318i Touring SE vs M Sport 2008 E91
Discussion
Hi all,
hope this finds everyone well.
I was wondering if anyone here can tell me what all the differences in spec between an SE and M Sport 318I Touring are?
From what I've read and can tell it's M Sport side skirts, alloys, gearstick lever and maybe a different suspension set up too? The price discrepancy between the spec in the used market seems to me to suggest I might be missing something though.
Also was there a facelift or any major changes soon before or after the 2008 model that I should be aware of?
Thanks!
Alex.
hope this finds everyone well.
I was wondering if anyone here can tell me what all the differences in spec between an SE and M Sport 318I Touring are?
From what I've read and can tell it's M Sport side skirts, alloys, gearstick lever and maybe a different suspension set up too? The price discrepancy between the spec in the used market seems to me to suggest I might be missing something though.
Also was there a facelift or any major changes soon before or after the 2008 model that I should be aware of?
Thanks!
Alex.
I think the M-Sport probably also had bigger wheels (18s IIRC), M-Sport seats (very nice), M-Sport steering wheel and M-Sport suspension which is lower and stiffer than SE.
TBH you're unlikely to need the M-Sport suspension or wheels on a 318i Touring other than for aesthetic purposes, and if you have the SE set-up the ride quality will be better - but still pretty stiff.
I ran an E91 325i SE for a year and never missed any of the M-Sport bits (other than maybe the seats) and replaced it this May with an E90 330i SE and even that doesn't feel like it needs stiffer suspension!
TBH you're unlikely to need the M-Sport suspension or wheels on a 318i Touring other than for aesthetic purposes, and if you have the SE set-up the ride quality will be better - but still pretty stiff.
I ran an E91 325i SE for a year and never missed any of the M-Sport bits (other than maybe the seats) and replaced it this May with an E90 330i SE and even that doesn't feel like it needs stiffer suspension!
Thanks all. Appreciate the help.
Sounds like I was right in thinking it's mostly trim - Seats and suspension too.
A friend has one I can get for a fair price thats got a good history and I just need a cheap ULEZ compliant run around for a couple of months while I sell my Volvo XC60. Once the moneys in the bank, I'm waiting for the right 335 / 330D Touring 15 plate+ to come to the market for a reasonable price. Some people's heads are in the clouds on price having spoken to a few private sellers already! All good things...
Sounds like I was right in thinking it's mostly trim - Seats and suspension too.
A friend has one I can get for a fair price thats got a good history and I just need a cheap ULEZ compliant run around for a couple of months while I sell my Volvo XC60. Once the moneys in the bank, I'm waiting for the right 335 / 330D Touring 15 plate+ to come to the market for a reasonable price. Some people's heads are in the clouds on price having spoken to a few private sellers already! All good things...
Alextodrive said:
Thanks all. Appreciate the help.
Sounds like I was right in thinking it's mostly trim - Seats and suspension too.
A friend has one I can get for a fair price thats got a good history and I just need a cheap ULEZ compliant run around for a couple of months while I sell my Volvo XC60. Once the moneys in the bank, I'm waiting for the right 335 / 330D Touring 15 plate+ to come to the market for a reasonable price. Some people's heads are in the clouds on price having spoken to a few private sellers already! All good things...
If you don't plan to keep it long you need to plan for when you part with it though. Sounds like I was right in thinking it's mostly trim - Seats and suspension too.
A friend has one I can get for a fair price thats got a good history and I just need a cheap ULEZ compliant run around for a couple of months while I sell my Volvo XC60. Once the moneys in the bank, I'm waiting for the right 335 / 330D Touring 15 plate+ to come to the market for a reasonable price. Some people's heads are in the clouds on price having spoken to a few private sellers already! All good things...
You might be happy with SE spec, but when you come to move it on for some reason most people want the bling that comes with an M-Sport - even if it is mechanically the same!
Mr Tidy said:
Alextodrive said:
Thanks all. Appreciate the help.
Sounds like I was right in thinking it's mostly trim - Seats and suspension too.
A friend has one I can get for a fair price thats got a good history and I just need a cheap ULEZ compliant run around for a couple of months while I sell my Volvo XC60. Once the moneys in the bank, I'm waiting for the right 335 / 330D Touring 15 plate+ to come to the market for a reasonable price. Some people's heads are in the clouds on price having spoken to a few private sellers already! All good things...
If you don't plan to keep it long you need to plan for when you part with it though. Sounds like I was right in thinking it's mostly trim - Seats and suspension too.
A friend has one I can get for a fair price thats got a good history and I just need a cheap ULEZ compliant run around for a couple of months while I sell my Volvo XC60. Once the moneys in the bank, I'm waiting for the right 335 / 330D Touring 15 plate+ to come to the market for a reasonable price. Some people's heads are in the clouds on price having spoken to a few private sellers already! All good things...
You might be happy with SE spec, but when you come to move it on for some reason most people want the bling that comes with an M-Sport - even if it is mechanically the same!
I don’t bother correcting them anymore.
I've had various examples of both cars.
M-Sport suspension makes it far, far, far, far more rewarding in corners, to the extent that I would be reluctant to accept the SE version at any cost.
Standard wheels were 17 inch if I remember correctly, with 18 inch as an option.
Ride on the 18s is at the harsher end of the spectrum it has to be said.
M-Sport suspension makes it far, far, far, far more rewarding in corners, to the extent that I would be reluctant to accept the SE version at any cost.
Standard wheels were 17 inch if I remember correctly, with 18 inch as an option.
Ride on the 18s is at the harsher end of the spectrum it has to be said.
BOR said:
I've had various examples of both cars.
M-Sport suspension makes it far, far, far, far more rewarding in corners, to the extent that I would be reluctant to accept the SE version at any cost.
I second this and I had a E92 330d SE as a loan car for a week, and I couldn't believe how boaty it was in the corners and it rolled loads in comparison to the E90 330d M sport I had at the time.M-Sport suspension makes it far, far, far, far more rewarding in corners, to the extent that I would be reluctant to accept the SE version at any cost.
The one thing I did appreciate with the SE though was how nice the ride was in comparison to the rock hard ride in the M sport.
Mr Tidy said:
You might be happy with SE spec, but when you come to move it on for some reason most people want the bling that comes with an M-Sport - even if it is mechanically the same!
This. It is mostly about bling, and it makes a difference when selling secondhand. Although given the cars you're looking at are 11 years old, the price difference is a lot less than it once was.The main differences between the SE & M Sport are:
Bumpers (front & rear)
Wheels
Suspension
Seats
Steering Wheel & gearknob
Headlining in black
Gloss Black exterior trim
I just sold a 58 plate 320d SE with the exclusive pack, I bought it for my daughter, but before she picked it up she took on a new job which means going into the ULEZ 2-3 times a week.
I have to say I really, really liked it.
It was nicely specced with xenons, heated memory seats, dab radio, USB, Harman Kardon L7 system and m-sport steering wheel.
After 4 E91s, all M-Sport, I have to say the ride was so much nicer in the SE.
The seats however are pretty pants in the SE, and with the electric memory option they don't go as low as the regular SE seats either.
I was thinking of keeping it, but if I did I would have bought some sport seats off ebay, loads for a couple of hundred quid or so.
I had a 320i E92 that I took as a part ex last year, I really loved that, it was just a fun car to drive, manual box with the 177hp engine was a proper giggle, had to work it a bit, but I liked that. Too many new cars are just too effortless now.
I have to say I really, really liked it.
It was nicely specced with xenons, heated memory seats, dab radio, USB, Harman Kardon L7 system and m-sport steering wheel.
After 4 E91s, all M-Sport, I have to say the ride was so much nicer in the SE.
The seats however are pretty pants in the SE, and with the electric memory option they don't go as low as the regular SE seats either.
I was thinking of keeping it, but if I did I would have bought some sport seats off ebay, loads for a couple of hundred quid or so.
I had a 320i E92 that I took as a part ex last year, I really loved that, it was just a fun car to drive, manual box with the 177hp engine was a proper giggle, had to work it a bit, but I liked that. Too many new cars are just too effortless now.
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