New F30 BMW 3-series driven

pajo1981

What is it?
What’s most encouraging of all about this new, sixth-generation BMW 3-series is that, despite its very obvious eco credentials and its numerous technical innovations – which range from a dizzying new eight-speed, paddle-shift gearbox to an intriguing new ‘Eco Pro’ driver control system – it’s still just a good-looking saloon that drives rather beautifully at heart.
To the naked eye the new saloon may seem like business as usual, featuring a slick and elegant new style that looks both familiar yet more thrusting, all at the same, but beneath its new suit the F30 3-series is dazzlingly different from and, says BMW, infinitely superior to the car it replaces in every single area you can imagine. It’s more comfortable and more capable dynamically than before; better at pretty much everything it does, in other words.
In its entirety, the new range will span from the entry-level 316d at £24,880 to the 335i Luxury at £37,025. Later next year will come an even more of-the-moment Hybrid Active 3 model touting 335bhp/46mpg, and beyond that will follow a four wheel-drive model plus the usual estate, convertible and various M versions.
What’s it like?
I drove both the 320d and 328i at the launch, both of which were only available in Sport trim with the new paddle-shift gearbox and top-spec chassis and steering systems fitted (optional adaptive dampers and sport specification servotronic steering, in other words, all of which combined with the gearbox would add just under £6k to the price).
The first thing you become aware of when driving either car is that there’s an incredible lack of inertia when on the move. The new 3-series feels quite amazingly light on its feet, the 328i especially, and to begin with this can make it seem ever so slightly insubstantial as a result.
The steering of the 328i is so light and fingertip easy, the accelerator so delicate underfoot, the gearbox so smooth in its machinations, you almost feel like a passenger in the car as it wafts gracefully from one destination to the next. The four cylinder engine purrs gently in its low to mid ranges, providing more thrust that you thought possible from such a small petrol engine when installed in a car as big, relatively speaking, as this.
Select Sport and it instantly feels even more alive, not just beneath your backside and feet but at the tips of your fingers as well. And if you’re feeling truly in the mood there’s a Sport+ setting available in this model as well, which brings yet crisper responses from the steering, gearbox and throttle, and turns the traction control to a fruitier setting for good measure.
It sounds an awful lot more complex and, no doubt, rather less intuitive than might be deemed desirable in a car that was once praised for its purity of purpose – but in practice it’s nothing of the sort. After half an hour, most drivers will be well used to what does what; and after half a day they’ll be amazed by the ability to fine tune the car into whatever mood, or whatever road, they mind find themselves on.
The next day I drove the pick-of-the-range 320d and found it to be more of the same but better than the 328i, if anything, where it counts. It’ll also be BMW’s better-selling model, especially in the UK.
It may not be as fast on paper – with a 0-62mph time of 7.6sec versus 5.9sec – but unless you’re really going for it in the 328i, the 320d feels the brawnier of the two on the road.
It has even more low to mid-range punch, emits a similarly unentertaining noise and to all other intents and purposes feels like the same car. Same fantastic range of chassis set-ups, same light but lovely steering, same superb optional eight-speed gearbox; same ability to switch from smooth motorway cruiser to crisp B-road bruiser, and pretty much anything in between, all at the flick of a button. Oh yes, except the 320d will do 64mpg on the combined cycle and has a range of over 800 miles.
Should I buy one?
If Superman drove a car, in fact, he’d probably drive a new BMW 320d. And the rest of us would be more than happy with any other member of the range. Because be in no doubt, a new world leader has arrived – and it may take a while for the others to catch up.
Steve Sutcliffe
BMW 320d Sport
Price:
£29,080; 0-62mph:
7.6sec; Top speed: 143mph; Economy: 64.2mpg (combined); CO2 emissions: 119g/km; Kerb weight:
1495kg; Engine layout: 4 cyls in line, 1995cc, turbodiesel; Installation: front, longitudinal, RWD; Power:
 181bhp at 4000rpm; Torque: 280lb ft at 1750-2750rpm; Power to weight:
121bhp per tonne; Gearbox: 6-spd manual (eight-speed auto on test car)

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BMW-3-Series-320d/260112/

Matt Simis

I hope it looks better in the metal. The new F20 1series doesnt.

Zubeneschamali

pajo1981 wrote: »

it’s still just a good-looking saloon

Pardon? The 3 series saloon has never been good-looking, it varies between dull and ugly, depending on the version.

The last one was ugly, this one looks to be just dull.

Anan1

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Pardon? The 3 series saloon has never been good-looking, it varies between dull and ugly, depending on the version.

The last one was ugly, this one looks to be just dull.

In fairness, the E30 was a handsome car. I think time will be kind to the E90/91 too, although not the E92/93.

Tea_Bag

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Pardon? The 3 series saloon has never been good-looking, it varies between dull and ugly, depending on the version.

The last one was ugly, this one looks to be just dull.

I'm with you on this point mostly, but I'd definitely call this one ugly. hopefully it'll look better in the flesh, but I doubt it.

I wish BMW would try reintroduce the shark nose into their design. I regard the E30 as one of the all time most beautiful cars.

si_guru

(the) 3-series is dazzlingly different from and, says BMW, infinitely superior to the car it replaces.

Seems an odd thing to say...

"buy the new model, the 40 grand you coughed up last year was on an ol' heap.."

...and of course no mention of improved indicator reliability.

pajo1981

si_guru wrote: »

Seems an odd thing to say...

"buy the new model, the 40 grand you coughed up last year was on an ol' heap.."

...and of course no mention of improved indicator reliability.

In fairness you'd want to have been a right gob to have bought an '11 E90.

veetwin

pajo1981 wrote: »

The next day I drove the pick-of-the-range 320d and found it to be more of the same but better than the 328i, if anything, where it counts. It’ll also be BMW’s better-selling model, especially in the UK.
It may not be as fast on paper – with a 0-62mph time of 7.6sec versus 5.9sec – but unless you’re really going for it in the 328i, the 320d feels the brawnier of the two on the road.


http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BMW-3-Series-320d/260112/

Interesting that the 320d beats the 328i..pity most here will be 316d

In fairness it appears that the journalist is either the world's biggest BMW fan or he has been loved up pretty good by BMW

pajo1981

veetwin wrote: »

Interesting that the 320d beats the 328i..pity most here will be 316d

In fairness it appears that the journalist is either the world's biggest BMW fan or he has been loved up pretty good by BMW

This american reviewer wasn't nearly so impressed with what probably is considered an oddity accross the pond, the 320d.

" There were a brace of 320d variants on hand at the launch, so we sampled one on a brief half-hour drive. This is not the diesel for us. Compared to the 265-hp six-cylinder torque-turbine 335d we cherished for a year in our long-term fleet, this 184-hp four feels crude and slow (it's rated at 7.6 seconds to 60, versus our long termer's 5.8). It never hides its dieselness, sounding and feeling a bit rough at idle. The car shakes when the engine starts and when it shuts off (at every stoplight unless you disable auto start-stop), and the throttle response of this variable-nozzle single-scroll turbo is nowhere near as linear and predictable as that of the N20 gas turbo engine in the 328i"

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1111_2012_bmw_328i_first_drive/index.html

Eoin

pajo1981 wrote: »

This american reviewer wasn't nearly so impressed with what probably is considered an oddity accross the pond, the 320d.

" There were a brace of 320d variants on hand at the launch, so we sampled one on a brief half-hour drive. This is not the diesel for us. Compared to the 265-hp six-cylinder torque-turbine 335d we cherished for a year in our long-term fleet, this 184-hp four feels crude and slow (it's rated at 7.6 seconds to 60, versus our long termer's 5.8). It never hides its dieselness, sounding and feeling a bit rough at idle. The car shakes when the engine starts and when it shuts off (at every stoplight unless you disable auto start-stop), and the throttle response of this variable-nozzle single-scroll turbo is nowhere near as linear and predictable as that of the N20 gas turbo engine in the 328i"

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1111_2012_bmw_328i_first_drive/index.html

Well, that's a pretty stupid comparison to make in the first place.

pajo1981

Eoin wrote: »

Well, that's a pretty stupid comparison to make in the first place.

He also compares its to the 328i.


"...sounding and feeling a bit rough at idle. The car shakes when the engine starts and when it shuts off , and the throttle response of this variable-nozzle single-scroll turbo is nowhere near as linear..."

Same old 320d, so

EPM

What do people expect from a small 4 pot diesel in fairness?

pajo1981

EPM wrote: »

What do people expect from a small 4 pot diesel in fairness?

There are plenty of other cars with less intrusive 4 cylinder diesels.

The Tyre Dude

Tea_Bag wrote: »

I wish BMW would try reintroduce the shark nose into their design. I regard the E30 as one of the all time most beautiful cars.

They have been trying around the grille with mixed results, look at any of their recent efforts, but thanks to pesky pedestrian safety regs I doubt we'll ever see anything like the original shark nose, or will we?

166man

pajo1981 wrote: »

This american reviewer wasn't nearly so impressed with what probably is considered an oddity accross the pond, the 320d.

" There were a brace of 320d variants on hand at the launch, so we sampled one on a brief half-hour drive. This is not the diesel for us. Compared to the 265-hp six-cylinder torque-turbine 335d we cherished for a year in our long-term fleet, this 184-hp four feels crude and slow (it's rated at 7.6 seconds to 60, versus our long termer's 5.8). It never hides its dieselness, sounding and feeling a bit rough at idle. The car shakes when the engine starts and when it shuts off (at every stoplight unless you disable auto start-stop), and the throttle response of this variable-nozzle single-scroll turbo is nowhere near as linear and predictable as that of the N20 gas turbo engine in the 328i"

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1111_2012_bmw_328i_first_drive/index.html

What do Americans know about diesel engines in fairness?320d is probably one of the best. Imagine what the reviewer would think of VAG's 1.9TDI...:eek:

The reviews at autocar have been going downhill I feel for quite sometime now. They just say the same thing about most of the car's and it would appear nearly every Ford and BMW are the best car's in the world the way they rant about them.

They also just say the same old crap about Alfa's every time they test one.

Mena

I may be outnumbered here, but all I can say is:

Zubeneschamali

166man wrote: »

What do Americans know about diesel engines in fairness?

Nothing.

That's why they always notice how crap they are. We are all used to it, and don't mention it.

Pique

The steering of the 328i is so light and fingertip easy, the accelerator so delicate underfoot, the gearbox so smooth in its machinations, you almost feel like a passenger in the car as it wafts gracefully from one destination to the next. The four cylinder engine purrs gently in its low to mid ranges,

Huh ? 4-cyl 328 ?
Shurely shome mishtake ...

Eoin

But would the 335D not be a more relevant comparison to make to the 335i?

Are there no more petrol 4 pot 320s to compare the 320d to, or are they all discontinued?

Zubeneschamali

Pique wrote: »

Huh ? 4-cyl 328 ?
Shurely shome mishtake ...

Nope, the new 328 is a 320 turbo.

veetwin

pajo1981 wrote: »

There are plenty of other cars with less intrusive 4 cylinder diesels.

As a matter of interest what 4 cylinder diesels are less intrusive that BMW's?

Absurdum

pajo1981 wrote: »

If Superman drove a car, in fact, he’d probably drive a new BMW 320d.

:rolleyes:

Because be in no doubt, a new world leader has arrived – and it may take a while for the others to catch up.

srsly, what an awful review...or should I say BMW Press Release

166man

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Nothing.

That's why they always notice how crap they are. We are all used to it, and don't mention it.

Exactly so comparing what Europeans think of a car and the Americans is like comparing chalk and cheese. They're used to silky smooth V8's etc.

They should compare the 335D to the 335i too!

And yes the 328i is a four cylinder turbo annoyingly. No more N/A BMW straight six, they're trademark engine.

Pique

No more N/A BMW straight six.

I just died a little inside

166man

Pique wrote: »

I just died a little inside

That's as far as I know anyway, I think they are still in the Z4 but will be eventually phased out for four cylinder turbo's. N/A straight six not in 3 series anyway anymore. Maybe somebody who knows more than I do can confirm this?

pajo1981

veetwin wrote: »

As a matter of interest what 4 cylinder diesels are less intrusive that BMW's?

Almost anything.

Mounting the engines further back in the bay is great for weight distribution/moment of inertia etc..., but makes for a very diesely cab at low revs.

si_guru

pajo1981 wrote: »

Almost anything.

Mounting the engines further back in the bay is great for weight distribution/moment of inertia etc..., but makes for a very diesely cab at low revs.

The VW T25 1.5D NA was less intrusive.

bazz26

Anan1 wrote: »

In fairness, the E30 was a handsome car. I think time will be kind to the E90/91 too, although not the E92/93.

I agree, I think my E90 has aged well :

166man

bazz26 wrote: »

I agree, I think my E90 has aged well :

Time has been kind to the E90 and E60, although the E90 needs nice wheels, are those the special edition wheels for the 3-Series Bazz? Remember seeing a car with them, quite rare too. Lovely motor all the same!

si_guru

Sorry guys the but the E28 wins all beauty contests!

pajo1981

E90 looks best with 17s. Anything bigger is erring on juvenile.

Also, mud guards look good.

bazz26

166man wrote: »

Time has been kind to the E90 and E60, although the E90 needs nice wheels, are those the special edition wheels for the 3-Series Bazz? Remember seeing a car with them, quite rare too. Lovely motor all the same!

Yes, they were a limited run back in 2008 before the LCI facelift model arrived. Alloys are Based on the rims used by the WTCC Motor Sport 3 Series at the time.

CoDy1

F-30 Msport:









http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/01/11/brussels-2012-bmw-335i-m-sport/?pid=42845&gallery=3774#tp

pippip

that straight line on the front of the bonnet above the badge would bug the crap out of me.

still would buy one if i had the money!;)