How rare is an LCI E91 330i manual?
Discussion
I feel like I'm looking for a unicorn or maybe these were never actually offered, maybe someone can confirm?
I really like the idea of an E91 330i in manual guise. I sort of see it as the last in the line of the sort of BMW's I really love and they're still modern enough for me to use one as a daily I think.
I have seen the odd pre-LCI car around and there are also occasionally 325i's knocking around which I guess I could convert to 330i performance if push came to shove. But most cars seem to be quite early models and certainly lack iDrive. I'm not bothered about iDrive itself but it's fitment allows me to fit a modern OE looking carplay system so I'd want that and I'm assuming iDrive came as part of LCI? What else came with LCI change?
My plan would probably have been to go for a Birds suspension kit and LSD but otherwise I think I'd probably like to keep it pretty standard. Am I right in saying that the Birds set up offers quite good ride quality in combo with non-run-flats? They seem to offer more than one kit though.
I really like the idea of an E91 330i in manual guise. I sort of see it as the last in the line of the sort of BMW's I really love and they're still modern enough for me to use one as a daily I think.
I have seen the odd pre-LCI car around and there are also occasionally 325i's knocking around which I guess I could convert to 330i performance if push came to shove. But most cars seem to be quite early models and certainly lack iDrive. I'm not bothered about iDrive itself but it's fitment allows me to fit a modern OE looking carplay system so I'd want that and I'm assuming iDrive came as part of LCI? What else came with LCI change?
My plan would probably have been to go for a Birds suspension kit and LSD but otherwise I think I'd probably like to keep it pretty standard. Am I right in saying that the Birds set up offers quite good ride quality in combo with non-run-flats? They seem to offer more than one kit though.
I have an E90 330i auto, pre-LCI.
It came with Pro Navigation (although it's the old CCC system).
Mine's SE spec., I think the ride / handling combination is just about right 'out of the box'. And I wouldn't want it as a manual, either. Not sure about the value of an LSD, either. I've had a couple of cars with LSDs and can't say I ever really noticed the difference.
It came with Pro Navigation (although it's the old CCC system).
Mine's SE spec., I think the ride / handling combination is just about right 'out of the box'. And I wouldn't want it as a manual, either. Not sure about the value of an LSD, either. I've had a couple of cars with LSDs and can't say I ever really noticed the difference.
A 330 manual no matter what body shape is a pretty rare beast, let alone one where someone ticked a few options such as nav! The old CCC system is crap but as you say it’s easily upgraded; I have an Andream unit in my 335i and really rate it.
The Birds suspension is very good (I had it on my old 130i….luckily the previous owner footed the bill). I find Bilstein B4S with Eibach springs a pretty good compromise for not too much outlay. I’ve fitted these to both our cars and ditched the runflats. I like the addition of the M3 front arms too.
The Birds suspension is very good (I had it on my old 130i….luckily the previous owner footed the bill). I find Bilstein B4S with Eibach springs a pretty good compromise for not too much outlay. I’ve fitted these to both our cars and ditched the runflats. I like the addition of the M3 front arms too.
Cheers all. That's some good info.
The manual is a must for me. Our E61 is auto and it suits it well but I think my days with BMW's are numbered as I really cannot get onboard with much of what they're offering now so I fancy a last blast with an NA 6 cylinder with a manual box and a 3 series I think would suit a manual far better than the bigger 5. I admit though, I'm not expecting the world's greatest manual box. The one in my old E46 330i Touring was pretty vague!
The manual is a must for me. Our E61 is auto and it suits it well but I think my days with BMW's are numbered as I really cannot get onboard with much of what they're offering now so I fancy a last blast with an NA 6 cylinder with a manual box and a 3 series I think would suit a manual far better than the bigger 5. I admit though, I'm not expecting the world's greatest manual box. The one in my old E46 330i Touring was pretty vague!
Auslander said:
I have an E90 330i auto, pre-LCI.
It came with Pro Navigation (although it's the old CCC system).
Mine's SE spec., I think the ride / handling combination is just about right 'out of the box'. And I wouldn't want it as a manual, either. Not sure about the value of an LSD, either. I've had a couple of cars with LSDs and can't say I ever really noticed the difference.
Have the same car, and agreed. Idrive packed up ages ago though It came with Pro Navigation (although it's the old CCC system).
Mine's SE spec., I think the ride / handling combination is just about right 'out of the box'. And I wouldn't want it as a manual, either. Not sure about the value of an LSD, either. I've had a couple of cars with LSDs and can't say I ever really noticed the difference.
I tried to find a manual E91 330i twice, but they were very hard to find and really expensive.
First compromise was a manual E91 325i but the performance felt a bit lacking so second compromise was a manual E90 330i which is much better - I even managed to find one with Bi-Xenons!
These were both early SE models as I wanted the N52 engine which seems to have a few less issues than the later N53.
As daily drivers I really didn't miss the lack of an LSD and wouldn't want any stiffer suspension.
Hope you manage to find one.
First compromise was a manual E91 325i but the performance felt a bit lacking so second compromise was a manual E90 330i which is much better - I even managed to find one with Bi-Xenons!
These were both early SE models as I wanted the N52 engine which seems to have a few less issues than the later N53.
As daily drivers I really didn't miss the lack of an LSD and wouldn't want any stiffer suspension.
Hope you manage to find one.
Court_S said:
A 330 manual no matter what body shape is a pretty rare beast, let alone one where someone ticked a few options such as nav! The old CCC system is crap but as you say it’s easily upgraded; I have an Andream unit in my 335i and really rate it.
The Birds suspension is very good (I had it on my old 130i….luckily the previous owner footed the bill). I find Bilstein B4S with Eibach springs a pretty good compromise for not too much outlay. I’ve fitted these to both our cars and ditched the runflats. I like the addition of the M3 front arms too.
That’s interesting to read regarding the B4S and Eibach Lowering springs. I’ve just bought this set up for my e91 335i and was hoping it was a good OEM+ setup. The Birds suspension is very good (I had it on my old 130i….luckily the previous owner footed the bill). I find Bilstein B4S with Eibach springs a pretty good compromise for not too much outlay. I’ve fitted these to both our cars and ditched the runflats. I like the addition of the M3 front arms too.
Gad-Westy said:
Cheers all. That's some good info.
The manual is a must for me. Our E61 is auto and it suits it well but I think my days with BMW's are numbered as I really cannot get onboard with much of what they're offering now so I fancy a last blast with an NA 6 cylinder with a manual box and a 3 series I think would suit a manual far better than the bigger 5. I admit though, I'm not expecting the world's greatest manual box. The one in my old E46 330i Touring was pretty vague!
I found the shift quality improved in her 125i and my old 130i with some good gearbox oil (bThe manual is a must for me. Our E61 is auto and it suits it well but I think my days with BMW's are numbered as I really cannot get onboard with much of what they're offering now so I fancy a last blast with an NA 6 cylinder with a manual box and a 3 series I think would suit a manual far better than the bigger 5. I admit though, I'm not expecting the world's greatest manual box. The one in my old E46 330i Touring was pretty vague!
ks to sealed for life crap), M3 gearbox mounts and binning the CDV. It’s no Honda S2000 gearbox but much better than stock and infinitely better than the gearboxes in modern BMW’s.I had a pre LCI e91 330i manual and it was nice but the car is too heavy to really enjoy the N52. Performance is lacklustre and you don't hear the engine enough with all the sound deadening.
After that i had a Z4 3.0si Coupe with the same N52 engine and it belongs in that chassis. The car actually moves with some spirit and it sounds good.
Now I have an F11 535i with the N55 as a very rare manual version. The turbo engine suits the estate much better, still sounds great and the torque carries the weight no problem.
In summary, find a manual 335i instead.
After that i had a Z4 3.0si Coupe with the same N52 engine and it belongs in that chassis. The car actually moves with some spirit and it sounds good.
Now I have an F11 535i with the N55 as a very rare manual version. The turbo engine suits the estate much better, still sounds great and the torque carries the weight no problem.
In summary, find a manual 335i instead.
Think I might change plan a little here. Our current E61 525i has signs that it may need an injector or two. Sourcing injectors is currently a nightmare and it seems like I could very well run into the same headaches with a 330i. I assume this is the case for both N52 and N53? Frankly I don't know that I can tell the difference between the two engines and I struggle to find concise information on when the change over happened on 5 or 3 series.
I also went to have a look at a pre-LCI 330i touring that was advertised local to where I was doing some work. That was an auto but I have to say it really didn't feel very different to our E61. To be honest, it wasn't a great car in a number of way but I thought that an extra 50 bhp and being a bit lighter would have made a bigger difference to how it felt. I'd still be interested in trying a LCI manual (if I ever find one) but I'm starting to dither a little. I'm generally not a fan of turbos but a 335i is maybe starting to make more sense now. LCI ones of those aren't that easy to find either though and I haven't looked into the various ways they can go wrong yet! Sometimes I wonder if I'd be better off just trying to find a mint E36 328i Touring and keeping life a little simpler!
I also went to have a look at a pre-LCI 330i touring that was advertised local to where I was doing some work. That was an auto but I have to say it really didn't feel very different to our E61. To be honest, it wasn't a great car in a number of way but I thought that an extra 50 bhp and being a bit lighter would have made a bigger difference to how it felt. I'd still be interested in trying a LCI manual (if I ever find one) but I'm starting to dither a little. I'm generally not a fan of turbos but a 335i is maybe starting to make more sense now. LCI ones of those aren't that easy to find either though and I haven't looked into the various ways they can go wrong yet! Sometimes I wonder if I'd be better off just trying to find a mint E36 328i Touring and keeping life a little simpler!
helix402 said:
N52 doesn’t have injector problems. 330i Tourings are rare as the 330d does a better job hence more sold. (IMHO). If you want a fast E91 the 335i or 335d is the answer. Though the 335i may also suffer injector problems/HPFP issues.
I must admit the diesel options are generally far more abundant and better value but I'm really not a big fan of them. I'm starting to wonder if I should look elsewhere. The N52 has a few issues, but injectors are not one of them as said by Helix. The earlier silver top engines are a bit down on power compared to the black tops that were used in the 130i.
A later 335i with the N55 is generally considered to be a safer bet than the earlier cars with the N54…although I convinced myself that not all be that bad. Can they?
A later 335i with the N55 is generally considered to be a safer bet than the earlier cars with the N54…although I convinced myself that not all be that bad. Can they?
Billy_Whizzzz said:
There’s a manual e91 335i touring on AT. I’ve had both manual and auto 330is and the auto is rubbish so you’re making the right choice.
Depends on how you look at it. Compared to the ZF8 of a modern DCT then yes it’s a bit crap, but it’s fine compared to gearboxes of a similar age. I think the ZF6 works better with the 335 than the 330 having had both. The N52 suits the manual better in my experience.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff