I have a 3 series GT for the week, AMA?

"Rico" (ricorich) 07/06/2017 at 14:05 • Filed to: None

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I used to DESPISE the GT versions of the 3/5 but now I am starting to understand them and actually starting to LIKE it. What the hell is wrong with me?

The engine (4 cylinder turbo) is a peach and with a tune I am sure it would be fantastic, plenty fast for around the city. Tons of headroom in the back and the liftback is quite spacious. I’ll likely write up a mini review sometime next week but so far it has exceeded my extremely low expectations.

4:44 for your time.

For Sweden > Rico 07/06/2017 at 14:09

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Ash78, voting early and often > Rico 07/06/2017 at 14:10

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There’s nothing inherently wrong with the GTs except that they were the reason the wagons were killed and/or cut back. Further, the huge sheetmetal gap above the rear wheels looks awkward on any car — it’s usually something designers try to avoid, but putting big wheels on it reduces the visual effect.

fintail > Rico 07/06/2017 at 14:12

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As long as you are always inside the car (never seeing the outside, especially rear quarter view), I am sure it is wonderful.

I still want to get a can of spackle/bondo and cover the bimmerang.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Rico 07/06/2017 at 14:13

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How do you like the Active Sound Design (the fake noise that makes it sound like a straight 6)?

I really enjoyed it in all of the BMWs I’ve driven.

Azrek > Rico 07/06/2017 at 14:21

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Flappy paddles are nice?

Rico > Azrek 07/06/2017 at 14:35

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VERY NICE. This is my first experience with a transmission as fast as this, shifts are quick AF.

Rico > Ash78, voting early and often 07/06/2017 at 14:37

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Yeah with slightly bigger wheels it would look much better proportionally. That said, I read that the GT has like 5 more cubic feet of cargo space than the wagon which is pretty big. Also the extra headroom/leg room in the back this thing is like a mini 5 series.

Rico > fintail 07/06/2017 at 14:38

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And this has no tints so I felt embarrassed just being seen in it!

Rico > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 07/06/2017 at 14:39

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You know, I can’t say I really noticed to be honest. I usually have the music or a podcast going so I don’t really hear the engine when I accelerate. I think it should make MORE noise but I understand that this is a family sedan/crossover/etc.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 07/06/2017 at 15:01

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I don’t mind the looks of the 3 GT. I think that if the original 5 GT never existed and made everyone hate the BMW GT idea, the 3 GT wouldn’t be nearly as hated.

But...the 3 GT is an answer to a question nobody asked. It has the stretched wheelbase from the China-exclusive 3 series LWB, and a cargo-focused taller roofline. At the same time the 4 GC has the dimensions of the 4 series but in swoopy 5-door hatchback form.

It would be so much simpler to make a fastback 5-door version of the 3-series sedan that would hit the sweet spot for people, but no, BMW decided they had to make both little-bit-too-small and little-bit-too-big hatchback versions.

The A5 Sportback does exactly this and makes much more sense.

Ash78, voting early and often > Rico 07/06/2017 at 15:02

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True enough...the negative side about pure cubic footage measurements is that a lot of it isn’t useful when it comes to things like moving a chair or a desk. It may be fine for packing luggage in, but I can’t tell you how many times a minivan or wagon has saved me from hours of hassle and truck rentals (or delivery fees) being able to DIY. Overall, I think the 3-series lends itself to this layout a lot better than the 5.

Rico > Ash78, voting early and often 07/06/2017 at 15:11

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Yeah the 5 GT which I saw this morning is still but ugly but this is not so bad. My cousin and his wife have a 5 year old and a 1 year old so they needed the space but didn’t want an SUV and got a smoking deal on this CPO 3 GT because let’s face it, it’s not a good seller.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 07/06/2017 at 15:19

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I think you are right, if the 3 GT existed by itself without a 5 GT we wouldn’t hate it as much. You make some great points about the 4GC being too small/tight. Is the 4 built on the same platform as the 3? I honestly don’t know THAT much about BMW so I’m wondering why they went the route they did.

I sat in an A5 SB at the NY Autoshow and was pleasantly surprised at how spacious the inside felt in the backseat. It also looks great on the outside. A LWB 3 series sedan would be pretty great if offered in the US because this thing has leg room for days in the back. The back of the 3 sedan is really tight compared to the GT.

fintail > Rico 07/06/2017 at 16:00

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Black paint and tint can hide many styling sins, ask the new Civic.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 07/06/2017 at 16:25

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Here are all the assorted BMW dimensions...

4 coupe

4 GC

3 sedan

3 wagon

3 GT

As you can see, the 4 coupe & GC are a little lower and wider, but the same length as the 3 sedan & wagon.

The 3 GT is much bigger in all dimensions particularly length and height.

Audi doesn’t have convenient little diagrams like BMW but their dimensions are:

A5 coupe - 184 long, 108.8 wheelbase, 54 height
A5 sportback - 186.3 long, 111.2 wheelbase, 54.6 height
A4 sedan - 186.1 long, 110 wheelbase, 56.2 height
A4 allroad - 187 long, 110.9 wheelbase, 58.8 tall

The A5 Sportback is more similar to the 4 GC than the 3 GT, but it’s bigger overall, and the roof of the 4 GC starts sloping downward over the rear passengers’ heads, while the A5 SB slopes back further behind their heads.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 07/06/2017 at 16:33

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Damn the 3 GT is much bigger and longer than the 3 sedan. Surprised to see these dimensions. I think a smaller 3 GT is basically the perfect 4 GC. The increased headroom makes the cabin feel much more open and not like you’re in a bunker. Even my cousin’s car which is black inside looks very open and airy especially with the pano roof, there’s a lot of glass in the 3 GT’s green house.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 07/06/2017 at 16:37

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I would totally drive a 340i GT xDrive M Sport.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 07/06/2017 at 17:09

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I want to do a more in depth write up later this week or next about it. This one has the sport package with the adjustable bolsters and stuff but the steering SUCKS unless you are in Sport or Sport Plus and I think the steering and the ride would be much better with the M Sport Package for sure. Oh and maybe some better tires because these Pirelli Cinturato’s are TRASH and squeal like a pig when cornering too hard.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 07/06/2017 at 18:08

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Yeah unfortunately BMW managed to go from some of the best steering feel to some of the worst. I had a similar experience when I checked out an M235i xDrive last summer.

Funny thing about the Cinturato P7: my dad needed new tires that work in winter for his ’07 Saab 9-3 Aero convertible, and I tried to get him on some General Altimax RT43s, which are a fine enough touring tire that are vaguely sporty and have good snow ratings. He takes his car to a Saab & BMW specialist place that’s run by my friend’s family, and they get their tires from a distributor that doesn’t carry General, so he ended up with the Cinturato P7. It’s definitely on the less-sporty end of touring tires but at least they’re half decent in winter.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 07/06/2017 at 19:09

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That sucks, I mean I just think the steering is way too numb and sloppy in comfort mode. Once you are in Sport+ going a decent speed it firms up properly.

They are a decent all season tire but the lack of grip annoys me and I know with better tires this car would be much better.

Since you’re a Bimmer head I figure I can ask you- What’s the deal with the central lock being in the front? That’s super weird and it’s pretty slow I’ve accidentally unlocked and relocked the car a lot of times.

No brake hold (double pump the brake at a stop to have the car auto hold) on the 3? That’s kind of weird since the 5 I drove had it. Am I missing something?

Any way to disable the speed volume thing? I’ve tried looking and can’t figure it out. The music goes up and down too much when driving, I always disable this feature in any car I drive.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 07/06/2017 at 19:25

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The central lock button is dumb, it’s this tiny little button in my car.

I basically never use it because i set my car to unlock both doors when I touch a door handle to unlock, and I disabled the auto lock when you start driving. Got sick of having to open the passenger door from the passenger side. I miss my old Mazdaspeed 6 had buttons on the door handles and you pressed 1 time to unlock the driver’s door or twice for the rest of the doors.

Not sure if it’s the same on current cars but on my car speed volume is menu > settings > tone > volume settings. Yes I had to mess around with the idrive to figure that out just now. I use it on the max seeing, but my car is loud with the summer tires and modified exhaust.

Not sure what you mean by brake hold. My car is a stick shift and has a hill holder feature but I don’t know of any way to disable it.

wafflesnfalafel > Rico 07/06/2017 at 20:36

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Those are nice looking - there is a guy at work with a black one I walk past in the lot everyday, (more important than me so he gets a private parking space...) They are not small, really kind of 5 series sized.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 07/06/2017 at 21:34

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Damn that’s even smaller and more annoying to press then the one in this car. I actually had to look at the user manual to figure out how to unlock the doors because I was looking everywhere. Turns out my Kenu airframe phone holder was blocking it when I had my phone in.

Regarding the brake hold, it’s a lazy plebeian Auto transmission thing.

Basically at any time in my C300 I could pump the brake when I’m at a stop and the car would show “Hold” on the cluster meaning the car was auto holding the brakes and I could just take my foot off the brake.

It was GREAT for long stops in traffic or red lights, and in a drive-thrus. I know I can just press P on the BMW and then put it in drive but still not the same convenience.

Rico > wafflesnfalafel 07/06/2017 at 21:38

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I just looked it up and it’s just under 2 inches shorter than the 5 series. It’s growing on me!

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 07/06/2017 at 21:51

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That brake hold deal must be a Mercedes thing, I’ve never heard of it on any auto transmission car.

I don’t need any vent or any other cell phone mounts thanks to my genuine M Performance phone nook™.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Textured Soy Protein 07/30/2017 at 20:42

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There’s a LWB 3-series?!?! That’s so bizarre.

Textured Soy Protein > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/31/2017 at 10:15

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It’s a quirk of the Chinese car market. Traffic is terrible in many places so being driven by a chauffeur is very popular among folks with money. A lot of the car companies make LWB versions of cars as a way to get something to be chauffeured around in. LWB 3-series is cheaper than a regular 5 but gives a big comfy back seat.

(LWB is on top here)

I know there are definitely LWB versions of the 5-series, E-class and A6, but not sure about the C and A4.

Roadster Man > Rico 07/31/2017 at 14:52

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It’s also been growing, literally!

How big does it feel though? Does it feel like you’re driving a small 5-series?

Rico > Roadster Man 07/31/2017 at 15:00

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It feels like you’re driving a bigger 5 series, if that makes sense. It could stand to feel more planted, the taller green house doesn’t make it handle as nicely as a sedan, however I heard for the 2016 facelift they improved the handling substantially. Also I’m sure with M Sport it would handle much better.

Overall it’s pretty nimble and wears it’s weight well. It’s possibly one of the “most airy” (is that even a phrase?) car I’ve ever driven. The huge pano roof and the liftback glass coupled with the taller green house gives you an enormous sense of room/light. Legroom, shoulder room and headroom in the front and rear is definitely on par or better than any 5 series I’ve been in.

Roadster Man > Rico 07/31/2017 at 15:14

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Interesting! Thanks for the info. Even thought it’s an amalgamation (I wanted to use “abomination,” but it’s not a bad looking car) of different body types, I’m glad that it has glass tall enough for the car to feel “airy” (good description BTW).

Any modern car I sit in has an uncomfortably high belt line, I am glad to hear about any modern car having a “greenhouse” feel. When I was in a 2015 Camaro I felt like the window was an arrowslit.

Rico > Roadster Man 07/31/2017 at 15:25

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I had built up an irrational hatred for this car without even driving it and after having it for a week I had my foot planted firmly in my mouth. I may still do a review on it just because it really changed my who perception of it.

Roadster Man > Rico 07/31/2017 at 18:57

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I’d like to read a review. I also HATE these 4-door “coupe/GT” cars that BMW is making... Sorry, but a 6-Series Gran Coupe will never look as good as an A7. And I don’t like the A7 either. In my opinion they are just mimicking Audi and doing a worse job. At least Mercedes is doing the worst job with an electric-only B-class coming to the US and the high-school-graduation-present looking CLA.