BMW 320si | Spotted
A BMW homologation special shouldn't ever be cheap - but the 320si isn't your standard homologation car...
The older the BMW 320si gets, the stranger it looks. It was little more than 15 years ago now - December 2005 - that BMW announced the si to the world, a four-cylinder 3 Series saloon with 170hp and a standard six-speed manual gearbox. Nowadays, when a four-cylinder BMW using a retro badge is the 128ti hatchback, the si looks really odd, but it seemed weird even back then. This was the motorsport-inspired 3 Series that had less power than the six-cylinder ones the manufacturer had been making for yonks. And what's motorsport about if not going as fast as possible?
Let's just say the 320si had very specific appeal. It was built for BMW's WTCC campaign; for 2005 the 320i had won championships in European touring cars, but BMW wanted to improve it for the global stage. To do so required making a road car, thus the 320si was born. Modifications that would have done little for showroom appeal worked for the race car, as BMW won the 2006 WTCC as well, with Andy Priaulx driving.
For motorsport fans, the really dedicated ones, the work lavished on the BMW's humble 2.0-litre was tremendously exciting: the bore was increased and the stroke reduced to help it rev (peak power was at 7,000rpm), Valvetronic was ditched in favour of conventional overhead cams (and the valves were bigger), aluminium alloy cylinder liners were used, the cylinder head was cast in the F1 engine plant and the compression was upped to 11.0:1 from 10.5. All for, um, 23hp. Don't forget that carbon cam cover, though, and the shorter final drive, and the 10kg weight saving...
The 320si at least looked the part, with 18-inch Motorsport wheels (wider yet lighter than standard) and chunkier brakes behind them, and standard M sport suspension at least meant the stance was spot on. BMW claimed the 320si could get around the Nordschleife in less than nine minutes - that's not a misprint, albeit decent for such meagre power.
BMW marketed just 500 in the UK, priced at £25k, making it a pretty tough sell to anyone who didn't know their ETCC from their WTCC and just wanted a fast 3 Series. Now just 179 are said to be on the roads, with well-documented engine issues surely having claimed a few. The block can crack, which is terminal, especially with the cars now worth relatively little. Despite not being stipulated when new, it's now suggested by those with 320si experience to run the car on super unleaded; furthermore, most advise changing the oil every 5,000 miles or so and ensuring the car is really, properly warmed through before chasing the 7,300rpm limiter. There are no guarantees, obviously - but that's the best advice.
Still want a 320si? Good, as this one looks great. A one-owner car with 95,000 miles, it's said to benefit from a full service history and scrubs up rather nicely in Le Mans Blue. It's for sale at just £4,600, or £1,000 more than a comparable 320i. For all that motorsport breeding, geek appeal and rarity value, it must be worth the premium to someone. After all, the only other four-cylinder 3 Series with a touring car link is the E30 M3 - and they certainly aren't £5k. Let's just hope the single owner of this one has treated the engine with the respect it deserves...
SPECIFICATION | BMW 320Si (E90)
Engine: 1,998cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 173@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 147@4,250rpm
MPG: 31.7 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 223g/km
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 95,000
Price new: £24,975
Yours for: £4,600
Don't see the appeal of this, nice wheels aside.
This engine was apparently a hand grenade with the pin pulled, way too many liner issues, nothing good save the wheels as an ownership prospect.
Would be interesting to turn it into a WTCC styled track car mind
Bragging rights about actually having a motorsports homolgation model is about the only thing this car has going for it. Oh, and a sexy carbon valve cover
The story behind it is cool but from an ownership prospect, a 6 cyl makes much more sense.
Don't see the appeal of this, nice wheels aside.
That doesn't automatically translate into a "better" road car, of course, and it lacks the drama of some bespoke fat arch bodywork, which always lifts desirability
WBAC value this car at £900, and that is assuming that it has at least 6 months MOT, not 3 weeks!
My 130 is on 105k now on the original water pump. I’ll get it changed at some point. My old 330 was sold with 95k on the clock with the original pump and my other half’s 125i is still on the original pump.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
My 130 is on 105k now on the original water pump. I’ll get it changed at some point. My old 330 was sold with 95k on the clock with the original pump and my other half’s 125i is still on the original pump.
For everyone else who doesn't have either mind, its still £600+.
Mine went at 80k two weeks ago so I guess just bad luck on my part..
My money would go on the 330i(or 330d) all day everyday in front of one of these. In fact I did...and I've had both an E90 330i and 330d!
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