Thoughts on the BMW 328i (6th Generation F30)?

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
I suppose that I'm spoiled by the BMWs I own(and have owned). The E36 rack accurately communicates the level of grip at the front wheels to a remarkable degree. My '02's steering can tell you whether you are driving on asphalt on concrete. As a track day addict, I find those capabilities to be important.

Today of course, the overwhelming majority of BMW owners buy them to wear rather than to drive; they think "trailing throttle oversteer" is a band that used to open for Kansas. Which reminds me of a story...

My BMW dealer had a reception to introduce the F30 3 Series. First Class as usual- valet parking, open bar, all manner of hors d'oeuvres, and a raffle for an iPad3. The new 3er is an attractive piece, but my thoughts were straying to a 2011 135i M Sport over in the CPO
Pathetic story of the evening: I'm looking at a 328i Sport and a salesman asks me what I think. I tell him that it's nice, but that it is missing a pedal(the car was a slushbox). A guy standing next to him says "I like automatics- I want to get in the car and not have to do anything." I told him that if I can't take the car on the track I'm not buying it- and the guy replies, "I'd never take my car to the track; especially after I spent three hours washing it." My son laughed about "The Dork" for the rest of the evening, but all I could do was silently pray: "Dear Lord, deliver the BMW marque from all poseurs! Cast them all into the Lake of Fire- or even worse, make them drive an Aveo, Marina, or Yaris for all Eternity."
It hasn't hit the bike division.....yet.

 

[HerrStig]

A perhaps self appointed expert in R&T this month claims the 1 series is the only "real" BMW driver's car left. I have never driven a BMW I didn't like, but the owners are a different story.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
A perhaps self appointed expert in R&T this month claims the 1 series is the only "real" BMW driver's car left. I have never driven a BMW I didn't like, but the owners are a different story.

Not for long. The upcoming new 1 series will be FWD.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: barlowc
Originally Posted By: Mykl
Did they get the fuel pump issues sorted out?

If my research informed me correctly, the fuel pump issues were limited to the N54 twin-turbo I6 engine which was replaced in 2010 by the N55.


I thought so, but I wasn't sure if they ever resolved that issue or if it spread to their newer direct injected engines. Nice to know that they figured it out.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
A perhaps self appointed expert in R&T this month claims the 1 series is the only "real" BMW driver's car left. I have never driven a BMW I didn't like, but the owners are a different story.

Not for long. The upcoming new 1 series will be FWD.

Source?

I remember this rumor flying around a few years ago, but it was based on a very creative reading of an article...

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Source?

I remember this rumor flying around a few years ago, but it was based on a very creative reading of an article...

Yeah, I think it's just rumors at this point. A FWD 1-series is going to be sold in Europe and other markets, but it's not clear about the US.

http://www.consumerguide.com/bmw/1-series/2014/

I've read other sources saying that the current 1-series in the US will get replaced by a 2-series which will continue to be RWD.

 

[97tbird]

80% of current 1-series owners think it's already FWD

http://www.autonews.com/article/20100321/BLOG12/303219984/#axzz2Qplxif49

 

[hillclimber]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
A perhaps self appointed expert in R&T this month claims the 1 series is the only "real" BMW driver's car left.


i might be inclined to agree with that

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
I have never driven a BMW I didn't like, but the owners are a different story.


LOL. I love being hated for purchasing a used, entry level, bmw. Shoulda bought a Camry, I guess?

 

[Coprolite]

Originally Posted By: hillclimber


LOL. I love being hated for purchasing a used, entry level, bmw. Shoulda bought a Camry, I guess?



Why would someone hate you for purchasing used, entry level?

It seems that most used ones available tend to be entry level coming off of lease. The loaded ones are rarer and are probably held onto by the original owners longer. The only reason I went with Owner's Choice is to have the choice to walk away if first year reliability was too low for my comfort level.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
80% of current 1-series owners think it's already FWD

http://www.autonews.com/article/20100321/BLOG12/303219984/#axzz2Qplxif49

 

[MCompact]

As I understand it there will eventually be at least one or two FWD BMWs- and they will share a platform with Mini. Expect something similar to the Concept Active Tourer:

Expect it to use BMW's new three cylinder engine; either alone or in a hybrid configuration.

The replacement for the current E82/E88 will be introduced this fall; it is RWD and will be badged as a 2 Series- in accordance with Munich's new numbering protocol(odd numbers for sedans and wagons, even for coupes/convertibles):

 

[Mykl]

A FWD BMW? Is nothing sacred?

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: MCompact

I like it. If you glance at it real quick, it looks like a 3/4 version of X5.

 

[Vikas]

I saw an X1 in the parking lot; it looked almost liked that.

Great URL and even better comments!

"Sack Religious?" refers to the shouting of religious phrases while in the sack. Phrases such as "Oh god, Oh Jesus, etc."

 

[MCompact]

BMW built a few FWD prototypes both before and after WW II; the postwar car was known as the 513. Pictures of the 513 can be found on pages 57 and 264 of Halwart Schrader's book BMW A History

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: barlowc
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I've driven a 2010 C300 Sport with a 6-speed manual. Seemed basically perfect as a commuter. If it were slightly smaller and available with a limited-slip diff, I'd be gunning for one pretty hard...

Given that I've always had FWD vehicles, I'm not familiar with the benefits of a limited-slip differential versus an open differential, the latter being what I understand the 328i to have. Is the preference for limited-slip more a purist thing, or does it provide an "everyday" advantage?


For everyday applications if you want to go in the snow you want limited slip.

When you get a RWD vehicle sideways sometimes an LSD can grab and surprise you, but that's so far past what you will see on the road its a mute point really.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: Coprolite
Hattaresguy, I somehow doubt you have tested the 328 given how much you are looking down your nose at it. It almost got me to buy it... It is more than enough car for day to day use. I also think the latest generation has done a great job by growing in size but not by weight. The back seat is now fit for more adult humans. I am 5'10" and wouldn't mind riding in the back of someone else's F30. If you asked me to ride in the back of mine, I'd laugh.

Regarding Infiniti mentions above, the G25 has been discontinued. I think it only made it through one year. The G has a limited slip differential. Even after I upgraded the sway bars, I could not drive it as aggressively as the 335 without fear of kicking out the rear on turns.

The only regret I have with the F30 is buying the one off the lot and not ordering to my exact spec(mainly color). What can I say, there were none in the pipeline that matched my needs, so I used it as a negotiation point and got a deal I couldn't turn down. Being a black on black on even more black, the air conditioning has its hands full during Texas summers.


Yes I have driven plenty of 3 series if you must know, as I said before I think its a great commuter car. Sports sedan? No, not in my book. Now a 335I has some potential...

I also love the 135I and I'm not a BMW fan.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: Mykl
A FWD BMW? Is nothing sacred?


Tell me about it, whats the point now? Might as well just buy a Lexus and be done with it.

 

[SteveSRT8]

BMW owners love their cars. That's a great thing. But BMW has lost their laser focus on DRIVERS and instead is giving us economy.

I actually drove a new turbo 4 banger model at a stealership recently and it had the jerkiest stop/start system I have ever experienced. Plus the unrefined noises/vibratiions that go with any 4 cylinder. Add to that the AC was a bit overwhelmed by the Florida heat, I am not used to that in any of my other cars, no matter their color.

It did have a nicer power curve than most turbo 4's, and climbed nicely to the redline without a lot of dips and sags in the torque delivery.

IMO the steering is terrible, completely numb to me. Factor in the ridiculous pricing (36k base!) and it would be easy for me to look elsewhere. I just don't see the value, and all the brand new untested tech is a bit sketchy, too.

My opinion is that BMW is not what it used to be, and this may be the end of their rep as great driver's cars. Cadillac is making the ATS, and other makers are gunning for BMW as well. They need to up their game!

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
BMW owners love their cars. That's a great thing. But BMW has lost their laser focus on DRIVERS and instead is giving us economy.

I actually drove a new turbo 4 banger model at a stealership recently and it had the jerkiest stop/start system I have ever experienced. Plus the unrefined noises/vibratiions that go with any 4 cylinder. Add to that the AC was a bit overwhelmed by the Florida heat, I am not used to that in any of my other cars, no matter their color.

It did have a nicer power curve than most turbo 4's, and climbed nicely to the redline without a lot of dips and sags in the torque delivery.

IMO the steering is terrible, completely numb to me. Factor in the ridiculous pricing (36k base!) and it would be easy for me to look elsewhere. I just don't see the value, and all the brand new untested tech is a bit sketchy, too.

My opinion is that BMW is not what it used to be, and this may be the end of their rep as great driver's cars. Cadillac is making the ATS, and other makers are gunning for BMW as well. They need to up their game!


I don't even think their focus is so much on economy as it is couture. Economy has become a big deal too, but only in the sense that you need an interactive tree doing things in the gauge cluster and maybe some badges that indicate the car is green somehow.

It seems like all the high end brands used to have their niche. BMW built driver's cars, Rolls built rider's cars, Mercedes built vaults on wheels, Land Rover made classy hardcore off roaders, etc. Now it's all about "couture," who can pack the most blingy [censored] into their crossover utility vehicle or active sport five door or whatever. Now regardless of brand and image, high end means touchscreens, infotainment, bling, living room comfort, and not much else.

The first BMW I drove was such a bag of [censored] it was amazing it could somehow scrape through a safety inspection. It was a '91 or '92 325i with about 280K miles on it and past use as a track car. Factory cloth seats that smelled horrible, oil leaks, rattles, etc., but it sounded mean with aftermarket exhaust and you could still have a blast ripping it through the gears. Even ragged out with a bunch of miles, that car was STILL a driver's car, and drove better than most vehicles would with that kind of a past and miles. The only hint at luxury was electronic climate control.

Now, you have to have the touch screen, some sort of iDrive or whatever, Bootoof, 50 air bags, a bunch of "green" features, etc. All this trendy must have [censored] takes priority over building an exceptional platform with a purpose.

It's sad that even BMW is on the bandwagon of eking out 0.00005 MPG at the expense of reliability/feel. I haven't driven an EPS equipped BMW yet, but if it's remotely like the EPS in various GM vehicles I have driven, no thanks. I'll take a pump and a belt thank you.

It will be interesting to see how the current generation of cars is doing a decade down the road. I'll bet the end of life problems they have and the reasons they get junked will change a lot.