[tturedraider]

I went to a Drive for Team USA event this afternoon. It's Chicago, so, of course, everything is xDrive. Drove a MPP souped up 335i xDrive w/DHP, lots of power, very fast; an X4 28i; an Acura RDX, kinda sloppy; a Merc E350, a snoozer, seat only moves up and down, no front or rear tilt to it; a 535i M Sport xDrive w/adaptive dampers; and last, but certainly not least, a stripper 320i xDrive provided by the dealership.

I had more fun in that xDrive all season tired 320i than in any of the other cars!! It was a hoot! I drove it in Sport mode and with the shifter popped over into Sport, so that held the gears longer and prevented the somewhat busyness the 8AT can sometimes exhibit with the four banger.

That little motor will get up and go! Anyone who says the 320i lacks sufficient power isn't living in the real world, they're living in this pretend everything's gotta have 300 horsepower world that exists today. I drove faster in that little car than in any of the others, got real close to 90 while passing a bunch of pokey traffic on a congested Chicago freeway. And I got to almost 90 in the blink of an eye. Took that car on at least four cycles of my little freeway route before I took it back. That included at least eight tight radius on-ramp/off-ramp cycles at an indicated 45+ mph on recommended 25 mph ramps. Felt perfectly secure on those all season RFTs. And not enough body roll to even comment on. And then as I'd re-enter the freeway I'd shoot up to 80 in nothing flat leaving all the approaching traffic in my rearview mirror.

The fact of the matter is the 320i is a very cool 3er and it's just as much Bimmer as any E46 325i ever was!

[Aatish]

Agreed! The 320i is a cracking car and freaking blast. When I was first looking at 3ers, I actually took one for a spin and loved how the chassis felt and knew from then on to get a 3. I liked driving it because I had to really push on the 4 banger, which made me feel like I was in a fast and the furious movie (in a good way). To be quite honest, I probably could've taken the 320 and have been perfectly fine with it...but then I drove the straight-6. The excess power, pull, and noise pretty much sold me on the 335i. The 320's just enough. The 335i is enough and left overs.

That being said, I still love the 320i. I prefer it to the 328i :b Actually, I'm hoping I get one as a loaner next time I get mine serviced.
Cheers!

[WarrENDeatH]

I love my F30. It's fun to drive (especially the xDrive). That being said, I will probably add about 500 bucks in mods (probably a stage one, and sports springs) to really add to the ride. I really enjoy just about everything about it (besides the fact I took a beating in my car accident)

[fecurtis]

Different strokes for different folks. I enjoy being able to perform pretty much all of my passing maneuvers on the highway by just barely hitting the gas. The car will just fly forward without breaking a sweat.

Glad you're enjoying your 320i though.

[tturedraider]

I was driving behind a nice 320i this morning and for some reason it made me remember this thread and this experience, so I decided I would bump it up in honor of all of our 320i owners/drivers. I can’t deny for myself I am an inline six snob, but I’m still a big fan of the 320i!! It’s just a blast to drive!! So here’s to all the 320i drivers on the forum!! Don’t let anyone ever tell you your car isn’t worthy of being a BMW! It absolutely is!!!

[tturedraider]

I’m kind of surprised. No 320i owners have any love to express for your car?

[Darkpira7e]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I’m kind of surprised. No 320i owners have any love to express for your car?

I got mine over the summer, love the thing! Extremely lazy handling, but it's a great daily. Very impressed with the tuning capabilities with BM3, BimmerCode and Xdelete. Just... very surprised it came with halogen reflector headlamps.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Darkpira7e

I got mine over the summer, love the thing! Extremely lazy handling, but it's a great daily. Very impressed with the tuning capabilities with BM3, BimmerCode and Xdelete. Just... very surprised it came with halogen reflector headlamps.

Congrats on the new car and welcome to the dark side! Post a pic or two.

[luskombi]

I ordered my 320 in February ’18 to replace my E90 328 when I learned the M/T was going away in the 3 series. No packages but added five options and sunroof delete.
Since then I’ve installed M-performance suspension and brakes. It’s far from lazy handling now. In fact, it feels a lot like my old E46. Although I miss that silky smooth torque of the I-6, it’s my favorite of three I’ve had.
Now that NYS has buried the roads in salt, she sits in the garage with the battery tender for a few months haha.
Thanks all for giving the 320i the love they deserve.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by luskombi

I ordered my 320 in February ’18 to replace my E90 328 when I learned the M/T was going away in the 3 series. No packages but added five options and sunroof delete.
Since then I’ve installed M-performance suspension and brakes. It’s far from lazy handling now. In fact, it feels a lot like my old E46. Although I miss that silky smooth torque of the I-6, it’s my favorite of three I’ve had.
Now that NYS has buried the roads in salt, she sits in the garage with the battery tender for a few months haha.
Thanks all for giving the 320i the love they deserve.

I know a lot of folks will call blasphemy, but I also have had the thought the simplicity of the 320i harkens back to the E46. What a great idea regarding the suspension and brakes! Thanks for sharing! Got a pic?

Dude! This is your first post in almost ten years!! How many miles does she have?

[luskombi]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I know a lot of folks will call blasphemy, but I also have had the thought the simplicity of the 320i harkens back to the E46. What a great idea regarding the suspension and brakes! Thanks for sharing! Got a pic?

Dude! This is your first post in almost ten years!! How many miles does she have?

It’s nice to have all the bells and whistles but I like the manual seats. I agree with Leno, “I don’t need power seats, I set it when I get the car and it stays there for the rest of my life” 😂
Ya lol, I’ve only posted a few times over the years as I don’t have much to add but when someone revived your thread I felt I had to chime in.
Just turned 80K mls. 6-speed manual

[Randy Johnson]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I went to a Drive for Team USA event this afternoon. It's Chicago, so, of course, everything is xDrive. Drove a MPP souped up 335i xDrive w/DHP, lots of power, very fast; an X4 28i; an Acura RDX, kinda sloppy; a Merc E350, a snoozer, seat only moves up and down, no front or rear tilt to it; a 535i M Sport xDrive w/adaptive dampers; and last, but certainly not least, a stripper 320i xDrive provided by the dealership.


That little motor will get up and go! Anyone who says the 320i lacks sufficient power isn't living in the real world, they're living in this pretend everything's gotta have 300 horsepower world that exists today. I drove faster in that little car than in any of the others, got real close to 90 while passing a bunch of pokey traffic on a congested Chicago freeway. And I got to almost 90 in the blink of an eye. Took that car on at least four cycles of my little freeway route before I took it back. That included at least eight tight radius on-ramp/off-ramp cycles at an indicated 45+ mph on recommended 25 mph ramps. Felt perfectly secure on those all season RFTs. And not enough body roll to even comment on. And then as I'd re-enter the freeway I'd shoot up to 80 in nothing flat leaving all the approaching traffic in my rearview mirror.

The fact of the matter is the 320i is a very cool 3er and it's just as much Bimmer as any E46 325i ever was!

^^^That would be me!!! And you need at least 400 hp these days just to keep up with the soccer moms in mini vans and suv's.... a 320 isn't even a bmw... its a ford with the bmw emblem.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Randy Johnson

^^^That would be me!!! And you need at least 400 hp these days just to keep up with the soccer moms in mini vans and suv's.... a 320 isn't even a bmw... its a ford with the bmw emblem.

And you would be 100% WRONG!!! But, if being wrong is what you like to do you are certainly free to do it.