RE: Spotted: BMW 320Si

[smartie93]

I was not aware of this car. Surely they could have made their standard 320 engine work if they really wanted to, but they chose to make a new one and release a special, I think that's fantastic BMW have really gone up in my books (from hated to moderately liked haha)

In my opinion an engine cannot be rated using numbers, otherwise you'd always end up with a lifeless turbo diesel :/ Low down torque maybe good for day to day boring stuff, but for fun you need a rev happy screamer

Maybe in a few years when the price drops it could be justified, but at the minute I can think of much better ways to spend 10k

[mat205125]

I think it's quite conceivable that this generation of 3 series could not have been as successful, for so long, if weren't for this homologation car.

This was the same homologation period that also spawned the very rare fuggly vectra bumpers

[AyBee]

clubracing said:

I'm constantly surprised by how many peoples interest in cars manages to correspond with an almost complete lack of interest in motorsport.

Don't be - it's perfectly possible to have an interest in motorsport without wanting to buy a slow car that's vaguely related to motorsport...

[mat205125]

AyBee said:

clubracing said:

I'm constantly surprised by how many peoples interest in cars manages to correspond with an almost complete lack of interest in motorsport.

Don't be - it's perfectly possible to have an interest in motorsport without wanting to buy a slow car that's vaguely related to motorsport...

[PJ34]

I had a 320i M sport for nearly 2 years. Whilst I'm sure this Si will be slightly more appealing and free revving, the standard 320i is gutless and completely the wrong engine for this otherwise fantastic car.

So I sold it for another (remapped) Mk5 Golf GTI DSG. But I still want a 6 cylinder 3 series! (F30 M3?!)

[kambites]

PJ34 said:

... But I still want a 6 cylinder 3 series! (F30 M3?!)

I'd rather have the extra little line on the bottom of the first character of the chassis designation and two less cylinders.

[stevesingo]

I think the comparison with the E30 M3 is misunderstood by most here, who seem to be interested in the bigger engine, more horsepower willy waving. It is the clarity of purpose which is shared with the E30 M3. Produced and homologated to compete, that is all. Which is more than can be said for 99% of M Power cars since the E30 M3.

Did competition improve the breed in this case, not by much, but is is probably a better steer than a 320i "M" Sport of the same vintage.

BMW 320Si=Fit for purpose. If the purpose of the car does not fit with what you want/need, don't buy it.

[foxhounduk]

I'll be honest, I didn't know such a thing as a 320 Si existed!
Would I get one? Probably not. Maybe if it had some flashy cup sport stuff on it but it looks too normal to even worth considering.

[Urban Sports]

Urban Sports said:

Didn't VBH drive one to test a G force meter or something?

Thought she did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrbtuCC3KnY

[kambites]

stevesingo said:

I think the comparison with the E30 M3 is misunderstood by most here, who seem to be interested in the bigger engine, more horsepower willy waving.

I'm certainly not one of them, my car has significantly less power than this, but to my mind the E90 3-series simply wasn't a viable platform for such a car - it's simply too big, too heavy and too numb.

[Devil2575]

clubracing said:

I'm constantly surprised by how many peoples interest in cars manages to correspond solely to the on paper power and performance figures.

EFA

[tomoleeds]

I took a 2005 E92 320 se in px 2 years ago,was slow,and when driven to get max mpg could not better 22mpg around town. The interior is drab,especially the cloth seats. could not wait to get back into my A4 B7,2.0td
seemed quicker and 50mpg around town

[Munich]

The Don of Croy said:

Perhaps this is more do-able option than finding a tidy E30 318iS I've been hankering after...

Or the E30 320is I've been hankering after... As E30 M3 prices have sky rocketed the 320is has been dragged up with them!

[SmartVenom]

Urban Sports said:

Urban Sports said:

Didn't VBH drive one to test a G force meter or something?

Thought she did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrbtuCC3KnY

Stalker!

Don't blame you though!

[stevesingo]

kambites said:

stevesingo said:

I think the comparison with the E30 M3 is misunderstood by most here, who seem to be interested in the bigger engine, more horsepower willy waving.

I'm certainly not one of them, my car has significantly less power than this, but to my mind the E90 3-series simply wasn't a viable platform for such a car - it's simply too big, too heavy and too numb.

2006 & 2007 WTCC championship would suggest that your mind is wrong, and you don't understand the reason for it's existance.

Like I said, fit for purpose.

[kambites]

stevesingo said:

kambites said:

stevesingo said:

I think the comparison with the E30 M3 is misunderstood by most here, who seem to be interested in the bigger engine, more horsepower willy waving.

I'm certainly not one of them, my car has significantly less power than this, but to my mind the E90 3-series simply wasn't a viable platform for such a car - it's simply too big, too heavy and too numb.

2006 & 2007 WTCC championship would suggest that your mind is wrong, and you don't understand the reason for it's existance.

Like I said, fit for purpose.

I didn't say it wouldn't make a good racing car? We're talking about a road car here.

I fully understand the reason for its existence - to make money for its manufacturer, just like (one way or another) every other road car ever made.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 30th January 15:32

[RobCrezz]

I know these don't need LOADS of power, but really that is a poor effort for BMW.

They really should have cracked out at least 200bhp for this.

[Usget]

mat205125 said:

Usget said:

The trouble with this car is that they could have made it so much better. "If we're going to do a homologation special, then let's do it properly, Fritz," they could have said.

Instead, to all intents and purposes, it's a normal 320i with some nice wheels.

So no, it's not the spiritual successor to the E30 M3.

You're missing the point of what a homologation special is.

This car is every bit as much of a homologation car as an E30 M3, Escort Cosworth, or 911 GT1. What's different these days is the level of modification from the cooking model which is required to homologate the components for the series that the car is destined to run in.

The 320si doesn't have big brakes and wide arches, as the rules allow the teams to design and fit these without them being fitted to the road cars. It does require the engine to be based on a production unit, hence the trick castings and carbon cover.

I'm not missing the point, or at least I don't think I am.

I realise that the raison d'etre for turbo-nutter-bd homologation specials disappeared when Group A went West. I'm just saying that this was a missed opportunity for BMW to say "well, we're sending it out there specifically to homologate these new parts and frankly we don't give a stuff if we make any money on it. Let's strip it out a bit, give it a bit more oomph, and make something which has a chance of being remembered as a cult classic, thereby strengthening our brand and ultimately improving our cars' residuals." Bottom line - another few ponies and some visual cues wouldn't have gone amiss even if they were ultimately wholly unnecessary.

[Maldini35]

Usget said:

I'm not missing the point, or at least I don't think I am.

I realise that the raison d'etre for turbo-nutter-bd homologation specials disappeared when Group A went West. I'm just saying that this was a missed opportunity for BMW to say "well, we're sending it out there specifically to homologate these new parts and frankly we don't give a stuff if we make any money on it. Let's strip it out a bit, give it a bit more oomph, and make something which has a chance of being remembered as a cult classic, thereby strengthening our brand and ultimately improving our cars' residuals." Bottom line - another few ponies and some visual cues wouldn't have gone amiss even if they were ultimately wholly unnecessary.

I agree. I really like the idea of this car. Such a shame they didn't give it a bit more attention.

[Guvernator]

Usget said:

I'm not missing the point, or at least I don't think I am.

I realise that the raison d'etre for turbo-nutter-bd homologation specials disappeared when Group A went West. I'm just saying that this was a missed opportunity for BMW to say "well, we're sending it out there specifically to homologate these new parts and frankly we don't give a stuff if we make any money on it. Let's strip it out a bit, give it a bit more oomph, and make something which has a chance of being remembered as a cult classic, thereby strengthening our brand and ultimately improving our cars' residuals." Bottom line - another few ponies and some visual cues wouldn't have gone amiss even if they were ultimately wholly unnecessary.

Have to agree, for a homologation special it just feels a little "phone'd in" i.e. they've done the minimum work necessary to get it past the rules. They could have done a much better effort and made it a bit more special but then it might have shown up the M3 or upset some of the bigger engined 3 series owners.

Still think the 1 series Ti concept that was bandied around a few years ago was a brilliant idea, shame they didn't end up making it.