[E90330iS]

I was getting my oil changed yesterday. The dealer let me change after a year even though my car only has 8.4k miles. I received a 325i loaner with no options but an auto. The moment I sat in the car, the seats feel different and after driving for 20 mins my waist began to get sore and hurt! The power difference is really noticable. However, after driving for an hour, I began to get used to the power and it is actually not that bad! Good for you 325i owners! Anyhow, the point of my review is to help the people decide between a 325i sport or a 330i no sport. Sport package is a must!! Very good deal! :rocks:

[Asiann]

I think that with the little difference in hp you would be able to notice it that much. I agree that ZSP is a must though.

[Scarabeo]

Give me a break with the HP comparisons - with 100 octane gas (which is available here in Europe) I am sure that I will match HP with any 330 being driven in the US....anyway, isn't there a gas/oil crisis??...perhaps we should worry a little more about conservation...

[willpooted]

Originally Posted by E90330iS

Sport package is a must!!

I agree

[325Driver]

Originally Posted by Scarabeo

Give me a break with the HP comparisons - with 100 octane gas (which is available here in Europe) I am sure that I will match HP with any 330 being driven in the US....anyway, isn't there a gas/oil crisis??...perhaps we should worry a little more about conservation...

Forgive me if I am a little confused by your post. I take it you drive a 325 and you think because you have access to 100 octane vs. 93 octane that's going to net you 40 horsepower. If I am wrong feel free to correct me but that simply is not the case. Running a higher octane in a naturally aspirated car might free up another couple of horsepower but certainly not 40, more like 4 or 5 if that.

[volinder]

I've driven both, back to back!!! In fact the 330i I drove after the 325i didn't even have the sport package and I still found it better. While many claim there hardly any difference power wise between the two, I was trying to convince myself the same thing when I initially placed my deposit on a 325i. Then I finally came to my senses and changed that order to a 330i. In fact my sig is a picture of me after placing the call to the dealer to go from a 325i to a 330i . Sorry 325i owners, but I find the 325i inadequate, I barely find the 330i is even that fast.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Scarabeo

Give me a break with the HP comparisons - with 100 octane gas (which is available here in Europe) I am sure that I will match HP with any 330 being driven in the US....anyway, isn't there a gas/oil crisis??...perhaps we should worry a little more about conservation...

You forget that europe qoutes RON for Octane while the USA qutes PON ( which is [RON+Mon]/2 )

So your 100 Octane is only equivalent to about 95 Octane in the USA.

The 325i and even 330i doesnt benefit much from anyting above 98RON, since they usually run full timing advance with that RON at sea level. Any higer than sea level and the RON required for the full timing advance goes down.

So your standard Euro 325i makes nowhere near the power of a US 330i, even if they dont run the higest octane they get

[clutch09]

I just went from a 330xi to a 325i

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19193

I really agree with E90330iS with regard to the sport package

[volinder]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

You forget that europe qoutes RON for Octane while the USA qutes PON ( which is [RON+Mon]/2 )

So your 100 Octane is only equivalent to about 95 Octane in the USA.

The 325i and even 330i doesnt benefit much from anyting above 98RON, since they usually run full timing advance with that RON at sea level. Any higer than sea level and the RON required for the full timing advance goes down.

So your standard Euro 325i makes nowhere near the power of a US 330i, even if they dont run the higest octane they get

Ya, so take that European dude from Italy!!!

[325er]

Originally Posted by volinder

I've driven both, back to back!!! In fact the 330i I drove after the 325i didn't even have the sport package and I still found it better. While many claim there hardly any difference power wise between the two, I was trying to convince myself the same thing when I initially placed my deposit on a 325i. Then I finally came to my senses and changed that order to a 330i. In fact my sig is a picture of me after placing the call to the dealer to go from a 325i to a 330i . Sorry 325i owners, but I find the 325i inadequate, I barely find the 330i is even that fast.

Wow I didn't realize we were in the presence of greatness! You are so very power hungry my friend, you must be a professional driver who knows how to use and maximize every bit of it! May I recommend a Corvette Z06? I hope it is good enough for you.

No amount of power is "inadequate" it is the driver that is usually inadequate. How about taking a drive to Toronto and we'll take your 330 and my 325 over to Shannonville Race track. You'll never recover from the humiliation HRUNDI.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by 325Driver

Forgive me if I am a little confused by your post. I take it you drive a 325 and you think because you have access to 100 octane vs. 93 octane that's going to net you 40 horsepower. If I am wrong feel free to correct me but that simply is not the case. Running a higher octane in a naturally aspirated car might free up another couple of horsepower but certainly not 40, more like 4 or 5 if that.

More like 0 or 1...if it doesn't make the engine LESS efficient.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by 325er

Wow I didn't realize we were in the presence of greatness! You are so very power hungry my friend, you must be a professional driver who knows how to use and maximize every bit of it! May I recommend a Corvette Z06? I hope it is good enough for you.

No amount of power is "inadequate" it is the driver that is usually inadequate. How about taking a drive to Toronto and we'll take your 330 and my 325 over to Shannonville Race track. You'll never recover from the humiliation HRUNDI.

I don't know about that...I say it's subjective. What if the driver outgrows the car's power? It depends on the track too...

[MIKEYMIKE]

There's no such thing as adequate power, IMO.

To me no amount of power is EVER adequate.

[akhbhaat]

I've been driving around in an E60 M5 all weekend. It really only takes a couple hours to become accustomed to any level of power.

[325er]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

I don't know about that...I say it's subjective. What if the driver outgrows the car's power? It depends on the track too...

Good point, but how many GREAT drivers do you really know? I mean great drivers, not guys that think they're great...not many. Unless you are that good is it possible to outgrow a car's power?

I play guitar and I know guys that think they are good who go and upgrade to $2000 instruments. I know GREAT players who could make a $99 Walmart piece of firewood sound amazing and blow these other guys out of the water.

[volinder]

Originally Posted by 325er

Wow I didn't realize we were in the presence of greatness! You are so very power hungry my friend, you must be a professional driver who knows how to use and maximize every bit of it! May I recommend a Corvette Z06? I hope it is good enough for you.

No amount of power is "inadequate" it is the driver that is usually inadequate. How about taking a drive to Toronto and we'll take your 330 and my 325 over to Shannonville Race track. You'll never recover from the humiliation HRUNDI.

I hate to break it to you buddy, but I don't race my car on a race track. Secondly, I'm not power hungry, that's why I drive a 330i.

Talk about an inferiority complex

There's no point posting that you can beat me and my 330i only to make yourself feel better. Hate to tell you this man, but just cause you couldn't afford a 330i, don't make up bullshit to look cool!!!

[ska///235i]

whats with all this "my 330 is better then your 325"

everyone with a brain knows that the 330 is faster/has more hp than the 325

why ppl always make it sound like a Lexus 325 vs a BMW 330

[David328M-Sport]

Originally Posted by Scarabeo

with 100 octane gas (which is available here in Europe) I am sure that I will match HP with any 330 being driven in the US....

the only issue with 100 octane fuel such as Shell's optimax 100, is that the current e90 cars are not tuned to make the most of the top grade fuel.

the cars are tuned for a maximum of 98 RON (about 95 PON - in the US) fuel, and the ecu does not adjust the timing enough either.

i was most excited to learn about 100 ron fuel being available where i live. i tried it of course - for not less than 4 tankfulls and found that performance was not at all improved. in fact - and this may just be a seat of the pants thing, the 100 ron fuel seemed to impair the car's performance just a little compared to the 98 ron optimax.

i returned to 98 ron after the 4 100 ron fillups and have not looked back - much better performance from my 2.5 litre, 3 stage intake (european engine type) by using 98 ron.

now one would trust bmw to make futrue engines capable of maki use of 100 ron, which i'm sure they will - or may have already with the 335.

there is a difference in hp between the 325 and 330 and without meaning to be rude or nasty - end of story.

by the way, thanks for your observations 330is.

its amazing that some of our cars are already 1 year old.

[pmacino]

When I came off an Audi lease in March, I was car shopping, I was very open minded and looked at, and test drove, many cars; Mercs, Saab, Volvo, Audi, Acura, etc. I was looking for two things, best bang for the buck/value retention under $50k, and the car that I could see being "My car".

Luckily, I was able to test drive a 330i zsp, that the dealer had due to a client default after driving the 325i. (it didn't match the color/options I wanted though). I was amazed at the difference. They are both great cars, but the 330i does "hook up" bettter and the powerband is different. I'm sorry to say too, but there is a difference and not just in the price.

I think the 325 is great, but once you load it with xenon's, zsp, zpp, etc...you really might as well just buy the 330i and lose the detuned engine. You have to remember it's just not the horsepower difference between the 330/325..it's also the 3 stage manifold w/ the 330i etc...

Long story short, I bought the 330i, not a lease.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by David325Australia

the only issue with 100 octane fuel such as Shell's optimax 100, is that the current e90 cars are not tuned to make the most of the top grade fuel.

the cars are tuned for a maximum of 98 RON (about 95 PON - in the US) fuel, and the ecu does not adjust the timing enough either.

i was most excited to learn about 100 ron fuel being available where i live. i tried it of course - for not less than 4 tankfulls and found that performance was not at all improved. in fact - and this may just be a seat of the pants thing, the 100 ron fuel seemed to impair the car's performance just a little compared to the 98 ron optimax.

i returned to 98 ron after the 4 100 ron fillups and have not looked back - much better performance from my 2.5 litre, 3 stage intake (european engine type) by using 98 ron.

.

David, am I correct in saying your Shell optimax 100 is a ethanol blend fuel ( contains a lot of ethanol )

Therein lies the problem

Ethanol adds a lot to the Octane number, but its total releasable enery is less than the fuel they put it into. So the total energy availalble from each ignition in each cylinder is less than even 98 may be.

Thats why you didnt get good results, and even felt a slight degredation.


The thing thats needed is a high Octane fuel with no ethanol.
But as said it wouldnt make much difference in a 325i, but the Turbo 335i, now thats a different story

[tl_boy]

325i vs. 330i competition is stupid. Of course the 330i is going to be faster, it is tuned, and has a couple of intake/exhaust differences that result in 40 more hp. Thats not a small amount. For a 325i owner to state otherwise is pretty lame.

That being said, however, neither car is known for its speed. This is not an M3, and there are other cars in the 40-45k price range that will smoke the hell out of a 330i, so whats the point to argue either case? The 325i is good for 95% of the population in terms of speed, and for those that it isn't good enough for, the 330i isn't good enough either. Sorry.

You want a fast E90? Buy a stripped down 325i and wait till a supercharger or turbo kit comes out and do that. Once you start doing heavy mods, there won't be any point to getting a 330i to begin with.

[David328M-Sport]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

David, am I correct in saying your Shell optimax 100 is a ethanol blend fuel ( contains a lot of ethanol )

Therein lies the problem

Ethanol adds a lot to the Octane number, but its total releasable enery is less than the fuel they put it into. So the total energy availalble from each ignition in each cylinder is less than even 98 may be.

Thats why you didnt get good results, and even felt a slight degredation.


The thing thats needed is a high Octane fuel with no ethanol.
But as said it wouldnt make much difference in a 325i, but the Turbo 335i, now thats a different story

Hey Fleet,

The Optimax 100 does have 5% ethanol to "Boost" the octane rating to 100RON. So although it is not purley 100RON fuel, the ethanol component is not great but yes it is still there.

Before putting in the 100, I did contact my dealers service guy and although he cleared the way for me to try it, he did mention that the car would be around 5% worse off in terms of fuel economy (usage) due to the ethanol, which I understood.

Still, and I'm sure you will agree, even a pure (ethanol free) 100RON fuel would never boost a 98 RON tuned 325 E90 car to the 330 HP level, which was my point of my post - as was your original post, as was others as well.

Are you enjoying your 325? Do you still drive the V8?