I love my 2003 BMW 330i ZHP. But how does this aging performance sedan stack up against the latest 330i? Well it just so happens that while my ZHP was in the shop for (yet another) airbag update BMW of Southpoint in Durham, North Carolina was kind enough to lend me a brand new 330i that happened to have the optional M-Sport package. Let the comparison begin!
Exterior Design
The E46 and E39 BMW sedans of the late 90s and early 'aughts are often held up as the peak of passenger car design. They feature strong, clean lines and classic details. In the interim 15 years BMW design has been... interesting. From the 'flame surfacing,' 'Bangle Butt' cars to the more sedate E90 3-series, it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride. The current F30 3 series, around since 2011, has been through several face lifts to get to its latest version.
Most interesting in the latest update - BMW redesigned the headlights with a clear nod to the E46. The sharp notch in the bottom of the headlight surround mimics the shape of the earlier car. But it's not enough. Overall the F30 is a nice looking sports sedan. But it's hard to distinguish at a glance from other cars in the segment. Was that a Hyundai Genesis G70? On the other hand, the E46 3 series represents a benchmark in automotive design that is hard to beat.
Interior Design and Features
Technology, materials, and manufacturing process updates have vaulted interior design several light years from the late 1990s when the E46 first launched. This is not always for the best of course. But manufacturers like Audi and BMW have done a good job of integrating large screens and other features with classic design. The 330i reflects that trend. The ZHP interior seems almost quaint in comparison. USB port anyone?
In my afternoon with the F30 I found the interior to be comfortable and driver-oriented, the way BMW intended. And while I do think the interior materials and leather is a touch higher quality in the older car, it doesn't significantly outweigh the feel of the newer. In a perfect world I would graft the current tech features into the older car. But since that's not an option, this is a clear win for the F30.
Driving Impressions
Up front there is this obvious difference between these two cars - only the ZHP has a manual transmission. In fact it's a different manual than the regular E46, with six speeds and a perfect short shift knob. The new 330i has flappy paddles. BMW has just about abandoned manuals (but then so has Ferrari and no one accuses them of being soft). They work fine, and in sport mode shift fast and fairly hard. But I'm old school. A proper car has a proper transmission.
That said, the 2020 330i is a darned fun car to drive around on back roads. It is rocket fast, confident, and comfortable. The turbo four cylinder provides 255 horsepower and an impressive 295 ft-lbs of torque. And despite gaining a few hundred pounds since the E46 days, the 3 series is still fairly lightweight unless you add XDrive. Electric steering has gotten better since introduced in the F30 in 2011, but feedback is a bit dead on center and doesn't really tell you what the front end is doing in the curves. But overall the driving experience is BMW good.
But here's the problem: the 330i ZHP is BMW great. I was somewhat surprised to find that both cars registered a 5.2 second 0-60 run in Car and Driver testing. I would have thought the new one would be a bit faster. While technically down on horsepower to the newer car, the inline six cylinder is always ready to run up to it's 6800 rpm redline. And it does this with a growl that no turbo four can match. The stiffer ZHP spec suspension does it's part too. The car is tossable in the corners and always ready to play. It's literally an energetic puppy of a sports sedan. Offered both keys for a mountain road, I'll take the ZHP every time.
Conclusions
In the end I'm a bit torn. If you can swing the note or the lease, you should probably get the new 330i. It's a darned good car. And the 340i kicks up the fun with a twin turbo inline six. But neither of these is a ZHP. That car is unique - less than 4,000 were produced. It distills the BMW experience into a tangible thing, probably something that won't - can't - happen again. The world has changed. Safety regulations, emissions, and corporate average fuel economy weren't a big thing in 2003. Now they have an undue influence on design and the driving experience.
So if you need a new, sporty sedan, the 330i is a fine choice. But if you want to go for a drive, find a 330i ZHP.
