Awesome review Naas! Thanks for the insight and photos too... I was speaking to one of the BMW instructors over the weekend at Gerotek, where they'd been launching the F30 to dealers, media and customers over the last 3 weeks. Full of praise of the F30 - he said that dynamically the car definitely is a solid step up from the E90. That said, I'm very interested to read what you've said about the electric power steering. I need to test drive this car for myself. When it comes to interior quality judgement - you are my standard bearer, so once again, thanks for sharing. I can't wait to check the F30 out good 'n proper now. Regards, Martin P.S. Karma.
Source: The best car in the (real) world - Autocar.co.uk Another sterling result for the seemingly unstoppable F30 (particularly in 320d guise).
Nice lovely review Naas. I love the way you describe the details I would be looking for in a car. I hope you enjoy your M3 when it comes.
jst wondering if anyone has driven BOTH the F10 and F30. I tested a F10 520i lately, found its steering to be artificially light (for a BMW), wonder how the F30 would feel like. well maybe bcos the previous beemers I had were 1series and 3series which tends to have more aggressive/heavier steering than a supposedly less sporty 5series, steering is also "slower" than i expected, but OK again i'm comparing to the 1er and the older 3er. But then overall i was very very impressed with how the F10 went, 520 isn't powerful but enough! driving the F10 felt like i was driving something much much smaller, i'm sure the F30 is even better. Damn that car is quiet, it's too quiet, honestly the 120i i had i could at least hear something, not to talk about the 330i i had, this thing for god's sake, i can't even hear anything, i actually got to look at the rev counter to change gears, once i accidentally got it into 7th gear at rather low speeds and wondered why the car wasn't moving, i just couldn't hear it. Is the 320i very very quiet too? i read that the 328i has pretty good acoustics. FYI, i got to say this, in where I am, the 520i could be the cheapest 520i in the world, list price is IDENTICAL to a 320i Sport (not M sport, just Sport line) and the 520i has quite a bit more options, why? bcoz our government refunds registration tax to eco friendly cars, and the F30 couldn't make it, why? because the stupid system calculates eco-friendliness based on weight classes, and the 3series is not good enough for its weight class... so taking additional options into account, we have a 520i that is effectively cheaper than a 320i Sport.
Dunno if you've read my review. I have driven both the 523i and 520d, the latter with M Sport package + Adaptive suspension. In short, if it was not for the obvious differences in both size and cabin aesthetics, you cannot differentiate between the two (F30 vs F10) in terms of driving comfort. Martinbo and myself compared notes (via telephonic conversation) after he had the opportunity of driving the F30 today. Him, being the man of words had this to say, explaining the steering feel spot-on and perfectly: "It's glassy" Whereas, disconnected maybe or rather is the wrong term I have used. It's direct, point and squirt also accurate yet you feel no 'tinge ling' in the wrists. I have explained the F30 to the best of my ability in my review, having spend a lot of time behind the wheel of both test cars @ launch. I cannot ad more than i said, except that again it's a phenomenal chassis and extremely brilliant 8 speed box. (review and photos on Page 8 of this thread)
Naas, nice to have a first-hand review of the new 3er, and one that is well-written at that. Curious about the 328i, how would you characterize the refinement and noise to the old NA 3.0L I-6?
It's a really refined engine. And do yourself the favor and go test drive the 328i, if it's only to experience a Turbocharged engine with absolutely no Turbo-lag whatsoever. Mated to the most responsive auto I have ever experienced (Martinbo drove the car yesterday, we had an hour long tele coversation) and he agrees, so much so that he said the auto box redeems dual-clutch transmissions basically useless. Coming back to the engine, however refined, smooth running, powerful and torque it is, it's not an I6. Not as super refined as a typical BMW I6 i.e. 335i and the engine sound is typical 4-pot TwinPower Turbo, it does have a roughness especially at idle - from outside the car. In the cabin the sound from the engine is muted and refined. Also the engine never 'strains', just runs up and down the rev range without any fuss. IMO as good as it gets this side of an Inline six - yet it can't pretend being a I6 nor do I think BMW intended it to be. It's the epitome of Efficient Dynamics, economical, refined with power, torque and great pace. Whilst it cannot nor will it replace the purists I6, for him/her with deeper pockets no 4-pot will do
The sport auto you mean? Still, please don't compare it with a proper DCT box DCT is severely missing from the non M line-up! It simly boggles my mind BMW doesn't have it availavle for all cars including the new 5er and new 3er. A 328i with DCT would be pure brilliance imho
With all these rave reviews, I really want to drive the F30. Though, I haven't even driven an E90, so I would be going into it quite "cold". I've driven an F10, and though nice, I don't feel that it resembles pure BMW dynamics as much as the F30 does, based on what everybody says. I've driven an E60 extensively, and boy did that thing show me how it feels to have a 4-Door Sedan feel wrapped around you. From the BMW's I've driven, the E60 is my "BMW" benchmark, very raw and connected.
Klier mate, IMO only a direct comparison between the two boxes will be sufficient enough to really justify one over the other. That 8 speed ZF box is a jewel, you ought to get behind the wheel and experience it to really understand the nature of it's excellence. Who knows!? Maybe with the upcoming M3 the actual surprise could be just that, a newly developed DCT box. One that was made to handle the power and precision required for the I6 Tri-Turbo and it's specific racing nature :t-cheers:
I've driven the 8 speed plenty times, and I have driven with the regular DCT (Z4 35i) and M DCT (M3), and I think the difference is like night and day between DCT and automatic... I admit, I haven't yet driven the sport auto, but I just can't imagine it can replace the DCT? Oh, and looking at the new M5....the DCT can handle plenty power, and an I6 tri-turbo shouldn't be a problem even right now. A tuned F10 M5 has some insane power, and the gearbox can handle it just fine.
You don't have to tell me that. I think the difference between a regular 8 speed and DCT is night and day, particularly downshifts. You are free to make your own judgement, I just don't need you to tell me I am wrong.
^ Fair point, then maybe your opinion of what 'night and day' means is obviously different than others.
The combination that sees the smoothness of shifts coupled with surprisingly direct throttle response and near instant shift times makes this new ZF 8 speed render a dual clutch superfluous in this class of 3er. It's uncanny the near-perfect harmony between engine character and delivery, chassis control and gearbox function. Try as I might to catch that 'box out by flicking down 3 gears or changing the mode from comfort to sport+ and then requesting a gearchange near simultaneously... that ZF 'box just did what it was asked to do. I simply can't believe it's a torque converter auto. And the ride... mind-blowing on a plain ol' conventionally suspended Sport line 328i. I would love for one of our BMW "insiders" to give us some feedback on whether BMW spent a great deal more effort and money on fine-tuning the dampers fitted to the F30. Certainly feels like it. I drove that F30 on some typically shite Fourways back roads; pockmarked, blistered, cracked, potholed and I was just amazed. Truly impressive trade-off in the ride vs. handling compromise. Quite simply, even on our rubbish suburban roads there is little need to buy the Adaptive Suspension if you intend on using the car as a daily commuter and occasional spirited conveyance. I was truly impressed at how effortlessly the suspension with 18" wheels was able to neutralise high-frequency imperfections that would've unsettled a similarly shod E90. Magic.
As highlighted in your post, we are speaking about the sport auto. And it's exactly the downshifts as I referred to in my review that's so damn impressive. IMHO the next M3 will use a M-specific DCT box and it will be tailored to work wonders with the new engines specific characteristics. Let's assume they use the 8sp sport auto, I am of the opinion that box's software tuning can accommodate the needs regarding the next M3's nature and setup, yet and still I suppose BMW M will opt for something more unique, thus a M-DCT. ^ ^ Reading Martin's opinion regarding the 8 speed sports auto, just another IRL experience. This time around from a driving instructor perspective. Thanks M.:t-cheers:
Thanks for that, i'm considering a F10 520i, car test drive is pretty annoying here, too commercial, too serious that makes it not easy to test drive. Problem with the F10 is probably (i feel) "disconnected" steering feel, yes the confidence is there but the feeling is rather fake, and is rather light, it didn't gave me that instant quick sharp responsive feeling (in the F10). Not sure about the 320i, but the 520i, with 184hp on the cards, still feels a bit underpowered, it's frustrating, with a car that has so much capabilities that even flooring it wouldn't make it "go". Response of a E87 120i (pre FL with 13X hp or something) seemed to have better response (probably due to its noisier engine).
Interesting read and thanks for your input, though different than my own this is probably due to the difference between Sport and Lux suspension seting as the dealer did suggest that they felt the Sport was slightly stiffer but couldn't offer me a test drive in one cause the Sport isn't available in 328i or 335i in the UK. Will be interesting to drive an M/Sport when it comes available here to see if it is better suited to my roads. P.S. You didn't comment on road noise, how did you find it on your roads?
While awaiting Martinbo's reply on your question, I experienced more wind noise from the side view mirrors than tire or road noise (I also have to ad that is was a rather windy day). The lack of tire roar and typical road noise intruding into the cabin is part of the testimony that ads to the ride quality IMO.
