Finally a real road test! - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

AZ330FZL · 10-30-2012, 04:22 PM

This last weekend I was out of town and able to take a little drive up a mountain. This is the first time I was able to really drive my car the way BMW intended. The road I was on was the Catilina Highway from Tucson up to Mount Lemmon.

I had a car full of people so I didnt quite push it as I may have if I were alone. But that doesnt mean I was poking around the corners either.

So my 335i is the Sport Line and is AT with paddles. I have driven MT most of my driving life and loved the control on roads like this, but this experience was amazing. The AT is so responsive, my hands never had to leave the wheel, and the shifts were so fast and crisp. Coming out of a tight turn, downshifting and mashing the gas pedal the car just bolted down the road. There were a few times where I suspected the rear tires may have broken away (since I was in SPORT +) but they never did, I could have pushed even harder and faster into and out of the turns with no issues. I knew not to go harder or faster than I was from the screams coming from the back seat, more of joy and fun that of terror tho.

I found out later in the afternoon that my girlfriend pulled her hoodie over head a few times. LOL

must have done something right......

The cars preformance was beyond what I could have imagined. The brakes never faded, the wheel was easy to control and the AT preformed amazingly! The woosh of the turbo and the growl of the exhaust at full blast was awesome as well. I can only hope to get the chance to do this more with this amazing car. Hope you all can experience the joy and engineering of this awesome car as well.

AZ330FZL · 11-08-2012, 01:30 PM

Thought I'd include some pictures from the drive up.

Hope you enjoy!

ric124 · 11-08-2012, 01:37 PM

Nice!!! I'm so jealous right now! Wish I could have roads like that here. No hills in south FL

rjc32000 · 11-08-2012, 01:41 PM

Wow, great pics! WHat camera were you using? You obviously have an eye for photography.

justinnum1 · 11-08-2012, 01:48 PM

epic

Maz335i · 11-08-2012, 02:23 PM

Epic for sure!

utenigma · 11-08-2012, 02:53 PM

So so so so so so so jealous

fotios335i · 11-08-2012, 03:16 PM

wow, something like this has always been a dream of mine. God I love cars.

brio · 11-08-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric124

Nice!!! I'm so jealous right now! Wish I could have roads like that here. No hills in south FL

+1, here in Central FL

DerekS · 11-08-2012, 05:41 PM

Enjoyed reading your report and seeing some very lovely photos !!

Thank you for sharing !!!

AZ330FZL · 11-09-2012, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjc32000

Wow, great pics! WHat camera were you using? You obviously have an eye for photography.

Photography is a bit of a side hobby for me, got that from my dad. I have been using a Nikon D70s lately. So far I have been pleased with it.

AZ330FZL · 11-09-2012, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brio

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric124

Nice!!! I'm so jealous right now! Wish I could have roads like that here. No hills in south FL

+1, here in Central FL

Thank you everyone. I wasn't sure when I was going to get another chance like that since I live in Phoenix and there aren't many roads like that nearby. Don't pass it up if you get the chance. We have an amazing machine and it deserves to be pushed around the curves!

c.cash · 11-09-2012, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ330FZL

I had a car full of people so I didnt quite push it as I may have if I were alone. But that doesnt mean I was poking around the corners either.

I knew not to go harder or faster than I was from the screams coming from the back seat, more of joy and fun that of terror tho.

I found out later in the afternoon that my girlfriend pulled her hoodie over head a few times. LOL

I have roads like that near me. Before I bought mine, I rented an F30 and took it out on one. That's what sold me on it -- I couldn't get it out of my mind.

But it IS intimidating to think that if your hand slips off the wheel you could easily go over some very steep cliffs. So you're a brave man to take a car full of people on something like that!

I took my wife, who is deathly afraid of heights, on one of those a while back and she was white-knuckled and tense the whole time... "slow down, slow down, slow down" was all I kept hearing... and I was going like 30

. I won't be doing that again.

That's a really cool shot of your car, by the way.

woderd · 11-09-2012, 05:43 AM

excellent pics

vern · 11-09-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ330FZL

Thank you everyone. I wasn't sure when I was going to get another chance like that since I live in Phoenix and there aren't many roads like that nearby. Don't pass it up if you get the chance. We have an amazing machine and it deserves to be pushed around the curves!

Great pictures Dumb ride with a car full of people. Take it to a TRACK.
cheers
vern

AZ330FZL · 11-09-2012, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vern

Great pictures Dumb ride with a car full of people. Take it to a TRACK.
cheers
vern

I made sure to be cautious while driving, only pushed it while going up hill so I was never near the edge of any drop off. I also would slow down in blind corners. I made sure that we were all safe. Some day I hope to get to a track too.

AZ330FZL · 11-09-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c.cash

I have roads like that near me. Before I bought mine, I rented an F30 and took it out on one. That's what sold me on it -- I couldn't get it out of my mind.

But it IS intimidating to think that if your hand slips off the wheel you could easily go over some very steep cliffs. So you're a brave man to take a car full of people on something like that!

I took my wife, who is deathly afraid of heights, on one of those a while back and she was white-knuckled and tense the whole time... "slow down, slow down, slow down" was all I kept hearing... and I was going like 30

. I won't be doing that again.

That's a really cool shot of your car, by the way.

Yeah I only was sure to only push it when I knew the roads were clear ahead. I also only did it going up the mountain since I didnt want to deal with the edge on the way back down. That would only happen if I knew the road were closed to traffic and I were by myself.

Thanks, photograpy is a bit of a hobby of mine.

AZ330FZL · 11-09-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woderd

excellent pics

Thanks

Anemone · 11-09-2012, 01:34 PM

nice. I haven't done that drive for a while. I need to get down there. Thanks for the reminder!

Neph · 11-09-2012, 03:24 PM

Nice read and pics

E46toF30 · 11-09-2012, 04:49 PM

If only we had roads like that in Philly...

AZ330FZL · 11-11-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neph

Nice read and pics

Thanks! Hope to get out again very soon to drive some new places and take more pictures.

10-30-2012, 04:22 PM	#1
AZ330FZL Second Lieutenant Drives: 2012 335i Sedan Sport Line Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 246 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 335i Sport ... [0.00]	Finally a real road test! This last weekend I was out of town and able to take a little drive up a mountain. This is the first time I was able to really drive my car the way BMW intended. The road I was on was the Catilina Highway from Tucson up to Mount Lemmon. I had a car full of people so I didnt quite push it as I may have if I were alone. But that doesnt mean I was poking around the corners either. So my 335i is the Sport Line and is AT with paddles. I have driven MT most of my driving life and loved the control on roads like this, but this experience was amazing. The AT is so responsive, my hands never had to leave the wheel, and the shifts were so fast and crisp. Coming out of a tight turn, downshifting and mashing the gas pedal the car just bolted down the road. There were a few times where I suspected the rear tires may have broken away (since I was in SPORT +) but they never did, I could have pushed even harder and faster into and out of the turns with no issues. I knew not to go harder or faster than I was from the screams coming from the back seat, more of joy and fun that of terror tho. I found out later in the afternoon that my girlfriend pulled her hoodie over head a few times. LOL must have done something right...... The cars preformance was beyond what I could have imagined. The brakes never faded, the wheel was easy to control and the AT preformed amazingly! The woosh of the turbo and the growl of the exhaust at full blast was awesome as well. I can only hope to get the chance to do this more with this amazing car. Hope you all can experience the joy and engineering of this awesome car as well.
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11-08-2012, 01:30 PM	#2
AZ330FZL Second Lieutenant Drives: 2012 335i Sedan Sport Line Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 246 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 335i Sport ... [0.00]	Added Pictures from the drive Thought I'd include some pictures from the drive up. Hope you enjoy!

11-08-2012, 01:37 PM	#3
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!!! I'm so jealous right now! Wish I could have roads like that here. No hills in south FL __________________ 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\|

11-08-2012, 01:48 PM	#5
justinnum1 Brigadier General Drives: 2013 335i Msport Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,793 iTrader: (0)	epic __________________ F30 335i Msport Estoril Blue/Black leather sport auto. black grills, Performance Exhaust, HK,

11-08-2012, 02:23 PM	#6
Maz335i BMW 4 Life... Drives: 2012 335i M Sport (Special Ed) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 2,488 iTrader: (0)	Epic for sure! __________________ MODS: * / M Sport + Performance / Meisterschaft / Challenge / MORR / more to come! *

11-08-2012, 01:41 PM	#4
rjc32000 Second Lieutenant Drives: 2013 M Sport X Drive Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Alaska Posts: 260 iTrader: (0)	Wow, great pics! WHat camera were you using? You obviously have an eye for photography.

11-08-2012, 02:53 PM	#7
utenigma Private First Class Drives: 2013 F30 335i 8SA M-Adaptive Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 197 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW 335i Sport ... [4.25] 2001 BMW 330i [5.00]	So so so so so so so jealous

11-08-2012, 03:16 PM	#8
fotios335i Major General Drives: 12 BSM F30 sportline 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: cape cod MA Posts: 6,371 iTrader: (61)	wow, something like this has always been a dream of mine. God I love cars. __________________ 2012 335i sportline/Msport, M adaptive and vss, sport 8 AT, fully loaded, Black saphire, black dakota leather, M performance front grills, M performance shifter, M performance rear spoiler, M performance power kit, M performance exhaust, 19" 401's, morr vs8.2's coming someday..., front aero lip & more coming....

11-08-2012, 05:41 PM	#10
DerekS Captain Drives: 335i M Sport GS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver,B.C. Posts: 910 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW 335i M Sport [0.00]	Enjoyed reading your report and seeing some very lovely photos !! Thank you for sharing !!! __________________ 2013-335i M Sport, 8 spd, Glacier silver, adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering, 18" style 400 staggered wheels/tires, M Sport brakes,

11-09-2012, 05:43 AM	#14
woderd Private Drives: boat Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: home Posts: 90 iTrader: (0)	excellent pics

11-09-2012, 01:34 PM	#19
Anemone New Member Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: May 2012 Location: AZ - East Valley Posts: 29 iTrader: (0)	nice. I haven't done that drive for a while. I need to get down there. Thanks for the reminder!

11-09-2012, 03:24 PM	#20
Neph Private First Class Drives: 2010 328i E92, Sport, 6MT Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: ///Milky way Posts: 138 iTrader: (0)	Nice read and pics

11-09-2012, 04:49 PM	#21
E46toF30 Freude am fahren Drives: F30 335i ZMM 6MT Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 94 iTrader: (0)	If only we had roads like that in Philly... __________________ Now driving: '13 F30 335i l ///M-Sport l Estoril Blue II l 6MT l Black Dakota l 400M Wheels l Harman Kardon l BMW Assist w/ Enhanced BT '04 Mini Cooper Retired: '01 E46 325xi

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