buying 323?

[tansiong]

Hi all, can u help by giving comments on this car. I'm going to buy if everything is alright so need help around on commenting on this car. So please advise on this car. etc, power, comfort, stable, quiet. And have cruise control anot? Izzit fwd or rwd? Because i'm looking at 320 and 323 so which one more worth to buy. Currently driving a honda accord cl7 2.0 auto. Thanks for all the replies here.

 

[Physicist]

Re: buying 323?

Wow! I think you better go for a test drive and decide for yourself. Have you done so?

Its RWD.

 

[SFW]

Re: buying 323?

Hi all, can u help by giving comments on this car. I'm going to buy if everything is alright so need help around on commenting on this car. So please advise on this car. etc, power, comfort, stable, quiet. And have cruise control anot? Izzit fwd or rwd? Because i'm looking at 320 and 323 so which one more worth to buy. Currently driving a honda accord cl7 2.0 auto. Thanks for all the replies here.

Take the 320 for a spin first and then immediately spin the 323 and decide whether it is worth to pay for the extra $ks. Take the South Bouna Vista Rd and then the West Coast Highway to feel the pick-up and power especially after the 4000 rpm. Enjoy your test drives!

 

[tansiong]

Re: buying 323?

bro, test drive only a short while so can't feel anything leh. So wats ur opinion? Worth to pay another 15k for 323 anot?

 

[SFW]

Re: buying 323?

One time cannot, try another time, and try until can. BTW, didn't test drive the 323, so no comment. Worth or not also got to look at the OMV of the 2 cars. At the end of the day, you must like the drive.

 

[mistraele]

Re: buying 323?

even if the 323 doesnt come with any other extras over a 320, the money on the I6 is money well spent....
valvetronic sounds too much like a diesel taxi...

 

[BMWSILVER]

Re: buying 323?

bro, test drive only a short while so can't feel anything leh. So wats ur opinion? Worth to pay another 15k for 323 anot?

Hi !

Previously it was E46 318i v.s. 320i and the price difference is about S$13K.
Now it is E90 320i v.s. 323i and the price difference is about 15K.

As for me, If i can turn back the clock, I will buy the E46 320i.

As for your case, go get the E90 323i

 

[jooggie]

Re: buying 323?

Hi, The 320 doesnt come with cruise control... not sure whether the 323 does. you may want to check with the SE. regards, jooggie

 

[T6]

Re: buying 323?

even if the 323 doesnt come with any other extras over a 320, the money on the I6 is money well spent....
valvetronic sounds too much like a diesel taxi...

I thot the 323i is also a valvetronic? Juz like the 325, 330, 523, 525, and 530 are all valetronics already?

 

[piggyboyz]

Re: buying 323?

I test driven the 323i about 2 weeks ago.

I am pretty impressed with the handling of the car round the 99 bend and it's pretty composed when being pushed. The suspension setup, according to the Sales is that the 323 is running on sports suspension and it really feels pretty good.

On the move, the 177hp is pretty sufficient but i feel the car sounds a bit strained. That might be the engine is still tight and may loosen up overtime or with a simple oil change.

All BMW are RWD and all 6 cyc has got cruise control as standard, as with cabin floor light and rear reading light.

The 323 is a 6 cyclinder and BMW is known for it's creamy 6 while the 320i is a 4 potter, which makes it more economical to drive. The 323i is a 2.5L and the 320i is a 2.0L. The difference in tax is close to 800 buxs a year, consumption of a 6 cyc will def be higher on a 6 cyc as well

Know your own needs and choose from there.

 

[TripleM]

Re: buying 323?

Tansiong
Let me give you a very simple solution w/o looking further at the technicality and specs involved.

If you just wanna own a BMW and will not really visit much of this forum nor intend to modify much, then get E90 320 and save the money for other purposes

However, if you intend to visit this forum alot more often and start to talk bout how to get more power this and that, then the IL-6 323 is a good start.

Why I said the above?
Coz they are too many owners of E46 4potters who had bought the cars, got involved quite actively in this forum and in the end, all of them concluded the same thing : " I should hv bought the E46 320 ".

 

[SFW]

Re: buying 323?

I thot the 323i is also a valvetronic? Juz like the 325, 330, 523, 525, and 530 are all valetronics already?

Yes, all the new engines are valvetronic.

 

[SFW]

Re: buying 323?

I test driven the 323i about 2 weeks ago.

I am pretty impressed with the handling of the car round the 99 bend and it's pretty composed when being pushed. The suspension setup, according to the Sales is that the 323 is running on sports suspension and it really feels pretty good.

On the move, the 177hp is pretty sufficient but i feel the car sounds a bit strained. That might be the engine is still tight and may loosen up overtime or with a simple oil change.

All BMW are RWD and all 6 cyc has got cruise control as standard, as with cabin floor light and rear reading light.

The 323 is a 6 cyclinder and BMW is known for it's creamy 6 while the 320i is a 4 potter, which makes it more economical to drive. The 323i is a 2.5L and the 320i is a 2.0L. The difference in tax is close to 800 buxs a year, consumption of a 6 cyc will def be higher on a 6 cyc as well

Know your own needs and choose from there.

My 325 does not come with cruise control as standard. I don't think the 323 has it as standard also (correct me if I'm wrong). About the fuel consumption, mine is achieving 11.7 L / 100km after run-in to now, combination of city and highway drive, which is quite economical. BTW, I'm also a heavy footer.

 

[ferd]

Re: buying 323?

the e90 320 and 323 does not come with cruise control too.... not sure about the 330.... i understand it can be factory fitted for about 2k (not sure of the exact amt).

 

[mistraele]

Re: buying 323?

Tansiong
If you just wanna own a BMW and will not really visit much of this forum nor intend to modify much, then get E90 320 and save the money for other purposes

However, if you intend to visit this forum alot more often and start to talk bout how to get more power this and that, then the IL-6 323 is a good start.

actually, and this is solely my own opinion, if you arent happy with the power of the stock 323, dont think that by spending any money on it, its going to become a a car that will be fast enough to please you, cos its not and wont be. unless that is you go all the way and lup one SC inside it.

extracting power from a NA car, and especially engines like BMW which are arleady in quite a high state of tune, is an expensive exercise and the gains are limited (caveat - unless you go the SC route).

so my advice is, test drive all the models and make sure you test drive some other competitors, including some which are quite a bit faster, because then you will know exactly what you are getting with the money that you spend. that way, u wont have any regrets if you end up with a snail...

 

[tansiong]

Re: buying 323?

Hi all, anymore comments? Sorry to ask this question (don't fame me ok) How about comparing a Lexus IS250 to a BMW 323. Thanks

 

[mistraele]

Re: buying 323?

theres been quite a few compariosns of the IS with the bmw in other threads...
the long and short of it, dynamically, the IS still isnt up to scratch.. but in terms of overall package, refinement and goodies, its quite competitive
if service is a factor, then BM > PML...
as for reliability.. well, that one no contest.

 

[gadgets]

Re: buying 323?

actually i am tempted to want to buy 320 too. but with IS and the several prob faced by members here (3 classic ones are the 5 on ST, 1 day old E90 thread and yinyang open letter thread), not sure if it's worth the plunge.

is it a prob of QC, PML or combination?

 

[althaus]

Re: buying 323?

Gadgets, I had the same doubts about getting the 320 as well, but luckily for me, no problems so far with the car after 3 months of enjoyment!

 

[SuperChargeMe]

Re: buying 323?

Just checked. ALL 3 series does not have cruise control, including 330 !