[Topaz]

Got a phone-call from my dealer today.

There seems te be a new software in development which will fix the starting problem.

It will still take about 2-3 months before it will be ready to be oploaded.

The info, they said, comes from BMW Germany.

That's what my dealer told me today.


Who confirmes ?

[320sitr]

Originally Posted by Topaz

Got a phone-call from my dealer today.

There seems te be a new software in development which will fix the starting problem.

It will still take about 2-3 months before it will be ready to be oploaded.

The info, they said, comes from BMW Germany.

That's what my dealer told me today.


Who confirmes ?

New software=New Bullshit

[Topaz]

But their info has to come from somewhere....

The seemed convinced this would be the solution.

Am I or are they naive ?

....

[320sitr]

Originally Posted by Topaz

But their info has to come from somewhere....

The seemed convinced this would be the solution.

Am I or are they naive ?

....

Ok wait for 3 months and see it works or not. I dont belive it works, because problem not coming from ecu, its fuel system failure. They are idiots

[Giz]

Hi guys

I´ve been on the verge of buying the 320si for many months now and was finally going to finalize it these coming weeks. Its intended use is as a daily driver, replacing my ´98 e36 M3 Sedan.

In light of the above-mentioned problems, would you advice me not to? I live in an area with cold(ish) winters and warm(ish) summers. The ones I´ve tried have actually all been a little lumpy upon cold starting.

If not the si I guess I would go for a VW Golf R32 or similar.

Advice greatly appreciated.

G

PS. The funny thing is that there are literally hundreds of cars for sale in Germany alone (320si that is), at least over 150 at dealers and prices seem to be plummeting and good deals can be had, at least in my case so I´m very keen on the car.

[ShereKhan]

Giz,

If its cheap i'd go for it. But I think you will find the R32 is in a league of its own compared to the 320si.

I think they should have made a 325si. I too have noticed the prices seem to very cheap in the UK 2nd hand market.

As the 320si is a lot cheaper than a 320 M Sport which was more expensive but more readily available. I expected the car to be least available to be more expensive.

I think a lot of the Si's were bought by dealers and then sold as ex demo cars.
Shame really as it is a good car.

In answer for your query on reliability I would not worry too much about the idling issue too much.

My car gets its fair share of cold starts and hot starts - the mileage is nearly 31k miles in a year. If you are anywhere near the German Autobahn then its the car to get - get it to 100 mph in 5th and then floor it and hear that engine sound - It sounds like a real touring car

Shame I can't do 100mph in the UK legally

[Monty's Si]

Originally Posted by ShereKhan

Giz,

If its cheap i'd go for it. But I think you will find the R32 is in a league of its own compared to the 320si.

I think they should have made a 325si. I too have noticed the prices seem to very cheap in the UK 2nd hand market.

As the 320si is a lot cheaper than a 320 M Sport which was more expensive but more readily available. I expected the car to be least available to be more expensive.

I think a lot of the Si's were bought by dealers and then sold as ex demo cars.
Shame really as it is a good car.

In answer for your query on reliability I would not worry too much about the idling issue too much.

My car gets its fair share of cold starts and hot starts - the mileage is nearly 31k miles in a year. If you are anywhere near the German Autobahn then its the car to get - get it to 100 mph in 5th and then floor it and hear that engine sound - It sounds like a real touring car

Shame I can't do 100mph in the UK legally

Giz, I second ShereKhan's thoughts on the 320si. I've put 10k miles on in 6 months, I bought it second hand and have no issues with that, my own rough idle has been sorted (see previous posts) and when I had the problem it did not effect the normal running of the car.
I'm on my fourth Porsche and rate the handling of the si as good as the 944, nearly as good as the boxster and its no poor relation to my 997. The 320si is BMWs little secret, Andy Priaulx is looking for his third WTCC in one of these (slightly modified I'd admit). Its good on a long run due to the excellent seats. I'll say no more as I'm biased being one of the lucky UK 500 owners.

Paul

[Giz]

Thanks to ShereKhan and Paul for your input.

Exactly what I wanted to hear The R32 is in another league performance wise but I´m more of a handling junkie than performance junkie and get my performance kicks from my bikes. Furthermore a Golf will always be a Golf, no insult intended.

Having had a few Porsches I´m glad to hear that comparison to be in favor of the si.

Pricewise, I would say it´s about 40% if not more off the new price. I have lined up a few cars, all Alpine white or Le Mans blue to look further at and ultimately buy the best, and cheapest one I find when I am in Germany in a couple of weeks time. Through extensive research and talking to dealers in Germany etc. I reckon I should be able to buy a low milage (6-15000 km) car for around 23-27000 euros, if not less and then deduct the 19% German vat and have a lot of car for the money.

My questions about the reliability issue were mainly because I intend to keep the car for some years.

Thanks for your answers and will keep you posted.

G

[ShereKhan]

Giz,

I'd be interested to know if you come across any si's with iDrive.

I think if I had bought this car (instead of company car) I would have specified iDrive as I have yet to see one advertised with it fitted.

[320sitr]

I agree with Paul and ShereKhan, SI is special car.. Handling is awesome and performance is enough. Forget golf and choose si.

Paul whats your situation? Is idle still ok?

[dxb335d]

yes i agree, the si is a fine car, much better than a VW

[Nic320si]

Hi guys!

Now I can jump onboard with the engine/starter-problem.

I had my car under a month, it has covered 1.400km and today the problem showed itself.

I went to the gym, and when I came out an hour later the car sounded like it was only running on 3 cylinders, also it smelled alot of gasoline.

I called BMW Mobility care and they said that it sounded like a broken injectorvalve.
They will come and get the car tomorrow morning and bring me a loaner.

Even though this has happened I LOVE the car.
It handles so well. One of the best cars I have ever driven

Hope that BMW Denmark will do a better job than what you have experienced.
I will keep you updated

[320sitr]

Dealer will change my t. potentiometer thursday. I will update. See u soon.

[Monty's Si]

Originally Posted by Nic320si

Hi guys!

Now I can jump onboard with the engine/starter-problem.

I had my car under a month, it has covered 1.400km and today the problem showed itself.

I went to the gym, and when I came out an hour later the car sounded like it was only running on 3 cylinders, also it smelled alot of gasoline.

I called BMW Mobility care and they said that it sounded like a broken injectorvalve.
They will come and get the car tomorrow morning and bring me a loaner.

Even though this has happened I LOVE the car.
It handles so well. One of the best cars I have ever driven

Hope that BMW Denmark will do a better job than what you have experienced.
I will keep you updated

Hi Nic exactly the same symptom as my own (felt like 3 pots running at idle) read back through the pages and show them photos of the throttle potentiometer body that cured my problem. Glad your enjoying the handling (I've found the car points better with an extra 2-3 psi in the front tyres).

Sitr, sorry for not answering you - yes all still ok, hope your dealer sorts your starting /idle issues. keep us informed.

Cheers

Paul

Paul

[ShereKhan]

Originally Posted by Monty's Si

I've found the car points better with an extra 2-3 psi in the front tyres).

Paul

Paul i've found similar results to you. I run at full load psi. The car doesn't crash and bang too much when driving over potholes. Except I run all four wheels at full load psi.

What's everyone's tyre wear like? I'm about due for some new rear tyres very soon got about just under 2mm tread left. The front's prob have about 4-5mm left. Thats after 13mths.

[Nic320si]

Thank you for your advise Paul, I will give them a call in the morning

Best regards

Nicolaj

[Nic320si]

Talked to the dealer today.

They say that the fault is in the enginewiring. They will change the wiring next week. The fault was stored in the memory and BMW Germany confirmed that the cause of the problem was the enginewiring.

Hope it solves the problem for me. Would like to have my car back.

[Topaz]

Got a call from BMW-BeLux.

They think it's the software, tests are running as we speak.

If the tests turn out to be positive, I could get the update within a few weeks...

Let's hope.

I also mentioned the throttle potentiometer, just that they know.

[Nic320si]

Got my car back today.

The car runs fine now that the enginewiring has been changed. (Fingers crossed). It seems more wiling to take revs now and the exhaust sounds more muted.
I also mentioned the throttle potentiometer, but they said that faults like this is often confused with ecu and induction-problems.The chief mechanic seemed very confident that nothing was wrong with either of these.

They scratched my left fender when the car was in the shop though

[Topaz]

Fingers crossed idd...

" enginewiring changed " you say.

But what exactly is that ? What did they do ?

[dxb335d]

still not resolved then guys?

Carlos

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Thanks for the info on the si. So it is a homolagtion 'special' for the BTCC cars? Any chance of seeing a picture or two?

click on the link on the side of his posting to view his garage