RE: PH Fleet: BMW 328i (E36)

[les3002]

Here's another! My OH's daily driver.



We've got an M3 Evo too, as much as it pains me to admit it, the 328i is a better all round package for the money.

[Daniel1]

les3002 said:

Here's another! My OH's daily driver.



We've got an M3 Evo too, as much as it pains me to admit it, the 328i is a better all round package for the money.

[Karyn]

Daniel1 said:

les3002 said:

Here's another! My OH's daily driver.



We've got an M3 Evo too, as much as it pains me to admit it, the 328i is a better all round package for the money.

My car is purdy, huh?!

It's got a PH history, too... quite a few PHers have owned it!

[Maldini35]

StuB said:

Maldini35 said:

is this the new MX5?

What I think this means is, that the E36 328 seems to becoming a bit of a cult car on Pistonheads, not that it's a 'girls car' or any other kind of insult.

Spot on
Nicely sorted Z3 by the way.

[StuB]

Maldini35 said:

Spot on
Nicely sorted Z3 by the way.

Cheers.

[s m]

les3002 said:

Here's another! My OH's daily driver.



We've got an M3 Evo too, as much as it pains me to admit it, the 328i is a better all round package for the money.

Just for interest, why do you think it is better, cheaper parts? Less temperamental? 75% of the car for 50% of the money.........?

[Karyn]

s m said:

Just for interest, why do you think it is better, cheaper parts? Less temperamental? 75% of the car for 50% of the money.........?

(Hope you don't mind me replying instead...!)

All of what you said... plus better ride, a clutch that doesn't require hulk hogan's leg muscles, a throttle that isn't binary and feather-light to boot, sharper 'round town... and... well... the M3 only really comes into it's own when you nail it in 2nd/3rd, and keep your foot down. Then you know what it's about, with the power and handling. The 328, you don't need to do that (put your foot down, I mean, to enjoy it) - although you can (although obviously it's not got the same "oomph" as the M3 when you do) - day to day driving is more fun in the 328 because of the sum of the above. The M3, it's a doozy to drive when you don't need to be somewhere, and you can work it... for all else, the 328 surpasses it, in my (our!) opinion.

That said, I do love the M3.


But not as much as I love my 328.


Plus, my coupe shape is so much sexier than his saloon shape.




...Les'll be along in a minute to give you a more grown-up/mechanically-minded view!

[les3002]

s m said:

Just for interest, why do you think it is better, cheaper parts? Less temperamental? 75% of the car for 50% of the money.........?

I think Karyn covered it pretty well. The major thing for me is turn in, the 328 just feels lighter at the front and more willing to tuck in, whereas the M3 can feel a bit heavier.

The other thing is cost, the 328 is probably worth half what the M3 is, all the 328 ever needs is routine servicing plus the odd consumable. On the other hand the M3 has had the best part of £3k spent on it in the year I've had it, although I think that's more a measure of my particular M3 than M3s in general. It is getting more reliable now with the continual stream of money poured into it, I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel where it can be run for reasonable costs.

[Karyn]

les3002 said:

The major thing for me is turn in, the 328 just feels lighter at the front and more willing to tuck in, whereas the M3 can feel a bit heavier.

...if you could remember that next time, instead of aiming for the kerb off the roundabout...

[sc4589]

Karyn said:

...if you could remember that next time, instead of aiming for the kerb off the roundabout...

Had to say that to one of my friends trying mine out last night. Happy days.