch engagement is effortless, and rev matching is extremely easy (I was able to do it about 80% of the time)

What I like about the steptronic: Absolutely everything! Effortless city driving, shifts smoothly, gives me lower consumption (because I'm a little lighter on the pedal), and I can still change gears when I want.

Note: I am in no way criticising either transmission. I'm simply making a comparison from my own experiences. Both transmissions are fantastic and the choice depends on whatever you like more.

[Paul330d]

I can't help but feel that if the Steptronic were a no-cost option, a lot more people would go for it. Certainly the only reason I heistated was the expense.

[- Paul -]

Originally Posted by crazybones

I've just ordered a manual 330D as a replacement for my 325 e90. I didn't want the auto box, but see that several people have a strong preference for the auto over the manual in the 330D due to the engine characteristics. Is anybody on this board driving the manual 330D and how do you find the car?

What kind of deal did you get trading the 325?. I'm thinking of trading my 320D for a 330D. Then chipping it

[stressdoc]

There is a long thread on this somewhere. The key points involve the power curve of the diesel compared to the petrol engine. The manual is well suited to the high revving petrol, whereas the step is well suited to the broader, less peaky diesel. It is fun and useful to shift around in the petrol, but less so in a diesel. I am a strong advocate of the BMW 6-speed manual, but if I could get a 330d, I think I would opt for the step, even with the cost.

[jcoo085]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

There is a long thread on this somewhere. The key points involve the power curve of the diesel compared to the petrol engine. The manual is well suited to the high revving petrol, whereas the step is well suited to the broader, less peaky diesel. It is fun and useful to shift around in the petrol, but less so in a diesel. I am a strong advocate of the BMW 6-speed manual, but if I could get a 330d, I think I would opt for the step, even with the cost.

My thoughts exactly. I love driving a petrol 6-speed E90. I was given a 325i manual as a loaner when they were doing my winter tyres and it was a lot of fun! Nevertheless, I found the diesels manual was just as fun in the beginning, but after the novelty wore of it became a bit tedious in city driving.

[Paul330d]

Because diesels produce so much more torque than equivalent petrol engines, the gearboxes have to be cast in concrete to take the strain and this is why manually changing gear in a big diesel becomes tiring after a while.

My second car is a petrol Fiat Panda 4x4 (if you have no idea what this is, see picture below): it's great for mucking around in the forest and I can change gear with one finger, but the 330d engine would snap that gearbox & drivetrain in an instant

[crazybones]

Thank you for the responses.

Whilst I am concious of the vast amount of torque being transmitted through the manual gearbox, I would assume that BMW have designed the box with this in mind. My main concern surrounds the characteristics of the diesel engine in relation to a manual gearbox and would be interested to hear from anybody with a manual E90 330D.

I prefer the manual because of the driving experience and the improved economy, although I note your comments jcoo085 and also can suffer from a lead foot at times! The short gearchange doesn't worry me - I was used to that on my E46 M-Sport.

The trade in deal for my 325 (will be 11 months old with 19K on the clock) was very good (£21K) and I received a sizeable discount on the 330D. As my 325 will shortly need its first service, rear tyres and annual road tax, I'm very happy

[jcoo085]

Originally Posted by crazybones

Thank you for the responses.

Whilst I am concious of the vast amount of torque being transmitted through the manual gearbox, I would assume that BMW have designed the box with this in mind. My main concern surrounds the characteristics of the diesel engine in relation to a manual gearbox and would be interested to hear from anybody with a manual E90 330D.

I prefer the manual because of the driving experience and the improved economy, although I note your comments jcoo085 and also can suffer from a lead foot at times! The short gearchange doesn't worry me - I was used to that on my E46 M-Sport.

BMW engineer their gearboxes to withstand the torque generated by the diesels. They would be stupid not to.

What is your dealer like with test drives? My dealer let me do a weekend test drive (picked up Friday afternoon and returned on Monday morning). I was already set on the steptronic, but I test drove the manual the day before just out of interest (but I can't remember it, so the manual loaner was a good refresher). Ask your dealer about the possibility of doing a back-to-back overnight test drive (ie, pick up in the evening and return it the next evening) so you can give both a try without distraction on your daily commute.

If not, at least get them to arrange a test drive of both in 1 day with enough time to cover the same sort of roads you would encounter most of the time.

[thebigman]

I find the manual in the 320d to be just the same as the 330d. I prefer a manual, however, if I had to do a lot of city driving I can imagine the auto makes a lot of sense.

The Panda 4x4 is a 'super' car.

[Paul330d]

Originally Posted by crazybones

Whilst I am concious of the vast amount of torque being transmitted through the manual gearbox, I would assume that BMW have designed the box with this in mind.

That's exactly my point: BMW diesel gearboxes have to be so strong to withstand the strain that they're (relatively) difficult to shift. That's why I prefer to let the car do all the work.

[Broken1]

I have the 320d manual.

On the highway, it's excellent - having that control is pure fun, especially when you want to do some "spirited driving".

In the 2nd week I had my car, I drove through a residential area, with alot of mini-cirlces and roundabouts. I was constantly shifting between 1st, 2nd and 3rd - it became very tiresome and if I had to do that drive often I would definately have had to take the auto-box.

Luckily for me, most of my driving is on big roads - with fairly wide spaces between robots - and the traffic isn't TOO bad when I goto varsity.

If you drive normally, the short rev range isn't really a problem. Most poeple who drive petrol cars in normal commute don't rev over 400rpm anyways...

I didn't ever feel a difference between the petrol 325i I drove gearbox and the 320d gearbox...

[Hula-Hula]

I felt that the manual Diesel (320d) is alot more fun than the automatic.. most coz of the feeling in the engine.. it doesnt feel like its going fast with a automatic but boy it does! And in the 325i.. man that car just screams: GIMMIE MANUAL!! Oh well thats just my 2 cent

[davinet78]

manual forever

[JonMad]

IMO the fun and faster throttle response from having the manual outweighs any tedium of having to change gear a lot in the city.

If you're talking about creeping along in a stop-start tailback, then the car (320d anyway, not driven a 330d) will creep along in third at about 15mph and with decent clutch control you can probably pull away in 2nd or 3rd without using the accelerator and bumble along in slow traffic. And 3rd is good for, what, 80ish?, so you don't need to change gear that much.

If you drive normally, the short rev range isn't really a problem. Most poeple who drive petrol cars in normal commute don't rev over 400rpm anyways...

very good point.

Jon

[Robin_NL]

When the 335 (THREETHIRTYFIVE)D is due (272BHP?)I want to testdrive one and maybe buy one and chiptune it to 320BHP. OR wait for the 335(THREETHIRTYFIVE)I biturbo petrol and chip it too

Both autoboxes which I don't like but because of the resale the better choice...

Or SMG II,III,IV whatever

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by davinet78

manual forever

Arsenal forever
Rolling Stones Forever
Jim Morrison Forever
911 Forever

LOL

Get your point(same thoughts, but we are forced by marketing-idiots)

[Hula-Hula]

Originally Posted by Robin Hood

Arsenal forever
Rolling Stones Forever
Jim Morrison Forever
911 Forever

LOL

Get your point(same thoughts, but we are forced by marketing-idiots)

3-series 4-ever

[fakerlin]

[- Paul -]

I was doing 30mph in fifth gear quite happily yesterday. Diesels are very forgiving of which gear you are in!!

[- Paul -]

Originally Posted by crazybones

The trade in deal for my 325 (will be 11 months old with 19K on the clock) was very good (£21K) and I received a sizeable discount on the 330D. As my 325 will shortly need its first service, rear tyres and annual road tax, I'm very happy

That sounds a good deal too.