New Daily Driver-BMW F30 328i

"superdave847" (superdave847)
04/23/2019 at 20:57 • Filed to: BMW F30, BMW, Dinan, CarMax, Doug DeMuro

Above is my new daily driver, a 328i F30. I bought it from CarMax with cash for my 70 mile a day commute. My goal was to get a cheapish car for my commute in order to save for a third sports car.

I’ve now owned an E46, E90, and F30. So far the E90 remains my favorite 3 Series. The F30 is really big. Like, E39 5 Series Big. It’s still nice, but if I could have found another E90 335i M-Sport with low miles and a warranty, I would have bought it.

I may make some modest modifications like adding a Dinan strut bar, intercooler, and exhaust. But, not much. I’ve watched YouTube videos about F30 mods and I can’t believe how much money some have spent on this particular car.

I’ll keep you posted on this car and my sports car shopping.

DISCUSSION (30)

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > superdave847
04/23/2019 at 22:42

Congrats and welcome to the F life!

superdave847 > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/23/2019 at 22:49

Thanks!

E90M3 > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 08:07

Is there a reason you decided on getting a newer car as opposed to just continue to rack up miles on the 335i?

functionoverfashion > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 08:27

Nice car, it sounds like you’re well-versed in 3-series... I love my E46 wagon and intend to hang onto it as long as possible... such a good balance of fun-ish to drive and practical. Any 3-er will happily eat up the miles though.

superdave847 > E90M3
04/24/2019 at 08:51

The main reason was the cost of maintenance at 145k miles & hints the transmission needed service. I’m willing to wrench myself, but for my daily I don’t have enough spare time to do so between my job as a lawyer and taking care of little kids.

superdave847 > functionoverfashion
04/24/2019 at 08:53

I would have loved a wagon. My dream daily would have been a ZHP / ZPS F30 or an Estoril Blue F30 Wagon. But I couldn’t find one in the budget I gave myself.

E90M3 > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 08:56

That’s fair, it just seems like you really liked that car and while it might not have been the best finical move, you could’ve spent a decent amount getting it back to perfect and driven it for another 145k.

I do get wanting to ditch a high mileage car though, so what you did doesn’t surprise me. There are some dirt cheap high mileage E9X M3s out there and I would love one of those for highway trips, but it makes 0 sense for me to have two E9X M3s.

404 - User No Longer Available > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 10:28

Fine choice... b ut obviously I’m biased, lol .

Check out Kies Motorsports on YouTube, and be aware there is allegedly a class-action lawsuit going on with the N20 motor regarding the timing chain guides.

404 - User No Longer Available > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/24/2019 at 10:33

We need to keep starring these until they become the next official Oppo car.

B_dol > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 10:55

Have you been able to experience the new BMW G platform? Curious how the E, F and G compare beyond the obvious growth and creature comfort improvements . My wife and I really enjoy our E9X wagon (MT) and are considering adding another CPO or leased 3-series.

Party-vi > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 11:16

How are you digging the brakes and transmission? I hated both in the F30s I drove on different occasions.

functionoverfashion > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 12:12

Oh god that Estoril blue is a good color. I looked at one of those, but it was pretty new at the time. M-sport, the best options, etc. and that *drool* blue.

My current one is at least the Topaz blue which is a good color, too.

Spanfeller is a twat > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 12:19

Nice

superdave847 > Party-vi
04/24/2019 at 12:37

No complaint from me, but I wish I could have found a manual.

superdave847 > E90M3
04/24/2019 at 12:38

Ha, I think two M3s is a great idea!

superdave847 > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/24/2019 at 12:39

Good to know. Does it apply to the N26 too? I have a California car.

superdave847 > B_dol
04/24/2019 at 12:41

With my commute leasing isn’t an option and buying new or CPO didn’t appeal to me because of the depreciation. That said, I have a strong feeling my next commuter car will be the G platform unless I buy an EV.

superdave847 > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/24/2019 at 12:41

Agreed!

404 - User No Longer Available > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 12:53

I think the N26 is effectively the same design.

Problem is the timing chain guide being made with brittle plastic that fails over time. Chain goes loose, whacks around in the engine and destroying it in the process. BMW’s “warranty” fix is to swap the motor if that happens. BMW knows about this, new parts were issued and installed in motors after 2015.

Keep your ear out for any abnormal screeching noises , that’s the sign it failed.

superdave847 > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/24/2019 at 13:16

Yikes.

CompactLuxuryFan > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 14:21

Congrats! Let’s see some more pics! How is it equipped? Mileage and price if you don’t mind! I’m just a busybody haha

I doubt you’ll find much to fault for a long highway commute. I’m sure mileage will easily top the E90, but the E90 would pull away fast. I personally would never get an F30 with halogens, but as long as you don’t mind that you should be good!

Jordan > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 16:02

Nice. How does it handle compared to the E90? A lot of people complain about F30 handling and steering feel.

superdave847 > Jordan
04/24/2019 at 18:53

It’s definitely less responsive than my E90, but it’s still very responsive like a rear wheel car should be.

This F30 has 17” squared set wheels with all season tires, while the E90 had 18” staggered wheels with high performance summer tires. And my E90 had the M Suspension. So tough to compare.

Cd2 > B_dol
04/24/2019 at 19:12

I love my F31 As a daily driver in LA. It’s very seldom anywhere that I would miss the E46 ’s handling and frankly I like the modern tech, comfort access and all. It doesn’t have the power of my E61 of course, but it's not bad.

Devon > superdave847
04/24/2019 at 21:57

I owned an E36, E46 and now an F30. The E36 was perfect to me but I’m enjoying the F3o quite a bit 3,000 miles in.

superdave847 > Devon
04/24/2019 at 22:22

I’ve never driven an E30 or E36, but I would love to.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > superdave847
04/25/2019 at 01:10

Nice! That color looks great on an F30. I quite enjoy my F36. The comfort and material quality is sublime.

That being said, I wish I had just held out a little while longer to try and find an e90 M3 for a similar price. That would have been more engaging to drive.

DAllenR2 > superdave847
04/25/2019 at 08:59

I love my F30...but watch out for the timing chain like others have said. Also the AC evaporator core. Two known kinks in an otherwise great vehicle.

My motor blew at 77600 miles and after a failed attempt at a used engine, I got a new engine installed. Cost my warranty company over 20k for it.

Devon > superdave847
04/25/2019 at 14:15

I had a friend in high school who had an E30 that I got to drive a couple of times, super fun cars but a bit small for me as a tall guy.

superdave847 > DAllenR2
04/25/2019 at 19:02

Damn. That’s crazy.