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BMW 328i/328xi

109 messages,  Last post on Jun 27, 2011 at 4:43 AM

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#1 of 109 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? by absolutic

Mar 01, 2007 (4:01 pm)

After driving SUVs for the last 9 years, with raising gas prices and other factors, I decided to plunge into smaller fun cars. Returned my 04' ML350 and leased myself a 07' 328i (basic with metallic color, memory seats and auto tranny). I test-drove all other types, including the sports package (where I found sports seats very uncomfortable.) The 335i that the dealer had all had sports packages and, after test-driving the basic 328i at about 90mph on a curvy city street, I decided that 230hp is plenty for me.
 
Now I want to learn things about my new car. While there are plenty of reviews of 330i and 335i, I have not found a single review of basic 328i. I want to know what the 0-to-60 is, I imagine it is in 6 sec range, also what is the top speed, what is the breaking distance, and what is the skidpad with regular 16-inch tires (not the 255s that come with sports package). Is there such a review someone can point to? Thanks!

#2 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [absolutic] by shipo

Mar 01, 2007 (4:30 pm)

Replying to: absolutic (Mar 01, 2007 4:01 pm)
Some of what you want can be found on the BMW-USA web site:
 
http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/328isedan/techdata.htm
 
Keep in mind that BMWs numbers are usually a tad conservative.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#3 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [shipo] by absolutic

Mar 01, 2007 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Mar 01, 2007 4:30 pm)
Thanks, I should have realized to look at BMW's own site. It pretty much has most of the info I was looking for, with exception of skidpad. Is skidpad in 0.8+ zone?

#4 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [absolutic] by shipo

Mar 01, 2007 (4:46 pm)

Replying to: absolutic (Mar 01, 2007 4:40 pm)
"Is skidpad in 0.8+ zone?"
 
Hmmm, on 205 section width All-Season RFTs? That'd be a stretch, however, it may not be far south of .8. Bump those tires up to 225s (especially if they're GFTs) and my bet is that you've got .8 easy.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#5 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [absolutic] by jtla

Mar 01, 2007 (10:50 pm)

Replying to: absolutic (Mar 01, 2007 4:01 pm)
test-driving the basic 328i at about 90mph on a curvy city street
 
Wow, what city do you live in?
 
When I was searching for my next car back in December and January, my two finalists were G35 Sport and 3-Series. Although there was no shortage of review on G35 and 335i, I could not find any test report on 328i. After several rounds of test-drive, I eventually decided on the 328i 6MT with sport package.
 
Today, I received the April issue of Car & Driver. Guess what? There it is, the comparo of G35 Sport and 328i!! Both test cars are manual transimmision with sport suspecsion. Here are some numbers for your reference.
 
C&D clocked the 328i 0-60 at 6.1 sec -- 0.2 sec faster than BMW's official time. I was kind of disappointed by this number, because for 335i, the test result by most magazines were 0.6 sec faster than what BMW published (4.8 vs 5.4 sec). I had hoped that my 328i would be in the sub-6 seconds. Assuming the same variance, your Steptronic 328i should do 0-60 in 6.7 sec. Breaking 70-0 is 160 ft. The skidpad for the 328i with sport package (which has 17" wheels with 225/45 front and 255/40 rear performance summer tires) is 0.88 g. Can't wait to get my car!
 
If you did not subscribe to C&D, you may want to go grab one at supermarket, because this might be the only 328i test review you will ever find.

#6 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [jtla] by kdshapiro

Mar 02, 2007 (5:47 am)

Replying to: jtla (Mar 01, 2007 10:50 pm)
The article was interesting. Especially since the article mentioned some family cars were in fact faster then the 328. The 335i 4.7s on the auto tranny vs 328 6.1s using the manual tranny were interesting. I would have like to have seen C&D test the 328 auto tranny.

#7 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [jtla] by absolutic

Mar 02, 2007 (7:49 am)

Replying to: jtla (Mar 01, 2007 10:50 pm)
I do subscribe to Car and Driver, I am yet to get the April's issue. That is very exciting, it is even better than I thought, with 0-to-60 at 6.1 and 0.88g skidpad.
 
I live in Los Angeles and I test-drove the cars at night:) The dealer was a friend of my friend and he simply gave us a bunch of keys and let us just go and test drive any car we want by ourselves which I properly did.
 
I did not get the sport package because although I liked the wider tires, I hated the sports seats; maybe my back is too wide, but the sports seats squeeze my body from the sides in a very uncomfortable way, my friend who was a passenger at the time of the test, commented as well that he was uncomfortable. I understand the idea that the seats are designed so that on turns the seats hold you. But for me they were uncomfortable,and I thought, "If am uncomfortable after driving for 10 minutes, what would happen on the four-hour trip to Vegas?" The steering wheel also felt stiffer with a sports package. So the sports package is not for me.
 
What I may end up doing, since I leased the car, I will probably just buy myself a set of 225/245 17 or 18 inch tires, similar to those used in the sports package, put the on my car, keep the OE 205s and then put them back in 3 years when it is time to turn the car back. I check on tire rack's site, you can get these tires for under $800 for all four.

#8 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [absolutic] by shipo

Mar 02, 2007 (8:00 am)

Replying to: absolutic (Mar 02, 2007 7:49 am)
"What I may end up doing, since I leased the car, I will probably just buy myself a set of 225/245 17 or 18 inch tires, similar to those used in the sports package, put the on my car, keep the OE 205s and then put them back in 3 years when it is time to turn the car back. I check on tire rack's site, you can get these tires for under $800 for all four."
 
Smart move.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#9 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [absolutic] by spiritinthesky

Mar 02, 2007 (10:07 am)

Replying to: absolutic (Mar 02, 2007 7:49 am)
"That is very exciting, it is even better than I thought, with 0-to-60 at 6.1 and 0.88g skidpad."
 
Don't get carried away in your reading "excitement". You should either be excited, or not, driving the car - and hopefully satisfied yourself of its capabilities BEFORE buying it. The 328i non-sport automatic is a fine car. But it's definitely not going to match the 6-speed manual, sport packaged version in performance, so why kid, tease or frustrate yourself by reading those reviews after the fact?
 
"I will probably just buy myself a set of 225/245 17 or 18 inch tires, similar to those used in the sports package, put the on my car, keep the OE 205s and then put them back in 3 years when it is time to turn the car back. I check on tire rack's site, you can get these tires for under $800 for all four."
 
I usually agree with Shipo's comments, but not the "smart move" one this time. It's going to cost you at least 3 times that price to buy 17 or 18" WHEELS and tires for your non-sport 328i. And what will you do with them after the lease expires? - they will be worth next to nothing. Save your money. The sport suspension accounts for more than 50%+ of the difference in handling, more than the tires. Putting low profile soft compound rubber on a non-sport suspensioned car is not a smart move, IMO - financially or performance wise.
 
If you were so concerned about performance, you would have been much better off with a 328i sport 6-speed manual. But now that you've made the decision, save your dollars for the next time around and enjoy the car you have.

#10 of 109 Re: 2007 328i What is 0-to-60 and what is a skidpad? [spiritinthesky] by absolutic

Mar 02, 2007 (10:50 am)

Replying to: spiritinthesky (Mar 02, 2007 10:07 am)
spiritinthesky, I just realized it myself by talking to another friend of mine that owns wheels and tires business. I did not realize that you cannot put a larger tires on 16 inch wheels (I am in a process of educating myself about wheels and tires). In fact I found out that because of the 16X7, 7 being the wheel's width on a stock 382i, it is impossible to fit anything wider than 205s on it, for instance, you cannot fit a 225 on it.
 
I will save my money and enjoy the car that I got:)

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