328i Loaner v. my 328Xi

Taxvictim · 07-08-2009, 01:41 PM

Just drove a 328i loaner, and it was so different than my 328Xi. The power steering was much easier, and the throttle response was great. While it's clear there must be something lost in getting all-wheel-drive, I was surprised at the difference. The loaner's interior was the same as mine, yet it just felt more like a luxury car. (The new car smell didn't hurt, either.)

chillychan · 07-08-2009, 02:32 PM

That's odd. I thought the XI had better acceleration...

matts335 · 07-08-2009, 03:30 PM

Off the line it may. Actually, scratch that, i think the numbers bmw provides have the 328i faster to 60 than the xi. but the 0-60 time is beside the point. in real world passing type situations, the 328i will feel quicker. I had a 335i I loaner and i had the same impression as the OP (minus the more luxurious comment...my car was much newer and nicer than the loaner). The 335i felt much quicker than my xi. Oh well, I can drive in the snow without having to buy separate winter tires....and I won't lose traction in the rain.

SGxi · 07-08-2009, 04:10 PM

Get a aftermarket intake. It transforms the 328xi..

chillychan · 07-08-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matts335

Off the line it may. Actually, scratch that, i think the numbers bmw provides have the 328i faster to 60 than the xi. but the 0-60 time is beside the point. in real world passing type situations, the 328i will feel quicker. I had a 335i I loaner and i had the same impression as the OP (minus the more luxurious comment...my car was much newer and nicer than the loaner). The 335i felt much quicker than my xi. Oh well, I can drive in the snow without having to buy separate winter tires....and I won't lose traction in the rain.

I guess once on the go, less weight is more important than traction. Yeah, East coast xi FTW.

who's ur daddy? · 07-08-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillychan

That's odd. I thought the XI had better acceleration...

i think that only applies to the 335xi vs 335i...

chaz58 · 07-15-2009, 03:58 PM

According to BMW (German documentation) takes about 1 second longer for the 325, 330, 335 (80-120kmh 4th: 7.3RWD, 8.3AWD 5th: 9,1rwd, 10.2AWD)

The traction is better off the line, but the extra drive train friction and inertia hurt AWD throttle response and rolling acceleration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillychan

That's odd. I thought the XI had better acceleration...

GregL · 07-15-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taxvictim

Just drove a 328i loaner, and it was so different than my 328Xi. The power steering was much easier, and the throttle response was great. While it's clear there must be something lost in getting all-wheel-drive, I was surprised at the difference. The loaner's interior was the same as mine, yet it just felt more like a luxury car. (The new car smell didn't hurt, either.)

I noticed that in my 330xi. As much as I like weighted steering, I find it to be unpleasantly heavy at times. The 330i on the other hand feels the way I think it should.

Manos · 07-16-2009, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taxvictim

The power steering was much easier, and the throttle response was great.

Regarding the power steering, there is an option called "assisted steering" that makes your steeringwheel feel like that of a volvo. My friend has this on his E93 and I really dislike it. BMW to me is the car where you really feel that you are driving as opposed to just remote controlling electronic motors.

Taxvictim · 07-17-2009, 10:18 AM

As far back as the 80's, cars have had variable assisted steering that gives you plenty of power assist in the parking lot, but gradually backs off as you pick up speed (so you get a good feel for the road while driving). I wish my Xi had more power assist at low speeds, though it never bothers me on the road.

E328xi · 07-17-2009, 08:20 PM

I wish I didn't live in the North East, otherwise there is no way I'd be driving the Xi.

offthewall · 07-19-2009, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takashi

In summary, whether you drive AWD or RWD, you have to adapt your driving style a bit to take advantage of the car. You can't drive a AWD car with RWD techniques or vice versa.

+1

I have been driving AWD cars since 2000 and they are different beasts. I love accelerating in mid-turn on my 328xi and having it PULL me through a really tight corner. It's a feeling you can't get in RWD car and it's addicting! Hanging the rear end of a RWD car out is cool as well, but again, you can't do that in an AWD.

GregL · 07-19-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takashi

You highlight one of my addictions as well. The best part with an AWD drivechain is to have the AWD system pull you in a tight corner in high speed. You can do that with RWD; however, to create the proper effect, you need very good tires and a very sturdy hand.

I love it when I see trucks tail-gating me going at 120+ km/h when both of us were approaching a tight turn. In the tight turn, the truck have to slow to < 60km/h to keep the bucket straight while I can maintain the speed at ~ 80km/h - 90km/h and accelerate through the turn. As you exit out of the turn you look at your rear view mirror and ask yourself "where is that bucket express"? The next logical thing to do is accelerate (while the trucks is still in the turn) and watch the truck tries to catch up while giving off black smoke.

I'm guilty of doing this too, especially on highway on-ramps that loop around. Though I haven't had much luck the past week, I kept getting stuck behind an SUV or econobox for some reason...

PLAY_HRD · 07-20-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takashi

...If your tires can't make proper contact with the road, you cannot maintain control regardless of whether you have AWD or RWD drive train. The AWD system might be able to give you more control only if your tires can grip on the road.

I have to totally disagree with you on the value of AWD. If it didn't help, Porsche and Lamborghini wouldn’t put it on their cars!? Secondly, there is a wide range of "bad weather" conditions that AWD will clearly help over RWD. AWD may not help on a sheet of ice, but other than that, AWD will increase a cars ability not remain under control as the car is using all corners to establish traction. The only true down side to AWD is the weight of the system.

matts335 · 07-21-2009, 06:00 AM

Did you really have to start this discussion here?

Phila · 07-29-2009, 11:41 PM

The loaner RWD I was driving around recently felt dead through the turns. I didn't understand why until I turned the DTC off, completely. Then it let me power through turns, wheels slipping a little. So while the loaner was a little bit more powerful than my car, it wasn't as fun to drive. The loaner made me realize how grippy and stable my xi is, and how much fun I have accelling around curveys, cornering, and stuff.

MetsFan · 07-30-2009, 11:12 AM

I got a 328i coupe loaner for a bit and didn't like it at all. It felt sluggish compared to my xi sedan and the interior wasn't as nice (leather vs. l'ette). It might have been due to people putting in the cheap gas, but man was I glad getting back into my car.

07-08-2009, 01:41 PM	#1
Taxvictim Private First Class 30 Rep 193 Posts Drives: 2008 328i, Titanium Silver 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wake County, NC iTrader: (1)	328i Loaner v. my 328Xi - night and day Just drove a 328i loaner, and it was so different than my 328Xi. The power steering was much easier, and the throttle response was great. While it's clear there must be something lost in getting all-wheel-drive, I was surprised at the difference. The loaner's interior was the same as mine, yet it just felt more like a luxury car. (The new car smell didn't hurt, either.)
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07-08-2009, 02:32 PM	#2
chillychan Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 240 Posts Drives: 08 e92 335xi Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Jersey City iTrader: (0)	That's odd. I thought the XI had better acceleration...
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07-08-2009, 03:30 PM	#3
matts335 Private First Class 8 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 335ixdrive Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: virginia iTrader: (0)	Off the line it may. Actually, scratch that, i think the numbers bmw provides have the 328i faster to 60 than the xi. but the 0-60 time is beside the point. in real world passing type situations, the 328i will feel quicker. I had a 335i I loaner and i had the same impression as the OP (minus the more luxurious comment...my car was much newer and nicer than the loaner). The 335i felt much quicker than my xi. Oh well, I can drive in the snow without having to buy separate winter tires....and I won't lose traction in the rain.
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07-08-2009, 04:10 PM	#4
SGxi Major General 158 Rep 6,805 Posts Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (17) Garage List 2007 328xi [0.00]	Get a aftermarket intake. It transforms the 328xi.. __________________ MY07 A22 E90 N52Nxi
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07-17-2009, 10:18 AM	#10
Taxvictim Private First Class 30 Rep 193 Posts Drives: 2008 328i, Titanium Silver 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wake County, NC iTrader: (1)	As far back as the 80's, cars have had variable assisted steering that gives you plenty of power assist in the parking lot, but gradually backs off as you pick up speed (so you get a good feel for the road while driving). I wish my Xi had more power assist at low speeds, though it never bothers me on the road.
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07-17-2009, 08:20 PM	#11
E328xi Private First Class 17 Rep 146 Posts Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E90 328xi [0.00]	I wish I didn't live in the North East, otherwise there is no way I'd be driving the Xi. __________________
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07-21-2009, 06:00 AM	#15
matts335 Private First Class 8 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 335ixdrive Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: virginia iTrader: (0)	Did you really have to start this discussion here?
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07-29-2009, 11:41 PM	#16
Phila Lieutenant 7 Rep 417 Posts Drives: 325xi Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	The loaner RWD I was driving around recently felt dead through the turns. I didn't understand why until I turned the DTC off, completely. Then it let me power through turns, wheels slipping a little. So while the loaner was a little bit more powerful than my car, it wasn't as fun to drive. The loaner made me realize how grippy and stable my xi is, and how much fun I have accelling around curveys, cornering, and stuff. __________________ 2006 e90 325xi \| Alpine White \| Beige Leather \| Burl Walnut Wood Trim \| Premium Package \| Steptronic \| Comfort Access \| Xenons \| Lux 4.0
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07-30-2009, 11:12 AM	#17
MetsFan Lieutenant 92 Rep 440 Posts Drives: 2013 G37x Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW 328xi [0.00]	I got a 328i coupe loaner for a bit and didn't like it at all. It felt sluggish compared to my xi sedan and the interior wasn't as nice (leather vs. l'ette). It might have been due to people putting in the cheap gas, but man was I glad getting back into my car.
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