[frchdragon]

I love big cars... (except the 7)
My love for BMW started with the E30, many E34s, raced an E36, bought an E46, fixed it and sold it, own an E24 race car, and my daily was an E60. And all my cars have been to the track as I instruct driving schools.

All were manuals, RWD, I have been driving and fixing BMW for a long time.

Of course when I looked for a replacement car, I looked at an F10... and wow, what a disappointment. The car feels too big, not connected and not exciting.
Reading in the forums, E60 owners were buying F30 cars...

I then test drove a 6M 335i sport with JB4, downpipe, charge pipe, muffler... Felt so much slower than my 635csi M30 turbocharged race car.
I went to test drive a 134k miles 335ix Msport automatic... and, I fell in love. Not as refined as the 5, but quick, exciting and this ZP8HP is a pure delight.

I drove the car to the shop and it is now sitting on jack stands as I go through the preventive maintenance: shocks, OFHG, belt, tensioner, brakes, filters, fluids...

The old 5 is the new 3. Who would have thought!

[Desertnate]

I really like Estoril blue. Great looking car.

[chowser51]

I'm missing my EBII F33.

I might get an F30 for my son in two years when he turns 16 and it will be Estoril Blue.
lol

[Logicoeur]

All cars across all makes have been getting bloated. The old e9x 3 is the new F2x 2 series. The old early 2000-2010 Audi A4 is now called the 3. It's an industry trend

[oksymoroni]

I went from an E92 to an F10 thinking its a natural progression, id like more space, comfort, blah blah blah. I hated the thing for the same reasons you listed above. I love my F30 and plan to keep it for a long time.

[trebec]

Wait until you tune the trans, the ZF is a monster for sure. XHP did a fantastic job with the stage 3 tune, works well at all throttle inputs and makes sport way more driveable in the highway. You can actually cruise in 8th gear at highway speeds with it and have plenty of juice, combined with MHD stage 2+ that is. I love the platform, I came from a GTI which wasn't bad but this just feels better.

[elborczi]

Welcome to the F30 community

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by frchdragon

I love big cars... (except the 7)
My love for BMW started with the E30, many E34s, raced an E36, bought an E46, fixed it and sold it, own an E24 race car, and my daily was an E60. And all my cars have been to the track as I instruct driving schools.

All were manuals, RWD, I have been driving and fixing BMW for a long time.

Of course when I looked for a replacement car, I looked at an F10... and wow, what a disappointment. The car feels too big, not connected and not exciting.
Reading in the forums, E60 owners were buying F30 cars...

I then test drove a 6M 335i sport with JB4, downpipe, charge pipe, muffler... Felt so much slower than my 635csi M30 turbocharged race car.
I went to test drive a 134k miles 335ix Msport automatic... and, I fell in love. Not as refined as the 5, but quick, exciting and this ZP8HP is a pure delight.

I drove the car to the shop and it is now sitting on jack stands as I go through the preventive maintenance: shocks, OFHG, belt, tensioner, brakes, filters, fluids...

The old 5 is the new 3. Who would have thought!

I, too, made the move from 5er to the F30. In my case, I'd been driving 5 series nonstop for 25 years (1988 to 2013). My amazing 2003 540iA with m-tech package was wrecked so I had to pick a new car. The F10 just felt too big. I "downsized" to the F30 and I couldn't be happier. My lowly 328 has all the extras (DHP, M-sport, all the packages) but only the 4 banger. Ironically, its just as quick as my v8 540 with 1/2 the cylinders and twice the gas mileage. I'm not a driving instructor but I grew up driving manuals. The ZF 8-speed is the first transmission that makes me not miss driving a stick. I've had my 328i 7 years now with 71k miles and zero problems.

Nice to see a driving instructor praising this platform. We spent years hearing E90 bigots trolling this forum and bashing the F30. Don't get me wrong, the E90 was a fine car but to me the F30 is just better in every single way.

[schnellwagen]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

I, too, made the move from 5er to the F30. In my case, I'd been driving 5 series nonstop for 25 years (1988 to 2013). My amazing 2003 540iA with m-tech package was wrecked so I had to pick a new car. The F10 just felt too big. I "downsized" to the F30 and I couldn't be happier. My lowly 328 has all the extras (DHP, M-sport, all the packages) but only the 4 banger. Ironically, its just as quick as my v8 540 with 1/2 the cylinders and twice the gas mileage. I'm not a driving instructor but I grew up driving manuals. The ZF 8-speed is the first transmission that makes me not miss driving a stick. I've had my 328i 7 years now with 71k miles and zero problems.

Nice to see a driving instructor praising this platform. We spent years hearing E90 bigots trolling this forum and bashing the F30. Don't get me wrong, the E90 was a fine car but to me the F30 is just better in every single way.

Nice to see another member who likes their 4 cylinder F30. I think 4 cylinder engines have come a very long way since the beginning. My B46 sounds like a 6 in sport mode, has great torque and horsepower delivery, and it not only uses fuel efficiently, but it also has very low tailpipe emissions because of SULEV

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by schnellwagen

Nice to see another member who likes their 4 cylinder F30. I think 4 cylinder engines have come a very long way since the beginning. My B46 sounds like a 6 in sport mode, has great torque and horsepower delivery, and it not only uses fuel efficiently, but it also has very low tailpipe emissions because of SULEV

I wonder if the 301 HP 332 Torque 4 cyl from the new M235i will make it into 330i (in fact, why is it already not offered in the 330i?). Would be great if it did.

[frchdragon]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

I, too, made the move from 5er to the F30. In my case, I'd been driving 5 series nonstop for 25 years (1988 to 2013). My amazing 2003 540iA with m-tech package was wrecked so I had to pick a new car. The F10 just felt too big. I "downsized" to the F30 and I couldn't be happier. My lowly 328 has all the extras (DHP, M-sport, all the packages) but only the 4 banger. Ironically, its just as quick as my v8 540 with 1/2 the cylinders and twice the gas mileage. I'm not a driving instructor but I grew up driving manuals. The ZF 8-speed is the first transmission that makes me not miss driving a stick. I've had my 328i 7 years now with 71k miles and zero problems.

Nice to see a driving instructor praising this platform. We spent years hearing E90 bigots trolling this forum and bashing the F30. Don't get me wrong, the E90 was a fine car but to me the F30 is just better in every single way.

I actually forgot to add that I had an E28... I did skip the E39, I had a 1992 525i wagon that I swapped to 5 speed.
The ZF8HP is a game changer and I would never have though that I would be an advocate of automatic transmission, I am a die hard MT owner and I love heal and toe. But the ZF is pure magic, no wonder they are using it in so many cars, Aston Martin and Rolls included.

I can understand that purist will complain about the electric steering, but the F30 is nice looking, affordable, easy to tune, and arguably the N55 is more reliable.

On a last note, I always stayed away from BMW V8 and the 4 cylinder turbo was attractive... but I didn't fancy doing a timing chain repair on it.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by schnellwagen

Nice to see another member who likes their 4 cylinder F30. I think 4 cylinder engines have come a very long way since the beginning. My B46 sounds like a 6 in sport mode, has great torque and horsepower delivery, and it not only uses fuel efficiently, but it also has very low tailpipe emissions because of SULEV

....and as an added plus, it's lacking the 6-banger's 200 or so extra pounds hanging off the front of the car.

Don't get me wrong, I love BMW inline 6 engines. My wife's X5 has one and its remarkable. But for the F30 platform, the N20 has plenty of power for my taste and lighter in the front. I have no personal experience how that translates to handling, but less weight is usually better.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by frchdragon

I actually forgot to add that I had an E28... I did skip the E39, I had a 1992 525i wagon that I swapped to 5 speed.
The ZF8HP is a game changer and I would never have though that I would be an advocate of automatic transmission, I am a die hard MT owner and I love heal and toe. But the ZF is pure magic, no wonder they are using it in so many cars, Aston Martin and Rolls included.

I can understand that purist will complain about the electric steering, but the F30 is nice looking, affordable, easy to tune, and arguably the N55 is more reliable.

On a last note, I always stayed away from BMW V8 and the 4 cylinder turbo was attractive... but I didn't fancy doing a timing chain repair on it.

My '88 528e was my first BMW, all 125 HP of it. It was pure fun to drive with a 5-speed MT. I loved that car. I kept it for 9 years and then gave it to my son for his college years. Together, we put about 250k miles on that car. Other than normal maintenance and wear items, the only expense was a water pump replacement. What a car.

Regarding the 4 vs 6, I bought mine in 2013 before anyone knew about the timing chain guide issue. If I were buying an F30 today, the 6 would definitely be my choice. However, my 328 is running just fine. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I keep it garaged and well-maintained so it looks and drives like new.

[heifetz17]

I've had everything from an e23 to my f30. I absolutely loved my e38's. They were simply fantastic in every way. The 5 is a nice balance between the 3 and 7, but I agree the 3 is just simply more enjoyable and more fun. I really miss my e36 and e38, but I absolutely love my f30 so far!

[schnellwagen]

Originally Posted by adhrp

I wonder if the 301 HP 332 Torque 4 cyl from the new M235i will make it into 330i (in fact, why is it already not offered in the 330i?). Would be great if it did.

I hope it trickles down!

[Bwat330i]

Twins! Except I'm a 330i m sport

[cfm56d7b]

Congratulations and welcome!

In short - a great car. 400M wheels look sharp.

Since your vehicle has N55 engine, is the charge pipe still OEM or aftermarket? If OEM - please consider replacing it with Evolution Racewerks CP.

[frchdragon]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Congratulations and welcome!

In short - a great car. 400M wheels look sharp.

Since your vehicle has N55 engine, is the charge pipe still OEM or aftermarket? If OEM - please consider replacing it with Evolution Racewerks CP.

Thank you. Yes the charge pipe is in my shortlist of upgrades along with a FMIC for the track.
Right now, I am finishing putting the valve cover gasket together and a set of plugs. New front shocks, the OFHG has been replaced (need to prime the engine before 1st start).
Doing the basic maintenance then I will drive the car to tune my butt dyno.
I already purchased BM3 so I will do the most basic tune and transmission tune then upgrade the charge pipe with FMIC.... and see if my E34 track rims fits.

I was a bit afraid of the complexity of the N55 engine, but short of the OFHG kill your engine gamble and front sport springs that my spring compressor can't compress, it has been extremely easy to work on.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by frchdragon

Thank you. Yes the charge pipe is in my shortlist of upgrades along with a FMIC for the track.
Right now, I am finishing putting the valve cover gasket together and a set of plugs. New front shocks, the OFHG has been replaced (need to prime the engine before 1st start).
Doing the basic maintenance then I will drive the car to tune my butt dyno.
I already purchased BM3 so I will do the most basic tune and transmission tune then upgrade the charge pipe with FMIC.... and see if my E34 track rims fits.

I was a bit afraid of the complexity of the N55 engine, but short of the OFHG kill your engine gamble and front sport springs that my spring compressor can't compress, it has been extremely easy to work on.

It would be very prudent to install a new charge pipe before adding any tunes.