Test drive BMW 3 E90 2005 - 2008 sedan

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This diesel BMW 330xd will give a head start to many gasoline counterparts
 
It's time for me, I will tell you, gentlemen, to pay the most serious attention to luxury cars with diesel engines. And the matter here is not only in saving, although only some parrynus, who was rich by accident, may not count money. The times when the ideas about dynamics and engines on diesel fuel were incompatible, have sunk into oblivion. Turbodiselle aggregates are now supplied with racing carriers. And when it comes to Bavarian cars, then in the possibility of fast, I would say that the delightful movements on the roads can not doubt. Regardless of what kind of food is the installation under the hood prefers. What, for example, I was quite convinced by the example of the BMW 330xd.
 
 
Nice arithmetic
 
Perhaps this is the first car in which the fuel level sensor and flow meter most intrigued me the most. Indeed, with the dynamics and real drive that you are driving, the average fuel consumption of 12.0 liters per hundred seems incredibly low. I even specially reset the on -board computer several times - the same effect! No, it is not without reason that Europeans prefer diesel engines: they are a little more initially, but with more more than 30-50 thousand kilometers, they pay off. In France, for example, 80% of the total fleet is diesel cars. A similar situation in Italy, Spain and other countries where the demand for such machines is growing rapidly.
 
However, back to a specific 231-strong motor. Just a couple of years ago, a three -liter gasoline power unit, on the same BMW, issued the same capacity. But then you could not even think that at your disposal, in addition, there would be a crazy torque of 500 nm. It is not that you are constantly going, you are literally flying on it.
 
Well, perhaps the first impressions can confuse. The aggressive appearance of the front headlights and the fan-wing in the mind is still somehow not too much with a typically diesel target and a characteristic smell of diesel fuel. But there is neither plague nor the smell in the salon.
 
In Russia, version 330xd is available only in the most complete configuration, so inside, one can say, luxurious. The seats sheathed with leather - I will not tire of repeating it - are very convenient and perfectly profiled. Good lateral support, metal inserts in the decor, as, in fact, the front panel style itself hints at the serious potential of the car. And high -quality sound insulation and soft plastic allow only the rustle of the motor at low speeds, and transmit a light and pleasant trembling - this is how the beast, preparing for the jump, trembles. The speedometer is marked up to 260 km/h, and only a tachometer with a red zone of 5000 rpm reminds of a diesel motor under the hood.
 
Subtleties of XDRive-2
 
It is thought to start, it is worth it with the fact that 330xd, as it is easy to guess the abbreviation, is equipped with a full -wheel drive system. I talked about her more than once, so I just remind you that before she made not the best impression on the exchange. Electronics is good only until then, until it prevents the car in any situation. But on the asphalt and with a diesel engine, everything is a little different. First, acceleration. Since the turbodiesel has a huge thrust, at a quick start from the place, the connected front wheels help to better realize its potential. The same can be said about sharp accelerations, for example, for overtaking, when without any slipping and drifts the car begins to accelerate. The dynamics is also maintained in tone, a very quick automatic transmission, which is quite in the traditions of the Bavarian brand. It is also pleasant that at high speeds, the turbodiesel sounds very decent, rather pleasing hearing than upset.
 
Secondly, on the asphalt, Xdrive flaws, if they are, according to my subjective estimates, are almost not noticeable. If on a slippery surface when entering the turn it seemed to me that the demolition of the front axis occurs a little earlier than it should, now this feeling has disappeared. Moreover, I even specially provoked demolition several times when I entered the turn on intensive braking with obviously high speed. But demolition arose precisely when a critical moment was felt on the steering wheel. Pressing on the accelerator did not change the situation, and the car behaved like a typical rear -wheel drive. But when I turned on good gas, trying to catch green, Xdrive behaved normally. There was a drop of stern, which easily went out with a small movement of the steering wheel and transmitting the front wheels so necessary in this case of the moment. Moreover, the accelerator was still drowned. Subsequent experiments with gas discharge and other provocations assured me: on the asphalt, wet or dry, Xdrive works normally, without complaints. Moreover, it is easier to realize a huge torque of a turbodiesel engine with it. And in the other parameters 330xd, nothing differs from its gasoline counterparts.
 
The pendants are configured in a sports way, which is why the cranes of the body are practically imperceptible. The steering pleases with transparency, and only I want a little greater acute - from the edge to the edge of the barracks makes almost 3 turns, for the BMW much. There are no complaints to the brakes, the power of their calipers is more than enough to besiege the car at any moment. In addition, it is pleasantly pleasing to the information content of the pedal itself - it is not at all difficult to control the degree of slowdown.
 
Nevertheless, the most pleasant thing is that in a week of the test I spent only 600 rubles on fuel. Having passed more than one hundred kilometers in no means economical mode. It is only a pity that this savings are drowning against the background of the price of the car itself.
 
About the price and diesel fuel
 
It seemed to me a nonsense: 330xd diesel is more expensive than the most powerful 330ix gasoline, namely 60,600 euros. I can’t even assume a reasonable explanation of such a sky -high price. You can meet such an amount by buying, for example, two Ford Mondeo ST or a couple of Opel Vectra GTS - albeit not so prestigious models, but also large and quite fast. Perhaps, after 100 thousand kilometers of the run, the price is compensated by lower fuel costs, but for some reason I am not sure of that. In addition, the quality of fuel at different gas stations is not the same, and very often leaves much to be desired.
 
Here is an example. On this car, I got refuel twice, each time nourishing the computer's readings. The first refueling at the gas station TNC led to an increase in the average fuel consumption to a mark of 13.0 liters per 100 km. The second time I poured diesel fuel on Lukoil, where, judging by the stickers, they sold the fuel of the Euro 4 standard - the average consumption immediately fell to 12.1 liters. With the same driving style, please notice. That is, either you must always refuel at proven gas stations, which is not very convenient and does not yet guarantee constant quality, or the durability of a high -tech motor with a direct injection system turns into a lottery. So it is easy to assume that, no matter how good 330xd is, few risk buying it at such a price. So far, we, alas, are not in Europe - in all respects, especially according to attitude.
 
Text: Andrey Osipov


Brief technical characteristics BMW 330xd
Engine volume, cubic meter. See 2993
The number of valves per cylinder 4
Power, l. With. at about./min. 231/4000
Max. Torque, NM at about./Min. 500/1750 3000
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p. 6.6
Maximum speed, km/h 242
The average fuel consumption l./100 km. 7.2
The volume of the fuel tank, l. 61
Car mass, kg. 1710
Dimensions, mm. 4520x1817x1421

 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 9 (99), 2006]