E90 330i or 325i MSport?

[Vroom325]

By all means, the 330i. if you can find one with M sport and i drive, which is not available in official route.
Did consider it and look around before my 325 purchase, but too rare...

Also, bigger cc car generate more sexy sound....

 

[Vroom325]

can also buy an E46 M3 or E90 M3....
But E90 road tax is a lot more expensive...

Must work harder lah...

 

[choq]

I tested F30 328 and I own 530. 530 my choice anytime. I still feel no replacement for displacement. Actually u cant compare 3 to 5 series. Anyway F30 has lost BMW feel to me. I rather drive E46 ///M3

excellent reason for migration to ///M league? JUSTIFIED!!!

 

[ttbold]

Absolutely right, plus the non M-Sport handles pretty well already. I've driven both and I'd go for the 330i without question. The extra 50+hp and 50NM is something I can use immediately.

A similar scenario is comparing a kancil with a 1.5 Iswara. Not doubt kancil is much lighter than the Iswara, but when it comes to the need for that extra 500cc power surge, the result is :banghead:

 

[maxxsp]

IMO either go straight for the E92 or get a cheap car to use for the next 2 years. There's not enough difference between the E90 & E92 to be a upgrade.

A non-msport car could handle just as well if not better with a good set of coilovers.

 

[shlim8]

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice & I appreciate it greatly. As a few of the forum members mentioned that the M sport suspension is rather stiffer & noisierduring cruising (worse still pairing it with big rim & RFT). That is something to think about opting for full M-sport package.

Actually, I have a E90 323i LCI standard and a E93 335i M Sport (pre-LCI).

The 323i has 17" rims with Michellin PS3 and the 335i has 19" rims with Goodyear F1 Asym 2. Both non-RFT. Both sets of tires are pretty new (less than 3 months old).

AND the strange thing is that the 335i M Sport with its 19" rims rides more comfortably AND quieter than the 323i.....

And the 323i was bought brand new and the ride has never been comfortable, being very crashy over broken surface, but it's better now with non RFT, but never as comfortable as the M Sport 335i.

Caveat - I'm not sure whether BMW made the E93 M Sport suspension softer than the E90 M Sport suspension, since it's an open top car ??

 

[Vroom325]

actually, I don find my M sport 325 to be very stiff and bumpy. it still on rft.
I believe when it's on non rft, it willb e much better. Probably that's my level of tolerance.
Understand it's not the same with other people.

Don't think first. Test drive to find out.
Try it out on straight, corners, long hiway, rough road.
then only make your judgement.

Every car model is like a different person as they are made by human being.
They all carry their own set of strength, weakness, in certain balance/matrix.
Who knows after your test drive, you are willing to accept the weakness because it shine so well in it's strength???

At least to me, with that kind of handling, it is considered as comforatable.
Also versus my E46 325 standard set up, I find it even more comfortable but yet perform in corners, that's amazing, isn't it?

 

[Vroom325]

Actually, I have a E90 323i LCI standard and a E93 335i M Sport (pre-LCI).

The 323i has 17" rims with Michellin PS3 and the 335i has 19" rims with Goodyear F1 Asym 2. Both non-RFT. Both sets of tires are pretty new (less than 3 months old).

AND the strange thing is that the 335i M Sport with its 19" rims rides more comfortably AND quieter than the 323i.....

And the 323i was bought brand new and the ride has never been comfortable, being very crashy over broken surface, but it's better now with non RFT, but never as comfortable as the M Sport 335i.

Caveat - I'm not sure whether BMW made the E93 M Sport suspension softer than the E90 M Sport suspension, since it's an open top car ??

Could it because of E90's roof provide the doom effect which act like a amplifier on road noise? Wild guess.
Sometimes, with very good suspension setting, big rims can also give good ride quality on both comfiort and performance mix.

 

[shlim8]

Could it because of E90's roof provide the doom effect which act like a amplifier on road noise? Wild guess.
Sometimes, with very good suspension setting, big rims can also give good ride quality on both comfiort and performance mix.

No, the E93 is a hard top convertible. It almost feels as solid as a coupe, any dome effect should be the similar. The Goodyear F1 A2 tires are quiet though, quieter than the PS3.

I actually find the E93 M Sport suspension to be actually too underdampened (shocks too soft) for high speed driving. But still works well for lower speeds (and roads without undulations) and still decent for cornering. But very comfy. I tested afew cars before buying this, and after driving the first E93 M Sport I thought the suspension was busted as it felt soft, but after trying another 3 or 4 similar cars, all had the same feel.

Just another thought, as my E93 is pre-LCI and my E90 is LCI, I'm pretty sure BMW has done changes to the steering and/or suspension setup as well. THe steering feel on the E93 is light whereas the E90 LCI steering feels very heavy (both are without active steer). My friend's E90 pre-LCI 325i also felt similar to my E93 (light).

 

[tIANcI]

I find that my E90 325 shocks are just nice. When pushed hard it can be stiffer still. At least the 325's shocks are comfortable enough on our roads.

 

[xatomic]

I have a question

According to wiki, 2007+ 325 has the same 3.0L engine as the 330?

 

[takwee]

That's for US Spec.

 

[Over_Boost]

Since you did mention the E92 and you're partially considering the 330i then why not go for the 335i? You will have the same big displacement and turbos for the extra torque.

 

[safri]

And 335 is so affordable these days...