[kevbh]

For your general amusement, I ran my 320i for a couple of sessions at Road Atlanta this weekend during the BMWCCA Peachtree HPDE. The car is completely, absolutely stock. The only options are sport package and manual transmission. With only 180 HP, I had to carry as much momentum as I possibly could.

The first video is my fastest recorded in-car lap, 1:56. Weather was very hot. After about 15 minutes on track the tires got greasy and the brakes started fading, but the engine temp was never an issue.

The following video was shot by a friend playing chase-cam with his E46M3. Notice how many times the car bounces after I jump the curb in T3!

In all seriousness, just throw on a set of non-staggered wheels and tires and a proper set of track brake pads and it would be fine. It's just a long, slow drive down the back straight! I'm sure you guys with the 328's would be fine there though. :-)

[ronin951]

lol @ turn 3. For me that was by far my favorite exit...once I figured out how to hit it right.

[drob23]

Awesome post, looks like a blast!

[Gastoys]

Only 180hp
seems like only yesterday the M3 was just about in that same hp range (190hp to be exact).

I remember when my 180hp for a 4 cylinder was only achieved through heavy mods or forced induction.

[bavarianboar]

Looks super fun!

I think I hear a lot of wind noise in 2nd video...

[bavarianride]

Wow this is supercool, I can even hear the rumbling sound of the RFT! Thanks for sharing. Smooth is fast, the 320i may lack some HP for the straights but handle the corners very well, the only thing missing from the video is your MT shift actions. So it looks like 320i also has a bouncy nose, I thought it is just for 328i/335i(and that bugs me ....)

[mocohead]

nice! looks like a lot of fun. thank you for posting!

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by f30fanboy

So it looks like 320i also has a bouncy nose, I thought it is just for 328i/335i(and that bugs me ....)

The 320 has the same engine/trans and suspension as the 328(it's just the tune and compression ratio that's a factor). So they are not going to handle any different.

[Vervain]

Such a cool video!

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

The 320 has the same engine/trans and suspension as the 328(it's just the tune and compression ratio that's a factor). So they are not going to handle any different.

320i is 100+lb lighter than 328i, my expectation was that it would handle better than 328i. It is annoying that any 320i/328i/335i has bouncy nose.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by f30fanboy

320i is 100+lb lighter than 328i, my expectation was that it would handle better than 328i. It is annoying that any 320i/328i/335i has bouncy nose.

There is not a real 100lb weight difference, it depends on how the two cars are optioned. If you have a 0 option, non fold down seat, BASE 320 vs a full loaded 328 Msport, sure 100lbs. But in reality, there will be about 50lbs between the two cars to account for exhaust and a couple of trim differences.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

There is not a real 100lb weight difference, it depends on how the two cars are optioned. If you have a 0 option, non fold down seat, BASE 320 vs a full loaded 328 Msport, sure 100lbs. But in reality, there will be about 50lbs between the two cars to account for exhaust and a couple of trim differences.

In bmwusa the curb weights of a 320i 6MT vs. a 328i 6MT are 3250lb and 3360lb, my assumption is those are the base car weights without options, and that is already a 100+lb difference. OP lists his is 6MT and ZSP, when compared to a 328i sport line 6MT apple to apple, a 100+lb advantage on 320i sounds reasonable.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by f30fanboy

In bmwusa the curb weights of a 320i 6MT vs. a 328i 6MT are 3250lb and 3360lb, my assumption is those are the base car weights without options, and that is already a 100+lb difference. OP lists his is 6MT and ZSP, when compared to a 328i sport line 6MT apple to apple, a 100+lb advantage on 320i sounds reasonable.

BMW USA site has a variety of iffy numbers, many specs are just translated from info from euro sites where trims differ(i.e. in some countries the 320 gets smaller brakes) . But when magazines test REAL cars, the weights differ from the site claims.

What I am explaining is, mechanically the 320 and 328 in the US do not differ enough for a weight difference, it comes down to how each car is equipped to show any real weight difference. The 328 in the US has more standard equipment, so like I said, to find a true 100lb weight difference you would have to have a 0 option 320i. Just adding the Sport pack to the 320 would negate most any weight savings over a 328.

[300hp]

FYI MT tested the 320i at 3318lbs (AT) BMW has it at 3295.

I think you guys can go with the weights on the BMW site for the purpose of this discussion

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by 300hp

FYI MT tested the 320i at 3318lbs (AT) BMW has it at 3295.

I think you guys can go with the weights on the BMW site for the purpose of this discussion

Don't really care enough to keep it going but thanks. No need to get into minutia on every topic.

You backed up my point about BMW site info vs real world specs. But, 23lbs here, 10 there-it's splitting hairs.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

Don't really care enough to keep it going but thanks. No need to get into minutia on every topic.

You backed up my point about BMW site info vs real world specs. But, 23lbs here, 10 there-it's splitting hairs.

No worries

[nicknaz]

Thanks for sharing the vid.

I took a 4ycl Chevy Malibu (one of redesigned ones) to Toronto Motorsports Park over the weekend (no vid though) so I can totally appreciate the "long slow drive down the back straight" comment

[kevbh]

Thanks for the kind comments on the videos - it was fun and I thought you'd find them entertaining.

In terms of weight, just know that I weight about 235lbs, and in the chase car video, I also have a passenger that is 200 lbs, I think. Any weight savings was long gone with us in the car! :-). In terms of the weight debate, having manual seats should result in a significant weight savings. Also important is my car not having a sunroof. The sunroof assembly is not only additional weight, but it's as high as you can put it, making it particularly bad. Anything else is very minor in my opinion one way or the other. I wish I had a reliable way to weigh the car, because my E90 (similarly equipped) was at least 100 lbs less than advertised. Of course, then you have to factor in fuel load, etc.

Finally, just wanted to say that my comments about the car are from the perspective of an instructor. If anyone one this forum wanted to try a driving school, I would recommend signing up, and don't change a thing on the car. It's perfectly fine as is for a novice and intermediate driver. Invest in you, and every car you drive becomes faster.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

Don't really care enough to keep it going but thanks. No need to get into minutia on every topic.

You backed up my point about BMW site info vs real world specs. But, 23lbs here, 10 there-it's splitting hairs.

There is yet a MT(or anyone's) review that lists curb weights of 320i and 328i(and 335i) base models side by side, so bmwusa seems to be the only common frame of reference to use.

Maybe we should refocus to discuss how to alleviate the nose bounce.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by f30fanboy

There is yet a MT(or anyone's) review that lists curb weights of 320i and 328i(and 335i) base models side by side, so bmwusa seems to be the only common frame of reference to use.

Maybe we should refocus to discuss how to alleviate the nose bounce.

I feel as though bounce is less with the H&Rs but unsure if that is a placebo affect lol.

[ronin951]

Originally Posted by kevbh

Finally, just wanted to say that my comments about the car are from the perspective of an instructor. If anyone one this forum wanted to try a driving school, I would recommend signing up, and don't change a thing on the car. It's perfectly fine as is for a novice and intermediate driver. Invest in you, and every car you drive becomes faster.

And there you have it. I just realized you put down around the same best as me. So a well driven stock 320 equals about a poorly driven fairly-prepped 328.

Edit: Knowing that, would you say in my case going sub 1:50 is a fair goal?

[kevbh]

Originally Posted by ronin951

And there you have it. I just realized you put down around the same best as me. So a well driven stock 320 equals about a poorly driven fairly-prepped 328.

Edit: Knowing that, would you say in my case going sub 1:50 is a fair goal?

Yes, I think 1:50 is attainable given your car and level of prep. Just keep getting seat time and working with instructors, and you'll keep building speed. One easy way to pick up time from looking at your video, for example, would be to stay full throttle down the back straight until you are half way down the hill, then go immediately to full brakes. I was hitting 116-119 mph before braking, whereas you were cruising at about 111 and then coasted a little before braking. Just compressing your braking zones would do wonders. Do the same on the front straight and between T5 and T6 and you'll be well on your way.