E90 325i/330i Test Drive

[BMouseW]

E90 325 is available for test drive from 28/05 and E90 330 is available today 03/06!!!

Ok, many have commented on the new look (tails lights, etc)… all this is aesthetic and subjective to individuals, so up to you…

Now to the standard specs… stating those items that are not available or non standard on E46 325i/330i

E90 325i/330i
0-100km/h – 7.7s/6.6s
218hp at 6500rpm, 250Nm from 2750-4250rpm / 258hp at 6600rpm, 300Nm from 2500-4000rpm
6 speed steptronic
DSC III (Brake Stand-by, Brake Drying, Start-off Assistant, Fading Compensation & Soft Stop)
iDrive
PDC rear (iDrive guiding system)
Wipers with rain sensor
Auto headlights
Runflat tyres and in-car indicators
Front white individual side indicators
Rear electric roller blinds
Navigation System Professional (GPS) & Sharkfin
Radio BMW Business (CD) with Aux-in
Car Telephone Preparation
Front/rear cup holders
A/C cooled holder for drinks
I think i saw an engine oil cooler at the bottom behind the radiator (Must verify)

Must have… Xenon lights (S$2424)
Good to have… Sport seats (S$2506), lumbar support (S$1129) and Sunroof

How to start the engine… insert the key into the spring catch slot below the start/stop button… step on brakes and press start/stop button… Engine and exhaust note on the E90 330 are music to my ears, just like the E46 330… btw, there is an option called comfort access like merc keyless go.

Test drove the E90 325i first, notice a slight jerk when auto shifts from first to second gear even at low rpms, E90 330i is only slightly smoother. The gearing on 330i first 3 gears is slightly higher than the 325i, the rest are the same… Shifts on higher gears are very, very smooth. Autobox drops 1 gear IMMEDIATELY on flooring, revs to 7000rpm easily… I LIKE!!! Steptronic shifts got a slight lag… SMG anyone? Sports mode holds the gear and did not upshift even when I hold the throttle for quite a while. Performance is within expectation, what a UDM should be.

Nice, good & firm grip on the standard sports leather steering wheel, both test cars have active steering ($5432 option), handling is as good as before but feels a bit lighter, don’t know if it is due to the active steering. U-turns can be done with less than 3/4 turn of the steering (actually reach full lock), not used to it.

Not much noise intrusion into the cabin except a nice humming, bassy exhaust note on the 330i while cruising. Comfortable ride on stock suspension, 330i which is on sport suspension setting ($1170 option) is also quite comfortable.

Finished… put to (P)ark, pull handbrake, open door, rev to hear ending melody, press start/stop button and PUSH key in to release catch… did I mention the new key is beautiful?


E90 325i is priced at S$175k and 330i is at S$203k. Price is still neg.

Special Mention, Ms. Rachel Yap – 9667 9337 from PML. She invited me to the 3 series launch and E90 320i test drive… Invited me immediately when the 325i test drive car is available and offered the 330i test drive too. Great service attitude! Put her HP in vibration mode and did not answer any calls while attending to me. If you intend to test drive and buy or just to test drive, jus call her for an appt. If you find her service good, do buy through her or recommend your friends… I highly recommend her due to her pleasant service and am not related to her or PML in any way.

Now must wake up early morning and go buy 4D on the test drive cars’ licence plate number…

[quiksilver]

Originally Posted by BMouseW

Now must wake up early morning and go buy 4D on the test drive cars’ licence plate number…

Is iDrive std on both cars? btw, wat is the test drive car #?

[Silver31]

other than the price and capacity(incl power n torque) difference, any other diiference which is noticeable? still trying to figure out which is more worth it...

[ED520]

nice review! will go test both when i can...

[eggz]

Originally Posted by Silver31

other than the price and capacity(incl power n torque) difference, any other diiference which is noticeable? still trying to figure out which is more worth it...

Don't think too much, just go for the 330i, you'll never regret it!

I mean, how can you argue with 258hp in a compact 4 door sedan, it's got to be awesome!

[L Armstrong]

Originally Posted by eggz

Don't think too much, just go for the 330i, you'll never regret it!

I mean, how can you argue with 258hp in a compact 4 door sedan, it's got to be awesome!

Ya, I can imagine that. But for S'pore context, don't you think that 218hp of the 325 is good enough? If I'm not wrong, the only diff. between the 325 and 330 is only the engine and of course that translates to a higher hp and torque. The others are all the same but you are paying like a S$20 over k premium. Correct me if I'm wrong. The 325 seems like a good enough car and I will definitely go for a test drive. Any comments anyone.

[Silver31]

Road tax and insurance also another factor which makes 325i more economical. If one got extra cash, then definitely 330i, won't go wrong.

[BMouseW]

Originally Posted by Silver31

other than the price and capacity(incl power n torque) difference, any other diiference which is noticeable? still trying to figure out which is more worth it...

Based on the quoted price before neg., difference is S$28k. 330i has Bigger Better Brakes (always welcomed), a wonderful engine/exhaust note and the silly grin of the driver inside one. LTA will be richer by S$748 per year.

My opinion is same as eggz... no regrets...

[TripleM]

Originally Posted by L Armstrong

Ya, I can imagine that. But for S'pore context, don't you think that 218hp of the 325 is good enough? If I'm not wrong, the only diff. between the 325 and 330 is only the engine and of course that translates to a higher hp and torque. The others are all the same but you are paying like a S$20 over k premium. Correct me if I'm wrong. The 325 seems like a good enough car and I will definitely go for a test drive. Any comments anyone.

If the budget only permits for 325, go for it...If can go higher, then skip 325 and go straight to 330. It's quite a big difference altogether as a package....

[T6]

I went down to PML yesterday. Didn't have a chance to do the actual testdrive due to shortage of time. The price is as per that quoted by MBouseW/Wee Hion. The price of the 320i has surprisingly dropped. So 320i is now $147k (OMV $42k), 325i is $175k (OMV est $50k) and 330i is $203k (OMV est $60k). The OMVs of the 325i and 330i are estimates coz non has been registered yet. Other than the engine, the specs of the 325i and the 330i are exactly the same. On paper, the 325i hits 100km/h in 7.7 secs which seems kinda slow. Alot of stuff are options which is disappointing. The options list is quite long and everything looks like a must have. So the ticket price of the 330i can easily go up by another $20k with options thrown in. And to pay $223 for a 330i, one can't help but also look real hard at the 530i. IMO, there is no doubts abt it. The 5 series are betta built. The way the doors close, how the rear light cluster looks are all so much betta, etc.

Now back to the 330i, whoever buys it is gonna take a serious hit. Even at the base price of $203k, and the fact that under the new PARF system, one can only get back 55% of the OMV of $60k, we are looking at yearly depreciation of $17k IF u drive it for 10 years. As most of us dun drive it for dat long, one can imagine the hit one will get if one is to let it go say 3 yrs down the road. The SE readily conceded that one can expect to lose $25k per year for the first few years.

So that is my field report on the price huh huh. If I have a budget of $200k, damn I might juz spend it on a Golf GTi or a Legacy Gt and use the spare cash to buy a used Jap convertible say Miata. The combined road tax of these 2 rides probably add up to that of the 330i. Decision decision decisions but test drive I still must