Went to a BMW and test drove the 330Ci the other day. The cornering ability on that thing is incredible! The car just hugged the road like a pure sports car.

On the other hand, when I turn my c320 it just wobbles and feels as though it's gonna tip over and flip.

Now, if I change the springs to the Eibachs and change the default rims to 18 inch LM5s with low profile wheels, how much of a difference can I expect to see? Will it rival that of the 330ci?

 

get the eibach sway bars if you want more cornering abilities.

 

I installed H&R Springs on my C240 and I have 18'' BBS CH Rims on 225-40-18. The handling was significantly improved. The car is much more stable in corners but it will not rival a BMW 330ci.

However, for normal everyday driving I would rather spend time in my C240 then the BMW 330Ci as this car is much more comfortable and refined.

Fortunately for me, for spirited driving I have a C32.

 

Going to an 18' wheel will have no effect on handling if it is the same weight as the previous wheel and is no wider. If the 18" wheel is heavier, you have increased unsprung weight which always degrades handling. If the 18 is lighter, then handling may be inproved slightly. Addtional width, with the proper tires, will inprove handling. The cheapest way to significantly improve handling is a set of sway bars.

 

Sway bars are the best way to get your car to handle much better without getting a harsher ride. Next is springs like the Eibach or Kleemann then the H&R, which are harsher. Larger rims only help a little and make the ride very harsh. If you have stiff sidewalls on your tires then you are in good shape.

 

BMWs are known for their superb handling. I never own a BMW because I am never a fan of BMWs. But I have test driven a few of them and I must admit their handling are much better than MBs. They use thicker sway bars and better suspensions. On the other hand, MB is known for its comfort and smooth ride. And MB's acceleration is quicker. You cant say one is more superior than the other. Really depends on one's preference/need.

 

I agree. Both are great cars with distinctive personalities and one should select the car that best suits their driving style and needs.

 

Larger wheel diameters WILL have an effect on handling. At the same overall tire diameter & width, even with the same wheel width, you would be replacing rubber with metal as the wheel diameter increases. That, on top of the fact that most performance wheels are wider than stock, you will feel it.

However, I do agree that you will not be in 330i territory unless you replace bars, springs and shocks. I am 3/4 the way there with my C240:

C32 bars
Eibachs
AMG staggered 17's
Koni's (still on back order) - the 1/4 I am missing!

 

I've driven a BMW 325i on a track and I can say that it handles as good or better than any sport utility, a lot of lean and a lot of understeer but predictable. Felt like it was going to flip over with that overly soft suspension but it always recovered. I can't imaging that anyone can drive a 330i vs. a C320 and say the BMW 3 series handles better as I've driven both on a track back to back and the BMW was just not up to par. Now if you add the sports package to the 330i it may handle better but I haven't driven that. Of course you would have to compare it to a C320 with the sports package and the same rubber as the BMW to be fair.

 

Buell,
Are you sure you drove a 325i? I just spent all day Thursday at WillowSprings and I thought the suspension was great for an OEM setup. Don't get me wrong, I really like my C but it doesn't even come close to the handling of the 3-series BMW.

Maybe you got the two cars mixed up...

 

Did the one you drive have the sports package? The one I did didn't and it leaned a lot and squealed for mercy on the corners. This was a track event that Lexus put together to show how wonderful the new ES300 was. I drove several cars including the C320, E320, Acura TL, Lincoln LS, Volvo S60 and the reason I even went to an MB dealer to look at these cars was because of the Lexus event. I thought the two best cars at the event were the C320 and Lincoln LS. The LS actually handled the best but was a bit too big for what I was looking for. Of course these are luxury or semi luxury sedans and don't compare to sports cars I've owned like Corvettes.

 

Own a 325i before and the handling is superb, mercedes doesn't come close, lexus is pretty close though. BMW is a bit harsh though. And 325i accelarates real quick, the throttle response is awesome, no MB i've driven can come close

 

May I ask what year BMW? Did it have the sports package? Was the suspension/wheels completely stock?

 

I was driving my own 2002 325i. Yes, it did have the sport pack and yes the suspension/wheels are completely stock.

 

ive owned mercedes and ive never cosidered BMW. but they do say they are the "ulitimate driving machine." its all in ones taste!

 

That explains it, the sport package is a must then, otherwise you are getting a German shopping cart with a motor.

 

Ouch!!

Kind of harsh don't you think?

I have a '97 e36 318i as well. No sports pack. The bimmer handles incredibly well. You feel connected to the road. My c240 does not even come close in handling. BUT I still love the car. I knew I was getting luxo with the benz, and that's what I wanted.

Granted, I had an e46 320i loaner for a couple of days. And I thought the handling was still excellent, better than my 240, but it wasn't as good as the 318.

The e46 is a great car, but it can't match an e36 in handling, road feel and steering feel. BMW seems to be slowly moving away from these trademarks to try and attract north american buyers who like the cushy feel of domestics.

It's too bad, because they are ruining a good thing.

 

unfortunately many car companies seem to be moving away from the norm and ruining a good thing!