Quote:
Originally Posted by xyz123
I too had my E90 in for the battery cable and received a 320i automatic loaner. I found the imprecision of the transmission to be unbearable. My BMW experience began with a 1972 BMW 2002 and continued on with one of every new 3 series generation up to my current E90. Alas, it seems that after 50 continuous years of ownership, the E90 could be my last BMW. Although I am not fond of Audis, it is looking like the only viable alternative. I want a small 4 door body and I don't want more power than a 328i produces. It appears, at least here in Canada, that the days of manual transmission availability in a 328i are numbered as are the days of rear wheel drive.
I notice that the "Ultimate Driving Machine" advertisements with the engine singing as the driver downshifts on a twisty road are gone, maybe because it isn't true anymore. The little BMW has become big, fat and bloated likely to better suit moms dropping kids off at school or shopping at the mall. Too bad.
|
That "little" BMW is the 1 series and it's quite sweet.
MT will be available in that model for quite some time I think as it's a very popular trans choice. The other being the DCT, not offered in the 3.
The current 1 series is being replaced soon with a new 2 series coupe.
There is still the possibility of a 2 series based sedan, and I REALLY hope BMW does it, as that will likely be my next car.
If no sedan, then I'll likely go back to the "little" 2 series coupe.
I really enjoyed my 135i with MT. It had what is special about BMW.
My 335i Msport is likely my last 3 series as I too it's become too big, and BMW has lost sight of what BMW sport sedan owners want in their 3's.
If BMW would have actually done better tuning with the sport line and Msport line, then I wouldn't feel this way.
But, they also softened the sport/Msport too much, just as they did the non sport versions compared to the E46 and E90.
The sport/Msport just didn't get enough SPORT attention from BMW.
It's as if BMW simply said let's just lower the suspension a bit, put in sport seats, up the spring rat a tad, not TOO much, and call it "done".
Then, they also missed the opportunity with the Msport, which should be a firmer more BMW driver focused version to appeal to the sport sedan driver.
Instead, they went cosmetic adding a cool body kit, nice looking and feeling steering wheel, the more cosmetic M logo's in places and an M footrest, and calling it "done" too.
There is NOTHING "M" about the Msport other than cosmetics.
Shame, BIG shame.
As for trans, I've been driving MT over 20 years, but decided to relax a bit and try out the new sport AT.
It's an amazing AT. Rapid fire quick shifts, just as fast as the DCT's and DSG's I've driven.
But, it's no substitute for the MT experience if that is what you love and prefer. It's a great substitute for an auto trans and for DCT though. It's smoother than DCT, DSG, or any other "auto" type trans.
My experience is ruined though as my sport AT doesn't work so smoothly in manual and sport mode as other sport AT's I've driven in F30's.
Manual shifts in my 335i are quick but abrupt, I can feel every single upshift and get a slight head bobble. Downshifts are worse. Sport mode feels nearly the same. The only butter smooth nearly imperceptible shifts I get are in "normal" D mode, where it works like magic.
But I opted for it as I wanted the smoothness in manual mode as well.
I had the dealer look at it once, but they didn't get what I was saying.
To them as long as it shifts it's working "as designed", well it's not. It's a quality of shift issue and the tech's are not so concerned about that.
It's ruined my original enthusiasm for my 335i Msport, and I do wish I would have got the MT instead given my over all experience with the sport AT.
I've got an appointment with the shop for a laundry list of issues including the "limp mode" high fan problem, clunking in the steering wheel, and a couple of other rattles.
I'm going to insist that they fix my trans. 2.5 more years of this is really going to sour my love of BMW.
Oh, and my speedometer NEVER reads 0 mph while sitting still. It's off by about 2 mph. Yes, it's a very minor and silly complaint, but when you start adding things up even the little things start to bother me.
Even the odd squeak in the dash, which didn't bother me at all a few months ago is now really irritating me.
Hang in there and hope BMW does it's homework on the 2 series, and realizes they need a small sport sedan to compete with MB's small sedan and Audi's new A3 and S3 sedan. If not, the new A3 is coming really soon and the S3 isn't too far behind.
