Autocar Claims the new 3 Series Improves over the E9X in Every Way

Originally Posted by Saintor

No it won't. The Z4 has the same weight as the X1 I drove. We are 2 to have driven the N20 and were not impressed by low punch. Did you drive one?

More info HERE

Yeah, I sometimes have to punch my 328i on freeway merge in DS mode to get away from others, as a safety measure. All I need to do is seeing the needle swing to red, it shoots to 90mph in a flash, always have to quickly slow the sucker down before some cop take the notice.

Just the sweet engine sound, no vibration at all.

Doing that in a 4 banger, the engine vibration will scare the $%&* out of you, not the cop.

Thanks to the 60lb feet of additional torque, you dont need to have the needle swing to read...down shift a gear or 2 and take advantage of the additional torque.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

you dont need to have the needle swing to read...

You can't. The 4 banger craps out above 4500. Why I also don't care for the 335d even with the tremendous torque.

But most people drive below 3000 so I understand your point.

Some of us want the combination of acceleration while hearing the I6 sing to red, without any vibration. This can only be done with the N52.

Ok one can do it in a 335i too but in street condition he is likely to run into a ditch.

Seriously the 335i has more turbo and exhaust sound, masking engine rev sound when I hit it high. The exhaust note caused some vibration at high RPM band, not necessarily a bad thing just a different sensory input.

When you get in a 335is or Z4is, you are treated with turbo boost and aggressive exhaust sound all the time. Each model offers its unique input.

For the new 328i with the N20, I don't see anyone enjoy the sound, although clearly the zero-start launch speed will be faster, so many of you will like that.

Life is full of trade off.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Thanks to the 60lb feet of additional torque, you dont need to have the needle swing to read...down shift a gear or 2 and take advantage of the additional torque.

There is no additional ooomph at low rpm. You have to rev it to get acceleration, like a NA engine.

You must understand that those ratings are achieved on test bench with slow RPM variations.

In real life, on sudden accelerations, the little turbo has to spool to catch up and that's why you don't feel something significant before 3000-3500rpm.

And this explains why a Z4 N20 doesn't do any better than a 5-60mph in 7.1s, compared to the 0-60mph in 5.6s (with a pre stressed geartrain like nobody in his right mind would do regularly on his own car).

Some of us want the combination of acceleration while hearing the I6 sing to red, without any vibration. This can only be done with the N52.

When I return in my car, I was very happy to get back my NA I6. The N20 has none of its sophistication.

Originally Posted by Saintor

And this explains why a Z4 N20 doesn't do any better than a 5-60mph in 7.1s, compared to the 0-60mph in 5.6s (with a pre stressed geartrain like nobody in his right mind would do regularly on his own car).

Where did you get the 5-60 number? You are saying the turbo lag caused the slower time then?

What's the 5-60 for N52?

Do you guys really drive your family sedans around worrying about how quickly you can get to 60mph? Is that really a crucial part of the driving experience? I mean if you are buying it as a track car, there are much better/cheaper options for that, and much cheaper options for getting to 60mph quickly.

Originally Posted by johnc_22

Do you guys really drive your family sedans around worrying about how quickly you can get to 60mph? Is that really a crucial part of the driving experience? I mean if you are buying it as a track car, there are much better/cheaper options for that, and much cheaper options for getting to 60mph quickly.

Not necessarily, but it's a common point of reference from which to compare acceleration rates. The devil, however, is in the details as has been pointed out in several posts here. My X-Drive e91 (328i) is quite slower than either of the cars being talked about here, but when I put it in manual sport mode and run through the gears with the gear shift or paddles, I feel like I'm flyin' pretty acceptably - especially for a wagon! So.... a lot of it is in the eye of the beholder and what supplies his/her buttons with that special little "push"!



Doug

Originally Posted by Saintor

That's the theory.

In practice, the N20 is no more quicker than the N52N (5-60mph) and it sounds like an Honda Civic, out of place for this class of vehicles.

I agree, although I had an N52 car that also sounded like crap at idle due to the ever present ticking

My reference point will be Car and Driver's review of an American market 328i and 335i-especially what they say about the steering.

I don't pay attention to European reviews. Their cars aren't the cars we get.