BMW 328i

[Lochaber]

Hi everyone,

Looking at purchasing 328i M Sport 2012 model. Not heeard much about this engine, and the performance figures, MPG and road tax seem too good to be true.

Has anyone got any real world performance, MPG figures ?

I am am coming from a E90 325i and love the stright six engine. Also considering a 335i which is my first choice but for my budget I can get a far newer 328i.

My daily commute is 14 mile round trip on a an A road so fuel economy is not that important but I am tight being a scotsman

As always your thoughts are greatly received.

[Jon1967x]

You do know the 328i is a 4 cylinder turbo'd engine? I mention this because you say you love the straight 6.

[Lochaber]

Yes, that was why I was asking.

Not that I have anything against 4 cylinders

[cerb4.5lee]

I think the 328i seems to hit the spot, it offers great performance decent economy for the performance on paper anyway and the emissions are good, from experience though a 4 pot turbo can get thirsty if driven hard but in saying that my E90 330i is only showing 22.9 mpg at the moment so the 6 pot is hardly frugal when pushed either!

The 328i does really appeal to me and I would fancy one myself.

[Lochaber]

Performance on paper does look good, but wondering what real life performance was like.

Staying in the highlands of Scotland I do enjoy a good drive and we have the roads round here for that, hence why I was looking at a 335i.

Decisions decisions ....

[cerb4.5lee]

If you can get a 335i I would really struggle to see past that I think I just think you are getting more bang for your buck and as good as 4 pots are they struggle to match the overall appeal of a silky 6 pot I reckon.

[M3greg]

I love my 328i engine. It's a remarkable bit if engineering, and combined with the ZF8 auto only really special cars out-pace it.
I'd be amazed if it was "only" 245 bhp. I came from an M3 E90, and while it lacks the drama of the V8 at high revs, and frankly sounds poo, I'm truly impressed.
MPG I get at an average of 32, and I'm in Sport+ well over 90% of the time. On a long motorway cruise at 80 it gets well into the 40s.
Yes, it lacks the aural delight and silky smooth nature of a NA straight 6, but they're history. BMW does turbocharging very, very well.
Would I have another x28i? Yes, if an excellent opportunity presented itself. The future is no longer NA - experience the torque and you'll be convinced.

[Lochaber]

M3greg

Thanks for that review.

What do you tink residuals on a 328 and 335 will be like in 3/4 years ? I am thinking the 328 will be better because as it is a modern 4 cylinder while the 335 will be seen as old hat by then.

[Lochaber]

Also considering a XF 3.0 D S which is a completely different type of car but there is some amazing bargains out there on these.

[Lozw86]

I've got a 2013 F30 328i M Sport with the 8 speed sport auto and agree with the above comments. Mine is averaging 31 mpg and I mainly do a short 5 mile trip to and from work. It will sit at 40mpg all day long on the motorway if needed. It will do about 24mpg driven very hard (foot to the floor acceleration, kick down into lower gears etc) It is very quick for what it is, especially in Sport mode. Have surprised many 6 cylinder cars out on the open road. The 8sp box is brilliant and overall the car is a great all rounder

[nickfrog]

By all accounts on Babybmw the 4-pot tutbo is no more economical than the I6 N52 despite the unsurprisingly optimistic official cycle claims that obviously favour turbos.
But it attracts lower tax.

[Lochaber]

Lozw86 said:

I've got a 2013 F30 328i M Sport with the 8 speed sport auto and agree with the above comments. Mine is averaging 31 mpg and I mainly do a short 5 mile trip to and from work. It will sit at 40mpg all day long on the motorway if needed. It will do about 24mpg driven very hard (foot to the floor acceleration, kick down into lower gears etc) It is very quick for what it is, especially in Sport mode. Have surprised many 6 cylinder cars out on the open road. The 8sp box is brilliant and overall the car is a great all rounder

Thanks for that. Is in the gear performance ( eg 30-60 overtaking speed ) pretty good ?

[Lozw86]

Yes it is very capable of over taking, being at its best in sport or sport plus mode.

Of course all this is subjective and depends what you are used to. I have driven Audi A4 3.0 TDI, Clio 182 Cup, E46 330i, Focus ST, Corsa VXR and the 328i feels the quickest and is on paper too (I think)

The best thing to do is test drive one and see what you think

[Lozw86]

nickfrog said:

By all accounts on Babybmw the 4-pot tutbo is no more economical than the I6 N52 despite the unsurprisingly optimistic official cycle claims that obviously favour turbos.
But it attracts lower tax.

I think as with anything MPG related it depends how it is driven

Sat on a motorway at 70 I doubt any 6 cylinder petrol would come close

[Mustard]

Lozw86 said:

nickfrog said:

By all accounts on Babybmw the 4-pot tutbo is no more economical than the I6 N52 despite the unsurprisingly optimistic official cycle claims that obviously favour turbos.
But it attracts lower tax.

I think as with anything MPG related it depends how it is driven

Sat on a motorway at 70 I doubt any 6 cylinder petrol would come close

Whilst not quite the same, for comparison my old man is averaging 35mpg out of an f31 320i auto with less than 1000miles on it, where as previously he was getting 25mpg out of an I6 E39 525i M54 auto touring

[nickfrog]

Possibly although having just done Brighton to Dover in the (260hp) 125i N52 on 39.2mpg OBD, I wonder what I would have achieved in a 125i 4-pot. 40mpg ? 45mpg ?

Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 21st June 18:08

[Jon1967x]

Mustard said:

Whilst not quite the same, for comparison my old man is averaging 35mpg out of an f31 320i auto with less than 1000miles on it, where as previously he was getting 25mpg out of an I6 E39 525i M54 auto touring

E39 is pretty old design. My wife's 4 year old Z4 with 35i engine averages around 30 and returns high 30s/40 on a gentle motorway run. They've updated the engine since and just as importantly the gearbox since

[Lochaber]

Lozw86 said:

Yes it is very capable of over taking, being at its best in sport or sport plus mode.

Of course all this is subjective and depends what you are used to. I have driven Audi A4 3.0 TDI, Clio 182 Cup, E46 330i, Focus ST, Corsa VXR and the 328i feels the quickest and is on paper too (I think)

The best thing to do is test drive one and see what you think

your quite right I will be doing that this weekend and comparing to a 335i as well

Thanks for the input and I will keep you posted.

[Richard Hewitt]

I have a 428 and love the power across the rev band, sure it doesn't have the building crescendo of power that the 6 gives you, but in real world driving it gives you all the power you need, whenever you need it.

Sports+ mode feels harsh with super fast gear changes with the auto box when you spend most of the time in comfort mode! but this just adds to the fun.

I don't think you need the 35, I would go for a newer higher spec 28, you will not be disappointed.

[Lochaber]

After test driving a couple of cars I have gone for a 335i M Sport saloon. Roll on Monday so I can picker her up !!

Anyway I can check the exact spec of the car ?