BMW 320si - any good?
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 3 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 3 Series (E21, E30, E36, E46, E90, E91 & E92)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=40931
Printed Date: 08-May-2024 at 04:04
Topic: BMW 320si - any good?
Posted By: Virgin
Subject: BMW 320si - any good?
Date 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 |
Replies:
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 14-April-2008 at 10:04
|
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 - http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=10 and http://www.bmwe21.net/320is/ - http://www.bmwe21.net/320is/ ------------- Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
Posted By: Dergside
Date Posted: 14-April-2008 at 11:04
|
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. |
Posted By: Sporty1
Date Posted: 14-April-2008 at 12:00
|
a quick google..... http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25166 ------------- 
Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
Posted By: nn_dd
Date Posted: 14-April-2008 at 14:56
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 ?? ------------- E39 530d Touring |
Dergside wrote:Posted By: Sporty1
Date Posted: 14-April-2008 at 15:15
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 |
Posted By: nn_dd
Date Posted: 14-April-2008 at 22:24
Which is why I only said 50 bhp......and not an extra 127 bhp  ------------- E39 530d Touring |
Posted By: Virgin
Date Posted: 15-April-2008 at 16:55
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 |
Posted By: Sporty1
Date Posted: 15-April-2008 at 17:11
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/200502/bmw_3series.html - http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/200502/bmw_3se ries.html -------------
Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 15-April-2008 at 17:22
|
See forum_posts.asp?TID=40947" target="_self" title="This topic was started: 15-April-2008 at 17:22 - BMW 320si Saloon
------------- Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
Posted By: gjoconnor92
Date Posted: 15-April-2008 at 21:57
|
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!!) http://homepage.eircom.net/~goconnor/Fvee1/FVee.htm - Sheane Formula Vee mailto:bmw2002_92@yahoo.ie - My e-mail |
Posted By: Virgin
Date Posted: 16-April-2008 at 16:14
javascript window.close"> ------------- |
Posted By: Virgin
Date Posted: 16-April-2008 at 16:20
|
"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). |
Posted By: Virgin
Date Posted: 23-April-2008 at 17:38
|
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 |
Posted By: SHEPSM3
Date Posted: 25-April-2008 at 23:52
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"> |
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 26-April-2008 at 00:54
|
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 |
Posted By: Sporty1
Date Posted: 26-April-2008 at 16:19
|
It's not 50 BHP over the standard engine, its 22 BHP over standard. -------------
Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
Posted By: Virgin
Date Posted: 26-April-2008 at 18:15
|
My guess would be the power steering pump? |