Performance Package?

DDTAN · 08-16-2005, 10:54 AM

After 8 years of enjoying my 97 328i sedan (sport pkg). I'm finally excited enough about a new 3 series to start planning my next one. We're still running fine at 105 K miles but, the idea of a new ride is getting too strong to resist. I'm trying to hold out till the 07 models when my current car will be officially 10 years old.
I was wondering if there are any rumors out there about a E90 performance package. I did a search in this forum on this but didn't find very much. I thought that the same package for the E46 was a good idea, placing it somewhere between the basic E46 and the M3. I know that it took a while after the E46 M3 was introduced before this package was made available. My dream has been the M3 since it came out, but have never been able to justify the cost. (Goes to show how irrational dreams can be, cause the current base E90 330i has the same horsepower as the 97 M3 did). It's all relative. But if a performance package is planned, it might be a good reason for me to wait even a little longer.

F32Fleet · 08-16-2005, 11:25 AM

The ZHP "Perf Pkg" came out in 2003 for the E46. It's a 235 hp I6 with 225 lbs/tq. It's my belief that BMW was suprised by the demand for such a model and hopefully will give us an E90 version sooner rather than later.

My guess is that we'll see a similar pkg with a 335 model. However, with current gas prices, I wonder if BMW is going to reconsider, but you never know. E90Fleet may know..ask him.

btw..the ZHP for E46 was/is a great car to drive. Less luxury and more drive if you know what I mean.

chazmtb · 08-16-2005, 11:53 AM

Will it be available in the U.S. I see the configuration available in the U.K. I will be purchasing in Jan/Feb of 06. Hopefully ZHP will be availble, and if not, hopeully mystic will be availble. The BMWUSA site does not show those options.

E90Fleet · 08-16-2005, 01:37 PM

The E46 ZHP was a USA only model

Now there are 2 questions

1) Did it make BMW additional profits ?
2) Is the USA going to get the 335i ?

If the USA gets the 335i I see no reason for a USA ZHP 330i

If the E46 did not make extra profits, why go to the trouble to develop one again

So if the answers are yes to 1 and No to 2 then you might see one, else probably not

E90Fleet · 08-16-2005, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chazmtb

Will it be available in the U.S. I see the configuration available in the U.K. I will be purchasing in Jan/Feb of 06. Hopefully ZHP will be availble, and if not, hopeully mystic will be availble. The BMWUSA site does not show those options.

You are probably seeing the M sport pack
It has no engine mods like the E46 ZHP had

F32Fleet · 08-16-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

The E46 ZHP was a USA only model

Now there are 2 questions

1) Did it make BMW additional profits ?
2) Is the USA going to get the 335i ?

If the USA gets the 335i I see no reason for a USA ZHP 330i

If the E46 did not make extra profits, why go to the trouble to develop one again

So if the answers are yes to 1 and No to 2 then you might see one, else probably not

1) I dunno..it sure was a popular pkg.
2) I was thinking if we did get the 335i then we'd get the 335i ZHP. In the US the ZHP was well received by auto mag's. I believe it was touted as one of the best if not the best driving E46. You know more than I.

stressdoc · 08-16-2005, 05:45 PM

I would hope BMW NA (or AG) would see the light and give us ZHP for both the 330i and the 335i, especially if they plan to offer a 'normal' version of the 335i. If the 335i is a purpose built model intended for the sports fanatic, then it will probably have all the M-sport stuff standard. But if the 335i has broader market potential, and can attract the luxury minded buyer, then it would make sense to have standard and ZHP options. Let us pray further that in its unsurpassed wisdom and goodness BMW NA sees fit to offer all E90 variants in the E91 as well. I cannot imagine I am the only lost soul that sees the beauty of an E91 335i ZHP with manual tranny...

RichReg · 08-16-2005, 06:44 PM

Guys, you are really jumping the gun here.
Its one thing to get an intermediate model between the 330 & the M3, but it would be a total marketing disaster(to quote obd) to have TWO models in between.
One of them would surely suffer....

Oz · 08-16-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichReg

Guys, you are really jumping the gun here.
Its one thing to get an intermediate model between the 330 & the M3, but it would be a total marketing disaster(to quote obd) to have TWO models in between.
One of them would surely suffer....

I agree, I don't see the point of 335. They should just make it an upgrade for the 330 or make all of them standard and make the 325 non twin turbo (just an idea)

stressdoc · 08-17-2005, 01:16 AM

ZHP is not a "model"-- it is just a package of goodies, analogous to ZSP but more extreme. It markets well in euro under the label M-sport; in the USA it was further amped with a few performance tweaks on the E46. The costs are low provided BMW does not have to go through a whole new certification process for it. That said, it probably would make sense to stick it with the 335i to justify a price more intermediate between the 330i and the M3.

E90Fleet · 08-17-2005, 03:54 AM

I think what most of you are wasking for is for the USA to get the M Sports package ( Bumpers, suspension and interior )

There is word the E60 5 Series will get it in the USA soon, so hopefually the E90 will also get it there

stressdoc · 08-18-2005, 12:40 AM

We are greedy though -- in addition to alcantara, Le Mans blue, and the other M-sport tweaks we want the more powerful exhaust and quicker final drive gear. Give us a sub-6 sec 0-60 E90. Not hard to do. And make it soon, before we get ahold of our senses and decide to wait for the 335 or M3. Show it off at LA at the latest, with spring availability, in both E90 and E91.

carnuts3 · 08-18-2005, 09:48 AM

I contacted a local BMW dealer and they confirmed that there is currently no "performance package" available for the new E90's. However, looking at future rumors/plans, there may be a 335i introduced in Sept 06 which will be equiped with the current 330i engine with twin turbos creating approx 330hp. If this is the case, I don't think that a performance package like the one made available for the E46's would make sense as it would compete directly with the 335i's.

DDTAN · 08-18-2005, 10:13 AM

What is interesting to me about this twist in the ZHP discussion, is the issue of the 335i. Pardon the ignorance of a "noob" but am I wrong in being under the impression that BMW USA usually only has 2 engine sizes per series at any one one time (ie, 325 and 330). Well, 3 sizes if you want to include the M. But, if that is true would the addition of a 335i mean the dropping of the 325i.
At any rate, in my mind, the main reason for the ZHP is the same reason we customize our cars, just to have something that is a little out of the ordinary. If we had a 335i, it would end up being just a 335i just like everyone elses.

08-16-2005, 10:54 AM	#1
DDTAN Private First Class 2 Rep 130 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 ZSP Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gig Harbor iTrader: (0)	Performance Package? After 8 years of enjoying my 97 328i sedan (sport pkg). I'm finally excited enough about a new 3 series to start planning my next one. We're still running fine at 105 K miles but, the idea of a new ride is getting too strong to resist. I'm trying to hold out till the 07 models when my current car will be officially 10 years old. I was wondering if there are any rumors out there about a E90 performance package. I did a search in this forum on this but didn't find very much. I thought that the same package for the E46 was a good idea, placing it somewhere between the basic E46 and the M3. I know that it took a while after the E46 M3 was introduced before this package was made available. My dream has been the M3 since it came out, but have never been able to justify the cost. (Goes to show how irrational dreams can be, cause the current base E90 330i has the same horsepower as the 97 M3 did). It's all relative. But if a performance package is planned, it might be a good reason for me to wait even a little longer.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-16-2005, 11:25 AM	#2
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3572 Rep 10,352 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	The ZHP "Perf Pkg" came out in 2003 for the E46. It's a 235 hp I6 with 225 lbs/tq. It's my belief that BMW was suprised by the demand for such a model and hopefully will give us an E90 version sooner rather than later. My guess is that we'll see a similar pkg with a 335 model. However, with current gas prices, I wonder if BMW is going to reconsider, but you never know. E90Fleet may know..ask him. btw..the ZHP for E46 was/is a great car to drive. Less luxury and more drive if you know what I mean.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-16-2005, 11:53 AM	#3
chazmtb Private First Class 9 Rep 171 Posts Drives: 2011 X5D Join Date: May 2005 Location: Windermere, FL iTrader: (0)	Will it be available in the U.S. I see the configuration available in the U.K. I will be purchasing in Jan/Feb of 06. Hopefully ZHP will be availble, and if not, hopeully mystic will be availble. The BMWUSA site does not show those options.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-16-2005, 01:37 PM	#4
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	The E46 ZHP was a USA only model Now there are 2 questions 1) Did it make BMW additional profits ? 2) Is the USA going to get the 335i ? If the USA gets the 335i I see no reason for a USA ZHP 330i If the E46 did not make extra profits, why go to the trouble to develop one again So if the answers are yes to 1 and No to 2 then you might see one, else probably not
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-16-2005, 05:45 PM	#7
stressdoc Moderator 618 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	I would hope BMW NA (or AG) would see the light and give us ZHP for both the 330i and the 335i, especially if they plan to offer a 'normal' version of the 335i. If the 335i is a purpose built model intended for the sports fanatic, then it will probably have all the M-sport stuff standard. But if the 335i has broader market potential, and can attract the luxury minded buyer, then it would make sense to have standard and ZHP options. Let us pray further that in its unsurpassed wisdom and goodness BMW NA sees fit to offer all E90 variants in the E91 as well. I cannot imagine I am the only lost soul that sees the beauty of an E91 335i ZHP with manual tranny...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-16-2005, 06:44 PM	#8
RichReg Colonel 121 Rep 2,099 Posts Drives: 2015 435Xi GC & 2000 323Ci. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Guys, you are really jumping the gun here. Its one thing to get an intermediate model between the 330 & the M3, but it would be a total marketing disaster(to quote obd) to have TWO models in between. One of them would surely suffer....
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-17-2005, 01:16 AM	#10
stressdoc Moderator 618 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	ZHP is not a "model"-- it is just a package of goodies, analogous to ZSP but more extreme. It markets well in euro under the label M-sport; in the USA it was further amped with a few performance tweaks on the E46. The costs are low provided BMW does not have to go through a whole new certification process for it. That said, it probably would make sense to stick it with the 335i to justify a price more intermediate between the 330i and the M3.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-17-2005, 03:54 AM	#11
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	I think what most of you are wasking for is for the USA to get the M Sports package ( Bumpers, suspension and interior ) There is word the E60 5 Series will get it in the USA soon, so hopefually the E90 will also get it there
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-18-2005, 12:40 AM	#12
stressdoc Moderator 618 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	We are greedy though -- in addition to alcantara, Le Mans blue, and the other M-sport tweaks we want the more powerful exhaust and quicker final drive gear. Give us a sub-6 sec 0-60 E90. Not hard to do. And make it soon, before we get ahold of our senses and decide to wait for the 335 or M3. Show it off at LA at the latest, with spring availability, in both E90 and E91.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-18-2005, 09:48 AM	#13
carnuts3 Lieutenant 13 Rep 407 Posts Drives: 2008 535i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Performance Package for the E90's I contacted a local BMW dealer and they confirmed that there is currently no "performance package" available for the new E90's. However, looking at future rumors/plans, there may be a 335i introduced in Sept 06 which will be equiped with the current 330i engine with twin turbos creating approx 330hp. If this is the case, I don't think that a performance package like the one made available for the E46's would make sense as it would compete directly with the 335i's.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-18-2005, 10:13 AM	#14
DDTAN Private First Class 2 Rep 130 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 ZSP Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gig Harbor iTrader: (0)	What is interesting to me about this twist in the ZHP discussion, is the issue of the 335i. Pardon the ignorance of a "noob" but am I wrong in being under the impression that BMW USA usually only has 2 engine sizes per series at any one one time (ie, 325 and 330). Well, 3 sizes if you want to include the M. But, if that is true would the addition of a 335i mean the dropping of the 325i. At any rate, in my mind, the main reason for the ZHP is the same reason we customize our cars, just to have something that is a little out of the ordinary. If we had a 335i, it would end up being just a 335i just like everyone elses.
	Appreciate 0 Quote