Sport Package in the City

[JonPhilly3]

Greetings! About to order my first BMW - likely a 328i MT sedan. Live in Philly suburbs and will use almost exclusively to commute into downtown Philadelphia. Will get winter tires/wheels. Question: Is the Sport Package just plain silly in this context? Besides the ride-handling tradeoff, what about alignment, tire replacement and other cost issues? I would rather have Sport Package, but everything is contextual. Thanks!

[markitzero]

Congratulations, you'll love it. I was concerned about the sport package initially on our 328xi but the ride is fine. As far as I know, it's just a change of wheels, seats, and the steering wheel. I will suggest trying out the seats, some people don't like how bolstered they are... others like me love them.

[E92!Dreier]

Be prepared to repalce the sport package potenzas before 20,000 miles. Also, the potholes that tned to creep up in the city may lead to a damaged sidewall -- and the replacement of expensive rubber. Make sure to buy a road hazard program if this is a concern for your wallet.

[PeterC4]

Greetings! About to order my first BMW - likely a 328i MT sedan. Live in Philly suburbs and will use almost exclusively to commute into downtown Philadelphia. Will get winter tires/wheels. Question: Is the Sport Package just plain silly in this context? Besides the ride-handling tradeoff, what about alignment, tire replacement and other cost issues? I would rather have Sport Package, but everything is contextual. Thanks!

I think the sport package is very good. The potential for a decrease in ride comfort is caused by the runflats. They have a very rigid component to them and if you hit a modest pothole, you'll feel it. That's the tire, not the suspension. To me, its the larger size 17 inch wheels that make it worth it. I think the 3 series looks very good in 18 and 19 inch wheels, so maybe you could forgo the sports suspension and get a set of 18" wheels.

[GreenThree]

Go with the ZSP. Well worth it. The ride quality is still very smooth. Just look out for those craters out there!

[3forme]

What they said...plus the sport's lower profile and staggered set up of the tires (225/255) really helps the look of the rear end, which is possibly the only aesthetic weakness on the car. I drive from the DC burbs into town in my 335i MT Sport/Winter/Prem. and love it. Correct about the tires, though. Expect to pay $340 for the rears and $260 for the fronts each plus tax or shipping and mounting/disposal. Just paid $890 to do the rears, all in. It's the cost of paradise.

Consider it a tax for being a bad a@@. :buttrock

[JonPhilly3]

Thank you, everyone. I'll go with the Sport Package. I think I would regret NOT going for the full BMW experience - seems worth the compromises.

[jonmam]

I don't recommend the sport package with the 18 inch tires. I drive a 2006 330xi with sport package to NYC frequently and it's a very harsh ride. Every bump feels like I broke something. Also due to the low profile tires I have scratched the rims when parallel parking.

[GreenThree]

To clarify I should mention that I have the 17's with the Sports Package. (The same wheels that come standard with the 335 non sports package) They are an inch bigger and wider from the standard 16" x 7" set up on the 328. So I dont have 18's. I have driven cars with 18's, and around here it is pretty harsh. The 17's are perfect. Also, the sports package is worth getting for the paddle shifters and seats alone. They are very comfy and supportive.

[cn555ic]

its okay in the city, no problems

[aftp302]

Greetings! About to order my first BMW - likely a 328i MT sedan. Live in Philly suburbs and will use almost exclusively to commute into downtown Philadelphia. Will get winter tires/wheels. Question: Is the Sport Package just plain silly in this context? Besides the ride-handling tradeoff, what about alignment, tire replacement and other cost issues? I would rather have Sport Package, but everything is contextual. Thanks!

This is a highly subjective question. Some will say Sport Package is a must. Some will say it is not. Some will claim the 18" SP tires are perfectly comfortable in the city while others will claim the ride is unbearably harsh. The truth is somewhere in between and it depends on what your tolerance for ride comfort is.

I have the 335 with SP and was driving on 495 just south of Philly and hit a pothole which destroyed my left front tire. Since there was 11k miles on the front pair, it required replacing both tires which cost me $620 out the door. IMO this would NOT have happened had I been riding on 16" or 17" tires with a taller profile.

[carguy7]

I don't have sport package (did not want the larger summer tires) and am glad I did not get it. The car corners great w/o SP. I would need to be at a track to take advantage of the higher cornering speeds with the SP.

[bobwagner]

Congratulations, you'll love it. I was concerned about the sport package initially on our 328xi but the ride is fine. As far as I know, it's just a change of wheels, seats, and the steering wheel. I will suggest trying out the seats, some people don't like how bolstered they are... others like me love them.

You are correct that the ZSP for XI models doesn't affect the suspension. The poster, however, is getting an I, for which the ZSP adds a stiffer, better handling suspension.

With that said, the seats alone are worth it!

[shifterkart33]

I can't imagine Philly's streets are any worse than Houston's and the only problem we've had is with nails. I'll second the tire/wheel insurance. Just act you don't want it, but ask if they'll lower the interest rate if you buy it.