E90 323i

[dcmy]

Just joined this forum 10min ago, just drop by to say hi to every SIFU here! Planning to buy a brand new E90 and interest in 323i but just affaid it is a detuned version so the speed may not meet my expectation, just like most of the member here i buy UDM just for the speed and technology, but my budget only allow me to buy 323i or similiar price car. Any 323i E90 owner here can share some of their experience on it? Thanks a lot~:wink:

 

[E46Fanatic]

Just joined this forum 10min ago, just drop by to say hi to every SIFU here! Planning to buy a brand new E90 and interest in 323i but just affaid it is a detuned version so the speed may not meet my expectation, just like most of the member here i buy UDM just for the speed and technology, but my budget only allow me to buy 323i or similiar price car. Any 323i E90 owner here can share some of their experience on it? Thanks a lot~:wink:

The 190 hp 323i is not bad. I didn't expect it to be as quick, but essentially, its about 1+ car length from 0-120km/h from a 325i. Driving it, on normal basis, there is not much difference in feel although it has less torque and peak torque comes in later at 3500 rpms instead of 2750rpms for the 325i. Overall not a bad choice and there are chipping options to unlock it and bring it up to 231hp if you are daring enough

 

[dcmy]

Wao.....231hp!!! where to modify it....hahaha....i am a person who hunger for speed~~lol~

 

[RIKI]

Just joined this forum 10min ago, just drop by to say hi to every SIFU here! Planning to buy a brand new E90 and interest in 323i but just affaid it is a detuned version so the speed may not meet my expectation, just like most of the member here i buy UDM just for the speed and technology, but my budget only allow me to buy 323i or similiar price car. Any 323i E90 owner here can share some of their experience on it? Thanks a lot~:wink:

I don't notice any diifference in normal driving between the 325i (pre-facelift) and the 323i. But that is only based on a short test drive on the 325i.

I planned to buy the 325i , instead they only have the 325i sport, 323i and 320i/sports for the facelift.
Could not convince myself to go for the 325i sport since my buget is already streched.

For now the 323i is fast enough for me. Once in while I would switch to DS mode and really step on it to hear the wail of straight six and get the extra urgency. The fastest I have gone on the car is only 190km'hr

I read somewhare in this forum that Audi is coming out with an A4 2.0T. That would be another option.

:top:

 

[dcmy]

Thanks Riki for your experience on 323i, just another question will it be shaky or a bit lose control when you drive with the speed at 190km/h???

 

[RIKI]

Thanks Riki for your experience on 323i, just another question will it be shaky or a bit lose control when you drive with the speed at 190km/h???

Tell you the truth, I have never driven any car at that speed before that, so I assume it should be a bit lighter that normal driving.

Yes it does feel a bit "light" the first time. But I tried it several time afterwards and it felt better.
Or I am getting a bit used to it?

Why don't you ask for an extended test drive and test both the 323i and 325i sports, back to back.
I am sure the 325 will feel more planted due to their firmer suspension

Or you can go to the AB permium selection and get a used 325 sport.
I see there is one Oct 2007 unit for RM258k. You get i year service and warranty
I think it is one of their demo car ?

Registration No. WQR 2886
Model BMW 325i Sports
Registration Date Oct-2007
Price RM 258,000
Mileage 15300 KM

:top:

 

[Schwepps]

The Malaysian Automotive Association has just released their forecast of a 12.4% drop in auto sales this year. That's a big drop, and some say, still being optimistic! Take your time, dcmy. Right now they're still marketing for the CNY uptick. There are more discounts and offers coming, I'm sure. :wink:

 

[B33mEr]

The 190 hp 323i is not bad. I didn't expect it to be as quick, but essentially, its about 1+ car length from 0-120km/h from a 325i. Driving it, on normal basis, there is not much difference in feel although it has less torque and peak torque comes in later at 3500 rpms instead of 2750rpms for the 325i. Overall not a bad choice and there are chipping options to unlock it and bring it up to 231hp if you are daring enough

Waaa ... an increase of 41hp u sure or not bro? that kind of chip is usually achievable on a turbo engine like the 335i

 

[E46Fanatic]

Waaa ... an increase of 41hp u sure or not bro? that kind of chip is usually achievable on a turbo engine like the 335i

Actually the tune is for the 325i which is supposed to see a jump from 218 -> 231hp = 13hp. The 323i is a restricted 325i engine. Same case with the Mini One/Cooper tune which has been done. I.e. Mini One taking on a performance tune of the Mini Cooper. So tuners are claiming that the 325i tune can be used to unlock the 323i.

For the 325i, BMW OEM performance parts bolt ons will give it 227hp. Additional 3 hp from the intake and 6hp from the exhaust. No ECU mapping/tune required just making it breathe better. Thats what BMW claims and the figures should be reliable.

 

[mnas]

it depends on the level of comfort u r looking for, 325 Sport has firmer suspension..could feel your bones rattle.. but feels more planted at high speed. I've tried 202 km/h at N-S hiway but chicken out (thinking of my baby & wife in the car at that time)...i kinda like the normal 3-series with the softer suspension, considering the quality of road here in m'sia.
furthermore 323 has wood trim interior, bit of uncle-ish if u ask me...hehe. no offence.

 

[Harbinger]

enlighten me

My question is about the latest BMW 323i, with the same engine as the 325i but detuned.

The present E90 model is the fifth generation.

Before the 2009 facelift, the 323i wasn’t available in the 5th generation range. It was only in the 2009 model

year that BMW first started to come out with a 323i. Is this assumption correct?

Of course, 323i have always been available throughout the 5 generations.

In the first two generation (ie E21 and E30), the 323i actually used a 2.3-litre engine. In the latter three

generations, BMW used a detuned version of the 2.5-litre engine to drive the 3 Series.

 

[glock_8]

Actually the tune is for the 325i which is supposed to see a jump from 218 -> 231hp = 13hp. The 323i is a restricted 325i engine. Same case with the Mini One/Cooper tune which has been done. I.e. Mini One taking on a performance tune of the Mini Cooper. So tuners are claiming that the 325i tune can be used to unlock the 323i.

For the 325i, BMW OEM performance parts bolt ons will give it 227hp. Additional 3 hp from the intake and 6hp from the exhaust. No ECU mapping/tune required just making it breathe better. Thats what BMW claims and the figures should be reliable.

Very interesting....so the 3hp (intake) + 6hp (exhaust) ...how about remapping? only 4hp to get the total of 13hp increase?

i knw the APR remap has a way to fool the diognosis tool so that no flash can be detected thus does not void warranty...what company providing this remap service?

 

[E46Fanatic]

My question is about the latest BMW 323i, with the same engine as the 325i but detuned.

The present E90 model is the fifth generation.

Before the 2009 facelift, the 323i wasn’t available in the 5th generation range. It was only in the 2009 model

year that BMW first started to come out with a 323i. Is this assumption correct?

Its been around longer than that, and you can see a few 323i's in Singapore. In Malaysia, 2008 was the first we saw them on CBU E92 323i's brought in by BMW Malaysia. It came with 190hp unlike the Singapore ones which has 177hp.

Now all facelifted 323i's have 190hp.

 

[Bogeyman]

I drive the E92 323i which is, like most of the sifus here have mentioned a detuned 2.5 litre engine with 190bhp@5900rpm and 230Nm@3500rpm torque. It's no tarmac burner but good enough for normal driving, especially cruising down the highways. It's a good cruiser.

One question though, of late I feel the car's been handling a little wired, i.e. 'floating' left and right (I know it's not alignment issue) and rather jittery at low to medium level speeds, something like tramlining - driving over the white/yellow road markers or aquaplaning in the wet What could it be? Suspension, tyre? Anyone experienced this before, especially on the E90s? Milage just touched 19k km.Feedbacks welcomed.

 

[GHS]

Are you on stock tyres/wheels?
Wider tyres might cause more aquaplaning and tramlining...

 

[Bogeyman]

Yup, car is on stock suspension and 17" wheels with 225/45 RFT rollers. Problem is, it's happening on dry roads :39: Apart from the authorised dealer, anyone can recommend good workshops where I can get the checked?

 

[astroboy]

You meant is was alright before? and problem only lately?

Mine was "alright" when I took the car until I went balik kampung.. the car is pulling left and right (impossible to eat rojak while driving)... took it back to the SC, redo the alignment and tyre pressure reset. The car drive like a dream after that! :top: Now can eat rojak even when speeding..

City road you won't feel much if alignment lari because you are stationary more than moving.. and SC alignment job sucks big time.. they too take the car out to the tyre shop to check the alignment... without telling you.

Have u done any alignment job after taking the car? If your answer is not, high time to do it before we speculate any further..

Mine was a AB Sg. Besi car..

 

[Bogeyman]

Thx Astroboy. Milage is now 19k km and last I did the balancing/alignment job was at 10k km. Perhaps I should do this first and see how the car behaves after this.

Another question - my cride comes with the stock suspension meant for comfort more than sporty ride. What's the average lifespan of the shock absorbers?

 

[astroboy]

Thx Astroboy. Milage is now 19k km and last I did the balancing/alignment job was at 10k km. Perhaps I should do this first and see how the car behaves after this.

Another question - my cride comes with the stock suspension meant for comfort more than sporty ride. What's the average lifespan of the shock absorbers?

Alignment normally won't lari unless you hit potholes kuat-kuat. So if you have done it before and it was alright then, them we have to start cracking our head.

As for absorber. The easiest sign of checking absorber is to see if there's any leak. Normal warranty for absorber is one year and depending on how rough is the road you are traveling or the load you carry... all these affects absorber life span.

Or use the good 'ol press down the chassis method to count the number of rebound. It should not be more than once..

Worn lower arm bush or ball joint would cause the car to randomly move left/right. The alignment man can check for u, even the absorber.

 

[David Yong]

What's the average lifespan of the shock absorbers?

U can always send your car into Ingress Auto as they have the machine to check on the absorbers. I have mine check there and is free of course :top: