2009 BMW 330d Reviews

Diesel power is set to drive BMW sales further over the next few months. In the past five years since introducing oil-burning engines to its fleet in Australia the German brand has increased the proportion of diesel sales to 34 per cent.A number of new diesel BMW 1 and 3 Series models, including the first BMW diesel convertibles, will hit the market in December followed by a diesel 5 Series Gran Turismo in March and two diesel X1 models in April.BMW Australia product communications manager Tim James said he expected the proportion of diesel sales in the fleet would increase with the new models. The 1 Series is currently one-third diesel, but in December BMW will add the 118d hatch and convertible in six-speed auto and manual with prices starting from $42,170.The 118d Sports Hatch is the 2008 World Green Car of the Year with its two-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine developing 105kW of power, 300Nm of torque, but sipping fuel at 4.5 litres per kilometre and emitting 119g of CO2 per kilometre. It will feature in its twin-turbo format in the 123d hatch, coupe and convertible with prices starting at $50,790 and going up to $69,480.However, it does not attract the luxury car tax because the two-litre twin turbo's fuel economy is well below the 7L/100km requirement for exemption. Depending on the vehicle, it returns economy figures of 5.2 to 5.4L/100km while delivering 150KW and 400Nm. The single turbo two-litre diesel also arrives in the 320d Touring, Coupe and Convertible in December with prices from $61,500.The 3 Series Coupe and Convertible also get the three-litre diesel straight six used elsewhere in the fleet with prices from $91,900 and in the new 5 Series GT coming in March with prices starting from about $140,000.BMW's smallest SUV arrives in April in diesel guise only. The X1 xDrive20d uses the two-litre, four-cylinder diesel and the xDrive23d uses the twin-turbo engine. James said a 1.8 diesel engine was also being considered for the X1.Diesel penetration in BMW cars is highest in the 5 Series with almost 50 per cent now diesel and the 520d the volume seller, James said. It is followed by the 1 Series with one-third and the 3 Series with 17 per cent. James said diesel was even making inroads in the 7 Series. "The 730d was launched in June and already signs are it will become the volume model," he said.The car returns fuel economy figures of 7.2L/100km, but from this month, new production models will achieve 6.8L/100km and not attract the luxury car tax. James said this was already factored into the pricing, saving buyers $5000. BMW now has 21 cars with fuel economy less than 7L/100km.The X models have been the real winners for diesel. James said diesel represented 85 per cent of X3 sales and 80 per cent of X5 sales, while petrol was the most popular choice among X6 owners.Driving BMW supplied a 118d hatch, 123d hatch and convertible and 330d coupe for test through Bavaria last week. With a mix of autobahn, country road and tight village lane driving, each returned fuel economy figures on their on-board computers similar to official claims.At 200km/h on the autobahn, even the 118d three door (we will get the five-door) still felt like it had more to give, the diesels not only having low-end grunt but plenty of meat throughout the rev range.They are quiet, refined and have less idle clatter than is common among diesels. But it's the twin-turbo model that really stands out, sounding and feeling more like a petrol engine with its free revving and mid-to-top-end power. Handling is not adversely affected by the extra weight of the engines, although steering may be marginally heavier.The manual models feature auto stop-start which cuts the engine when it is stationary and in neutral, starting again when the clutch is pushed in. While this same function feels rough in the new X1 and Mini diesel, it feels much smoother here, maybe because of the engine positioning.James said the auto stop-start function had not yet been engineered for automatic transmissions, but they were working on it. The six-speed manual gearboxes feature well-chosen ratios, although first is a little short and sixth will be wasted in Australia where the highway maximum speed limit is 110km/h.NEW BMW DIESELS (From December)118d Sports Hatch (6-speed manual) $42,170118d Sports Hatch (6-speed steptronic auto) $44,370123d Sports Hatch (man) $50,790123d Sports Hatch (auto) $53,070123d Coupe (man) $57,900123d Coupe (auto) $60,180118d Convertible (man) $52,900118d Convertible (auto) $55,019123d Convertible (man) $67,200123d Convertible (auto) $69,480320d Executive Touring $61,500320d Coupe $67,500320d Convertible $80,400330d Coupe $91,900330d Convertible $104,850From March)530d Gran Turismo from about $140,000From April)X1 xDrive20d and xDrive23d from low $50,000s 

BMW's first turbodiesel six-cylinder 3-Series has arrived in Australia, boasting more grunt and a lower thirst than its German rivals. BMW Australia marketing general manager Tom Noble said the company believes its new-generation diesel offers three-fold benefits — high-performance, low consumption and low emissions.“The new BMW 330d Sedan gives our customers the opportunity to mix V8 engine performance with four-cylinder fuel economy, but at the same time delivering the tangible delights of our highly-acclaimed straight-six cylinder engines."“BMW in Australia has been selling increasing volumes of diesel vehicles each year. “Our customers really appreciate the benefits of high torque, low consumption engines — now we can offer a truly muscular diesel performance option in our most popular body style,” he said.EngineThe 330d, which starts from $87,250 thanks to tax concessions for its lower fuel consumption, is endowed with 520Nm of torque — more than the twin-turbo petrol 335i and the M3 — accompanied by 180kW of power. The new-generation alloy turbodiesel is also claiming a four-cylinder sized thirst of 6.8-litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 180g/km, but is also capable of reaching 100km/h in 6.2 seconds — less than a second slower than the 335i — with its top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h.Equipment The turbodiesel six competes with its petrol siblings on features as well — 17in alloys, upgraded brakes, leather trim, satellite navigation, bi-xenon headlights, a 10-speaker sound system, power-adjustable front seats, sports steering wheel with shift levers, cruise control, parking sensors front and rear and Bluetooth phone link.bbDriving First impressions of the car on Australian country roads were good, with only the tyres — in concert with the coarse-chip bitumen — providing any intrusive noise.The engine is smooth and quiet, delivering its outputs like a petrol engine and sounding much less like a diesel than the bulk of its forebears. Peak power of 180kW arrives at 4000rpm but it’s the 520Nm shove in the back from just above idle through to near the peak power arrival that makes the new diesel six so appealing.The 330d has civilised road manners, with a definite lean towards the handling side of the equation, but ride quality in the standard car is reasonable — anyone opting for the M-Sport package will really want to consider the ride, as experience suggests it's not really necessary.The alloy diesel powerplant is a little lighter than comparable diesels and its 1550kg kerb weight undercuts its less powerful, less frugal slower opposition. Fuel consumption during the launch drive through twisty, mountainous country remained respectable despite the engine being asked to work reasonably hard — the trip computer hovered around seven litres per 100km for the journey.The new-generation diesel 330d is an exceptionally quiet, comfortable cruiser that offers performance and economy that is difficult to ignore.BMW 330d Price: from $87,250Engine: three-litre 24-valve turbodiesel six-cylinder.Transmission: six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drivePower: 180kW @ 4000rpmTorque: 520Nm between 1750 & 3000rpmPerformance: 0-100km/h 6.2 seconds, top speed 250km/h (governed)Fuel consumption: 6.8 litres/100kmEmissions: 180g/kmRivals: Mercedes-Benz C320 CDI, from $95,956Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro, from $86,056.Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTD Ti, $62,990.Citroen C5 2.7 HDI, from $66,490.