Used 330i with Performance Package vs. Sport Package
 

BMW came up with a Performance package for U.S. 330i sedans in 2003 to partially compensate for the lack of an M3 sedan. The buyer got a firmer suspension, some trim changes, more rubber, a shorter final drive, bigger wheels, a slightly tweaked suspension and very slightly more power/torque for $3900. The six-speed came with it, but could be had separately on any 3-liter 3-series.

The car books were unanimous in praising the chassis improvements, but very mixed w.r.t. the results of the added power. Some got a little better acceleration than a plain 330i and some actually got worse. An M3 it was not by any stretch.

These things are coming on the used market and the premium for the Performance package vs. Sport package is pretty small. The Performance package models are a little harder to find, though.

The question is whether the added search/ small cost increase is worth it. I live an area where I will not find either car, so I do my search via the web and comparison driving is essentially impossible. The local BMW dealer has very little inventory and is really a Toyota dealer that sells a handful of Bimmers each year. Of no use, in other words.

You folks who chose a 2003/2004 330i with Performance package vs. Sport package...is it really significantly better?

How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?

Thanks.
G L

"It's good to want things."

S. Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist, Visual Basic.Net programmer)

"GRL" > wrote
> How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?

IIRC, all PP cars had to be ordered with leather.

Floyd

Nope. Alcantara/cloth upholstery. I think it's a combination of leather with
cloth inserts.

Dan

fbloogyudsr wrote:
> "GRL" > wrote
>
>> How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?
>
>
> IIRC, all PP cars had to be ordered with leather.
>
> Floyd

"Dan Krueger" > wrote
> Nope. Alcantara/cloth upholstery. I think it's a combination of leather
> with cloth inserts.

>
> fbloogyudsr wrote:
>> "GRL" > wrote
>>
>>> How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?
>>
>>
>> IIRC, all PP cars had to be ordered with leather.

I forgot to add "in the US" to my statement.
No cloth seats - of any kind - are available in the US on any BMW.

Floyd

"fbloogyudsr" > wrote
> "Dan Krueger" > wrote
>> Nope. Alcantara/cloth upholstery. I think it's a combination of leather
>> with cloth inserts.
>
>>
>> fbloogyudsr wrote:
>>> "GRL" > wrote
>>>
>>>> How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?
>>>
>>>
>>> IIRC, all PP cars had to be ordered with leather.
>
> I forgot to add "in the US" to my statement.
> No cloth seats - of any kind - are available in the US on any BMW.

In any case, the OP doesn't have to worry about Leatherette on
a PP car in the US.

Floyd

"fbloogyudsr" > wrote in message
...
> "Dan Krueger" > wrote
>> Nope. Alcantara/cloth upholstery. I think it's a combination of leather
>> with cloth inserts.
>
>>
>> fbloogyudsr wrote:
>>> "GRL" > wrote
>>>
>>>> How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?
>>>
>>>
>>> IIRC, all PP cars had to be ordered with leather.
>
> I forgot to add "in the US" to my statement.
> No cloth seats - of any kind - are available in the US on any BMW.
>
> Floyd

According to www.bmwusa.com , the US Performance Package includes
"Alcantara/cloth-upholstered power front sport seats".

Tom

"Tom Korth" > wrote
> "fbloogyudsr" > wrote

>> I forgot to add "in the US" to my statement.
>> No cloth seats - of any kind - are available in the US on any BMW.
>>
>> Floyd
>
> According to www.bmwusa.com , the US Performance Package includes
> "Alcantara/cloth-upholstered power front sport seats".

Really! Egg on my face...

Floyd

"GRL" > wrote in message >...

> You folks who chose a 2003/2004 330i with Performance package vs. Sport
> package...is it really significantly better?
>
> How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?

It doesn't wear as well as the standard rubber seat trim favoured by
the US importer. But Alcantara(R), being a patented brand of fabric
with many uses inside and outside the automotive sector, has a good
reputation for wear resistance. Given the preference most American
consumers have for BMW's leatherette over its leather, I would have
thought that fake suede didn't represent much of a leap of
imagination. The Alcantara-covered steering wheel gets less
thumbs-up, though - I think the excessive sweat and dirt which
naturally rubs off onto the wheel does result in more wear than you
would get on a standard leather wheel.

"Andrew Thomas" > wrote in message
m...
> "GRL" > wrote in message
> >...
>
>> You folks who chose a 2003/2004 330i with Performance package vs. Sport
>> package...is it really significantly better?
>>
>> How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?
>
> It doesn't wear as well as the standard rubber seat trim favoured by
> the US importer. But Alcantara(R), being a patented brand of fabric
> with many uses inside and outside the automotive sector, has a good
> reputation for wear resistance. Given the preference most American
> consumers have for BMW's leatherette over its leather, I would have
> thought that fake suede didn't represent much of a leap of
> imagination. The Alcantara-covered steering wheel gets less
> thumbs-up, though - I think the excessive sweat and dirt which
> naturally rubs off onto the wheel does result in more wear than you
> would get on a standard leather wheel.

Having used alcantara cycling gloves (dirty/sweaty work that) for over a
decade, I can attest to its durability. It doesn't even lose its nappy
finish with age as does real suede.

I'm unaware of US consumers preferring leatherette to leather. I think the
contrary is true (although I'm a little unhappy with BMW's sand montana
leather at the moment).

R / John

....and fake suede trim on the bolsters and steering wheel.

George Litwinski
"fbloogyudsr" > wrote in message
...
> "GRL" > wrote
> > How does the fake suede BMW inflicted on these cars hold up?
>
> IIRC, all PP cars had to be ordered with leather.
>
> Floyd