Opinion : F30 4 Pot Turbos VS N/A IL6s

[ASH]

Hey there Fanatics

Just wanted to find out from the guys that have purchased the F30 320i & 328i BMWs, how they compare to their previous cars owned. If the previous car owned was an n/a inline 6, please share your comparisions etc. performance, drivability, fuel economy, power/torque delivery, turbo lag, anything really..........

Thanks!

 

[skiet]

I came from e90 335i to 320i f30 with AC Schnitzer upgrade.

I love the move and dont regret anything.

At Kyalami I staid with my mates subaru wrx that has 152wkw and awd launch.

Im sitting around 7 to 10 Litres per 100km depending on my driving.

335 was 10 litres per 100 up to 15.

Interior of the F30 is leapyears ahead as well. But the sound of the 6 pot...you will miss dearly :inlove:

 

[SP33DYV]

I drove the new F30 328i Manual and it is deceptively quick, but lacks the soundtrack of the N/A Inline 6. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice car, but I prefer the inline 6.

 

[Divio]

I drove the new F30 328i Manual and it is deceptively quick, but lacks the soundtrack of the N/A Inline 6. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice car, but I prefer the inline 6.

+1
I Drove the F30 328i Manual Sport.

 

[Mr H]

Had an F30 320i Auto for a week on loan while fixing a scratch on my car. Soundtrack obviously not the same (sounds like a diesel when idling) but that 8-speed autobox is an absolute gem! I loved it. Many different ways to play with it. And what a blessing in heavy traffic. Wife is now seriously considering F30 auto diesel.. :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

[S1NGH 001]

The only thing you're gonna miss is the sound of the 6:inlove:

 

[ASH]

Yeah, I'm going to do lots of head stratching on this one. Thanks for the helpfull comments. How do they compare to say Audi, which are also mostly 4pot turbos?

To me the the thought of a 4pot turbo in a BMW is alien........:fencelook:

 

[skiet]

Yeah, I'm going to do lots of head stratching on this one. Thanks for the helpfull comments. How do they compare to say Audi, which are also mostly 4pot turbos?

To me the the thought of a 4pot turbo in a BMW is alien........:fencelook:

The 4 pot in BMW has won numorous awards :idea:

 

[///Moose]

Straight 6 NA for me, drove the F30 328i and it feels great but nothing compares to the sound and feel of the E46 330i and even the E90 330i

 

[OppositeLockMT]

I would prefer the 4 pot for everyday use, but when it comes to soundtrack + thrills an I6 will always win me over.

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

Agreed with everything everyone here says. I've driven every 4 cylinder variant from BMW and they are amazing cars. Smooth power delivery, great torque from low down and mated to the 8 speed auto it's just perfection. Better than the Audi by years and years.
It is however, not a car you'd want to roll down your window in. Surprisingly, the 316i with its top mounted turbo had the best turbo noise, even better than my 135i so that was quite entertaining, even in its manual guise.
The interior is impeccable, such a big step forward, and if you can get the m-sport, you sir, are winning! :thumbs:

 

[ASH]

Confused, how does the 316i sound better than your 135i?

Is this when the turbo spools up or chirps?

Agreed with everything everyone here says. I've driven every 4 cylinder variant from BMW and they are amazing cars. Smooth power delivery, great torque from low down and mated to the 8 speed auto it's just perfection. Better than the Audi by years and years.
It is however, not a car you'd want to roll down your window in. Surprisingly, the 316i with its top mounted turbo had the best turbo noise, even better than my 135i so that was quite entertaining, even in its manual guise.
The interior is impeccable, such a big step forward, and if you can get the m-sport, you sir, are winning! :thumbs:

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

Both.
The spool and thill dump is far more noticeable. It sounds great.

 

[NavZ]

Straight 6 NA for me, drove the F30 328i and it feels great but nothing compares to the sound and feel of the E46 330i and even the E90 330i

Even the F30 320i is great, the torque is always ready.
I have an E90 330i & I love it but you must know where the power is.
With those F30s, it doesn't matter what gear you in or what speed you are doing, it's ready to go.
So for around town & slightly above legal speeds, the 320i is much easier to drive fast.
That being said, it can't beat dropping to 3rd & hearing my I6 scream... :inlove:

---

Side note, my E46 I6 had a slightly better soundtrack than my E90 (at lower revs)

 

[gavsadler]

I test drove the 125i earlier this year, with the 8-speed auto.

Very nice car, probably as quick as my 130i, but damn, sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

I vote for I-6 sound :inlove:

 

[ASH]

Eish...............me no buy no vacuum cleaner.........:nonono:

:biglol:

Am I imagining but are guys keeping/holding onto their E9x I-line 6s, 1Ser coupes - 125i, 135i rather than trade them in?

I test drove the 125i earlier this year, with the 8-speed auto.

Very nice car, probably as quick as my 130i, but damn, sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

I vote for I-6 sound :inlove:

 

[herr bmw]

bought a bm for the in line 6 cylinder sound track:inlove:

 

[ASH]

Me 2, I wont spend money on something that sounds like an Audi for example...............

 

[OppositeLockMT]

I get annoyed with my 6pot when I'm not in the mood to drive :fencelook:

Maybe I need more power.

 

[Sankekur]

Test drove a F30 328i a while back, and it is a very good car (I went in not wanting to like it)....saying it is rubbish compared to my 330i would be a lie.

The motor coupled with the sublime auto box works well together, the torque delivery throughout the entire rev range even up to the top end really makes it feel like it isn't even turbo-charged, the steering even though electric is well weighted and biased and you could almost be fooled into thinking it is proper steering (almost)
I am almost certain that it will kick dust in the 330i's eyes performance wise and will return much better consumption figures.

I will say it again the F30 328i is a good car........but......and this is a big but (and I cannot lie) The one I test drove was priced at just a tad over half a million rand.........it is good, but is it half a million good.......it would have to be a little bit less than 5 times better than my 330i........and I cannot say that is was. Paying that kind of money for a car with a four banger just feels ridiculous to me.

I got into my 330i afterwards......and I listened to the I6 howl and I didn't care if it was old or old fashioned, or that it is thirstier or slower....I just smiled.