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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Anyone add a turbo charger or supercharger to E90 320i ?
- Thread starter Olorin
- Start date
Matt,
I'm surprised you thought the current M3 had vague handling. I've never driven an M3 (E46 or E90) so I have no idea, but still. Perhaps you are one very tough customer to please. There are plenty of user reports and reviews which claim the E90 or E92 to have superb handling. Obviously you are comparing an E46 but I just haven't seen too many people complaining to be honest.
I've never driven an E46 so I have no experience with it and, in fact, the dealer who bought my Corolla (Velocity Cars) from me offered an E46 330i with 160000km on the clock for R99000. I gave it a pass due to the millage but otherwise I'm sure it's a fantastic car. But compared to the cars I've driven in the same class as the E90, I just felt it handled much better. Much better handling, better steering feel, less body roll etc. The Lexus was by far the worst of the bunch. I was expecting things from the IS250 and it was just terrible. But I feel that I made the right choice in the current crop of cars in terms of handling.
Like I said, I'm not a BMW fundie, I mean, the E90 is my first BMW I've ever owned, but I can't imagine the handling to be much better unless I got some wider rubber.
I'm surprised you thought the current M3 had vague handling. I've never driven an M3 (E46 or E90) so I have no idea, but still. Perhaps you are one very tough customer to please. There are plenty of user reports and reviews which claim the E90 or E92 to have superb handling. Obviously you are comparing an E46 but I just haven't seen too many people complaining to be honest.
I've never driven an E46 so I have no experience with it and, in fact, the dealer who bought my Corolla (Velocity Cars) from me offered an E46 330i with 160000km on the clock for R99000. I gave it a pass due to the millage but otherwise I'm sure it's a fantastic car. But compared to the cars I've driven in the same class as the E90, I just felt it handled much better. Much better handling, better steering feel, less body roll etc. The Lexus was by far the worst of the bunch. I was expecting things from the IS250 and it was just terrible. But I feel that I made the right choice in the current crop of cars in terms of handling.
Like I said, I'm not a BMW fundie, I mean, the E90 is my first BMW I've ever owned, but I can't imagine the handling to be much better unless I got some wider rubber.
Matt Q
///Member
You have an awesome car like I said above.. but when you are ready to go the FI route... trade down to an E46 and you'll have your mind blown
Newer isn't always better.. in fact enthusiasts worldwide still consider the E30 M3 to be the best handling car that BMW EVER produced!
Don't think you are driving anything less than an awesome car... use the rest of your motorplan and do an advanced driving course and get some track time.. once you are taking the E90 to the limit you can think about getting an E46 to mod and play with
Newer isn't always better.. in fact enthusiasts worldwide still consider the E30 M3 to be the best handling car that BMW EVER produced!
Don't think you are driving anything less than an awesome car... use the rest of your motorplan and do an advanced driving course and get some track time.. once you are taking the E90 to the limit you can think about getting an E46 to mod and play with
Matt, thanks for your advice. Is that black E46 in your sig your car ? If so it looks very nice. For me, I don't want to think about selling the car after I've had it for 1 month bawling but I think if I had a choice and due to my driving style, I would probably prefer the diesel unit and have it remapped. Also, get wider rubber for the rear. I don't know what it is, but for me the idea of driving an even older car is not appealing to me (than what I already have). There are plenty of people who have a newer car and then trade in and get something faster but older but I guess I'm not one of them. It's all the years of having my Corolla and getting decent resale value, it does things to the mind. Yes I know Corolla and BMW don't even have nearly the same resale value but I figure I'll get more out of a more recent model than anything else.
Still, it would be very interesting to have a ride in a 325i or 330i E46 just out of interest. Should be fun.
bawling but I think if I had a choice and due to my driving style, I would probably prefer the diesel unit and have it remapped. Also, get wider rubber for the rear. I don't know what it is, but for me the idea of driving an even older car is not appealing to me (than what I already have). There are plenty of people who have a newer car and then trade in and get something faster but older but I guess I'm not one of them. It's all the years of having my Corolla and getting decent resale value, it does things to the mind. Yes I know Corolla and BMW don't even have nearly the same resale value but I figure I'll get more out of a more recent model than anything else. Still, it would be very interesting to have a ride in a 325i or 330i E46 just out of interest. Should be fun.
Willy
Member
Just to add my 2 cents.
First you bought a 320i, it will never be fast. It is made to be light on fuel and good to drive.
If you decat or chip they will not void the warrenty or tell you about it but will flag the car. then if anything goes wrong you will have to pay for it unless you can prove that decat and chip did not have any inpact on the car, which btw is impossable.
Best is, don't go race all the golfs on the road. and injoy the car for what it is. otherwise, go buy a toy-ota again and have a fast crap car.
First you bought a 320i, it will never be fast. It is made to be light on fuel and good to drive.
If you decat or chip they will not void the warrenty or tell you about it but will flag the car. then if anything goes wrong you will have to pay for it unless you can prove that decat and chip did not have any inpact on the car, which btw is impossable.
Best is, don't go race all the golfs on the road. and injoy the car for what it is. otherwise, go buy a toy-ota again and have a fast crap car.
Toyota, fast ? Unfortunately if I could buy the Supra I would and that is one car I've always wanted. Toyota don't really make fast cars, besides perhaps the ISF and IS350. Still I wonder what the IS350 would be like in the handling department. It's heavier, should be similar to the IS250 which isn't a good thing. But then I speak under correction so...
Matt Q
///Member
Willy said:
He has a good point.. it's the car for the economy minded driver so trying to make it fast is going to be a costly and unrewarding process.
The diesel route would also be a good one for a balance of economy and fun.. pitty we dont get the 335d here as that's a real oil burning M3 killer
If you do decide to go for a 2nd hand E46 at some stage I will gladly help you modify it..
and yes.. that is my car in my sig
if you want a new car to mod get a 135i its what the 3 series should be... and it already has a turbo so is easy to mod
andrewbuch
///Member
HAHAHAHAHAHA Olorin Dude..
First read this
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=250
Then this
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=9185
Then you will see the few things mattQ has done to his car
First read this
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=250
Then this
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=9185
Then you will see the few things mattQ has done to his car
the 3 series has become a cheap 5 series and the 1 series is more what the 3 used to be...
if the 135i was not so new i would be driving one of them unfortunately you dont get an e46 with boost
if the 135i was not so new i would be driving one of them unfortunately you dont get an e46 with boost
netercol
New member
this type of question always boils down to this formula doesnt it?
"can i turn base specced model "X" into (or make equal to) higher specced model "Y" by doing mods "A,B and C"
and the answer is almost always : " no, it would cost more to get "X" up to "Y" than it would to just buy "Y" in the first place.."
dont mind me , just browsing with a beer in hand
"can i turn base specced model "X" into (or make equal to) higher specced model "Y" by doing mods "A,B and C"
and the answer is almost always : " no, it would cost more to get "X" up to "Y" than it would to just buy "Y" in the first place.."
dont mind me , just browsing with a beer in hand
What is the ride quality like of an E46 compared to an E90 ? The thing is, I'm very happy with the ride quality of my car. I like the smoothness of the drive. It's not all about pure speed but would like more of it. Since I've never been in an E46 perhaps some of you can comment. Is there a big difference in smoothness and refinement between these cars (I'm talking similar suspension set ups and tire size) ?
If spending R10k will give me +- 15 kw extra then I might consider that. I don't need a super car I just want a decent improvement. I realize I can't turn my 320i into a diesel, it's not going to happen. I also realize that I'm not going to have a 325i but it's sure going to be better than the performance right now. I don't know, I think I'll take the car for a dyno test and see what kind of power it's actually giving first before proceeding further.
Do you guys know what the 0-100km acceleration time is like on the 320i ? Is it 8.9 sec ? Because some people say 8.9, others say 10 sec. Just want to know for sure.
Second, some have recommended that I spruce the car up, visually. That's something I have considered. The thing is, the one thing I really want is just wayy too expensive. It's the M-sport bumper. The BMW parts rep told me it's R4500 for the bumper but Rennzport tells me that it's double that price and that is with a hefty discount so I'm not sure now.
I don't like many of the body kits available and I don't want to completely transform the car. But the M-sport bumper makes it look more sporty and aggressive. Are there any aftermarket Msport grills available ? I think I saw some from the UK. Perhaps I should import. What is available here ? Any advice would be appreciated.
Second, some have recommended that I spruce the car up, visually. That's something I have considered. The thing is, the one thing I really want is just wayy too expensive. It's the M-sport bumper. The BMW parts rep told me it's R4500 for the bumper but Rennzport tells me that it's double that price and that is with a hefty discount so I'm not sure now.
I don't like many of the body kits available and I don't want to completely transform the car. But the M-sport bumper makes it look more sporty and aggressive. Are there any aftermarket Msport grills available ? I think I saw some from the UK. Perhaps I should import. What is available here ? Any advice would be appreciated.
