BMW 330d vs 330i: Diesel Six or Petrol Four?
330d vs 330i is the mid-range 3 Series buying decision. 330d (N57 pre-LCI, B57 post-LCI) is the six-cylinder diesel: 258 to 286 bhp, 560 to 620 Nm of torque, 40 to 50 mpg motorway. 330i (B48 post-LCI, N20 pre-LCI Z4 only) is the four-cylinder turbo petrol: 252 to 258 bhp, 350 Nm of torque, 30 to 40 mpg. The 330d is the long-distance pick; the 330i is the simpler ULEZ-from-launch pick. Different cars at similar money.
Quick verdict
330d for long-distance comfort and torque; 330i for simpler ownership and ULEZ certainty. 330d M Sport xDrive Touring is the family-distance pick of the 3 Series range. 330i is rarer in the UK (most buyers historically went 320i or 320d) but worth chasing for the petrol-six smoothness without the 340i price.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | 330d | 330i | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine layout | Inline-six diesel | Inline-four turbo petrol | Different fundamental character. |
| Power (modal F30 / G20) | 258 bhp (B57 standard) | 252 bhp (B48 post-LCI) | Similar peak power. |
| Torque (modal F30 / G20) | 560 Nm (B57) | 350 Nm (B48) | 330d has 60% more torque. |
| Real-world UK combined | 40 to 50 mpg | 30 to 40 mpg | Diesel ~30% more efficient. |
| ULEZ compliance | B57 post-LCI yes; N57 pre-LCI no | Yes (all builds Euro 6) | 330i is uniformly compliant. |
| AdBlue / SCR servicing | B57 has it (NOx sensors £300-£500 each) | Petrol, no SCR | 330d has diesel running cost. |
| Insurance group | 26 to 34 | 23 to 30 | 330i marginally cheaper to insure. |
| Used pool depth (F30) | Moderate (less than 320d) | Smaller still (less than 320i) | Both rarer than 320d / 320i. |
| xDrive availability | Common on 330d (xDrive standard on some markets) | Possible but less common | 330d xDrive is the modal mid-range UK car. |
| Rod-bearing / chain risk | B57 no, N57 has different concerns | B48 post-2017 chain low risk, pre-2017 some | Both well-understood. |
330d: deeper look
330d (3.0L inline-six diesel) is the long-distance 3 Series. N57 pre-LCI (F30 2012 to 2015): 258 bhp, 560 Nm. B57 post-LCI (F30 2015 to 2019, G20 2020 onwards): 258 to 286 bhp, 560 to 620 Nm depending on variant. Real-world motorway 45 to 50 mpg, combined 40 to 46. The six-cylinder diesel character is what 330d buyers come for: effortless overtakes, mid-range torque, refined cruising. xDrive is common on UK 330ds. Long-tail concerns: B57 NOx sensors at £300 to £500 each past 60,000 miles, AdBlue / SCR system maintenance, EGR recall on diesels.
330i: deeper look
330i (2.0L turbo petrol) is rarer in the UK than the 320i or the 340i but worth chasing for the modern petrol-four balance. N20 pre-LCI (F30 2012 to 2015): 245 bhp on early 328i, 252 bhp on 330i (mid-cycle rename in some markets). B48 post-LCI: 252 bhp standard, 258 bhp in some G20 builds. Real-world combined 30 to 40 mpg, motorway 38 to 50. Modular B-family wear items: oil filter housing gasket, PCV diaphragm, walnut blast carbon clean every 60,000 miles. No diesel emissions infrastructure (DPF, SCR, AdBlue) means simpler service profile.
Decision logic
Annual mileage is the first filter. Under 8,000 miles: 330i wins on total cost of ownership (lower service, no diesel-specific items, simpler ULEZ). Over 12,000 miles: 330d wins on fuel cost alone (around £900 to £1,400 per year saved at UK pump prices). Between those, 330d wins on driving character (torque, refinement) and 330i wins on simplicity. xDrive is more common on 330d, which matters for family / wet-weather use. ULEZ compliance: 330i works for all London buyers; 330d works only on post-LCI B57 builds.
UK 2026 pricing comparison
| Scenario | 330d | 330i | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| F30 LCI 330d M Sport xDrive, 60k mi | £15,000 to £18,000 | £14,000 to £17,000 (330i) | F30 LCI mid-range. |
| G20 330d xDrive, 40k mi | £28,000 to £34,000 | £24,000 to £29,000 (330i) | G20 generation; 330d slightly more. |
| G20 LCI 330d xDrive, 20k mi | £35,000 to £42,000 | £30,000 to £36,000 (330i) | Post-2022 G20 LCI. |
| F30 LCI 330d Touring xDrive, 60k mi | £16,000 to £19,000 | Not commonly available | Touring (F31) family-distance pick. |
Recommendation by scenario
| Scenario | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| UK motorway long-distance (over 15k miles) | 330d B57 xDrive Touring (F31 or G21) | 560+ Nm torque + xDrive + Touring practicality. The default UK family-distance car. |
| London commuter, mid-range power, ULEZ-first | 330i B48 (post-LCI F30 or G20) | ULEZ-compliant from launch on every build. No DPF / AdBlue. Simpler service. |
| Family second car (mixed use) | Either; 330d if motorway weighted, 330i if town weighted | Both work. Personal preference matters more than spreadsheet. |
| Enthusiast 3 Series buyer | M340i (B58 inline-six petrol) if budget allows | The petrol-six enthusiast pick; £18-£23k F30 used, £30-£38k G20. If 330d / 330i money: 330i is the more characterful pick. |
| Long-distance Touring (F31 / G21) | 330d B57 xDrive Touring | Family-V8-money diesel; the modal UK Touring 3 Series. |
| Tight budget (£12k to £15k) | F30 pre-LCI 330d Touring or 328i M Sport | Pre-LCI N57 330d Touring is around £11-£14k; pre-LCI 328i is similar. Verify timing-chain (N57) or N20 chain (328i). |
Bimmer.AI is designed to help you identify BMW-specific buyer risks before you travel, negotiate, or pay for an inspection. It does not replace a physical inspection by a qualified mechanic, a legal vehicle-history check (e.g. HPI Check), or independent verification of finance, stolen, or write-off status. Repair-cost ranges are indicative UK figures that vary by region, specialist, parts supply, and labour rates.
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Run a Bimmer.AI buyer report →Frequently asked questions
Is the 330d worth the premium over the 320d?
On the F30 LCI, around £3,000 to £5,000 premium for 330d over 320d at similar mileage and trim. The 330d delivers 560 Nm vs 400 Nm and 0-60 around 5.5 seconds vs 7 seconds. For long-distance use the inline-six refinement and torque is genuinely better; for commuting it's a meaningful upgrade but not transformative. On G20 the gap is similar. xDrive availability on 330d adds value for family / weather use.
Is the 330i worth chasing over the 320i?
On F30 LCI, around £1,500 to £2,500 premium for 330i over 320i. The 330i delivers 252 bhp vs 184 bhp, 0-60 around 5.6 seconds vs 7 seconds. Same B48 engine but different state of tune. Worth it if you appreciate the extra performance; not transformative for daily use.
Is the 330d ULEZ-compliant?
B57 330d (post-LCI F30 from mid-2015 and all G20) is Euro 6 from launch and ULEZ-compliant. N57 330d (pre-LCI F30 2012 to 2015) is Euro 5 and NOT compliant. Verify on V5 emissions class.
How much more expensive is 330d to run than 330i?
Beyond fuel (which favours 330d on motorway and 330i in town), 330d carries diesel-specific costs: NOx sensors past 60k miles (£300 to £500 each), DPF risk on city-only driving (£400 to £1,500), AdBlue maintenance, EGR recall. 330i has typical modular wear items but no diesel emissions infrastructure. Annual service cost difference is around £200 to £500 favouring 330i.
Why is the 330i so rare in the UK?
Historically UK 3 Series petrol buyers went 320i for value or 340i for performance; the 330i mid-range was overshadowed. On G20 the 330i M Sport is becoming more common as petrol shifts back into favour with diesel uncertainty. Most pre-2017 330i M Sport cars are F30 LCI examples ex-fleet or ex-PCP.
330d xDrive or 330i RWD?
xDrive on 330d is genuinely useful for high-mileage UK winter / wet driving, especially on Touring (F31, G21). 330i is mostly RWD in UK; xDrive is rare. If your use case includes regular winter motorway or rural roads, 330d xDrive Touring is the rational pick. If your use case is mostly urban, 330i RWD is fine.
M340i or 330i?
M340i (B58 inline-six petrol) is the M Performance pick: 374 bhp, ULEZ-compliant, ex-PCP common at £18-£23k on F30 LCI and £30-£38k on G20. 330i is around £6-£10k cheaper across both generations. M340i is the enthusiast value pick if budget allows; 330i is the modal petrol value pick at lower money.
Should I avoid the 330d because of diesel uncertainty?
Only if you live inside ULEZ on a pre-LCI build, OR you commute primarily through ULEZ zones. Post-LCI 330d is uniformly ULEZ-compliant; the medium-term diesel uncertainty in UK road policy is real but not immediate. 330d is a sensible buy in 2026 if your annual mileage justifies the engine and your use case isn't ULEZ-constrained.