[MyMedia]

Hi guys,

We saw a beautiful white 320i + sports package this weekend, and thinking about purchasing it when my accountant give it an ok.

So the sales guy told me it had a sports suspension, 17"s. I want to know if this is what I should do.

• Upgrade to 18"s
• Is it possible to get paddle shift? is it worth it? since it is only a 2.0 NA
• Active steering
• Lane change signal mod

And after I got it, I want to know how much more grunt I can add to the car, how much extra KWs will a intake + exhaust provide? Which brand / package do you recommend? Does it void the warrrenty?

Should I get a chip? Is it worth the trouble?

Thanks!

[BMW //MPOWER]

I'd definately go for the 18"s upgrade, active steering is a waste of time, yeah it helps but i feel it makes the driver feedback a little numb at times.
Not sure what lane change signal mod your referring to, but i'd definately replace the tail lights with the OEM blacklines available from your local dealer.
You can get the paddle shifts added on later if you so wish, however i think you have to replace the steering wheel, i think CaptOz or someone else on here change it.
With the 320i if your after a little more performance i'd say get MT instead of AT.

[astra]

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

I'd definately go for the 18"s upgrade...

I would have said atleast 19's...

[manyways]

oem blacklines from the dealer? i didnt know bmw aust do that....might check that out next time i go in

[amberzombie]

paddleshifts do not come on any models apart from the 335. there might be an aftermarket mod for it (if you do come across it do let us know) but the dealer won't put it in for you

there aren't any chips for the 320i as well... at least not as far as we've seen so far. also only for the 335i

and finally for the wheels, for an extra $2000 for the 18" are a good idea... however for just slightly more you can get a set of 19s from the US including tires. and there are heaps more choices to choose from.

if you do get the OEM 18s i think you'd find that you'd want to change those run flat tires for non run flats pretty much as soon as you drive out of the dealership. that's my experience anyway.

good luck... i have the exact same car that you're looking at so please feel free to check out my garage for pics!

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by manyways

oem blacklines from the dealer? i didnt know bmw aust do that....might check that out next time i go in

Yeah they do stock them as oem, my best mate got them, i think they're about $480 or something.

[MyMedia]

Sorry guys, what is a OEM blackline? Do you have a picture?

The only reason we are getting an auto is coz my wife wants to drive it, i got mt anyday.

I am thinking about changing the brushed aluminium to a wood panel, I don't know how it would look in a blackish interior, i would prefer white leather + wood interior anyday, but they gave me this option.

So no performance mods? I want a set of exhausts, purely from an audio perspective, doubt it will have much difference. Maybe a turbo? I guess that will void the warrenty.

So, 320, M sports package, ex BMW Aust owned, about 8000 KMs, comfort entry, sun roof, for about $60k, is it a good bargain?

[MyMedia]

Ok, wood or brushed?

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by MyMedia

Sorry guys, what is a OEM blackline? Do you have a picture?

The only reason we are getting an auto is coz my wife wants to drive it, i got mt anyday.

I am thinking about changing the brushed aluminium to a wood panel, I don't know how it would look in a blackish interior, i would prefer white leather + wood interior anyday, but they gave me this option.

So no performance mods? I want a set of exhausts, purely from an audio perspective, doubt it will have much difference. Maybe a turbo? I guess that will void the warrenty.

So, 320, M sports package, ex BMW Aust owned, about 8000 KMs, comfort entry, sun roof, for about $60k, is it a good bargain?

The blacklines are the good looking rear tail lights you can get from you dealer, from the genuine parts range. Check out the tail lights on the the white e90 in the link http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=blacklines


Personally i prefer brushed aluminium, but it's a personal choice thing.

If it's $60k drive away then that's a pretty decent deal, if they'll upgrade the wheels to 18"s for you at no extra charge. Then again, you could always try and wrangle another grand or two out of them, if you can try and get EPP (Executive Preference Plan) pricing on it as well.

[MyMedia]

Oh, so the blacklines = darkened tail lights?

Yeah I think the brushed aluminium works better.

EPP = discounted concert tickets and stuff? I just did a quick google. Is there any other noticable goodies?

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by MyMedia

Oh, so the blacklines = darkened tail lights?

Yeah I think the brushed aluminium works better.

EPP = discounted concert tickets and stuff? I just did a quick google. Is there any other noticable goodies?

I wouldn't call them darkened, just not those ugly orange colour indicators.
With EPP you get circa 2% off the price of the car and 2 years free servicing.

[KillDork]

Originally Posted by amberzombie

paddleshifts do not come on any models apart from the 335. there might be an aftermarket mod for it (if you do come across it do let us know) but the dealer won't put it in for you

there aren't any chips for the 320i as well... at least not as far as we've seen so far. also only for the 335i

and finally for the wheels, for an extra $2000 for the 18" are a good idea... however for just slightly more you can get a set of 19s from the US including tires. and there are heaps more choices to choose from.

if you do get the OEM 18s i think you'd find that you'd want to change those run flat tires for non run flats pretty much as soon as you drive out of the dealership. that's my experience anyway.

good luck... i have the exact same car that you're looking at so please feel free to check out my garage for pics!

All six-cylinder 3-series can be delivered with paddle shifts, at least here in the Nordics. If it can be retrofitted, that I don't know...

[VGR00]

Hi .... and welcome to the forum

Harding Performance in Brisbane can do an ECU reflash for the 320i that will give you an extra 16kw and 20nm torque for A$1895. www.hp.net.au

Filter and exhaust "might" give you a couple more.

Blacklines on AW looks hot. Tell them you are in a BMW car club and you automaticly get 10% discount.

Wheels is a very subjective area. I purchased my M-sport with the 17" but within a few months I knew I sould have got the 18" for the extra $1000 as I was offered. Anyway that's history as Ive gone 19" now with wheels from Velosity Mororing in the USA. (see my garage on the forum).

The ride in the car with 19" standard tyres is heaps better than 17" run flats.

[astra]

Originally Posted by MyMedia

Ok, wood or brushed?

Neither, go for that very dark grey wood, or some kind of piano black/gloss black

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

With EPP you get circa 2% off the price of the car and 2 years free servicing.

Sounds a little like what Lexus does, minus the free parking and opera tickets

Originally Posted by KillDork

All six-cylinder 3-series can be delivered with paddle shifts, at least here in the Nordics. If it can be retrofitted, that I don't know...

It can, CaptOz did it

[VGR00]

I don't like any of the brown wood colours on a black interior. Like ASTRA said, the dark grey woods look good but my preference is aluminium trim. It's all personal preference in the end.

[AnthonyB]

Originally Posted by amberzombie

paddleshifts do not come on any models apart from the 335. there might be an aftermarket mod for it (if you do come across it do let us know) but the dealer won't put it in for you

They're not standard no, but THEY ARE available as an option - I know because I have them factory fit on my 325i Sport. It's not in the brochure, but the Sales Manager had an update with it in - $400. Well worth it too in my opinion...

[amberzombie]

Originally Posted by AnthonyB

They're not standard no, but THEY ARE available as an option - I know because I have them factory fit on my 325i Sport. It's not in the brochure, but the Sales Manager had an update with it in - $400. Well worth it too in my opinion...

oops

yes i stand corrected. HOWEVER, according to the brochure it is NOT an option for the 4-cyclinder model (ie the 320i) which is what this guy is after.

unless someone HAS done it on a 4-cylinder? would there be any difference between the 4 and 6 cyc?

[LEA69]

I wouldnt bother with paddle shifters, seems like a waste of dough. Id get manual transmission but as you are looking at a BMW Australia car, you havent exactly got much choice when it comes to cars on the yard. I would opt for at least the 18's like what I have. You can always go up to 19's but mind you the ride on 18's is hard enough, let alone 19's on runflats. But you could put standard tyres on, but organize that either at the dealer or soon after when your tyres are still new.
Definitely get an aftermarket exhaust. You could go quads like i did, or at least put a dual tip exhaust system in. It will sound so much nicer.

P/s go the bursh aluminium look, it suits a MSports much nicer than an old man's woodgrain.

[e93]

Ex BMW Australia car hey. Wonder if it was one of those cars that I was thrashing around the facination course at Eastern Creek?

[astra]

^^ Probably... I wouldn't be too worried about it though, it's not like they are left out to rust and run dry on oil

[VGR00]

Originally Posted by e93

Ex BMW Australia car hey. Wonder if it was one of those cars that I was thrashing around the facination course at Eastern Creek?

I was thinking that too however I don't recall a white 320i sport being used on the facination event. Anyway .... have you seen how many BMW executive cars there are parked at their Springvale road HQ ???. I would think they would turn those around every 6 months hence no shortage of BMW Exec driven cars on the lot.

[LEA69]

I drove 2 different white sports at the BMW facination event! they churn over cars so often, i wouldnt stress. They are good bargains those fleet cars