Weber Spirit II E330 Review — Is this a Recommended bit of Kit? Pros and Cons?

The Weber Spirit II E-330 is one of Weber’s budget all-rounders. The Spirit series of grills feature everything you would expect in a grill twice the size but in a compact unit that packs plenty of bang for your buck.

If you’re in the market for an all-rounder gas grill that offers the convenience of gas cooking, the great flavor of open flame cooking, and a compact but versatile cooking station, then you’ve come to the right review!

We know that for many of our readers space is a premium, so they need a decent grill that will sit in the corner of the patio and not take up too much space. But you also want a versatile grill without emptying your bank account.

Well, we may have just the grill for you.

In this comprehensive review, we will show you why Weber is one of the most popular grill brands and why the Spirit II E330 is great.

We’ll show you what features it possesses, what the build quality is like, and of course whether it’s right for you and your wallet.

So, let’s dive in and take an up-close look at what the Spirit ii E-330 has to offer.

The Weber Spirit II E-330 Propane Grill in a Nutshell

First and foremost, the Spirit ii E-330 is purposely compact in design. It’s easy to move, and for a compact grill it delivers a great amount of cooking space. As well as areas to prepare food, hang utensils, and store accessories.

Like we said, big features, small design.

The Spirit ii E-330 is a 3-burner grill with an added sear station and a side burner for extra cooking capacity. It stands out from the crowd with its porcelain-enameled lid, and weber logo branded control knobs.

Below the cooking area, there is a surprising amount of storage space for tools and accessories, which is freed up by positioning the gas tank on the side.

The four sturdy castor wheels also make it very portable should you need to reposition it.

A Few Words About Weber

The Weber company is the brainchild of George Stephens, an avid family man with 12 children, he was a lover of quality time cooking with the family. But he found the traditional brazier style BBQ’s of the 1950s to be problematic, inefficient, and uneven.

Inspired by the shape of a metal life buoy that his employer manufactured from steel, he set about to create a better grill.

Cutting the buoy in half meant he had both a fire pit and a lid. Which he went on to turn into the original Weber kettle design with adjustable vents for better heat control.

So successful was this revolutionary design, that he bought his employer’s business, Weber Brothers Metal Works, and turned it into the Weber company we know and love today.

Currently HQ-based in Palatine Illinois where it started, Weber is still manufacturing the kettle, as well as many gas grills and wood pellet smokers, along with a massive range of accessories.

What’s in the Box?

• Weber Spirit II E-330 3-Burner with sear station
• Owner’s manual/assembly guide
• Firebox with 2 grates, warming rack, heat deflector, and flavorizer Bars
• Side burner with integral lid
• Hardware consumables for stand/cart assembly
• Control console with electronic crossover ignition system
• 3 burners
• LPG tank connection with fuel gauge
• 1 side shelf
• 1 cupboard door
• 4 wheels
• 1 AA battery

First Impressions

A classic looking gas grill, with added style.

The Spirit ii E-330 might be a traditional gas grill design, but the stylish details set it apart from the competition.

It has the Weber renowned porcelain enamel finish on the hood, and powder coated gray frame that contrasts the hood beautifully.

But to top it off, the control knobs and other parts of the grill are branded with the weber logo and color-coded like you would get in a high-end sports car, it shouts quality.

As if we weren’t already impressed with the look of the grill, a quick scan of the features leaves us in awe of how much Weber has squeezed into this compact unit.

The three-burner setup is as powerful as a standard 4-burner grill, plus it has an extra burner squeezed in to create the sear station.

Additionally, you’ve got an added solo side burner for all your saucepan and accompaniment needs, making it a real treat of a unit to cook a complete meal on. So no running back and forth to the kitchen to tie it all together.

In short, this is a well put-together unit that has everything you need for a good grill setup.

A good size cooking area at 427 square inches which can feed 5 to 7 people at a time, plus the extra capacity of 105 square inches on the warming rack.

Add the grease management system for ease of cleaning and the extra storage space at the bottom of the trolley, and you’ve got a really functional cooking space.

Why Do Customers Choose the Weber Spirit II E-330 Propane Grill?

This Spirit ii E-330 is most likely an upgrade on most people’s grill setup, with many people still sticking to traditional kettles and charcoal BBQ’s.

The Spirit ii E-330 offers all sorts of convenience as a great entry-level unit. Not Weber’s most basic unit, but far from their most expensive, it really does give you a good feel for what is available in this compact piece.

Weber themselves say it’s a great choice for anyone looking to ‘take their backyard cuisine to another level‘. Seeing that thousands of people rate Weber very highly, they are probably right.

It comes with Weber’s great build quality and easy on the eye design, which also makes it a popular choice for folks when compared to other brands that use lower-quality materials.

With Weber, you really do get what you pay for.

Specifications

• Main burners: 32,000 BTU
• Sear station burner: 7,500 BTU
• Side burner: 12,000 BTU
• Dimensions (lid open): 63″ (H) × 52″ (W) × 32″ (D)
• Dimensions (lid closed): 45.5″ (H) × 52″ (W) × 24″ (D)
• Primary cooking area — 424 square inches
• Warming rack area — 105 square inches
• Total cooking area — 529 square inches
• Stainless steel burners — 3
• Fuel type — liquid propane (20 lb. tank, sold separately)
• Side tables — 2
• Swivel casters — 2
• Swivel locking casters — 2
• Tool hooks — 6

Standout Features

The following features make the Spirit ii E-330 stand out from the crowd:

Impressive Power

For what is described as a ‘budget’ Weber, or the ‘cheaper option,’ the output of the Spirit ii E-330 is pretty impressive.

The three burners put out up to 32,000 BTUs of cooking power, and when you add the extra sear station burner that was designed for the more expensive Genesis grills, you get an extra 7,500 BTUs.

This lets you both sear at high heat or set it low and use it to keep food warm when you finish cooking.

That’s not all though, the side burner produces up to 12,000 BTUs and is convenient for anything that requires a saucepan or frying pan, like sauces or vegetables.

Stainless Steel Build

You expect a certain level of quality with a grill from Weber, and the Spirit ii E-330 is no exception. It does use a slightly lower grade of steel than it’s more expensive big brothers, but this is not detrimental to the grill itself.

It still stands out from other grills as a fantastically built grill. The Spirit ii E-330 is a robust product that offers great value for many and will last for many years to come.

Ease of Use

Weber is the master of easy cooking. Google their sales videos, and you’ll hear more than a few of their reps say that they design cooking methods, not cooking equipment, and we’re inclined to agree.

The Spirit ii E-330 has inherited the electronic Crossover ignition system from its bigger siblings.

It’s powered by a single AA battery used to ignite the first burner, which in turn is used to light any additional burners that you require, removing the need for the electric ignition every time you light a burner.

The Spirit ii E-330 houses a 20-lb LPG tank with a weight-based fuel gauge. The gauge estimates the remaining fuel you have by weighing the tank. That way, you’re unlikely to ever run out of fuel. ​

Plus, with the gas tank stationed at the side of the grill, you’ve got the whole body of the cart to keep adding tools and accessories close to hand while cooking.

​Cleaning and Maintenance

The Spirit ii E-330 has porcelain-coated grates and flavorizer bars, making them a doddle to clean, just brush them off with a grill brush to remove food debris.

If needs be, they can be scraped with a plastic scraper (not metal), protecting the enamel coating for longer.

Use the same method for the heat deflector and interior of the grill body and hood. Your burner tubes will need a good brush to remove food bits from holes to keep the flames burning clean and efficient.

The grease management is another Weber design element that makes life easier.

In simple terms, it’s a drip tray for catching excess fat and meat juices. Most of the juices and fat are vaporized by the flavorizer bars for added flavor, but any that escape the bars collect in the grease tray, which funnels them into the catch pan.

You can easily access the grease tray to scrape it and then wash with soapy water, and the disposable aluminum catch pans are just swapped out for fresh ones.

With hooded grills, over time the grease and carbon build-up can take on the look of flaking paint. Rest assured it isn’t, and it can be easily removed with a good brush into a tray and disposed of. If you don’t, it can fall onto your food, so it’s best to keep it clean.

The Spirit ii E-330, with its stainless-steel exterior, will need a wipe down with soapy water to remove grease and dust residue. A microfiber cloth is great for this. A good stainless steel cleaner and polish is good for protecting it from the elements and keeping it shiny.

Available Support

The Weber website is renowned for its extensive support, you can download manuals and construction guides as well as find spares and accessories.

As well as a host of ways to contact them should you need any after-sales support to fix problems and breakdowns.

Almost every question you could think of has most probably been answered already in the FAQ section, or in their guides on how to look after your new favorite grill.

Weber runs a blog, grill academy, and recipe library as well, so head there if you want to learn how to make the absolute most of your Weber.

It also links into their social media feeds on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest, where they post exclusive announcements and extra content for recipes and guidance.

Like most big companies, there are some complaints, mainly from people that have managed to break their grills through misuse and expect Weber to fix it outside warranty for no cost.

Available Upgrades, Accessories and Attachments

Take a quick peek at the accessories section of the website, and you’ll be overwhelmed with the length and breadth of grilling gadgets and accessories you can buy for your Weber grill.

They range from spare parts such as knobs, burner tubes and other bits. They also sell cooking aids such as rotisserie kits, cooking stones and grill baskets. As well as merchandise, such as t-shirts, aprons, and coffee cups.

Out of all that’s available, there are two things we recommend as a must.

One is a decent grill cover to protect and prolong the life of your grill, because let’s face it there is only so much punishment your grill can take despite its build quality.

The second accessory is the iGrill3 thermometer system. A good remote monitored thermometer system is a must for any grill king.

The iGrill3 is custom-made for certain Weber grills, the Spirit ii E-330 is one of them.

It has twin probes for monitoring internal temps of two meats, plus the capability to add two more if you want to.

The base unit then connects to your smart device via an app allowing you to see what is happening with your cook without having to stand next to the grill.

Warranty Details

• Cook box: 10 years, no rust through/burn through (2-years paint excluding fading or discoloration)
• Lid assembly: 10 years, no rust through/burn through (2-years paint excluding fading or discoloration)
• Stainless steel burner tubes: 10 years, no rust through/burn through
• Stainless steel flavorizer bars: 5 years, no rust through/burn through
• Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates: 5 years, no rust through/burn through
• All remaining parts 2-years

For your warranty to stand and be honored, you must register your new grill at Weber’s website.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Should You Buy the Weber Spirit II E-330 Propane Grill?

It’s not often that a Weber grill gives us a reason to not like them, and the Spirit ii E-330 is no exception, and like most Weber grills it delivers on all fronts.

It’s stupidly easy to cook with because ease of use is at the forefront of its design. For that reason, you should give it serious consideration as your next grill if it fits your bill.

The Spirit ii E-330 has many features that create a real quality cooking experience for both novice and pro alike with the retrospective ability to add accessories. You can also continue to add cooking versatility to broaden your repertoire with it too.

The only reason to overlook it or replace it would be the need for extra cooking space.

Other Models Might Suit You If:

• You want a dedicated smoker rather than an all-rounder
• You regularly cook for more than 7 people and want to be able to grill enough in one round.

Final Thoughts

If you found your way to our review because you’re looking for a well-equipped but compact grill that performs in almost every way, is simple and easy to cook with, offers the convenience of LPG and is low maintenance, then you’ve just found your next grill in the Weber Spirit II E-330.

Our final observation on this grill is that it might just be the perfect choice for anyone that wants to up their grill game and learn more in-depth cooking approaches that will use low and slow, smoke, and high heat techniques to produce a wider range of food for the family.

Keep an eye out for our other reviews on similar grills that offer extra space and additional features.

And don’t forget to leave us a comment if there are any questions you have about the Spirit ii E-330.