BMW 328i: Going Around With Four Cylinders

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

The tradition-conscious fans have to get used to it. In the new edition of the BMW 328i, the Munich-based company dropped two cylinders.

Only four cylinders! No more six pots in the 328i! A grumble, if not an outcry, escaped the tradition-conscious fans of the brand when the new 3 Series BMW made its debut at the beginning of the year. But all complaining is useless: The in-line six-cylinder engines in the 3 Series are increasingly being phased out and are being replaced by more economical four-cylinder engines. So now in the 328i. But how does the four-cylinder drive? And how does it sound? We asked the fast man from Munich with the also new eight-speed automatic to test it every day.

Driving pleasure is guaranteed in the BMW 328i

In terms of performance, there is no reason to complain. On the gasoline side, only the six-cylinder top model in the 335i with 306 hp surpasses the 2.0-liter unit with 180 kW / 245 hp in our test car. The 245 hp are more than sufficient in everyday life. A slight pressure on the gas pedal and the BMW signals that it is ready to perform. “Sheer driving pleasure”, yes, but also the pleasure of accelerating. The speedometer needle moves upwards almost playfully, only to come to a standstill when the motorway is free at a good 250 km / h. On this side of the top speed, the unit impresses with its power development. The torque of 350 Nm conveys a confident feeling of serenity in the engine speed range from a good 1,000 to just under 5,000 revolutions per minute, which is supported by the smoothly working eight-speed automatic. Rolling there relaxed - feels good.

Do you want to overtake quickly? No problem. The automatic acts immediately without getting hectic. The overall concept of engine, chassis and rear-wheel drive can prove its class in tight, winding roads and show that the three can still be a fun machine. Without really spoiling the driving pleasure, you can confidently select the "Comfort" suspension setting; the unevenness of the road arrives at the seat / person interface much more gently. In sport mode he acts a bit more direct, but clearly uncomfortable. The Eco version of BMW's own driving style and fun switch turns saving fuel into a sport. The 3 series shows how many kilometers you can get further by carefully handling the accelerator pedal compared to conventional driving.

Consumption-reducing properties in the BMW 328i

If you are not constantly on the move under full load, the 328i can be moved with a moderate eight liters - automatic start-stop, recuperation and other consumption-reducing properties make it possible. And you are by no means an obstacle to traffic. In sport style, ten liters flow through the injectors. With a relaxed foot on the accelerator, values of around seven liters are possible and the standard consumption of 6.3 liters is approaching. At the latest when refueling you are reconciled with the four-cylinder. Even the fact that it doesn't run much more smoothly than the six-pot units doesn't bother you when paying at the gas station. And that it sounds a little rough, especially in the morning: What about consumption again?

The new three has increased in length, width and wheelbase. This is particularly beneficial for the comfort of the front passengers. In the rear of the four-door it is rather cramped, but with a little consideration from the people in front, the backbenchers do not have to worry about a blood supply interruption in the hollow of their knees.

Noble Sport-Line equipment version for the BMW 328i

The interior of the Sport-Line equipment version we drive is elegant and sporty in the right mix. Whereby the seats could be more comfortable than sporty, but that's a matter of taste. The tidy cockpit is nice, the control buttons are familiar from the five. In general, the inside and the exterior are very reminiscent of the big brother. You have to look very carefully to distinguish the two.

When it comes to options, too, the threesome emulates the more expensive relationship. Our test car, which costs at least 39,660 ex works, had various extras on board. Would you like a small excerpt? Additional costs for the Sport-Line equipment: 1,800 euros for, among other things, 18-inch alloy wheels, exhaust tailpipes in chrome black, applications and trim strips in chrome and a leather sports steering wheel. If you value leather upholstery, you have to invest another 1,800 euros. And the additional list goes even further: Driving comfort package (plus 750 euros), Comfort package (plus 1,090 euros), parking assistance package (plus 1,140 euros), vision package (plus 1,790 euros), adaptive chassis (plus 1,100 euros), automatic climate control (plus 650 euros), Active cruise control with radar-based speed and distance control (plus 790 euros), head-up display (plus 980 euros) and and and.

As a small consolation, the six-cylinder 335i costs at least 45,860 euros in combination with the eight-speed automatic and its surcharge list reads and pays off too. (SP-X)