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| The Ultimate Enthusiast Daily Driver
Forgive me for the blunt statement about to follow. Finally, we were asked to write about something other than an M3 or N54/55 car! The E90 330i is our subject today, which makes several of us at Turner Motorsport quite happy. It is an often overlooked BMW model, but one that deserves attention all the same. These sentiments might come as a surprise to some readers not in-the-know about what an underrated gem the E90 330i is, but those that do might agree with our take on what is possibly one of the best enthusiast daily drivers out there. Let’s explore how to maximize your enjoyment behind the wheel of an E90 330i and what it would take to make one the ultimate enthusiast’s daily driver.
The E90 330i was the second and final to bear the numerical identifier that designated it as a 3-liter, naturally aspirated, straight-six car. Had with a manual transmission and sport package, the E90 beat its E46 predecessor by almost a full second to 60mph while providing the same combined fuel economy from an efficient package. That 0-60 time also happened to spank the E36 M3 (US version), too, so all you E36 guys raising your eyebrows about the previous assertions can pipe down for a little while.
Speaking of the M3, the 330i was the highest displacement, naturally aspirated, straight-six, 3-series available in the E90 generation, which makes it a worthy ‘modern’ successor to the spirit of the E36 and E46 M3s. Bear with us, here. The RWD layout, manual transmission, and power band from the inline engine feel distinctly similar, if less high strung, than the M3s of previous generations. Paired with its stiff, lightweight, predictable chassis, the 330i drives exceptionally well despite being often overshadowed by the 335i and M3. Plenty of fun can be had from the 330i to the point that it could be considered an excellent candidate for a lower cost track day toy or efficient daily driver. But what would it take to make it something more engaging if it’s just my everyday transportation?
First, let’s just start with an assumption. “If I were in the market for a new daily that needed to be practical, manual transmission, fun, efficient, and potentially upgradable, what would I want to spend?”
For about $6,500, you can have a manual transmission 330i with fairly low miles. Not a bad price for something intended to be a daily. With about 250hp at the crank when new, the 330i offers a decent bit of power, rear wheel drive, and comfortable seating for four. The cold weather package, which had fold down rear seats, heated front seats, and headlight washers, makes finding one equipped with those options definitely a plus. The E90 330i already stacks up to be a great choice, on paper. How about reliability?
According to Car and Driver in their initial long-term review of the car, only a few minor faults happened within the first 50,000 miles, none were mechanical, save a failed rear wheel bearing (blame all their hard driving on the track). As far as higher mileage versions, the cars may appear relatively modern, but underneath they are based around the same simple platforms BMW has used for years. There might be a few more wires here and there, but for the most part, maintenance is easily a DIY job for the majority of services that an owner would want to complete. Turner Motorsport has everything you need conveniently packaged for complete services, so maintenance is almost a non-issue if done at home. Next up, performance potential.
So, deciding on the E90 330i as a daily seems to be the perfect choice. However, its bigger brothers tend to receive all the aftermarket support, so how do I make my E90 a little more fun and unique?
Initial upgrades
With a hearty 250hp under the hood, and this being a daily driver, I would choose to start my modifications with upgrades that allow me to use that power more effectively. Proper suspension, better wheels, and higher performance tires will help the car corner at higher speeds and handle braking or acceleration with greater stability. Better brakes and a more rigid drivetrain will help to make the car incredibly engaging and competitive. Remember, with suspension tuning, the idea is to keep as much of the tire’s contact patch on the road as possible in adverse conditions. This offers maximum traction which translates to more power put to the ground and leads to more engaging back road driving or track days. As well, better brakes allow you to spend more time accelerating while also serving the necessary purpose of keeping you out of danger. |
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| Suspension Options
Cup Kits are excellent choices if you are budget minded, won’t be changing up the ride height, and only need to control damper stiffness. A lowered ride height is achieved with shorter and stiffer springs while ride quality, rebound, and compression are improved with better shocks and struts. H&R and Eibach manufacture high-quality sport and racing springs that will drop the E90 to a more suitable height, while dampers will come from either Bilstein or Koni. |
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| Coilovers are the next step up from a cup kit and can range from essentially cosmetic to professionally competitive in price and performance. Several noteworthy manufacturers are BC Racing, Ohlins, TC Kline, and Bilstein. Coilovers offer significantly more adjustment settings for even more ride control, which can be incredibly beneficial for optimizing the capabilities of the 330i through suspension tuning. |
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| In my case, coilovers are close to overkill, but if you see your own build quickly progressing to a point that fine-tuning the suspension is necessary, it is better to buy a set that gives you room to grow and improve rather than fork over the same money later to replace a cup kit that doesn’t have that adjustment range. For more information on what coilovers might be right for you, check out our Turner Motorsport Keys to Performance Suspension article! |
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| Wheels
Let’s face it, there are infinite wheel options out there for these cars. Here, we will outline some of our favorite options available for the E90 330i.
Apex
For the budget-minded, APEX offers lightweight wheels designed for street and mild track use that are oriented around BMW fitment. Their wheels both look excellent and accept more aggressive tires, which further improves the drivability of the car. Plus, who doesn’t love a beefy fitment? |
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| | | BBS
The lucky few who have deeper pockets might consider BBS, who have been essentially the go-to manufacturer of BMW performance wheels in cast or forged versions. The same benefits mentioned before still apply, with the addition of supreme quality and impeccable looks. |
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| For my car, the APEX Arc-8 in gunmetal finish would have to be the move due to price, looks, and available specs. |
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| Brakes
Brakes are important to performance, as they allow you to stay on the throttle longer and get on it sooner. The more time on the throttle you spend, the more of the 250hp from your engine you are using. Upgrading brakes would be the next logical step in order to maximize the effectiveness of the new suspension, wheels, and tires, so let’s look at our options for the hypothetical ultimate daily driver E90 330i.
Several key manufacturers produce competent street/track pads that work with your OEM calipers and rotors, which will reduce your stopping distance and resist fade better than ordinary pads. |
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| | | | For something a little more aggressive, you can always go with upgraded brake calipers, pads, and rotors or all the way up to a big brake kit from StopTech, Sparta Evolution, or Brembo. Remember, the best brakes are the ones that perform well with how you drive the car. |
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| For my ‘ultimate daily,’ upgraded pads, new rotors, steel lines, and better brake fluid will do the trick. If you still have questions about what brakes might suit your style best, check out our Braking Performance article. |
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| Drivetrain
Since the car will be mostly a daily, comfort needs to be considered. Still, using all the available power to the best of its ability is a goal. This means the bushings and mounts need to be up to snuff. Polyurethane engine mounts will reduce deflection while retaining some semblance of comfort, and OEM replacements in the subframe and rear differential will ensure the rest of the car stays tight.
For the transmission, our new ultimate short shift kit offers height and throw adjustability with engaging shifts that make driving the E90 330i feel much more like a performance platform with sedan convenience rather than the other way around. Paired with the previous modifications, the E90 should now feel rigid, responsive, tight, engaging, and fun. Remember, we haven’t even added power yet. | | |
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| Power
Speaking of power, with all the supporting modifications completed, adding power makes sense. I know, it’s tempting to just slap a turbo on something and boost it until you have head separation from the block. This is a daily, though, and needs to be reliable. Additionally, the suspension, brakes, wheels, tires, and drivetrain improvements already made will allow power to be increased marginally while still maintaining proper control over the car and getting the most from that power. | |
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| Intake
There are not too many companies that offer intakes designed for the N52. That said, the limited options available are both excellent.
Turner Motorsport, Injen, and AFE Power all offer upgraded filters and tubes, which help reduce intake temperatures and improve air flow for slight power gains. The real importance is using the Turner Motorsport IAT Relocate Kit to prevent the sensor from registering false high temperatures, which affects the way the computer supplies fuel to the engine. Lastly, a performance intake is a good jumping off point for making other improvements to the power plant as well as cleaning up the engine bay. | |
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| Exhaust
Honestly, the exhaust from the factory is not appealing to an enthusiast. Trading out for a system like one from Supersprint provides a subtle change in looks, better performance, and more enjoyable sound. A full exhaust system from the headers to the muffler will make a world of difference, especially when the car has been tuned. | |
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| ECU
With a Turner Motorsport performance tune, the inclusion of an intake and exhaust will wake up the car. Combining the three basic modifications offers the biggest improvements to overall power output from each component, which will ideally help the N52 reach a much more respectable horsepower number, putting it in competition with much newer, more performance-oriented, models. | |
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| The additional 20hp from the Turner tune, as well as the few horsepower from the exhaust and intake, bump that initial 250hp well north of 280hp to the crank. With the upgraded brakes, wheels, tires, suspension, and drivetrain components, this E90 would easily be a capable and engaging car without sacrificing its daily usability. Naturally, this is just my opinion on what would make up my idea of the ultimate enthusiast’s daily. There are more aggressive modifications all the way up to race-capable versions of parts for the E90 330i that would allow anyone so inclined to build a full-on track weapon. Now, all that’s left is for you to start making your own ultimate enthusiast daily driver. Everything you need is right here at Turner Motorsport and anything you need to know can be found in our Keys to Performance series for building your perfect BMW. |
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