[Robin_NL]

Great news. A bit biased and nothing about the sound, but nonetheless congrats.

[Robin_NL]

Come to think of it: BMW as a frontrunner in building 'green'cars, benefits a lot by selling more 'greener' 328s and 320d 's than not so green 335s worldwide in the longer run, political/governmental issues etc.

So maybe that's why they're pushing the 328 a bit too obviously in my book.

[AlexM]

Originally Posted by Robin Hood

Come to think of it: BMW as a frontrunner in building 'green'cars, benefits a lot by selling more 'greener' 328s and 320d 's than not so green 335s worldwide in the longer run, political/governmental issues etc.

So maybe that's why they're pushing the 328 a bit too obviously in my book.

I don't get why it bothers you so much. It 'might' be that BMW simply made 328i to be that good. And it doesn't mean 335 is not a great car... You can still be happy you're getting one...

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by AlexM

I don't get why it bothers you so much. It 'might' be that BMW simply made 328i to be that good. And it doesn't mean 335 is not a great car... You can still be happy you're getting one...

I'm happy, no worries.

[cstavaru]

328i will be a hit in the US. The 5.6 numbers are only 0.3 seconds different than the F30 335i. BMW really should have bumped up the 335i power to 350hp or so...

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by cstavaru

328i will be a hit in the US. The 5.6 numbers are only 0.3 seconds different than the F30 335i. BMW really should have bumped up the 335i power to 350hp or so...

If they would have used the N54, it would have around 340 horses

[Robin_NL]

My mate Advevo testdrove a 335i yesterday at the Dutch distributor for driving-fun.com

We were talking about the engine and he stated that the car is 'more or less just as fast' as his stock 1M(he has two of them) in a straight line. And cornering was more than alright he said(adaptive suspension, 19"alloys 401 style). More info plus vid will follow.

I drove his 1M a few months ago and found that car very powerful(compared to my ex E90 M3) and a joy to drive(best M car in years imo, but that's off topic) so I have no doubt the N55 335i won't let me down.

His info (we know each other for 30 years or so) about the finesse of driving a car and the feel to me is more valuable than ANY carmag/journalist(except maybe for Chris Harris, Tiff and Jason, but they're all more or less professional racecardrivers) AND off course driving it MYSELF, to judge the whole thing.

I posted this already in the F10 M5 part of this forum, but it's great to repost it
Advevo driving the M5:

He also stated that electric powersteering doesn't suck in the F30. He was racing a E46 M3 V8'GTR' in some endurance races at Spa/Zandvoort etc a few years ago and that car already had an electric steering pump. 'You just have to get used to it' he said.

[7or8]

Nice =)

I'm glad a lot of reviews lately have the opinion that the electric steering is pretty good. That was a big worry of mine. Seems my biggest decision now is going to be 328 or 335.. got a year to decide though..

[AlexM]

Originally Posted by Robin Hood

My mate Advevo testdrove a 335i yesterday at the Dutch distributor for driving-fun.com

We were talking about the engine and he stated that the car is 'more or less just as fast' as his stock 1M(he has two of them) in a straight line. And cornering was more than alright he said(adaptive suspension, 19"alloys 401 style)...

I'm curious how you're mate would compare the adaptive suspension to passive one? My last issue I can't decide on so far leaning towards M passive.

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by AlexM

I'm curious how you're mate would compare the adaptive suspension to passive one? My last issue I can't decide on so far leaning towards M passive.

I now have passive M suspension on my F10. Sometimes it's too harsh and often too soft(doh it's an F10 5 series boat), so I chose the adaptive suspension to enjoy best of both worlds.

[AWe90]

So with the logic of this review in mind, does that mean they feel the V8 M3 would be a poor handling car as a result of weight up front??

[Richbot]

I would expect a 335 with an N55tu or similar soon. Starting with the E46, there's been at least one launch engine which was eventually superceded early in the generation. See the 328i vs. 330i in the E46 generation, E90 325i and 330i only available for one year in the US etc. I wouldn't expect the N20 to change much but I would think the 335 will get something soon.

That said, the 335 is still significantly quicker. Car and Driver got a 13.7 at 103 out of one, which is about a buslength in the 1/4 mile. That big of a power difference might not make the car more fun to drive but it's certainly faster around a racetrack.

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by AWe90

So with the logic of this review in mind, does that mean they feel the V8 M3 would be a poor handling car as a result of weight up front??

Nope, not at all.

They talking about the new chassis.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by AWe90

So with the logic of this review in mind, does that mean they feel the V8 M3 would be a poor handling car as a result of weight up front??

Probably not. The M3 has a really unique chassis balance compared to the regular 3.

I'm glad to read this about the N20 F30. I hope they sell a bunch.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I would expect a 335 with an N55tu or similar soon. Starting with the E46, there's been at least one launch engine which was eventually superceded early in the generation. See the 328i vs. 330i in the E46 generation, E90 325i and 330i only available for one year in the US etc. I wouldn't expect the N20 to change much but I would think the 335 will get something soon.

That said, the 335 is still significantly quicker. Car and Driver got a 13.7 at 103 out of one, which is about a buslength in the 1/4 mile. That big of a power difference might not make the car more fun to drive but it's certainly faster around a racetrack.

Depends what track.

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by AWe90

So with the logic of this review in mind, does that mean they feel the V8 M3 would be a poor handling car as a result of weight up front??

I already stated that somewhere else in this thread. It's not the case so no worries.
An E90 M V8 handles very very well.

But the best handling BMW at the moment has a N54 upfront(thus a 6 cylinder) and it's called 1//M.

So no worries about the N55 upfront. (a bit of)Marketing strikes again.

[335iJWC]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I would expect a 335 with an N55tu or similar soon. Starting with the E46, there's been at least one launch engine which was eventually superceded early in the generation. See the 328i vs. 330i in the E46 generation, E90 325i and 330i only available for one year in the US etc. I wouldn't expect the N20 to change much but I would think the 335 will get something soon.

That said, the 335 is still significantly quicker. Car and Driver got a 13.7 at 103 out of one, which is about a buslength in the 1/4 mile. That big of a power difference might not make the car more fun to drive but it's certainly faster around a racetrack.

+1 the 335 should get a revamped engine soon, these 3rs are becoming the real deal, with real sports car performance

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Depends what track.

Nordschleife for sure.

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by Robin Hood

I already stated that somewhere else in this thread. It's not the case so no worries.
An E90 M V8 handles very very well.

But the best handling BMW at the moment has a N54 upfront(thus a 6 cylinder) and it's called 1//M.

So no worries about the N55 upfront. (a bit of)Marketing strikes again.

It is not marketing. They are just talking about how these powerplants sit in the new F30 chassis.

The 1M is irrelevant to this discussion.

[richb811]

Wow that is interesting!

[avsbmw]

wow those are extremely awesome numbers!

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

It is not marketing. They are just talking about how these powerplants sit in the new F30 chassis.

The 1M is irrelevant to this discussion.

The F30 chassis is 90% the same as the E90 chassis afaik.

Just saying how well the 1M behaves with a 3 litre biturbo 6 upfront, that's all.

I call this green marketing the way I see it.