2001 marked a reshuffling of BMW's 3-Series line up, with the bottom line being more power. The 328i was upgraded with a new, 3.0 liter, 225-horsepower engine and renamed the 330i, which quickly became a favorite among the 10 cars released in the 3-series by BMW in 2001.

The car was available as a sedan, coupe and convertible coupe, with higher coupe and convertible prices reflecting a "slightly higher" level of luxury. All models came with a standard five-speed manual transmission. When the car was released, some drivers complained that it was too pricey, but as BMW's are known to do, it the 2001 330 has retained a higher resale value than other cars in its class.