330Ci Coupe' V 330Ci Clubsport - Whats the difference
Discussion
Hi Guys
Am looking at a 330Ci and am wondering what the mechanical differences are between this and the Clubsport version. Is there much power difference?
Also, if we end up with a 330Ci, what do you think I would gain, power-wise, from a damn good exhaust, intake and a remap/chip?
If anyone could recommend somewhere for that too, brilliant!
Many thanks,
DTC.
Am looking at a 330Ci and am wondering what the mechanical differences are between this and the Clubsport version. Is there much power difference?
Also, if we end up with a 330Ci, what do you think I would gain, power-wise, from a damn good exhaust, intake and a remap/chip?
If anyone could recommend somewhere for that too, brilliant!
Many thanks,
DTC.
I might get flamed here, 'cos I've got a clubsport and had a Ci Sport before it.
As far as I know, the clubsport is lighter due to some sound proofing removal etc, has slightly stiffer suspension and has the "clubsport" wheels which I don't particularly like. (Mine had them swapped by the previous owner before they picked it up new from BMW)
The power is the same, but the clubsport should be slighly more responsive due to the weight removal.
As for upgrades.....I know a mate had a 3.0 Z4 which benefitted from a backbox and induction kit giving a much improved pickup in the mid range. As for ultimate power gains, not really sure.
Will speak to my mate in the next day or 2 and post the details when I can.
Paul
As far as I know, the clubsport is lighter due to some sound proofing removal etc, has slightly stiffer suspension and has the "clubsport" wheels which I don't particularly like. (Mine had them swapped by the previous owner before they picked it up new from BMW)
The power is the same, but the clubsport should be slighly more responsive due to the weight removal.
As for upgrades.....I know a mate had a 3.0 Z4 which benefitted from a backbox and induction kit giving a much improved pickup in the mid range. As for ultimate power gains, not really sure.
Will speak to my mate in the next day or 2 and post the details when I can.
Paul
loss of soundproofing, different wheels, rear spoiler and front splitters.
As for tuning, remap is a waste. Eisemann exhaust + Gruppe M induction, then ASA supercharger is the way to go. www.ca-automotive.co.uk/
As for tuning, remap is a waste. Eisemann exhaust + Gruppe M induction, then ASA supercharger is the way to go. www.ca-automotive.co.uk/
We have had both, a 330 ci and my wife currently drives a Clubsport. According to BMW the clubsport is a whole 20kgs lighter (big deal) the power and torque figs are the same as a standard 330 ci sport.
The Clubsport as previously mentioned has 18 inch split rims as standard, different rear spoiler, and front splitter. A lot of these cars were registered as dealer demos so many have quite a high spec when compared to a standard 330 ci sport.
A word of warning steer clear of the SSG "tiptronic" gearbox cars, I have been told by quite a few main dealers and a few other people that the system is flawed and as such the values of SSG equiped cars is significantly less than a standard auto or manual car.
The best route to tune them at reasonable cost is to go down the induction/exhaust/chip remap route, I think somebody on here did supercharge their Clubsport, although another good source for knowledge will be : www.bm3w.co.uk/index.php
Ok I think all you need to know is here : www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications_detail/0,4638,1156_1867__bs-Mw%253D%253D%2540bb-Q1A%253D%2540bm-WkMzOA%253D%253D%2540spv-O,00.html
>> Edited by t5grf on Monday 30th January 19:59
The Clubsport as previously mentioned has 18 inch split rims as standard, different rear spoiler, and front splitter. A lot of these cars were registered as dealer demos so many have quite a high spec when compared to a standard 330 ci sport.
A word of warning steer clear of the SSG "tiptronic" gearbox cars, I have been told by quite a few main dealers and a few other people that the system is flawed and as such the values of SSG equiped cars is significantly less than a standard auto or manual car.
The best route to tune them at reasonable cost is to go down the induction/exhaust/chip remap route, I think somebody on here did supercharge their Clubsport, although another good source for knowledge will be : www.bm3w.co.uk/index.php
Ok I think all you need to know is here : www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications_detail/0,4638,1156_1867__bs-Mw%253D%253D%2540bb-Q1A%253D%2540bm-WkMzOA%253D%253D%2540spv-O,00.html
>> Edited by t5grf on Monday 30th January 19:59
DoctorD said:Oh, come on, Doctor: the removed underbonnet soundproofing must weigh at least 500g!
The power is the same, but the clubsport should be slighly more responsive due to the weight removal.
It weighs the same as the 330i M Sport, so whatever they've removed you should ask them to put it back..
330Ci it is chaps...now all we need to do is extract some more grunt...without the supercharger idea, as much as I love it, the Mrs isn't keen to fork out that sort of dosh right now. Mind you, I have to agree with her - for once!
Are most of you agreed on Exhaust, Intake and remap/chip as mentioned above?
If anyone knows of any modded 330Ci's, please let me know so we can prop up a bar somewhere and discuss how power does not corrupt!
Cheers,
DTC.
Are most of you agreed on Exhaust, Intake and remap/chip as mentioned above?
If anyone knows of any modded 330Ci's, please let me know so we can prop up a bar somewhere and discuss how power does not corrupt!
Cheers,
DTC.
Yep each to thier own, we prefered the look of the Clubsport (rear wing and bling wheels included) also as I mentioned earlier lots of these cars were dealer demos and as such have a great deal more options fitted. My wifes car came with Satnav, tv, glass elec roof, heated seats, voice control, bluetooth, cd changer, arm rest, extra rear belt etc.. it had a much higher spec than any comparable sport available at the time and we didn't pay a premium for the "Clubsport Spec".
Neither the 330ci or Clubsport are going to set the world on fire performance wise, but they both handle well and make an excellent mile munching comfy car. At the end of the day there are lots and lots of Ci sports out there, and not so many Clubsports.
Oh and Zod and DoctorD, on the subject of weight saving as I understand it the standard M3 weighs in at approx 1495kg, the basic weight of a CSL before options is 1380kg although as I understand it few cars were delivered in the lightest possible spec so with aircon, xennons and a radio this adds prob 40kg's making the weight now 1420kg, not a huge saving over a standard M3 really is it?
Given the cost differential between the M3 and CSL when new, I would have thought it would have been an awful lot cheaper to have gone on a diet or had a bloody good dump and plumped for the M3!
I know thats what my wife recommended that I do when I attempted to justify the cost of some carbon rocker covers for my Ultima!
Neither the 330ci or Clubsport are going to set the world on fire performance wise, but they both handle well and make an excellent mile munching comfy car. At the end of the day there are lots and lots of Ci sports out there, and not so many Clubsports.
Oh and Zod and DoctorD, on the subject of weight saving as I understand it the standard M3 weighs in at approx 1495kg, the basic weight of a CSL before options is 1380kg although as I understand it few cars were delivered in the lightest possible spec so with aircon, xennons and a radio this adds prob 40kg's making the weight now 1420kg, not a huge saving over a standard M3 really is it?
Given the cost differential between the M3 and CSL when new, I would have thought it would have been an awful lot cheaper to have gone on a diet or had a bloody good dump and plumped for the M3!
I know thats what my wife recommended that I do when I attempted to justify the cost of some carbon rocker covers for my Ultima!
t5grf said:
Oh and Zod and DoctorD, on the subject of weight saving as I understand it the standard M3 weighs in at approx 1495kg, the basic weight of a CSL before options is 1380kg although as I understand it few cars were delivered in the lightest possible spec so with aircon, xennons and a radio this adds prob 40kg's making the weight now 1420kg, not a huge saving over a standard M3 really is it?
Given the cost differential between the M3 and CSL when new, I would have thought it would have been an awful lot cheaper to have gone on a diet or had a bloody good dump and plumped for the M3!
I know thats what my wife recommended that I do when I attempted to justify the cost of some carbon rocker covers for my Ultima!
Nooo, big mistake. The dry weight of a CSL is around 1310kg comparing with 1440kg for an M3 (depending on which options are fitted). We've weighed the options fitted to a CSL (when turning one into a race car for the Britcar series) and a/c, Xenons etc were only around 30kg. Auto Motor & Sport magazine weighted the first CSL they tested against a manual (i.e. lighter transmission) M3 and the weight difference was just over 140kg. So it's a 'very big' difference which translates to whole chunks of time on a circuit. And... before you try and suggest that that's only due to the Cup tyres, EVO magazine tested CSL and M3 back to back on Conti 2 road tyres around a standard UK circuit and the CSL was 4 seconds per lap quicker. I owned 3 E46 M3s before the CSL and they're not even comparable.
Also, btw.. most M3s seem to deliver less than the claimed horses, whereas it seems that CSLs deliver at least the 360 bhp claimed (and over 370 on a dyno with the cats removed)..
Sorry, I don't mean to knock the 330 Clubsport (we were just poking fun at BMW's marketing tactics), but it would be hideously misplaced to compare the engineering strategy for the Clubsport with the work of M GmbH.
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