[JamieA]

People who have been reading my LCI pricing thread will have seen that BMW plan to add the 330d to the range. The 330d will have 180kw and 520Nm (an upgrade from BMWs current single turbo 3.0d engine), and 0-100 in 6.2 seconds for the auto. Overseas press are positive in their reviews of this car, fuel economy on the UK website looks good at 8.0l/100k urban, highway 5.2l/100k, UK combined 6.2l/100k.

Today I received more info on the 330d... Apparently BMW Australia has told dealers that it is likely that Australian ordered 330d cars won't be built until April 09, meaning a June 09 delivery.

Having recently decided that a 330d may be a good way to go for me, I hope that the Luxury Car Tax changes allowing a higher threshold for cars with a combined cycle fuel economy of 7.0l/100k or less will cause BMW to re-think the timing, because looking at BMW's websites at the differences between the same engined models in the UK and Oz, the ADR combined figure may turn out to be something like 6.8l/100k which will be under the 7.0l/100k benchmark. So at the new 33% rate, the difference in tax between the $75k and $57k LCT threshold levels works out to be about $6k - quite a handy saving - you can see BMW's line from the 520d working here - "Diesel is indeed economical"...

Anyway, I decided to check out the "opposition" in relation to both the 7.0l/100k benchmark, and their respective diesel offerings...

Mercedes Benz - Only the C220CDI has combined fuel economy lower than 7l/100k (it is 6.7l/100k). The C200k is over, and the C320CDI is 7.4l/100k. None of these vehicles offer the 0-100 performance of the BMWs

Audi - The A4 2.0TDI (4 cylinder 0-100 in 9.4s, 5.8l/100k) and the A4 2.7TDI (6 cyl engine 40kw and 120Nm short of the BMW 3.0d engine, 0-100 in 7.7s, 6.6l/100k)

So it appears that in the diesel stakes, the 330d is going to cream the opposition, and the likely ADR fuel economy figure will certainly give BMW the advantage to play more with price because of the associated LCT outcome... it will be very interesting to see how this section of the market hots up, and whether or not BMW Australia now decide to try and land the car here sooner.

[Chris.G]

Thats interesting stuff from BMW Aus. Will there be a 330d for the e92's as well? Either way the e90 330d will be a very decent car just curious to see what price bracket BMW Aus will place it in.

[manyways]

i remember reading somewhere that the new 330d has faster in-gear acceleration that the petrol 335......its goin to be one torquey beast!

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by manyways

i remember reading somewhere that the new 330d has faster in-gear acceleration that the petrol 335......its goin to be one torquey beast!

I just keep thinking of surfing that 520Nm wave...


@Chris.G They didn't say anything about the E92. I wonder if all the E92 changes will come in a second wave?

[manyways]

i think the e92 cosmetic changes come a year later, it was mentioned in another thread in the main forum where they listed bmw's model timeline

edit: oops reaslied u were talkin abt the 330d engine in an e92.......havent read it anywhere, who knows..?

[JamieA]

Well, my BMW dealers have gone quiet, so the LCI pricing is still not released, though BMW did update the pricing for the current models on their website...

I have some observations though:

1. BMW say on their Oz website that they are only "considering" the 330d. While many publications say it is coming.

2. The recent cuts to production at BMW must surely make cars available for allocation to Australia should BMW Oz decide to include the 330d. I have my fingers crossed that they make an announcement sooner rather than later.

3. The issue is also the quality of the Australian diesel, which has too much sulphur. This changes in January 09 when new quality standards are mandated that will bring our fuel supply inline with Europe. I would expect that a whole slew of efficient diesels from European manufactures could be made available after this point - much like the changes in sulphur content for petrol allowed higher tech direct injection petrol engines to come here a few years ago.

Perhaps it is all wishful thinking, but I dearly want BMW to make and announcement and offer prices soon, so I can order my car straight away. I could order a new 325i now, but the 330d is really whetting my appetite. I just can't get it out of my head, so I think I will have to "suffer" (tongue firmly in cheek there ) with my current 325i until an announcement is made...

[aggie57]

Originally Posted by JamieA

Well, my BMW dealers have gone quiet, so the LCI pricing is still not released, though BMW did update the pricing for the current models on their website...

I have some observations though:

1. BMW say on their Oz website that they are only "considering" the 330d. While many publications say it is coming.

2. The recent cuts to production at BMW must surely make cars available for allocation to Australia should BMW Oz decide to include the 330d. I have my fingers crossed that they make an announcement sooner rather than later.

3. The issue is also the quality of the Australian diesel, which has too much sulphur. This changes in January 09 when new quality standards are mandated that will bring our fuel supply inline with Europe. I would expect that a whole slew of efficient diesels from European manufactures could be made available after this point - much like the changes in sulphur content for petrol allowed higher tech direct injection petrol engines to come here a few years ago.

Perhaps it is all wishful thinking, but I dearly want BMW to make and announcement and offer prices soon, so I can order my car straight away. I could order a new 325i now, but the 330d is really whetting my appetite. I just can't get it out of my head, so I think I will have to "suffer" (tongue firmly in cheek there ) with my current 325i until an announcement is made...

Hi Jamie,

I would not be surprised if BMW Aus are waiting to see what happens with currency movements like alot of other businesses. If so we can't blame them for that.

[JamieA]

No we can't, and I think this is the root of the problem. Especially as dealers were told that production would commence in April - that is a long way away in such uncertain times.

Today I have bit the bullet and decided to stick with the LCI 325i because that can be ordered now, and as of today pricing was announced to dealers.

As I say in the linked post, I am disappointed to not get a 330d, but I think it is a sensible decision, and the 325i is a brilliant vehicle, so I won't exactly be slumming it

[aggie57]

The 325i will be nice, no doubt about it. Lets see what happens to car pricing over the next 12-24 months. Reading the Herald-Sun just now it seems manufacturers are laying ground work for some pretty hefty increases.

[Chris.G]

Good choice once again Jamie! Just wondering if you are going manual route again?

[JamieA]

I have to say Chris I am jumping the fence and going to the dark side. I have never ever owned an auto before, but I am going to probably buy this car once the work lease is up, and the partner can't drive a manual so auto it is... wait for the posts about being an auto convert over and either how happy or how sad I am

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by JamieA

I have to say Chris I am jumping the fence and going to the dark side. I have never ever owned an auto before, but I am going to probably buy this car once the work lease is up, and the partner can't drive a manual so auto it is... wait for the posts about being an auto convert over and either how happy or how sad I am

I think you may need to visit a shrink after making the cross over, given you'll be steering rather than driving. Also the acceleration differential between the AT & MT on the 325i is substantial at around 1.5s in the 0-100km/h dash, which you may find noticeable.

[VGR00]

If my purchasing decission was based purely on what I wanted then manual it would be. Unfortunatly, there are times when we need to swap cars or manage situations when a car is off the road so the auto makes good family sense. A sequential gearbox with an auto overide like the Alfa Romeo Selespeed would be great. I loved mine immensely. I think once BMW get with the times and offer a DSG box as standard across the range, only then there is no need for a manual option any more.

[Chris.G]

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

I think you may need to visit a shrink after making the cross over, given you'll be steering rather than driving. Also the acceleration differential between the AT & MT on the 325i is substantial at around 1.5s in the 0-100km/h dash, which you may find noticeable.

Way to make the guy feel better Its okay Jamie you won't feel the 1.5sec difference, you'll be too busy with the steering wheel taking sharp corners.

[amberzombie]

it's always the "partners" that prevent us from getting a manual car isn't it?

[JamieA]

Thanks for all the support guys.

I honestly don't know if I am going to like it or not... The official acceleration figures are MT 7.0s and AT 7.7s.

For some reason the UK is quoting 6.9 and 7.1 respectively for the 325iSE - but I think they are stripper models over there.

I know that BMW have upgraded the Steptronic to have less power losses... at the end of the day if I hate it I can get a manual next time.


@ amberzombie, yes it is the partners... I guess I am just under the thumb... but what a lovely thumb it is

[bcoz]

Originally Posted by JamieA

... The official acceleration figures are MT 7.0s and AT 7.7s.

For some reason the UK is quoting 6.9 and 7.1 respectively for the 325iSE - but I think they are stripper models over there.

The Oz spec 325i uses the older N52 engine (2.5 litre 2497 cc) which is also used in the 323i.

323i - 130 kW / 5800 rpm, 230 Nm / 3250 rpm
325i - 160 kW / 6500 rpm, 250 Nm / 2750 rpm

The UK spec 325i SE/Ms use the newer N53 engine (3.0 litre 2996 cc) which is also used in the UK 330i.

325i SE - 160 kW / 6100 rpm, 270 Nm / 2700 rpm

To add to the confusion, the Oz spec 125i Cs also use the N53 3 litre engine. I was hoping that the E9x LCI would bring the Oz spec 325i in line with most of the rest of the world, but it was not to be.

Wikipedia states that the N52 was released in 2005 for E9x, and the N53 in 2007. See here for wiki engine roadmap.

[JamieA]

Thanks for that, I forgot that the 3.0l "2.5" engine was now in markets outside the US. Good pick up.