[matt@stratford]

To say I'm confused is an understatement!

I have a 330i that I am very happy with. However, when I brought it I was doing about 125 miles a week,I now do 600!

Do I sell and get a 330d and remap? or a 335d? I have a manual box that I do like (with SSK) and I am worried that if I get an auto I may miss my manual and end up regretting it.

Whats more, if I do change I will get an e92 which I really do like.

Any comments would be appreciated, especially those of you that have gone from manual to auto

Thanks

Matt

[Neil McRae]

its really easy, figure out what the cost to change is. Work out how much the extra mileage is going to cost you and see when they meet. If its round about the time when you would plan to change the car anyway then I wouldn't bother, if the extra cost starts hurting ahead of this then change now.

[chris330D]

I won't even go near the 330 vs 335 debate. Let's just say that the 335d is considerably quicker than anything else and you will be punished if you do not agree I went from manual to auto and a lot will come down to the sort of driving you do. Ultimately I think you can't beat a manual for control but in stop start traffic an auto is really easy. On balance I wish I had kept with the auto. 600 miles a week is a lot, if it is all motorway I would be tempted to look at a 320d.

[Skid]

Hi Matt,

I know what it feels like to do that sort of miles a week (I do 800)

A diesel is really the only way to go if only for the 600 mile tank range.

The modern autos are very good and can be used in a manual type mode with the paddles. I find it good fun on a twisty road.

The down side is that they cost more to buy so it's a case of working the figures out as Neil sugests.
Typically if you are doing 17k or more a year then thats the break even point for a diesel. You will be doing 30k.

Mark

[ed335d]

The auto box on the 335d is fantastic - I thought I'd miss a manual, but thought 'it's ok, I can use the paddles'.

Hardly ever used them.

I'm enjoying being back in a manual, but would have no issue going back to that particular combo of the 35d engine & auto, especially for lots of motorway driving.

Averaged 34mpg over two years in the big 'D'

[Bungle009]

I use to hate autos, but have been suprised by my 330d auto. Its perfect for motorway work, and returns a very easy 45mpg. The 335d might be better but the 330d is plenty fast (compared to the 330i i was also considering at the same time) and i think you would get 5mpg less from a 335d compared to a 330d.

[- Paul -]

I've gone from manual to auto and have mixed feelings. Whilst it's great for lazy driving, when you do want to to get a wriggle on - pushing the lever backwards and forwards just doesn't have the same involvement as a proper manual box. I like the kickdown of a couple of gears when I bury the peddle though!

[MOB]

With that change in mileage I would only consider changing from the 330i to a 320d

the cost to change to a 330d would take ages to claw back in fuel I would say

[BanziBarn]

I've gone from manual to auto too, I was worried I'd miss a stick shift but I don't. I agree, the auto box is fantastic. In gear, the gears are locked in so you get instant response when you floor it so it feels like a manual in the way it responds.

The new 330d is quicker to 60 than the petrol car, but being a diesel will feel even more so. I'm more than happy with the performance, it's defo up there with the likes of R32s etc.....

So 330d or 335d, you can't go wrong!

[NightVisitant]

I made the move to automatics a couple of years ago. Wouldn't say I miss manual, even as a keen driver. Personally, I find automatics a bit more enjoyable, all-be-it detached - but being able to focus on driving/steering more than obsessing with perfect up/down shifts was an acceptable compromise for me. The manual modes are great for those moments when the electronics are just not doing what you'd prefer for the given situation.

At 600 miles a week, you would definitely feel the strain of the manual as the months go by - I'm no doctor, but would imagine that RSIs and long-term damage to your body is inevitable.

To answer your direct question, no don't keep the 330i - the benefits of an auto-diesel combination is too great to ignore. However as mentioned above, if performance is not of primary importance, a less expensive model would be ideal - financially speaking, unless of course money is not an issue.

[matt@stratford]

Thanks for the comments. I can see the positives with a smaller engined derv but I got my 330i for it's performance.

Good comments on the manual/auto +/-

I have started to look at 330d and 335d, I know I'll be spending more cash as my car is a 55 plate - just hope it's not too much more!!

[feederz]

With roughly 30,000 miles going on the clock per year I'd be seriously worried about depreciation on any new (or newish) BMW. Then you have the servicing costs etc. to think of

Have you considered running two cars? I'm doing this and it works quite well. Here's my example...

1. BMW 335i
2. Ford Escort Ghia X! (cost roughly £900 but had only 40k on the clock!)

This is what I'm currently doing and it allows me to offset the high miles by spreading my usage between the two.
The depreciation on the Scort is virtually non-existent and so the amount I paid for it was balanced out within the first 3-4 months of ownership. I also get the benefit of having a car I can happily take to the tip, drive in the snow or leave anywhere dodgy etc.

[Neil McRae]

Do they do DCT in the 335 now? best of both worlds.

I haven't driven a manual since 2002 as a daily driver. Had a loan of a 911 C2S with manual and after about an hour of driving it wanted to dump it. I couldn't go back to a manual.

[matt@stratford]

Originally Posted by feederz

With roughly 30,000 miles going on the clock per year I'd be seriously worried about depreciation on any new (or newish) BMW. Then you have the servicing costs etc. to think of

Have you considered running two cars? I'm doing this and it works quite well. Here's my example...

1. BMW 335i
2. Ford Escort Ghia X! (cost roughly £900 but had only 40k on the clock!)

This is what I'm currently doing and it allows me to offset the high miles by spreading my usage between the two.
The depreciation on the Scort is virtually non-existent and so the amount I paid for it was balanced out within the first 3-4 months of ownership. I also get the benefit of having a car I can happily take to the tip, drive in the snow or leave anywhere dodgy etc.

That's a good idea but I have to have a car that is less than 5 years old due to my companies car policy (I get car allowance and pence per mile for fuel).

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Neil McRae

Do they do DCT in the 335 now? best of both worlds.

I haven't driven a manual since 2002 as a daily driver. Had a loan of a 911 C2S with manual and after about an hour of driving it wanted to dump it. I couldn't go back to a manual.

No good for tuning though, and thats only 335i not 335d that you can get DCT for.

[Neil McRae]

why not good for tuning?

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Neil McRae

why not good for tuning?

Torque rating too low.

[gIzzE]

I just can't see how you will save anything going from a 330i manual to a 335d auto, the difference is around 5mpg for me on those two engines.
I get around 29mpg from the 330i and 34mpg from the 335d.

If you found another 55 plate with the same options and mileage as yours and the dealer said, tell you what, I will do a straight swap, you would still only save £14 a week in fuel.
However, you will pay around £5k more for the 335d if you sell yours privately, or around £8k more for one if you trade through a dealer.
Let's say you then get that the whole £8k back come resale (although you won't, in another 3 years with 90k miles added there will be about £2k difference at most) so you are only paying the interest on the £8k, it will cost you £57.66 a month at 9% apr.

So you will actually be around £2 a month worse off.

That is all best case scenario.


Swap your car if you fancy a change, but don't try and convince yourself you will save money doing it!!!

[TMP]

Originally Posted by feederz

With roughly 30,000 miles going on the clock per year I'd be seriously worried about depreciation on any new (or newish) BMW. Then you have the servicing costs etc. to think of

Have you considered running two cars? I'm doing this and it works quite well. Here's my example...

1. BMW 335i
2. Ford Escort Ghia X! (cost roughly £900 but had only 40k on the clock!)

This is what I'm currently doing and it allows me to offset the high miles by spreading my usage between the two.
The depreciation on the Scort is virtually non-existent and so the amount I paid for it was balanced out within the first 3-4 months of ownership. I also get the benefit of having a car I can happily take to the tip, drive in the snow or leave anywhere dodgy etc.

Jeezo, my first cat was a orion ghia, not sure i could go back to that as a daily driver!

Would rather find a cheap (few £k) Kia diesel thingie with some of that 7 year warrenty left - reliable and rattle free?