[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Not sure if any bimmer does not sound like diesel these days, the 335i I6 turbo sounds diesel-like too

I had a 328d loaner the other day and it is noticeably different from 335

[ThaiBruin]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I had a 328d loaner the other day and it is noticeably different from 335

Well... I'd expect a diesel to sound like a diesel.

[Kafkaesque328]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

"but the 320i, though slower in a straight line, actually outclasses its big brother when that line gets curvy."

The above is true for flat twisties, on hilly terrains, the 328i has an advantage over 320i. For the HP and lb-ft the 320i is deceivingly fast, but my guess is that has some to do with the gears and rear diff and engine mapping, the whole car is configured to move at high speed on flat land with minimal gas.

Yeah, I was pretty impressed with it stock but it wasn't enough power for me. Amazing what 3PSI will do..

[Kafkaesque328]

I was talking to Terry about this and the whole 320 being so 'de-tuned' is partly true and partly marketing on BMW's part. The reality is that they should have rated it about 210/235 but that would make it appear too close to the 328 and would interfere with the 'entry level' angle. Then all the automotive journalist lemmings and weekend warrior car reviewers that write for every one of the 'autos' sections in regional/local newspapers wouldnt get to have their tagline "Still the ultimate driving machine? Where'd the power go?" etc.

When I read the first reviews on the 320, including the MT article praising the car, the article was immediately followed by 100 comments from the peanut gallery of mostly non BMW drivers who probably think their Chevy Cobalts and Camrys own the road, talking about how disappointing it is, what a rip off, what a joke, how could they offer a car with 180hp? etc. Guarantee that if it the published numbers were crank numbers, there would be less to write about.

The reality is the car is still quicker, drives and performs better than the competition which is the IS250 and C250 and is $400 away from having far more power than either of those cars but that doesn't make for good journalism.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I had a 328d loaner the other day and it is noticeably different from 335

335d vs. 335i (or 328d vs. 328i) would be a better frame of reference than 328d vs. 335i to compare diesel-like sounds.

[Kafkaesque328]

328d has insane torque.

[ThaiBruin]

meh. 280lb/ft isn't that insane. the 335d with 475lb/ft was pretty great though.

[vince217]

thanks OP for this review. have been really considering a 320i MT with Sport and Lighting packages, and i am leaning to it even more after reading this thread, especially now that I know you can put a Stage 1 BMS on it.

[Kafkaesque328]

Originally Posted by vince217

thanks OP for this review. have been really considering a 320i MT with Sport and Lighting packages, and i am leaning to it even more after reading this thread, especially now that I know you can put a Stage 1 BMS on it.

Hindsight I would definitely go with lighting package. I dont know if its a package, I think xenons are a $900 option if special ordering. Sport package is essential. Night and day better than the stock 320i.

My ideal 320 build would be my exact car but with xenons and heated seats as standalone options. Other than that its perfect. The sport seats have power bolster adjustments and the rest is manual and as I suspected, Ive adjusted them a few times and never touched them again so Im not real bummed on missing premium package although auto dimming mirrors are nice.

Originally Posted by ThaiBruin

meh. 280lb/ft isn't that insane. the 335d with 475lb/ft was pretty great though.

I must have been thinking about the 335, yeah, that's a lot.

[bavarianride]

The disappointing thing about US spec lighting package is that it comes with "Variable Light Decode"(8S4?), which removes the intelligent light distribution function per DOT requirement.

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

The disappointing thing about US spec lighting package is that it comes with "Variable Light Decode"(8S4?), which removes the intelligent light distribution function per DOT requirement.

But you can remove the Decode and it works like it's supposed to. Awesome technology.

[Kafkaesque328]

This lighting talk is bumming me out.

[ThaiBruin]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque320

This lighting talk is bumming me out.

You can get the Phillips bulbs that make it look like you have Xenons...

j/k!

I'm actually at BMS waiting on Terry. He's working on a pretty sick looking 550i.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by snowghost

But you can remove the Decode and it works like it's supposed to. Awesome technology.

I haven't checked on this for a while, my understanding is there is aftermarket SDK for sale for a specific DME software kernel, however when dealer does software update, the SDK needs to be upgraded($$$). Is that about right? There should be coders around here that can do the job, but my guess is every dealer software update requires the hack to be re-applied.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by vince217

thanks OP for this review. have been really considering a 320i MT with Sport and Lighting packages, and i am leaning to it even more after reading this thread, especially now that I know you can put a Stage 1 BMS on it.

Are you sure that it can't be detected after being unplugged?

[Kafkaesque328]

^^ Terry claims that it cannot. Ofcourse, it's his company so who knows. Even if they could detect it, what could they detect? They could say "this shows you are running higher than normal boost..." How is the average customer even supposed to know what that means? The bottom line is that it isn't invasive at all and if you are looking for more power, it's the safest bet. Honestly you'll get hassled more for bolt ons like intake etc.

Originally Posted by ThaiBruin

You can get the Phillips bulbs that make it look like you have Xenons...

j/k!

I'm actually at BMS waiting on Terry. He's working on a pretty sick looking 550i.

Cool. Tell him Nate says hi.

[ThaiBruin]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque320

^^ Terry claims that it cannot. Ofcourse, it's his company so who knows. Even if they could detect it, what could they detect? They could say "this shows you are running higher than normal boost..." How is the average customer even supposed to know what that means? The bottom line is that it isn't invasive at all and if you are looking for more power, it's the safest bet. Honestly you'll get hassled more for bolt ons like intake etc.


Cool. Tell him Nate says hi.

Already back home. It's not an outrageous difference in power, but it's exactly like you said. Better throttle response in Comfort mode and when you push it higher in the RPM range, you definitely feel more of your gut going back into the seat. Absolutely worth the $380. And, no joke, this thing is the easiest thing ever to install and uninstall. He didn't even need to disconnect the battery.

[Kafkaesque328]

Originally Posted by ThaiBruin

Already back home. It's not an outrageous difference in power, but it's exactly like you said. Better throttle response in Comfort mode and when you push it higher in the RPM range, you definitely feel more of your gut going back into the seat. Absolutely worth the $380. And, no joke, this thing is the easiest thing ever to install and uninstall. He didn't even need to disconnect the battery.

Yup, there is pretty much no reason to not do this. It's the easiest install in the world. You need 0 mechanical knowhow to do it and the power increase isn't drastic but it is substantial.

[ThaiBruin]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque320

Yup, there is pretty much no reason to not do this. It's the easiest install in the world. You need 0 mechanical knowhow to do it and the power increase isn't drastic but it is substantial.

And this is why I've always wanted a turbo car. The absolute ease of increasing hp with minimal effort and cost.

[Kafkaesque328]

Yeah. I love squeezing extra power out of small displacement forced induction motors because you get both power and efficiency. The twin turbo I6 though is the ultimate as far as I'm concerned. Anything beyond that and you're getting terrible mileage, etc. You 335 guys have it made.

[ThaiBruin]

You should definitely consider going to the coding session this weekend in LA. I got a few things coded that I absolutely love. Specifically the auto-folding mirrors and more importantly, the last setting remembered for ASS. I paid for mine, but I'm thinking the session will be people volunteering to code you car for free.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=932153

[Kafkaesque328]

Damn Id love to go but I work saturday and have family stuff sunday. I should hit that guy up and see what he'd charge for me to come meet him some other time.