[xenon]

Fair enough. I've no dog in this fight so I can agree that the non-turbo 320i was a bit breathless - especially in the e9x - but the latest iteration is perfectly adequate and sounds nicer to boot.

[Hooter]

Jeez.

Talk about kicking a bloke when he's down! Give the fella a break, he only asked a simple question!

[simon the pieman]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Okay, apologies.

I will no longer comment on 320i or 420i engines.

However, for the record my personnal view is not in comparrison with a 6 cyl engine.

This goes back to both 2012 and 2014.

Drove both the E90 and F30 and a long day with a 320i GT.

These were prior to driving a 330d.

So my 'prejudice' against the engine is based on being told 'what a cracking car / drive' it was, not just once but about 5 times (different test drives).

Admittedly I prefer petrol hatchbacks to saloons and therefore lot of comparrison was with Audi, Golf and Ford etc.

I just feel BMW spent more time refining diesels and big petrols, however missed out on the 2.0 petrol engine.

Especially when you consider Fiesta ST and Clio have more bhp available.

Hopefully with the engine range this 'oversight' will be rectified.


Anyhow, apologies, I will behave and not comment.

Put it this way we'd all love a 6cyl. I've had 2. We'd all love an m3/m4 but can't afford it or afford to run it. It's about what you can afford at the time. Sometimes it gets a bit boring the 320i jokes. I would have loved to get a 328i but couldn't stretch to it unfortunately.
We know 6pots sound great and perform great just don't need to be told all the time a 320i gets mentioned.

Now go and sit on the naughty step for a while

[RobUK]

There was a pre-LCI 320i MPPK (new ECU, new Intercooler, optional exhaust) so assume there will be an LCI version at some point?

ACS also did a pre-LCI 320i upgrade, taking torque from 270Nm up to 350Nm, so possible they have something in the pipeline? Lorcan would be the one to ask.

[Shaleshifter]

I have a 2012 F30 320i and its a perfectly good car (!)....having owned BMW E36 323i, E46 323i X2, E46 325i , E46 330i and a E90 320d, it has enough power having said that
I may have bought another 320d or 328 if one had been available at the right price.

[Andrewthefirst]

Originally Posted by Hooter

Jeez.

Talk about kicking a bloke when he's down! Give the fella a break, he only asked a simple question!

Exactly, and at least the op isn't driving a diesel

[Firaxis]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Okay, apologies.

I will no longer comment on 320i or 420i engines.

However, for the record my personnal view is not in comparrison with a 6 cyl engine.

This goes back to both 2012 and 2014.

Drove both the E90 and F30 and a long day with a 320i GT.

These were prior to driving a 330d.

So my 'prejudice' against the engine is based on being told 'what a cracking car / drive' it was, not just once but about 5 times (different test drives).

Admittedly I prefer petrol hatchbacks to saloons and therefore lot of comparrison was with Audi, Golf and Ford etc.

I just feel BMW spent more time refining diesels and big petrols, however missed out on the 2.0 petrol engine.

Especially when you consider Fiesta ST and Clio have more bhp available.

Hopefully with the engine range this 'oversight' will be rectified.


Anyhow, apologies, I will behave and not comment.

Hmmm, when were talking about 2.0L equivalents I do have to agree slightly. But if you love a car, then it's irrelevant what anyone else says..

But yeah, A focus ST has 252HP and when I had one did around 30MPG. The alfa QV has 240 HP and again did around 27 - 30 MPG. They both cost less than the Beemer.

I was going to say from quoted figures in parkers the fuel economy on the 320i is excellent but then I looked at fuelly. Average is 33MPG..

It really should have around 220HP and better economy if we're comparing it to competition.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Mrklaw

I bought a 320i when petrol was still expensive and I was doing 200 mile commutes to bristol on the motorway, purely to keep my petrol costs down. Sure, it's no 6-pot, but I found it perfectly nice to drive.

Pick up my new one at the end of the month - sticking with a 320 because it is enough IMO and the only other option to consider would be a 6-CCL and that means a 340 these days I think, which is out of my budget


Edit: wouldn't say no to a warranty-friendly tuning to give more power, especially if it really is a software restricted 330 engine

It appears they do have the same engine and even turbocharger according to the parts catalogue!!

[Buster Blue]

Originally Posted by simon the pieman

Put it this way we'd all love a 6cyl. I've had 2. We'd all love an m3/m4 but can't afford it or afford to run it. It's about what you can afford at the time. Sometimes it gets a bit boring the 320i jokes. I would have loved to get a 328i but couldn't stretch to it unfortunately.
We know 6pots sound great and perform great just don't need to be told all the time a 320i gets mentioned.

Now go and sit on the naughty step for a while

Naughty Step, Flucking Ban Him, Still had to get his bit in about his french harem.

Flucking Ban Him

[simon the pieman]

Originally Posted by Firaxis

Hmmm, when were talking about 2.0L equivalents I do have to agree slightly. But if you love a car, then it's irrelevant what anyone else says..

But yeah, A focus ST has 252HP and when I had one did around 30MPG. The alfa QV has 240 HP and again did around 27 - 30 MPG. They both cost less than the Beemer.

I was going to say from quoted figures in parkers the fuel economy on the 320i is excellent but then I looked at fuelly. Average is 33MPG..

It really should have around 220HP and better economy if we're comparing it to competition.

I had a focus st3 before my current bmw and for me you can't compare the 2.
One is a hot hatch and the other is a premium brand saloon. I'd take my f30 over a focus all day long.
Imo of course.

But yes could do with a few more horses but that's what's the 328i/330i is for I guess.

[Firaxis]

Originally Posted by simon the pieman

I had a focus st3 before my current bmw and for me you can't compare the 2.
One is a hot hatch and the other is a premium brand saloon. I'd take my f30 over a focus all day long.
Imo of course.

But yes could do with a few more horses but that's what's the 328i/330i is for I guess.

No it's all cool, as said if you love the car makes no difference. Again I liked a Fiat Panda (courtesy car), lacked a bit of grunt but was fun..

You could have a 1000 HP with a V12 and you might hate it, just because the 320i may lack a bit of grunt compared to it's rivals. Doesn't ultimately mean much..

Still think with the engine tech available today, it should have a bit more poke and better on MPG. But what ev's ...

[Lorcan]

Haven't driven a 320i but our tuned Z4 with 28i engine was an absolute peach. Nearly 300hp at the wheels, wide spread of torque, not turbo-ish at all, nice off-beat almost flat 4 sound from the twin scroll turbo, drove it to Germany and back and loved it.

[F30 Steve]

Having only owned/ driven six cylinder BMW's for the last twenty five years I can safely say that the 320i is not a patch on any of them!( all 325 330's)
but neither are they the bag of shit that some MEMBERS make out they are!!
It's nice to hear some positivity about the four pot petrol

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by F30 Steve

Having only owned/ driven six cylinder BMW's for the last twenty five years I can safely say that the 320i is not a patch on any of them!( all 325 330's)
but neither are they the bag of shit that some MEMBERS make out they are!!
It's nice to hear some positivity about the four pot petrol

Well I guess some MEMBERS have bugger all imagination in car buying or experience in other cars or in 2.0 engine cars, having only owned 6cyl BMWs for 25 years.

This member has apologised and have never made a bad comment about a 318i, nor 330i.

So that's it

[Mrklaw]

Originally Posted by F30 Steve

Having only owned/ driven six cylinder BMW's for the last twenty five years I can safely say that the 320i is not a patch on any of them!( all 325 330's)
but neither are they the bag of shit that some MEMBERS make out they are!!
It's nice to hear some positivity about the four pot petrol

I'll take my 320i with 8 speed auto over my E46 330ci with horrible auto gearbox

[F30 Steve]

I don't know about the auto box ( I don't like them) but you'll struggle to find a better engine than the 330 in the e46.

[stefan4]

Love my 320i, it's no 6 pot don't get me wrong but 185 bhp is plenty adequate, and 0 - 60 in a smidge over 7 seconds isn't exactly slow, though its not going to set the world on fire either. Would have no problem getting another 4 pot and currently considering a 330i.

[simon the pieman]

Originally Posted by F30 Steve

I don't know about the auto box ( I don't like them) but you'll struggle to find a better engine than the 330 in the e46.

8 speed sport auto is fantastic. Quiet , smooth and refined. I never use to like autos until I drove an A4 auto on a long journey and my opinion completely changed. Wouldn't have a bmw with out one now.

[F30 Steve]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Well I guess some MEMBERS have bugger all imagination in car buying or experience in other cars or in 2.0 engine cars, having only owned 6cyl BMWs for 25 years.

This member has apologised and have never made a bad comment about a 318i, nor 330i.

So that's it

It's not a matter of imagination, more a matter of being a genuine bmw enthusiast

[Chris Peacock]

Well that escalated quickly

This site is heavily biased towards the 330d/335d/340i owners and there is a clique of regulars who make sure that us 4 cylinder drivers know our place...sadly its always the same on one make forums and it does very often turn into a pissing competition.

Great car the 320i, organised an Lci 320i M-Sport for a family member last year and they absolutely love it

[Buster Blue]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

Well that escalated quickly

This site is heavily biased towards the 330d/335d/340i owners and there is a clique of regulars who make sure that us 4 cylinder drivers know our place...sadly its always the same on one make forums and it does very often turn into a pissing competition.

Great car the 320i, organised an Lci 320i M-Sport for a family member last year and they absolutely love it

Its a my cock is bigger than yours

[rich100]

Interesting thread. There was a time when very few 4 cylinder drivers posted, particular the petrols as these seem to be the least popular. Good to see that more people are posting.

I bought my 320i in 2013 so have run it for a while now. I think it's a great car, clearly not as much poke as the 6 cylinder models but I don,t believe it's exactly lacking either. I do agree with Brigands point to an extent about this engine possibly being better suited to a smaller car because I think the weight of the car can at times be a factor. In my view if Bmw had tuned this to say 210bhp out of the Box and perhaps pushed the 328 to 260 that would have been ideal. In most circumstances thoughs as mentioned I think it's perfectly adequate.


Putting the engine to one side for a moment the other things I like are the way it looks particularly after I've cleaned it, and the fact that the cabin is just a nice environment to be in. I specced superman colours with mine and whilst I'm aware that this divides forum opinion it's a combination that I've really enjoyed.

My pcp is due to expire in a few months so I've recently had a number of calls from the dealer who is very keen to explain my options. (Didn't mention to him that I've got a forum full of people that will do this to a an unprecedented level if detail at a about 2 minutes notice )



I have been dabbling with the configurator and toying with the idea of a 340i but Very tempting as it is to change, I've decided to pay the final payment and hang onto it for now as on balance I'm just not doing enough miles at the moment to justify the change and the reality check here is that it's still under 3 years old.