325 and 330 handling differences.

**Matt** · 06-22-2009, 05:14 PM

I recently returned a 325i and purchased a CPO 330i. Both 2006 cars with sport suspension. On the 325 I replaced front tires at around 30K and the car handled extremely well, always really stable at speed and very stiff. The 330 feels less stiff and not as stable at higher speeds and doesn't have that tightly grounded feeling the 325 had. My 325 had 50K on it when returned and the 330 has 30K.

When I replaced the tires on the 325, the outside of the tires were wearing much faster than the rest of the tire. Could this be the reason the car felt this way? Which is normal?

FTR - I think I now prefer the leatherette manual seats of the 325. I am convinced they sit lower in the car and have greater range of adjustments.

Noc57 · 06-22-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by **Matt**

I recently returned a 325i and purchased a CPO 330i. Both 2006 cars with sport suspension. On the 325 I replaced front tires at around 30K and the car handled extremely well, always really stable at speed and very stiff. The 330 feels less stiff and not as stable at higher speeds and doesn't have that tightly grounded feeling the 325 had. My 325 had 50K on it when returned and the 330 has 30K.

When I replaced the tires on the 325, the outside of the tires were wearing much faster than the rest of the tire. Could this be the reason the car felt this way? Which is normal?

FTR - I think I now prefer the leatherette manual seats of the 325. I am convinced they sit lower in the car and have greater range of adjustments.

and read about 50' 50' weight distribution.....

Causes for tire's wearing could be many things, none of which are "normal".

Leatherette huh? Had it on the X3 and it looked and felt like crap. To each their own.

BK · 06-22-2009, 05:20 PM

325i OEM Turanza RFT tires were crappy, and wore inconsistently like you describe. But I don't think those were on the ZSP 325i. And they certainly wouldn't result in better handling.

On your 325i, you replaced the tires at 30K miles. The 330i has 30K miles. Maybe time to replace the tires? I doubt there's a significant handling difference between the two, unless you're feeling the tramlining of wider tires and larger wheels?

**Matt** · 06-22-2009, 06:10 PM

Not sure what the 50/50 weight has to do with it - their both nearly identical. There is no question the leather is tops in terms of look and feel, but I prefer the mechanism of the ette' over the leather, percevied or actual.

The tires were Bridgestone Potenza RFT. The 325 seemed to tramline more than the 330?

R608 · 06-22-2009, 06:25 PM

Can't weigh in on the 325 vs. 330 handling, but I do think the power seats sit higher than the manual ones. I noticed it on the e46 and e90 models I had test driven before buying my car. Nothing to do with leather vs. leatherette (I have leather on manual seats) but it does seem to me like my head is always stuffed into the headliner on the ones I drive with power seats.

mike-y · 06-22-2009, 08:30 PM

Might be a good idea to get the alignment checked. if it's out, it will make the car drive worse.

6speedGaren · 06-22-2009, 10:14 PM

I love everything about my 325, the seats do sit lower, I sat in power seats of my buddys 335 its higher and I coulnt get comfy either. And youre right about the handling differences, my 325 with non rft handle a little better than my buddys sport package spings, that I dont know why, when he drove my car he was puzzled, but I am still getting eibachs

rotaryboy · 06-23-2009, 10:55 PM

I drove several e90's with sport package before I purchased a 330 and thought they felt the same.

DerekS · 06-23-2009, 11:23 PM

[QUOTE=**Matt**;5377172
The tires were Bridgestone Potenza RFT. The 325 seemed to tramline more than the 330?[/QUOTE]

If you have Bridgestone RE050A RFTs on your 330, I would strongly suggest that you replace them with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP (= zero pressure). I had the dreadful Bridgestones on a previous 330 and on my former 335i Coupe. The Michelins yield a vastly superior ride and they do not tramline.

After many complaints from BMW owners in NA, BMW is now equipping a large percentage of the US bound E90/E92 ZSP with Michelin Pilot Sport, but according to my dealer, many of the Canadian bound cars are still coming in with the crummy Bridgestone Potenza RE050A.

BMWFM · 06-24-2009, 12:32 PM

Had the same issue with the front tire RFTs (Bridgecrap) wearing out much faster in the front. Especially on the outer edges. Had to replace at 25k.

This may be due to a lack of tire pressure but I doubt it. Track probably did not help...

FM

06-22-2009, 05:14 PM	#1
Matt Enlisted Member 2 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 330 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: suburbs of vancouver iTrader: (1)	325 and 330 handling differences. I recently returned a 325i and purchased a CPO 330i. Both 2006 cars with sport suspension. On the 325 I replaced front tires at around 30K and the car handled extremely well, always really stable at speed and very stiff. The 330 feels less stiff and not as stable at higher speeds and doesn't have that tightly grounded feeling the 325 had. My 325 had 50K on it when returned and the 330 has 30K. When I replaced the tires on the 325, the outside of the tires were wearing much faster than the rest of the tire. Could this be the reason the car felt this way? Which is normal? FTR - I think I now prefer the leatherette manual seats of the 325. I am convinced they sit lower in the car and have greater range of adjustments.
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06-22-2009, 05:20 PM	#3
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	325i OEM Turanza RFT tires were crappy, and wore inconsistently like you describe. But I don't think those were on the ZSP 325i. And they certainly wouldn't result in better handling. On your 325i, you replaced the tires at 30K miles. The 330i has 30K miles. Maybe time to replace the tires? I doubt there's a significant handling difference between the two, unless you're feeling the tramlining of wider tires and larger wheels? __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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06-22-2009, 06:10 PM	#4
Matt Enlisted Member 2 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 330 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: suburbs of vancouver iTrader: (1)	Not sure what the 50/50 weight has to do with it - their both nearly identical. There is no question the leather is tops in terms of look and feel, but I prefer the mechanism of the ette' over the leather, percevied or actual. The tires were Bridgestone Potenza RFT. The 325 seemed to tramline more than the 330?
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06-22-2009, 06:25 PM	#5
R608 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 284 Posts Drives: 2011 328i M-Sport (RWD/6MT) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WNY iTrader: (0)	Can't weigh in on the 325 vs. 330 handling, but I do think the power seats sit higher than the manual ones. I noticed it on the e46 and e90 models I had test driven before buying my car. Nothing to do with leather vs. leatherette (I have leather on manual seats) but it does seem to me like my head is always stuffed into the headliner on the ones I drive with power seats.
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06-22-2009, 08:30 PM	#6
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	Might be a good idea to get the alignment checked. if it's out, it will make the car drive worse.
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06-22-2009, 10:14 PM	#7
6speedGaren Private First Class 2 Rep 182 Posts Drives: ISO 330I Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Indy 500 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 375I [0.00]	I love everything about my 325, the seats do sit lower, I sat in power seats of my buddys 335 its higher and I coulnt get comfy either. And youre right about the handling differences, my 325 with non rft handle a little better than my buddys sport package spings, that I dont know why, when he drove my car he was puzzled, but I am still getting eibachs __________________ 2004 RIP 92 Supra 7MGTE 2009 RIP E90 325I
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06-23-2009, 10:55 PM	#8
rotaryboy Private First Class 2 Rep 140 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indiana iTrader: (3)	I drove several e90's with sport package before I purchased a 330 and thought they felt the same.
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06-23-2009, 11:23 PM	#9
DerekS Major 197 Rep 1,180 Posts Drives: '24 X3 M Sport Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: YVR iTrader: (0)	[QUOTE=Matt;5377172 The tires were Bridgestone Potenza RFT. The 325 seemed to tramline more than the 330?[/QUOTE] If you have Bridgestone RE050A RFTs on your 330, I would strongly suggest that you replace them with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP (= zero pressure). I had the dreadful Bridgestones on a previous 330 and on my former 335i Coupe. The Michelins yield a vastly superior ride and they do not tramline. After many complaints from BMW owners in NA, BMW is now equipping a large percentage of the US bound E90/E92 ZSP with Michelin Pilot Sport, but according to my dealer, many of the Canadian bound cars are still coming in with the crummy Bridgestone Potenza RE050A. __________________ on order: 2024 i4 eDrive40 M Sport, Tanzanite metallic with all options
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06-24-2009, 12:32 PM	#10
BMWFM Lieutenant 12 Rep 431 Posts Drives: 328xit Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Had the same issue with the front tire RFTs (Bridgecrap) wearing out much faster in the front. Especially on the outer edges. Had to replace at 25k. This may be due to a lack of tire pressure but I doubt it. Track probably did not help... FM __________________ F34 335i xDrive, M Sport, Alpine White, Black Dakota, Dark Burl, Dynamic Handling, Technology, Driver Assistance, Premium, Active Cruise Control, Heated Seats, Side and Top View Cameras, European Delivery, Debadged
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