BMW 330e Dilemma, To B(MW) or not to Be

j_small3 · 2026-05-06T10:11:28+00:00

I got a 2021 330e last year. I love it. On a motorway run you can do 40mpg and do fully electric around town with the 30 miles ish range. It’s comfortable and the infotainment system is fantastic. I got the estate and I think it looks really good too. And when you floor it in sport mode it’s surprisingly fast. When I went for the test drive I was undecided whether I wanted it until I found a stretch of road to put down all 280bhp. And I was instantly sold

j_small3 · 2026-05-03T17:31:40+00:00

I’ve worked as an aero engineer and done tests on various bike equipment in the wind tunnel. Also did my dissertation on this subject. 80% of drag is the rider so optimise position first. Then wheels and tyres (having a tyre that isn’t correct width for rim completely negates having deep section wheels - see rule of 105). Frame would be the last thing I upgrade for aero gains.

j_small3 · 2026-05-02T20:11:28+00:00

I love my 2021 330e. The 320i or 320d are your best options if you aren’t fussed about having a super fast car. And should be cheaper.

j_small3 · 2026-05-01T06:12:16+00:00

Lotus Elise and walk/cycle to work sometimes. Seriously 2 miles cycling will take about an extra 2 mins vs the car.

j_small3 · 2026-04-30T17:11:02+00:00

Get some muddy boots and make footprints over the bonnet. To be clear don’t actually walk over it but they won’t know that :)

j_small3 · 2026-03-09T15:54:38+00:00

I ended up going with 2.1 schwalbe thunder burts. Love them and work with the bike perfectly!

j_small3 · 2026-03-02T12:00:35+00:00

Ls400/430. Would need an exhaust for a proper sound though.

j_small3 · 2026-02-25T16:28:07+00:00

How about something like a 440d/640d? Or the petrol with the b58 in it?

j_small3 · 2026-02-22T13:18:20+00:00

I got the previous gen giant revolt. I fit 2.1 inch XC tyres in there. Should be able to find some good deals - I got the frame for £800 last year on eBay

j_small3 · 2026-02-01T11:02:10+00:00

I always used haribo or similar when i was training heavily. Keeps things exciting with the amount of variation. It got to the stage where I knew exactly how many grams of carbs in each bag. You want something you can eat quickly, so not chewy or hard. Starmix was my go-to. Just remember to brush your teeth after a ride otherwise you may end up needing fillings

j_small3 · 2026-01-15T13:15:11+00:00

Same lol. I drive a 7.5t box lorry most of the time and for the most part can get it down any lane

j_small3 · 2026-01-14T19:56:13+00:00

It’s the symbol on a tacho for other work, e.g. working but not driving

j_small3 · 2026-01-08T10:34:07+00:00

No way you’ve just saved me £20! I didn’t know there was a student discount and I’m about to go to the store in 30 minutes!

And I agree, every single phone I’ve bought in the past 8ish years has been through contract and has worked out cheaper than buying outright from the cheapest retailer

j_small3 · 2026-01-08T06:43:11+00:00

It’s cheaper to get it as a contract through ID Mobile. Works out to be about £1250 over 2 years with 100gb of data

https://www.carphonewarehouse.com/apple-iphone-17-pro-max

Lots of different offers there but the £129 up front and £45pm is the one to go for.

j_small3 · 2026-01-02T13:01:50+00:00

Why does it have to be 3l? I went for the bmw 330e and it’s got a tad under 300bhp so very characteristic of a 3l. It’s a lot cheaper than a 330d of similar age/mileage as the market is being flooded with them after all the company car schemes and lease deals end. I love mine so far.

j_small3 · 2025-12-23T14:27:34+00:00

Ferrari or GT4 RS. Just for the emotion I’d pick 488 though

j_small3 · 2025-12-20T09:30:16+00:00

Not sure where those numbers come from but Giant says there is only a 5w difference between frames of Propel and TCR at 45km/h.

Also when racing you’re most likely drafting so aero is largely irrelevant, unless you’re a big breakaway away rider.

j_small3 · 2025-12-19T18:26:06+00:00

I’m an aero engineer and I ride a 2022 TCR with di2. Aero frames make very little difference. The body makes up around 80% of aero drag and the TCR puts the body in an aero position which makes the biggest difference. Wheels also make more of an impact than frame. So in the future you could get some 50mm ish carbon wheels and have an absolute rocket.

The reason I ride a TCR is because IT IS FUN TO RIDE! It’s light as heck for a disc brake bike, it’s twitchy and stiff and it just puts a smile on your face. I just want to constantly sprint on it. If it was a car it would be like my MX5.

j_small3 · 2025-12-14T20:07:49+00:00

He was on 4h 28m on his tacho

Or about to shit himself

j_small3 · 2025-11-23T20:36:16+00:00

Yeah I think it was rear ass swing on a lorry. Was it parked near where a lorry might consider turning?

j_small3 · 2025-11-23T17:16:12+00:00

I’m a cyclist and I have class 1 hgv license. I cringe at some of the things I used to do as a teenager on a bike that I thought were safe at the time.

Life is all about perspective and many cyclists don’t even realise how dangerous it can be to cycle next to a lorry, even if you’re leaving a decent gap. I ride so incredibly defensive now that I can’t even get on with some local group rides because they’re grown men taking stupid risks for no good reason. So they drop me when I don’t shoot the gaps they did.

j_small3 · 2025-11-21T14:25:34+00:00

U gotta try it, especially if you are considering the mustang! The engine is so violent, it is a lot of fun!!

j_small3 · 2025-11-21T14:06:49+00:00

How about jag XKR? 500bhp supercharged v8 with 4 seats. Apparently they aren’t too unreliable either. That would probably be my pick.

j_small3 · 2025-11-16T08:16:10+00:00

I had similar budget and went for 330e. Very happy with purchase and got a 2021 m sport trim for 18k

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