BMW 330d xDrive Touring
- Say hello to our new BMW 330d Touring
- How do you fix a BMW folding door mirror?
- Happiness is a warm gunmetal grey 3 Series Touring
- Why winter is better with BMW xDrive
- Door mirror problems solved, faulty steering fixed
- Why the 3 Series Touring wins the space race
- Is the 330d the last of the great BMW six-cylinder diesels?
- Eight reasons why BMW is better than Audi
Say hello to our new BMW 330d Touring
The BMW 330d Touring is the car that will (probably) mark the end of the six-cylinder BMW diesel. Dan thinks the Germany carmaker has saved the best for last.
Date: 29 November 2019 | Current mileage: 446 | Claimed economy: 49.6-51.4 | Actual economy: 39.8mpg
The 330d Touring (G21) is the car that will, in all probability, mark the end of an era for BMW. Gone are the days when six-cylinder diesel estates are the go-to car for family car buyers. Today, people want SUVs with petrol or electric power.
That means big diesel motorway monsters, like the 330d Touring, are living on borrowed time. However, while the fat lady might be clearing her throat, she hasn't started singing just yet. And that means BMW's straight-six diesel lives to fight for another year or two.
In my opinion, the BMW Touring is one of the best looking models in the entire 3 Series range. Low-slung, stylish and discreet, the Touring looks broader and more complete than the saloon version. It also has creases that run the entire length of the bodywork, which means there are some nice curvatures at the sides.
In keeping with its sleeper status, the 330d complements its stylish but unassuming status with some serious performance figures. The 330d’s 3.0-litre straight-six develops 265PS and 580Nm of torque, which means this sleek estate will rocket from zero to 62mph in 5.4 seconds. That's half a second quicker than the petrol 330i.
With so much power on tap, my test car has the optional xDrive all-wheel drive system fitted. It also gets an electronically controlled rear differential for the rear axle, which comes as standard on the M Sport Plus Edition. This means you simply point the car at the horizon, thump the throttle and hold on for dear life - a brilliant way to start any Monday morning.
When it comes to optional extras, BMW has thrown the kitchen sink at my test car. It comes with the latest adaptive LED headlights that switch off individual diodes to illuminate the road and prevent oncoming drivers being blinded. It also comes with a head-up display that shows the vehicle's digital speed and navigation directions on the lower part of the windscreen.
Inside, the options continue with the panoramic sunroof, heated leather sport seats and heated M Sport steering wheel. Parking assistant Plus is also thrown in, which automatically steers the car into a space while showing 360 degree image of it the vehicle and its surroundings.
Despite its sporty looks, the 330d Touring still does the job of the traditional estate. The boot can hold 500 litres, which is five more than its predecessor with the rear seats in place. Boot capacity also expands to offer a maximum capacity of 1500 litres with the seats down. And the 330d xDrive will tow 1800kg when hooked to a braked trailer/caravan, while the maximum noseweight is 75kg. All-in-all, this is a fast, practical and tech-laden family car. And the next six months should be a lot of fun.
How do you fix a BMW folding door mirror?
Electrical gremlins strike as the 330d's door mirror decides to down tools and stop working.
Date: 13 December 2019 | Current mileage: 1147 | Claimed economy: 49.6-51.4 | Actual economy: 40.5mpg
I first noticed something wasn't quite right when the offside door mirror started making a strange gurgling sound as it slowly folded out one morning. Then, as I was getting ready to go home from our office in the evening, it made a clicking noise as I unlocked the car. It then stopped working altogether, in the open position.
On the face of it, a faulty but open door mirror shouldn't present too many problems, right? Wrong. The angle of the glass had adjusted itself and this meant I had to crane my neck everytime I wanted to check a motorway lane or reverse the vehicle. The electronic mirror controls - located on the driver's door had also stopped working, which meant I couldn’t make any adjustments.
On the plus side, I could actually drive the car. And this meant I could take it to my local BMW dealer in Cambridge to have it checked. And after a brief chat with the service manager, he came out and examined the door mirror and said "it's broken mate, you'll have to book it in."
To the dealer's credit, they managed to get me booked in within a week, but the diagnosis wasn't good. The problem was being caused by the door mirror housing. What’s more, it was apparently a common fault, too. The dealer was clean out of replacements and it's going to take three or four weeks to arrive.
Given the premium status (and price tag), this is not a very good start to life with the BMW 330d. And if I was a proper customer - and not a test car journalist - I would be extremely disappointed that my expensive family estate car had succumbed to some form of electrical gremlins within a couple of weeks of delivery.
Despite the problems, I do have to say the 330d is a cracking thing to drive. The six-cylinder diesel engine is a truly brilliant diesel engine and the mechanical set-up of the four-wheel drive system is also excellent, with the xDrive's rear-biased set-up ensuring that you get that the feel of a rear-wheel drive car for pretty much 90 per cent of the time.
This means the 330d xDrive feels very much like a traditional 3 Series on the road, with big kicks of acceleration from the rear and vice-like grip on the road, aided by its 19-inch wheels and sports suspension. The adaptive dampers will also lower the ride height by up to 10mm, to match the vehicle load and road conditions. In short, it sticks to the road like glue.
Those swish wheels and sports car-like handling does sacrifice comfort on rough roads, with potholes thundering through the cabin. This is typical of most cars with adaptive dampers, with the system simply being unable to react in time to absorb the sudden and violent jolt of a small hole in the road. It's not ideal - some owners will hate this trait - but if you want sports car handling from your family estate, it is a necessary evil. And for me, the handling benefits of the 330d far outweigh the occasional discomfort of a pothole.
Happiness is a warm gunmetal grey 3 Series Touring
Two thousand miles in and Dan has already been taken by his big, bruising bimmer.
Date: 27 December 2019 | Current mileage: 2008 | Claimed economy: 49.6-51.4 | Actual economy: 42.8mpg
Who knew a diesel estate could be so much fun? It's only been 2000 miles, but the 330d xDrive has already won me over as a driver's car. In short, it's brilliant.
The 3.0-litre straight-six is my new favourite thing. Yes, I know it is a diesel but it is perfect for my 80-mile commute, with affordable running costs and a wonderful deep burble that grows as you press the throttle. However, because it's four-wheel drive, it seems to do everything with so little effort.
The key to this diesel's success is found in its monstrous torque. You see, the straight-six engine develops 580Nm of torque - 110Nm more than a Focus RS. What's more, it flows from 1750rpm - 2750pm, which gives this 3 Series train-like pulling power at low revs. It's a real bruiser of a diesel and I'm beginning to see why BMW has resisted the urge to shed cylinders and make the 330d to a four-cylinder for so long.
Officially, the 330d xDrive should return between 49.6-51.4mpg; however, due to my heavy right foot, the true figure has been in the low-40s. Not that I care, because the enjoyment to be had with this car is well worth the expense at the pumps.
Sadly, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. For sure, this is a truly brilliant car, but the joy is tinged with sadness because all is not well under the metal of this otherwise brilliant, bruising, BMW estate.
I've already booked the 330d in with the local BMW workshop for a new door mirror housing. Now the steering has developed an awful creaking sound. At first I thought it was simply water getting into one of the joints, but over the past few days the noise has grown louder and I think there is something rubbing against the steering column somewhere.
As if by chance, my local dealer called me to say the new door mirror housing had arrived. Brilliant, I thought, I can kill the two mechanical birds with the same stone. But no, the dealer said the car would need a new booking because the early January slot I had been assigned didn't include a loan car. And apparently loan cars are in short supply. So when will they see me? Not until early February.
That's an awfully long time to wait, but sadly there is nothing I or the BMW dealer can apparently do about. And that means I'll be forced to live with my BMW's demons for a few more weeks yet. Pity. Problems aside, it's a cracking family car.
Why winter is better with BMW xDrive
Winter woes? Not likely. Dan explains why the BMW 3 Series Touring is a true winter warrior.
Date: 10 January 2020 | Current mileage: 2765 | Claimed economy: 49.6-51.4 | Actual economy: 41.2mpg
It's been a bitter sweet few weeks with the 3 Series Touring. It has excelled on so many levels, but technical problems continue to blight what is otherwise an enjoyable BMW experience.
Let's focus on the good stuff to start with, because this all-wheel drive monster has been laughing in the face of the British winter. Icy roads? Snowy conditions? Sub zero temperatures? All three have been sent on their way by BMW's fantastic straight-six diesel and xDrive four-wheel drive system.
The biggest challenge came during a recent trip to Heathrow airport, when sub-zero temperatures and light snow caused a nasty accident on the M11 near North Weald. The ensuing chaos created a detour that zig-zagged its way west to the A10, where it then then pick-up the M25.
Traditionally, for a powerful rear-wheel drive car like the 3 Series, icy A and B roads would represent a series of tail wagging problems. However, with xDrive, these slip-ups simply didn't exist because the on-demand four-wheel drive system would simply step-in and prevent any rear-end waywardness. As a result, both me and my salt encrusted 3 Series Touring (pictured above) arrived at Heathrow T2 with time to spare. Result!
The xDrive system has impressed me all round, to be honest. Mostly because it retains the typical 3 Series handling by sending the majority of the power to the rear wheels, and only diverting power to the front axle when it senses that a sticky situation is on the horizon. And with the added power of the single turbo six-cylinder diesel, that means you can still get a huge amount of enjoyment out of this car. Especially when the traction control and driver aids are loosened by engaging Sport+ mode.
What’s more, being an M Sport model, this version of the 3 Series Touring features four-piston fixed callipers and sharpened variable sport steering, that makes it easy to perform precise adjustments at speed, with a light press of the brake or small turn of the wheel.
However, for all of its brilliance, this BMW leaves a sour taste in the mouth when the driver's door mirror stops working or the steering makes a loud creaking noise under a heavy turn. Yesterday, for example, the door mirror refused to extend. And then, when it did, it refused to fold again.
In a few weeks the 3 Series Touring will be going into my local BMW dealer to have its faults fixed. The dodgy door mirror has been diagnosed as a fault with the mirror housing. But the creaky steering (which sounds like an old mattress, at times) is a mystery.
Door mirror problems solved, faulty steering fixed
It's been a long wait, but the 3 Series Touring's faults have finally been fixed.
Date: 24 January 2020 | Current mileage: 3210 | Claimed economy: 49.6-51.4 | Actual economy: 41.5mpg
Losing confidence in a new car can be something of a soul-destroying experience. You pay your cash, wait weeks for your new wheels and then discover that it is faulty. And after suffering weeks of problems with the BMW 3 Series Touring, I understand the frustration and disappointment of a faulty new car.
I'd only had the car a few weeks, when the door mirror decided to pack it all in and stop working. Then, a few weeks later, the steering developed an awful creaking sound that would occasionally provide a judder through the steering wheel that would make your teeth itch. My BMW has not been living its best life, that's for sure.
However, like a naughty child who has flushed your goldfish down the toilet or drawn phallic symbols over your living room walls, my 3 Series Touring has a habit of seeking forgiveness by pulling at your heart strings. And in the BMW's case, it wins me over by being an otherwise brilliant car to drive.
Last week it was the day of reckoning at the headmaster's office, with the 3 Series Touring being sent to the workshop to have its faults fixed. Could Barons in Cambridge put my car on the straight and narrow and stop it from misbehaving?
The door mirror fault was put down to a faulty mirror housing and was replaced under warranty. The problem is a common one, apparently, and can interfere with wiring that causes the mirror to stop working.
The creaky steering? Well, it turns out, this was caused by a problem with the protective heat shield. According to the workshop technician, the heat shield had slipped and was rubbing against the steering column.
Both faults took an entire day to fix under warranty. Plus four weeks of waiting around for the car to be booked, due to the lack of availability of loan cars at the BMW dealership.
Now, fault free, it feels like a new chapter in my BMW 3 Series Touring experience. But I have to admit that I'm more than a little disappointed. Was this a once off fault? Or are these problems that 3 Series owners suffer on a regular basis? As always, you can tell us by submitting your feedback via the Ask HJ function on the website.
Why the 3 Series Touring wins the space race
Looking for a premium compact estate? The BMW 3 Series Touring could be the car for you, says Dan.
Date: 7 February 2020 | Current mileage: 3776 | Claimed economy: 49.6-51.4 | Actual economy: 43.1mpg
It might be a compact premium estate, but the 3 Series Touring has more than enough in its trunk to cater for my family. And the useful hatch window has proven to be a really handy tool for getting things in and out of the BMW when space is in short supply outside of the car.
One of the criticisms of the old 3 Series Touring estate was its compact boot. BMW has addressed this by making the boot 112mm wider than its predecessor, while the opening aperture is 30mm higher and up to 125mm wider in its upper section. In short, the boot if bigger.
Total space is a respectable 500 litres (five litres more than before) which means the 3 Series Touring is a smudge short on the 505 litres you get in the Audi A4 Avant. However, compared to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate (460 litres) the 3 Series Touring is miles ahead.
For example, you get a 1804mm load length from the boot lip to the front seats, which means it is superb for moving bulky items. You also get a useful 1372mm behind the wheelarches (965mm between them) and a load deck that measures 1067mm when the rear seats are up. You can also split the rear folding seats, which lets you carry one or two passengers in the rear while utilising the full load length of the car.
Getting the seats up and down is quite easy, with switches either side of the seat tops. You simply pull the switch in and the seat lowers itself in a controlled manner. It does require a strong arm to push them back in place (there's no button for that) but all-in-all I think most people will cope.
The true bit of brilliance is found with the rear window hatch which can be opened independently of the tailgate. This is really useful when there isn't enough space for the rear tailgate to open or you are fearful it may catch a loose branch from a three or scratch itself on low ceiling at a multistory car park.
Like its rivals, BMW also includes an automatic tailgate system that opens the boot with a foot motion. This is actually standard across the Touring range and it causes more problems than it solves. For example, when you need it to work, it refuses to open the boot. Yet, when you are washing the car, it will kick into operation the moment you wave a soapy sponge in its direction and fill the boot with water.
However, as a modern packhorse, the 3 Series Touring feels larger, wider and more practical and its predecessor. And it also gets some useful compartments in the boot floor for stowing away the luggage covers, which means there is less chance of taking them out and leaving them in the B&Q car park by mistake.
Is the 330d the last of the great BMW six-cylinder diesels?
Diesels are a a dying breed and few will mourn their loss. But Dan will be wearing a black armband when the BMW straight-six is sent to the big car park in the sky.
Date: 21 February 2020 | Current mileage: 4229 | Claimed economy: 49.6-51.4 | Actual economy: 45.2mpg
Few people will mourn the passing of diesel. A few van drivers and company car drivers may shed a tear or two when they think of their favoured workhorses from years gone by, but for the majority of people it will be a case of "good riddance" to the much maligned "dirty" diesel.
Yet, despite its public relations nightmare with the general public, there are some diesels worth savouring. And BMW's TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder is one of those engines. In fact, when it's phased out, I'll be demanding a two minutes silence in the office.
Despite its name, the TwinPower Turbo engine in the 330d is not actually a twin-turbo. It uses a very large single turbocharger to encourage the straight-six unit to produce 265PS and a 580Nm of torque. In real terms, that means a top speed of 155mph and a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds.
These large numbers put the 330d xDrive in the same parking zone as the 286PS Audi A4 Avant 50 TDI. However, in my opinion, there is no contest between the two. The BMW is sharper to drive and much easier to use, thanks to its sharper direct steering and seamless automatic gearbox. In my view, it would leave the Audi for dust on the race track.
xDrive adds 200kg to the kerb weight and that pushes the overall kerb weight to a portly 1745kg. Personally, I think it's a price worth paying. Especially if (like me) your daily commute covers lots of rural roads that are prone to icing over in the winter months.
You do need to study BMW's options list carefully to get a car that will eat the A4 Avant for breakfast. For me M Sport trim is a necessity because it includes stiffened sports suspension and variable sports steering. The standard 3 Series is already a strong driver's car, but the upgraded suspension and steering gives the handling pin point accuracy, which lets you point the nose into a bend and let the lowered suspension do the rest.
There are a couple of bits of driving kit available, but the decision to fit them will very much depend on your personal driving style. For example, being an M Sport Plus Edition, my car gets adaptive damping and a limited slip differential (LSD). Neither are essential, but drivers with a heavy right foot will undoubtedly appreciate the extra grip that the LSD provides.
And the best thing of all? You get all of this GT-inspired fun at 45mpg. That's with standard diesel by the way, none of this premium fuel lark. This car really has it all.
Eight reasons why BMW is better than Audi
Want a slick automatic gearbox? You will probably want a BMW 3 Series Touring...
Date: 6 March 2020 | Current mileage: 4712 | Claimed economy: 49.6-51.4 | Actual economy: 45.3mpg
A rubbish gearbox is a surefire way to ruin a great car. Over the years, I've driven thousands of vehicles of all shapes and sizes. And there really is nothing more gauling than an otherwise brilliant car being spoilt by a slow and dithering transmission.
The 330d doesn't get the option of a manual gearbox. This means you get an eight-speed automatic as standard, whenever you like it or not. And I always get a tad nervous when all-new models are launched with updated gearboxes lifted from the previous generation of car. In short, it usually goes one of two ways.
Thankfully the latest BMW eight-speed auto is excellent. The gearshifts are smooth and, at times, barely noticeable. The wide gearing between fifth and sixth gives the 330d the space it needs to stretch its legs on the motorway without lumpy distraction. And there is also a sport mode for those spirited driving moments on twisty A roads.
Things are equally as good at lower speeds. There is no slow wittedness you get with some of BMW's rivals This means you can pull away from junctions or join busy roundabouts without nasty bouts of hesitation. Sadly the same can't be said for David and his Audi Avant.
There has been the occasional painful problem; I've managed to slice my hand open twice washing the 3 Series Touring. The front kidney shaped grille is razor sharp and its raised edges are primed for eating unsuspecting fingers. I managed to cut two fingers and the palm of my hand in the process of washing the car last week. Ouch.
The last time a car gave me an injury like this was caused by rust and a rogue piece of wheelarch on my old Ford Sierra. I was only 19 at the time and it sent me to A&E to have four stitches in my finger. Luckily no such action was necessary this time, but the BMW grille clearly has a taste for finger food.
Running costs continue to be affordable. Things are generally averaging around the mid-40s, which means the 330d isn't that costly to run on a day-to-day basis when it comes to fuel. However, that's mostly been achieved with myself and some occasional luggage in the boot - during a recent trip to London with three friends, mpg dipped to the low-40s.
However, three quarters of the way through my six month long term test, it's been a mixed but positive experience. I might lose a finger or two, but I'm starting to think that the 330d is the best car I've ever run as a long termer. And who needs fingers when you have a car as good as this.
