[HFW003]

I think OP might be related to travelbro, they may even be one and the same?

[NosceTeIpsum]

Originally Posted by HFW003

I think OP might be related to travelbro, they may even be one and the same?

HFW003 i hope travelbro was a nice guy =)

No i am new to the forum
cheers

[evanescent03]

i'm going to echo others by saying there are just far more of them for all the reasons mentioned... look at any BMW dealer's new car inventory and compare how many of each model they have in stock. probably gonna be a lot more new ones as well as used around.

in comparing the f30 to previous BMWs: i had an e90 335i with dinan stage 2 and switched to the f30 328i. the F30 is far nicer and feels a lot more up-to-date, especially on the interior; the exterior has really grown on me and I am definitely a fan.. some of the MSports and modified cars look awesome inside/out.

that being said, i don't feel like the 328i is as sporty as it could be, granted my wife didn't want a sport line so i guess that's my fault for not talking her into it. i have an e46 m3 i use as a track car and we were considering combining cars so i could use the car on the track as well as a DD.. i just can't see using the 328i on the track at all... the e90 335i would've been passable (it did have sport pkg) although not ideal.

my biggest complaint on the f30 is the steering feel... too rubbery and light but some people may like this for commuting, but still offers a nice ride and punchy (good adj for the turbo 4) drivetrain. honestly i love the 8 speed transmission. very smooth, fast, and efficient.

that's all i've got for now.

[NosceTeIpsum]

Originally Posted by evanescent03

i'm going to echo others by saying there are just far more of them for all the reasons mentioned... look at any BMW dealer's new car inventory and compare how many of each model they have in stock. probably gonna be a lot more new ones as well as used around.

in comparing the f30 to previous BMWs: i had an e90 335i with dinan stage 2 and switched to the f30 328i. the F30 is far nicer and feels a lot more up-to-date, especially on the interior; the exterior has really grown on me and I am definitely a fan.. some of the MSports and modified cars look awesome inside/out.

that being said, i don't feel like the 328i is as sporty as it could be, granted my wife didn't want a sport line so i guess that's my fault for not talking her into it. i have an e46 m3 i use as a track car and we were considering combining cars so i could use the car on the track as well as a DD.. i just can't see using the 328i on the track at all... the e90 335i would've been passable (it did have sport pkg) although not ideal.

my biggest complaint on the f30 is the steering feel... too rubbery and light but some people may like this for commuting, but still offers a nice ride and punchy (good adj for the turbo 4) drivetrain. honestly i love the 8 speed transmission. very smooth, fast, and efficient.

that's all i've got for now.

Thank you for the input, yes it all makes sense. I agree with you the interior is amazing and up to date, the transmission is awesome as well. I was realizing tonight that eco and sport have a similar heavier feel to it, less "assisted" to save power?

Before buying this car i was looking at a 2011 335 MSport Manual 29k miles (no cold weather no heated seats) the only reason I didn't buy it, and that my wife does not drive manual.

[newoldbeemer]

Originally Posted by evanescent03

i'm going to echo others by saying there are just far more of them for all the reasons mentioned... look at any BMW dealer's new car inventory and compare how many of each model they have in stock. probably gonna be a lot more new ones as well as used around.

in comparing the f30 to previous BMWs: i had an e90 335i with dinan stage 2 and switched to the f30 328i. the F30 is far nicer and feels a lot more up-to-date, especially on the interior; the exterior has really grown on me and I am definitely a fan.. some of the MSports and modified cars look awesome inside/out.

that being said, i don't feel like the 328i is as sporty as it could be, granted my wife didn't want a sport line so i guess that's my fault for not talking her into it. i have an e46 m3 i use as a track car and we were considering combining cars so i could use the car on the track as well as a DD.. i just can't see using the 328i on the track at all... the e90 335i would've been passable (it did have sport pkg) although not ideal.

my biggest complaint on the f30 is the steering feel... too rubbery and light but some people may like this for commuting, but still offers a nice ride and punchy (good adj for the turbo 4) drivetrain. honestly i love the 8 speed transmission. very smooth, fast, and efficient.

that's all i've got for now.

I agree with all your observations. I came from an e90 335i too.

[bavarianboar]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

I love the punchy feel of this engine, much more than the previous-gen inline-6 in non-turbo form. Definitely an improvement.

It's the transmission. Can't beat the NA-6 o. E90 328i. Not even the N20 engine 4 banger with that torque. Not a chance!

That's why I went N55 on F30 335i.

You are not sensitive driver perhaps if you are making that statement.

[newoldbeemer]

Originally Posted by bavarianboar

It's the transmission. Can't beat the NA-6 o. E90 328i. Not even the N20 engine 4 banger with that torque. Not a chance!

That's why I went N55 on F30 335i.

You are not sensitive driver perhaps if you are making that statement.

Guess its a matter of taste, but the numbers match my impressions so I'm not sure who is the sensitive driver here

Having said that, I'd have gone N55 too if it fell within my budget. But no regrets on the N20 since its got more than enough punch. In fact I almost went for a 320i. I found THAT comparable to N52 .

[illirep]

I don't think there is any where near the enthusiast following for the F30 as compared to the E9x platform based on 2 observations:

1) The lack of activity in the classified section of this forum. When the e9x's came out, you had your choice of multiple version's of every stock part and many aftermarket mods. There is slim pickings in the F30 classified section, and they have been out for 2 model years already. I'm hoping when the F32 is at full launch, things will pick up.

2) Based on conversations with my BMW salesman. Lots of e9x owners have expressed negative views towards the F30 and are not buying / leasing them, mostly stemming from the steering, which to me seems absurd. When I put my 335xi in sport / sport + mode, the steering feels just fine to me, and I've owned over 20 BMW's, mostly e46's.

I will say that my 330i ZHP is a bit more fun to drive on all around basis, just a more raw driving experience, more connected to the road, and yes, tighter steering feel. But those are easy to forget when mashing through the manual gears at full throttle with the AFE tuned N55 with M performance exhaust! I also blame some of the less fun factor on the fact that I have the xdrive non-msport suspension.

[newoldbeemer]

@illirep, I don't think the enthusiasm will ever go to e90 levels. Unless they go back to a hydraulic steering.

I think this car has ~50% of the feel the e90 had. Which is still higher than c250 and a4 levels of feel.

[NosceTeIpsum]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

@illirep, I don't think the enthusiasm will ever go to e90 levels. Unless they go back to a hydraulic steering.

I think this car has ~50% of the feel the e90 had. Which is still higher than c250 and a4 levels of feel.

it feels very grown up, almost like a 5 series, but i want to hope it will grow on me.

[ny325]

I think the X1 has hydraulic steering. Hopefully they bring it back to the F series lineup. The car feels like a boat.

[newoldbeemer]

Test drove the x1 and yes it has hydraulic steering but it's wasted on the x1, IMO. It feels like the SUV - or SAV - that it is.

Steering and handling are different things. The f30, mine at least, feels nothing like a boat.

I'd rather have a car that handles this well with electric steering, than an x1 with hydraulic steering.

[NosceTeIpsum]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

Test drove the x1 and yes it has hydraulic steering but it's wasted on the x1, IMO. It feels like the SUV - or SAV - that it is.

Steering and handling are different things. The f30, mine at least, feels nothing like a boat.

I'd rather have a car that handles this well with electric steering, than an x1 with hydraulic steering.

I dont mind our steering in sport mode at all...

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by Stoofpilot

I agree with AMJAM. This four really rocks in the Sport mode. I keep wondering why I would spend 4 grand more for a 335. What am I missing? One more point. On trips in ECO mode I am averaging 35 mpg.

I spent more than 4 grand for my 335i and never looked back. If I lived in Europe I'd have a 320d. To each his own.

[DrivenByE30]

Originally Posted by hyperboost

not many 328d on the lot... i want diesel!

That's because they just barely started selling them this month...