BMW E90 320i

The BMW E90 320i has been around for a few years now and I for one am glad that the car has been given a much-needed facelift. Looking at the 3-series, I cannot help to imagine me looking at Claudia Schiffer. You know she’s been around for some time and although she’s aged, she still looks stunning. Same goes with the 3-series, this is the 5^th generation of the car and it’s still a remarkable looking car. I for one am glad that the E90 has received a facelift and to be honest, the original design looked boxy. Now it seems that the engineers have reworked the curves, added some lines, which the final effect is a completely gorgeous looking Claudia Schiffer.

The BMW 3-series has always been a weapon of choice for much younger executives who are attracted to the performance and handling of the BMW compared to its other rivals. This is especially true when you think of Mercedes Benz as a car of choice for the typical businessman who equals it to success. Back in those days, drive a Mercedes Benz to your hometown and your relatives instantly know you are rich and successful. Driving a BMW somehow did not have that same effect. In their minds, the BMW was playing second fiddle to the Mercedes and only playboys would drive one. Today, that’s no longer the case. BMW has built a great brand and their vehicles give nothing but sheer driving pleasure.

When I first took delivery of the BMW 320i E90, I was slightly disappointed at the trim of the vehicle. Firstly it’s still very BMW-ish as the dash and centre console is still covered with the familiar orange hue that filled the car back in the 70s. Step into a BMW today and you will instantly recognize it even though you have not been in one for say, twenty years. While it is good that the car has a sense of identity, it does make it seem rather dull, which is why it reminds me so much of Claudia. The interior I must say is a dab boring and it’s always true that when you step into an entry level 320i, you know it’s a BMW because the interior has a sense of familiarity as its predecessors. Sure, the leather colors have changed but they are essentially the same design and layout.

The BMW 320i is the entry level model for the 3 series and with entry level cars, you can’t expect it to have the full specifications. The interior is where you would notice the biggest difference. The iDrive console is missing and there is no screen in the centre console, which was a big disappointment. Compared to its rival, the Audi A4 1.8TFSI, which is roughly about RM 1,000.00 more and comes as a CBU, you get the screen and pedal-shifts attached to the steering. The 320i has a manual mode, but without pedal-shifts like those that you would find in BMW’s more expensive models. The steering was much stiffer and heavier, which I personally find quite tiresome after driving around town in traffic. You would think for a moment that you were getting shortchanged for buying the BMW 320i.

In terms of performance, the BMW 320i has a 4-cylinder 1,995cc engine and has a maximum horsepower rating of 156bhp at 6,400rpm. It’s maximum torque is 200Nm at 3,600rpm, which is quite impressive as it produces a relatively high amount of pull at such low revs. Unfortunately on paper, the BMW 320i loses out to the Audi A4 1.8 TFSI in terms of performance. If you pull up to a traffic light in a BMW 320i and you see an Audi A4 1.8 TFSI next to you, you can be very sure that he’ll beat you at the straight line drag, about 1.1 seconds faster to a hundred. In terms of attracting attention, the Audi has brighter daytime running lights, which are made from bright white LEDs that really attracts attention and stares like a half naked supermodel.

So, what’s the reason to buy a Bimmer you ask?

After driving the two cars, I will tell you that the BMW is the better driving machine. BMW has gotten ONE thing right from the start. It’s the sheer driving pleasure. After driving the BMW 320i for afew days, I’m thinking to myself why am I so attracted to this car. It had semi-electric seats, which meant that the electric seats could only tilt the seats up down and fold the seats upwards and lean downwards. Moving the seats forwards and backwards still required a manual pull switch that you had in the older cars. You would expect a car like this to come with full electric seats. There was no leather wrapped steering, which did not give it a luxurious feel as you would expect a car like this to come standard with it.

I should be complaining but every time I get back into the driver’s seat, it just feels right. The moment where you hit the Start button, the engine springs into life with a slight growl letting others hear your presence. The halo rings glow letting people in front of you see your presence. Once you put the 320i into gear and drive by, people feel your presence.

Take it out on the open roads and you will know why the BMW is the car that a driving enthusiast wants to have. Every complaint that I had with the 320i was immediately forgotten when I hit the B-roads laid with multiple bends. With the traction control and Dynamic Stability Control turned off, the 320i gets a little tail happy and it is just the way I like it. Take it through the turns and corners, the 320i feels just right and even the heavy steering didn’t matter anymore as it gave a good feedback to the driver. I could feel every inch of the corner and knew just how much turning radius to apply to hold the over steer and power out of the corner smoothly. This was where the 320i’s 50-50-weight distribution came into play and I was begging for the corners not to end. This was truly where BMW’s F1 experience came into the light and you knew that they were putting it to good use in their road cars. It just feels like a tailor-made suit that fits you nicely every time you put it on. The 320i retails for RM 236, 800 on-the-road without insurance.

	Technical Data
Engine	4-cylinder in-line petrol engine
Displacement	1,995cc
Max output	156bhp @ 6,400rpm
Max torque	200Nm @ 3,600rpm
Transmission	6-speed Steptronic
Wheels & Tires	Alloy wheels - 225/45 R17
Acceleration	9.7secs (0-100km/h)
Top Speed	218km/h
Fuel consumption	8.0 litres per 100km (Combined)

F-10 BMW 5-Series Sedan

Munich. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan, the epitome of aesthetic design and supreme driving pleasure in the upper midrange segment, is conquering the road. Through its sporting and elegant looks, driving dynamics typical of the brand, outstanding efficiency as well as innovative comfort and safety features, the sixth generation of BMW’s executive express convincingly reflects the supreme standard of the world’s most successful manufacturer
of premium cars throughout the entire process of development.

Design: charismatic, elegant, sporting.

With the longest wheelbase in the segment, a long and sleek engine compartment lid, short overhangs front and rear and a coupé-like, graceful roofline, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan stands out clearly from the competition. Overall, the aesthetic looks of the car are clearly determined by perfectly balanced proportions. Design features typical of the brand are to be found both at the front with its BMW kidney grille inclined slightly forward and on the strikingly chiselled engine compartment lid, in the stylish and elegant
side view of the car, and on the muscular rear end. Within the interior modern function and a superior ambience come together in perfect harmony, unmistakable style and clear orientation to the driver in the cockpit guaranteeing a truly unique driving and travelling experience.

Driving experience: supreme dynamics and outstanding comfort.

The most advanced drivetrain and suspension technologies ensure supreme sportiness and an even higher standard of motoring comfort all in one. At the same time optional Dynamic Driving Control enables the driver to set the suspension individually to his personal requirements. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is available with Adaptive Drive encompassing Dynamic Damper Control and Dynamic Drive stability control, as well as BMW’s Integral Active Steering. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is making its debut with one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder petrol engines as well as two six-cylinder diesels. The range is rounded off by a four-cylinder turbodiesel with an aluminium crankcase and common-rail direct injection. Maximum output in this case of 135 kW/184 hp makes the BMW 520d fitted as standard with Auto Start Stop the new efficiency benchmark in its segment. Average fuel consumption in the EU5 test cycle is just 5.0 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 56.5 mpg imp), the CO2 emission rating is 132 g/km (provisional figures). The top-of-the-range BMW 550i comes with an eight-cylinder boasting BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection for maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp. The straight-six with BMW TwinPower Turbo, High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC in the BMW 535i delivers maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp, while the two straight-six power units featuring High Precision Injection and lean-burn operation develop 190 kW/258 hp in the BMW 528i and, respectively, 150 kW/204 hp in the BMW 523i. Straight-six diesels with the most advanced technology give the BMW 530d maximum output of 180 kW/245 hp and the BMW 525d an equally impressive 150 kW/204 hp. Fitted with optional BMW BluePerformance technology, the BMW 530d fulfils the EU6 emission standard. And it almost goes without saying that all versions of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan comply in full with the EU5 standard in Europe.

BMW EfficientDynamics: BMW 5 Series increasing the lead.

All versions of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan are available as an option with BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission. The BMW 550i comes as standard with BMW’s automatic transmission optimised for efficiency, just
like EPS Electric Power Steering featured on all models.
BMW EfficientDynamics technologies are naturally featured as standard in appropriate combinations on each model, with features such as Brake Energy Regeneration, a gearshift point indicator, active air flap control, and on-demand operation of ancillary units including a detachable a/c compressor. Intelligent lightweight construction, finally, is ensured by features such as
the doors, engine compartment lid, front side panels and suspension components made of aluminium.

Innovative driver assistance systems with BMW ConnectedDrive.

The driver assistance systems offered for the first time in the context of
BMW ConnectedDrive include a Parking Assistant, Surround View, collision warning with application of the brakes in conjunction with Active Cruise Control plus Stop & Go, and a new Speed Limit Device. Further features
also available are Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, a Head-Up Display, BMW Night Vision with detection of
individual persons, and a back-up camera.

Joint development and production together with the BMW 7 Series.

The launch of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan opens up the latest chapter in a truly impressive story of success. In the course of five model generations, overall sales of the BMW 5 Series already amount to more than 5.5 million units. Now the new model is based on a newly developed vehicle architecture also featured in the BMW 7 Series luxury sedans. Joint production of the BMW 5 Series Sedan and the BMW 7 Series at BMW Plant Dingolfing, together with the extensive use of shared components, ensures highly efficient production with a supreme standard of quality following the most demanding benchmarks in the market.