F30 328i Loaner : What I Think

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty)
12/14/2014 at 10:32 • Filed to: Bmw, f30, 328i

In white with an 8 speed auto. 2014 model. Read at your own risk. (Not actual car poorly pictured)

Positives: Real handbrake. Pretty powerful. Somewhat better looking than the beige alternatives. Pretty fuel efficient. RWD, but with no traction disable option.

Negatives: This is my first time driving a truly sophisticated slushbox. I can now say that there isn't a single AT I enjoy much, whether it's a DCT or 8AT, or whether going slowly or at full throttle. However , it's a very good transmission, though it's annoying how it has a couple too many gears to deal with. This 3er also sounds like my grandmother's Rav-4; I maintain that even with some extra off-idle torque, the range of turbo engines is a bit uninspiring. Lots of body roll (chassis sits higher and suspension is softer compared to the E90). Interior is very meh. Some rattles, dash creaks incessantly, but nicer than anything I ever expect to own. MPG gauge

Conclusion: More than ever, that is one damn expensive badge. Get it with 3 pedals if you care just a little bit about driving and have two functional legs. Still an objectively nicer car than I, a masochist, would ever DD. Being a luddite, I'd say that the best lifetime 328i option here would be to take an E36 328i (which performs about as well) and completely restore it.

Now look how tiny that red car looks next to a Focus coupe. I don't know how. Focus Coupe. Still sounds almost as bad as Gran Coupe.

DISCUSSION (15)

E. Julius > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/14/2014 at 10:44

How would you say the acceleration feels from a standstill compared to the E90? I have a bit of experience with the E90, and while the naturally aspirated 6 is a great motor, it's low end leaves something to be desired—you have to let it rev up a bit before it really bites.

E92M3 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/14/2014 at 10:53

They look good with the M Sport package though.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > E. Julius
12/14/2014 at 10:54

It definitely has a bit more of a punch from a standstill. Once I get up to 4k, though, I'm longing for the days of the I6 cars. The sound is a bit like a diesel at low revs and a Corolla a over 3k, so you could say it's not quite like the original reviews said about it being like the old six. I still think that an E90 328i is the best 3 series you can daily drive—and with the DISA intake and some breathing mods, they have plenty of punch off the line. I enjoyed giving it full throttle from a stop for a while, but I prefer revving out the engine in anything smaller than a 5 series. Plus, from a reliability standpoint, you can't do much better than an E90 325/28/30i. Lastly, the interior is better along with handling and styling.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > E92M3
12/14/2014 at 10:56

They do, and especially in estoril blue for me. Definitely a selling point for someone looking for an attractive sports sedan compared to the IS, C-class, A4 or Q-whatever.

E. Julius > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/14/2014 at 10:58

Would you say the punch on the F30 has more to do with the transmission or the engine itself? And were you the saying the interior/handling/styling were better for the F30 or E90?

It's nice to know that the E90 328 opens up a bit with some mods. My parents have one now and I'm hoping that when it comes time for them to get rid of it I will be able to buy it.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > E. Julius
12/14/2014 at 12:10

I'd say that it has to do primarily with the ZF8; in sport mode, this is a much more advanced AT than the GM unit in the 328i. Still, the car is only just as fast when comparing manual E90 328i to manual F30. The 328i is a 330i with breathing restrictions in N52 form; that engine, while being rev-happy, does have a good bit of torque. Headers, intake, exhaust, tuning, and a little tinkering will bring you over 300hp. ESS is coming out with a supercharger good for 80hp but tested to over 100, and that will cost $5000 and be a good option. The two routes are:

-DISA, headers, exhaust, a good tune, and some minor tinkering (which has yielded upwards of 300bhp for around $4,000)

-ESS supercharger (probably around 280whp for $5,000 with potential for much more power with headers, tuning, etc.)

The E90 interior is better. I think it's an excellent interior, and it feels so solid in comparison to the F30's. I once had the chance to drive one with red leather and real wood (still didn't like it but more on that later). The F30 has a fake iDrive screen for basic controls that is just terrible looking, poorly-bolstered seats, and bad fake wood. The plastics aren't as nice, either. The E90 has a much more rigid chassis and a lower center of gravity to a surprising extent. I read an article where they took both cars down to the chassis, and the F30 sits higher with a looser chassis and uses lots of roll bars/torsion bars and other stiff suspension components to make up the difference, while the E90 simply has a better chassis that doesn't need factory modification; there are far higher limits for the E90. Also, hydraulic steering is a big plus. The N52 reduces weight up front and will return 35+ mpg on the highway. You can also rev it out and have a great time; it sounds good, is super smooth, and is so responsive. It would be awesome to find a good deal on an E90 with a history you already know about.

(I don't know why I'm so into the E90 cars, but I am for some reason. My mom's Z4 has an N52 and I'm hoping to someday get a chance to buy that when she's finished with it.)

E. Julius > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/14/2014 at 12:15

The E90s are great! Personally I'd probably leave mine NA if I had one, but it's nice to know the option exists. That's interesting what you said about the differences in the chassis between the two, but I'd definitely believe it. I'll have to find a way to get behind the wheel of an F30 sometime and try it out for myself.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/14/2014 at 12:22

take an E36 328i (which performs about as well) and completely restore it.

I don't believe these words have ever been uttered before.

AM3R shamefully returns > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/14/2014 at 17:41

an E90 obsession is great to have! I love mine.

There's an E36 328i sedan with like 80k on it for sale cheap in DC CL, it's auto though (lol nope) and another 328is coupe.... Also auto :(

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R shamefully returns
12/15/2014 at 19:30

So many autos... Even slushbox M3s! And you're living the good life. The E90 is almost the W124 of modern BMW. And what's come after... well, the E90 is the W124 of BMW—what more can I say?

AM3R shamefully returns > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/15/2014 at 20:54

that's a great way to put it, I always liked the W124.

I could use some help, deciding on wheels.. How do you like these? My E90 is identical besides roof rack and lip. Also don't have black grills (basically I'm stock lol). These are 219m's off an M3.

Kinja'd!!!

Saracen > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/17/2014 at 19:29

I took an F30 328i for an extensive test drive a couple of years ago, and I'm pretty much with you on most points, but I disagree with the interior. I preferred the F30's over the E9X.

The 2 liter engine was fairly muted, but it really didn't sound any different than the F30 335i that I also drove. And the 335i was marginally quicker.

I'm not an automatic guy (as you can tell by my name) but the 328i is DAMN quick off the line. it rips through the gears and keeps the N20 in the meat of that fat torque curve. Seriously impressive.

The biggest problem I had was the steering. The horrible, numb steering.

The F30 feels more luxury over sport than ever. It really feels numbed down in every way compared to the more raw (yet still luxurious) E90. Anything below the M3 is just no longer a driver's car.

In conclusion, get an E90 335i. Sounds better, felt lighter, and has the fantastic BMW steering of old.

Or better yet (probably my plan), get an E9x M3.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R shamefully returns
12/17/2014 at 19:38

They look great, esp. on the Graphite metallic! Saw some at a dealership for sale the other day, ludicrously overpriced no doubt.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Saracen
12/17/2014 at 19:45

It's just the details in the interior that bother me, really. I'd like to see someone swap electric steering components from the F82 M3 into a Z4, but the E90's hydraulic system is definitely better. My dream E90 is a 2011 328i white/red m-sport 6MT. Throw on a DISA intake, AA headers, a good tune, and a cat-back and you have a revvy, nice-handling, respectably swift 3er that sounds great and weighs ~150lbs less up front. Either that or an M3 for me; my interest in new BMWs went with the N52/S65/S85, but the N54 and N55 are good motors for sure. The automatic is definitely good paired to that torquey four, and I'm glad it is because it helped to reaffirm my manual douche elitism .

AM3R shamefully returns > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/17/2014 at 20:53

I'm definitely gonna pick up a used set, I saw one local on CL for $600 but that seemed way too low for a good set.. I'm guessing I'll be spending around ~$800 all in, maybe cheaper if I just go for a set of fronts.