AutoWeek article

(08:30 Dec. 11, 2003)
BMW spices up 3 Series coupe and convertible with sport package

Even the “ultimate driving machine” needs to pick up the pace every now and then if it’s to maintain its self-proclaimed title. With the rest of the range evolving, BMW feels its bread-and-butter, “Un-Bangled” 3 Series is also due for a bump in excitement. Come December 29 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the German automaker will announce a performance package much like the one introduced in January on the 330i sedan for the 330Ci coupe and convertible.

Like with the sedan, horsepower jumps 10 notches to 235 horsepower thanks to modified camshafts and engine electronics. The six-speed manual gearbox is standard, but it now comes with a short shifter and a shorter final drive ratio. The suspension also gets recalibrated to compliment the extra grunt. BMW claims the massaging shaves half a second off the stock 330Ci 0-to-60 time to 5.9 seconds.

But how are your neighbors going to know you’ve spent the extra money? The first clues are the 18-inch wheels and the aerodynamic skirt package. Upon closer inspection you’ll notice slightly more distinguished exhaust tips and hear more accentuated combustion sounds from the muffler.

The interior takes a more subtle approach with cloth Alcantara sport seats and steering wheel along with aluminum trim. A trained eye will detect a tachometer that reads 300 rpm higher, the only other hint of the extra character under the hood.

The go-fast goodies will begin production in March 2004 with the first examples hitting dealerships a month later. While final pricing has not been set, BMW said we can expect the price to hover around the 330i performance package, which retails for $3,900.

 

Very cool. Good move by BMW...the 330Ci PP will be a nice bridge from the 330Ci to the M3.

 

hahha the exhaust note i can do on my 330i right now. I just have to remove the flap they put in one of the exhaust tip to get rid of the drone the exhaust makes :chuckles:
18" oem wheels check

of course I'm missing the 10hp and the 6-speed :happysad:

what they really need to add is LSD

 

I'm surprised that this kit can improve the performance of the car by so much. And if you think about it, the $4,000 or so they charge actually gets you a lot of stuff. Acura and Honda should take a page from BMW on this and stop selling over-priced "performance" accessory packages that do almost absolutely nothing for performance (the A-spec and HFP options).

 

The difference being that the 330 PP is a factory option whereas the HFP and A-Spec kits are dealer accessories.

 

when is the next 3/4 out? the "bangled" versions... :chuckles:

 

I think this is a good move for BMW. I saw the 330i PP the other day on the highway and I was really impressed with it.

 

Hey rick, does that trick work on my car by any chance. I hear alotta engine noise from inside the car, but outside, I get nothing.

 

IMO you already (over)paid for the freakin car, you won't mind adding a few more G's into the total.
honda/acuras on the other hand are cheap already, that's why people get pissed when they find out their 'performance' packages are so expensive. but it does suck that it doesn't do anything for power.

 

Like I already said: the 330 PP is a factory option, the HFP and A-Spec kits are dealer installed accessories. It's a lot simpler to include go-fast goodies at the factory than to have the dealers install them on a case-by-case basis.