[Herakles]

Please keep in mind, ive been driving a well worn in 2000 Accord the last 12 years. So I started my trip saturday morning to head 5 hours to Bobby Rahal located by pittsburg

I rented a car (they gave me a new challenger) which im not sure if contributed to the exprience later on way home. The challenger felt BIG. But surprisingly that suspension was firm, but not punishing- and the V6 was amazing I couldnt believe how that thing moved around.

The dealership and sales rep was amazing. They went out of there way to cover the car and make it sort of a surprise- I mean come on, what other brands make a new ownership big deal even over a 4 year old car!

The car only had 9000 miles, looked amazing up close as well. I ordered the black kidney grills from them as i wanted it to have them when I picked it up.

Here is the weird part- I left the dealer to visit my brother that lived about 40 min away before starting trip home.

Call it sensory shock, of getting use to something so different- but driving from the dealer to my brother, i got this immediate negative feeling- the car felt super cramped to me.

The suspension felt too stiff, i really felt sensory overload

The idrive was annoying me as i was trying to get use to it, and the radio - Coming from Acuras the interface is much easier, and looks nicer on the screen.

I got to my brothers, with feelings of remorse- and possible returning it- he advised just give it some time- I agreed, worst case I shouldnt have a problem selling it if i was truly unhappy-

So the 5 hour drive home began, and thats when the blood transfusion began- The gobs of power started warming up my heart.. Started thinking OK...playing with the Idrive, i started getting better and toggling music and nav settings, etc
By half way home I was really happy, and excited- as I wanted to be...

Has anyone experienced this?

I have to say i havent drived the F30, but a little more room inside and a "softer" feeling car might not be a bad thing!

[smuler]

Interesting.
Not something I experienced, because I test drove on highway, back roads and city, the car I bought prior to its purchase, even though like you I made a cross country (400 mile round trip) journey to go get and was 99.9% sold on bringing her home. I was in a sh*t rental though.

However, I had tested two 335i's before, a manual and a step. auto so already had a good vibe. It was a DCT I went with in the end.

The compact feel is what I like. I had a F30 rental the other day for a few hundred miles and she felt too big, steering too light and suspension too soft.

I would say, maybe that's what you prefer. BUT a 5hr journey home and your happier...hmm, I think it was just a bit of adjustment you needed.

Enjoy and don't over think things.

[grizz311]

I have never had this, as i have driven very many cars in my life, and its easy for me to adjust to a new car. Pretty much during my first test drive i know what im getting into. Keep driving, youll love it!

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Herakles

I have to say i havent [driven] the F30, but a little more room inside and a "softer" feeling car might not be a bad thing!

You are the problem.

[Delta0311]

Sport oriented suspension is supposed to feel stiffer than normal. The F30 feels like driving an Accura. Although the m sport 335 f30 I drove felt nice, even though it was x drive.

[Capital Drives]

Congrats on the car! Can't say I know what you mean, I loved my 335 from the moment I first sat in it and it only gets better each time! Glad you're feelings changed over the course of the "get to know her" ride home!

[Efthreeoh]

F30 and all series above, once you do a BMW it is hard to go back. To get a great driving car (outside of a $70K M3/4) you need to look to other manufacturers, especially Cadillac. Maybe the 2016 F30 LCI might be an improvement, but we'll see.

Good luck with the 335i. It's going to break, but you know that. It's not an Acura/Honda.

[Miller335]

I was nothing but smiles when I bought my perfect 335, the drive home from Seattle to Portland was a day I'll never forget

Plus I knew I had a 450whp beast under thr hood waiting to be tapped into without too much effort.

[MuffinMan910]

i actually get what you're saying. but those are the exact reasons why a lot of driving enthusiasts who have an e9x don't like the f30. the e9x is the perfect driving machine, you feel so connected to the road but that comes with the tight steering and i wouldn't say harsh suspension, but definitely not soft

you'll get used to it, as you already are, and love it. congrats on the purchase!

[fun2drive]

Just drive the thing and enjoy it!
I picked mine up in Munich drove it to Frankfurt to get it on the boat.
Never drove one before but have owned boatloads of BMWs and each is always better. 2002 guys boo hoo'ed the E30's and not real BMWs suspension too soft car too big, E30 guys boo hoo'ed the E36 same complaints, etc etc etc.
There isn't one feature that stands out on a BMW it is the combination of all of them.

Unfortunately where I live in Florida the worst Kia would be adequate, all roads straight and flat uninteresting.

Enjoy that 335 and it will run like a scalded dog when tuned!!!!!

[montegokid94]

Lol I should really sell my car smh

[apme123]

You should have bought a Lexus or a Mercedes for old people Lexus ES350 or a Luxury E500.

[Johnny Boost]

If you want a softer ride, you may want to look into ditching the run flats for non-run flats. It makes a world of a difference.

[Eddien123]

Maybe you should've gotten something like a 5. A 3 is a sporty car and should've be complained about because of a stiff suspension. That's why the new 3 is a fail.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by fun2drive

Just drive the thing and enjoy it!
I picked mine up in Munich drove it to Frankfurt to get it on the boat.
Never drove one before but have owned boatloads of BMWs and each is always better. 2002 guys boo hoo'ed the E30's and not real BMWs suspension too soft car too big, E30 guys boo hoo'ed the E36 same complaints, etc etc etc.
There isn't one feature that stands out on a BMW it is the combination of all of them.

Unfortunately where I live in Florida the worst Kia would be adequate, all roads straight and flat uninteresting.

Enjoy that 335 and it will run like a scalded dog when tuned!!!!!

Just for the record....

The E30 and E36 basically had the same suspension. This E30 owner bought a E37 Z3 for his Wife. And I put many miles on the E21 from '76 to the '82 model years. I thought the E30 was an improvement.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Just for the record....

The E30 and E36 basically had the same suspension. This E30 owner bought a E37 Z3 for his Wife. And I put many miles on the E21 from '76 to the '82 model years. I thought the E30 was an improvement.

Haha - I also owned the E21 and E37. Both cars were tight and connected to the road. Also owned an E24 6-series...meh, not so much. IMO E90 did a great job of balancing comfort and road feel.

[Miller335]

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

If you want a softer ride, you may want to look into ditching the run flats for non-run flats. It makes a world of a difference.

That is a good point, can't really give the car a fair assessment until some real tires are on there.

[Blindside_137]

Definitely because you were just in a big ass challenger. The E9x is a brilliant car in either 328, 335 or M3.

With more time you will love it like you are noticing. And personally I find nothing more seamless or easy to use than BMW iDrive

[agustincuenca]

Same thing happened to me when I bought my first ever BMW, an '06 330xi....having French cars previously, that felt stiff, heavy on the steering wheel, etc....but after a couple of miles regret become joy....a one way trip to never have car that is not a BMW.

[Herakles]

Dont forget, ive been in a 2000 accord for 12 years!

Before that i had Mustang Cobra, Mustang GTs, and LS1 TA, all with good suspension set ups (eibachs and koni yellows) ... its just been a while and what i was trying to say how i cant believe initially it turned me off-

but as i drove it on the way home the transfusion was taking place, i was in love!

The wife wanted to go to the beach today, we took the mdx- i didnt even get to drive it today When I got in it this am to move it i was like woah cool

[SoonerE39]

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

If you want a softer ride, you may want to look into ditching the run flats for non-run flats. It makes a world of a difference.

Yep- My sons 328i Sport with non run flats is substantially softer than my 335i with the run flats. First thing I noticed in my 335i is how much harder the run flat tires were.

Originally Posted by apme123

You should have bought a Lexus or a Mercedes for old people Lexus ES350 or a Luxury E500.

If thats still too hard for you, then yes, a Mercedes my be a better fit. I also have a 2012 E350 Sport. If I am driving cross country I would rather be in the E350 and drive tirelessly all day. But if I am looking for curvy twisty road or an autocross event, I would rather be in the 335i.

And the Navi/iDrive in the BMW is far more intuitive and much better than a Mercedes system

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by Herakles

Dont forget, ive been in a 2000 accord for 12 years!

Before that i had Mustang Cobra, Mustang GTs, and LS1 TA, all with good suspension set ups (eibachs and koni yellows) ... its just been a while and what i was trying to say how i cant believe initially it turned me off-

but as i drove it on the way home the transfusion was taking place, i was in love!

The wife wanted to go to the beach today, we took the mdx- i didnt even get to drive it today When I got in it this am to move it i was like woah cool

Here are some pics of it at the dealer during pick up.. i cant believe they even covered it to surprise me-

You got an Msport and it looks like a 2011? Yeah, these cars are not spacious--more like sports cars with backseats. My question is, is didn't you drive a few(even 328) before buying? It should not have been a surprise how the car is. Anyways, looks pretty nice to me.