[tartopomme]

How is the comfort with sport package (sport suspension and 18" rims) , not too hard ?

I hesitate for my car.

I found the car look better with the sport suspension, are you agree with it ?

Best regards,

Régis.

[onesixeight]

I think the ride quality is excellent. It's firm, but without the harshness associated to some of the more recent BMW sport setups (z4, x5, 5 (E60) sport models)...

BMW did a great job tuning the E90 suspension and give a great mix of comfort and sport.

[B16309]

Besdies the look of the car, I really can't tell a significant difference between sport and non-sport. Sure the sport will take a turn a LITTLE faster than the non-sport, but if you like hard cornering, the non-sport will take whatever you throw at it without a problem. I drove many versions over the past several months when I was trying to make a decision and ultimately went with the non-sport. I just couldn't justify the extra cost for what in essence, for me, would be different rims and tires. Besides, I didn't like the idea of having to replace the tires on the sport so often....those things are MADE to shed lots of rubber and they do. When I was reading people's posts here about the sport vs non-sport when I was trying to make up my mind, many people were making it sound as if the non-sport drove like a Buick and that the 3-series wasn't worth getting if you didn't get the sport package. GARBAGE....Like I said, I opted for the non-sport 330 and have not yet been able to get the DTC to kick in once! I've taken exit ramps and turns at insane speeds trying to see the DTC's power but alas, it NEVER came on. All that is to say, Sport or Non-Sport--YOU WILL BE THRILLED with you 3-series....and NO the non-sport is not like a buick. Be real about it. It is a BMW afterall. That says everything!

Enjoy whichever you choose. You wont regret it.

[Hunter399]

I agree!!!

[genesmasher]

Originally Posted by B16309

I just couldn't justify the extra cost for what in essence, for me, would be different rims and tires.
...
Enjoy whichever you choose. You wont regret it.

Agree with everything, except SP includes VERRRY nice seats, which alone were worth the cost of the package to me.

[BellasBmw]

Originally Posted by genesmasher

Agree with everything, except SP includes VERRRY nice seats, which alone were worth the cost of the package to me.

I love the seats. They are so snug and tight. I think the sport package made the car look more aggressive, esp on my 325. In my opinion, without sport pkg, the wheels on the 325 are kinda ugly.

[ward]

Originally Posted by BellasBmw

I love the seats. They are so snug and tight. I think the sport package made the car look more aggressive, esp on my 325. In my opinion, without sport pkg, the wheels on the 325 are kinda ugly.

Exactly,

if you don't get the sport pack, you get 16 inchers on the 325 that's why it's a must, but on the 330 the stock 17's look OK to me

[B16309]

Yes...with the 325, the sports package DOES make a difference with the larger wheels....Ii was speaking strickly about the 330...sorry for any confusion.

[nimo]

For the 325i sport package upgrade-$1600, don't you get just an inch bigger wheels, a sport tuned suspsension and sport seats.

Others will look at the $1600 as another set of wheels and tires, maybe 18" and 19" and non run flats tires. The non-sport suspension will suit the bigger wheels and tires for a more comfortable ride. During the winter, the stock wheels and all season tires could be ran.

[cosmosblau]

With the sport package, the seats are much better, the car handles amazingly, body roll is very minimal, but you will be subject to feeling almost every bump in the road. Uneven pavement will effect the steering, and is less comfortable compared to the non- sport.

Bigger wheels look better on this car for sure, but thicker tires produce a more comfortable ride.

On the whole, I have no regrets; the car is more exciting with the sport suspension, and the seats are worth the price of admission on their own.

[NaTuReB0Y]

You can't go wrong with the sports package! The car is lowered with sports suspensions....bigger rims.....sports seats.....better handling - the only drawback is the treadwear life of the tires being 140....short lifespan.

[e90M3]

I am in and out of my car frequently so I dont need it lowered any more than it is. Besides for some people who are getting in and out all the time the bolstered sport seats are a pain on my back side. If all you do is drive and never get out then the sport seats are best.

[tima]

...drive and never get out...

maybe a pit stop occasionally but hey, that sounds ok by me

.

[thrill30]

Originally Posted by tartopomme

How is the comfort with sport package (sport suspension and 18" rims) , not too hard ?

I hesitate for my car.

I found the car look better with the sport suspension, are you agree with it ?

Best regards,

Régis.

The ride on the Sport Package and 18 inch wheels is excellent. I expected it to be harsh, but that's not the case. You will not be reminded that you are on 18 inch and Sport suspension, until you hit a really bad pothole.


I have driven an E90 Sport Pack with 17 inch wheels and another one with 18 inch wheels on the same stretch of road with a few potholes, and I don't recall a difference in ride quality. If there is a difference, then it's a very small one indeed.

I'm having a blast with my SP and 18 inch wheels. I drive my E90 on the same roads that used to irritate me with harshness while I was driving an E36 with Sport Pack. That E36 SP was partly responsible for my choosing a standard suspension when I bought an E46.....There is no such irritation with the E90 SP.

The downside to the 18 inch wheels is that the rims are more at risk to damage, and the tyres are generally more expensive.... and they don't last very long either (the treadwear rating is just 140 on my Bridgestones).

Granted, I will probably not push the car to its limits to make use of the extra capabilities offered by SP, but the aggressive stance, the Sport seats and the steering wheel make this package worth it...and the fact that the ride quality doesn't suffer too much, makes the SP even more attractive to buy. The E90 SP is by no means as comfortable as the standard suspension, but it's good enough for me....and I've been driving a standard suspension E46 for the past two years.

Before you make your final decision, go for a test-drive...test both set ups, preferably back-to-back.

[tartopomme]

@thrill30 : thank you for your answer. Here in France we don't have sport package like in US, i can choose the items separatly. It's not easy to test all the combo...I decided 162 18" rims but i hesitate for the suspension.....sport or not ???

I will like to see how the car look with 162 rims with and without sport suspension, i don't think 15mm change the look a lot. I am searching pic.

[Barry626]

Car looks way better with 18 inch wheels.
Like others said: seats are worth the $1,600.00.

Only down side 5 people in the car & hit a hole?
You do feel it & sounds almost like car bottoms out.
I sure don't care as most of the time I drive alone.
Then again the non-sport most likely does same thing??

[visor]

Originally Posted by tartopomme

@thrill30 : thank you for your answer. Here in France we don't have sport package like in US, i can choose the items separatly. It's not easy to test all the combo...I decided 162 18" rims but i hesitate for the suspension.....sport or not ???

I will like to see how the car look with 162 rims with and without sport suspension, i don't think 15mm change the look a lot. I am searching pic.

If you already decided to get the 18" rims, then you need to get the sport suspension that lowers it by the 15mm that you mentioned. Reason being the larger the rims, the lower the suspension has to be in order for the car not to look like an off-road SUV. (Well, I exaggerated a little bit, but you'll get the point when you look a some photos).

[PhilS]

I was also worried that the combination of sports suspension and 18" wheels might be too harsh.

In the end I ordered the sports seats, sports steering wheel and 162s but not the sports suspension.

More on this topic here (towards the end of the thread):

http://www.e90forums.net/html/module...viewtopic&t=51

I think the E90 has a fairly sporty ride, even in standard spec, and, given the choice, comfort is more important to me than ultimate cornering ability.

[Wildcat Jon]

I picked up my 330i (specs below) Friday night and have put 450 miles on it since then (today is Sunday July 31). My wife has a Lexus GX470 and I had an Acura TL before this car. The sport pkg has exceeded my expectations. I loved the look of the 18 inch 162 wheels and tires and had to have them, but worried about the ride. It rides like a dream. It is firm, but absorbs bumps much better than my 04 TL, which had 17 inch all seasons. And, although the GX rides on a cloud, especially for an SUV, my wife thinks the 330i SP rides awesome. So, I am VERY happy I got the SP. And, I agree, if you get a 325, I'd definitely get the SP because the 16 inch wheels look very weak IMO on this car. The 17 inch look good, but the 18 inch are sick.

[Pyrat 2]

Comfort with the Sport Package on the e90 is better than the E46 with the Sport Package.

[patrick2k6]

Call me shallow, but besides the comfort of the sport seats, I also happen to really like the look of the 330i sport wheels. Not too flashy, but absolutely stunning and they suit the car perfectly.

[E90Newbie]

Everyone who has ridden with me has said, "man, this thing rides smooth." But personally, I can feel that it's a little "rougher" than other "luxery" cars. Still, if you get one "extra" for your car, ZSP is that one thing.