2008 BMW 328i Sedan

Retail Price as tested: $42,925.00

The interior is all German. Firm seats with driver controls that are within easy reach.  The leather seats are very rich and comfortable.

The BMW 328i is a fantastic car. I love the way this car drives and handles. While the 328i does not have the same power as the dual turbo charged 335xi it still performs very well. BMW makes a very nice car and they pay attention to every detail. For example the sunroof opens all the way up not just 3/4 like most vehicles do. The car just feels solid when you drive it. It has great styling and I love the body lines on the new BMW’s. The car looks good sitting still. It’s more like a work of art than a car you would drive daily. It has a ton of standard features and an option list that will fit everyone’s personal preference. If you are in the market for a smaller 4 door sedan that gets close to 30 mpg and you don’t mind spending 10k more than your average run of the mill sedan - than this is a car for you. You will not be disappointed - BMW has done a great job on both the 328i and the 335xi. For a review of the 335 see one of our earlier reviews.

3.0-litre 230-hp 6-Cylinder Engine

The inline engine offers smooth power, greater acceleration and 200 lb-ft of torque at at 2750 rpms. An electronically controlled water pump helps increase power output. It has a patented Valvetronic system that offers better fuel efficiency. And to save weight,  BMW was the first to use in a production car - an engine block made of a lightweight composite magnesium/aluminium.

Engine and Transmission

The 3.0 liter engine put out 230hp. It is one of the only engines on the market today that combines magnesium and aluminium to create a lightweight but strong engine that will deliver many years for service.  The inline 6 features BMW’s Valvetronic, its system that changes the intake valve lift that changes the amount of air that enters the engine. At lower rpm/power needs it keeps the valve lift short and when the power/rpm demand increases it opens the valves more thereby increasing the air coming into the engine. I noticed this slightly as the engine has a slight delay in power off the line almost like a turbo lag. The harder you drive the car the less lag. I assume this is the adaptive strategy changing the valve light height depending on conditions. The adjustment in valve height and camshaft timing allow the engine to have increased fuel economy and reduced emissions without sacrificing power. Its a much more sophisticated way of doing what some manufacturers are doing with shutting down cylinders - multiple displacement engines.

Interior

John Rush - Host

Gearhead Radio & Drive Radio

For a audio version of our reviews - please visit www.gearheadradio.com.

For more details on other features and options on the BMW 328i click here.

6-speed Steptronic Automatic Transmission with Paddle Shifters on Steering Wheel

It operates in three modes: sport, which features higher shift points for more lively response; drive,  which adapts to your driving style, and manual, which allows the driver to assume control of gear selection.

The interior looks as good as the exterior and it flows right along with the rest of the car. The burl wood looks rich and its just the right amount. Climate control is easy to use as is the radio along with the Bluetooth interface with our cell phone.

One of the coolest features on the 328i is the comfort access system. It offers an even greater degree of convenience: keyless access to your car. Simply carrying the remote key in a pocket allows you to unlock the doors by touching the door handle. You can also turn the engine on or off by pressing the Start/Stop button without first inserting the remote key.

Lighting & Misc Features

I love the headlamps on the 328i. The Xenon headlamps follow the road and compensate for any load you may be carrying. They put out a ton of light in just the right places. They “top off” an already great automobile.

The test car I drove had the iPod interface that works like a charm. It will handles all the ipod controls from the radio unit in the dash. It works great - just plug and go.