Driving impressions, 98 328is (sport)

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

I finally got some quality time with the family 328 is last weekend. (Translation: Mom was out of town so I swiped her car.

)

A few impressions from my time with the car--

First, wow! What a car. Got some positive attention from friends and acquaintances, which is always nice. Went from A to B and back again with no problems at all. Comfortable, easy to drive long distances in. Capable of truly stupid speeds. Uhhhh, I mean in theory, Mom!!

Goes around corners with no muss, no fuss, no drama. On so-so all-season rubber, the limits are pretty high. The brakes will haul you down from goodly speeds in a hurry, though I never got into them hard enough to activate the ABS. Very nice power; once you get the revs up to 3000 or so it just pushes you back in the seat. And that lovely I6 noise, so reminiscent of the Porsche H6 exhaust note. Just lovely!!

Complaints are few. The most immediate thing is the key--I really do wish that the "off" position were rotated back further, as I have to really crank my wrist around to get the key to "start". It's uncomfortable... I also wish the steering wheel had some adjustment. Or that it was easier to find...

The actual act of driving also had a few quibbles. First and foremost is the weight. Ye gods, that thing is half-again as heavy as either of my other two cars, and you can definitely feel it when you drive!! It just isn't quite there with you, it doesn't seem to respond as well to transient inputs.

This may have also affected the steering feel, because it felt like the car didn't quite turn as far as I thought I was telling it to. I was almost always wide of where I wanted to be. (Might simply be used to the other cars...) But the real kicker on the controls was the throttle.

I'm not sure if the 98s have e-gas or not. I hope so, frankly, because if not then something is messed up with the car. There is a noticeable lag between throttle inputs and the reaction of the engine. In particular, this is noticeable when you shift gears. If you lift off the gas and push in the clutch at the same time, the RPMs jump by a couple hundred revs before dropping back down again. If you let off the gas before you push in the clutch, then the revs drop the way I think they should. Lag in an important control like this is not so good...

The final gripe is with the gear shift. It's more notchy than I would like. It's not as bad as my 914, but I think the action when actually engaging a gear is not as smooth as my Appliance--I mean, my Honda.

All minor gripes, except for the weight. And that can easily be explained by noting that I am a nut for small lightweight cars.

And frankly, if the above complaints are the worst things I can find about a car, it's a pretty damned good car!!

I wouldn't mind having to drive a car like that every day. I'm not sure I'd want to flog it around on the track, but as a way to get around it is really stellar. Hmmmm.... I wonder when the next time Mom is out of town again???

--DD

stupenal · 03-05-2003, 11:05 PM

As for the notchy shifting, the 328s have the zf tranny, as opposed to the getrag found in the 325s. However, the throw is 30% shorter if you take a 328/m3 shifter and put it in the 325. Thats my next mod i plan to do. Notchier shifting, but 30% shorter throw for around $30 for a used shifter. Good deal imo.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 03-06-2003, 10:36 AM

I havent driven a 328is, however i can tell you that they are FAST. On the way to the SEMA show in Vegas last Nov. Don and I raced one in his 911 C2 for at least an hour on the 15, and that thing was keeping up at speeds of well over 140MPH. I dont know if he had any work done to it, but it was keeping up with no trouble.

Black328iS · 03-06-2003, 11:42 AM

My 97 Sharked 328iS is probably the best car overall that I have ever driven in terms of comfort and performance (with exception of '00 M5 and my father's '00 540i). Even more-so than the 97 M3 I test drove. It was a little too stiff for my liking and acceleration was not THAT much better in the M3 than in my car (Most noticeable difference in the higher RPM ranges). The performance difference between my car and the M3 was not worth the $8-$10,000 price difference. A few more minor mods and my car will be just as fast as an M3 for a much smaller price tag. I definitely give the 328is two thumbs-up!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 03-06-2003, 11:48 AM

I was even thinking of putting an 328i motor in my E30 when the engine fianlly goes. That should be interesting.

stupenal · 03-06-2003, 03:56 PM

Altho the 328 has around 190 hp (somewhere around similar to the 92 non-vanos 325), it has uber goober amounts of torque. Somewhere around 205? A mildly modified 328 is definitely a beast and very underestimated. Whats cool about getting an m3 as opposed to the 328 is the fact that you are getting a great stock autox and track car. Throw in the mtech bumpers looks mucho cooler.

However, insurance on a m3 compared to 328....thats another story.

Black328iS · 03-06-2003, 06:21 PM

stupenal, insurance was one of the main reasons i went with the 328. it was almost double for the M3

Black328iS · 03-06-2003, 06:29 PM

why were the non-vanos 325is' so much faster than the ones with vanos (93-94)???

AndyK · 03-06-2003, 06:37 PM

I'm getting me one soon! Have my eye on a '97 in Montreal Blue, with Sport package, and EVERY other option! Smooth power compared to my old 944! Civil, yet sporty!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 03-07-2003, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Black328iS
why were the non-vanos 325is' so much faster than the ones with vanos (93-94)???

Thats a good question. I've wondered that myself. Lemme see what I can find out.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 03-07-2003, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Black328iS
why were the non-vanos 325is' so much faster than the ones with vanos (93-94)???

Thats a good question. I've wondered that myself. Lemme see what I can find out.