Performance Review: BMW 3 Series 330d F30 LCI - [2015]

Figures & Specs Summary:

BMW 3 Series Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the BMW 3 Series 330d F30 LCI is the 8 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2015. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2016 Bugatti Chiron 8.0 W16 Quad Turbo and the 2015 Koenigsegg Regera 5.0 V8 Turbo.This particular BMW 3 Series has a 2993cc Turbo Diesel powerplant with 6 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Diesel St6's includes the

The 3 Series shares its Diesel St6 engine configuration with the likes of the and the 2017 BMW 5 Series 540d xDrive G30. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 3 Series's Rear Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1615 kgs (3560 lbs) this makes the BMW 3 Series 330d F30 LCI in the same weight category as the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The BMW 3 Series shares the same bhp with the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp)

In terms of power the 2993cc 24V St6 engine produces 254 bhp (189 kW) @ 4000 rpm similar to the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp) or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (266 bhp).

The Turbo St6 throws out 413 lb-ft (559.9 Nm) @ 1500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (418 lb-ft) or the 2022 KTM X-Bow GT-XR 2.5 Turbo (429 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the BMW 3 Series you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom Saloon 4d (182.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the BMW 3 Series.

The BMW 3 Series has a Power to weight ratio of 157.2 bhp per ton and 255.7 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2015 3 Series competing with the 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom Saloon 4d (182.2 bhp per ton) or the 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 (182.2 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the BMW 3 Series generating around 255.7 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2021 BMW 5 Series M5 4.4 V8 Turbo F90 (280.7 lb-ft per ton) or the 2019 Jaguar F Type R Convertible 5.0 V8 Supercharged (280.7 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.40 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.6 secs, this made the BMW 3 Series 330d F30 LCI as fast as the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.40 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.40 secs) the 2019 Jaguar F Type 2.0 Turbo Cabriolet (5.40 secs) the or the 2019 Jaguar F Type 2.0 Turbo (5.40 secs). This BMW 3 Series 330d F30 LCI is also faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost (5.50 secs) the 2017 Honda Civic Type R 2.0i 16v Turbo - FK8 (5.50 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 (5.50 secs) the and the 2017 Seat Leon Cupra 300 DSG (5.50 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 3 Series and the 1992 Mazda RX7 Turbo

When talking about the performance of the BMW 3 Series on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.3 secs @ 89.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1992 Mazda RX7 Turbo (15.23 secs), the 2015 Ford Focus ST-3 2.0 Turbo Estate (15.24 secs), and the 1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport (15.25 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2015 version of the BMW 3 Series 330d F30 LCI has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2015 3 Series equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2015 BMW 3 Series 330d F30 LCI then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2015 3 Series Rivals List.

A Brief History of BMW

Car Comparison