BMW 320d Sports

If the BMW 320d that you see above epitomizes the dawn of the modern turbo-diesel passenger cars in Malaysia, it is very promising indeed. Promising because it sips a maximum of only 8.1l/100km even with my persistent ('DS' mode) and absolutely maniacal highway blasts - with a power delivery that is absolutely intoxicating albeit churned out from a narrower powerband than a petrol motor. Even more promising is that it will beat the petrol-powered 320i hands down and renders it irrelevant. Most promising when the newer 'facelift' 320d will boast even higher outputs come year end (?) versus the current stock state-of-tune's 177 bhp + 350 Nm combo.




Needless to say, the E90's handling dynamics and steering's ability to convey agility/confident feel/feedback are one of the best in business. However, this is one selfish car. It will make the driver very happy, but less so the other occupants. Okay, perhaps the babe (or as the case may be: guy) riding along side will still be quite alright. Unlike the Mercedes W204 C-Class the rear seats are quite useless. They are cramped - with high central transmission tunnel not helping things and awkward curving side bolsters at the lateral shoulder level - ouch!

On rough and bad road surfaces, it just gets too jarring for the rear occupants . This sports suspension equipped E90 will easily induce car-sickness for back passengers, especially on B-roads as attested by my young ones. The other turn-off - for me at least least - is the gruffy idling (read: loud) and the incessant idling vibrations transmitted through the steering column, seat bottom and door trim which makes the 320d rather unbecoming for a premium Conti junior executive.

So in conclusion, if you love the drive of say, a Mk6 Golf GTI but would like something with a proper boot, a 'classier' badge and something that returns way higher kilometers to the litre of fuel, this should be top in your list. There is no other diesel-powered saloon like this at this price point, with such engaging and sporting intent. Just make sure you are a single yuppie - and loving it - or if you are married (without kids) you have a mother-in-law whom you would like to shake off from following you on roadtrips!











Related posts:

2009 BMW 3-series facelift
Test Driven: BMW 320i SE

2009 3-series facelift: BMW's kidney grille is whole again (phew!)

Click on all images to enlargeBMW has refreshed its 3-series for 2009 model year by resisting to slap on the slimmer, sleeker and sportier face of the E92 Coupe. However, the famous double kidney grille is back to the good-ol' full-circle items, not fragmented by dual chrome 'brows' anymore. This together with a resculpted bumper plus an additional pair of power creases on the hood, presents a fresher and sharper frontal visage.


The rear end has also (finally!) addressed the pre-facelift Korean-car or Toyota Vios' look, with the boot lid extended to shrink the size of the accessory rear lamps flanking the number plate housing. Extensive use of LEDs also brightened up things both at the back and upfront.

As per new EU ruling, the facelift 3-series wing mirrors has been enlarged to provide a wider angle rear view.

Engine options however remain the same as before. The rumoured turbocharged 4-pot 1.8L or 2.0L remains...just hearsay. Pictured below is BMW's award winning 3litre twin turbo in-line 6 for the 335i. It remains to be seen whether BMW's high precision direct petrol injection (HPI) will be available for the entry-level 320i and also the 325i in Malaysia. Power and torque output of both petrol and diesel versions remain much unchanged, as before.

E90 BMW M3 DCT sampled at Sepang circuit, Malaysia

BMW's answer to the Audi RS4's (B7) and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG's practicality is finally here in Malaysia. Yours truly was there to sample the twin-clutched version aka DCT in the E90's 4 -door saloon form of the latest M3.


No, the above wasn't the writer in all his crowning glory (or the lack thereof) as the delegates of Destination M were only being ferried in the new M3 around the Sepang F1 Circuit. Upon close observation (thanks BMW Driver Trainer Kevin for that exhilarating ride!) the 7-speed DCT is as good as VAG's famed DSG but it was manic the way the manual cogs were being abused around the track. At one point the robotised tranny got confused when more than a couple of cogs were dropped in an instance.

The M engineered 4.0L V8 sounded pretty sedate at revs below 4000rpm but beyond that the V8 growl is unmistakable. That said, I found that most kinetic action took place circa 5000rpm, 6000rpm and above all the way to its lofty 8200rpm redline. No dramatic pinned-in-your-seat or eyeballs-pushed-into-your-orbital-socket feeling. But its darn quick around those turns, in fact as fast as 160 t0 180 km/h!





The BMW M3 sedan with DCT retails for RM713,800 (excluding insurance) and is available for booking now at Auto Bavaria and other BMW Malaysia's dealers. Be prepare to wait for more than 6 months if you want that E92 form of M3 with DCT.

For most of us regular drivers, we'd be better off on the streets with the 335i sedan (pictured below) or the sleeker E92 335i Coupe. The twin turbo 3.0L in-line 6 would be much more tractable, responsive and peppier in town or city traffic, more often than not. After all, the 335i's forced-induced torque is a more useable 400Nm beginning at 1300rpm and stays accessible (plateau) through to 5000rpm; as opposed to new M3's similar torque figure of 400Nm at a headier 3900rpm. A couple of the highly skilled and qualified Malaysian BMW Driver Trainers attested to this fact as well, after having driven a 135i Coupe that was on track that day.

The 335i is now available as 335i sedan Individual costing a shade over RM500k, with special paints, interior trims, more distinct alloy wheels and individualised specs.

Related posts:

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/12/bmw-driver-training-malaysia.html

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmw-m-division.html

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/03/driven-exhilarating-e60-bmw-m5.html

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-2008-bmw-m3.html

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/12/bmw-e92-m3-coupe-for-rm668800-in.html

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/09/road-test-bmw-335i-coupe.html

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/09/bmw-335i-coupe-drive-in-malaysia-more.html

BMW Driver Training Malaysia

By Dr Long


Ah! Another safety driving course…this one conducted by the very same people who profess that their automobiles are “Ultimate Driving Machine” and gives “Sheer Driving Pleasure”. While my emotions were kept in check – having attended quite a few others Teutonic driving courses - I was pretty curious how these guys are going to convey all techniques and its associated driving dynamics using a monomorphic fleet of (E90) 325i.


In contrast, the Audi Quattro Driving Experience in 2005 had a mix of A6 and A8 quattros while the Porsche World Roadshow in Jan ‘07 had their 911 (997) variants, Boxsters, Cayman S and Cayennes. Even the recent Mercedes-Benz ASE 2007 had a spectrum of B170, C200K, C230 V6, E200K, E280, S280L and new S300L taken through different driving exercises. That said, the BMW Driver Training felt to-the-point with only 325i being used, driven and of course, abused. Inevitably, they were some product experience therein as well, as expected.

Fearing that I may be mobbed and devoured by BMW owners if they see me arriving in my Mercedes-Benz E200K - much like a wooly lamb entering a lions’ den - I had gone to the BMW Driver’s Training hitching a ride in Dan’s 325i. Sure enough, there were only BMWs clustered together in the Sepang F1 Circuit paddock area parking lot that day. I must commend BMW owners of being a united and passionately outspoken lot when it comes to their favourite ride, so you can imagine how unassuming I was trying to be, quietly blending into the background of their camaderie and bonding.

Without going into the specifics of all driving exercises, the compulsories of such safety driving event which took place were:

Ø Theory briefings on the physics and dynamics of steering, cornering, braking and acceleration. Safety features like ABS and DSC/DCT (BMW’s electronic vehicle stability program and traction control)
Ø Seating position and steering techniques
Ø Double slalom
Ø Brake, Steer and Release
Ø Emergency Lane Change
Ø Understeering
Ø Oversteering
Ø Slalom Competition

At the end of the BMW Driver Training Sunday, I must say that:

1) The whole BMW Driver Training was meticulously organised and had concise intermediate-level syllabus (Apparently, BMW Fahrer-Training standards are the same the world over)
2) The instructors i.e. Wong Kah Keen, Kevin Kung, Hammond Lai and Ivan Khong were excellent. Let’s just say local instructors understood us participants better somehow and were very patient with our varying degrees of skills and daringness.
3) Emergency braking aid like ABS needs a hard kick on the brake pedal to work best.
4) Safety electronics like DSC/DTC worked very well to keep the car from straying from intended driving path and/or spinning in acute driving emergencies i.e. reining in understeer and oversteer.
5) BMW 325i’ steering weight and accuracy, chassis strength and balance are impressive.

Last but not the least, can we have the taxi-ride or flying lap aka BMW 325i Track Fascination around Sepang F1 circuit some other day? (There was some motorcycle racing event which took the track on that ‘fateful’ day)

To all the BMW Driver Training' instructors, especially Hammond, go easy on that BMW’s 50:50 weight balance thingy (don’t have to keep repeating it lah!) and you guys are among the best!

*The writer expresses his sincere gratitude to BMW Malaysia for the BMW Driver Training experience.

Related posts:

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/01/fasten-your-seat-belts-its-porsche.html
http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/01/porsche-world-roadshow-part-2.html

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/07/mercedes-benz-active-safety-experience_19.html

You may want to read this:

http://www.motortrader.com.my/asp/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5089