2008 320i Auto - @#$% CAR!!

[BMW M]

Hi Guys,

I have to appologize to the people who own one of these cars... So sorry for what follows...

Its a piece of :cursin: :cursin: :cursin: :cursin: to say the least!! I took the Dynamic in for a vanity mirror light replacement and a paint chip repair this morning, so I get a 2008 320i Auto for the day with 65000km on the clock.

It's rubbish to say the least! No power, no speed, no nothing!!! Its loaded with features thou... Probably the only reason it sells. And it doesnt seem to be to thirsty... But still... It leaves a sour taste in my mouth and I will definately not part with my money to buy one of these...

I'm now really amazed by the amount of these cars on our roads... :thinking: It baffels me completely, maybe I just got use to or spoilt by the Diesels performance... :dunno:

The Autobox reminds me of the TATA runaround we owned a while back... Hit the kickdown button and it just rev's higher, speed hardly increases... NOT A NICE CAR!!!

I'm sure grandma would love one for town driving etc... but come on! This is a no fun vehicle IMHO...

Appologies again to the owners on this forum who own these... :bawling:

 

[zaleonardz]

Yep,

They are painful, I had a loaner as well..

Keep in mind who is buying those cars though, it entry level exec car allowance and company car buyers, thats why there are so many of them on he road.

The one I had was at least a manual, I could imagine that its frikken horrid in an auto... but then, keep in mind that it is the entry level..

 

[Jandre]

I had a 318ti a couple of years ago. similar 2.0 litre engine. I think they suck.
Had no power at all. Had to wring it's neck just to overtake a car.

I feel the same as you do.

 

[BMW M]

Yep,

They are painful, I had a loaner as well..

Keep in mind who is buying those cars though, it entry level exec car allowance and company car buyers, thats why there are so many of them on he road.

The one I had was at least a manual, I could imagine that its frikken horrid in an auto... but then, keep in mind that it is the entry level..

Entry level or not... These things are not cheap, the one I have today is R230 000...! And its K@K!! For that money I'd rather buy a early e46 M3 or fullhouse e46 330i/d and have loads left to spend on chipping and tuning!

 

[Ricky318i]

I truely don't understand the logic behind that car! :dunno: anyways, I really find it embarrassing the way it shudders when starting the car! It feels like the whole car is going to fall apart when starting it! okay, and then there's the way it idles... Oh boy.. i guess the 6 cylinder spoilt me a bit...

 

[P1000]

I think people who buy automatic cars with engines making less than 350nm should be committed, it is such a waste. Apparently on the 320i "start" you don't even get A/C. Not even as an option. Its like a chico golf, but with airbags.

EDIT: But still not as fast as a chico

 

[Mike1]

Hahahha

Glad I am not alone in this...

I drove a 320i Demo to a client a month ago... Climbed in all excited for the sound of the straight six and the ooomph that Don's car has and was so disappointed....

The engine sounds sour and puny and you drop a gear and nothing happens.... It just makes a lot of noise and no extra go... Drove me insane.

Our 1.6 Cooper will smoke it and still be more fun... The current 320i feels so sterile.

But then look at the target market and you will understand why it sells so well. Its a relatively affordable BMW for the mommy who wants to tell her friends she drives a BMW.

My mom had a 320i E46 and then we bought her the MK5 GTI. People asked her why she had downgraded! Nevermind that the GTI was twice the price fully loaded with loads more power...

Mike

 

[MikeR]

:lmoa::lmoa::lmoa: they are horrible to say the least - I also cannot understand BMW and Auto boxes, I think they got them on special left overs from Merc, who threw them out with grandpa.
They have the worst lag in any auto box on the market.:facepalm:

 

[Rossouw]

I think people who buy automatic cars with engines making less than 350nm should be committed, it is such a waste. Apparently on the 320i "start" you don't even get A/C. Not even as an option. Its like a chico golf, but with airbags.

EDIT: But still not as fast as a chico
_____________________________________________________________________________

Hold on folks, don't forget the 320d, it may not be the fastest car out there but at least better than the petrol.

 

[P1000]

Hold on folks, don't forget the 320d, it may not be the fastest car out there but at least better than the petrol.

The 320d is a completely different story, plus it meets the required 350Nm cutoff. Off course, on the d auto makes sense, since it will never drop out of boost, where you would have that problem with the manual version(unless you keep your foot flat on the accelerator through the shifts)

 

[BMW M]

:lmoa::lmoa::lmoa: they are horrible to say the least - I also cannot understand BMW and Auto boxes, I think they got them on special left overs from Merc, who threw them out with grandpa.
They have the worst lag in any auto box on the market.:facepalm:

The new ('10/'11) engine/gearbox configuration on the diesels are 200 times better from the '07 configuration with virtually NO lag. My Brother-In-Law just bought a '11 320d Auto and it goes very nicely... Would still give him stick with the Dynamics manual thou... Just love that cars 3rd and 4th gears...

---

Hold on folks, don't forget the 320d, it may not be the fastest car out there but at least better than the petrol.

+ 1000 000 000 :thumbsup:

 

[Kisho135i]

if its a 320 you wanna buy, it has to be the diesel. The diesel has good acceleration and is fun to drive. 320i is really a crap bmw

 

[Dmonic1]

320i maual at the coast is not that bad... but then think abt this, a brand new top of the range corolla costs R282k... thats not far from the 320i which is 10 times better in almost every respect!!!

320i start does come iwth Aircon, just dont have Climate control, once again, its aimed at teh guy who is looking to buy a top end corolla or hyundai and just digs a little deeper to get a BM.... :thumbsup:

 

[msm]

I think you also need to consider your target market for this car. For someone stepping out of a 200si Camri, the 320i will be amazing. For someone who drove a decent diesel or inline 6 BM, it's gonna be a different story.

A few years ago, I drove the Lexus IS250. The sales guy took myself and another customer with. I felt the car underpowered (as I arrived in my ex 330i). The other guy thought it was awesume (he was in a Corolla something). So I guess it's all relative to what you've already driven/experienced.

 

[JENICH]

The 320 is kak slow, I had it as a loan car when my diesel went in for repairs. I hated the car and had to push the stealers to get my car ready sooner

 

[zaleonardz]

I find my wife's 2.0 Fsi Sportline kak slow and I burn the ears off of it when I do drive it... performance is however similar I would think, she would be over the moon with it...

 

[Sankekur]

Well the 4-cyl is probably the future of the 3-series, I expect all the next generation 3's will have variants of this or and evolution of this 2.0l 4-cyl in NA and FI form (apart from the M3 of course)

 

[Cole]

had 320i auto when my 323i was in for head gasket, definitly sticking with 6 cylinder, sounds so much nicer and far better to drive.
i did enjoy playing with the auto box though, will look for auto e90 330i next year after my experience with the loan car.

 

[WyKiD]

Where are all of the 320i owners, c'mon guys lets hear the merits of your cars and stop this uncalled for victimization of your pride and joys?

 

[msm]

Where are all of the 320i owners, c'mon guys lets hear the merits of your cars and stop this uncalled for victimization of your pride and joys?

They're all out booking 320d test drives :mmm: