My E46 318i v 320M-sport.

[ah]

My E46 318i (2000)is being repaired at Vines of Guildford after it got smacked up the rear in the snow.They are giving me a 320 M-sport as a higher car.This will be the first M car I have driven(SAD I KNOW).I would imagine its a 2007-2008 car,what can I expect from the 320 apart from quicker than mine.

[Blitz]

Its not a M car its just a 320i with a sport pack. (No LSD)

It will be 4 pot, but has a healthy 170BHP, so you should see a big jump in power. It should be pretty quick and I presume its nice and revy. Not much to say as I have not driven one.

The engine should feel like yours but much more powerful.

[Alex]

M sport sounds so council

its just a trim spec like SE, ES, Sport etc etc

[darkchild]

The engine should feel like yours but much more powerful.

Garbage. The engines are completely different with zilch in common.

A 2000 318i will have the good old M43 engine whilst the newer E90 will have the valvetronic lump - a completely different car to drive. The M43 was a great little engine but the valvetronic is leagues in front in terms of performance and smoothness. Sadly, as I've learnt in my time of running one as a daily driver, they're also horrendously complicated and expensive to repair when things go wrong but as its a hire car thats of little concern to you. The later N46 versions though are a big improvement on the earlier N42 valvetronic cars in terms of power and reliability. Quieter too.

The valvetronic cars feel completely different to drive and punch above their weight IMO. Driving a M43 engined car in comparison feels like you've left the handbrake on and is not nearly as refined.

Enjoy it - the E90 is probably as complete a car I've ever driven.

[pac1982]

An M sport is not an M car, it just means it have some mtec bits and bobs

[Andyboy]

The Valvetronic engine is a good one. They still have the weird buzz at idle but as The Dark One says, they are much better than the original E46 units.
The current unit in the 320i is almost diesel like in torque, is excellent on fuel (I got 38 mpg from a 320i Coupe) and sounds nice when you wind it up.

Best though was the 320Si, a short stroke big bore version without Valvetronic but with double vanos. Genuine Motosrport pedigree - shame punters don't know what they are.

[stuartgallafant]

Agree with that Andyboy, they're a great little thrash