3-Series (E46, E90)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1999 to Current. Models include: BMW 316i, BMW 318i, BMW 318Ci, BMW 320i, BMW 323i, BMW 325i, BMW 330i, BMW 328 Ci, BMW 328i, BMW 325i/xi, BMW 330Ci, BMW 320d, BMW 330d, BMW 335d.
Hi, I have a 2006 330i steptronic with the performance and sport packages. This was my first Beamer and I love it. I took the car in for service and was given the salesman's 335i.........boy what a difference.....this was back in 2007 and I had just had my 2006 for 9 months.......the trade in difference was almost 15000......I only had 7000 miles on my car.
Fast forward to 2009 and I still have my 2006. I've longed for the 335i but could not justify the price difference for the basically the same car but with 45 more horses. Now I see the Dinan download for 2000 dollars giving 85 more horses and 150 lbs/ft more torque. In fact I've driven another demo with this....problem is my car only has 10000 miles on her now. I store her in the winter time too.
I've contacted Dinan and asked what they have for the 2006 330i.....they just have some exhaust parts and cold air intakes that will increase the horsepower of my car by 30-35 horses. Again, I love my car but I find the bottom end just a dog. This Dinan download for the 335i doesn't affect the warranty either.
How many of you out there put up the money and did trade their 330i's in for the 335i? With my usage of the car, is it worth it now to go for the 335i trade? It will still cost me 15-20 grand....not including the Dinan download.
Any advice on how to increase power on my 330i without negating the warranty?
Do I need the power........well if I can get it why not? Power corrupts......driving the cars back to back it is like mine is standing still. Drive the 335i with the Dinan download.......wow....who would by an M3 with how harsh it drives?
Yes you can get a lot of mods on the car for 15k but will the warranty still be valid? The Dinan download honours the BMW warranty.
Has anyone on this forum superchared their 2006 330i?
Hey New Guy here, I have a 2006 330i Dinan 3. I had the same thoughts as dr-wall when the 335's came out. I have since done the Dinan exhaust, cold air intake and bored throttle bodies and it made a ton of difference, imo. I have since done the Dinan Stage 2 suspension and 19" BMW Performance wheels. The car handles like a go-cart, on rails.
I have ordered the Active Auto Werkes 330i software but it won't be installed until next week. It has just been released. Dinan says they are working on 330i software but do not have a release date. They have focused on the much more common 335i. My car should be right at 300 HP when the software is flashed.
My car has 48k miles and is 45 months old so warranty is pretty much gone so I'm not worried too much about warranty issues. However, my service tech says Active Auto is a great company with tons of experience.
FYI, I run my Steptronic in DS 100% of the time and love what it does to the low-end shift points.
Would I like to have the twin turbo? Absolutely, but I would not trade my car as it is currently set up for any 335 loaners I have driven.
Thanks Saint330i for the info. So to get to the magic 300 horsepower what did you have to do? I know you did the cold air intake and exhaust from Dinan, you bored the cylinders..what company did that?....Active Auto Werkes has a download? Can I ask how much to get to 300 horses?
I'd love a 335i too but 15k is waaay too steep for basically the same car in my wife's opinion.
What is this download from Dinan going to do? I can't see much as there are no turbos to work with.
As a point of clarification, the throttle body was bored by Dinan...nothing else. According to Dinan, the exhaust,CAI and throttle body combined add 15-20 hp and Dinan is notoriously conservative. Activeautowerkes says to expect 15+hp from the software. Ballpark 285-295hp total. I expect that's all there is short of going to internal engine parts which I'm not doing.
As noted, the turbos have much more upside than the normally aspirated 330i. However, experts say the turbos have a shorter life span.
The cost of the Dinan and Active bolt-ons is approx. $6000 for 30-40hp. Not cheap but done right and they are BMW's!!!
Also, I cannot stress enough the ride quality and handling improvement added by the Dinan suspension upgrade. Once again, not cheap but these are BMW's. The handling of my Dinan 3 versus an off the rack 335i's is no comparison,imo.
Get a ESS twin screw stage 2+ kit. Makes more hp then the 335i and its a posi-displacement blower which means it makes boost nice and low for a fat torque curve. The kit will run you $8,000 and makes 380hp and 465nm torque. Still save money off the 335i and makes more power.
Get a ESS twin screw stage 2+ kit. Makes more hp then the 335i and its a posi-displacement blower which means it makes boost nice and low for a fat torque curve. The kit will run you $8,000 and makes 380hp and 465nm torque. Still save money off the 335i and makes more power.
Is the ESS supercharger recognized by BMW? Dinan is recognized and will not affect the warranty that my car came with.
Am I shortening the life of my car?
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jealous of the 335i 
i'd say mod the 330 also your insurence will be less
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