[chrisv_335EBII]

So my dealership gave me a brand new 2013 BMW 328 Baseline as a loaner car over the weekend. I own a 335 M-Sport Manual.

The 328 is impressive in the power department. The automatic does a excellent job while in Sport Mode. To be honest if I bought a 328 I would not have been disapointed in the power.

The major area I feel the 328 lacks is noise. The engine is very noisey compared the 335. It sounds horrible. For this reason alone I would not be able to live with the 328 on a daily bases.

Random question: Does the base lines have less sound insulation? The wind noise is much worse than on the loaner than on my 335. I have never noticed the wind noise on my car but driving around on the highway I kept thinking "WTF".

If anyone was wonder how base audio compared to the B&O audio. The $800 for the upgrade is well worth. The base audio is terrible depending on what type of music you listen too. Country sounds fine but anything with any sort of beat sounds terrible.

[chrisny]

You must've come from an Audi. I think you mean "HK" not "B&O."

That said, while the Harman Kardon is better, I'd hardly call the stock system terrible. Not sure if the stock stereo in a baseline 328 is different than a 335 M sport, but the stereo in mine is pretty decent. Not great, but good enough.

[chrisv_335EBII]

Originally Posted by chrisny

You must've come from an Audi. I think you mean "HK" not "B&O."

That said, while the Harman Kardon is better, I'd hardly call the stock system terrible. Not sure if the stock stereo in a baseline 328 is different than a 335 M sport, but the stereo in mine is pretty decent. Not great, but good enough.

Yes, I have an Audi too!

You might be suprised at the difference between base and upgraded audio if you've had the upgraded for several months.

[hollandog]

I have the base audio and I think it's fine as a base audio. It's not terrible.
I dont listem to music as much and I'm not an audiophile. I would spend the $800 elsewhere but that's just me.

[Jamesons Viggen]

An exhaust added to the 328 does wonders. It's a night and day difference.

The base loaner I had seemed noisier to me too, might be tires, might be '12 vs '13 too.

[Falafel Combo]

I loved the 328i sport that I had as part of the BMW on Demand program. It was peppy, fast and actually felt lighter than my 335i. BUT! Given the choice, I went with the 335i for my everyday driver. The N20 lacks (self-edit: power) and refinement. Down shifts were jerky at times, power delivery was not linear and you could feel the N20 breaking a sweat and panting with every down shift. BMW did the best they could with what they had (4 cylinder). Needless to say, acoustics are not exactly the N20's forte. In a world devoid of 335i, I would certainly be happy with a 328i when paired with the sport package and dynamic handling.


I can't stress this enough. The f30 328i really shines when compared to an e90 328i. No comparison there. You can tell that BMW really wanted the f30 328i to be a success and they put every ounce of effort into it. Just don't expect it to hold up to a 335i.

[rconti]

Agreed. I test drove a 328, having not driven a 335 in a few months, and I was blown away by the power. That's not something I ever would have said about the old 6cyl.

[tuned2ride]

The major area I feel the 328 lacks is noise. The engine is very noisey compared the 335. It sounds horrible. For this reason alone I would not be able to live with the 328 on a daily bases.

Well I don't think that it is that noisy, it just doesn't make the right noises. All the N20 with a aftermarket I heard so far didn't do as well as my old M54.... still not the right noises.

[TheObviousChild]

If you guys really want to feel a difference in power, try going from your F30 335 to an E90 328 loaner in the Denver area. Going back to an inline 6 sans turbo at 5300' above sea level...

I got in the car and thought the car was in limp mode. And I'm saying this as someone coming from an E90 328. Turbo at altitude is a must!

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by chrisv_335EBII

You might be suprised at the difference between base and upgraded audio if you've had the upgraded for several months.

I had the HK on an '07 X5 and B&O on an '09 S5. Definitely a nice upgrade and well worth the price. But I still say the base audio is far from terrible.

Regarding the 328, and the N20 in general, fantastic engine. Fantastic car. Simply amazing what they got out of a 4 banger. But the 335 is still a class above. The car is just so smooth in every way, you can go from comfortable cruiser to full on animal with a quick press of the gas pedal and it's just as silky smooth carving corners as it cruising a straight line on the highway.

[Cadi335i]

The diesel-like sound of the engine is horrible; specially when cold. No matter how good of an exhaust you get, the "tac-tac-tac" will still be there. Power-wise the 328i is very impressive for such an engine.

[JohnVidale]

I'm sure this has been beaten to death in discussions, but why would one want loud, throbbing engine roar in the cabin? Sure the 4-cylinder engine sounds like a small chainsaw or lawn mower, but it is quiet. Quiet is better than loud, even if one is rocketing down the road. Even better still when the engine is off stopped at a traffic light. And not burning gas.

I just don't get the desire for a roar, especially if it requires specially porting, amplification, or especially artificial noise to generate.

[DarkTrigger]

Originally Posted by JohnVidale

I'm sure this has been beaten to death in discussions, but why would one want loud, throbbing engine roar in the cabin? Sure the 4-cylinder engine sounds like a small chainsaw or lawn mower, but it is quiet. Quiet is better than loud, even if one is rocketing down the road. Even better still when the engine is off stopped at a traffic light. And not burning gas.

I just don't get the desire for a roar, especially if it requires specially porting, amplification, or especially artificial noise to generate.

Just drive around with the windows down. It only sounds good at full throttle. Competent engine though.

[elrey21]

Originally Posted by Cadi335i

The diesel-like sound of the engine is horrible; specially when cold. No matter how good of an exhaust you get, the "tac-tac-tac" will still be there. Power-wise the 328i is very impressive for such an engine.

Agreed my friends have asked me if it's a diesel actually when I turn it on cold. Hoping that the addition of the M exhaust and Evolution Raceworks CAI will cover that up a bit.

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by elrey21

Agreed my friends have asked me if it's a diesel actually when I turn it on cold. Hoping that the addition of the M exhaust and Evolution Raceworks CAI will cover that up a bit.

Yes it does lack emotion! that is my biggest regret. That bein said, it does handle real well at the track. But I have yet to see a 335i out there or agree to come with a couple of us. Where is this performance that is night and day you speak of?!

Taking the 135i to the track in feb. should be a shit ton of fun.

[BMWinGE]

Originally Posted by Cadi335i

The diesel-like sound of the engine is horrible; specially when cold. No matter how good of an exhaust you get, the "tac-tac-tac" will still be there.

I wonder if the replacement engine for the 335i will exhibit the same characteristics?

[Tsuvoi]

Originally Posted by 328inGE

I wonder if the replacement engine for the 335i will exhibit the same characteristics?

What replacement engine? So far we know nothing of this.

[David328M-Sport]

Originally Posted by elrey21

Agreed my friends have asked me if it's a diesel actually when I turn it on cold. Hoping that the addition of the M exhaust and Evolution Raceworks CAI will cover that up a bit.

The tak tak tak noise will always be there because of the Bosch solenoid valve injectors, which are the same as in the N55.

These types of injectors are noisier than the piezo injectors.

[rconti]

Originally Posted by JohnVidale

I'm sure this has been beaten to death in discussions, but why would one want loud, throbbing engine roar in the cabin? Sure the 4-cylinder engine sounds like a small chainsaw or lawn mower, but it is quiet. Quiet is better than loud, even if one is rocketing down the road. Even better still when the engine is off stopped at a traffic light. And not burning gas.

I just don't get the desire for a roar, especially if it requires specially porting, amplification, or especially artificial noise to generate.

Yeah, I don't get it either.

I've spent plenty of time at the track, and enjoy an uncorked S62 ripping a new hole in my chest as it rips by on the front straight as much as the next guy.

But for a street car, what's the point? Simply put, a 335 is damn near silent with stock exhaust, so it's silly to say it sounds better than a 328. If you want to mod the exhaust, you probably bought the wrong car -- for one, the turbo dampens the sound right off the bat, so you're not gonna hear that much anyway.

Personally, I've never modified a car or bike exhaust, though I did own a bike with a pre-installed aftermarket exhaust. It's fairly embarrassing to have something that screams "hey look at me!" like a pierced up 14 year old. I like to be able to rip around without drawing undue attention to myself. Some people just crave attention, I guess.

A modified intake is far better -- I owned a VR6 VW with an aftermarket intake (installed be a previous owner), and the fact that it has a nice growl under WOT, but is stock-sounding at cruising revs, is the perfect combination.

Loud exhausts are for HarleyLosers.

[BMWinGE]

Originally Posted by ft1337

What replacement engine? So far we know nothing of this.

nothing official, just speculation based on history and articles such as this about the new 3 cylinder:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/...nder-prototype

[SamS]

Originally Posted by JohnVidale

I'm sure this has been beaten to death in discussions, but why would one want loud, throbbing engine roar in the cabin?

Never driven an E9x M3, I take it? That car gives instant goosebumps at >6000rpm.

[tony20009]

I think the radio upgrade is worth it if you know you don't like the base radio. One things certain, the sound won't get worse. Unfortunately, nobody else's ear -- at least nobody's whom you don't personally know -- or experiences can tell you what'll best work for you.

Take some music you know well to the dealer and ask them to show you a car that has the upgraded radio and play your music. That's really the only good way to resolve your quandary.

On my E92, I have the upgraded radio, though it just came that way; I had nothing to do with it. It seriously thumps, but I learned I have to be careful with songs with a lot of high notes as the tweeters aren't able to handle the output without damn near rupturing. I had a 328i loaner and I seem to recall the radio as being adequate. I did notice that the volume levels differ depending on whether the music source is my iPod (able to be played much louder) or the radio itself.

By the same token, I've seen folks on the forum complain about the HK radio. Then again, I've seen folks on the forum complain strongly about many of the most insignificant things, so it's hard to know whether the poster is offering an informed/expert point of view or whether they are just jumping on a band wagon and finding things to gripe about.

I listen to a variety of stuff: smooth jazz, R&B, dance, news/talk, Latin, rai, Gospel, and Chinese, European and American pop.