[Riccardog]

Hi All,

Long time E39 (530i Touring) owner here and I've been considering getting a nearly new G21 320i Sport to replace it. I'm attracted to it as I think it might blend my E39's refinement with my parent's E91 fun of driving (to an extent).

Looking at keeping the car for a long time (5+ yrs).

My only concern is the 190bhp 2.0 engine. Specifically, is it powerful enough for long Euro trips? I do like to keep press on a bit when on the autobahns...

I also do a fair few mountain roads with occasional overtakes and would hope the car is safe in those scenarios. Ideally also be a bit of fun? I'm realistic it won't sound nor feel like our trust 6 cyl older BMWs (M54 and N53 in the above pair)...

So, basically, any 320i owners regretting getting the 20i as opposed to a 30i or 40i? (Btw, diesels not an option, thanks.)

[Dark_cobra]

Test drive??

[SilverGrey]

I had an F36 420i and found it to be more than adequate. The auto gearbox really helped by keeping it in the power band when you wanted to press on.

Moving up to a G20 330i I’ve noticed quite a difference but I don’t think I would have been upset with a 320i.

A test drive is definitely advisable.

[machman767]

I got my 320i M Sport 11 days before the first lockdown last year, moved from a 320d F30. More than happy with its performance, only really long trip we've been able to do was from Preston to Dunfermline, no issues at all, will move satisfactory when needed and very comfortable and quiet, vast improvement from the F30. Didn't consider a 330i, would be nice but I can't see it being hugely different. For my fix of a car with a great noise I take my V8 Rover out!

[Stooo]

In all fairness, a 320i is all anyone ever actually needs.
It's plenty quick enough to lose your license and actually handles better than many of the other engines due to being lighter upfront. Driving through Europe will be no hassle, most have 80MPH limits anyway and that's no struggle.

The bigger engines are luxury's and vanities and yes I'm aware of my own hypocrisy

[Riccardog]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I am indeed to test one later today, so will see. Obviously a ~15min drive on the M25 will not provide all the answers, which is why I asked on here.

On paper at least the 320i has identical figures (apart from bhp) to my 530i. I did also try a G31 520i but felt that engine was not enough for the 5 series. I'm hoping that its more suited to the 3 series...

I'll keep you updated!

[225]

Not driven g 320i but my wife's atteca has a 2.0 turbo petrol with 190bhp and that zips along fine. If anything will be a bit slower as that has 4 wheel drive but handled 2 adults, 2 kids a bit of luggage and a small dog fine on a long trip.
Ok not fast but wasn't painful by any means.

As with most on here needs and wants are different things... All of us could "live with" a 320i as still a very nice car but as we have the means (or justify that we do ) we don't and feed our inner petrolheadness with pokier options.

OP test drive both and see if the extra poke of the 330i makes you smile more.

[machman767]

My gaffer has a 520i and she can make that do things I didn't think possible!

[Beemer5to3]

I run a G20 320i (has the Pro pack with 19" wheels). The engine is beautifully smooth and quiet compared with the diesel G30 520d I came from, and performance can best be described as average. You've got to rev it hard to get the best out of it, and little point going past 5k ish revs, as the power curve flatlines. If I had the choice again I'd have gone for a 330i, but still love the car and the way it feels to drive. I'll replace it with the new 4 GC next year, most likely in M440i guise.

I frequently drive Newcastle to Carlisle and back, and easily see economy in the mid 40's, and stuck behind a few wagons last week it creeped into the 50's.

Hopefully that's a levelled view for you, but only you'll be able to tell if it meets your needs by test driving.

[bmnut]

I'd agree with what Beemer5to3 has said above. My wife got a new 220i coupe a year ago and with the auto box it is really quite quick, especially after her 8 years old 120i coupe she changed for it, but it's not pulling the same kind of weight a G21 is. We probably would have gone for a 230i if they had still been available but sadly they weren't which is probably just as well since it would have pushed the purchase price north of £40k by the time she had all the 'toys' on it she wanted! Having said that we don't find the 220i lacking in everyday driving conditions.
In your position I think I'd be leaning towards a G21 330i and you'll not feel short changed especially as you said in your original post you'd be looking to keep the car for 5+ years or so?

[Riccardog]

Thanks everyone for their input. So, I drove the 320i Touring Sport version yesterday, it was ~4mths old with 3k miles. Really liked the G21 and think its the right car for me, even though I'm a bit annoyed at losing the self-levelling rear suspension on the 5 series. I dislike the saggy bottom look you get with a fully loaded car (we do load it up on trips). But, in terms of refinement and driving enjoyment, the G21 was great as a platform.

I was positively impressed by the 20i engine. It is very refined, I was worried it would be more noisy/rough when pressed, but it isn't. Compared to the G31 520i I tried it didn't feel as evidently underpowered, although its no rocket of course. Overall I agree, I think it can be defined as "more than adequate".

While a 330i would be nicer they're rarer and out of budget anyways (I was initially looking at F31s ~£20k), plus very few will be "Sport" ones, which is sort of my preferred spec above MSport which I don't love.

Also, the 320i I've found is in a rare colour combination which I really like!

[bmnut]

Everyone on here will have been happy with giving you their inputs, it’s what this forum is about after all 😁
At the end of the day the best choice will always be the one you’re happy with!
Go for it and enjoy it!

[225]

Originally Posted by bmnut

Everyone on here will have been happy with giving you their inputs, it’s what this forum is about after all
At the end of the day the best choice will always be the one you’re happy with!
Go for it and enjoy it!

Indeed.
We will of course be trying to get you into a fully loaded m340i or M3 even because its not our cash and that's the game!

Sounds like you have a cracking car your happy with so go for it.

[bmnut]

Originally Posted by 225

Indeed.
We will of course be trying to get you into a fully loaded m340i or M3 even because its not our cash and that's the game!

Sounds like you have a cracking car your happy with so go for it.

Absolutely!!!

[xenon]

I don’t think there’s any issue with the 320i. I’m old enough to remember when the Sierra Cosworth came on scene with 200bhp and the Daily Mail was predicting the end of days with a car with that performance being generally available. The 320i is just 10bhp short of that but we take it for granted these days. I realise that the Sierra probably weighed about half as much but nevertheless we get blasé about power output these days where objectively the 320i with a 0-60 of around 7s was serious performance not that long ago. I was set on a 320i but when I was wavering in favour of the new A4 the dealer did a deal to put me in a G21 330i for the same money so it was a no-brainer. I love the 330i but I wouldn’t have felt short-changed in a 320i. It’s moved on so much from the F series so if you’ve found one that ticks the boxes then go for it.

[bmnut]

Originally Posted by xenon

I don’t think there’s any issue with the 320i. I’m old enough to remember when the Sierra Cosworth came on scene with 200bhp and the Daily Mail was predicting the end of days with a car with that performance being generally available. The 320i is just 10bhp short of that but we take it for granted these days. I realise that the Sierra probably weighed about half as much but nevertheless we get blasé about power output these days where objectively the 320i with a 0-60 of around 7s was serious performance not that long ago. I was set on a 320i but when I was wavering in favour of the new A4 the dealer did a deal to put me in a G21 330i for the same money so it was a no-brainer. I love the 330i but I wouldn’t have felt short-changed in a 320i. It’s moved on so much from the F series so if you’ve found one that ticks the boxes then go for it.

Amen to that!
Aaah!…..Sierra Cosworth had one as my company car! Spectacular in it’s day!
Like you say the game’s moved on nowadays though!
Let’s have some pics when you get the G21?!

[xenon]

A Cossie as a Company Car! Christ I would have been jealous of that back in the day!

[bmnut]

Originally Posted by xenon

A Cossie as a Company Car! Christ I would have been jealous of that back in the day!

It was in a ‘previous life’ or at least it feels that way now at my age!
The fond memories are still something I cherish though!

[Keith_C]

Originally Posted by xenon

A Cossie as a Company Car! Christ I would have been jealous of that back in the day!

He was a bank robber.

[bmnut]

Originally Posted by Keith_C

He was a bank robber.

I was certainly involved in some of them!

[adam.b]

I'm 2 months with 320i G20 and is great car, only at beginning I was missing pulling power (coming from F31 335d and F40 135i) but now i have used to lower torque. Fast enough for family trips fully loaded.
Gera box does the job well with this engine.
Mpg is on same level as my old 335d if not better sometimes.
If you are not sure, test drive 330i.
If deal is good i would go for it(20i).
I have no regrets taking 320i over 340i /340d especially money wise, they were more expensive than my X3 G01 30d

[Riccardog]

Hi everyone, thanks for the warm welcome and banter (along with more serious feedback), great forum! By all accounts seems like owners are happy with their 320i's, good news.

Indeed... we had a Lancia Thema back in the 80's with the V6 150bhp engine. This was the same as fitted to the famous De Lorean, and less famously to various Volvo / Peugeot / Renault top range models - including the Alpine A610. That was our reference point for performance for at least 20 years. In fact, my mom still thinks it felt faster than her E91 325i (probably was too, that E91 feels slow - but smooth).

Back to the G21. Called the dealer to make a deal this morning only to learn that the car has been involved in a minor accident. I'm still waiting for the pics to come through. Apparently needs a new rear light and some scuffing repaired on rear bumper.

I'll see how I feel after seeing it. What is consensus on here, would it put you off?