Is 335i sports package too harsh??

[get2yogi]

Hello everyone...I am a newbie here so please excuse my lack of knowledge. I am planning to buy a new 335i and I test drove one which had the sports package on it. I didnt feel the ride so harsh but then again I drove on a road which was clear of any potholes or big cracks. But from what I read on forums, everyone is having problems with the sports package and potholes. I have heard people wrecking their wheels on the potholes. Also some say the ride quality is harsh...Please help me since I am not sure If I should take the sports package with all these problems.

[slow323Ci]

I would never buy a 335 that did not have the sports package.

[alex1500]

Does the sports package have an LSD?

[mattjw916]

Does the sports package have an LSD?
non-M cars do not have LSD

[E92!Dreier]

no.

[deems]

The answer depends on the roads you drive and your needs and wants.

The sports package lowers the car, tightens up the ride and provides great sports seats. BUT, the ride is rougher.

The best approach for most enthusiasts is to buy ZSP. If the ride is too harsh, replace the RFT's with non-RFT's. That's what I did.

I strongly recommend you go on an extended test drive that includes a wide variety of road surfaces. Then you'll know what to do.

[mattjw916]

Hello everyone...I am a newbie here so please excuse my lack of knowledge. I am planning to buy a new 335i and I test drove one which had the sports package on it. I didnt feel the ride so harsh but then again I drove on a road which was clear of any potholes or big cracks. But from what I read on forums, everyone is having problems with the sports package and potholes. I have heard people wrecking their wheels on the potholes. Also some say the ride quality is harsh...Please help me since I am not sure If I should take the sports package with all these problems.
BTW, any car with low-profile tires is susceptible to getting wheel damage due to potholes. It's not a BMW-centric problem.

Personally, I don't have any complaints about comfort in either of my 3-ers.

[Jhunter]

Hello everyone...I am a newbie here so please excuse my lack of knowledge. I am planning to buy a new 335i and I test drove one which had the sports package on it. I didnt feel the ride so harsh but then again I drove on a road which was clear of any potholes or big cracks. But from what I read on forums, everyone is having problems with the sports package and potholes. I have heard people wrecking their wheels on the potholes. Also some say the ride quality is harsh...Please help me since I am not sure If I should take the sports package with all these problems.

We obviously drive the same roads. The sport package is a firm ride on potholes and patched roads but it is small price to pay for the benefits as mentioned. Passengers (read wife, girlfriend, etc.) may not like it though. I am in year six of sport package 3 series and have never damaged a wheel on a pothole.

What you should consider are the summer tires that come with the sport package this is a bigger concern. You either need another car, get winter tires or stay home when the roads are snow covered or icy.

[azhrei]

I owned a lowered Supra Turbo for 13 years and met my wife at year 6. She didn't like the ride -- too harsh. I loved it, though! I even had a harness put in for use on autox days, but I used it daily.

My 335i coupe has the sport package and we each feel the same way about it as we did the Supra: my wife thinks it's too harsh and I love it! ;)

[DrewDude320i]

non-M cars do not have LSD

It's an option though, right?

[slow323Ci]

It's an option though, right?

No

[2bms]

Drive both. I promise you that you'll want to get the sports package, even if only for the superb seats.

[tomegun]

I think I have experienced the best and worst of the sports package. For normal driving, it makes the 335 the legend it is. I can't see ever buying a 3-series without it. I would say many people on here are all for it because as enthusiasts it makes the car that much better - a lot of people who aren't as enthusiastic probably buy other cars. Yes, it is all that!

Of course there is a but, right? If you buy the car with the sports package and have a long trip, do yourself a favor and rent a car. IMO, the ride on long trips isn't really comfortable. What makes the seats, suspension, etc. so great for normal driving contribute to a (small) bag of hurt on long trips.

Just my opinion.

[mattjw916]

The xi's have the firmer suspension and it's not nearly as bad as my M was. Long trips are fine for me in it.

The seats are very worth it IMO. I have the regular ones and slide all over the place during spirited cornering.

[Beer Goggles]

They don't put summer tires on the sport package in cold climates do they?

[mryakan]

They don't put summer tires on the sport package in cold climates do they?
They do. There aren't many locales in the world where winter and snow is year round. Did you know for example that on many summer days it gets hotter here in Ottawa than it is in Southern California and much more humid too.

[get2yogi]

Thank you all for your replies. I totally understand that the sports package gives a lot of features. But it also makes the suspension harder. Now I am not a very aggressive driver. I will not push the car very hard so often. I also enjoy the softer ride comfort. So by not taking the sports package I am actually getting the best of both worlds. Excellent acceleration, comfortable suspension, and good handling (though not as good as with sports package but definitely better than other cars out there in same category). The only regret is not having the sports seats, but the non sport seats are not that bad too. Any thoughts/suggestions ??

[mryakan]

Thank you all for your replies. I totally understand that the sports package gives a lot of features. But it also makes the suspension harder. Now I am not a very aggressive driver. I will not push the car very hard so often. I also enjoy the softer ride comfort. So by not taking the sports package I am actually getting the best of both worlds. Excellent acceleration, comfortable suspension, and good handling (though not as good as with sports package but definitely better than other cars out there in same category). The only regret is not having the sports seats, but the non sport seats are not that bad too. Any thoughts/suggestions ??
The sports package is definitely not for everyone and does come at some cost, although I have been told the harshness is mainly due to the lower profile not necessarily the modified suspension. In any case I don't think you will have an issue without it, yes the seats and steering wheel will be missed, but the car will keep you happy otherwise.

[TeamSlowdotOrg]

I don't miss the seats or steering wheel in my 335xi. The non-Sport E90 seats are every bit as comfortable, way better than the non-Sport seats in my E46. I actually prefer them to the sport seats for day-to-day use (I sit in both a lot, there are a lot of BMW's in my family).

The wheels, suspension, and shadowline trim are the real gotta-have parts of the sport package IMO. The non-Sport suspension is definitely competent. The all-season tires, however, do give up quite a bit of dry grip to the summer tires that are standard on the Sport package.

[Jhunter]

They don't put summer tires on the sport package in cold climates do they?

They do but I wished they gave you an option. There are probably a lot of buyers who don't realize this. I know a guy who sold a 5 series because he thought the rear wheel drive sucked in the snow. He didn't realize he had summer tires with the sport package. He would have been fine with all season tires in my climate.

I would love to find all season RFT for my E92 sport but I don't think they make them.

[grubster]

They do but I wished they gave you an option. There are probably a lot of buyers who don't realize this. I know a guy who sold a 5 series because he thought the rear wheel drive sucked in the snow. He didn't realize he had summer tires with the sport package. He would have been fine with all season tires in my climate.

I would love to find all season RFT for my E92 sport but I don't think they make them.

Michelin Pilot Sport All Seasons are available in Run-Flat, Michelin marks them as ZP (Zero Pressure).

[Jhunter]

Michelin Pilot Sport All Seasons are available in Run-Flat, Michelin marks them as ZP (Zero Pressure).

I have not found any all season runflats for 225/40-18 and 255/35-18.

[Scharbag]

All season tires are useless and are something that we should uninvent :)

Seriously, if you want good sporty summer grip, you need good summer tires. For actual winter driving, you need good winter tires. All seasons do both poorly IMHO. Yes, winter tires suck at handling, but really, it is winter (and that is why they invented Ice Racing).

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/899/43805262.jpg
There is really nothing like a set of BOLTED tires...
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7449/dscf4003.jpghttp://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3913/dsc5037.jpg

The cost of having both types of tires is a little sucky but you extend the life of your summer tires by not driving on them in the winter. Plus, you protect those nice big 18's from the winter muck.

I have raced on a variety of race tires and passenger tires and I can tell you that all seasons (I needed rain rubber, they were free, don't ask...) are HORRIBLE compared to proper summer tires such as Michelin Pilot Sports or Toyo T1-R's (Michelin's are quite good IMHO, see photos after 250KM of racing on used Pilot Sports).

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/5750/img0590.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6650/img0589.jpg

Now I know that track time is not typical driving practice but, if you are paying the money for a sports package, you might as well get your moneys worth out of the tires. As for winter tires, the tire of choice for the rubber to ice guys is the Blizzak. Unless the tire is studded, the Blizzak will kill it on ice. Even some studded winter tires will not compete against the damn Blizzak on the frozen track.

Now, I wonder what a set of Toyo R-888's would cost for my 335d with the sports package? The sidewall stiffness of an R-888 makes a RFT seem weak and squishy...