Finally drove the F30!!! - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

doublevanosrc · 05-10-2012, 05:33 PM

After months of reading and seeing pics of the F30 online and in magazines I finally got behind the wheel of a 328i luxury and a 335i sport both autos and both loaded with all the options. I have owned several Bimmers since 1995, an E30, 2 E46s and now an E82 135i. I was excited to finally experience this new wonderful car that I have been hearing alot about.

Let's start with the 328 luxury, a very nice car indeed. It had brown leather and some grayish wood. I fired it up and play around with the idrive for a bit. The layout of the controls and stalks are pure BMW and nothing seems out of place. The new cockpit layout is just awesome!! I did noticed the stalks look a little cheap compared to the E90 but that's not a big deal. I put the car in sport mode and just punch it out the gate. The new turbo 4 and 8 speed tranny are a match made in heaven. The car moves fast for a 4, very fast and before you know it you're doing close to 100mph. The tranny bangs out the gears quick and smooth, however i did notice once where I press the throttle and nothing happened for what felt like a second or 2. I'm not sure if it was turbo lag or if the tranny had a hard time finding the next gear. It didn't happen again so I didn't think much of it. The car pulls hard on the highway without issue, changing lanes and merging is a breeze with this turbo 4. My only beef is the sound, it sounds ok nothing great nothing horrible. Handling was great for the luxury model however the brakes seemed a little weak and brake feel was ok, not great. The steering just as everyone has heard provides no feedback but it lets you place the car exactly were you want with mad precision. I think it's good but a little feedback would be nice. Overall i was impressed with the turbo 4 and the 8 speed, coming from a manual 135, I can say I wouldn't rule out a 328 auto in my future. It's that good the only let down are the brakes which hopefully the M-Sport version will solve with an upgrade. The 328 seems like the perfect car, it's fast when it has to be, it's comfy when it has to, and it saves fuel when it has to, now if it only had the brakes from the 335 it would be perfect. Now to the 335 sport...

The 335 sport seem to be better in every way than the 328 except in the mpg dept. As soon as I fired it up and mashed the throttle the inline 6 started to sing its tune. I just started to grin and redline shifts to hear it again and again. I felt like I was home now!! I don't know a BMW 3 without that famous inline 6 sound just feels weird, like its missing something. Don't get me the wrong I like the 328 alot but that sound does something to me, makes me feel at I'm home or something. The 335 was faster, handled better, and had way better brakes. Not better than my 135 which has 6 pots, but still way better than the 328 and with better feel. The steering was about the same as the 328, i didn't notice any feedback either but it seem to have better precision to place the car where ever you wanted than the 328. Of course the seats where better and the steering wheel felt a little thicker. The suspension seemed perfect to me, very smooth and comfy over the road but still has that BMW handling. I wouldn't spend an extra $900 for the M suspension unless the roads in your area are really bad. Just like others have mentioned BMW is getting better with these runflats, the car felt perfect and quiet. I did noticed the car seemed to lack some grip which of course is attribute to the tires. Overall the 335 Sport is the one I would spring for however its $56k MSRP price had me scared. I really would like the idrive system in my next BMW along with the blind spot detection system it's neat and helpful by just flashing small lights instead of annoying beeps and gongs.

Verdict: The bottom line is that BMW just shitted on the competition again. They must be scrambling with the launch of this new 3. BMW took a great car and made it better. It has cool features and gadgets but it's still fun to drive and that's really all that matters.

Calmwinds · 05-10-2012, 06:18 PM

I agree with you in every way except for the price. I just got quoted around $75K Canadian for an 335i F30 m sport. While the it seems to be a huge improvement from the previous generation, the price is just way up there that I might as well spend another 10K on an M3.

cardnation · 05-10-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calmwinds

I just got quoted around $75K Canadian for an 335i F30 m sport.

Shit, Canada is crazy!

ric124 · 05-10-2012, 07:41 PM

Nice! Good write up.

I had the same experience on my test drive. I went in drove the 328i and then drove the 335i. on this forum the 328i owners are going to get defensive but it felt like the 335i handled better to me as well. I had no doubt with picking the 335i I had a night and day experience between the two.

doublevanosrc · 05-10-2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calmwinds

I agree with you in every way except for the price. I just got quoted around $75K Canadian for an 335i F30 m sport. While the it seems to be a huge improvement from the previous generation, the price is just way up there that I might as well spend another 10K on an M3.

Yeah I agree they are very expensive once all the must have options are added.

David328M-Sport · 05-10-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calmwinds

I just got quoted around $75K Canadian for an 335i F30 m sport. While the it seems to be a huge improvement from the previous generation, the price is just way up there that I might as well spend another 10K on an M3.

If only we had such pricing here in Australia.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cardnation

Shit, Canada is crazy!

You ain't seen nothin yet. Base model starts at AUD$101,000.00+ for a F30 335. Then choose your options.

05-10-2012, 05:33 PM	#1
doublevanosrc Loves Runflats. Drives: 2011 135i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Austin. Tx Posts: 1,573 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW [0.00] 2011 BMW [0.00]	Finally drove the F30!!! After months of reading and seeing pics of the F30 online and in magazines I finally got behind the wheel of a 328i luxury and a 335i sport both autos and both loaded with all the options. I have owned several Bimmers since 1995, an E30, 2 E46s and now an E82 135i. I was excited to finally experience this new wonderful car that I have been hearing alot about. Let's start with the 328 luxury, a very nice car indeed. It had brown leather and some grayish wood. I fired it up and play around with the idrive for a bit. The layout of the controls and stalks are pure BMW and nothing seems out of place. The new cockpit layout is just awesome!! I did noticed the stalks look a little cheap compared to the E90 but that's not a big deal. I put the car in sport mode and just punch it out the gate. The new turbo 4 and 8 speed tranny are a match made in heaven. The car moves fast for a 4, very fast and before you know it you're doing close to 100mph. The tranny bangs out the gears quick and smooth, however i did notice once where I press the throttle and nothing happened for what felt like a second or 2. I'm not sure if it was turbo lag or if the tranny had a hard time finding the next gear. It didn't happen again so I didn't think much of it. The car pulls hard on the highway without issue, changing lanes and merging is a breeze with this turbo 4. My only beef is the sound, it sounds ok nothing great nothing horrible. Handling was great for the luxury model however the brakes seemed a little weak and brake feel was ok, not great. The steering just as everyone has heard provides no feedback but it lets you place the car exactly were you want with mad precision. I think it's good but a little feedback would be nice. Overall i was impressed with the turbo 4 and the 8 speed, coming from a manual 135, I can say I wouldn't rule out a 328 auto in my future. It's that good the only let down are the brakes which hopefully the M-Sport version will solve with an upgrade. The 328 seems like the perfect car, it's fast when it has to be, it's comfy when it has to, and it saves fuel when it has to, now if it only had the brakes from the 335 it would be perfect. Now to the 335 sport... The 335 sport seem to be better in every way than the 328 except in the mpg dept. As soon as I fired it up and mashed the throttle the inline 6 started to sing its tune. I just started to grin and redline shifts to hear it again and again. I felt like I was home now!! I don't know a BMW 3 without that famous inline 6 sound just feels weird, like its missing something. Don't get me the wrong I like the 328 alot but that sound does something to me, makes me feel at I'm home or something. The 335 was faster, handled better, and had way better brakes. Not better than my 135 which has 6 pots, but still way better than the 328 and with better feel. The steering was about the same as the 328, i didn't notice any feedback either but it seem to have better precision to place the car where ever you wanted than the 328. Of course the seats where better and the steering wheel felt a little thicker. The suspension seemed perfect to me, very smooth and comfy over the road but still has that BMW handling. I wouldn't spend an extra $900 for the M suspension unless the roads in your area are really bad. Just like others have mentioned BMW is getting better with these runflats, the car felt perfect and quiet. I did noticed the car seemed to lack some grip which of course is attribute to the tires. Overall the 335 Sport is the one I would spring for however its $56k MSRP price had me scared. I really would like the idrive system in my next BMW along with the blind spot detection system it's neat and helpful by just flashing small lights instead of annoying beeps and gongs. Verdict: The bottom line is that BMW just shitted on the competition again. They must be scrambling with the launch of this new 3. BMW took a great car and made it better. It has cool features and gadgets but it's still fun to drive and that's really all that matters. __________________ 2011 135i M Sport manual in Space Graywith Coral Red leather, Harman Kardon, and Ipod -Mods- BMW PPK,3M Tint,OEM Aluminum pedals,CPE Towplate OEM tires for sale http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=746421
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05-10-2012, 07:41 PM	#4
ric124 Lieutenant Colonel Drives: F30 335i SP 6MT Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,528 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 335i Sport [5.00] 2012 Trek Mamba 29er [0.00]	Nice! Good write up. I had the same experience on my test drive. I went in drove the 328i and then drove the 335i. on this forum the 328i owners are going to get defensive but it felt like the 335i handled better to me as well. I had no doubt with picking the 335i I had a night and day experience between the two. __________________ Timeline: 335i Sport W/ Adaptive M suspension\| Sport Variable steering\| Technology PKG\| HK Sound PKG\| BMW apps\| BMW Assist\| Sport line hand brake grip\| M Performance black kidneys\|

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05-10-2012, 06:18 PM	#2
Calmwinds Private First Class Drives: Everywhere Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 198 iTrader: (0)	I agree with you in every way except for the price. I just got quoted around $75K Canadian for an 335i F30 m sport. While the it seems to be a huge improvement from the previous generation, the price is just way up there that I might as well spend another 10K on an M3.