by "Party-vi" (party-vi)
Published 05/22/2017 at 11:59
by "Party-vi" (party-vi)
Published 05/22/2017 at 11:59
Tags: roundel shit
; bmwlyfe
STARS: 1
Anyone have time behind the wheel of an E91 with xDrive? I know it’s a fat wagon, but I’m wondering if the N52B30 has the same punch as the M54B30 in my E46. There’s a manual 328xi Touring close enough to me for a look, but I’m worried it’s going to be a gutless wonder.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
05/22/2017 at 12:04, STARS: 2
It’s a non-Turbo BMW I6, so it’s gutless but good.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/22/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 2
They’re not fast but generally not slow either. Torque and gearing help them be decent. The main knock against E9x xDrive is the slow steering gear ratio and soft stock suspension. My E92 335xi has the same rack and it is definitely a slow ratio but still has plenty of feel. The stock suspension is soft but for a wagon is probably fine. I didn’t want that softness in my drive-like-a-douche coupe so I junked it.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
05/22/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 0
My M54 is excellent but I’m thinking adding 3 more doors and a fat ass won’t help it at all.
"Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire" (arch-duke-maxyenko)
05/22/2017 at 12:12, STARS: 1
N52 is a damn fine motor
"BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo" (bluemazda2)
05/22/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 2
“Roundel shit” shall be my life motto from now on
"E90M3" (e90m3)
05/22/2017 at 12:17, STARS: 2
The N52 in my 3 doesn’t have the punch of the M3, but it does have enough go if you let it get up to the higher end of the rev range.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
05/22/2017 at 12:18, STARS: 1
My mother has an X-Drive sedan and I kind of hate it. The performance is dull and something about the steering feel really bugs me.
"AM3R, lost another burner" (am3r17)
05/22/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 1
The N52 is a very nice engine. Doesn’t feel slow at all TBH. Especially with a manual.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
05/22/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 1
Well poopy. I’m going to miss my E46 when it’s time to give it up.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
05/22/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 2
Get a RWD manual E9X.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/22/2017 at 13:01, STARS: 1
I think you’d want the 328 version; in that case it could be good. I’ve been driving an E46 325xi 5-speed since 2009 and my wife has an ‘07 X3 3.0 with a 6-speed. I love the power of that N-series engine, the transmission is better than my 5-speed, but my E46 is more satisfying to drive. I think I could live with the E91 if it were the 328...
The place we buy most of our cars had a 2011 328 x-drive 6-speed manual recently... it sold before it was even listed on their website. But then, I bought MY car from them before it was listed on their website, too. In fact, they’ve got an ‘08 manual E91 and two (TWO!) M-sport wagons, both automatic though. Also a T6 polestar XC70.
"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
05/22/2017 at 13:02, STARS: 0
Did they offer the active steering option on the E90s? That would take care of the steering ratio.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/22/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 0
Yes on E9x but not on xDrive. The xDrive cars all have the same slow steering rack. I don’t know BMW’s rationale for it but it is oddly slow for a modern sporty car.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
05/22/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 0
Find me one. I’ve got my eyes on a manual 328xi touring with heated seats and fancy headlights.
"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
05/22/2017 at 13:52, STARS: 0
They also don’t offer the M-sport suspension on X-drive cars. I guess their thinking is that x-drive owners don’t want sporty handling or so.
"jonny11quest" (jonny11quest)
05/22/2017 at 13:53, STARS: 0
My E90 N52 feels like it has power. Not a whole lot obviously, but definitely not gutless. Mine is RWD so I don’t know what the AWD does to the weight and power delivery
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/22/2017 at 13:57, STARS: 0
Not sure about the other platforms but on the E9x, the front suspension for xDrive is such that the ride height needs to be much higher to give decent suspension travel. They still could have theoretically offered a stiffer option but for it to be a factory level of suspension travel the ride height can’t come down much.
"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
05/22/2017 at 14:00, STARS: 0
Interdasting!
"Matsayz" (matsayz)
05/22/2017 at 18:01, STARS: 0
Where is such a place?
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/22/2017 at 22:35, STARS: 1
Concord Motorsport in New Hampshire. They strive to have as many manuals on the lot as possible; it wasn’t that many years ago it was 50/50. Now at least today it was 19 auto / 10 manual. They also seem to seek out only very nice examples of whatever cars. Their prices may be a bit high, but they hand you the car with a laundry list of PM they’ve done before handing it over. No high-pressure sales bits from these guys either.
My father has been buying cars from them for 40 years, although ironically never a BMW despite that being their specialty.