3 Series (F30) BMW 3-Series (F30) First Drives/Tests Thread

[Deckhook]

Like I said in the other thread, the competition needs a facelift of it's NEXT model to catch up again. Hah
BMW sets a new standard in the entry luxury (3er), MB sets a new standard in upper luxury (S/SL)

You might be right, though at the moment it's too early to know this for sure.

Guys, lets not ruin this thread with silly arguments.

Clearly , the new 3er is better than ever and that is good news.

Yeah, check the discussion mostly on the subject matter and the argument to a thread with the first comparison tests.

 

[Zafiro]

I dont understand one thing though. Autocar is dissing the new 1er for being a bad drive (they said the same thing about previous 1er) but celebrating the new 3-series for being a good drive. As far as I know 1er and 3er share the same chassi and both cars weighs about the same. But still the opinion is different.

 

[Soup]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[DblPen]

^^ very nice video

 

[Giannis]

The only review I am trully waiting for is EVO's. They will review the car with the same criteria as I would.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Wow, after all the criticism with BMW's new offerings all losing the plot, BMW nips it in the bud and ensures that they did not lose the plot with the 3-Series. I like luxurious heavy barges, but I want BMW to stay as BMW!

And that's the crux of the issue. There are many buyers like yourself that like luxurious heavy barges, hence why the larger BMW's have been tailored to appeal to these soft customers. All the criticism that BMW has lost its engineering prowess to develop an engaging driver's car has in an instant been put to rest with the 3er. BMW may have had to sacrifice a bit of their brand ethos by making the 5er and 7er softer...but that's because the greater portion of their target market want luxurious riding barges. With the 3er, sporty is still priority, and without fail BMW raised the bar....yet again.

As I've said before... the 3er is BMW.

 

[Deckhook]

I dont understand one thing though. Autocar is dissing the new 1er for being a bad drive (they said the same thing about previous 1er) but celebrating the new 3-series for being a good drive. As far as I know 1er and 3er share the same chassi and both cars weighs about the same. But still the opinion is different.

Sharing components isn't the exact same as sharing the same chassis, the F30 has an extra 120mm of wheelbase which makes a huge difference to how a car rides, handles and behaves.

 

[klier]

The only review I am trully waiting for is EVO's. They will review the car with the same criteria as I would.

And what do you think of the above? Agree? Disagree?

 

[Giannis]

And what do you think of the above? Agree? Disagree?

I haven't read the test yet, because despite I am in front of the laptop a few hours now, I am working on other stuff. I will read it, though, later tonight and I will reply to you in detail.

My "thanks" to the above post of Soup is of course, a thanks to the poster, for both his contribution in this thread and the content of his post, being an answer to my above request.

 

[Zafiro]

What Car

What’s it like to drive? There’s no doubt this car has a tough act to follow: the outgoing 3 Series is still the best car to drive in its class, even as it’s about to go off sale.

The good news is that the new car is the perfect replacement, because it tries to remedy some of the outgoing car’s few shortcomings, without losing what made it so great.

New BMW 3 Series: All you need to know - The review - Car and Car-Buying News - What Car?

 

[speed_kills]

As expected, BMW doesn't play with their most sell model.
Hope it passes EVO approval.

 

[K-A]

Is that large headline implying that the F30 is 6,500 cheaper than the E90?

 

[Merc1]

I can't wait to see what BMW shoppers think of these new 4-cylinder cars. No one every talks about the 4-cylinder A6.

M

 

[klier]

Is that large headline implying that the F30 is 6,500 cheaper than the E90?

No, they say that the 328i is 6,500 cheaper than a 335i, while the real world difference really isn't that big...

Sunny, I drove a 535i this past weekend. Felt heavy indeed, and it's interesting you say you like it more than the 535i! I personally can't imagine going below the 530d, 535i or 535d engine wise. To me the 535i almost felt underpowered Maybe because it's so big and heavy, I just couldn't feel real JOY...

Marcus, noone talking about the A6 was to be expected I guess (sorry, couldn't resist) The A6 is a sterile piece of VAG engineering, so it might not be the engine people dislike...

 

[Nikos120i]

Sharing components isn't the exact same as sharing the same chassis, the F30 has an extra 120mm of wheelbase which makes a huge difference to how a car rides, handles and behaves.

That is true.

Also, they tested the 328i which has a truly great engine, so I guess that did affect their overall opinion.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

from what little time I have as of late, the first-drive articles I've read make it out to be pretty spectacular. As a 3-series ought to be.

New "reasonable" ideal garage....
1) 328xi Touring M-sport, if ...daily driver
2) Subie BRZ...weekend drifter

Honorable mention: Mazda CX-5, in lieu of the bimmer...just to make this garage more reasonable.

 

[q5s]

I can't wait to see what BMW shoppers think of these new 4-cylinder cars. No one every talks about the 4-cylinder A6.

M

That's because 2l turbos are nothing new. Welcome to 2005 when Audi 2.0T was awarded the IEOTY in its class for five concequtive years (2005-2009).
The engine was fitted to anything from a golf to the q5 and practically replaced the n/a 3.2 v6. The 2l tfsi engine in my car has direct injection/dual balance shafts/valvelift/etc. and makes peak power at 4.3-6k rpm and peak torque at 1.5-4.2k rpm. 2008 2l TTS already made 268bhp.
bmw has finally caught up which is why all the noise.
A turbo 4 will never replace an inline 6 in my book no matter how light, economical, lag "free", noise "tuned", powerful, torquey, etc. it is and no matter the badge it wears. I like n/a and I like turbo but I don't consider any as the replacement for the other.

 

[Merc1]

That's because 2l turbos are nothing new. Welcome to 2005 when Audi 2.0T was awarded the IEOTY in its class for five concequtive years (2005-2009).
The engine was fitted to anything from a golf to the q5 and practically replaced the n/a 3.2 v6. The 2l tfsi engine in my car has direct injection/dual balance shafts/valvelift/etc. and makes peak power at 4.3-6k rpm and peak torque at 1.5-4.2k rpm. 2008 2l TTS already made 268bhp.
bmw has finally caught up which is why all the noise.
A turbo 4 will never replace an inline 6 in my book no matter how light, economical, lag "free", noise "tuned", powerful, torquey, etc. it is and no matter the badge it wears. I like n/a and I like turbo but I don't consider any as the replacement for the other.

Was really talking about the U.S. market. Yes we know 4 cylinders are nothing new in the A4, but in the A6 they are in the U.S.


M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

The design is almost perfect for it's intended purpose in these photos.

 

[q5s]

Was really talking about the U.S. market. Yes we know 4 cylinders are nothing new in the A4, but in the A6 they are in the U.S.


M

US is a different kettle of fish altogether. While in Europe we are happy to drive in a 2l 4-cyl diesel ML or S class, I doubt anyone in the US would be proud of a 2l or a 4-cyl or a diesel in a C class!