The Question:
Just to the right of the Auto button/wheel/knob is a small black dot thing. This same black dot thing exists on mine and my daughter's E9X cars. Now, I've thought (since 2007) it was just a decoration since it was placed symmetrically on the control panel in the middle of the car. But now that I see it on the F30 also, and it's clearly not placed in any artful spot, I'm wondering what it is. Does anyone know?
The Observations:
Driving
I took my kid's 328 wagon in to the BMW store today because the fuel needle seems to not work and they gave me an F30 loaner. (base model, CWP and PP) I then drove the loaner to visit my father, a 94 year old who has an e92 (loaded to the gills with everything but M Sport).
The very first thing he said was: boy, you turn the wheel and nothing happens. The next thing he said was: they're making like that old Buick you learned to drive on now aren't they? I guess I'm the only old thing that's not new again. We both laughed.
I'll grant you that Dad isn't your typical old coot. He will, once or twice a year, make he go with him to the track so he can drive in a spirited manner, or what he calls, "run me some 'shine." (That's the closest he's come to discussing that topic, so I have nothing more to say on it.) Even so, it is telling that a nonagenarian noticed the numb steering before even pulling out of the driveway.
That said, I don't like the steering, but I could endure it. But it's not exactly confidence inspiring when you are rapidly moving around an exit ramp. For now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the F32 doesn't have the same lame steering.
Luxury and Space
Dad and I agree: this car is no more luxurious than the E9X. Indeed, we both observed that on the dashboard and center console, there's less wood and more plastic/rubber in the F30 than there is in the E90.
It's just new and different, and I think that's why folks think it more luxurious. I know when I first test drove one some months back, my first thought was it might be a tad more luxurious. But now, after driving around in one for a few hours, I know I was wrong; it's not. I was just under the influence of the newness and the difference.
I can accept folks liking the new interior design (
de gustibus non disputandum est), but more luxurious? I don't think so. But perhaps it is more luxurious if:
- one thinks more space in the back equals more luxury, but then that would make an Impala more luxurious as well. And I suspect nobody here thinks an Impala a luxury car or that it's more luxurious than a 3er.
- one outfitted their F30 with more stuff than one had on one's E90, but then that would be a matter of choice not something inherent to the car itself.
Even so, more luxurious or not, it's "cush factor" is nice enough to suit my needs.
The rear is a good deal roomier than the E90. I think I'd say the 3er is now a full on mid-size car.
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge no longer has little hash marks indicating each gallon's worth of fuel in the tank. Some of you may recall that the E9X has a 16 gallon gas tank and that there are exactly 16 little hash lines evenly spaced on the fuel gauge. It's hardly a big deal, but I will admit that I used those little marks to know how much fuel to put back into the service loaners. Also, I used to use those marks to judge how much fuel I had just burnt during a period of "joyful" driving. (The missing marks are not a big deal; I'm just saying I did have practical uses for them.)
Do any of you know if the little hash marks are present on the Sport Line or on a 335? (I did look on the BMW configurator, but it's hard to tell for sure.)
Ergonomics
When I drive casually, I tend to hold my leg in a position like when I'm seated in a regular chair (knee bent more or less at 90 degrees) and my foot planted flat on the floor just in front of the seat. When I sit this way, my knee rests against the car door. After a short time -- 15 minutes perhaps -- this becomes painful as the placement of the door pull is situated to make it so. Now whereas I could get over the numb steering, and the lack of fuel gauge hash marks, if I can't find a suitable, everyday seating position, I would under no circumstances buy and F30.
Lights
You can now have both the fog lights and high beams on at the same time. Also, when you turn off the car with them on, the car turns back on with them on.
Sounds
With the radio at a normal new radio listening volume, you really don't hear the motor, even in Sport mode and accelerating heavily (floored).
The standard radio thumps!!! It puts out far more volume than the standard one on the E90. Now
that is something to bounce up and down about.
I won't lie, if I were to have the windows down when I'm driving around town, I'd be heard long before I'm seen.
Appearance
From several angles, this car, without looking carefully, looks like the F10. I had both parked in my driveway when my boy, their nanny and I walked to a restaurant for dinner. Upon returning, we all agreed that it looked, until you really pay attention, like there were two F10s there. This is especially so when looking at it from behind, be it at an angle or directly behind. Up close and from in front, it's clearly not an F10. Personally, that's neither a good nor bad thing to me. It's just an observation.