*Previously, on Autoworld Blog: Showroom Experience: The Joy Factory @ Auto Bavaria Sg Besi*

I approached the Sg Besi edition of Auto Bavaria’s 20th anniversary  celebrations with a little less enthusiasm than used to give to BMW events. In fact, I almost decided to give it a miss.

As a result of the 3-series facelift launch happening just two days earlier., all that was on display were the 323i, the 325i Sports and the 335i Coupe. It was most unfortunate that none of the new variants were available for test driving – especially the 335i.

I was approached by a saleslady whom I shall only identify as Ms M. The two of us enjoyed a brief but pleasant conversation, exchanged name cards, and walked away from each other.

As I was heading to my car Ms. M called out from behind. She was going to ferry two gentleman (one with his son) to the BMW Performance Drive and invited me to come along. We headed off to Bkt Jalil in a 523i SE…

*and now, the conclusion…*

As we arrived at the National Stadium’s car park at Bukit Jalil, our eyes were fixated to our left as we saw a tent, some cones and three pre-facelift E90 320is parked in the periphery. These three cars, over the course of two days during the last weekend were to be driven over and over again as hard as the participants of the BMW Performance Drive could muster.

The idea behind the BMW Performance Drive is to allow participants to (I won’t say push) scratch the upper limits of a BMW car in a controlled environment. I have already tried the Performance Drive once before writing here in AW Blog, but in the interest of motoring journalism, I was at it again, this time to write about it.

There were three exercises in store for us, the braking test, the emergency lane changing maneuver, and the slalom course, all designed to demonstrate (read: showoff) the dynamic capabilities of the humble 320i.

Only two participants are allowed a go at any one time, each taking the wheel of one of the cars, while the instructor demonstrates the moves with the remaining one. Inside each car is a walkie-talkie, where the instructor communicates his instructions to the drivers, and also giving his comments on how we should improve. Most of the time, he just tells us to whack the car harder – I was only too happy to comply on this one.

These three cars had a really long weekend

Pre-match briefing.

1. Braking Test

The first exercise was relatively straight forward. It’s purpose was to demonstrate the retardation power of the car’s braking system. We were asked to accelerate full throttle for about 60 - 70 metres towards a cluster consisting of four pairs of cones arranged in a rectangular pattern. As soon as our cars pass the first pair of cones, we were slam as hard as we can on the brakes.

Done properly, the car should come to a complete stop between the third and fourth pair of cones, without so much of a hint of drama from the outside. Inside, the driver should feel a slight judder coming from the brake pedal, which is to be expected.

At the de-briefing, the instructor made sure to inform us that when we suddenly yanked the pedal, the car’s ABS was causing the brake pads grip and release the brake discs 18 times per second compared to the usual (he claims) 8-10 times per second for most mainstream cars.

It was interesting that, on that same afternoon, I had to call on the services of the ABS on my Waja when a car suddenly cut into my lane. Fortunately, it worked just as well!

Jam your brakes now! Hard!

Parking attendant having absolute confidence in the Bimmer’s brakes.

2. Emergency Lane Changing Maneuver

The second exercise was very similar to the first one. You also accelerate about 60-70 metres towards a cluster of pre-arranged cones and then slam your brakes. However, the difference is, this time, as you’re stepping on the brakes, you also need to steer your car to the side.

The idea of this test, as the instructor puts it is that, it simulates what happens when say, you’re following a truck at some speed and that a fridge (his words) suddenly drops out into your path. With the ABS and all the other three-lettered electronics working their magic, rather than skidding your BMW will still remain in control, allowing you to calmly steer your way out of trouble.

I have actually faced two senarios that would have been adequately simulated by this exercise in the real world, though I was driving something not as well equipped – a Wira 1.6, which still had four disc brakes though, but sans ABS. The first time, I slammed on the brakes, the car couldn’t steer and slammed into the rear of a Wira Aeroback. Fortunately, the second time, I had adequately trained myself to be able to modulate the brakes just before its locking point, and managed to steer my car to safety.

Situations where a sudden lane change is required is when the ABS is most useful. Those without this feature must learn to be able to properly modulate brake pressure to avoid locking the wheels. It’s difficult, but it can be done. 

Emergency lane-changing exercise.

3. Slalom course

Wrapping things up was a simple slalom course, which the instructor told us to take at constant throttle, limiting ourselves to about 35 kph. The objective of this was to feel the famed 50:50 front/rear weight distribution that BMW prides itself with.

On my first run, I set the Steptronic to hold the transmission at 1st gear, which was on hindsight an amateur mistake. While the car tracked easy enough, the engine sounded a little strained, with the instructor suggesting on the walkie to use ‘D’ instead.

I used ‘DS’ on the second run, and it was much better. The car handled just as well, with the engine having to work less hard than before. I then recalled that on my previous Performance Drive, we had a longer run up from the start to the slalom. Using the Steptronic at manual mode then made sense, as I would have had to upshift to 2nd when I reached the first cone. I remembered at that time, using the Steptronic at manual gave me better runs than my friend with me then.

Instructor car guiding participants along the slalom course.

Missing from this edition was the skid pad exercise, which (you guessed it) I tried first time round. In that edition, at Segambut, the skid pad took the place of the emergency lane change exercise, and was frankly, a lot more fun. We were supposed to let our BMW spin out of control over an oil slick, once with DSC on, once more with it off, and compare the difference for ourselves.

I am certain that everyone who participate in this exercise had a great deal of fun. Driving a BMW might be an everyday affair for some people, but it’s not everyday you can drive a BMW like this. It was marketing excellence bar none by both Auto Bavaria and BMW Malaysia. I heard a few waiting participants (read: customers) at the tent remarking how all these exercises served to build their confidence in their BMWs. They are absolutely right, but that’s not even the full story.

The whole idea was to create a memorable experience for participants to associate the BMW brand with. The memory of this event would evoke all the excitement they felt when slamming the 320i’s brakes, and this excitement is then linked with the image of the BMW propellor badge. Oh, what joy…

I once said to my friends, “BMW events never disappoint.” The very first BMW event I attended was held at the Glenmarie branch, where I test drove the E46 325i and the highly acclaimed E60 530d. I went on to attend one event after another, adding to my list the likes of the 545i, the 645Ci, and the Z4 3.0. Every time, when I thought that there was nothing BMW could do to impress me, they just throw up an event, I attend and go home with a smile of satisfaction on my face.

Therefore, against the backdrop of one excellent event after another, the Joy event at the Auto Bavaria Glenmarie branch last week was a little underwhelming (read comments here). It made me reconsider the validity of the statement I made to countless people about BMW events. With that experience still fresh in mind, I approached the Sg Besi edition of the celebrations with a little less enthusiasm than used to give to BMW events. In fact, I almost decided to give it a miss.

Auto Bavaria Sg Besi.

But, miss it I did not, because there is, at the very least the newly facelifted 3-series to check out, and the BMW Performance Drive that made the event held at AB’s Segambut branch such a delight was restored to the lineup. As I entered the showroom, the atmosphere felt friendlier than what I experienced in the Glenmarie branch, being politely greeted by no less than three different people.

Friendlier atmosphere here.

Unlike the preceding editions at Penang, Segambut and Glenmarie, the Sg Besi branch had the advantage of having the 3-series facelift launch happening just two days earlier. As a result, in the showroom area, all that was on display were the 323i, the 325i Sports and the 335i Coupe. It was most unfortunate that none of the new variants were available for test driving – especially the 335i.

As I was viewing the 335i Coupe, I was approached by a saleslady whom I shall only identify as Ms M (M for M3, M5 & M6). For now, I’ll just mention that two of us enjoyed a brief but pleasant conversation, exchanged name cards, and walked away from each other. During our talk, she gave me the standard salesperson introductions of the new 3-series and all its available variants. I’ll get back to her later in the article.

335i Coupe

From the rear.

The interior

iDrive controller

3.0-litre twin-turbo redlines at 7,000rpm.

The 335i Coupe you see above can be yours for RM470k. With that money spent, your car is armed with a 2,979cc twin turbo straight-six that punches (according to BMW) out 306bhp of power at 5,800rpm and with 400Nm of torque from as low as 1,300rpm. However, according to this entry in Wikipedia, a third party has tested this engine to produce 332hp and 422Nm. Whatever the actual figures are, paired with BMW’s 6-speed Steptronic auto, the N54B30 engine propels the 335i from zero to 100kph in just 5.7 seconds.

Parked next to the 335i was a 325i Sports sedan which goes for RM310k. Hanging around this car were a series of placards highlighting all the various unique selling points (USP) of the car. When I arrived at the showroom, there was a gentleman with a microphone walking around the car reading out all the various (I presume) newly added features to the car.

Introducing….. the new 325i Sports!

I think everyone knows about this.

… and this too.

New look rear. The E90’s original taillights received heavy criticism for being too bland. BMW responded, though I am not sure if the new ones really do look better.

Bonnet gets more aggressive creases.

The interior, with M-steering wheel. Paddle-shift controls override for 6-speed Steptronic.

New iDrive interface

For the facelift, the 325i will only be offered with the Sports variant which comes with various M-badged accessories and a stiffer chassis setup for improved handling – though the comfort oriented might find it too hard to bear. I’ll be able to tell you more for sure after a test drive. However, I can tell you for sure that the services of the highly rated 2,497cc N52B25 is retained. Featuring a light weight magnesium block, this straight-six engine is rated at 218bhp @ 6,500rpm and 250Nm @ 2,700rpm.

A BMW salesman once told me, that for customers who switch allegiances from Mercedes-Benz are usually introduced to the 523i instead of the more aggressive 525i Sports. The rationale is that someone accustomed to the softer setup of a Mercedes would find the harder sprung 525i too uncomfortable to deal with. Therefore, I believe a similar rationale lies in the introduction of the 323i into the Malaysian lineup.

The BMW 323i

I doubt I’ll need a test drive to confirm this, as it is clear even on paper, that the 323i will cater the more conservative set of customers from the scream-at-your-face 325i. The absence of aggressive body kits say as much, so does the lower state of tune for the same engine as the 325i. Here, the same 2.5-litre straight-six is rated at just 190bhp @ 5,900rpm and 230Nm @ 3,250rpm. I am quite sure the suspension setup is much softer in the 323i as well. The 323i goes for RM276k.

Absent from display were the 320i and 320i Sports, retailing at RM237k and RM249k respectively. Both these variants are powered by the 1,995cc N46B20 inline-4 engine that was introduced back in 2004. This engine, with Valvetronic and double VANOS is still good for 156bhp @ 6,200rpm and 200Nm @ 3,600rpm. Differentiating the Sports from the standard 320i are once again the usual M-badged stuff that hypes up the looks and stiffens the handling setup.

Besides the display cars, there were the usual buffet of finger foods and sales of various BMW merchandises in the showroom. In a room, at the side of the showroom, was a Service Clinic conducted by their After Sales General Manager, Mr Steven Adolpho, who was giving talks on the use of proper car care products and driving safety. On the other side of the showroom was a Playstation simulator and a treadmill, where participants who clock the fastest times stand to win a weekend with a BMW. I tried the Gran Turismo simulation on the PS, and it’s safe to say that I won’t be in the running for the winning prize.

Mr Adolpho giving a talk at the Service Clinic.

The range of BMW car care products.

PS simulator and treadmill – you can win a weekend in a BMW here.

The highlight of this event was definitely the BMW Performance Drive which took place at the Bukit Jalil stadium car park. Unfortunately, when attempting to sign-up for the event at the counter, I was told that the slots were all taken up. Having already did it in Segambut, I did not feel too disappointed, and walked off, ready to go. As I was heading to my car Ms. M (remember her?) called out from behind. She was going to ferry two gentleman (one with his son) to the Performance Drive and invited me to come along. Well, who was I to refuse? One of the two gentleman took the keys, and we headed off to Bkt Jalil in a 523i SE…

Getting ready to go… Interior of the 523i SE

An example of good ergonomics, this gearstick is easy to grip, and intuitive to operate (once you get it)

At the National Stadium carpark, for the BMW Performance Drive.

To be continued….

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Auto Bavaria has been organising a series of “Joyful Events” at its various showrooms throughout the country. The celebrations kickstarted on 20 Sept in the Penang branch, and since then they have been throwing these parties in Segambut (27/28 Sept), Kuantan (31 Oct / 1 Nov) and most recently Glenmarie this weekend.

I attended the one organised by the Segambut branch over a month back and was absolutely blown away by the experience. After going through a brief safety driving clinic, my mate and I set off in a BMW 525i, heading straight for the nearby Matrade Center parking lot to experience what was called the BMW Performance Drive, where we were each given a 320i to do braking, slalom and skidding tests. Later, back at the showroom, we were then treated to a buffet catered from DeCanters.

Memories of the Segambut event.

I have been to more BMW events than I can remember. I have test driven a 645Ci and a Z4 3.0 top down. I have driven a 545i up to 180kph in pursuit of a similarly powered X5 4.4i only to be stopped by a Kancil suddenly coming into our lane. I have even attended an event that served abalone sushi, but suffice to say, the “Joy” event in Segambut trumped them all. There’s nothing like driving a car in a no-holds barred situation.

Seeing what Glenmarie has in store.

Therefore, against the backdrop of the “joy” I had in my last time out, the Glenmarie edition was rather disappointing. Though admittedly, this one seemed to be catered for existing BMW owners, as they were given free 20-point checks for their BMWs. There was also a mini treasure hunt, dubbed the “Joy Hunt”, open to 50 BMW cars on Saturday and Sunday each.

For us non-BMW owners, besides viewing lineup of BMW cars, which on that day included an M3 Coupe, a 325i Sports, and a 525i Sports, we also had the chance to speak to some of their technicians who showed us the difference between a normal tyre and run-flats, how they diagnose faults in the latest electronic laden BMWs, and also AB Glenmarie’s reknowned impressive BMW body repairing capabilities.

Normal tyres vs run-flats – both tyres are deflated

Displaying their impressive arsenal of tools

Going straight into the brains of your car…

This machine reads out your car’s faults like a book

After looking through all the admittedly impressive exhibits, it was all just viewing and photographing the cars on display. Despite the advertisement on the website saying “Test drive and view the latest BMW cars”, there seemed to be more emphasis on the ‘view’ rather than the ‘test drive’ part, my mate and I were pretty much left alone after putting down our names on the front desk.

All in all, it wasn’t really an event which I considered to be worth my time, which is a shame, considering the edition at the Segambut branch earlier was absolutely amazing. It was quite obvious that this event seemed to be catered to existing or prospective BMW customers, with little room for us mere enthusiasts.

 
Crowd was good though

The 325i Sports with aggressive details

Under the hood of the BMW M3

M3’s S65B40 sings up to 8,250rpm redline, producing 420hp and 400Nm along the way

To be sure, this coming weekend is going to be a real busy one for car nuts, with a plethora of events scattered all throughout the Klang Valley. So much so that I felt it would be a worthwhile endeavour to summarize them all into a list.

Peugeot 407 ‘Test Drive Me’ Campaign

If you had missed it the first time round, worry not – a second time is forthcoming, in no less than seven different showrooms to choose from. Nasim Sdn Bhd is really drumming up the publicity for the 407. Participating Blue Boxes include Glenmarie, Bangsar, Klang, Chan Sow Lin, JB (Plentong), Penang and even the Naza Automall along the Federal Highway.

According to the Peugeot press release, the event will run on 15th and 16th Nov from 10am to 7pm at all the said branches. Visitors will be treated to mystery gifts and refreshments.

Link: Press statement from Peugeot

Naza Carnival 2008

The Naza group is indeed making itself busy this weekend. It’s also having a carnival at its Automall on both days, 10am to 5pm. Highlights include an event listed on the schedule as ‘Premium giveaway by GT Queens‘, photo booth with the Aston Martin DB9 and Ducati 1098, and product presentations for the Ferrari 430 and 599.  

Link: Event website

The Joy Factory @ Auto Bavaria

Celebrating their 20th anniversary, AB has been throwing up test-drive events at several of its branches. One of them was at Segambut a few weeks back, where this writer was given the chance to thrash an E90 320i in a brake test, slalom and skid test in what was termed the BMW Performance Drive. Not this time though, the Glenmarie edition features a Joy Hunt (mini treasure hunt) for BMW owners and also a free 20-point inspection for BMW cars. You can also test drive the latest BMW models here too.

Link: http://www.autobavaria.com/joy

Proton Campro Drag Battle in Sepang

Motorsports enthusiasts can also go to the Sepang circuit in the evening of 15 Nov to see various Campro-powered Protons battle it out in a drag battle. Originally open for all 1.6NA Protons, this event is now closed to only Protons running on the Campro engine.

 Link: Post on AW forum

Toyota Festive Moments Celebration

ALL Toyota showrooms nationwide will be participating in on this one. The newspaper ad promised refreshments, activities and gifts for everyone. Customers signing up for a new Toyota gets an 8Gb Sony Video MP3 player. Here’s the catch though, your new car must be registered by 31 Dec 2008.

I have personally pencilled the Campro Drag Battle as ‘certain to attend’, and I’ll see how I can fit the rest into my schedule. It’s going to be a busy weekend….