[shawntech]

At first moment the lighter steering feels awkward vs the E9x, but that's only really noticeable not moving or at very slow speeds.

After driving it for a bit and at speed, you'll become one with how the steering feels and at least in my opinion, my adaptive suspension square setup 340xi is closer to a genuine sports car than my 335xi e90 was.

I'm torn on the modes, I generally drive in sport NOT sport+ because the revs and throttle response stay reasonable, sport+ is way too artificial but you get all those bangs and pops out of the muffler *shrug*

fun fact: holding DSC until everything is off tightens up the steering, activates the shocks if equipped but leaves throttle as comfort/normal.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by eluded

Still getting used to the open diff and the lack of power.

Coming from an S4? There's no lack of power.

[DOCTOR.Y]

Originally Posted by Revelator

I'm hoping to place an order on a new 340 xDrive w/ MPPSK and Track Handling in the next few weeks. Is the steering really that 'cumbersome' for lack of a better word in the F30s? I'm coming from driving an STI for the last 6 years--handling is probably the absolutely best feature on the STI, but damn they can be a rough ride (basically a rally car).

After one week, now I can say that VSS is not bad if you get used to its turns and radio change. Easily operate under slow speed and still precise and tight under high speed. Important thing is putting F30's VSS, drivetrain and chassis together I think they are just right. I usually get tired after a long journey in E92 but this is not happening in F30. So maybe should not compare any single part with its E-predecessor.

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by eluded

Still getting used to the open diff and the lack of power.

Do you track your car everyday? I have zero issues with power in a 335, I am sure the 340 has even less. Open diff, I have yet to feel that I truly need a locking diff. Now if I was actually tracking the car. Different story.

Some of you folk bitch, jut to bitch. I wonder how many of you actually drive enthusiastically and/or race professionally.

F30 great all rounder, but it is not a race car.

[ny325]

I've had several F series loaners, and every time I can't wait to get my E90 back. Hopefully the next generation G20 drives more like the E90.

[Revelator]

Possibly a dumb question but I've not had the chance to test drive a 340 w/ manual trans yet. Test drove an automatic yesterday and thought the arm rest was a tad obtrusive.

For those w/ a manual tranny, does the arm rest get in your way at all when you're shifting? One thing I love about my STI is how the arm rest is basically non existent. My arms are prob a little longer than average but I could probably remedy the arm rest issue by moving the seat up a bit....

[geddylee]

Here's the reality about the F30 vs the E90 Series. The Steering is a huge step backwards. The 8 speed transmission is however a huge leap forward from the E90 era. The post 2016 F30's have significantly improved the suspension feel where as the 2012-15's are too soft in my opinion. The E90 is more fun to drive because of the steering feel/feedback and also because it's the right size which allows it to feel more nimble and just right when you are throwing it around.

Interior fit and finish is also a step back, particularly in the 2012-15 models, but they have improved significantly since 2016. I will give Bmw credit for the fact that they have been making slight tweaks to improve the car knowing that they made some big mistakes initially. I just drove the new A4 for two days and the F30 is still the dynamically better car IMO.

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by Revelator

Possibly a dumb question but I've not had the chance to test drive a 340 w/ manual trans yet. Test drove an automatic yesterday and thought the arm rest was a tad obtrusive.

For those w/ a manual tranny, does the arm rest get in your way at all when you're shifting? One thing I love about my STI is how the arm rest is basically non existent. My arms are prob a little longer than average but I could probably remedy the arm rest issue by moving the seat up a bit....

I'm 6'-6" with a 6MT 335i, and I think the armrest is perfectly suitable. It isn't obtrusive at all in my opinion...just right to support your forearm when shifting.

[Buzzo]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

I'm 6'-6" with a 6MT 335i, and I think the armrest is perfectly suitable. It isn't obtrusive at all in my opinion...just right to support your forearm when shifting.

6"3 in a 6MT 340 with the best arm rest ever.

[ChubbyWilly]

It took me swapping the stock springs with H&R Sport springs to really trust the car. I usually just cruise in comfort mode but when I need to get somewhere fast Sport mode does the job.

Now getting used to "looking" at the car took the visual aspect of lowering the car and getting a tint and blacking out the grilles. Now every time I park the car I can't stop looking back at it.

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by ls3c6

At first moment the lighter steering feels awkward vs the E9x, but that's only really noticeable not moving or at very slow speeds.

After driving it for a bit and at speed, you'll become one with how the steering feels and at least in my opinion, my adaptive suspension square setup 340xi is closer to a genuine sports car than my 335xi e90 was.

I'm torn on the modes, I generally drive in sport NOT sport+ because the revs and throttle response stay reasonable, sport+ is way too artificial but you get all those bangs and pops out of the muffler *shrug*

fun fact: holding DSC until everything is off tightens up the steering, activates the shocks if equipped but leaves throttle as comfort/normal.

Hmm.. seems like some of the F chassis BMW's had heavy electric steering. My 2011 f10 steering is heavy - it was designed by the same engineers who worked on the steering rack in the older e90's but less steering feel and a little bit more artificial, but I'm glad I have one of the newer chassis with proper BMW steering (more or less)

As for the DSC, f10s 2012+ got the comfort -> sport toggle switches, so my sport mode is basically full shutting off DSC which makes the engine breathe better and feel more responsive (valvetronic?) and shift points are more sporty even in regular drive mode.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by ChubbyWilly

It took me swapping the stock springs with H&R Sport springs to really trust the car. I usually just cruise in comfort mode but when I need to get somewhere fast Sport mode does the job.

Now getting used to "looking" at the car took the visual aspect of lowering the car and getting a tint and blacking out the grilles. Now every time I park the car I can't stop looking back at it.

Have you tracked the car prior to the H&R Springs?

I only ask because most people interchange getting accustomed to a car with KNOWING the car. You don't really know the car until you have pushed it to it's limits. Highway driving and high speed off/on-ramps aren't enough to know the car. The only way to "trust" a car is if you have been at the edge of control and can push it all the way until you know it's limits.

So I see a lot of people complaining about the steering, it's not as good, poor feedback etc... yet the F30 is consistently quicker around the track than it's E90 counterparts. So while it may not feel as nice, in the end its a better performing car. So what's the problem? We're just not used to it yet.

Race car drivers can toss the F30 around a track with no problem, so I doubt the steering feel is going to really effect us when we are speeding on our daily commutes.

That being said, aftermarket suspension will improve the feedback and overall handling characteristics of the car... I just don't think the stock setup is as bad as everyone likes to point it out to be.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by 6IX-F10-N52

Hmm.. seems like some of the F chassis BMW's had heavy electric steering. My 2011 f10 steering is heavy - it was designed by the same engineers who worked on the steering rack in the older e90's but less steering feel and a little bit more artificial, but I'm glad I have one of the newer chassis with proper BMW steering (more or less)

As for the DSC, f10s 2012+ got the comfort -> sport toggle switches, so my sport mode is basically full shutting off DSC which makes the engine breathe better and feel more responsive (valvetronic?) and shift points are more sporty even in regular drive mode.

DSC has little to do with your engine. It's stability control and is managed at the wheels, not the engine.

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by jmg

DSC has little to do with your engine. It's stability control and is managed at the wheels, not the engine.

I know i know, I'm just saying that the engine breathes better and is more responsive when its fully off. if I turn DSC back on while im revving it in a gear, I can feel some sort of restriction be applied back to the engine where it doesnt rev as freely. I can feel it at any RPM.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by 6IX-F10-N52

I know i know, I'm just saying that the engine breathes better and is more responsive when its fully off. if I turn DSC back on while im revving it in a gear, I can feel some sort of restriction be applied back to the engine where it doesnt rev as freely. I can feel it at any RPM.

I've never noticed any power sapping with the DSC on in any of my F30s that I can remember, nor my F80. Someone with a 340 please correct me if I'm wrong. Unless your tires are bad/bald, you shouldn't experience any power restriction with DSC on in normal driving, especially on just a 528. It's so much easier for a 340i or a M3/4 to get stability control to activate, with so much more power than a 528. Your car is heavy, but not THAT much heavier. The 550i I almost bought didn't have this problem either, and that had ~400hp I believe, albeit probably better rubber than your 528i.

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by jmg

Have you tracked the car prior to the H&R Springs?

I only ask because most people interchange getting accustomed to a car with KNOWING the car. You don't really know the car until you have pushed it to it's limits. Highway driving and high speed off/on-ramps aren't enough to know the car. The only way to "trust" a car is if you have been at the edge of control and can push it all the way until you know it's limits.

So I see a lot of people complaining about the steering, it's not as good, poor feedback etc... yet the F30 is consistently quicker around the track than it's E90 counterparts. So while it may not feel as nice, in the end its a better performing car. So what's the problem? We're just not used to it yet.

Race car drivers can toss the F30 around a track with no problem, so I doubt the steering feel is going to really effect us when we are speeding on our daily commutes.

That being said, aftermarket suspension will improve the feedback and overall handling characteristics of the car... I just don't think the stock setup is as bad as everyone likes to point it out to be.

But how the F30 FEELS, day to day, on the street, is MUCH more applicable and relevant to 90% of 3 series owners than whether or not it's objectively quicker at the track. And THAT is where the E90 excels over the F30.

[geddylee]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

But how the F30 FEELS, day to day, on the street, is MUCH more applicable and relevant to 90% of 3 series owners than whether or not it's objectively quicker at the track. And THAT is where the E90 excels over the F30.

Totally agree. The F30 is far more capable than the E90. But it's not more fun. In fact it's far less fun. They need to address this!

[jmg]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

But how the F30 FEELS, day to day, on the street, is MUCH more applicable and relevant to 90% of 3 series owners than whether or not it's objectively quicker at the track. And THAT is where the E90 excels over the F30.

Good point, but I just don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be. Granted, I don't use Sport of Sport+ for steering. I use comfort, and I find it more satisfying since the artificial stiffening of the steering is what sticks out to me the most.

[donkey]

Originally Posted by AGONXF30

Do you track your car everyday? I have zero issues with power in a 335, I am sure the 340 has even less. Open diff, I have yet to feel that I truly need a locking diff. Now if I was actually tracking the car. Different story.

Some of you folk bitch, jut to bitch. I wonder how many of you actually drive enthusiastically and/or race professionally.

F30 great all rounder, but it is not a race car.

Is your car auto or manual? It makes a difference I think, or maybe you just drive like a grandma.

With my 6MT 335i I definitely need an LSD. No tracking (yet), just occasional spirited driving.

My GTI has an LSD and the difference in acceleration is night and day. Not that it's faster than my 335i, it just gets the power down better with less skipping around and without using the brakes to control traction.

I just can't see the argument for an open diff

Other cars at or less than this price point have them, so why not BMW? Not too much to ask for IMO.

[Gatte]

I was looking for a 3series Daily driver and went to the dealership last week to test drive one. It felt like a boat. It just feels different and disconnected.

Drove a co-workers E90 328i which felt very familiar. It is slower from 0-60 but still one hell of a car. Now trying to find a used, completely stock, single owner E90 328i with a manual transmission, sports package and proper maintenance records which is proving almost impossible.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by jmg

Have you tracked the car prior to the H&R Springs?

I only ask because most people interchange getting accustomed to a car with KNOWING the car. You don't really know the car until you have pushed it to it's limits. Highway driving and high speed off/on-ramps aren't enough to know the car. The only way to "trust" a car is if you have been at the edge of control and can push it all the way until you know it's limits.

So I see a lot of people complaining about the steering, it's not as good, poor feedback etc... yet the F30 is consistently quicker around the track than it's E90 counterparts. So while it may not feel as nice, in the end its a better performing car. So what's the problem? We're just not used to it yet.

Race car drivers can toss the F30 around a track with no problem, so I doubt the steering feel is going to really effect us when we are speeding on our daily commutes.

That being said, aftermarket suspension will improve the feedback and overall handling characteristics of the car... I just don't think the stock setup is as bad as everyone likes to point it out to be.

Pretty much agree with this. I had an e90 335 two years ago and now an f30 335. When you get into hard cornering the e90 was more fun, but I'm not sure it handled better. My f30 seems to go right around corners pretty good, but I have not hit any extreme yet....there is barely any place to even do that. But other than steering, the car is better in any way and for the 90% of basic driving and sitting in traffic it is more enjoyable.

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by drive335

Is your car auto or manual? It makes a difference I think, or maybe you just drive like a grandma.

With my 6MT 335i I definitely need an LSD. No tracking (yet), just occasional spirited driving.

My GTI has an LSD and the difference in acceleration is night and day. Not that it's faster than my 335i, it just gets the power down better with less skipping around and without using the brakes to control traction.

I just can't see the argument for an open diff

Other cars at or less than this price point have them, so why not BMW? Not too much to ask for IMO.

My car has the Sport Auto. I feel like my car does fine with open diff. Now, I do agree that an LSD would be nice, but I do not think it absolutely required.

I have a highly modded GLI (Nearly as quick as my 335) and I chose to keep it open diff because I never tracked the car and I felt I did not need it. Granted it could have been quicker with it. I have had LSD FWD cars in the past and while LSD in a FWD car helps more so than in a RWD car, I felt it would have been a waste of 1000 bucks. MY 335 under hard straight line acceleration and even cornering rarely breaks the tires loose. Maybe you need better tires.

Now if I was tracking the car an LSD would have been totally justifiable.