[acidfuji]

Hey folks,

I’m looking to buy new car and I would like buy either f34 (330i) or f36 (430i) both with m sport package. I was a long time bmw user back 10 years back with e36 and e38 and I’m super excited to come back.

It’s very hard for me test f34 as they are rare with this engine and specs and before I will drive 900km to check one figure I will ask here some questions. I had a chance only driving with 430i with m sport package and it was really sporty with driving position quite low.

1. Look aside because that is personal, have anyone decided between those two? Which one you went and did you regret? Any tips before I buy are much welcome.

[3-GT]

I have an F34 and the other half has an F36, both M Sport and on 19'' wheels, so can probably help a bit.

The main differences are the ride comfort, ride height and space.

The ride height difference is very noticeable, especially when getting in and out. When driving, I feel the F36 feels low rather than the F34 feels high, if that make sense?

The ride comfort and handling is noticeably different when on poor roads or pushing on in the corners. The F34 is much smoother and has a bit more lean in the corners but I don't find it to be too much though.

I did consider the F36 when I bought the F34 but chose the F34 mostly due to the extra space in the back (this is where the F34 shines).

The eldest (11) always comments about the lack of legroom in the F36 when I'm driving and I'm only 5' 8", but that might be because she's spoilt for legroom in the F34 and has similar amounts in the F36 when her mum drives.

The boot on the F34 is wider (due to the different way the boot struts are installed), it's also deeper, but the F36 has more height with the parcel shelve in.

When sitting in the car, one thing I notice a big difference between them is the height in roof at the front. The F36 feels a little clostrophobic, but the F34 I feel has too much but it needed it to enable the headroom in the rear especially when a panoramic roof is optioned.

Hope that helps.

[Billfitz]

My experience was the same. I considered both the F34 and F36. The fact that I often have four adults in the car and I need real room in the trunk sealed the deal for the F34. Ten years in and I have no desire to go to anything else. It's the first car I've ever kept for more than seven years, going back to 1970.

[Altamate]

We also have had both, a 2014 335GT Msport and now a 2020 440GC Msport. To me the F34-GT is much bigger(wider, longer and taller)they are built on the 5 series chassis and do not share any body panels with the rest of the 3 and 4 series line up. When driving they feel sporty enough but they are far more biased toward comfortable. The biggest down side to the F34 is the body shape, they look big and the side and rear and in particular rear 3/4 view is not nearly as attractive as the F36. The F36 is much lower and sportier looking and feeling, it has a harder sportier ride baked in and a lot less space inside everywhere. BMW calls it a coupe for a reason and all those coupe features or issues are present. That said my wife liked our GT better and I like the GC better.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Altamate

The biggest down side to the F34 is the body shape, they look big and the side and rear .

Not in comparison to SUVs and Uberpickup trucks.

[Altamate]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Not in comparison to SUVs and Uberpickup trucks.

Yes, but that was not what the OP asked about, compared against the F3X platform including the F31 wagon, only the wagon gives it a run in the not quite as attractive shape department and there are likely more than a few who would say the wagon is better looking.

If I thought the F34 was ugly(like so many SUVs including many BMW ones are) we would not have owned it for 6 years. But the F36 is quite a bit better looking.

[Billfitz]

I might have considered the F31 if it was sold in the US in 2015, but I'm sure I still would have gone F34 for the better passenger room and ride, while giving up very little cargo space. How much will it hold? I once loaded mine with sixteen of these: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Premium-2-c...id=21011716225

Sure, the F36 looks better, but practicality rates higher for me.

[acidfuji]

Originally Posted by 3-GT

I have an F34 and the other half has an F36, both M Sport and on 19'' wheels, so can probably help a bit.

The main differences are the ride comfort, ride height and space.

The ride height difference is very noticeable, especially when getting in and out. When driving, I feel the F36 feels low rather than the F34 feels high, if that make sense?

The ride comfort and handling is noticeably different when on poor roads or pushing on in the corners. The F34 is much smoother and has a bit more lean in the corners but I don't find it to be too much though.

I did consider the F36 when I bought the F34 but chose the F34 mostly due to the extra space in the back (this is where the F34 shines).

The eldest (11) always comments about the lack of legroom in the F36 when I'm driving and I'm only 5' 8", but that might be because she's spoilt for legroom in the F34 and has similar amounts in the F36 when her mum drives.

The boot on the F34 is wider (due to the different way the boot struts are installed), it's also deeper, but the F36 has more height with the parcel shelve in.

When sitting in the car, one thing I notice a big difference between them is the height in roof at the front. The F36 feels a little clostrophobic, but the F34 I feel has too much but it needed it to enable the headroom in the rear especially when a panoramic roof is optioned.

Hope that helps.

Thanks a lot! That helps a lot. Can you elaborate little bit more on driving experience f34 vs f36? Are they much apart of each in taking corners for example?

[acidfuji]

Originally Posted by Altamate

We also have had both, a 2014 335GT Msport and now a 2020 440GC Msport. To me the F34-GT is much bigger(wider, longer and taller)they are built on the 5 series chassis and do not share any body panels with the rest of the 3 and 4 series line up. When driving they feel sporty enough but they are far more biased toward comfortable. The biggest down side to the F34 is the body shape, they look big and the side and rear and in particular rear 3/4 view is not nearly as attractive as the F36. The F36 is much lower and sportier looking and feeling, it has a harder sportier ride baked in and a lot less space inside everywhere. BMW calls it a coupe for a reason and all those coupe features or issues are present. That said my wife liked our GT better and I like the GC better.

Thx! How much better in your opinion the GC drives? Are they that much apart on this matter?

[3-GT]

Originally Posted by acidfuji

Thanks a lot! That helps a lot. Can you elaborate little bit more on driving experience f34 vs f36? Are they much apart of each in taking corners for example?

In my view, yes, they're quite far apart, out of the whole F3X line up, they're propably the two cars that are furthest apart from each other on a like for like basis (same suspension, wheel size, ect).

If you're after a ride closer to the F36 but with better boot space then an F31 is the better option.

The F34 serves a middle ground between a saloon and an SUV, also it weights more due to its larger size. It handles well for what it is, but isn't really comparable to an F36 for handling during spirited driving if that is a top requirement.

[Altamate]

Originally Posted by acidfuji

Thx! How much better in your opinion the GC drives? Are they that much apart on this matter?

It’s physics and tuning. The F34 is much taller and bigger with a higher center of gravity. The suspensions are tuned for different purposes as well. The F36 and F32 have the hardest suspension settings in the line up.

Switching between cars is very noticeable. One has lots of room and is very comfortable, with a fairly sporty feel. The other is noticeably smaller, more nimble and sporty to the point of being just this side of harsh.

[acidfuji]

Thanks guys for the help! I did try two f36, one with m sport and the other with m performance and the suspension on both was really stiff. Not a comfortable choice for me allthough driving 440i was super fun.

So afer some searching I’m going to see and potentially buy 330i GT on Thursday. Super excited.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by 3-GT

I have an F34 and the other half has an F36, both M Sport and on 19'' wheels, so can probably help a bit.

The main differences are the ride comfort, ride height and space.

The ride height difference is very noticeable, especially when getting in and out. When driving, I feel the F36 feels low rather than the F34 feels high, if that make sense?

The ride comfort and handling is noticeably different when on poor roads or pushing on in the corners. The F34 is much smoother and has a bit more lean in the corners but I don't find it to be too much though.

I did consider the F36 when I bought the F34 but chose the F34 mostly due to the extra space in the back (this is where the F34 shines).

The eldest (11) always comments about the lack of legroom in the F36 when I'm driving and I'm only 5' 8", but that might be because she's spoilt for legroom in the F34 and has similar amounts in the F36 when her mum drives.

The boot on the F34 is wider (due to the different way the boot struts are installed), it's also deeper, but the F36 has more height with the parcel shelve in.

When sitting in the car, one thing I notice a big difference between them is the height in roof at the front. The F36 feels a little clostrophobic, but the F34 I feel has too much but it needed it to enable the headroom in the rear especially when a panoramic roof is optioned.

Hope that helps.

Concerning ride differences, I’m curious if your two cars have Adaptive/EDC struts & shocks, or if they are standard?

[3-GT]

Originally Posted by johnung

Concerning ride differences, I’m curious if your two cars have Adaptive/EDC struts & shocks, or if they are standard?

Both cars are running on standard M Sport suspension.

Just remembered, the F34 runs a higher tyre aspect ratio than the F36 when both on the same sizes wheels.

[timari777]

F36 looks better and feel better at driving in my opinion for sure, try to drive both of them and then make the final decision!