[Vikingjensen]

Had a loaner car last week and it was interesting feeling the difference. It was a good comparison because the loaner was a 328ix with pretty much the same options as my 328ix GT. Overall I would say the F30 had better road feel, certainly a bit sportier in turns, but inside its a tiny car. I was happy to get my GT back.

One thing I noticed that I wanted to ask here. The F30 had a noticeably throatier engine than my GT, especially when I punched the pedal. I read somewhere that the 328 pipes engine sound through the speakers to make it sound better. My perception on my own GT is that there is no engine sound coming through the speakers. Thoughts? I did notice the F30 is assembled in South Africa and my GT was assembled in Germany. However I would think they both have the same engine.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Vikingjensen

My perception on my own GT is that there is no engine sound coming through the speakers.

Mine doesn't. If it did I'd disconnect it.

[Mike_L]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Mine doesn't. If it did I'd disconnect it.

Yeah, it does. All 2014+ 328s have ASD. Hook it up to e-sys and you'll see it has the coding for it.

[markbridge]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Yeah, it does. All 2014+ 328s have ASD. Hook it up to e-sys and you'll see it has the coding for it.

Yes, Mike is correct.

It's funny, since BMW goes to the trouble of piping in synthetic engine noise, wouldn't it be nice if they used a Ferrari V12 engine for the sound?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Yeah, it does. All 2014+ 328s have ASD. Hook it up to e-sys and you'll see it has the coding for it.

So it has it but it's not enabled unless you re-code? That makes as much sense as a screen door on a submarine. In any event, I didn't spend $45k on a luxury car so that I'd have to listen to fake 'vroom-vroom' noises. I'd rather listen to my radio, a CD, carry on a conversation, or to just enjoy some peace and quiet.

[Billfitz]

Update: I had the need to test my 0-70 acceleration this weekend in Connecticut on the Merritt Parkway, where there are no on-ramps out of the service areas. No problem, just hit the Sport switch, punch it and hold on tight. Doing that there's no shortage of growl, and all of it from the pipes, not the speakers.

[OfficeHeadphones]

I'm having the same experience but with a 328dx.

Smaller, a bit more nimble. Yet, the experience only confirms that I bought the right car.

Really. The base trim in the loaner just feels cheap compared to the M Sport. From the steering wheel, smaller idrive screen, mismatching headliner and seats, and roughy plastic of the on the exterior window frame, it just doesn't compare.

While the diesel isn't an option, I'm also happy i bought the 335 over the 328. I mostly Eco drive to work but when I want to smile, it's there in sport mode.

Lastly, I now know that I'd much rather have the rear seat room and trunk space over the smaller lighter car.

I can't wait to get the car back later today.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by OfficeHeadphones

I'm also happy i bought the 335 over the 328. I mostly Eco drive to work but when I want to smile, it's there in sport mode.

The 328 has no balls shortage. 0-60 is only 0.4 seconds slower than the 335. I keep mine in Eco most of the time because even in Comfort she wants to be quicker than I need around town. I pretty much only run Comfort when highway cruising, where Eco won't make any difference, and I want the quicker throttle and shifting response for passing.
+1 on the right car for me. My golf league likes it too. We had our first meeting at the club yesterday, and there were 95 other guys drooling all over it in the parking lot. I probably need to give it wash today.

[KneeDragr]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

We had our first meeting at the club yesterday, and there were 95 other guys drooling all over it in the parking lot. I probably need to give it wash today.

Are you sure it was drool on the car?

[OfficeHeadphones]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

+1 on the right car for me.

And that is what it is all about.

I test drove the 328 for a day in November, I liked it. Sport mode was fun, truly. I agree that the 328 really has all anyone really needs. I was set on getting the 328 after reading Edmunds long term road test. Picking the specs they recommend. The big question for me was which engine, and I wasn't the only one. The some of the staff wanted the 6, others the 4. To be honest, I know that I will hardly be driving at a level where the difference matters, or where I could make the most of that difference with my novice driving skill. But in the end, I just sort of wanted it, you know?

So, my lady got me the V6 for my birthday. And I am happy with it, perfect for me.

[Mike_L]

Whats a V6? BMWs have I4s and I6s, along with V8s and V12s.

[OfficeHeadphones]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Whats a V6? BMWs have I4s and I6s, along with V8s and V12s.

Must have been work rotting my brain.

[Bim34]

And don't forget 3-cylinders ;-)

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Whats a V6? BMWs have I4s and I6s, along with V8s and V12s.

[USC2000]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

So it has it but it's not enabled unless you re-code? That makes as much sense as a screen door on a submarine. In any event, I didn't spend $45k on a luxury car so that I'd have to listen to fake 'vroom-vroom' noises. I'd rather listen to my radio, a CD, carry on a conversation, or to just enjoy some peace and quiet.

It is enabled. You have to code to turn it off.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by USC2000

It is enabled. You have to code to turn it off.

I don't know if it's enabled or not, but I do know that there's no 'engine' sounds coming from my speakers.

[USC2000]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I don't know if it's enabled or not, but I do know that there's no 'engine' sounds coming from my speakers.

If you haven't turned it off, then yes it does and if you can't tell it's coming from your speakers, that goes to show you just how well it works.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by USC2000

If you haven't turned it off, then yes it does and if you can't tell it's coming from your speakers, that goes to show you just how well it works.

I can tell. It's a simple matter of taking my hand held RTA/sound meter, placing the mic right next to a speaker and taking an RTA/level measurement, then moving it away from the speaker and taking another measurement. If the speaker was producing sound the readings would be significantly different. They aren't, not with any of the speakers in the car.

Did I mention that I am a professional acoustical engineer?

Oddly, finding out anything about ASD from BMW is like pulling teeth from a chicken. But if there's one model where the average customer wouldn't want it that would be the 328GT. Fake engine sounds piped into the cabin don't fit the mold of a small limo any more than they do a full sized limo.

[Mike_L]

I wish I had it. But no need, because with an intake, I can hear the real turbo spooling and blowing off.

[FunRevn]

I have a 335 GT without HK sound system. I had Alex the guy I use for coding take a look to see if he could turn it on because I have it in my M235 and love it. He said that the option shows up on the screen but you cannot enable it.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by FunRevn

He said that the option shows up on the screen but you cannot enable it.

That probably means that the software is there, but the hardware isn't. Scrolling through my iDrive there's quite a few options that appear on the screen, but you can't highlight them, because the hardware they would control isn't in the car. Logical, as it makes sense to have only one software system that will work with any hardware configuration.

[FunRevn]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

That probably means that the software is there, but the hardware isn't. Scrolling through my iDrive there's quite a few options that appear on the screen, but you can't highlight them, because the hardware they would control isn't in the car. Logical, as it makes sense to have only one software system that will work with any hardware configuration.

Exactly.....