"LJ909" (lj909)
06/26/2017 at 13:45 • Filed to: None
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"LJ909" (lj909)
06/26/2017 at 13:45 • Filed to: None | 0
| 34 |
With BMW being the main subject of todays Morning Shift, I’d thought I get everyone’s thoughts on the worst BMW they’ve had experience with, either driving, or mechanical wise, from the last few years. They’ve truly lost their way, and its kinda concerning, especially with their sales slipping and confusion across the lineup.
For my personal pick, it would have to be the last gen F10 5 Series. When anyone asks me whats one of the worst cars I’ve ever driven, I will always count the F10 5 Series among them. I specifically drove a 535i back to back with the then new ( and still current) Lexus GS350 F Sport. The roles had reversed. It seemed liked BMW had engineering comfort above all else. It was like a German Buick LeSabre. Soft, under steered like crazy, and it had an annoying and rough start/stop system. After driving this, and then the years following seeing their quality go down, along with crazy new models, I stopped having faith in them. What’s you guys’ picks?
MylesD
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 13:52 |
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Can I pick a MINI? The current base Clubman. Ugh.
404 - User No Longer Available
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 13:57 |
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I always felt the F10 was more of a Volvo than a BMW.
duurtlang
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 13:57 |
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The only BMWs I’ve driven are 3-series Tourings. I like the E30 and considered the 2016 model to be ‘fine’. I did get a ticket in that one, on the german Autobahn. That I don’t know the E or F or whatever designation of the 2016 one says enough I think.
Having said that, I have not driven a recent Audi or Mercedes and Lexus is a niche brand here I haven’t even been a passenger in, regardless of age of the car.
Tripper
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 13:58 |
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I’ll give you my worst 3 because I’m exposed to/drive a fair amount of late model BMWs.
Tie for worst - 328 GT / X1 - In fairness the x1 is still the best budgetluxocrossover that I have driven, but that does not carry much weight because I despise this class of vehicle. The 328 GT does not feel quite as cheap as the X1 but it’s uglier so potato/pototo.
Second worst - 335 GT - I have driven this one a lot. It’s got every option and is really nice inside, and it’s really quick. However it’s still ugly as sin and totally numb as far as steering feel
All three remind me of slightly nicer, slightly better looking Buicks. Good comparison there.
EL_ULY
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 13:59 |
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As a 5 time old school BMW owner....none! The new cars drive waaaaaaaaay better than the old and are overall way better cars for a million reasons.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
I would never want to personally own any bimmer made after 2005 (excl. 1M Coupe)
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Jonee
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:02 |
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My mother has the previous generation 5 series with X-Drive and it’s a dog. I can’t stand driving it. She just ordered a new 4 series coupe and I was like, “tell me you didn’t order it with the X-Drive,” but she did. It’s better in snow, she says. *sigh*
Party-vi
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:04 |
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I liked the F10 528i xDrive I had for a day, much more than the multiple F30 328 sedans I’ve puttered around in. The F30 has soft brakes and crappy steering. The 528 did too, but at least it wasn’t under a sporty pretense.
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LJ909
> MylesD
06/26/2017 at 14:06 |
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The whole Mini lineup. They’ve been running out of steam for years with new ideas. It shows how bad of an idea it was to base a whole lineup on literally one car. Just look at how “good” Fiat is doing.
PotbellyJoe and 42 others
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:07 |
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Does a 2001 E36 Z3 1.9L count as modern?
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LJ909
> 404 - User No Longer Available
06/26/2017 at 14:07 |
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Yea. Equatable to a last gen S80.
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LJ909
> duurtlang
06/26/2017 at 14:08 |
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The current 5 is like G Something internally. But recent offerings from Audi, MB Lexus and hell even Cadillac surpass BMW in driving dynamics. Their Ultimate Driving Machine tagline no longer really applies outside of the M cars.
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:09 |
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I loved our X3, but the thermostat broke and was like $300 to replace. That same part was like $50 for our Ford Flex, because apparently the one in the BMW was electronic while most cars use mechanical.
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LJ909
> Tripper
06/26/2017 at 14:10 |
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I almost considered the X1. Apparently the one to get was the RWD 3 Series based one before the refresh saw it move to a Mini fwd platform. It drove well.
Any of the GT’s are just terrible period. Why they thought they were a good idea instead of a regular wagon is beyond me. Even if they drove good I couldn’t get past the looks or the pointlessness of the damn things.
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LJ909
> EL_ULY
06/26/2017 at 14:11 |
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Ive heard that before, that any BMW after 05, maybe 07 arent the same, especially quality wise. Some say 2011 but I say thats pushing it.
FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
> duurtlang
06/26/2017 at 14:15 |
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The 2016 Audi A4 I drove felt more numb than the Golf Plus. Kind of the same for the current gen C Class. Or maybe it’s just the steering that is way too light for my taste.
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LJ909
> Jonee
06/26/2017 at 14:16 |
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From experience, XDrive in BMW’s outside of the SAV’s do them little justice.
jimz
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:17 |
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a recent (I forget what model year) X1.
what a piece of shit.
CobraJoe
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:18 |
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I test drove a 2008 328iX (I think? It was a while ago) Wagon back when I was last shopping.
I was rather unimpressed. It didn’t feel all that power. Didn’t feel all that eager or sharp. Didn’t feel like it was anything special at all. The brakes were extremely touchy though.
Granted, I’d choose it over any base level sedan, but for all the praise that BMW gets, I was expecting more.
bobbe17
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:20 |
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BMW driving experience is:
My 2002 M3, not modern and universally loved. Not relevant in this conversation.
Parents’ 2008 X3. For a body on frame SUV, I really like the car. Also not that modern so not all that relevant.
Test drove a 135 (probably 09). I really liked the power but the handling wasn’t as tight as I would have liked. I went with the M3 instead.
Test drove a 2013 or so X5. That thing hauled ass, but felt very truck like to me. The handling was still tight for an SUV but it didn’t feel nimble at all.
My parents just bought a 2013 328xi. I was very disappointed and had to cover it up around them when they asked. The way the car turns into corners was nice but other than that it was unimpressive. Interior is nice but nothing special, steering wheel is cheap and thin, and it certainly doesn’t feel connected.
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MylesD
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:22 |
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Wife and I used to have an r56 Cooper S and it was a blast! Feel like that was the end of them.
Anyway, to better answer your question...I did recently drive a 330i via ReachNow service and, while it was “nice” & quick, it has zero soul. Would not buy.
Klaus Schmoll
> MylesD
06/26/2017 at 14:33 |
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I had a countryblob once as a loaner, hated it with a passion.
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LJ909
> PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/26/2017 at 14:37 |
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Yep.
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LJ909
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/26/2017 at 14:38 |
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Most shit in BMW’s are electronic for no other good reason then to be overly complicated and expensive. BMW has electronics controlling things that shouldn’t be controlled by electronics.
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LJ909
> jimz
06/26/2017 at 14:38 |
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Was probably the most recent one, the fwd X1.
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PotbellyJoe and 42 others
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 14:40 |
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Then that.
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LJ909
> bobbe17
06/26/2017 at 14:41 |
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You outlined the problem that BMW has had the past few years: the cars have gone downhill while offering nothing special or doing anything better than the competition, whos steadily been catching up. Most BMW’s sold now are bough by people that care for appearances before anything. That roundel carries a hell of a lot of brand cache as far as perception goes. And thats all many of the buyers see or care about.
Nibby
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 15:07 |
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I drove a relative’s 2015 328i xDrive yesterday for a while and wasn’t impressed. Yeah, built well and BMW quality etc. but it didn’t have much character and the steering was meh. I liked my cousin’s ‘03 325xi a lot more.
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LJ909
> Nibby
06/26/2017 at 15:09 |
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To get anything out of BMW these days you have to either go for something like a 4 Series coupe, the tech laden 7 Series, or any of the M cars. Everything else is forgettable.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 15:54 |
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Anything newer than E38/39/46. Throw a dart at a board, they all suck compared to their competitors. Frankly think even the M cars are disappointments. I think the V8 M3 sounds like ass. The current M3 sounds worse, isn’t terribly comfortable, and just in general isn’t impressive. Their engines all blow (up randomly for no apparent reason). I used to love BMW, but I just can’t get behind them anymore.
Vicente Esteve
> EL_ULY
06/26/2017 at 16:12 |
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Z4 M Coupe?
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EL_ULY
> Vicente Esteve
06/26/2017 at 16:13 |
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excl. Z4M and 1M :]
gmctavish needs more space
> LJ909
06/26/2017 at 18:19 |
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I’m gonna echo what AMGTech said, I stop caring about BMWs past E38/39/46. I like the look of some of them past that, and the Z4 M coupe and 1M I make exceptions for, but for the most part I lost interest when Bangle got involved. The more they’ve tried to be Mercedes, the worse they’ve gotten.
Spasoje
> LJ909
06/27/2017 at 01:21 |
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This:
Brand new 435i RWD manual w/ EDC. Felt soft, floaty, and numb, and the clutch felt like it wasn’t connected to anything. Don’t know what was worse, the car’s performance, or the sheer disappointment!
Ironically, the automatic AWD version of the same car was fun, as was the F10 535i I autocrossed.
Oliz1195
> LJ909
08/24/2017 at 03:11 |
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Our X1 was apalling quality
BMW is now run by accountants.
Every BMW is lacking in core elements which made the brand special.
-Cars now use faked engine noise in cabin
-low quality interiors
-Numb steering
-ride and handling are terrible
No longer about the Dynamics and drama of driving a drivers car
Sadly the “M” in M-sport now stands for ‘Marketing’