[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by yshvj

Congrats Suhaas for the amazing ride. The spec is absolutely exotic, red on black is perfect.

This car looks stunning in the stock form, looks sporty, classy, understated.

Thank you! I intend to keep it looking "stock" forever. Nothing quite beats the pure and simple lines of a standard 3-Series in my opinion.

Originally Posted by N4Revv

Wow, what a post. Congratulations on your best decision, its too good when you get so much fun in so less amount of money. OLD BMWs are really the real BMWs, new ones seems less in looks as well as driving dynamics, with each passing year they are taking out the spirit of it making Japanese models a good contender. Your Polo was such a beauty and this BMW is the right replacement of her, a true upgrade. Hats off ����

Thank you!

Well, it may have been reasonably priced to buy, but it ain't cheap to maintain let me be honest!

Originally Posted by UD_328i

Thank you, Suhaas. This is very helpful.

Any time! Do reach out if you have any queries or concerns.

Originally Posted by 99octane

Congratulations on building a true 328i with the absolute right mods! The engine is a gem and wholehearted good luck and wishes for a happy car ownership

While reading through few things popped up in my head, what was the customs process like? Assuming you got it door delivered how much customs duty was imposed on the parts and the timeline from shipping to delivery.
Over and above how was your experience dealing with GTP Otomotive for the exhaust?

I’m in a similar situation looking for parts for 2 of my cars and both these sellers offer a good ton of options. Hope to get some good insight into your experience

99Octane

Thank you!

So, for some of the items like the charge pipes, boost pipe, intercooler and the active autowerke exhaust, I enlisted the services of an agent to help me ship the parts and clear customs. I did not have the time to deal with it myself, hence.

I have dealt with GTP Otomotive for several parts and so far, I am extremely happy. GTPO is extremely transparent and the costs are not only reasonable but competitive. While most tuners and speedshops quote exorbitant prices for imported parts, GTPO prefers to price items competitively and levies minimal margins on goods. I would recommend them strongly, especially for big ticket items.

Originally Posted by Surprise

Wow! Building a car to one's taste requires in-depth knowledge, patience & passion. Reading your threads on purchase experience, the different stages of modifications with stunning pictures & attention to details is like reading an interesting novel. You have been extremely open and honest with your experiences, which is truly an asset for this forum.

Thank you for your kind words!


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6-Month (February) Update:

I have now been living with this car for about 6 months, and I must admit that I was bowled over by it!

The sharp and direct steering, uncorrupted by driveshafts and whathaveyou, the low and focused driving position, the red leather interior that is borderline exotic - something straight out of a sports car, the punchy 4-cylinder engine and the fruity exhaust note courtesy the new MPE; this car ticks all the right boxes!

It's such a fun car that I often find myself jumping into the drivers seat late into the night, for a short spin around the city and for no apparent reason:





It's so good that suddenly, the Laura felt like a truck to drive! The weight over the front axle was suddenly extremely apparent, the laboured steering feel and laziness with which it changes direction, the 1.8 litre TSI engine suddenly felt agricultural and insipid, despite the stage-2 software and the Milltek exhaust.

Somehow, the Laura felt even larger than the 3-Series even though it isn't! and the 3 felt easier to drive in the city thanks to the automatic transmission and quicker steering.

I realised that it was pointless to keep the Laura and decided to let it go.

Fortunately, an extremely enthusiastic gentleman spotted the Laura receiving some TLC at Carmed and made an offer that I couldn't refuse!

Deal done, and now I am back to owning just the one car (if I don't count my extended family's long list of cars).

While at Carmed, I decided to resolve another small issue that I had mentioned in my opening post - the sticky door handles.

This was quite possibly the easiest fix of the lot!

A set of 4 inner door pulls (in black) were available on amazon.in of all places, for a small sum of INR 8000. I bought the set and took it to Carmed for a quick swap:



No more sticky door handles!

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Thankfully, my car, at approximately 41,000 km, still has plenty of time before the timing chain becomes a serious problem. Also, there are certain tell-tale signs of timing chain failure such as a loud mechanical whine during acceleration or while revving the car when stationary that would alert me into taking immediate corrective action.

If its reassuring at all, I've got 104,000km on my 328i and everything around the engine remains stock. I've got no issues or leaks as of now. I do keep an eye on things. Pop the hood atleast once a month to take a quick look around the engine and ensure coolant levels are in check. Unfortunately you can't check oil levels as there is no dip stick. My car does not have a engine coolant temperature gauge either. There is a oil temperature gauge.

I have been toying around the idea of getting an after market exhaust. Just can't seem to get myself to put in the money. Maybe its cause I've been thinking of trading up to something else. As you know, anything after market you throw at the car makes it less appealing to the general crowd and you're also going to loose money on that part cause you can't swap it over to the new car. Only a handful appreciate modifications.

On replacing the sticky grab handles, I assume you had to break the rivets to get them out? The screws by themselves do no allow you to take these out. Thats how its setup on my car the reason I've delayed replacing them. For me, its just the drivers door grab thats failed. All other grab handles are in good nick.

What you have a nice low run, well maintained sample of a 328i. Look after the car and all should go well. I would not necessarily pry open anything unless there is a real issue going on.

[ExtremePocca]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

for a small sum of INR 8000.

Is that a typo or has inflation gotten that bad? 8000 INR For 4 small pieces of plastic?

[suhaas307]

Apologies for failing to update this thread and my ownership report.

Now before I get into it, I would like to address the reason for my absence while trying to avoid sounding like a LinkedIn update - 2024 was a tough year on the professional and personal front. Having completed 10 years in the grueling legal (litigation and disputes) space, I found myself at a crossroads and decided to take a short sabbatical with the intent to re-align and prepare myself for a lateral switch within the profession. After careful and considerable deliberation, I finally made the move late last year and would like to report that I have finally found calmer waters and steadied my ship to some extent. On a related note, I cannot stress enough the importance of mental health and how it is neglected amongst many. Please do not ignore even the smallest signs of toll that your mind may be enduring. It will come back to haunt you if you do not address. Do not be embarrassed to seek help. Speak to someone, preferably someone sufficiently qualified to help.

With that out of the way, let’s move on.

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

If its reassuring at all, I've got 104,000km on my 328i and everything around the engine remains stock. I've got no issues or leaks as of now. I do keep an eye on things. Pop the hood atleast once a month to take a quick look around the engine and ensure coolant levels are in check. Unfortunately you can't check oil levels as there is no dip stick. My car does not have a engine coolant temperature gauge either. There is a oil temperature gauge...

...On replacing the sticky grab handles, I assume you had to break the rivets to get them out? The screws by themselves do no allow you to take these out. Thats how its setup on my car the reason I've delayed replacing them. For me, its just the drivers door grab thats failed. All other grab handles are in good nick.

What you have a nice low run, well maintained sample of a 328i. Look after the car and all should go well. I would not necessarily pry open anything unless there is a real issue going on.

Hi Sandeep,

Thank you for your reassurance. It does put me at ease, as does the fact that I haven’t had any major issues with the car since I acquired it almost 2 years ago. I can’t believe it’s been that long!

On replacing the sticky grab handles, yes the rivets had to be broken to remove them. I had put it off for as long as I could, but it started to get quite embarrassing telling my passengers to avoid using the grab handle, and most of them tend to forget or do what they want to do anyway. The sun and heat can be quite punishing, especially on a black car, and even 15 minutes parked out in the sun is enough to not only make the grab handles sticky but also all the knobs and switchgear on the center console. I briefly considered wrapping the handles in alcantara / felt material but this would have been akin to applying a Band-Aid on a gangrenous wound. Hence, decided to bite the bullet and get it out of the way.

Thank you for your kind words. I have taken your advice and will not pry open anything. This is precisely why I have decided to not fiddle with the timing chain or even the rattly turbo wastegate actuator even though it sounds like a coke-can full of change being kicked down the street.
Apparently, this issue is extremely common in all BMWs of this era!

I will have the timing chain serviced and the wastegate rattle fixed only when the whine (different from the AC compressor whine and the turbo whine) remains audible even after warm up. Currently, both the whine and the rattle settles down after about 10 minutes of driving and once the engine oil is up to temp.

Originally Posted by ExtremePocca

Is that a typo or has inflation gotten that bad? 8000 INR For 4 small pieces of plastic?

Yeah, I don't know what to tell you *shrugs* such numbers and figures don't bother me anymore.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since I was AWOL for most of 2024, the updates are going to be staggered:

8-Month (April 2024) update:

Since acquiring the car, I had addressed some of the issues, most notably the leaky and failed struts, by replacing them with Bilstein B4 stock-replacement dampers. While doing so, we had discovered that the rest of the suspension components were tried but ‘ok’ and just about hanging in there. I had also put off the failing steering rack bush replacement for another day as it wasn’t intrusive and did not affect the daily driving experience.

Having said that, I wasn’t too happy with the way the suspension performed. While the B4s provided suppleness to the ride quality on city streets, the ride was less than ideal for highway stints at triple-digit speeds and B-road hustling.

What bothered me the most was the car’s lack of composure on highways and expressways. It felt incredibly light at speed and more often than not, it gave me the sensation that the car was floating just above the surface. At 80-100 km/h, it’s fine, but there was never a point where I felt comfortable pushing the car on the open road. Even the smallest undulation would unsettle the car and I am left making more corrections to the steering wheel. It never really felt “planted” or truly connected to the road surface.

However, I decided to accept the ride for what it is and live with it for the time being. Until..

On one of my routine drives to the airport and beyond, I put the front right wheel into a new pothole that had appeared overnight, and this little momentary lapse in concentration resulted in the front axle (RHS) throwing up a new clunking sound. On the same drive, while navigating traffic at high-ish speeds, I had a bit of a moment when I had to call upon the car’s anchors. The car did stop, but not without drama or as quickly as I’d hoped. Note to self and everyone else: avoid EBC Ultimax pads as they are pretty average. Stick to the OEM Textar brake pads as far as possible.

Being a stickler and overly sensitive to such sounds, I decided to get it inspected at Carmed and as it turned out, the RHS stabilizer link-rod and lower arm bush had given up courtesy my brief argument with the pothole.

Speaking with Kalyan post inspection, I decided to get the front suspension completely overhauled and refreshed instead of changing just the two offending parts. Considering the age and general wear of all these parts, it made sense to do it all in one go instead of piece-meal. I had also taken this opportunity to explore options to address the floaty ride thanks to the bang-average B4 dampers.

After shortlisting all the options, including Koni Special Active (red) dampers, Bilstein “Evolve” dampers (specially tuned and developed by Evolve Automotive along with Bilstein) and Tein as well, I eventually settled on Bilstein B6 since a set was immediately available.

Spoke with Prateek of GTPO who helped source a set of Bilstein B6 dampers on a moment’s notice, and in a few days the dampers arrived at my doorstep. Drove the car to Carmed where my suspension refresh kit was waiting.



Since we were getting under the car again, we explored, albeit unsuccessfully, fixing the steering rack’s external bush (more on this later).



The refresh kit consists of link rods, lower arms, tie-rod ends and ball-joints by Frey, recommended by Carmed.



Thanks to some clever and advance scheduling, the folks at Carmed were able to turn around the job in just a few working hours and deliver the car by late afternoon.

Oh, and before I forget, I took the liberty of removing the small little spacers (from the base of the rear springs) that comes from the factory on all India-spec 328i / F30 models.



Removing these spacers drops the ride height of the car ever so slightly by about 3-4 mm and cleans up the stance of the car without the need to install lowering springs while retaining near-stock like ride height for practicality and drivability.

After an in-house alignment job, post suspension overhaul, I embarked on my journey from Hennur back to city center and had to navigate some of the worst roads in Bengaluru. The drive back home was filled with a tinge of regret, as the ride quality on city streets and at slow speeds seemed a little jittery and busy. The minor rattles inside the car seemed to be amplified now, and although the ride was firm on smoother streets, it got pretty stiff and borderline harsh on rougher surfaces in particular.

Itching to try out the new setup on the open road, I scheduled a drive to our friend’s estate in Sakleshpur and hit the road.



After the 500 km round trip, I am happy to report that the B6 dampers and new suspension components have transformed the driving experience on the highway!





The car now feels properly hooked up to the road and I can confidently push the car without it feeling floaty. Undulations are dismissed with aplomb, and the best part – the new dampers have improved the braking performance too! The car now stops much better than it did previously and without too much drama.

On B-roads, the car is a hoot and a half! I was initially concerned that the car would lose some of its playfulness once the B6es are installed but I was wrong. It is just as playful as on the stock suspension setup.

What the new dampers do is provide reassurance while driving hard, and I’m supremely happy with my choice. I can learn to live with the firm ride, being perhaps the only drawback of the Bilstein B6 struts, and I’d say it’s a fair trade-off since it’s an absolute dream on the open road.



Stay tuned for many more updates to come

[suhaas307]

April 2024 Update (continued..)

The summer of 2024 was punishing, by Bangalore standards, and living with a black car in the summer can be unforgiving. With a few road trips planned during the year, I thought its best to prep the car by giving it a quick general service and getting a few small things done to combat the heat without drawing too much attention from "the law".

Sun Film installation:

I rang Mohsin from Ultimate Detailerz, who recommended CarPro sun-film. Scheduled a visit and installed CarPro UVX (VLT-70) sun-film which apparently has something called ceramic-tint technology. The sun-film was applied on the windshield, all four windows and on the rear glass as well.





Happy to report that it has made a noticeable difference by cutting out some of the harshness of the sunlight filtering into the cabin.

Mohsin also recommended using an interior leather cleaner from CarPro. Initially I was skeptical since cleaning agents could cause lasting damage, and the red leather and interior generally appeared to be squeaky clean anyway. But Mohsin mentioned that it is safe to use on all surfaces and has a mild odor.

Still skeptical but now curious, I gave Mohsin the go-ahead and his crew began their work on the leather by applying this CarPro interior cleaner using an inner-scrub glove and about an hour later, the true colour of my car's leather interior surfaced like I hadn't seen before! It was absolutely magic! I couldn't believe it myself!

Unfortunately, I did not take before and after pictures to illustrate the difference, and his crew threw away the soiled glove that looked like it had been through hell and back before I could take pictures.

I strongly recommend getting both the sun-film and interior cleaning from CarPro, for anyone who is interested. The sun-film was around INR 25,000-30,000 and the interior cleaning was around INR 4000 but these numbers may be wrong since this was a year ago and I can't seem to remember the exact figures.

Oh, and I also picked up a CarPro Reset shampoo and Renew dry-wash shampoo, a large quick-dry microfiber towel, two microfiber towels specifically for washing. CarPro, I must admit, is hands down the best car-care product I have used! Supremely impressed, particularly by the Reset shampoo that makes the paint look and feel super slick after a good wash.

General Service:

Since acquiring the car in September 2023, I had put on about 7000 km as on April 2024. As per previous service records, the car was last serviced at 40,xxx km. Being a 12 year old car, and with summer hitting hard, it seemed prudent to get an oil change done.

Along with the oil change, I requested a coolant change (fresh coolant) since it hadn't been done in the last 5 years, and the usual consumables - oil filter, fuel filter, and more importantly the AC filter - which was also not done for a long time and has helped cut down the foul odour coming through the vents to a great degree! The oil was BMW specific 5W40 by Fuchs, supplied by AS Motorsport (Hyderabad).



While the car was getting its TLC, I decided to cut open and inspect the oil filter for traces of metal / plastic - usually a tell tale sign of worn internals like rod bearings or bore scoring, or even disintegrated plastic timing chain guides, or pretty much anything floating around in the oil that shouldn't be there. Ran a magnet around it as well, just to be sure.



Pleased to report that it was clean as a whisker!



Along with the general service, I requested Carmed to also install a very discreet lip-spoiler to complete the aesthetics that I was going for:





Sourced through a friend from Australia, it's a replica of the M3/M4 spoiler and it's quite subtle compared to all other lip-spoilers in the market.

The spoiler was sent to them in advance, for prep and painting, so that it could be installed during / after the general service.

Few pictures of a short drive to the airport (pre-service), along with a quick stop for a late dinner:





Mid-summer mod meet, welcoming Axe77 to burning Bengaluru:

[after]

Thanks for the great thread. This generation of BMW was something special, design-wise. Everything from your 3-series, to the long and powerful 6-series GT, even their SUVs looked so aggressive yet elegant. Definitely my favourite modern BMWs, shame to see the current designs compared to what they've created in just the recent past.

[fluidicjoy]

Such a nice thread and such a beautiful car. You're inspiring me to take out my 328i thread out from the assembly line. The more time I wait, the more experiences I have to share, and that makes it a tougher task

[UD_328i]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

So, what's next?

[*]Transmission oil + pan replacement: Although the manual clearly says that the transmission oil is sealed for life, common sense dictates that nothing is permanent, much less a consumable like oil.
Solution: Being a 11-12 year old car, it would be prudent to change the oil as soon as possible, in order to ensure smooth functioning and longevity of the transmission. I haven't asked BMW for a quote yet, but I'd imagine it would be just as exorbitant as the timing chain overhaul quote. Changing the transmission oil + pan is perhaps not as sensitive a job as overhauling the timing chain and therefore, I am open to availing the services of a competent FNG to get the job done. The target is complete this job some time this year.

Hey Suhaas, did you end up doing this? And if yes, could you share some details? I am not able to find any reliable information for a transmission service. Getting contradictory information with "sealed for life" on the one hand to need at 60k/90k miles interval. Would appreciate your inputs. Thanks!

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by after

Thanks for the great thread. This generation of BMW was something special, design-wise. Everything from your 3-series, to the long and powerful 6-series GT, even their SUVs looked so aggressive yet elegant. Definitely my favourite modern BMWs, shame to see the current designs compared to what they've created in just the recent past.

Thank you! I agree with you, the F-generation BMWs are the last good-looking Bimmers, and although I do love the new M340i, I find that it has become a bit too bulbous for my tastes. I swear, this isn't a sour-grapes situation, hand-to-heart! I genuinely prefer the svelte proportions and clean lines of the F30 / F80.

Originally Posted by fluidicjoy

Such a nice thread and such a beautiful car. You're inspiring me to take out my 328i thread out from the assembly line. The more time I wait, the more experiences I have to share, and that makes it a tougher task

Thank you! You must complete your thread and publish it at the earliest! I too was on the fence, after the initial posts on this thread. But I have learned (from therapy) that I must finish what I've started. *nudge nudge wink wink*

Originally Posted by UD_328i

Hey Suhaas, did you end up doing this? And if yes, could you share some details? I am not able to find any reliable information for a transmission service. Getting contradictory information with "sealed for life" on the one hand to need at 60k/90k miles interval. Would appreciate your inputs. Thanks!

So.. I have decided to hold off on the timing chain service and transmission oil + pan replacement for the time being. I will consider doing it once I hit 60,000 on the odometer. Also, if anyone tells you that it's "sealed for life", please walk away from them. It's one thing to follow instructions by the book, but it's another to take it as the gospel truth. Oil can never be sealed for life. Age is a factor, and mileage as well. I will get round to it soon, and I shall update this thread with all details.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update - April 2024 continued..:

Despite the soaring heat, a few of us decided to take a short drive to Mysore to check out the newly opened Payana Car Museum that is situated at Srirangpatna just outside Mysore, followed by a quick lunch.

Customary pre-roadtrip alignment at trusty ol' Madhus:


Quick stop for breakfast at Renuka Tiffanies:



Thatte idlis for days!


Arrival at Payana Car Museum and snippets:














Are car-museums nothing but old-age homes for senior citizens?

(Who's your daddy?)



Lunch at SAPA (Sourdough & Pastry) Cafe:








...yes it tastes just as good as it looks!

Post-lunch photoshoot courtesy Ajmat:

[UD_328i]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

So.. I have decided to hold off on the timing chain service and transmission oil + pan replacement for the time being. I will consider doing it once I hit 60,000 on the odometer. Also, if anyone tells you that it's "sealed for life", please walk away from them. It's one thing to follow instructions by the book, but it's another to take it as the gospel truth. Oil can never be sealed for life. Age is a factor, and mileage as well. I will get round to it soon, and I shall update this thread with all details.

Thank you for the response. My car is at 91k kms, so I think it is more than time to change the transmission oil + pan replacement. My timing chain service is done (by GT Tunerz like i mentioned) but transmission is pending. Do you suggest I go have this issue also looked at by GT Tunerz?

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by UD_328i

Thank you for the response. My car is at 91k kms, so I think it is more than time to change the transmission oil + pan replacement. My timing chain service is done (by GT Tunerz like i mentioned) but transmission is pending. Do you suggest I go have this issue also looked at by GT Tunerz?

GT Tunerz / UpShift Autos are worth exploring.

Alternatively, you can try Viraat's automotive garage. I believe he has set up a new workshop in Delhi recently, and is pretty hands on himself - which is always a good thing! I'm sure his contact is available if you Google it.

Consider getting the diff-oil changed as well. Worth it, if you're getting the transmission oil and pan changed. Might as well go the whole hog, you know!

[1.2GT3GT]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Since these issues were critical, I wasted no time in finding replacement items. GTP Otomotive, a New Delhi based parts supplier, helped source:

- Bilstein B4 dampers (front and rear): INR40,000
- Febi mounts and dust cover kits: INR20,000
- Zimmerman rotors (front): INR14,000
- Febi rotors (rear): INR12,000
- EBC Ultimax pads (front): INR4000
- EBC Ultimax pads (rear): INR3000

Thank you for the details related to sourcing aftermarket suspension and brake components. This is really helping me with the ongoing process of sourcing required parts for my 3GT.

I have started off with ATE brake discs and Textar brake pads for the front brakes.

[suhaas307]

The 328i now has a companion!

Deviating slightly from the thread/topic, a close friend and neighbour was in the market for a sports car last summer. The budget was INR 1 Cr, but can be expanded if necessary.

She has a thing for muscle cars and Mustangs in particular. Since they are no longer available, it was unceremoniously ruled out, much to her dismay. I suggested having a look at the used market, but there was nothing interesting enough listed for sale, and some of the cars we checked out looked pretty sketchy and questionable.

We were left with new-car options, and I presented three of them: 1) Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman, 2) BMW M2, and 3) BMW Z4.

After discussing the options in detail and comparing spec sheets, she settled on the M2. The presence of a boot and rear seats, small as they may be, swayed her. But it's the usable ground clearance of the M2 vis a vis the Boxster and the Z4 that sold it for us.

We then scheduled a quick visit to KUN BMW and locked in the build, with the promise that it would be delivered in October.

The options specified on her build were limited to (a) smoked headlights, (b) red calipers and (c) silver wheels and black exterior paint. The automatic transmission was selected over the manual, for practical reasons.

Based on my recommendation, she avoided the excessive carbon bits like the carbon roof, interior trim, etc. Since this is a weekend toy, the weight saving and consequent lap-time-shortened bragging rights, courtesy the carbon roof, weren't worth ticking the 10 lakh (approx.) carbon-roof option.

Few months had passed since, and some time in July, we received a call from KUN with news that a similarly specified example has now become available and delivery can be taken as early as next week. This car was however equipped with the carbon roof option and black wheels, but was offered with a pretty good discount and hence it was a no-brainer.

A week later, we dropped by at KUN and took delivery of the car. Our friends at The Gloss Factor were kind enough to help us with PPF. (that I had very strongly recommended be done.)

The M2 now shares garage space with my humble little 328i.


After a bit of reading and research, I had also strongly recommended that she purchases the all-important wire-mesh protection grille-set for the front bumper radiators + heat-exchangers and the absolutely ridiculously positioned oil-cooler, precariously mounted right under the nose of the car. The grille set is a non-negotiable aftermarket modification for all M2s and even M3s and M4s in my opinion, given the prevailing conditions of our roads, often littered with loose stones, gravel and what not. The last thing we need is a leaking oil cooler / radiator.

Zunsport manufactures these parts, and with the help of Prateek from GTP Otomotive, we bought a set:


Kalyan from Carmed accommodated us on short notice to install the grill/mesh set:



Besides this, we have also shortlisted Active Autowerke's equal-length resonated mid-pipes - a highly recommended modification for all those who own a M2/M3/M4 not just from this generation but also the previous F-generation. Presently, the exhaust note is a bit harsh in my opinion. The equal-length mid-pipes will smoothen it surely, giving it a nicer, more exotic and higher-pitched exhaust note.

Post installation of the Zunsport wire-mesh grilles, we took the car for a drive and requested our good friends Sharan Shankar and Abhi (Bengaluru Horsepower) to help us get some aesthetic photographs of the car:























Thank you Abhi, for the wonderful photographs, and Sharan Shankar for accompanying us on the drive, with his insane 300+ horsepower Octavia 1.8 TSI tracking car.

So, what's it like to drive?

After a 300 km blast to Gudibanda and Penukonda, followed by a quick spin in and around Devanahalli, this is what I have to report:

This car is an assault on the senses! It hates being driven slowly. It detests cruising around in town. Even with the chassis, exhaust, steering and throttle set to normal, it's an in-your-face driving experience. The ride is stiff bordering on harsh, for city driving. So much as breathe on the A-pedal, and it wants to lunge forward like a Rottweiler on its choker waiting to be unleashed.

Turn up the wick on the open road/highway, with steering-suspension-exhaust-throttle set to extreme, and the car seemingly prepares itself for Armageddon! It is so sharp that it darts around even with the slightest steering input. The ride, while reasonably and relatively compliant, is firm enough to let you know that you are driving something serious. The S58 twin-turbo straight-six motor delivers power like there is no tomorrow! You get the sense that it's a bit unforgiving, while demanding your continuous and uninterrupted focus and attention at all times. It never feels settled or relaxed, even with all the gubbins turned down.

Frankly, it's all a bit too much for me! As engaging and amazing it is to drive, the prescribed consumption ought to be in small doses. This cannot be your daily car. Maybe in the EU / USA or Japan, but certainly not in India.

My 328i felt like a luxury cruise-liner in comparison.

That said, driving the M2 on occasion (since the owner travels frequently and has requested me to be its custodian) has helped scratch that sports-car itch for the time being.

We have planned several drives with both our Bimmers, so this M2 will feature often on this thread.


A two-door twin-turbo straight six hooligan, and a 5-cylinder diesel-powered tough-as-nails daily driver.

Could this be the ultimate two-car garage?

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

That said, driving the M2 on occasion (since the owner travels frequently and has requested me to be its custodian) has helped scratch that sports-car itch for the time being.

Cars like the M2 are on a different level altogether. I actually think a car like this is more enjoyable to drive on our new motorways, than some of our developed country roadways. The German motorway being the exception. I think our roads allow you to test not just outright acceleration. Even the brakes are pushed hard.

I was behind the wheel of a C43 a couple of years ago. A new Harrier wanted to show us who is the Boss. I gladly obliged. As you know, when a vehicle the size of a Harrier is tail gating you, all you can see is the front grill. Not the driver. I pushed on the throttle as far as it would go (In Normal Drive. Not even Sport Mode) and that Harrier was a tiny spec in the mirror in a matter of seconds. I had the time of my life driving that car! The beauty of it all was that I had absolute control of the vehicle. You can accelerate rapidly and draw the anchors with equal speed reduction. Gives you phenomenal level of confidence to literally push the vehicle to the edge.

Jumped back into my 328i and tried driving it like that C43 and I was like .

[Ace F355]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

The 328i now has a companion!

That's a great company for your 328i! Thanks for sharing, those are some lip-smacking photos too!

A few years back I would have straight away dismissed your statements about M2 being a bit too much. But the sad truth is, most sportscars are like that, more so in our country. At least in today's time, the improving road infra is of some help, and can allow for some leg stretching once in a while. Otherwise, I have noticed that once the I-bought-a-sportscar novality wears out, most of these become weekend toys and barely see any tarmac, except for those weekend coffee meets. With M2, I expect it to be clocking some kms given the use case and it's somewhat practical nature.

Once again, congratulations to the owner and wishing her all the fun with her new M.

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Could this be the ultimate two-car garage?

I may have the answer on similar lines. Between my wife and I, we currently have an 3.2 Endeavour coupled with a GLA 45 AMG.

The more sportscars I try, the more I lovingly come back to the AMG. We have managed to put up decent miles on it, it's a total sleeper and is also practical for my wife to carry both kids around, and allows me to have some fun once in a while. So yeah, that's my two-bits on an ultimate two-car garage

Here is a quick fun video, with my daughter doing the countdown and enjoying some AMG burble infused adrenaline.

https://youtu.be/FLV0jELaRic