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[Don Vito Corleone]

Que?

Source that?

Motor Trend found that the 328i lapped Laguna Seca marginally faster than the 335i. Hard to find a link because a Google search comes up with so many hits that are not the source, but I am quite sure that was the outcome. It was a very slight difference, but the 328i prevailed. This horribly boring video reached the same conclusion. http://www.roadflytv.com/bmw-3-series-test-drive-laguna-seca-raceway.html

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Sounds very unlikely to me. Same chassis, same suspension, more power is slower?

Not slower in a straight line, slower on a track. Consensus is that the 335i is considerably faster in the straights, and the 328i considerably faster through the corners. I don't have a dog in this fight - both of my BMWs are previous-generation, NA cars, and if I were buying a new one it would be a 335i. Just stating what the tests have shown.

 

[michal1980]

328 GT

Just beacust

 

[Railgun]

Motor Trend found that the 328i lapped Laguna Seca marginally faster than the 335i. Hard to find a link because a Google search comes up with so many hits that are not the source, but I am quite sure that was the outcome. It was a very slight difference, but the 328i prevailed. This horribly boring video reached the same conclusion. http://www.roadflytv.com/bmw-3-series-test-drive-laguna-seca-raceway.html

Interesting. I'm thinking there's a generational gap here. But I'll dig a bit.

While the 328 has a 115lb weight advantage, it has a 60hp deficit (peaking at 600 RPM earlier) and 45 less lb/ft. It also has a slightly better weight ratio as mentioned.

This thread suggests it's the other way around.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=598320

I'd be interested to see what happens with the difference of the LCI versions of what's now the 330i and 340i. The former has 8 more HP from 241 to 249 while the latter gets more than twice that, from 302 to 320.

I don't have the weight differences of the LCI models, but it will be interesting to see how that fairs.

What I also don't like about these comparisons is any mention of what tires are being used. I swear every test should use the same tire in the same size (where possible anyway) to be fair.

 

[Imported]

How much does BMW underrate the N55 HP? I know the N20 is very underrated which could explain some..

 

[tracerbullet]

I've had a couple of newer 3 Series rentals when I brought my 135i in for free maintenance. I wasn't real impressed with the newer 335i's fun factor (steering, brakes, tossability, intangible feedback from the car that it wants to be driven harder), and the 328i just felt like a dog, I couldn't shake the wonder of why anyone would take it over say an Altima.

Thinking back on it though I am sure they weren't M packages (admittedly I'm not sure what that adds exactly for a 3-series), and I wonder if there were some electronic limiters on that I didn't realize / didn't turn off (some sort of sport mode I was clearly not in)?

 

[Imported]

There was a huge difference between a base 228 and one with the sports/M package when I test drove them. A base 328 I had for a loaner was also a dog.