Sports package -- how much diff does it make?
fishfry
does the sports package make in handling?
Jim
"fishfry" <BLOCKSPA...@your-mailbox.com> wrote in message
news:BLOCKSPAMfishfry-CE...@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> I'm looking at getting a late model used 325 or 323. How much difference
> does the sports package make in handling?
package, I would say that the handling is a little better. However, the
added cost of the tires makes the sport package not very attractive (to me,
you might feel better).
Jim
pltrgyst
>Comparing my 325 with premium package to my son's 528 with premium and sport
>package, I would say that the handling is a little better. However, the
>added cost of the tires makes the sport package not very attractive (to me,
>you might feel better).
Hmmm -- the 225/45WR-17 Avon Tech M550 A/S XLs on my wife's 325i with sport
package cost $99 apiece from Tire Rack, and are far superior to what came on the
car, particularly in the wet. That seemed pretty darned cheap to me!
-- Larry
John Carrier
about the additional cost of the higher performance tires, I'd be more
concerned about ride quality. If you live in an area where the roads are
riddled with pot holes, frost heaves and nasty expansion joints the firmer
suspension may drive you nuts.
R / John
"fishfry" <BLOCKSPA...@your-mailbox.com> wrote in message
news:BLOCKSPAMfishfry-CE...@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
Charles U' Farley
are good by mid-west standards, but the ride is near-brutal on some
portions. I think the handling benefit is worth it, but that's coming out of
a '92 Corvette with autocross suspension.A "normal" driver might not be any
too pleased.
"John Carrier" <jx...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:rqednXtpX-VDnPLZ...@comcast.com...
wanka
@comcast.dca.giganews.com>, BLOCKSPA...@your-mailbox.com says...
> I'm looking at getting a late model used 325 or 323. How much difference
> does the sports package make in handling?
>
more, so one of the first things I did was to replace the suspension -
Bilstein PSS9 coil-over kit, Eibach front and rear sway bars, Racing
Dynamics front stress bar. I had the Bilstein kit installed
professionally and had it lowered to the max (although later had to
raise it back up a little over 1/2" due to jacking and ground clearance
considerations), with stiffness set to 6 on a scale of 1-9, where 1=too
soft :-) and 9=track use.
The above upgrades made/make a huge difference but obviously I do have
to take care with road hazards such as pot-holes (to be avoided at all
costs, especially since I live in New England, where we breed the
suckers), and even speed-bumps which must be approached slowly and
cautiously, if at all.
The car handles fantasic. I took it to an advanced driving class run by
my local BMW CCA chapter. One of the exercises on the skid pan was to
try to drift the car all the way around a circle, with the DSC fully
disengaged, of course; I couldn't get the back-end to break away for
more than a fraction of a second, so one of the instructors (who had
just shown us how to do this using not only an M5 but also his BIG dooly
pickup truck - a truly skilful demonstration) pumped my tires up to
50psi (about 15psi above normal) and took the wheel himself. He was a
bit more successful than I, but even so couldn't keep the back-end out
there for more than a couple of seconds before it regained traction,
despite multiple attempts.
In general it feels like I am on rails - I can change lanes at high
speed with two 'twitches' of the steering wheel....rock solid.
No question in my mind that I did the right thing, even though I have
cleary put my warranty at risk :-(
I'll probably change the original Michelin Pilot tires for the Pilot 2s
this summer - I'm expecting that to make the handling feel just a tad
bit better.
JM
Sharkman BMW
sports pack, but is not as harsh.
I find the handling to be excellent and would NOT want to drive the car with
Bilstein... harsher is not necessarily better.
My last one was modded with Bilstein and stress bars... on the track it is
useful, on the road it is completely pointless. I also had a 540 that was
the ultimate in comfort and excellent handling... BMW knows what they are
doing for general driving conditions... if that is you, then BMW suspension
is great.... if you want more response and better handling (on good roads or
track) then the sports pack is good. But don't think you need it... the
regular is miles ahead of anything else out there on the market.
I agree if you buy anything american, you NEED to modify heavily ... this is
not the case with bimmers.
wanka
response the setup I have gives me, and others (very few) that I have
allowed to drive it and who are also BMW enthusiasts, seem to agree.
The guy who did the Bilstein install (the owner of 3D Autoworks, BMW
racer, member of IAIBMWSP, and who only works on BMWs -
www.3Dautoworks.com ) liked the way it handled so much when he'd
finished with it that he was going to do the same to his wife's E46.
Anyway, like I said, it's a preference. If I had to commute in the car
every day I might end up finding it a bit harsh, but I don't - I drive
the BMW for fun and the way I like to drive, it fits me like a glove.
For general use (grocery shopping, getting garden supplies at Home
Depot, taking the dog to the lake to swim, etc.), my old Explorer does
the work.
JM
Fred W
JM,
You are absolutely right about the poor state of many New England roads
and also about Dave Maynard at 3D. I (aparently) live very near you and
can attest to both of these things.
I am of the opinion that (considering the crappy state of our roads) the
BMW stock suspensions are pretty damn good for a street car. Just firm
enough for some spirited driving without knocking the fillings out of
your teeth when you hit some of those inevitable potholes.
Toy cars have much different suspension requirements. People who
don't/can't own multiple cars should be wary of over-modifying their
street cars (for play purposes) to the point that they become miserable
daily drivers.
--
-Fred W
Fred W
Aack!! That should have said *Dan* Maynard. Dan is the owner, chief
wrench and head honcho. Dave is Dan's son (who also works at 3D). Deb
is Dan's secretary, receptionist, book-keeper and wife. 3D, get it?
It awfully refreshing to find such a family oriented business these days...
--
-Fred W
adde...@yahoo.co.uk
fishfry wrote:
> I'm looking at getting a late model used 325 or 323. How much difference
> does the sports package make in handling?
Knowing what I know now if it were just about the handling I'd get one
with a regualr set-up and put a set of eibachs on it. BMW sport
suspension tends to get criticised for being too harsh.
wanka
JM
wanka
Malt_Hound@*spam-me-not*yahoo.com says...
...
...
> Aack!! That should have said *Dan* Maynard. Dan is the owner, chief
> wrench and head honcho. Dave is Dan's son (who also works at 3D). Deb
> is Dan's secretary, receptionist, book-keeper and wife. 3D, get it?
>
> It awfully refreshing to find such a family oriented business these days...
>
>
They are a great outfit - truly nice people as well as very professional
and trustworthy. I almost don't mind writing the checks! ;-)
I'm thinking of having them do a brake job on the car -
stainless/braided lines plus replacement Bembro all round. I have to
find a way of masking this 'investment' from the wife first though.
JM
Fred W
While they are great folks, and do 1st rate work, I still prefer to do
my own work on easier things like brakes. It saves me money, but more
importantly gives me a certain "connected" feeling to my cars.
Doing an "upgrade" like that where you'd be replacing calipers, disks
and flex lines wholesale would be a treat. Usually I'm scraping and
wirebrushing the old rusty parts while changing only pads and rotors.
Tell SWMBO about how much money your saving by doing the work yourself
and she'll be floored!! (Just don't ever mention how much you invest in
your tools) ;-)
--
-Fred W
dizzy
Harsh? My 323 has the sport suspension, and I consider it quite
compliant, although firm. It's the amazing feeling of luxury combined
with excellent handling that sold me on the car.