BMW 320i Is Feeling Just Right

It’s hard to believe, but it’s already been almost five months since our BMW 320i (MT) was delivered, and recently it’s really started to feel great. My husband, who drove the 320i again after a while, said, “The engine revs so well, and the driving feel has gotten so much better.”

At first, I often felt it lacked power and wasn’t fun at all, but lately it’s really grown on me, and I find myself enjoying driving it more and more.

I’ve heard from test drive experiences that “cars that regularly rev their engines tend to have better engine responsiveness,” and since I drive this 320i almost every day (at least five times a week) and often push it hard up the steep hill in front of our house, maybe that’s why the engine has broken in so well.

While thinking about this, I found a very easy-to-understand article online about “car engine condition.” Here’s what it said:

・Engines in cars that aren’t driven much don’t circulate oil properly, which actually worsens their condition.
・The most wear on pistons and cylinders happens right when the engine starts. If a car sits unused for over a week, oil around the pistons and cylinder heads drains down into the oil pan due to gravity, so starting the engine in this dry state (dry start) causes the most damage to parts.
・On the other hand, cars that run daily have shorter engine-off times, and oil remains between metal parts when restarting, so metal contact at engine start is minimal, reducing wear.
・Just like humans need blood circulation to remove waste, cars benefit from engine oil circulation to prevent dirt buildup.
*Source: Why High-Mileage Cars Have Good Engine Condition

I see—based on this, since I drive the 320i almost every day, it’s probably in great shape engine-wise.

BMW, My Trusty Partner

As the engine has broken in, I feel like it’s fitting me better and better. It’s like we’re syncing our breathing. Since modern cars are electronically controlled by computers, I wonder if the 320i has learned my driving habits. My husband once said,

“Maybe the previous owner didn’t rev it much and drove it gently.”

But since I’ve been driving it daily, maybe the car has gradually changed. Of course, my own skill with manual driving has improved a lot, too.

Compared to before, I’m less focused on “eliminating shift shock and driving smoothly.” I can now intuitively time my shifts by feel—speed, engine sound—and my previously poor downshifting has gotten better recently.

People often say about horses, “the rider and horse sync their breathing over time,” and I feel the same about the 320i. After driving it every day, we’ve developed a kind of communication, and my sense of partnership and affection for the car has grown.

Actually, this month my husband will take the Master Course at the Porsche Track Experience (PTE) held at Fuji Speedway, and our family will go along. Normally I’d drive the Panamera, but this time I plan to take the BMW 320i.

This will be my first time doing a roughly 1,000 km round trip to Fuji Speedway in the 320i, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of driving experience I can enjoy with my trusty partner.