BMW 320si - any good? |
Post Reply |
Author | |||
Virgin
Groupie Joined: 07-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 46 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: 14-April-2008 at 09:38 |
||
I am thinking about a 320si. Is it worth the higher price over the standard car, is it better to drive and is that 'hand built' engine as reliable as the others. It would be great to see a brochure or any literature from the time they were available new. Any help would be great, thanks |
|||
Sponsored Links | |||
kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Are you talking about the E30 320iS? This is a smaller engined version of the E30 M3 designed for the Italian and Portugese markets.
See http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=10 and http://www.bmwe21.net/320is/ |
|||
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
|||
Dergside
Really Senior Member II Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
I'm guessing its the e90 320Si - a 4 door homogolation special (built during 2006 iirc). There was a bit of fanfare about it at the time but the power and (possibly) torque were little different to the std 320i. Having said that, since it was a limited run that didn't seem to be just for marketing purposes then it should be interesting in some other respects. There may well have been some suspension mods to go with it and I THINK there were a couple of things stripped out from the spec to save a few pounds weight. As with other models, I'd guess that it will be of long term interest simply because it was a limited run and a homogolation special. Nothing was said about it at the time but I'd hazard a guess that there might be "unofficial" options to extract a few more horses without great difficulty. |
|||
Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i. |
|||
Sporty1
Really Senior Member II Joined: 18-October-2006 Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2297 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
a quick google.....
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25166 |
|||
Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
|||
nn_dd
Really Senior Member II Joined: 07-October-2004 Location: Co Clare Status: Offline Points: 602 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Considering the heritage of the engine, you'd have to assume that alright. A BTCC or WTC touring car pumps out - approx 300bhp....apart from electronics and a carbon MAF free intake...its the same basic engine, so 50 + bhp has to be there for the taking ?? Edited by nn_dd |
|||
E39 530d Touring
|
|||
Sporty1
Really Senior Member II Joined: 18-October-2006 Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2297 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
No way..... those engines are not simply add carbon air intakes and electronics, they will be polished and ported to the limit with different rods, crank, cams pistons, springs, valves and throttles etc...... Try driving one of those on the road, or in road conditions the engine simply will not work as the race engine will have a narrower powerband set towards the top of the rev range. |
|||
Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
|||
nn_dd
Really Senior Member II Joined: 07-October-2004 Location: Co Clare Status: Offline Points: 602 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Which is why I only said 50 bhp......and not an extra 127 bhp |
|||
E39 530d Touring
|
|||
Virgin
Groupie Joined: 07-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 46 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Yes, that's the one... Not a massive increase in power considering it's supposed to be a hand built engine. Should be fun though, in a high-revving sort of way... But those wheels and that carbon fibre cam cover... mmm... Still can't find any official blurb though |
|||
Sporty1
Really Senior Member II Joined: 18-October-2006 Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2297 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/200502/bmw_3se ries.html |
|||
Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
|||
kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
See BMW 320si Saloon
|
|||
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
|||
gjoconnor92
Really Senior Member II The eyes have it Joined: 21-July-2003 Location: Kildare and Limerick, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 735 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
The 320Si is the true successor to the E30 M3 Both were done as homologation specials for Touring car racing. So I think it will have a stronger heritage than current M3s which are marketing exercises ( OK I know they are quick too) |
|||
Gerard O'Connor
1989 E30 320i for track day use 1972 2002 competition car project (delayed!!) Sheane Formula Vee My e-mail |
|||
Virgin
Groupie Joined: 07-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 46 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Virgin
Groupie Joined: 07-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 46 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
"Engineers have also decided to remove BMW’s patented VALVETRONIC induction system, reverting to a conventional throttle due to the higher engine speeds demanded by a racing engine." Strange... all that development and hardly any extra power... nice looking lump though. Just purely rarity value then (thanks for the photos KB). Edited by Virgin |
|||
Virgin
Groupie Joined: 07-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 46 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Well, I drove one at the dealers last weekend... Not particularly quick unless you put your foot down and get the revs spinning up. Looks good though and those wheels are... WOW! 19" run-flats are a bit jiggly though. Overall opinion is, it's nice because it's a bit different |
|||
SHEPSM3
Bavarian-Board Contributor UK Sport Evolution. Joined: 26-December-2004 Location: Bristol, UK. Status: Offline Points: 1934 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
50 BHP more than a standard engine is good going for a road car
|
|||
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/ShepsM3/New-1a1.jpg">[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/ShepsM3/New-1b1.jpg">
|
|||
kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
Just looking at the pic again - whats that at the bottom (with the lowest pulley and the N on its side)?
|
|||
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
|||
Sporty1
Really Senior Member II Joined: 18-October-2006 Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2297 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
It's not 50 BHP over the standard engine, its 22 BHP over standard. |
|||
Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
|||
Virgin
Groupie Joined: 07-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 46 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
||
My guess would be the power steering pump? |
|||
Post Reply | |
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |