Automobile 335 first drive, 328 better handler

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...ive/index.html

Notable quote "More importantly, the lighter 328i clobbers the 335i in the corners. We considered the 335i to be the on-track benchmark of the near-luxury sport sedan segment -- until we drove the four-cylinder. The 335i turns in with rubbery reluctance and then settles into mild understeer. The 328i does nothing of the sort -- despite what feels like more body roll from behind the wheel, the four-cylinder Bimmer throws itself at corners like teenage girls at Justin Bieber: with controlled wags of the hips and a breathtaking amount of confidence. The 335i might still be a better corner carver than its chief rivals, but it's no match for the 328i."

This was true of the e90 also. Not sure why it's news in the F30. I had that e90 325i with manual seats and it clocked in under 3250 pounds, corner balanced and calibrated with mountains of negative camber it cornered like it was on rails.

Does anyone know the weight of the magnesium aluminum N52 versus the new 2.0T copied from VW?

Originally Posted by westwest888

This was true of the e90 also. Not sure why it's news in the F30. I had that e90 325i with manual seats and it clocked in under 3250 pounds, corner balanced and calibrated with mountains of negative camber it cornered like it was on rails.

Does anyone know the weight of the magnesium aluminum N52 versus the new 2.0T copied from VW?

Not Audi or Merc

"Still, the 335i acquits itself surprisingly well on a race track, with great body control, lots of grip, and brakes that are easily up to the task -- even at Laguna Seca, a track notoriously hard on brakes. Unfortunately, the 335i's competition is close by in the rear-view mirror.
And no, we don't mean Audi. Or Infiniti. Or even Mercedes-Benz. We're talking about the 328i"

"The 335i might still be a better corner carver than its chief rivals, but it's no match for the 328i."

Originally Posted by bm323

Not Audi or Merc

"Still, the 335i acquits itself surprisingly well on a race track, with great body control, lots of grip, and brakes that are easily up to the task -- even at Laguna Seca, a track notoriously hard on brakes. Unfortunately, the 335i's competition is close by in the rear-view mirror.
And no, we don't mean Audi. Or Infiniti. Or even Mercedes-Benz. We're talking about the 328i"

"The 335i might still be a better corner carver than its chief rivals, but it's no match for the 328i."

Exhibit A: me passing a 335i at Laguna Seca. Looking forward to passing the new one, as it has a carry over engine and will be no match.

Originally Posted by westwest888

Exhibit A: me passing a 335i at Laguna Seca. Looking forward to passing the new one, as it has a carry over engine and will be no match.

Unfortunately, I can't be at Laguna Seca to pass you in the E90 328i

ps One more for you "More so than ever, it's an emotional decision rather than a rational one -- but with three pedals in the driver's footwell, there's still no sport sedan better than a BMW 335i."

Originally Posted by westwest888

This was true of the e90 also. Not sure why it's news in the F30. I had that e90 325i with manual seats and it clocked in under 3250 pounds, corner balanced and calibrated with mountains of negative camber it cornered like it was on rails.

The significance this time around is that the 328's turbo 4 makes it one of the fastest, if not the fastest car in it's class. At 5.7 seconds 0-60 which is only a few tenths of a second slower than standard 335 no longer labels it slow. Unless your buying a 335is or M3 the 328 not only has the handling, but now can dust most cars on the road.

For whoever said "Why wouldn't this be the case - it was in the e90" - that's foolhardy. The big difference is in the placement of the engine mass. The e90 had near identical engine mass, but the f30 4-cylinder reduces forward engine mass by 2 cylinders. So not only is it lighter weight (like the e90) but it's polar moment of inertia is brought inwards substantially.

As for that picture on Laguna Seca, any decent racer would credit that to the difference in driving skills and not the cars. I can find you pictures of Miata's passing damn near anything on the track, if you'd like

The cars are so close to each other track-wise that either one can easily surpass the other based on driver's skill alone.

...

P.s. If BMW copied the 2.0t from Audi/VW, then it would be much smoother sounding at idle than it is. Hehehe

Originally Posted by westwest888

This was true of the e90 also. Not sure why it's news in the F30. I had that e90 325i with manual seats and it clocked in under 3250 pounds, corner balanced and calibrated with mountains of negative camber it cornered like it was on rails.

Does anyone know the weight of the magnesium aluminum N52 versus the new 2.0T copied from VW?

Do you have any proof on what you say about the N20 engine?

Originally Posted by westwest888

Exhibit A: me passing a 335i at Laguna Seca. Looking forward to passing the new one, as it has a carry over engine and will be no match.

Originally Posted by westwest888

This was true of the e90 also. Not sure why it's news in the F30. I had that e90 325i with manual seats and it clocked in under 3250 pounds, corner balanced and calibrated with mountains of negative camber it cornered like it was on rails.

Does anyone know the weight of the magnesium aluminum N52 versus the new 2.0T copied from VW?

It's news because the power gap that was huge between the 335 and 328 in the E9x cars in much, much smaller in the F30. I don't know how much better the 328 E9x was in the curves than the 335, (if it is better at all) but the power difference was so great it didn't matter much. IMHO if someone is looking at a 328 the F30 is big news. If someone is looking for a 335 not too much new and improved in the F30 that I can see. N4S

Originally Posted by bm323

Unfortunately, I can't be at Laguna Seca to pass you in the E90 328i

ps One more for you "More so than ever, it's an emotional decision rather than a rational one -- but with three pedals in the driver's footwell, there's still no sport sedan better than a BMW 335i."

LOL You be lucky to pass a bicycle in the Singapore traffic.

Originally Posted by bm323

Fortunately, I can't be at Laguna Seca for you to pass you me in the E90 328i ;)

ps One more for you "More so than ever, it's an emotional decision rather than a rational one -- but with three pedals in the driver's footwell, there's still no sport sedan better than a BMW 335i."

Fixed.