F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > General F30 Sedan / F32 Coupe / F36 Gran Coupe Forum > BIMMERPOST REVIEW: 2013 328i Touring (F31)
ARMA SPEED
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      07-08-2012, 12:51 PM   #1
southlight
Moderator / European Editor
southlight's Avatar
1492
Rep
6,755
Posts

Drives: X3M
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Germany

iTrader: (0)

Post BIMMERPOST REVIEW: 2013 328i Touring (F31)

BIMMERPOST NEWS
BIMMERPOST REVIEW: 2013 328i Touring (F31)
50
COMMENTS

A nice car is one way to draw attention. But what does it take to be instantly noticed by the general public? Emotional styling and exotic engine sound might be a good recipe. Then again, it’s sometimes cars far from flashy that cause the most attention. BMW invited us to test one of these cars, the all-new F31 3 Series Touring. But let’s start from the beginning.

Name:  F31_0.jpg
Views: 19968
Size:  50.7 KB

A few months after the introduction of the F30 3 Series Sedan, BMW updates another iconic 3 Series to F model code status. The 5th generation 3 Series Touring, internally dubbed F31 adopts the new styling and chassis of its sedan brethren. The new touring is 97 mm longer than its predecessor - the E91. Rear space has been improved significantly with 17mm more knee room and 9mm more head room for the rear passengers. While the Audi A4 Avant and the Mercedes C-Class T Model offer 490 liters and 485 liters of cargo space, respectively, the F31 tops them at 495 liters of equipment. Make use of the folding rear seats and this number increases to 1500 liters. This extra space helps BMW earn the trophy for best-in-class cargo space, a first for BMW. The rear seats are individually fold-able in a 40/20/40 configuration. To ease access to all this space, the tail gate is now automatically actuated on all models. The optional comfort access system allows the trunk to open without the touch of a single button, but at the risk of looking silly kicking your car's behind to open the trunk.


Name:  F31_5.jpg
Views: 15812
Size:  48.9 KB


I’ve mentioned some cars’ ability to draw attention at the beginning. Unlike in the U.S., tourings/estate versions are widely popular in Germany and many other European countries. They’re roomier and more usable than sedans but also more agile and nimble than SUVs. The attention this car drew during my test drive was still a surprise. At some point, there was a crowd of guys surrounding the car. As it turns out, these middle-aged guys were all current F10 5 Series drivers, and they all were really impressed by the F31. They loved the design, and they considered it to be big enough for their needs. In other words, the F31 made for the most mature and most upscale 3 Series Touring ever. The front end design is similar to the F30, including the new trademark feature of the headlights connecting to the grilles. The side view makes for a long and sleek silhouette while the rear view is typical BMW with a muscular look. There’s not a single design cue about this car I don’t like, it’s flawless.


Name:  F31_1.jpg
Views: 15117
Size:  29.4 KB


BMW brought the 328i Touring for our first drive. As some might know already, I’m a huge fan of this engine, and it doesn’t disappoint in the F31. 245hp and 350Nm (258ft-lbs) are plenty to work with, all coming from the N20 2.0-liter Twin-power turbo engine. Yes, it’s neither as refined nor as throaty as the N52 found in the old 328i, but it makes up for this with usability that’s a notch or three better. Coupled with the amazing 8-speed sport automatic transmission, there’s always enough torque and enough power to get going. This side of 100mph, I never felt that this car could use more power. During my test drive, I averaged about 9 liters per 100 km (26 mpg) which isn’t too bad either.

So let’s talk about handling. Generally, a Touring makes most sense if it combines the aesthetics and agility of a sedan with the added usability of a larger boot; and the F31 328i makes perfect sense in this regard. There’s virtually no difference in handling and agility compared to the F30 328i sedan – this car just feels right. When pushed hard, the F31’s balance makes for a very clear and crisp line. Much like the F30, the F31 has a tendency to understeer when the corner turns out to be tighter than anticipated.


Name:  F31_2.jpg
Views: 15371
Size:  48.0 KB


As with any late BMW model, there are four different modes to select from, namely Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ - the latter of which also activates DTC mode and gives DSC a bit more leeway. Throttle mapping, damper settings and steering effort vary depending on these modes. Speaking of which, there was a bit of a mystery around the steering. Contrary to my earlier drives in several F30 328i models, this F31 328i test car surprisingly lacked both in steering feedback and overall feel. The mystery was soon solved by a friendly BMW employee who acknowledged that the adaptive sports steering was missing on this test car, and this makes for a huge difference. I highly recommend the adaptive sports steering for this reason alone.


Name:  F31_4.jpg
Views: 16514
Size:  19.6 KB


Other available options include all the bells and whistles familiar to the F30, including Head-up display, lane departure warning, lane change assist, and speed limit info. As I’ve said before, the head-up display is a must-have feature. The other options work well for the most part but are a matter of personal preference.

Let's not forget the new Navigation Professional system (full details now announced). You don’t notice any differences at first sight as the iDrive controller and the display have been taken over from the previous navigation system. The differences lie underneath. The previous unit worked based on saved images that were called up by the system on request. Load times and overall operation were acceptable but not as instant as some might have wished for. The new unit has improved a lot in this regard. New hardware allows for a true rendering of the graphics and maps. It’s so powerful that zooming in and out of maps has no lag at all. The graphics are now also making full use of the high resolution display. In a nutshell, everything looks clearer, brighter and more detailed. Think of this jump as BMW’s equivalent of Apple introducing Retina displays. First models to get this new version of the navigation system (besides the F31), are the F01 7 Series LCI, the F10 5 Series, and the F30 Active Hybrid 3. Other F30 models will follow later this year.


Name:  F31_3.jpg
Views: 15768
Size:  49.4 KB


The F31 3 Series Touring will hit European dealer showroom floors on Sept 22, 2012. U.S. customers will have to wait until March 2013 for the F31 328i. The good news is that xDrive and M Sport Package will be available at the U.S. launch. The bad news is no manual transmission and no 335i for now. BMW would love to offer more models but, as history has taught, they don’t expect to sell too many units of the F31 in the U.S. However, if the market proves them wrong and demands for more, they are ready to offer another model, be it a 335i or a Diesel version.



3 Series Touring (F31) Press Conference

328i Touring Sport Line

M Sport 3 Series Touring (F31)



Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 05:06 PM   #2
chsbmw
Private
1
Rep
82
Posts

Drives: 2011 335is coupe
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SC

iTrader: (0)

Very cool! I can live without a 335i/d variant of the F31 since the N20 is a work of art but I do wish 6 speed manual was an option..
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 05:23 PM   #3
AlexanderR
New Member
0
Rep
11
Posts

Drives: z3m
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Yorba linda

iTrader: (0)

I don't see why they decided to not have a 335i and or a 6 speed, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 05:28 PM   #4
positiveions
Lieutenant General
positiveions's Avatar
Lebanon
961
Rep
11,722
Posts

Drives: 19 Tacoma, 16 Golf wagon
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Upland, CA

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
330d wagon doesn't look too shabby
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 05:44 PM   #5
r3dbimmer89
Major
r3dbimmer89's Avatar
331
Rep
1,268
Posts

Drives: P-Car
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

So this proves that the Adaptive Sport Steering is a must have option...
__________________
Past: BMW (22 G20 M340i, 15 F80 ///M3, 12 E92 335i, 08 E90 335i, 02 E46 325i)
Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, VW, Lexus
Present: 24 992 C2
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 05:59 PM   #6
jddssc121
Second Lieutenant
11
Rep
271
Posts

Drives: vroom
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Seattle

iTrader: (1)

I would die for a xDrive diesel model of this
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 06:07 PM   #7
JoLo
Second Lieutenant
11
Rep
224
Posts

Drives: ///2011.5 ///E90 ///AW ///ZCP
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NNJ

iTrader: (0)

is that 330d wagon coming to the US
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 06:11 PM   #8
Imola.ZHP
Colonel
Imola.ZHP's Avatar
United_States
129
Rep
2,218
Posts

Drives: 2014 BMW i3 BEV EE
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mud Island, TN

iTrader: (0)

Wait, no more 6-speed manual?

FML!
__________________

- 2014 CPO i01 BEV Electronaut Edition Capparis White Tera World, '17-
- 2015 CPO i01 BEV Laurel Grey Tera World, '17-
- 2015 i01 REx Laurel Grey Tera World, '15-'17
- 2003 CPO 330i ZHP Imola Red Build 03/03/03, '06-'15
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 06:16 PM   #9
Fugly M3
Major General
Fugly M3's Avatar
4909
Rep
5,053
Posts

Drives: 2023 M3CX
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (5)

wow, no manual? well for $10k less I'll just go with an X1 if i want a wagon
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 06:17 PM   #10
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

I still don't understand why US consumers want SUVs instead of sport wagons.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 06:38 PM   #11
Blake P
Kinda Like A Big Deal
United_States
10
Rep
390
Posts

Drives: F31 on order
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Fresno, CA

iTrader: (0)

Thanks for the excellent review! Also, you answered my lingering questions about what "Spring 2013" really meant and whether M Sport would be available at launch. I'm officially ready to place my order...
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 06:55 PM   #12
TheBingoBalls
Brigadier General
TheBingoBalls's Avatar
Canada
3805
Rep
4,655
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
I still don't understand why US consumers want SUVs instead of sport wagons.
Some people like the feeling of a SUV, sitting a bit higher.
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 07:20 PM   #13
Fugly M3
Major General
Fugly M3's Avatar
4909
Rep
5,053
Posts

Drives: 2023 M3CX
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (5)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
I still don't understand why US consumers want SUVs instead of sport wagons.
I'd rather have the wagon. but if they're going to charge $10k more for essentially a very similar car, why not just get the X1
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 07:30 PM   #14
Blake P
Kinda Like A Big Deal
United_States
10
Rep
390
Posts

Drives: F31 on order
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Fresno, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci View Post
I'd rather have the wagon. but if they're going to charge $10k more for essentially a very similar car, why not just get the X1
Check the cargo space of an X1. X3 would be a better comparison with the F31, IMO.
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 07:41 PM   #15
StealYourFace
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
260
Rep
1,794
Posts

Drives: F30 328i M 6mt, E36 M3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Shakedown Street, Buffalo NY

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
I still don't understand why US consumers want SUVs instead of sport wagons.
2 Reasons:

It's easier for fat people to get in and out of SUVs. Most americans are overweight or obese.

The second reason is the fact that the Ford Explorer was marketed so much 15 years ago, which resulted in an SUV boom that has risen and fallen, but still makes it the go to choice for families in the US. Many people would rather have something they perceive to be large rather than a vehicle that is rewarding to drive.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 07:46 PM   #16
Envyscorpio
Private First Class
Envyscorpio's Avatar
Taiwan
18
Rep
185
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Taiwan

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2001 Honda NSX  [0.00]
2009 BMW M3  [0.00]
2004 BMW M3  [0.00]
This seems like a much better package than the X1
__________________
[E30 325i | E39 528i | E46 M3 | E70 X5 | E90 M3 | F25 X3 | NA1.5 NSX | 718 GT4]
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 08:18 PM   #17
Fugly M3
Major General
Fugly M3's Avatar
4909
Rep
5,053
Posts

Drives: 2023 M3CX
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (5)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blake P View Post
Check the cargo space of an X1. X3 would be a better comparison with the F31, IMO.
yea but the X3 is in the F31 price range.
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 08:33 PM   #18
chong0
First Lieutenant
49
Rep
317
Posts

Drives: '16 X5 5.0
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MA

iTrader: (0)

Wow. No MT, no 335, no diesel. Is there ANY difference between this and an A4?

Looks like I will have to keep the e91 until a better solution comes around. Bah
__________________
'22 Macan GTS
'21 911 C2S
'20 Cayenne
'16 X5 50i M-sport (3rd row!)
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 10:09 PM   #19
jraymond
Lieutenant
18
Rep
411
Posts

Drives: 135i SGM
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: U.S.

iTrader: (0)

Manual tranny is dodo bird. RIP manual
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 11:47 PM   #20
SactoE90
New Member
United_States
4
Rep
13
Posts

Drives: 2006 e90 325i
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
06' 325i  [0.00]
As can be seen in David's return to Italy...

Quote:
Originally Posted by debdoub View Post
Agree, you have to attribute it to the hamburgers, fries & coke on a fountain ;-)
After two years in the US, Michaelangelo's David Returns to Italy...

Pre US visit:

Name:  untitled.jpeg
Views: 8810
Size:  11.3 KB

Post US visit:

Name:  untitled-1.jpeg
Views: 8764
Size:  21.1 KB
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 11:54 PM   #21
Alpine F31
Colonel
Alpine F31's Avatar
United_States
918
Rep
2,711
Posts

Drives: MB E350 4MATIC Estate
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
I refuse to believe that there wont be a manual.

The 8AT is standard but does that mean there are no options? The 8AT is standard in the F30 also, but a manual is a no cost option. Why would it be any different for the F31, especially if you are ordering the car?

I know most people will want an auto and they can buy from dealer stock, but if you want individual paint or leather or a freakin' 6MT you should be able to order it!
Appreciate 0
      07-11-2012, 12:41 AM   #22
Itgb
Second Lieutenant
United_States
82
Rep
244
Posts

Drives: 2011 E91
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Diego

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blake P View Post
Check the cargo space of an X1. X3 would be a better comparison with the F31, IMO.
X3 is bigger than you think.

cargo capacity w/rear seats folded:
X1: 47.7 cu.ft.
A4: 50.5 cu.ft. (Avant)
F31: 53.0 cu.ft.
X3: 63.3 cu.ft.
__________________
E91 328i | B8 A4 Avant | Past: MK7 GTI, W211 E55, P2 S60, E46 M3, W201 190E 2.3-16
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:17 AM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST