BMW 320i Tested

ajmat · 10th April 2007, 22:19

An old friend of mine who sold out his company asked me to present him to the KGA commitee for membership.

Sat awaiting the call to the boardroom when he dropped his key fob. Took a second glance - I remarked, got a BMW? what happened to the Scorpio, sold that and got a Tuscon and now this.

Wow, an X5? No a 3. Start talking about the perils of run flat, he is amazed with what I know -

Get summoned, introduce him to the commitee, get grilled, then I suggest a few drinks,

"ok, let me pop this in the car"

"let me take a look at the beast"

There she was in black, I knew I wanted her, so did he - have a go!!!

Got adjusted and we went for a quick dash in the IRR. She handles well and steering was meaty and accurate. Ride was firm. The involvement was higher compared to the C.

Performance wise - brisk but not raw like my Vtec. Awesome brakes and very easy to place. Took it upto 160 but traffic was thick and I felt a certain responsibility to my friend not to overdo it.

It fitted like a glove.

His experience with Navit - poor

Delivery dates were screwed up
Salesmen knew bugger all about the car/ barely what was a car!
Wrong colour written in RC book
Registration process sloppy

He was quite disappointed about this. He knows it will cost a lot to run but this was a pleasure to be enjoyed a couple of times in life. He slogged hard and earned it. He also looked at:

Audi A4- heavy, boring, jerky transmission
Skoda Laura - liked it but not special enough
Merc C - going out of production and more of a chauffered car

I liked it but I rest my case with the new C on the horizon. I would stunp up for the 325 but I'm a petrolhead

nitrous · 10th April 2007, 23:22

Thats a good quickie,ajmat.

I definitely respect the choice he made. Good luck to him.

cheap_deal · 10th April 2007, 23:45

i love the beamers
which year was it? bhp is somewhere between 170-185?
to really enjoy the bmw i'd need atleast the 330i... but then again im quite crazy.

RJK · 10th April 2007, 23:56

Good review. But would you know how much it costs on-road? I was looking up on BMW's website yday and they don't mention prices at all.

vcash · 11th April 2007, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

An old friend of mine who sold out his company asked me to present him to the KGA commitee for membership.

Nice Review Ajmat - I haven't driven the new 3 but from what I hear its pretty damn special - the 330 BiTurbo more so. What do the the 320's run india? I suspect - High 20's?

On a slightly OT note - Glad to see that you are into Golf. I am an avid Golfer and played KGA for the first time in December 2005. It's a nice course you guys have there. Infact, if you know ppl on the commitee, I am sure we may know some of the same crowd. Next time I am in BLR, I would love to play a round either at KGA or Eagleton.

ajmat · 11th April 2007, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJK

Good review. But would you know how much it costs on-road? I was looking up on BMW's website yday and they don't mention prices at all.

Came to 31 lakhs though they initially told him it would be 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcash

Nice Review Ajmat - I haven't driven the new 3 but from what I hear its pretty damn special ............................... Next time I am in BLR, I would love to play a round either at KGA or Eagleton.

when it is a six cylinder, then it is real special. Am a lousy golfer, do ping me whne you are in town. KGA have closed half the course to relay it as a result twice the people on half the course so I have not had a chance to play lately

Vid6639 · 11th April 2007, 08:51

I'm planning on going for the test drive of the 320d. Did you try only the auto box or played around with the tiptronic as well.

How about the interiors? space wise?

GTO · 11th April 2007, 10:55

Spot on with the review and pretty much what was expected from the car. Butttttttttttttttttttt sad to hear about the service experience, especially from Navnit which is not new to the business. Mercedes have excelled in their sales / service department and I expected BMW to be over-prepared in this department.

ajmat · 12th April 2007, 14:48

One more comment that my friend made - everytime I drive this car, all the women look at me....if only I had know 20 years ago

......if only we had known and could......

rangaraj · 13th April 2007, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

One more comment that my friend made - everytime I drive this car, all the women look at me....if only I had know 20 years ago

......if only we had known and could......

Usually the wallet and the age are directly proportional, by time you have money for a Beamer, the damage is done

Ricky_63 · 13th April 2007, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

One more comment that my friend made - everytime I drive this car, all the women look at me....if only I had know 20 years ago

......if only we had known and could......

If the ladies are drooling at your friend in a 3 series, what would a 5 or 7 series do for him.........I wonder !!!!

Cheers

ballkey · 13th April 2007, 18:30

According to the Hindu review(in link), it takes 11.57 secs for a 0-100 sprint. Not exactly BMWish is it?

The Hindu : Metro Plus Vijayawada / Wheels : 3 cheers for India!

Mpower · 13th April 2007, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

when it is a six cylinder, then it is real special. Am a lousy golfer, do ping me whne you are in town.

I'm confused. I thought 318i, 325i and 320d were the models offered in India with the 325 being the only 6. The article says 320i and 4 cyl.

iraghava · 13th April 2007, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

I'm confused. I thought 318i, 325i and 320d were the models offered in India with the 325 being the only 6. The article says 320i and 4 cyl.

Incorrect, the models being offered are :320i, 320d & 325i. IIRC the 320 has the 2.2 straight-6 engine putting out roughly 170-or so bhp.

ajmat · 13th April 2007, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

IIRC the 320 has the 2.2 straight-6 engine putting out roughly 170-or so bhp.

Nope, has been replaced by a 1995cc 4 cyl engine. Made in the UK. 100kw engine

10th April 2007, 22:19	#1
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,864 Thanked: 27,973 Times View My Garage	BMW 320i Tested An old friend of mine who sold out his company asked me to present him to the KGA commitee for membership. Sat awaiting the call to the boardroom when he dropped his key fob. Took a second glance - I remarked, got a BMW? what happened to the Scorpio, sold that and got a Tuscon and now this. Wow, an X5? No a 3. Start talking about the perils of run flat, he is amazed with what I know - Get summoned, introduce him to the commitee, get grilled, then I suggest a few drinks, "ok, let me pop this in the car" "let me take a look at the beast" There she was in black, I knew I wanted her, so did he - have a go!!! Got adjusted and we went for a quick dash in the IRR. She handles well and steering was meaty and accurate. Ride was firm. The involvement was higher compared to the C. Performance wise - brisk but not raw like my Vtec. Awesome brakes and very easy to place. Took it upto 160 but traffic was thick and I felt a certain responsibility to my friend not to overdo it. It fitted like a glove. His experience with Navit - poor Delivery dates were screwed up Salesmen knew bugger all about the car/ barely what was a car! Wrong colour written in RC book Registration process sloppy He was quite disappointed about this. He knows it will cost a lot to run but this was a pleasure to be enjoyed a couple of times in life. He slogged hard and earned it. He also looked at: Audi A4- heavy, boring, jerky transmission Skoda Laura - liked it but not special enough Merc C - going out of production and more of a chauffered car I liked it but I rest my case with the new C on the horizon. I would stunp up for the 325 but I'm a petrolhead
	() Thanks

10th April 2007, 23:22	#2
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Thats a good quickie,ajmat. I definitely respect the choice he made. Good luck to him.
	() Thanks

10th April 2007, 23:45	#3
cheap_deal BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: unknown Posts: 465 Thanked: 8 Times	i love the beamers which year was it? bhp is somewhere between 170-185? to really enjoy the bmw i'd need atleast the 330i... but then again im quite crazy.
	() Thanks

10th April 2007, 23:56	#4
RJK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,140 Thanked: 701 Times	Good review. But would you know how much it costs on-road? I was looking up on BMW's website yday and they don't mention prices at all.
	() Thanks

11th April 2007, 08:51	#7
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,730 Thanked: 43,474 Times View My Garage	I'm planning on going for the test drive of the 320d. Did you try only the auto box or played around with the tiptronic as well. How about the interiors? space wise?
	() Thanks

11th April 2007, 10:55	#8
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,534 Thanked: 300,734 Times View My Garage	Spot on with the review and pretty much what was expected from the car. Butttttttttttttttttttt sad to hear about the service experience, especially from Navnit which is not new to the business. Mercedes have excelled in their sales / service department and I expected BMW to be over-prepared in this department.
	() Thanks

12th April 2007, 14:48	#9
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,864 Thanked: 27,973 Times View My Garage	One more comment that my friend made - everytime I drive this car, all the women look at me....if only I had know 20 years ago ......if only we had known and could......
	() Thanks

13th April 2007, 18:30	#12
ballkey BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 425 Thanked: 35 Times	According to the Hindu review(in link), it takes 11.57 secs for a 0-100 sprint. Not exactly BMWish is it? The Hindu : Metro Plus Vijayawada / Wheels : 3 cheers for India!
	() Thanks