[Greg330]

I've been looking at them and they look like a very interesting proposition. Would love to hear if anyone with a 335i has driven one and how they think it compares....

Also seen BMS are doing a JB4.

[AlanYoro35i]

I've been looking at 428i atm. Its a 2litre 4 cyclinder with a tiny turbo. tuning potential seems to be max at 300bhp and after you need to changr turbos. As it comes with 2 cylinder less and smaller turbo i guess the engine works pretty hard to achieve to power( wont be as smooth as 6 cy) but this car should be much more economical combine witha what 7/8 speed box?My n54 stock form i can get 28-30mpg and i hope this car can get avergage combined of 35+. really need to trst drive to compare

[HighlandPete]

I was thinking of replacing my E91 330d with an F31 328i, so had a decent session (about 80 miles) in an F30 328i demo car. I really liked the car, engine is a decent unit "for a 4-pot", pretty eager and reasonably refined once off idle. Can be very economical, but will depend very much on how you use the revs.

What I did like about the car was the lighter front end, compared to the 6-cylinder engines, makes for a well balanced chassis. So on that ground it scores more points than simply lacking the N55 engine.

I changed direction and went for an F11 535i, the N55 engine just has too much going for it, to pass it by. After living with my car I know the 328i would have been a mistake, after having 6/8-cylinder BMWs.

I still see the attraction of the 328i, it definitely has its place in the current motoring climate, worth a test drive to see what you think.

HighlandPete

[Greg330]

I do struggle with the thought of it only being a 4 cylinder, I remember the E36's and it wasn't a real BM if it had a 4 cylinder motor.

I see the point about the tuning potential and having a ceiling of about 300 though.

I think I'll just test drive one for shits and giggles and see what its like.

[KM79]

Decent car wouldn't bother with any tuning,as it's only a slightly updated 320i engine.Performance wise on par with a 330i e9x,but the gearbox (auto ) makes for very rapid changes and it's an 8 speed ,with 8th being long legged ie 70mph for 1500 rpm.

[Digitalize]

Ignore the amount of cylinders it has, they aren't relevant anymore with turbo's attached.

With the LCI it will be badged as a 330i, so BMW are pretty confident in it.

[dm2583]

I had one for a day not long ago. Nice pokey engine but fuel wise it was about the same as my 335i which surprised me.

[Not a Diesel!!!]

Does it look like part of the engine is missing when you open the bonnet?

I will probably have one one day but resent that 3.0 unit was a good engine & whilst it helped lazy people with diesel like torque I don't think it moved on in economy & emissions or performance from 330i.

Probably just made it cheaper to make by offering same engine with multiple power outputs like VAG have been for years.

[Russbmw]

Aside from anything else, they don't make any nice sound at all. 6 cylinders sounds so much better