330d SE Highline Manual

Brilliant all rounder

My 330d is pre-facelift car with the later N57 engine. IMO this engine is the best available for the E92. The 335d might be very slightly faster, but it uses the less efficient and less refined M57 engine and can only be had with an auto gearbox. My previous E9X was an E93 (convertible) 335i DCT msport, and personally I think that this E92 is a much better car. Being lighter and stiffer it handles a lot better, and due to the slightly softer SE suspension and 18" rather than 19" wheels it is far more suited to the UK's rough roads. Performance wise it feels every bit as fast, if not faster at certain speeds due to the much better torque. In terms of MPG I am averaging around 45mpg in mixed driving but I have had up to 55mpg on a run, which I think is exceptional for a car of this performance. The refinement of the N57 engine is also great, it vibrates slightly more than a petrol 6 at idle but once moving you would never know that it was a Diesel, and at tickover it also sounds very un-diesel like. Reliability wise it has been great with only a few age related issues. I have replaced the EGR valve due to the old one sticking and the MOT picked up the start of some wear on one of the front suspension bushes, but then it has done 117,000 miles. I have also replaced the runflat tyres with non runflat Goodyear Eagle assymetric 5 which greatly improved the ride and handling. I would certainly recommend one of these cars, it one of the best cars which I have owned

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