[tetsuo111]

Seriously.

I bought mine just over a year ago. 2011 E91 328i xDrive. It was a replacement for my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I needed AWD for winter mountain travel, and wanted something a little more fun to drive. I had very low performance expectations.

Of course the car felt great to drive after the Jeep. But after a couple of weeks, reality set in. The suspension was so soft and flabby that it was frightening to drive over 80mph. The motor was so sleepy that a Camry felt thrilling in comparison. At least it came with a bunch of electronic gizmos that I had no need for...

Then my friend suggested I join him at an HPDE. I hadn't driven on track in decades, and that was in a Porsche 911. I made some focused mods, beginning with the brakes, then suspension and handling, and finally looked for more power. Surprise - the E91 could dance with the bigger boys (and gals) on the track. Kept up with many, and passed a few, including 335s (fun), and even a few M3s, 911s, and Vettes. I was hooked and felt alive again after the driving Purgatory called Seattle.

My other hobby is alpine climbing and ski mountaineering. The month of December was big, with historic snowfall. I've been driving to the mountains several times a week, in very deep snow. One day last week saw almost 6' of snowfall in 48 hours. The wide and sticky extreme performance summer tires were replaced with skinny Blizzaks. And this car just goes in the snow, like a hot knife through butter. It's obviously not as capable as the Jeep in deep snow, but it's good enough. xDrive plus dedicated snow tires is extremely confidence inspiring and capable.

The point is this: Is there another vehicle that can fly around a race track with 911s, Vettes and M3s, as well as get up and down from the mountains in the winter? If there is, the list is short. The operating envelope of the E91 is extraordinarily broad.

I went from mild disdain when I bought the car, to sincere respect a year later. My soccer mom / grocery hauler is a thrilling high performance machine. Seriously!

[Eagle1oh7]

Don't know if trolling, but

[tetsuo111]

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

Don't know if trolling, but

LOL - I'm not trolling.

Just looking back on my year of ownership, and realized my perception of the car evolved for the better after beginning so negatively. I called the car my German Camry. Smooth and dull.

Coming home yesterday through the snow, my E91 fared better than most of the SUVs in some challenging conditions. Not to mention those poor souls spun off the side of I-90. So the car works in deep snow. At the track, people ask about the car. A lot. They're surprised how it keeps up and moves compared with the better-known benchmarks.

Just thought it was noteworthy for the car to be competent as a DD, track car, and winter mountain transportation.

[Mike.]

Tell em about your 0-60 for the non believers

[tetsuo111]

Originally Posted by Mike.

Tell em about your 0-60 for the non believers

Darn Mike, you know all the disclaimers that apply. Time, temps, tires, application accuracy, etc.

Since you asked... Data app is CT Speedometer from Apple's App store. This particular run was taken last weekend. The fastest run is 0 - 60 in 5.1 sec. No screenshot of that one. If CT Speedometer is remotely accurate, this little wagon can scoot. 3.91 final drive helps.

[Mike.]

with an xdrive boys, with an xdrive

[tetsuo111]

I think the quickness is partly the result of a focused diet and a bit more power. The car's around 250 lbs lighter than stock, with plans to get down further to around 3500 lbs. That's without moving to racing buckets. Which I want. But DD. With racing seats the car would push closer to 3420 lbs. Now we're talking....

Power benefits a bit from the DISA mani, extra intake, headers, and tune. Looking to squeeze a bit more power with a less restrictive exhaust downstream of the headers, including secondary cat delete, and high-flow resonator and muffler.

[Bimmer-Bob]

I've seen an E91 hustled around an AX course more than once. In 6MT, I'm sure it makes a damn fine grocery getter/family hauler, while retaining the fun-to-drive factor. I'd take a sporty wagon over a crossover luxo-barge any day. As it stands, I have a real BOF SUV (which I also love) for family duty, but only because I needed to be able to tow my E82.

[hassmaschine]

my E91 seems pretty quick for it's size and considering it's stock. I actually weighed it at the dump the other day and it was about 3750lbs, lol. good god!

[tetsuo111]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

I've seen an E91 hustled around an AX course more than once. In 6MT, I'm sure it makes a damn fine grocery getter/family hauler, while retaining the fun-to-drive factor. I'd take a sporty wagon over a crossover luxo-barge any day. As it stands, I have a real BOF SUV (which I also love) for family duty, but only because I needed to be able to tow my E82.

I hear you. SUVs have their place. Mine served me well, crawling through many off-road adventures to destinations that would be difficult or impractical to reach in a more road-worthy car. But I never understood our (Americans) preference for SUVs over wagons. When I bought the Jeep, I drove the X5 first, expecting to buy it. Until I learned it isn't intended to drive off-road, and there's less room in back than a Miata. On the test drive, the sales guy exclaimed, "doesn't it handle like a sports car?". I told him it drove like a truck.

I didn't get it then and don't now.

[tetsuo111]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

my E91 seems pretty quick for it's size and considering it's stock. I actually weighed it at the dump the other day and it was about 3750lbs, lol. good god!

Yep, ours are piggy cars. I do what I can to dump weight, but without reducing streetability. Wouldn't it be great to drop to 3k lbs?

Which leads me to think I could have bought a Lotus, but doubt that would work in the snow

[Tom Droze]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

my E91 seems pretty quick for it's size and considering it's stock. I actually weighed it at the dump the other day and it was about 3750lbs, lol. good god!

My base model e92 with a sunroof, automatic transmission, and manual seats tipped the scale at 3580 pounds with me (170 pounds) and a full tank of gas.

[hassmaschine]

it was over 3900 with me in it. I'm about 190lbs.

[Dan Bilzerian]

Originally Posted by tetsuo111

Seriously.

I bought mine just over a year ago. 2011 E91 328i xDrive. It was a replacement for my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I needed AWD for winter mountain travel, and wanted something a little more fun to drive. I had very low performance expectations.

Yeah I still have to come take a look at your car man! I love the look of the bmw wagons especially the lci.

Haha I have to post a couple pictures. I ended going to Snoqualmie last night just for fun and I ended up running into a snow bank I cracked the front bumper right under the fog light. Which the fog ended up being pushed into the hole from when I hit the snow.

[cdgatti]

111 - what are your suspension and power mods on your e91?

[Kgolf31]

The lighter you can get the car, the only better it gets.

I'm at 2931 lbs, can probably get close to 2900 with some large investments (and maintain STX class status). It scoots.

[tetsuo111]

Another great day!

[tetsuo111]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

The lighter you can get the car, the only better it gets.

I'm at 2931 lbs, can probably get close to 2900 with some large investments (and maintain STX class status). It scoots.

I need to learn from you. Sub-3k is heroic. Strong work!

Do you have a post detailing your weight loss, or would you mind sharing here?

[W37V]

Originally Posted by tetsuo111

Darn Mike, you know all the disclaimers that apply. Time, temps, tires, application accuracy, etc.

Since you asked... Data app is CT Speedometer from Apple's App store. This particular run was taken last weekend. The fastest run is 0 - 60 in 5.1 sec. No screenshot of that one. If CT Speedometer is remotely accurate, this little wagon can scoot. 3.91 final drive helps.

With that ratio, at what rpm are you when cruising at 70 and 80mph?

[tetsuo111]

Originally Posted by W37V

With that ratio, at what rpm are you when cruising at 70 and 80mph?

I don't have that data other than to confirm 80mph is comfortably < 3k rpm cruising on the Interstate in 6th. No NVH or drone. MPG > 20. I'll try and remember to make notes tomorrow.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by tetsuo111

I need to learn from you. Sub-3k is heroic. Strong work!

Do you have a post detailing your weight loss, or would you mind sharing here?

Helps I have a 128i lol.

No Sunroof. Low Option/No Option car
Muffler Delete
Headers (small marginal difference)
Recaro SPGs w/VAC Mounting Hardware
17lb Braille Battery
Kosei K8R 17x9 wheels (15.8 lbs/wheel)

Custom exhaust that dumps right at the rear axle and cutting out the heavy resonator should help cut 10-15 lbs.

I also have aluminium Z4 brake calipers to install up front. 2mm larger piston size and 1 lb lighter. Yes, only 1...but it is unsprung mass so that should help regardless

[Tom Droze]

Originally Posted by tetsuo111

Another great day!

So. . . for your track days, have you given any consideration to placing a baby seat in the back seat (with a fake but realistic looking baby doll) with a "Baby on Board" placard dangling from your rear window, and a few strategically placed but removable "Soccer Mom" stickers on the rear bumper, to show a few of those other "high performance cars" who's really who?