3 Series (F30) [Official] BMW 3-Series (F30)

[skbmw]

Should there be a separate thread for the F31? If I remember correctly there was one for the F11. There have been quite many posts of the F31 in this (and the discontinued) thread.

 

[as7920]

.......above all NO RATTLES...

This is what disappoints me the most about my 1M. It has rattled from day one. The dealer did a good job of trying to fix them and for a while all was good but they are back.

However, whilst they were fixing them I had an F20 118i and although the interior looked better and felt a LITTLE better, it had a rattle too!

I am very attuned to interior noise of cars and like you say, it is very important to me that it doesn't rattle, regardless of the quality. I don't drive around (daily driver) pushing every surface but I do listen constantly.

 

[Zafiro]

This is what disappoints me the most about my 1M. It has rattled from day one. The dealer did a good job of trying to fix them and for a while all was good but they are back.

However, whilst they were fixing them I had an F20 118i and although the interior looked better and felt a LITTLE better, it had a rattle too!

I am very attuned to interior noise of cars and like you say, it is very important to me that it doesn't rattle, regardless of the quality. I don't drive around (daily driver) pushing every surface but I do listen constantly.

I have previous generation 1-series and still no rattle after 4 years later. I've driven new 1-series as well and no rattle. Either you are way too sensitive or you had bad luck. Maybe you should turn your radio on I seriously doubt BMW are any worse than other german cars.

 

[Deckhook]

^ I second that, I've owned several BMWs and apart from my first which was secondhand and quite some time ago every other has been rattle free, much like the Audis I've owned. These cars are tested so intensively that any possible rattle problems should have been ironed out by production, though it's not to say the odd time a rattle might not occur.

You've just had bad luck.

 

[martinbo]

When it comes to German cars and rattles - they are a darned hit 'n miss affair. The rear parcel cover in my WRX rattles and squeaks if it's not properly secured and I have an A-pillar rattle occasionally on the coldest mornings which disappears once the cabin warms. For the rest of it, on Jozi's shite suburban roads the car is screwed together in a way that would make a GTI blush. I guess Tupperware has its merits.

This F30 better not rattle. It's a deal breaker for me.

 

[Zafiro]

Just driven a 328i. Written from my phone

 

[as7920]

---

...Maybe you should turn your radio on ....

Ah, but I prefer the soundtrack of the 6 cylinders and 4 poo shoots!

£750 wasted on the HK hifi!

You've just had bad luck.

That may well be the case. My 1 month old 1M had more interior rattles that the wifes 4 year old Citroen Picasso.

 

[Deckhook]

Just driven a 328i. Written from my phone

Where's your verdict?

 

[Zafiro]

BMW 328i Luxuryline, manual gearbox

I have seen the car with different lines and different colors. My favorite colors are white and red and equipped with sportline.

The weather is cold and and moist in Sweden and all the cars is equipped with wintertyres. If it was dry and warm I would test the driving dynamics more properly.

The difference between E60 and F10 is considerable larger than its between E90 and F30. If you’re driving a E90 today you will feel at home with F30 which I think is a good thing.
The first thing you notice is that F30 has become roomier inside the car compare to previous version.

Like I said before the interior is what I reacted to first. There are hard plastics in some places and the interior hasn’t been improved compare to E90. In fact F20 and F30 is today the same.
Directly after my test drive I went to a Mercedes dealer to check out C-class to compare the interior. But just like F30 there are hard plastics. For example the glove department is much harder in C-class than F30. When it comes down to fit and finish both cars are the same. But I prefer the interior design in F30.

I didn’t feel much difference between Comfort and Sport but when you changed to Sport you felt something happen to the engine. I guess the car gets more alert and uses slightly more fuel in Sport. Sport+ were missing so I assume the car didn’t have Adaptive M suspension but despite this, standard chassi and runflats, the car felt comfortable. I have been driving other bimmers with adaptive chassi but I don’t think the extra option is needed because honestly I don’t feel much difference, at least not for Swedish roads.

The car didn’t have the optional Variable Sport Steering but the standard steering is very direct and react fast to movements. Just steer the car and the rest of the car follow with ease. The steering is no longer as heavy like bimmers been in the past and I think many people are going to like this change. Maybe the optional sport steering will add some of the heaviness that’s been lost.
The steering is superior to the steering in 5-series and I really hope the facelifted 5-series is getting the same steering as the 3-series.

The engine is effective and there isn’t much drama and now the engine have more low torque than ever. On the freeway the car accelerate fast and reach 160km/h instantly. When you rev up to around 4500 rpm, you notice a powerboost.

Actually I think a 328i isn’t needed. 320d will do the job just as good 328i and for less money.

To sum it up the new 3-seriens hasn’t lost its driving appeal. Same nice steering, same wonderful chassi but more refined and improved ride comfort. Plus better interior space. What more can you ask for, the balance between sport and comfort is what BMW does best. The new 3-series is still the car to beat in this segment.

Next weekend I’m going back to drive 320d.

 

[Deckhook]

How was engine refinement, is it noticeably rougher than the inline6?

P.S. Isn't that the brown leather, looks the colour of pooh. Personally if brown is to be used then make it a dark coffee colour.

 

[klier]

^^ I think that's Dakota Sattelbraun

Nice review Andreas. I envy you, as you've already driven it!

But the part about the hard plastics and interior quality is not true. I can name countless of reviews of the F30 where they all say the interior quality has improved, and I agree with those reviews as I sit in an E90 every day. The F30 I sat in (like 5 different models, luxury/sport/modern/320d/328i/335i) was noticeably better.
The F20 is too ugly to sit in, so I won't comment on that one...

 

[Zafiro]

^^ I think that's Dakota Sattelbraun

Nice review Andreas. I envy you, as you've already driven it!

But the part about the hard plastics and interior quality is not true. I can name countless of reviews of the F30 where they all say the interior quality has improved, and I agree with those reviews as I sit in an E90 every day. The F30 I sat in (like 5 different models, luxury/sport/modern/320d/328i/335i) was noticeably better.
The F20 is too ugly to sit in, so I won't comment on that one...

Not true? are U caling me a liar? I've talking to others on swedishBMW boards who also seen the car in close and many of them agree with me. Reviews, I could care less what they think since they've been wrong so many times before. But I agree with you that facelifted C-class isnt better than F30.

 

[klier]

Yes I am calling you a liar [face_roll_eye] (of course not)

But if you claim there's hard plastics everywhere I might as well call you that, even though you put the words in my mouth and I wasn't even thinking it.
And I don't care about the reviews either, they only back up my own experience. Looks like you have a hard plastic fetish, like others have an e-brake fetish, and others again a LED fetish. I'm afraid I can't help you. And I feel sorry for you if you were expecting 5er quality, a car that costs 15k more base.

 

[Deckhook]

^ It isn't a lie, the F30 does have hard plastic. Though it doesn't effect the overall impression which is an interior that is far more exciting to look at than the E90.

P.S.
I'm surprised no-one else noticed this so I will. In your picture do you notice how loose the leather is on the seat base it's not tight as I would have expected, this is a brand new car yet the seat looks like one of several years old.

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

I was at service picking up the 6er and looky what I found.

 

[mini_cooper4]

It looks so good in silver

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

^ It isn't a lie, the F30 does have hard plastic. Though it doesn't effect the overall impression which is an interior that is far more exciting to look at than the E90.

P.S.
I'm surprised no-one else noticed this so I will. In your picture do you notice how loose the leather is on the seat base it's not tight as I would have expected, this is a brand new car yet the seat looks like one of several years old.

'

That's normal with BMW and their leather. The e92 328xi that I drove had the same problem, along with my sisters E60 530xi, and even her current 650i. It's just BMW's in general.

 

[DocM]

drove an hour and a half to see it,the mineral grey is very close to sparkling graphite, for US the front bumper has a horrific license plate mount and orange reflectors. Stunning in black, girlfriend took a liking to the sport line and I quote: "if you drove this car I would jump your bones"

 

[LaArtist]

haha that silver one looks retarded..im sorry to say..haha

 

[klier]

That U.S plate holder is not standard btw.

Looking good guys!