[MuffinMan910]

had my vanos done last month and had a 2014 f30 328i xDrive loaner. it was alright… the more i drove it the more i was bored of it. don't get me wrong… very nice drive but theres nothing special about it. definitely doesn't drive the same as the e90. also agree that the e90 has better quality interior. everyone who rode in the loaner said the interior felt much more cheap than my e90

[markus037]

well i should have my E90 back tomorrow. the F30 was fun but i miss my E90. The steering feel mostly. dont need idrive but i actually started to get used to it. the xenon lights are sweet however.

[bahasad]

Originally Posted by GMe90

The F30 is not bad, but its price is too high. It would be hard to choose an F30 328i over a 2015 Mustang GT with the track package. They cost the same.

Right because a 4 door luxury sports sedan is comparable to a 2 door non luxury sports car.

As someone who has an F30 and E90, the interior design is light years beyond the E90 imo. Much more modern. You have to equip it properly to notice the difference, but it's even there in the base models.

Some of the plastics do feel slightly cheaper than the E90, but my E90 328I with around 90K miles definitely does have it's share of blemishes/marks on the interior, especially the side arm rests and door handles.

The chassis/suspension/feel on the E90 is better than the F30 imo. The F30 is better if you lower it. Everything else on the F30 is much better (powertrain, acceleration, fuel economy, interior space, looks more modern inside and out, easier to live with).

[mashimarho]

I guess it isn't just N55 recalled.

[Johnny Boost]

Originally Posted by bahasad

Right because a 4 door luxury sports sedan is comparable to a 2 door non luxury sports car.

As someone who has an F30 and E90, the interior design is light years beyond the E90 imo. Much more modern. You have to equip it properly to notice the difference, but it's even there in the base models.

Some of the plastics do feel slightly cheaper than the E90, but my E90 328I with around 90K miles definitely does have it's share of blemishes/marks on the interior, especially the side arm rests and door handles.

The chassis/suspension/feel on the E90 is better than the F30 imo. The F30 is better if you lower it. Everything else on the F30 is much better (powertrain, acceleration, fuel economy, interior space, looks more modern inside and out, easier to live with).

I have to agree here. If you compared an e90 with an F30 with the same exact packages, the F30 would probably be better overall

[JeM9]

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

I have to agree here. If you compared an e90 with an F30 with the same exact packages, the F30 would probably be better overall

Is somebody considering an upgrade?

[hongsc]

Got my F30 loaner yesterday. The car does feel cheaper but probably more noticeable because the car is bigger than our E90s. The suspension is comfy over potholes, bumps, imperfections. With my E90, I feel every little bump in the road and the jolts are sharp compared to the rolling motion of the F30. Steering is comfortable and definitely not as tight as the E90. A lot of noticeable differences. But the only thing, I'll really miss on the F30 is the performance.

[alexb]

It's certainly easy to say that the F30 has a nice looking interior. I think that the car is gorgeous inside and out. I want one! The interior plastics, however, are unquestionably cheaper-feeling than the E90, and it's not a fair comparision to say that the E90 design is less exciting or it's plastics are not wearing as well. Or that the F30 has more advanced technology. Those things may be true, but it's not comparing apples to apples.

Simple test: I did this at the dealer this weekend. Put your finger in the exact center of the radio/climate control of an F30. Not at any of the buttons, but at the exact center. Push. The whole thing flexes and gives. Squish, squish. Try that in an E90 and... nothing happens. Hard as a rock. That's a microcosm of the whole F30 interior. Nothing you touch or interact with feels quite as nicely made as the E90 equivalents. My E90's dash, while "plain," feels silky-er and smoother than the same plastic in an F30. Even the leather seems a little cheaper, less soft and pliant, more plastic-y. Not as nice to the touch.

People make the point that the same was true from E46 to E90. This is a fair point to bring up, though I'm not sure the quality-drop off is equivalent. Certainly nobody thought the E46 interior was less good than the E36? No, this is a new trend, and it's accelerating. Maybe the plastics feel "cheaper" because they've gotten thinner. And perhaps that's for weight savings, though I doubt it. I suspect it's gone directly to the bottom line.

I like the car. It has many good attributes and, again, looks great. Killer rear leg-room and impressive trunk. But, I feel it disappointing that BMW is hollowing out core qualities of the driving experience for short-term gains. These are things that made a BMW notably more special than, say, a Honda Accord. Long term, I wonder what this will cost them?

[cdgatti]

The build quality of the new cars is now typical of any other "rental car"' and that is unfortunate. So many people are saying well it's ok, the car isn't that bad... Well to me that isn't acceptable for a car that goes for $50k well equipped. If I even look at one of these current generation cars it will be a used m3/4.

[hassmaschine]

if the F30 build quality is really worse than the E90, then BMW is in trouble. Hopefully it's just the fanboi's talking, because even though they seem to be going in a strange direction, BMW is still a beacon among a sea of awful and boring cars.

as far as the mustang, it might be a pretty nice car for the money (the rentals I've driven have been pretty nice) but it's basically a 2 seater. the ride quality is terrible and forget about having passengers in the back seat. there's really no fair way to compare the two.

[Johnny Boost]

Originally Posted by JeM9

Is somebody considering an upgrade?

I am under warranty for 2 more years then I will be upgrading. The only reason why I wouldn't buy an F30 335 is that it has the same engine. I will probably go for either an M car or move on from BMW.

[norsairius]

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

I am under warranty for 2 more years then I will be upgrading. The only reason why I wouldn't buy an F30 335 is that it has the same engine. I will probably go for either an M car or move on from BMW.

Don't be so sure about leaving quite yet! An M car is definitely a good route, but if you want something less expensive, there's some rumors about the new "340i" which should have the N55's successor under the hood, the B58.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1008378

[Johnny Boost]

Originally Posted by norsairius

Don't be so sure about leaving quite yet! An M car is definitely a good route, but if you want something less expensive, there's some rumors about the new "340i" which should have the N55's successor under the hood, the B58.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1008378

Ya I'll have to check that out. I doubt it will have much more power than the N55 but we'll see!

[InControl]

Originally Posted by bahasad

Right because a 4 door luxury sports sedan is comparable to a 2 door non luxury sports car.

As someone who has an F30 and E90, the interior design is light years beyond the E90 imo. Much more modern. You have to equip it properly to notice the difference, but it's even there in the base models.

Some of the plastics do feel slightly cheaper than the E90, but my E90 328I with around 90K miles definitely does have it's share of blemishes/marks on the interior, especially the side arm rests and door handles.

The chassis/suspension/feel on the E90 is better than the F30 imo. The F30 is better if you lower it. Everything else on the F30 is much better (powertrain, acceleration, fuel economy, interior space, looks more modern inside and out, easier to live with).

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

I have to agree here. If you compared an e90 with an F30 with the same exact packages, the F30 would probably be better overall

Couldn't disagree more. I've driven a couple different f30 variants including 335i auto and while they certainly have nice attributes, neither variant felt great in the handling and quality materials departments. Many of you comparing to last gen e9x compare to run down pre LCI models with obvious age deficits, however comparing apples to apples, say 2013 f3x to 2013 LCI e9x, it's a no contest.
Yes, I said NO CONTEST.
Besides electronics the e9x is the same or better over f3x, including aluminum suspension, materials, and overall fit and finish. The fact that it's smaller and lighter also helps

[InControl]

Did I mention it's built and assembled in Deutschland

[JeM9]

You're also comparing a 4 cylinder turbo to an inline v6. Performance wise no contest. I'd take the power of an f30 over the e90's any day. Power, not overall feel that is

[1chanc3]

Originally Posted by mashimarho

I just didn't know they recalled anything but the N55.

I think his statement means that those cars have VANOS. Doesn't mean the recall affected them.

But you are correct in that the recall affected mostly cars with n55. n54 cars were not affected by the recall.

[InControl]

Originally Posted by JeM9

You're also comparing a 4 cylinder turbo to an inline v6. Performance wise no contest. I'd take the power of an f30 over the e90's any day. Power, not overall feel that is

1. Bmw does not sell v6 cars.
2. If I wanted power and did not care for feel or refinement I'd buy a muscle car.

[bahasad]

Originally Posted by InControl

Couldn't disagree more. I've driven a couple different f30 variants including 335i auto and while they certainly have nice attributes, neither variant felt great in the handling and quality materials departments. Many of you comparing to last gen e9x compare to run down pre LCI models with obvious age deficits, however comparing apples to apples, say 2013 f3x to 2013 LCI e9x, it's a no contest.
Yes, I said NO CONTEST.
Besides electronics the e9x is the same or better over f3x, including aluminum suspension, materials, and overall fit and finish. The fact that it's smaller and lighter also helps

Do you own an F30? I own both - I have driven my F30 for 5000 miles and my E90 for about 25K. So I have had plenty of experience in both.

Even when the E90 was new people complained it had a boring interior. The F30 solves all of that with better seats, interior space, interior dash layout and many more. Long term interior quality, who knows? But I've had an E36 and an E90 and although the E90 was solid, it still had some blemishes.

Most of the hard touch materials in the F30 are not in plain sight. Yes there are hard touch materials, but I'm not a constant dash stroker so it doesn't matter, and the E90 also had a few.

And a stock E90 or E92 (without sport/m sport packages) isn't nothing amazing in the handling department. Yes it has steering feel, but it's steering is also much heavier and feels slower than the F30. In comfort mode, the F30 is way too light but in Sport or Sport + (E90 doesn't even have chassis or throttle settings) it firms up just right.

A lot of people shit on the F30 but I just feel like whenever a new BMW comes out people like to do that, even though in my opinion, the F30 is better in a some important areas than the E90.

I recommend those who want an objective comparison should drive a sport or m-sport F30 with DHP, Sport AT, and then come back to me and tell me their opinions.

[InControl]

Both cars e9x and f3x come with 6 cylinder inline turbo (n55)

[JeM9]

Originally Posted by InControl

1. Bmw does not sell v6 cars.
2. If I wanted power and did not care for feel or refinement I'd buy a muscle car.

That's pretty much exactly how I thought when I bought my 328i

[InControl]

Originally Posted by bahasad

Do you own an F30? I own both - I have driven my F30 for 5000 miles and my E90 for about 25K. So I have had plenty of experience in both.

Even when the E90 was new people complained it had a boring interior. The F30 solves all of that with better seats, interior space, interior dash layout and many more. Long term interior quality, who knows? But I've had an E36 and an E90 and although the E90 was solid, it still had some blemishes.

Most of the hard touch materials in the F30 are not in plain sight. Yes there are hard touch materials, but I'm not a constant dash stroker so it doesn't matter, and the E90 also had a few.

And a stock E90 or E92 (without sport/m sport packages) isn't nothing amazing in the handling department. Yes it has steering feel, but it's steering is also much heavier and feels slower than the F30. In comfort mode, the F30 is way too light but in Sport or Sport + (E90 doesn't even have chassis or throttle settings) it firms up just right.

A lot of people shit on the F30 but I just feel like whenever a new BMW comes out people like to do that, even though in my opinion, the F30 is better in a some important areas than the E90.

I recommend those who want an objective comparison should drive a sport or m-sport F30 with DHP, Sport AT, and then come back to me and tell me their opinions.

As I said, e9x LCI improved on all the points you made.
Test drove f30 m sport twice before pulling the trigger on a new e92 after a single test drive.
I will mention that I did test drive e92 335i pre LCI and it was missing refinement.