[JSpira]

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If you look at my the 3er Series cars I've owned [E90 2010 335d, E90 2006 330xi, E90 2006 325i, E90 2006 330xi, E46 2000 328Ci, E36 1996 328iS, E36 1992 325i, E30 1991 318is, E21 1982 320iS, E21 1979 320 (6-Zyl)], you'll see every model of 3er Series listed - sometimes twice.

That's why I felt more qualified than most automotive journalists to write a review. (I'll be doing a 335i review in a few weeks or so after I spend a week with one later this month)

I'll summarize things here but feel free to read the review linked below.

BMW's strength has always been what it can get out of its 4-cylinder engines. That's why BMW built a 4-cylinder headquarters building in Munich, to celebrate the accomplishment.

I have to admit that I was blown away by the amount of power you get from the four banger. Having driven 6-cylinder 328i sedans of the prior generation, there was no question in my mind that this was faster - plus it's far more economical. That's a neat trick right there.

BMW has also fully restored the cockpit to a driver orientation - and you can now get almost every option (except for comfort seats and perhaps one or two other things) that you can get in the 5er.

The seats are great and supportive and the handling is definitely better than any of my E90s.


2012 BMW 328i Sedan (F30) – First Look and Review

It all began when I moved to Munich to study history at the university. I bought a used silver BMW 3 Series (pictured below) and I never looked back. Since then, I've owned 10 of them, which covers every generation of the 3 Series since its inception, so I consider myself somewhat of an expert on the car.

The 3 Series, or 3er, has evolved greatly since the first generation. Some changes have been revolutionary and others have been more evolutionary. The first generation, the E21, evolved into the E30. While the cars look completely different, many of the characteristics remained the same and they were the only 3ers that shared fishbowl-like visibility thanks to an upright greenhouse and relatively thin sail panels.

The third generation E36 was revolutionary – it evoked howls from BMW purists not dissimilar from when BMW switched from round taillights to rectangular taillights in the 3er's predecessor, the 2002. The E46 that followed it, however, was better in all respects but nothing revolutionary.

Of course the fifth generation of the 3er, the E90, was released during a dramatic shift in BMW styling under chief designer Chris Bangle. Revolutionary might even be an understatement here, not to mention that some aspects of the car's interior were approaching the dimensions of the outgoing 5er Series.

[Feanor]

Great review Much better than many professional ones!

I hadn't really realised that Comfort Go was standard - if I'd known that I probably wouldn't have bothered getting Comfort Access! Oh well.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Feanor

Great review Much better than many professional ones!

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Feanor

I hadn't really realised that Comfort Go was standard - if I'd known that I probably wouldn't have bothered getting Comfort Access! Oh well.

I really like the other features of Comfort Access so don´t feel you wasted your money by getting it!

[JSpira]

Just got an F30 335i for the week so a review on the 335i will be out shortly. I'm looking forward to comparing it to the 328i, which was a great car.

One thing is clear: the 335i is extremely fast and responsive (no surprise there of course but I like leaving the torque meter on and watching... I wish the 335d had had one of those)

[Elk]

Excellent! I thoroughly enjoyed your 328i review.

[dmontic71]

Great review, I love my new F30. I will say that the auto stop/start does shudder. Also, regarding the steering, I have read many opinions, but I think the steering is excellent. One thing I haven't heard much about in the reviews is the improvement in run flat tires and/or ride adjustments to compensate. I was one of the first to get an E90 as well (2006), and the run flats were horrible. My next car was a 2009 E60 w/o run flats, and it was far superior in ride quality.. I was concerned that my new F30 would have that harsh run flat ride, but it seems like the ride quality is much improved. Not sure how much to attribute to changes in the car vs. the tires, but the difference is night and day...

[DrivenByE30]

JSpira, i will be looking forward to reading very closely your 335i review

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by dmontic71

Great review, I love my new F30. I will say that the auto stop/start does shudder. Also, regarding the steering, I have read many opinions, but I think the steering is excellent. One thing I haven't heard much about in the reviews is the improvement in run flat tires and/or ride adjustments to compensate. I was one of the first to get an E90 as well (2006), and the run flats were horrible. My next car was a 2009 E60 w/o run flats, and it was far superior in ride quality.. I was concerned that my new F30 would have that harsh run flat ride, but it seems like the ride quality is much improved. Not sure how much to attribute to changes in the car vs. the tires, but the difference is night and day...

BMW finally addressed the ride/suspension balance on the MY2011 E9x cars. The revised suspension (new Sachs dampers and supposedly some other changes) on those cars is far better than the previous E9x cars -- we had a 2009 wagon, still have a 2011 coupe and now an F30 sedan). Unfortunately that means the majority of E9x cars sold didn't benefit from this tuning, but at least BMW figured it out.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Elk

Excellent! I thoroughly enjoyed your 328i review.

Originally Posted by dmontic71

Great review,

Thanks.

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

JSpira, i will be looking forward to reading very closely your 335i review

I'm looking forward to writing it.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

BMW finally addressed the ride/suspension balance on the MY2011 E9x cars. The revised suspension (new Sachs dampers and supposedly some other changes) on those cars is far better than the previous E9x cars -- we had a 2009 wagon, still have a 2011 coupe and now an F30 sedan). Unfortunately that means the majority of E9x cars sold didn't benefit from this tuning, but at least BMW figured it out.

I would say that the F30 suspension with RF tires is tremendously improved over earlier 3ers - but it's not perfect. I went over an irregularity in a road earlier today in the 335i and it was jarring - just like it would have been in my E90. That was, however, the exception.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by dmontic71

Great review, I love my new F30. I will say that the auto stop/start does shudder. ..

I found the auto stop/start pretty smooth. How noticeable is the shudder in your 3er?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by dmontic71

Great review

Thanks.

Originally Posted by dmontic71

Not sure how much to attribute to changes in the car vs. the tires, but the difference is night and day...

Having spoken with several people at BMW, I would say you can attribute it to both car and tires. There were major improvements in the suspension that compensate for some harshness plus RF tires have indeed gotten much much better.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

BMW finally addressed the ride/suspension balance on the MY2011 E9x cars. The revised suspension (new Sachs dampers and supposedly some other changes) on those cars is far better than the previous E9x cars -- we had a 2009 wagon, still have a 2011 coupe and now an F30 sedan). Unfortunately that means the majority of E9x cars sold didn't benefit from this tuning, but at least BMW figured it out.

I thought there were also some significant changes in the suspension when the LCI came out but I could be mistaken.

[DrivenByE30]

Jon ?? where is the 335i review ? we are still waiting for it...

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

Jon ?? where is the 335i review ? we are still waiting for it...

Working on it...

It's been a busy few weeks - so much to write, so little time

(Just finished the 2013 U.S. Diesel Preview among other things that were keeping me busy)

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by JSpira

I thought there were also some significant changes in the suspension when the LCI came out but I could be mistaken.

Having leased a 2008 e90 328 and now a 2011 e90 328, I can definitely notice less of an impact over bumps and potholes. I've read BMW changed damper suppliers although I'd guess the dampers are made to BMW's specs so the supplier is not that important.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Having leased a 2008 e90 328 and now a 2011 e90 328, I can definitely notice less of an impact over bumps and potholes. I've read BMW changed damper suppliers although I'd guess the dampers are made to BMW's specs so the supplier is not that important.

I drove over several of the same roads with the F30 328i as I have many times with the several E90s I have had and there is no question that the impact of bumps and other unflat surfaces on the street is greatly reduced in the F30.