Pros :
- Handsome and well-balanced overall profile.
- Seats four full-size adults.
- Well-balanced chassis is a class leader.
- Great in-line 6 cylinder engine.
- Lots of electronic doodads to keep you entertained.
Cons :
- Increase in price.
- Rear legroom is tight for tall people.
- No increase in power.
- The Japanese seem to be offering more for less nowadays.
- Electronic doodads come with occassional electronic gremlins.
Interior :
Press Coverage :
In the performance department, the BMW 330Ci features a 3.0-litre engine with 24 valves, DOHC, variable valve timing, and six cylinders. All of these points factor into a resulting 225 horsepower for an exuberant highway drive.
Other performance notables include five-speed manual transmission, sport-tuned suspension, seventeen-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, and dynamic stability control including all-season-traction.
Plenty of conveniences and comforts pack the BMW 330ci, including retractable high-intensity headlight washers, heated windshield-washer jets, and heated dual power mirrors. The list continues with twin chrome exhaust tips, AM/FM stereo with CD player and twelve speakers, and six-way adjustable front seats.
Even more luxuries are part of the base package. Other standards listed are power windows and power door locks, cruise control, keyless entry system, leatherette seating, and three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise, audio, and accessory phone controls.
Packages include such items as leather upholstery, power glass moonroof, ski bag, wood trim, heated front seats, adjustable lumbar support, and many other items. As for safety, the BMW 330Ci is armed with ABS brakes, driver depowered air bag, passenger depowered air bag, and interlocking door anchoring system for decreasing the effects of side impacts. Carrying on in the safety category, each vehicle is equipped with front and rear head restraints, side impact air bags, anti-roll bars, and a sensor that will automatically switch on hazard lights and open door locks in the event of an impact.
The BMW 330Ci is available in three other packages aside from the base model described. These are a Cold Weather Package, Premium Package, and Sport Package.
Car-buying-strategies.com
The manual works with a clutch that takes little effort to press, and it engages smoothly. But it has BMW's traditional long-throw that becomes tiring in stop-and-go traffic. Still, the 3.0-liter engine has so much torque that it allows a driver to bypass first gear in heavy traffic and smoothly launch the car in second gear. The "stump-puller" first gear seems designed just to get the car moving very quickly.
The $600-$1,500 (depending on model) 3-Series Sport Package contains a firmer suspension and wider tires for sharper handling, sport seats with additional support, and a sport steering wheel that is especially easy to grip. The ride with that package generally is supple, but it sometimes causes the ride to become choppy. The standard suspension and tires should be fine for most people, although some car buffs say BMW is making the 3-Series too "soft" to expand its number of buyers. The brake pedal has a nice linear action that allows quick, sure stops. Both brake and clutch pedals have ribbed surfaces for good grip with wet shoes - a thoughtful touch.
Carpoint.com
Subtle differences between the coupe and sedan became apparent throughout our drive. For instance, the coupe's lower roof and raked windshield (2 degrees more than the sedan) combine for a shorter field of vision. If you like to sit high and upright, like we do, you'll likely find yourself staring straight into the sun visor--even in its "up" position. However, the six-way manually adjustable front seats make finding a comfortable position easy and the longer coupe has plenty of legroom (both front and rear) for drivers of varying size. Wind noise is almost non-existent at speeds below 60 mph. Above 60 a slight "whishing" can be heard from the lower A-pillar area, despite the coupe's ribbed exterior mirrors that are designed to cut wind noise.
Edmunds.com
The pleasures of this car flow almost entirely toward the driver, not the passengers, from an epicenter located near the midpoint between the clutch and the gear lever. The clutch hooks up like velvet, right where you think it should. The shift lever stirs cream. The right pedal tapers up the power, so easy and natural to control. You make smooth, expert shifts the first time you drive. This BMW never stops flattering.
And that's the story of its handling, too. This car flows over the back roads, like a liquid following the contours of the road. Instantly, you're a great driver. Up-and-down suspension motions are so perfectly damped they almost escape notice. Body roll is controlled, a liquid that never sloshes. Pour it on. You have a stable platform from which to give your best. And the steering, the brakes, and the clutch and shifter convey your messages to the machinery exactly as you intend them.
Caranddriver.com
History:
2001-2003 BMW 330Ci
2,979 cc / 225 hp / 214 lb-ft / 3285-3704 lbs / 0-60 mph 6.1 sec.
All images and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. No part of this website may be reproduced without the explicit permission of the owner of this site.
