Edmunds: First Drive of 2006 BMW 3-series

[GTaudiophile]

The Next 3 Is Still the One to Beat

 

[Albis]

interesting

now i have to decide between a 330xi and a infiniti g35 coupe

 

[Actaeon]

Its still a beautiful car, despite what haters have to say.

 

[z0mb13]

oh man maybe I will need to upgrade my car to this...

gotta see it in person first

 

[bolido2000]

BMW has joined MB and VW in the sh!tty reliability club. I would think people shopping in the 35K range care more about reliability than the +50K group.

 

[suse920]

i love that car sooooo much

 

[z0mb13]

wtf the 325 is a 3 liter engine?? WOW!!

so basically the 325 will use the old 330 engine, while the new 330 uses an all new 3 liter engine!

 

[bolido2000]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
wtf the 325 is a 3 liter engine?? WOW!!

so basically the 325 will use the old 330 engine, while the new 330 uses an all new 3 liter engine!

That's pretty cool. I guess the 325 will be renamed 330 when the 3.5L engine goes to the 330.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Of keen interest to Bimmer fans is the fact that both the 325i and 330i are now powered by 3.0-liter engines. The only real difference between the two is output.

325 = the modder's engine?

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: z0mb13
wtf the 325 is a 3 liter engine?? WOW!!

so basically the 325 will use the old 330 engine, while the new 330 uses an all new 3 liter engine!

That's pretty cool. I guess the 325 will be renamed 330 when the 3.5L engine goes to the 330.

so they will change the 330 to 335?

actually the 330 still uses a 3 litre engine... they will upgrade to 3.5l in the future?

 

[GTaudiophile]

Better than a VQ!

 

[SuperTool]

Yeah, get the 325 and mod the engine. The torque is low for a 3L.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Better than a VQ!

In your dreams.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: bolido2000
BMW has joined MB and VW in the sh!tty reliability club. I would think people shopping in the 35K range care more about reliability than the +50K group.

A 2006 BMW 330i w/ options is in the $50k+ group.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: z0mb13
wtf the 325 is a 3 liter engine?? WOW!!

so basically the 325 will use the old 330 engine, while the new 330 uses an all new 3 liter engine!

That's pretty cool. I guess the 325 will be renamed 330 when the 3.5L engine goes to the 330.

so they will change the 330 to 335?

actually the 330 still uses a 3 litre engine... they will upgrade to 3.5l in the future?

No, they will not upgrade to a 3.5L engine, as far as I know. The current engines were JUST developed, totally new.

A 3.5L engine in an inline format would be quite large.

 

[GTaudiophile]

The engine, transmission, suspension, and chasis are no-doubt superb, but iDrive, in all its forms, needs to go. I also think the E46 car is prettier than this new one.

But I am looking forward to the turboed 3.5L (325hp) 335i and 4.0L (400hp) M3!

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Better than a VQ!

:thumbsup:

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
The engine, transmission, suspension, and chasis are no-doubt superb, but iDrive, in all its forms, needs to go. I also think the E46 car is prettier than this new one.

But I am looking forward to the turboed 3.5L (325hp) 335i and 4.0L (400hp) M3!

Only 325hp from a turbo 3.5L? That's not very impressive, compared to the 333hp derived from the 3.2L m3 motor. And that motor is going to be huuuuge. Any idea on what size turbo and how many pounds of boost are planned?

And as for the 325i... so it has the 3.0 engine... It says that it's new as well, with the magnesium block technology... So what's the difference between the two motors? Compression? Buy the base model BMW and you can run regular grade gasoline?

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Of keen interest to Bimmer fans is the fact that both the 325i and 330i are now powered by 3.0-liter engines. The only real difference between the two is output.

325 = the modder's engine?

Well, I doubt those are gonna be modded often any time soon. I don't think anyone would buy a relatively slow 35K+ car new and then mod it a couple months down the line.

The article implies that the 330i has double vanos, but the 325i doesn't, so you'd atleast need the better head and ECU. Are BMW blocks and heads even interchangeable?

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
The engine, transmission, suspension, and chasis are no-doubt superb, but iDrive, in all its forms, needs to go. I also think the E46 car is prettier than this new one.

But I am looking forward to the turboed 3.5L (325hp) 335i and 4.0L (400hp) M3!

Only 325hp from a turbo 3.5L? That's not very impressive, compared to the 333hp derived from the 3.2L m3 motor. And that motor is going to be huuuuge. Any idea on what size turbo and how many pounds of boost are planned?

And as for the 325i... so it has the 3.0 engine... It says that it's new as well, with the magnesium block technology... So what's the difference between the two motors? Compression? Buy the base model BMW and you can run regular grade gasoline?

A turboed BMW I6 engine is still rumor...

The 4.0L V8 from the old M5 will be born again in the new M3...that is almost confirmed fact.

I am pretty sure all BMWs require premium fuel.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Of keen interest to Bimmer fans is the fact that both the 325i and 330i are now powered by 3.0-liter engines. The only real difference between the two is output.

325 = the modder's engine?

Well, I doubt those are gonna be modded often any time soon. I don't think anyone would buy a relatively slow 35K+ car new and then mod it a couple months down the line.

The article implies that the 330i has double vanos, but the 325i doesn't, so you'd atleast need the better head and ECU. Are BMW blocks and heads even interchangeable?

the new 330 engine will use valvetronic (or whatever technology) that is now used in the 5 series and the 7 series.

I believe the 325 will use the engine from the old 330 straight.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Of keen interest to Bimmer fans is the fact that both the 325i and 330i are now powered by 3.0-liter engines. The only real difference between the two is output.

325 = the modder's engine?

Well, I doubt those are gonna be modded often any time soon. I don't think anyone would buy a relatively slow 35K+ car new and then mod it a couple months down the line.

The article implies that the 330i has double vanos, but the 325i doesn't, so you'd atleast need the better head and ECU. Are BMW blocks and heads even interchangeable?

the new 330 engine will use valvetronic (or whatever technology) that is now used in the 5 series and the 7 series.

I believe the 325 will use the engine from the old 330 straight.

Good, so the old 325 as we knew it will be dead in the US market. A $40K+ car with a sub 200hp engine is just embarassing for a luxury brand...and BMW finally got the message.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
The engine, transmission, suspension, and chasis are no-doubt superb, but iDrive, in all its forms, needs to go. I also think the E46 car is prettier than this new one.

But I am looking forward to the turboed 3.5L (325hp) 335i and 4.0L (400hp) M3!

Only 325hp from a turbo 3.5L? That's not very impressive, compared to the 333hp derived from the 3.2L m3 motor. And that motor is going to be huuuuge. Any idea on what size turbo and how many pounds of boost are planned?

And as for the 325i... so it has the 3.0 engine... It says that it's new as well, with the magnesium block technology... So what's the difference between the two motors? Compression? Buy the base model BMW and you can run regular grade gasoline?

A turboed BMW I6 engine is still rumor...

The 4.0L V8 from the old M5 will be born again in the new M3...that is almost confirmed fact.

I am pretty sure all BMWs require premium fuel.

hmm people at the bmw forum are almost convinced there will be 335, that is a turboed 3.0 liter engine that will produce 300hp

 

[bolido2000]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Of keen interest to Bimmer fans is the fact that both the 325i and 330i are now powered by 3.0-liter engines. The only real difference between the two is output.

325 = the modder's engine?

Well, I doubt those are gonna be modded often any time soon. I don't think anyone would buy a relatively slow 35K+ car new and then mod it a couple months down the line.

The article implies that the 330i has double vanos, but the 325i doesn't, so you'd atleast need the better head and ECU. Are BMW blocks and heads even interchangeable?

the new 330 engine will use valvetronic (or whatever technology) that is now used in the 5 series and the 7 series.

I believe the 325 will use the engine from the old 330 straight.

Why would BMW detuned the old 3.0L engine? The 330 is probably going to cost about the same as an M35. I guess they need the move the 3 series further up to make room for the 1 series.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Of keen interest to Bimmer fans is the fact that both the 325i and 330i are now powered by 3.0-liter engines. The only real difference between the two is output.

325 = the modder's engine?

Well, I doubt those are gonna be modded often any time soon. I don't think anyone would buy a relatively slow 35K+ car new and then mod it a couple months down the line.

The article implies that the 330i has double vanos, but the 325i doesn't, so you'd atleast need the better head and ECU. Are BMW blocks and heads even interchangeable?

the new 330 engine will use valvetronic (or whatever technology) that is now used in the 5 series and the 7 series.

I believe the 325 will use the engine from the old 330 straight.

Good, so the old 325 as we knew it will be dead in the US market. A $40K+ car with a sub 200hp engine is just embarassing for a luxury brand...and BMW finally got the message.

how is the 325 a 40k vehicle?? its about 30-35k