2004 BMW 330Ci Road Test

Just as I would want it, my 330Ci tester housed the 6-speed manual cog-swapper. The wide variety of gearing

Just as I would want it, my 330Ci tester housed the 6-speed manual cog-swapper. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

encompassed in this box enabled me to maximize the turbine-smooth output of the powerplant by keeping the engine where it loved to be - north of 3,500 rpm. From there to the 6,500 rpm redline, the 24-valve engine sings a virulent baritone tune without ever wheezing or feeling constricted, thanks in part to BMW's Double-VANOS technology which ensures optimum torque over the entire rev range. This performance inducing technology achieves its results by varying camshaft control of the inlet and exhaust valve timings. According to BMW, on paper, Double-VANOS creates a torque curve that resembles a plateau, which translates into abundant torque regardless of engine speed. I put this assertion to the test by loading the engine at 1,000 rpm in fourth gear. True enough, without stutter or kick back, all 3.0-liters got down to business and smoothly pulled the coupe forward as the revs climbed out of their doldrums and burst into life. This sort of output flexibility simplifies driving a manual-shifting vehicle in day-to-day traffic by

BMW's 6-speed manual box is pure mechanical art. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

minimizing the frequency of gear changes that accompany stop and go traffic - something most towns have plenty of these days.

On the shifting bright side, BMW's 6-speed manual box is pure mechanical art. It digs into each gear with just the right amount of notch, however the throws are a tad longer than I expected. The 6-mixer in Audi's S4 eclipses the Bimmer's stick when it comes to short throws and stick handling perfection. Clutch travel in the 330Ci is again more than I have sampled in other premium sport coupes, however the Bimmer's clutch engages smoothly and progressively, although fairly high on the uptake. Irrespective of its shortcomings, or "long-comings" in this case, depending on a person's perspective when it comes to drivetrain refinement and operational smoothness the 330Ci 6-speed is a wonderful example of modern mechanical wizardry. Even the coarsest of drivers would climb a notch or two on the manual-shifting skill-o-meter when administering the Bimmer's polished stick.