Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 10:41:54 +0000
>From: andrew.j.thomas_at_ac.com

?SUBJECT=RHD_E46 Road Test and other E46 trivia>Subject: RHD E46 Road Test and other E46 trivia

Hi gang. If you want to know about the latest E46 road test, keep reading.

Slightly old-news now, but Autocar mag in the UK just road-tested a RHD E46 318i, proclaiming a Good Thing (expected), and a better bet than the 328i (unexpected). Apparently the blunting of the E36's edge better suited the 1.9 four-potter, rather than the 2.8 six, the performance of which did not suit the rest of the car. The new 1.9 litre engine - sharing its bore and stroke with the current M44 engine, and fitted with balancer shafts - is a big improvement on the old 1.8 litre 8-valver we got in Europe.

The car had the same performance as the outgoing E36 318i 8-valve, which actually posted very good times for a heavy, old-tech 115 bhp saloon (125 mph top whack, 9.4 sec to 60, 28 sec to 100). The power hike (to 118 bhp at 5,500) and torque hike (to 133 lb-ft at 3,900) of the new car is mostly offset by its increased kerb weight.

And for you trivia fans, BMW is continuing its innovative approach to advertising engine size; from what I've gathered from the hundreds of articles I've read, the 316i will not have a 1.6 litre engine or anything close to it; it'll use the same 118 bhp 1.9 litre 8-valver as the 318i, but with less kit as standard.

And the same magazine reported that the new E46 M3 will have a 3.4-litre, 340 bhp version of the 3.2 litre 321 bhp Euro six (here's hoping it makes it to the States this time). Ultimate straight-line performance is supposed to match the E39 M5. No decision yet on whether the new E46 M3 will be available with a four-door shell, yet the aticle suggested that an E46 M3 Touring may be on the cards.

Also tested was a LHD Z coupe 2.8, which we don't get in the UK for some bizarre reason. Autocar reckoned it was a better bet that the Z coupe M, citing improved throttle response and more resilient handling that provided better feel.

Here's hoping BMW gets a decent suspension kit out there, or I'll be buying second-hand from now on... :(

Regards

Andrew T
'95 318is