3 Series Chris Harris - BMW 320i Review

[Zafiro]

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[martinbo]

Meh, what does Chris Harris know about the way a car ought to drive? Hasn't he been reading all of the internet expertise on how rubbish the F30 is and how poorly it drives now that it's lighter, better riding, more powerful and more efficient? The 3 Series has gone soft - that oversteer snippet was trick photography - and it's a cheap piece of junk.

Thanks @Just_me for a very interesting little piece of marginally credible opinion.

 

[Mr Robert]

Does anyone know what kind of milage you would get from the 320i?

 

[martinbo]

Does anyone know what kind of milage you would get from the 320i?

I would expect between 7.5 L/100km and 8.0 L/100km based on my weekly commute driving style. (I'm getting 6.0L /100km with the 320d in the urban crawl that is Joburg traffic these days).

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Whilst I don't doubt that's Harris' genuine opinion (hardly a shock as the 3 Series is a great car), that video did come across as a paid for commercial. Weird. I think it might be the music playing over the top of it.

 

[ACE]

Does anyone know what kind of milage you would get from the 320i?

I hired a 320i in South Africa for 4 weeks in Dec/Jan. I averaged 7.8l per 100km so Martin is spot on about consumption levels. However, I didn't think much of the driving dynamics with the standard (non M Sport) suspension and 17 inch wheels. I hope I don't upset Martin here but it definitely wasn't an exciting or luxurious car.

 

[martinbo]

However, I didn't think much of the driving dynamics with the standard (non M Sport) suspension and 17 inch wheels. I hope I don't upset Martin here but it definitely wasn't an exciting or luxurious car.

Why would I be upset? I pootle around in a car with steel springs and standard dampers on some of the shittest roads in SA. It's even got a - wait for it - Luxury badge on its flanks.

I've even taken it sideways on a skidpan. Here's a crap iPhone clip of me and the ol' luxo-barge bonding last year:

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...and I think it's fantastic. Such a great compromise of ride and handling (sure on a racetrack it'd be less than stellar) with great on-the-limit grip and a nice benign feel over it.

So, would I be upset? Of course not. I've got low standards!

 

[Zafiro]

I hired a 320i in South Africa for 4 weeks in Dec/Jan. I averaged 7.8l per 100km so Martin is spot on about consumption levels. However, I didn't think much of the driving dynamics with the standard (non M Sport) suspension and 17 inch wheels. I hope I don't upset Martin here but it definitely wasn't an exciting or luxurious car.

Stop driving cars like M5's, S4, 911 for some years and we ask you again

 

[Zafiro]

My ST is average of 7.7 L/100km. Should be better once the engine get more miles....or I should drive more slowly...

 

[ACE]

Stop driving cars like M5's, S4, 911 for some years and we ask you again

I wasn't comparing it to those cars!

The standard 320i needs M sports suspension, M sports steering, M Sport brakes and no run-flat tyres to be more of a driver's car. I found the Golf GTi more entertaining.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Why would I be upset? I pootle around in a car with steel springs and standard dampers on some of the shittest roads in SA. It's even got a - wait for it - Luxury badge on its flanks.

I've even taken it sideways on a skidpan. Here's a crap iPhone clip of me and the ol' luxo-barge bonding last year:

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...and I think it's fantastic. Such a great compromise of ride and handling (sure on a racetrack it'd be less than stellar) with great on-the-limit grip and a nice benign feel over it.

So, would I be upset? Of course not. I've got low standards!

Was that an official skid pan or did you just find a supermarket car park after a thunderstorm?

 

[martinbo]

It's the main skid pad at Gerotek, Betty. Is a very nice place : http://www.armscordi.com/SubSites/Gerotek1/Gerotek01_landing.asp

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Was that an official skid pan or did you just find a supermarket car park after a thunderstorm?

Storm must have leveled the supermarket!

 

[Zafiro]

I wasn't comparing it to those cars!

The standard 320i needs M sports suspension, M sports steering, M Sport brakes and no run-flat tyres to be more of a driver's car. I found the Golf GTi more entertaining.

Run flats yes, M sports steering - questionable


Looks like the one Chris is driving comes with sport suspension. At least in Sweden you can choose sport suspension without M-package. And look at the 320i in this video, got M package gearshifter and M steering wheel so it might well be using sportchassi. And who knows, Chris car might have M sports steering as well.