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      02-05-2013, 09:46 PM   #23
tony20009
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I was mainly interested because I care more about handling than about speed and I thought they 320 would be a way to get a great handling BMW with all the goodies and drive it off the lot for $40K or so. I don't really want a sedan, but if the price were compelling enough, a sedan would be fine. It's going to be my daily driver, and a sedan will do that just fine. At my age, 0-60 just isn't that high a priority.
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      02-05-2013, 11:27 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
But as it is, similarly equipped, it's just $1500 lower.
what options are you adding? I don't see that much of a difference, for example Premium Package is only 100 dollars different but I didnt get down to all the details.

Last edited by BMWinGE; 02-05-2013 at 11:36 PM..
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      02-05-2013, 11:29 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Theride View Post
getting a 320 in manual would be lots of fun. auto might be sluggish.
not sure but the auto with X drive might be sluggish because of the extra weight

Last edited by BMWinGE; 02-05-2013 at 11:38 PM..
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      02-05-2013, 11:34 PM   #26
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Originally Posted by wayman519 View Post
From looking at the pricing, in the usa it does not make sense. The 328i is almost the best bet in all instances. But yeah a bare bones 320i is still a 3 series with a little less power and no donkey gizmos that are not really needed in a car. You are really just paying for a really fun BMW engine + transmission and body. Elsewhere in the world the 320i makes the most sense.
don't forget this competes well against the infinity G 25
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      02-05-2013, 11:44 PM   #27
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I dunno, the ZF 8HP should do fine with this powertrain.
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      02-05-2013, 11:59 PM   #28
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The base price is too high for the 320i, especially considering what MB is doing with the CLA.
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      02-06-2013, 12:08 AM   #29
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Originally Posted by Meeni View Post
The base price is too high for the 320i, especially considering what MB is doing with the CLA.
no that car does not compete with the 3 Series. BMW will offer 2 series that will compete with the CLA. not to mention the CLA a front wheel drive yuck
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      02-06-2013, 12:30 AM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krispykreme View Post
How many topic do we need to have on 320i?

Is it really bothering 335i owner that much?
I'm sure they'll get even more defensive when the M3 comes out.
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      02-06-2013, 01:27 AM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 328inGE View Post
no that car does not compete with the 3 Series. BMW will offer 2 series that will compete with the CLA. not to mention the CLA a front wheel drive yuck
FWD matters to you (and me), it doesn't matter much for the whole market. And money talks, too. The CLA is only marginally smaller than the 3, it may not compete "point-to-point", but it does compete for $6k less, and that makes buyer think a lot on -if- they need the marginal extra room. Beside, the 2 still doesn't exist (and will not before next year, at least), and the 1 is completely beyond the comparison with the CLA. It is my impression that the 320i is filling the gap before the arrival of the 228 grand coupe or whatever it's gonna be called.
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      02-06-2013, 08:17 AM   #32
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      02-06-2013, 09:12 AM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 328inGE View Post
don't forget this competes well against the infinity G 25
G25 has been gone for awhile now in the states.
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      02-06-2013, 09:53 AM   #34
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The 320iX is going to make money hand over fist where I am. A lower priced, decently optioned BMW with AWD? Money in the bank.

The dealer here, the only one in the state, blows through base model SULEV 328i's with no other options than heated seats and moon roof. The 320iX is going be huge here. I'd consider getting one, but didnt want to wait. It'd make a solid DD for my driving style/location/needs.
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      02-06-2013, 02:37 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen View Post
G25 has been gone for awhile now in the states.
I didnt realize they had stopped it, I was going off of this comparison against the 328i when it didnt fare so well
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...mparison-tests
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      02-06-2013, 02:40 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Meeni View Post
FWD matters to you (and me), it doesn't matter much for the whole market. And money talks, too. The CLA is only marginally smaller than the 3, it may not compete "point-to-point", but it does compete for $6k less, and that makes buyer think a lot on -if- they need the marginal extra room. Beside, the 2 still doesn't exist (and will not before next year, at least), and the 1 is completely beyond the comparison with the CLA. It is my impression that the 320i is filling the gap before the arrival of the 228 grand coupe or whatever it's gonna be called.
Not debating they might be cross shopped, just saying technically its a different class. I am surprised the CLA is only marginally smaller than the F30, because that makes it about the same size as the C class.
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      02-06-2013, 05:31 PM   #37
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I think this "status symbol" idea needs to be thrown out the door. So if someone buys a Rolls Royce ghost over the Phantom they are buying it for status symbol?

If we were to look at it that way, someone buying a M3/M5/M6 is buying them for status reasons because who really pushes these cars to the limit on a daily basis?

People need to focus on why they are buying the car they are buying and not worry about why others are buying what car.
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      02-06-2013, 06:59 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 328inGE View Post
what options are you adding? I don't see that much of a difference, for example Premium Package is only 100 dollars different but I didnt get down to all the details.
The difference is actually $1650. When I wrote the first post, I admit I just eye-balled the price difference. But I stand by my earlier statements too as I still think having the added power of the 328i is worth $1650.

BMW 320i : $44,295
  • Premium Package
  • Driver Assistance Package
  • Lighting Package
  • Sport Package
  • Heated Front Seats
  • Moonroof
  • Navigation

BMW 328i base model : 45,945
  • Dynamic Handling Package\
  • Lighting Package
  • Navigation
  • Moonroof
  • Park Distance Control
  • Rear View Camera
  • Leather Seats
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      02-06-2013, 08:48 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
The difference is actually $1650. When I wrote the first post, I admit I just eye-balled the price difference. But I stand by my earlier statements too as I still think having the added power of the 328i is worth $1650.

BMW 320i : $44,295
  • Premium Package
  • Driver Assistance Package
  • Lighting Package
  • Sport Package
  • Heated Front Seats
  • Moonroof
  • Navigation

BMW 328i base model : 45,945
  • Dynamic Handling Package\
  • Lighting Package
  • Navigation
  • Moonroof
  • Park Distance Control
  • Rear View Camera
  • Leather Seats
I agree, the difference is not as great with the more options you add to match the standard 328. However, I also think there may be some options on your configured 320 that you are not accounting for such as sport wheels and seats, M steering wheel, heated seats, comfort access, lumbar support and sat radio. Those do add some value.
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      02-08-2013, 03:34 AM   #40
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Interesting thread this. I ordered a 320i xDrive M Sport in January as I was looking for an AWD to replace my A3 quattro. Heard BMW had finally brought AWD to the 3 series in the UK and loved the car. I knew at the time announcements of other xDrive variants was imminent but I took the plunge (320d I was toying with waiting for but in UK would be £2,200 more and ok it would be worth £2,000 more at the end of the PCP but it'll only cost me an extra £300 per year in fuel and I get a nice high free revving motor again).

Would I have gone for the 328i had that been available in xDrive? Quite possibly. Having test driven a manual 320i I can confirm it has plenty of power, especially when nudged into "sport" mode. I've also gone for the auto box as the 8 speed auto reviews say it is perfectly tuned to make the right gear selection (and worth adding that it improves economy over the manual so I can't see it can add much in the way of a weight penalty).

In terms of economy I also think that despite only a small difference in the official figures between 320i and 328i that only means you CAN achieve similar figures. If you drive the 328i towards it's capacity that will I imagine reduce mpg far more than the 320i driven to it's capacity. But if you're not going to do that then why would you buy the 328i?

Brand snobbery is a funny one - I remember when as a child you'd look in wonder at a BMW, Audi, Mercedes etc as only the well off families had one. Now they are a very common sight. And it seems ever more popular to de badge cars so many that buy a 328i or 335i seem not to be taking the opportunity to exercise badge snobbery over the countless premium badge owners out there anyway.
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      02-08-2013, 08:07 AM   #41
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If the 320i had been available when I ordered my 328i under the same set of circumstances (no dealer stock for any kind of comparison purposes), I probably would have ordered it.

My natural cost consciousness would have likely overridden other factors in the same way they did for 328i over 335i.

However, now knowing how much I like the full Tech Pack, I don't know if I could go without it in the cheaper model.
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      02-08-2013, 04:37 PM   #42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 328inGE View Post
I agree, the difference is not as great with the more options you add to match the standard 328. However, I also think there may be some options on your configured 320 that you are not accounting for such as sport wheels and seats, M steering wheel, heated seats, comfort access, lumbar support and sat radio. Those do add some value.
As an absolute, yes, the 320i will be less expensive. For me, the difference in cost isn't different enough to make the power sacrifice palatable. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that there are thousands of folks who would just say "cheaper is cheaper and it's still a BMW," and go with the 320i. That's cool; I wouldn't chide them for making that choice.


True enough that there is some value to having sport seats. I would argue though that having leather seats adds less value than having sport seats. So, with that in mind, configuring a sport line and leaving off the leather seats, and keeping everything else yields a variance of about $2000.

Historically, the premium for having a more powerful engine on a 3er has been $3000 or so. And were that the delta between the 320 and the 328, in either of the configurations I mentioned (this or earlier post) I'd see the 320 as a good value. As it stands now, it just seems like a revenue/market share ploy rather than an earnest effort on BMW's part to offer value for money. I say that because if one further can do without two "nice to haves" on the 328 -- PDC and the camera -- while retaining the sport line, the $328 comes in at $45,345, bringing the difference down to about $1000.

So do you really think that substantively equivalent BMWs, where one car is really only as powerful as a typical Honda or Chevy, or other "mass market" car, and the other is notably more powerful should cost just $1K-$2K less? Consider that only at high speeds on windy roads would the 320i out perform a typical Honda, its only edge is handling, not power/speed. Short entrance ramps onto highways will be no less daunting in the 320, for example. For me, it's easily worth that sum to rise above the fray because the fray, with all the options on the 320, can be had for a good deal less ($7K - $10K) than the 320i.
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      02-08-2013, 05:41 PM   #43
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Most commoners (myself included) just buy the base off the yard with just few options ticked.. At that price, there is a difference. People looking to tick all options will probably not buy a 20i.

As for me, it's my first bmw and I've learnt a lesson. (Realized how much options cost when tacking them on afterwards..)
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      02-08-2013, 06:00 PM   #44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rconti View Post
I see quite a few BMW enthusiasts clamoring for a de-contented car at a lower pricepoint.
This!

My perfect 320i would be RWD, manual trans, Alpine White, black Leatherette, lighting pkg and a TRUE Sports Package, heated front MANUAL seats for a price of $36,145. Throw a tune on it and bump HP to 215 and torque to 250 and it will be significantly faster than my E30 M3 and probably my E36 M3, heck even without the tune it will be faster than my E30. It weighs 3,295 lbs which is headed in the right direction.

This would be a perfectly affordable, practical and fun-to-drive car and I see no reason to dismiss it as only for badge whores, poor folk or non-enthusiasts.
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