Canadian 328i ordered, am I at a loss? - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

Jslice01 · 06-27-2012, 05:03 AM

Hi guys,

I've ordered my first bmw, 328i, in mid May from Town&Country BMW without doing as much research as I should have, however it is not too late to "correct" my decision. Hopefully some answers would help me decide what to do next. Sorry if some of this question was asked before.

Primary concern - No Paddleshifters/Sport Auto: I'm kinda pissed when i realized that sport line 328i did not come with these. The dealer said I would be able to manually downshift/upshift with the gearshift, but I wonder if I would be missing out on quicker shift times because of this? Also from what I remember reading in the forum, the manual mode would automatically upshift when it redlines (which i assume would defeat the fun in downshifting when going fast?), is this true? Most reviews of the 328i had sport auto

I'm truly debating if I should just make the jump into 335i because honestly, I ordered the 328i because I thought that it would make a great DD plus a bit of a punch when I want to feel a bit of exhilaration. With that being said, without the paddleshifters I feel like I'd be missing a part of the experience I intended to get out of bmw.

Any thoughts would be nice, thank you.

Photoman · 06-27-2012, 07:29 AM

If you truly want a "BMW" experience then get the 6spd MT.
IMHO exclusion of paddle shifters is not a deal-breaker.

Raspartan · 06-27-2012, 09:12 PM

Personally I love the paddles, but I'm sure you could do without them. I don't drive in D/S mode, but when you shift with a paddle it drops the transmission into manual mode for several seconds.

DimSum · 06-28-2012, 08:26 PM

Paddles on BMW's suck unless you have a M3. You have to press inward to downshift and pull to upshift.
Why couldn't they have it like real paddle shifting cars, left side downshift and rightside upshift?!

Raspartan · 06-28-2012, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DimSum

Paddles on BMW's suck unless you have a M3. You have to press inward to downshift and pull to upshift.
Why couldn't they have it like real paddle shifting cars, left side downshift and rightside upshift?!

Actually they don't behave like that anymore. The left side downshifts and the right side upshifts like they should now.

DimSum · 06-29-2012, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspartan

Actually they don't behave like that anymore. The left side downshifts and the right side upshifts like they should now.

Thank god.

wynden · 06-29-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jslice01

Hi guys,

I've ordered my first bmw, 328i, in mid May from Town&Country BMW without doing as much research as I should have, however it is not too late to "correct" my decision. Hopefully some answers would help me decide what to do next. Sorry if some of this question was asked before.

Primary concern - No Paddleshifters/Sport Auto: I'm kinda pissed when i realized that sport line 328i did not come with these. The dealer said I would be able to manually downshift/upshift with the gearshift, but I wonder if I would be missing out on quicker shift times because of this? Also from what I remember reading in the forum, the manual mode would automatically upshift when it redlines (which i assume would defeat the fun in downshifting when going fast?), is this true? Most reviews of the 328i had sport auto

I'm truly debating if I should just make the jump into 335i because honestly, I ordered the 328i because I thought that it would make a great DD plus a bit of a punch when I want to feel a bit of exhilaration. With that being said, without the paddleshifters I feel like I'd be missing a part of the experience I intended to get out of bmw.

Any thoughts would be nice, thank you.

Just under two weeks ago I ordered a 328i Sport Line (from Endras in Ajax) and got it spec'd with the sport auto w/ paddles as a special order option ($200 + $400 special order charge = $600). Like you, I wanted the paddles / sport auto, given that almost all reviews seem based on the sport auto and that I'm coming from a 5MT and wanted the paddles. I decided the 328i offered a solid engine and didn't want to go the 335i route given the +$5,000 for comparably optioned models.

daxtor · 06-30-2012, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wynden

Just under two weeks ago I ordered a 328i Sport Line (from Endras in Ajax) and got it spec'd with the sport auto w/ paddles as a special order option ($200 + $400 special order charge = $600). Like you, I wanted the paddles / sport auto, given that almost all reviews seem based on the sport auto and that I'm coming from a 5MT and wanted the paddles. I decided the 328i offered a solid engine and didn't want to go the 335i route given the +$5,000 for comparably optioned models.

Wow, I didn't even realize that you can spec the sport auto via special order! Now I really need to seriously consider getting M Sport 328i with the sport auto! Would I need to pay the $400 special order charge for every special order feature or is it a one time fee?

wynden · 06-30-2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daxtor

Wow, I didn't even realize that you can spec the sport auto via special order! Now I really need to seriously consider getting M Sport 328i with the sport auto! Would I need to pay the $400 special order charge for every special order feature or is it a one time fee?

My understanding - from elsewhere on these forums - is that you can't special order a M Sport 328i in Canada.

Each special order has to be reviewed/approved by BMW Canada. They allow some things but not others. My understanding is that the $400 special order charge is only applied once to an order; i.e. even if the order includes more than one non-standard option.

daxtor · 07-01-2012, 02:47 AM

Aww, that sucks. BMW Canada is deliberately forcing people who want the M Sport to go with the 335i. Sigh, looks like I have to stick with my original plan. I do want to get the rear sun shade that is available in the US F30 though.

shag · 07-01-2012, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wynden

My understanding - from elsewhere on these forums - is that you can't special order a M Sport 328i in Canada.

Each special order has to be reviewed/approved by BMW Canada. They allow some things but not others. My understanding is that the $400 special order charge is only applied once to an order; i.e. even if the order includes more than one non-standard option.

Great news for the Sport Auto! Have you tried ordering M Sport on your 328i at all?

Osiris888 · 07-01-2012, 10:03 AM

Greetings all,

I am confused....I am sure that the 2012 328i sport line I test drove had paddle shifters!!!!

None the less I have a note into my salesperson to confirm the paddle shifter question!

Osiris888 · 07-03-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wynden

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jslice01

Hi guys,

I've ordered my first bmw, 328i, in mid May from Town&Country BMW without doing as much research as I should have, however it is not too late to "correct" my decision. Hopefully some answers would help me decide what to do next. Sorry if some of this question was asked before.

Primary concern - No Paddleshifters/Sport Auto: I'm kinda pissed when i realized that sport line 328i did not come with these. The dealer said I would be able to manually downshift/upshift with the gearshift, but I wonder if I would be missing out on quicker shift times because of this? Also from what I remember reading in the forum, the manual mode would automatically upshift when it redlines (which i assume would defeat the fun in downshifting when going fast?), is this true? Most reviews of the 328i had sport auto

I'm truly debating if I should just make the jump into 335i because honestly, I ordered the 328i because I thought that it would make a great DD plus a bit of a punch when I want to feel a bit of exhilaration. With that being said, without the paddleshifters I feel like I'd be missing a part of the experience I intended to get out of bmw.

Any thoughts would be nice, thank you.

Just under two weeks ago I ordered a 328i Sport Line (from Endras in Ajax) and got it spec'd with the sport auto w/ paddles as a special order option ($200 + $400 special order charge = $600). Like you, I wanted the paddles / sport auto, given that almost all reviews seem based on the sport auto and that I'm coming from a 5MT and wanted the paddles. I decided the 328i offered a solid engine and didn't want to go the 335i route given the +$5,000 for comparably optioned models.

Just confirmed......328i xDrive sport line....no paddle shifters.......

Wynden......Thanks for the tip .....managed to catch my car before it was put into production ( tomorrow!!!!!!) to add the 2TB special order option for the paddle shifters and transmission! Much appreciated!!!

wynden · 07-03-2012, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osiris888

Wynden......Thanks for the tip .....managed to catch my car before it was put into production ( tomorrow!!!!!!) to add the 2TB special order option for the paddle shifters and transmission! Much appreciated!!!

You're welcome, though I do need to give credit to 'lbahoshy' who presented this idea in an earlier forum thread.

Now I need to wait enviously for my production date - reportedly early Aug. Apparently the backlog of xDrive orders is getting priority in July.

shag · 07-05-2012, 03:43 PM

There's just one thing... does 2TB only include paddle shifters and a different shifter stalk, or does it have different gearbox programming than the standard 8AT? Nobody seems to be able to answer this one...

daxtor · 07-06-2012, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shag

There's just one thing... does 2TB only include paddle shifters and a different shifter stalk, or does it have different gearbox programming than the standard 8AT? Nobody seems to be able to answer this one...

It also has faster shift programming as well. I drove the sport and non-sport and I very much prefer the sport version. The shift is instantaneous with the sport auto in DS and Sport. I tried the same with the normal auto and I can sense the delay between shifts.

shag · 07-07-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daxtor

It also has faster shift programming as well. I drove the sport and non-sport and I very much prefer the sport version. The shift is instantaneous with the sport auto in DS and Sport. I tried the same with the normal auto and I can sense the delay between shifts.

OK, that makes sense given what I've seen on the latest press release concerning sport auto (touring announcement in the US) - they actually talk about faster shift times. So this'll be on my build sheet... along with other special order options

bananachipz · 07-08-2012, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DimSum

Paddles on BMW's suck unless you have a M3. You have to press inward to downshift and pull to upshift.
Why couldn't they have it like real paddle shifting cars, left side downshift and rightside upshift?!

#postfail

DimSum · 07-09-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananachipz

#postfail

No seriously, the paddle shifters on the Exx non-m chassis was silly.
I'm really glad they fixed that.

Jslice01 · 07-23-2012, 10:25 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. Car arrived last week and i decided to keep it regardless of the paddle shifters. It's mainly for DD use so i guess it didnt make or break it for me. Driving the car was still AWESOME none the less!

F30.ca · 07-28-2012, 09:51 AM

I wouldn't worry to much about the paddle shifters I've owned cars with this type if tiptronic tranny and to be honest I used it for the first month and then stuck it in drive the rest of the lease.

DESI4life10 · 08-01-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DimSum

No seriously, the paddle shifters on the Exx non-m chassis was silly.
I'm really glad they fixed that.

You know you can modify it (very easily) if you want the paddles to operate a certain way

06-27-2012, 05:03 AM	#1
Jslice01 Registered Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	Canadian 328i ordered, am I at a loss? Hi guys, I've ordered my first bmw, 328i, in mid May from Town&Country BMW without doing as much research as I should have, however it is not too late to "correct" my decision. Hopefully some answers would help me decide what to do next. Sorry if some of this question was asked before. Primary concern - No Paddleshifters/Sport Auto: I'm kinda pissed when i realized that sport line 328i did not come with these. The dealer said I would be able to manually downshift/upshift with the gearshift, but I wonder if I would be missing out on quicker shift times because of this? Also from what I remember reading in the forum, the manual mode would automatically upshift when it redlines (which i assume would defeat the fun in downshifting when going fast?), is this true? Most reviews of the 328i had sport auto I'm truly debating if I should just make the jump into 335i because honestly, I ordered the 328i because I thought that it would make a great DD plus a bit of a punch when I want to feel a bit of exhilaration. With that being said, without the paddleshifters I feel like I'd be missing a part of the experience I intended to get out of bmw. Any thoughts would be nice, thank you.
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06-27-2012, 07:29 AM	#2
Photoman Lieutenant Drives: F30 328i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 516 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 328i [5.00]	If you truly want a "BMW" experience then get the 6spd MT. IMHO exclusion of paddle shifters is not a deal-breaker. __________________ 2012 328i Luxury Line \| Imperial Blue Metallic \| Saddle Brown Leather \| Premium Package \| 19" 343M Reps Thread w/pics here: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=703355

07-05-2012, 03:43 PM	#15
shag allrad über alles Drives: 09 328iX mountain goat package Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 356 iTrader: (0)	There's just one thing... does 2TB only include paddle shifters and a different shifter stalk, or does it have different gearbox programming than the standard 8AT? Nobody seems to be able to answer this one... __________________ Current: '09 328i xDrive sedan. Next: F31?

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06-27-2012, 09:12 PM	#3
Raspartan Captain Drives: F30 335i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 679 iTrader: (0)	Personally I love the paddles, but I'm sure you could do without them. I don't drive in D/S mode, but when you shift with a paddle it drops the transmission into manual mode for several seconds.

06-28-2012, 08:26 PM	#4
DimSum Banned Drives: SLOW Join Date: May 2008 Location: LITTLEBIMMER.COM Posts: 2,743 iTrader: (10)	Paddles on BMW's suck unless you have a M3. You have to press inward to downshift and pull to upshift. Why couldn't they have it like real paddle shifting cars, left side downshift and rightside upshift?!

07-01-2012, 02:47 AM	#10
daxtor Enlisted Member Drives: TBD Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 36 iTrader: (0)	Aww, that sucks. BMW Canada is deliberately forcing people who want the M Sport to go with the 335i. Sigh, looks like I have to stick with my original plan. I do want to get the rear sun shade that is available in the US F30 though.

07-01-2012, 10:03 AM	#12
Osiris888 New Member Drives: 2013 328i xDrive (on order) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: GTA Posts: 24 iTrader: (0)	Greetings all, I am confused....I am sure that the 2012 328i sport line I test drove had paddle shifters!!!! None the less I have a note into my salesperson to confirm the paddle shifter question!

07-23-2012, 10:25 PM	#20
Jslice01 Registered Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the advice guys. Car arrived last week and i decided to keep it regardless of the paddle shifters. It's mainly for DD use so i guess it didnt make or break it for me. Driving the car was still AWESOME none the less!

07-28-2012, 09:51 AM	#21
F30.ca Private First Class Drives: GTI Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oakville Posts: 119 iTrader: (0)	I wouldn't worry to much about the paddle shifters I've owned cars with this type if tiptronic tranny and to be honest I used it for the first month and then stuck it in drive the rest of the lease.