[kingbmw5050]

Do you 328 owners feel like you have been smoked by some lesser cars ?

How fast would you rate your e90 328 are you happy with the power it has.

I feel it does have its moments when it could use more power, but overall not that bad. On the highway it is better. These cars have to be pushed hard to get the top end torque and horsepower

[RocketSurgeon]

I've had 2 335s, and have driven/been driven in a friend's e91 328i. I always felt that the 328i was plenty quick, it rips to 100 in a real hurry. The 328i was a manual, so that helps some. The 328i also sounds worlds better than the 335i.
I like fast cars, but I've realized that someone will always have a faster car. Racing or 100+ is mandatory arrest in my state, so there's a limit to how much power you can use. I just want fun and reliable performance at this point. I just ended up with 335s because I got silly good deals on both of them.
I do think a 2006 330i manual would be great fun though.

[kingbmw5050]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

I've had 2 335s, and have driven/been driven in a friend's e91 328i. I always felt that the 328i was plenty quick, it rips to 100 in a real hurry. The 328i was a manual, so that helps some. The 328i also sounds worlds better than the 335i.
I like fast cars, but I've realized that someone will always have a faster car. Racing or 100+ is mandatory arrest in my state, so there's a limit to how much power you can use. I just want fun and reliable performance at this point. I just ended up with 335s because I got silly good deals on both of them.
I do think a 2006 330i manual would be great fun though.

This is a good point where I live 50 over is a road side suspension .

Yes you are right 328 feels quick enough. Maybe manual would have been better

[FlaPatsFan]

I have a 2011 328i E91. Love the car, especially since you don’t see many. My main complaint was the throttle lag. I remedied that with a Sprint booster. Then added a full AA cat back exhaust, 3SIM, KnN drop in/Charcoal Delete/Silicone intake tube, and AA tune. I must say she is pretty darn qwik now, and much more fun to drive. With 19” rims and PSS tires, Eibach Pro kit, 335 brakes and M3 sways/bushings/control arms she is a pretty well rounded package. Not to shabby for a wagon!

[Biginboca]

If you are starting with a 328 manual you can really do some things on the cheap to make it quicker, probably as quick as a stock 335. I would say mine is close to 300hp at the block and it only weighs 3100lbs. Here’s what I did with my 328 manual. I’ve timed it with the pro race Ap and done 0-60 in 5.2 and 1/4 mile times of mid 13’s and those were not perfect launches.

530i 3 stage intake $300
AA Headers $900
MILVs $300
BPC Tune $675
BPC Tune Upgrade for MILV’s and Headers $100
328i Automatic 3.73 Rear Differential $225
AFE Ram Scoops $100
K&N Filter $50
Rev Silicone Intake Tube $40


Total = $2690

This is +70hp (and approx +60tq) for about $38/hp which is not a bad deal for reliable N/A power.

I actually test drove a E92 M3 was thinking about trading up and didn’t feel enough difference in the power to feel the added $15k price and potential issues (rod bearings and throttle actuators) was worth it over the car I have. My car has been dead reliable and no issues. I’ll probably get flamed for this but on my test drive I really didn’t notice much difference in the power between them, both are manual transmission cars.

[FlaPatsFan]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

If you are starting with a 328 manual you can really do some things on the cheap to make it quicker, probably as quick as a stock 335. I would say mine is close to 300hp at the block and it only weighs 3100lbs. Here’s what I did with my 328 manual. I’ve timed it with the pro race Ap and done 0-60 in 5.2 and 1/4 mile times of mid 13’s.

530i 3 stage intake $300
AA Headers $900
MILVs $300
BPC Tune $675
BPC Tune Upgrade for MILV’s and Headers $100
328i Automatic 3.73 Rear Differential $225
AFE Ram Scoops $100
K&N Filter $50
Rev Silicone Intake Tube $40


Total = $2690

I actually test drove a E92 M3 was thinking about trading up and didn’t feel enough difference in the power to feel the added $15k price and potential issues (rod bearings and throttle actuators) was worth it over the car I have. My car has been dead reliable and no issues. I’ll probably get flamed for this but on my test drive I really didn’t notice much difference in the power between them, both are manual transmissions

Great mods, but labor on some of that stuff is pretty pricey if you can’t DIY. I’m guessing you did a lot yourself?

[Eddien123]

A mustang can be faster than a 335. So a "lesser" car smokes it. I mean if you're going to beat yourself up about losing to a faster car that's lesser than yours than just go buy an American muscle car so you can finally beat those ricers. I'm not trying to be a dick I just don't get why people buy the lowest powered e90, and complain that it isn't fast.

You can't make them fast that's the reality.

[N52UNED]

Originally Posted by kingbmw5050

Do you 328 owners feel like you have been smoked by some lesser cars ?

How fast would you rate your e90 328 are you happy with the power it has.

I feel it does have its moments when it could use more power, but overall not that bad. On the highway it is better. These cars have to be pushed hard to get the top end torque and horsepower

Yeah a 328 isn't exactly a fast car. If you combine that with auto transmission and/or AWD the drivetrain loss makes it even slower.

These N52's like higher RPMs and the car really doesn't come alive until you're over 4k RPM. Today's Camry's can put egg on one's face. But then again, the 328 wasn't really built to be a "fast" car. They are basically detuned. If you wanted a faster car you had to buy a 335 ... it was a pretty effective marketing ploy. That's why 330 conversions are so popular ... they basically make the car perform how you'd expect a stock 328 to perform in the first place.

Some people will put in a Burger tuning Powerbox which helps with the throttle lag, but doesn't necessarily make the car any faster, just quicker off the start. It's a pretty affordable mod as performance mods for the 328 goes. Others go with the 330 conversion (330/530 3IM and a 330 tune) for those 328's with the N51 engines (which already have a 3IM) people just go with a tune. These tunes really help the car become what you should've had in the first place. If you have a manual transmission ... it's even better. But this conversion is a lot more expensive ... 3 - 5 times the price of a PBX ... depending on the parts and tune, plus whether or not you DIY. I went the 330 route ... and 6 months later still feel it was money well spent even with the premium price.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by FlaPatsFan

Great mods, but labor on some of that stuff is pretty pricey if you can’t DIY. I’m guessing you did a lot yourself?

Yes all myself, sorry I forgot not everyone is a DIY type lol

[FlaPatsFan]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Yes all myself, sorry I forgot not everyone is a DIY type lol

Nice work brother, that’s a lot of work. Saved you tons of $$$$

[Needbmwpartzz]

328 is a great car....not a rocket ship by any mean but good enough IMO.
A few upgrades really improves the experience.....just the PE makes this car 50% more fun to drive.

[hassmaschine]

Do you drag race your car at every light?

A stock 330i 6mt is fast enough to reach 'go to jail' speeds in a hurry.

[akf30]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Do you drag race your car at every light?

+1 lol

I think every state if not most it's pretty much results an automatic suspension and getting arrested for excessive speeding. Power is great, I don't think anyone will disagree with that, everyone wants to be able to floor it and be able get up to 100+ but realistically, when are you ever gonna go over 100+ or race someone on the street.

I own a e90 328i 6SPD, and I love the power, although at times I do wish I had gotten the 335 but couldn't find the specific one I wanted. But the 328i has a good amount of power for its years, I've only gotten it past 120 twice.

Don't forget that most cars now a days are coming out stock with over 200+hp.

[N52UNED]

Originally Posted by Eddien123

I'm not trying to be a dick I just don't get why people buy the lowest powered e90, and complain that it isn't fast.

You can't make them fast that's the reality.

Agreed ... to a point.

The N52 e90's can be made to be fast, but the price is so expensive it's cost prohibitive for most ... And you'll still be slower than a lightly modified 335 with a JB4, so you're better off buying a 335 in the first place. That's the beauty about a 335 ... big HP gains are relatively cheap, especially when compared to a 328 or 330.

Frankly, when you think of it ... there's alway going to be a faster car out there... even if you have 6-figure budget.

[Eddien123]

Originally Posted by N52UNED

Agreed ... to a point.

The N52 e90's can be made to be fast, but the price is so expensive it's cost prohibitive for most ... And you'll still be slower than a lightly modified 335 with a JB4, so you're better off buying a 335 in the first place. That's the beauty about a 335 ... big HP gains are relatively cheap, especially when compared to a 328 or 330.

Frankly, when you think of it ... there's alway going to be a faster car out there... even if you have 6-figure budget.

Exactly. N52 is fantastic. Would it be more fun if it made 300hp? Sure but it doesn't. I've seen people get these engines to put out over 260 and I can imagine that's a great time but again, you're now in stock 335 range. People just need to enjoy them for what they are and if they only care about power then go buy something with a Chevy badge and a V8. Honestly, it's the war on HP that are making these cars so damn boring.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Eddien123

A mustang can be faster than a 335. So a "lesser" car smokes it. I mean if you're going to beat yourself up about losing to a faster car that's lesser than yours than just go buy an American muscle car so you can finally beat those ricers. I'm not trying to be a dick I just don't get why people buy the lowest powered e90, and complain that it isn't fast.

You can't make them fast that's the reality.

What I find amusing it the magazine bench racers that like quote 0 - 60 times, either a magazine test number or manufacturer's spec. The manual trans N52 E90 is a 6.1 sec to 60 MPH as tested by Car and Driver (2006 test). Is that slow? Compared to what, why?

Test numbers are made by professional drivers expert at attaining the best numbers from a car with no concern of damaging it. Us mortal drivers are probably seconds behind the 0 - 60 times and almost minutes behind in lap times. To me "fast" is relative as much as buying loudspeakers (buy what sounds best to you) IMO. The N52 is plenty fast for street applications to provide a spirited driving experience and able to get your license donated back to the State.

It's also relative to the era which you grew up in. I started driving after the Arab oil embargos of 1973 and 1976, which along with EPA emission regulations killed off the big engine high horsepower cars of the late 1960's (which are mostly slower than a E90 325i now anyway) and left small and slow 4 cylinder foreign cars and slow 4 cylinder and V6 American cars for us to drive. If memory serves, all were no better than 9 or 10 seconds 0 - 60.

It looks like the Electrics in the future will be damned quick cars once they become mainstream and manufacturers add launch modes to them, making a 2018 335i slow in comparison.

Then we'll get autonomous cars and fast will be what the Government wants it to be.

[Eddien123]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

What I find amusing it the magazine bench racers that like quote 0 - 60 times, either a magazine test number or manufacturer's spec. The manual trans N52 E90 is a 6.1 sec to 60 MPH as tested by Car and Driver (2006 test). Is that slow? Compared to what, why?

Test numbers are made by professional drivers expert at attaining the best numbers from a car with no concern of damaging it. Us mortal drivers are probably seconds behind the 0 - 60 times and almost minutes behind in lap times. To me "fast" is relative as much as buying loudspeakers (buy what sounds best to you) IMO. The N52 is plenty fast for street applications to provide a spirited driving experience and able to get your license donated back to the State.

It's also relative to the era which you grew up in. I started driving after the oil embargo of 1973 and 1976, which killed off the big engine high horsepower cars of the late 1960's (which are mostly slower than a E90 325i now anyway) and left small and slow 4 cylinder foreign cars and slow 4 cylinder and V6 American cars for us to drive. If memory serves, all were no better that 9 or 10 seconds 0 - 60.

It looks like the Electrics in the future will be damned quick cars once they become mainstream and manufacturers add launch modes to them, making a 2018 335i slow in comparison.

Then we'll get autonomous cars and fast will be what the Government wants it to be.

Exactly. It's relative. For everyday driving, give me the 328 over the 335 any day. And if I want a weekend car it's not going to be a 335 anyway it's going to be an m3 or a cayman. 230HP is more than sufficient. It gets me from point A to B and it does so in comfort and style and beyond that, it's still an E90 and handles exceptionally. And it even makes a good noise doing it. It also does so with 27+ MPG average which most people can't say they get unless they're in an eco box with zero throttle response.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Eddien123

Exactly. N52 is fantastic. Would it be more fun if it made 300hp? Sure but it doesn't. I've seen people get these engines to put out over 260 and I can imagine that's a great time but again, you're now in stock 335 range. People just need to enjoy them for what they are and if they only care about power then go buy something with a Chevy badge and a V8. Honestly, it's the war on HP that are making these cars so damn boring.

Agreed. Most BMWs up until the late 1990's were not rockets by any stretch. BMWs were originally about driving finesse and not all out speed. The first I6 in the 3 Series was the M20 ETA which had all of 125 HP (IIRC). The M20 in the 1988 E30 325is only made 168 HP, but the chassis weighed 2,800 pounds and handled superb.

[Eddien123]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Agreed. Most BMWs up until the late 1990's were not rockets by any stretch. BMWs were originally about driving finesse and not all out speed. The first I6 in the 3 Series was the M20 ETA which had all of 125 HP (IIRC). The M20 in the 1988 E30 325is only made 168 HP, but the chassis weighed 2,800 pounds and handled superb.

Exactly. And what can you do more often, take corners aggressively, or go 150MPH in less than 15 seconds? I mean really when it comes down to it, a moderate amount of power with a light chassis wins in my book any day over a boat with 600HP (Nissan GT-R, Audi RS7, BMW M5 etc)

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Eddien123

Exactly. It's relative. For everyday driving, give me the 328 over the 335 any day. And if I want a weekend car it's not going to be a 335 anyway it's going to be an m3 or a cayman. 230HP is more than sufficient. It gets me from point A to B and it does so in comfort and style and beyond that, it's still an E90 and handles exceptionally. And it even makes a good noise doing it. It also does so with 27+ MPG average which most people can't say they get unless they're in an eco box with zero throttle response.

I'm sure we'll get a 335i owner chiming in that we two are just making excuses for buying the cheaper low-level E90, with a lack of understanding what the appreciation for the N52 is. I have both versions of the engine in 210 HP and 261 HP. Considering the 330i was rated the same MPG as the 325i but with 250 HP, looking back I probably should have bought the 330i back in 2006 for the $4,800 price difference, but I didn't really want the up-level content of the 330i at the time. I was going for durability and the DISA valves may have been an issue was also my thought at the time. But the power characteristics of the N52 in my Z4 are far better than the 325i version. I can always make the 3-stage conversion.

[david in germany]

The e90 328i is a dependable very well balanced car. I would not say that it is a high performance car but it is a performance car. My wife's M Sport 328i tops out at 155mph in the stock form and is very stable doing it. It is a very nice autobahn cruiser. It is not the fastest out there by far but it does well to hold it's own.

[Eddien123]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I'm sure we'll get a 335i owner chiming in that we two are just making excuses for buying the cheaper low-level E90, with a lack of understanding what the appreciation for the N52 is. I have both versions of the engine in 210 HP and 261 HP. Considering the 330i was rated the same MPG as the 325i but with 250 HP, looking back I probably should have bought the 330i back in 2006 for the $4,800 price difference, but I didn't really want the up-level content of the 330i at the time. I was going for durability and the DISA valves may have been an issue was also my thought at the time. But the power characteristics of the N52 in my Z4 are far better than the 325i version. I can always make the 3-stage conversion.

everyone's entitled to their own opinion. To be honest, I thought very highly of the 335 until I drove one. Then I realized it really isn't far above the 328 except for just straight line speed. I put the 335 above the 328 only because of the extra power and the tendency for it to come with more standard options. Fully loaded, they both are exactly the same except ones faster.