1996 BMW 328Is Specifications

The 1996 328is weighed significantly less than modern 3-Series models.

The 1996 BMW 328is luxury sports coupe bridged the power and performance gap in BMW's 3-Series coupe platform between the more pedestrian 318is and racier M3. Only two-door coupes got the "is" designation, while 1996 sedans were known as the 318i and 328i.

Engine

BMW's M52B28 inline six-cylinder engine had debuted in 1995, and was put to good use on the 328is. With 24 valves, dual overhead cams and variable valve timing, the 2.8-liter earned praise for its raw power and silky smooth operation. Power output is 190 horsepower at 5,300 rpm and 206 ft.-lb. of torque at 3,950 rpm.

Drivetrain and Chassis

The 328is used a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and could be ordered with one of two transmissions: a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic with overdrive. The sports coupe used a fully independent suspension setup with struts up front and multilinks in the rear. Four-wheel ventilated anti-lock disc brakes were also standard.

Performance

A 1996 Car and Driver 10Best winner due in large part to its excellent, neutral handling, the 328is was no slouch in a straight line either. Zero to 60 mph came in 6.3 seconds, with the quarter-mile flying by in 14.8 seconds. Fuel economy is 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

References

• Motor Trend: 1996 BMW 3-Series 328is Coupe Specs
• MSN Autos: 1996 BMW 3-Series Specs and Features
• Car and Driver: 1996 10Best List
• Zero to 60 Times: BMW 0-60 Times & BMW 1/4 Mile Times