[axztx]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

The N20 will be tunable upwards of 300 hp. The N52? Not so much. Something to consider if you're ever side by side with an F30 at a stop light.

It's not really about hp for me, I did go from a 330i to 328xi so the drop in power was noticeable but not a deal breaker for me. I like my e92 because to me it's fun to drive and the handling makes up for the lack of hp. The F30 328 Luxury Line is not much fun to drive to me. The Sport Line I'm sure has better handling but the steering and suspension feel in the Luxury Line 328 is not for me.

Hopefully the F32 has a more appealing design, because I'll be looking in 5+ years to move into a CPO BMW but after driving the F30 328 4 cylinder automatic I know I'll have to move up to the 335 or maybe over to a 1 series - but definitely not a 4 cylinder.

[Bimmer100_]

I didn't want to make a new thread but I took my car back into service and was given a 2011 BMW 335i AT. My initial impressions is that I will NEVER buy an automatic sports car. I have heard countless times on this board that the AT on the 335i was great, etc. Its horrible, shifts are slow using the paddles. Basically its no different than the 2011 Camry with paddles that I was given a week before. Next, the N55 is not for me. I don't know what exactly it is, but the lag on the car is horrible...I am hoping that sometime in the near future I will be able to test out a 335i with DCT equipped..

[The X Men]

BMW is pretty new to this electric steering concept, give them a few more years to tune the steering feel.

[rondocap]

I like the gear change lever much more, looks updated compared to the E90 which looks like it came from a rental car.

The heads up display is definitely super cool, and overall I like the interior. I'd prefer to remove that red accent line in the interior, though - maybe aluminum or black looks better.

It was a nice car to drive, but definitely pales in comparison to a 335i. (E90 or F30)

[WingZeroX5]

the interior looks like windows vista vs windows 7

IMO the e90's nav screen with the overhead covering is better

everything else seems like a larger "icon," esp the radio. I prefer the old radio style rectangular buttons. Steering wheel buttons are the same, except for the thumb scrolls. Meh...

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

The N20 will be tunable upwards of 300 hp. The N52? Not so much. Something to consider if you're ever side by side with an F30 at a stop light.

And there goes the MPGs....

What's the point?

[MikeR1994]

I get a 335d every time and so does everybody I know who goes to my dealership. Could just be luck though. Trading my 325 in for a 255hp, 425tq version for the day is quite nice. haha

[SaMaster14]

Originally Posted by bwsteg

I didn't want to make a new thread but I took my car back into service and was given a 2011 BMW 335i AT. My initial impressions is that I will NEVER buy an automatic sports car. I have heard countless times on this board that the AT on the 335i was great, etc. Its horrible, shifts are slow using the paddles. Basically its no different than the 2011 Camry with paddles that I was given a week before. Next, the N55 is not for me. I don't know what exactly it is, but the lag on the car is horrible...I am hoping that sometime in the near future I will be able to test out a 335i with DCT equipped..

335is? Shifts are awesome. Super quick.
I've never driven a normal 335i, but my G37S sedan had paddle shifters and the shifts were pretty slow. Nothing like the 335iS at all. Different worlds.

[Bimmer100_]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

335is? Shifts are awesome. Super quick.
I've never driven a normal 335i, but my G37S sedan had paddle shifters and the shifts were pretty slow. Nothing like the 335iS at all. Different worlds.

I haven't driven a DCT equipped vehicle yet. I can't believe so many on this forum praised the steptronic saying the shifts were quick. Its no quicker than a 2011 camry and nothing like a MT...

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by bwsteg

I haven't driven a DCT equipped vehicle yet. I can't believe so many on this forum praised the steptronic saying the shifts were quick. Its no quicker than a 2011 camry and nothing like a MT...

I've never driven a Camry, but my understanding is that the 11 SE auto is the same as found in Lexus. Then again, I've never driven a Lexus, so I can't account for experience, only that the transmission is not necessarily bottom of the barrel.

Regarding the ZF in the 335, it's about as good as it gets for an automatic transmission, and certainly shifts more smoothly than about 99% of those who drive a manual, myself included.

You must be the 1%!

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by ENINTY

And there goes the MPGs....

What's the point?

The point is you have the flexibility to increase the HP if desired, which the OP stated lack of improvement as an issue.

Everyone talks a good game about MPG, but when comes to putting their money where their mouth is, we prefer performance over economy.

[eric@helix]

Very interesting reading. We have a 328 on order for parts development, and I'm very curious (not having driven one) what the experience will be like. For me, the mileage was a big draw for the car. I love the idea of a car capable of 36 mpg (driven conservatively) and tune-able to 300 hp. Now that the EPA has weighted in on actual mileage, the luster has tarnished. The proof will be in the pudding.

[gunnerxq]

Originally Posted by axztx

I own a e92 328xi and previous car was e90 330i. I know the new 328i has a turbo but honestly it sounds and feels like all the other 4 cylinder cars I've driven as rentals - Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, etc.

I've only driven the loaner for a couple miles but my first impression is that this engine is nowhere close to either of my N52 cars. My e92 is in for service today so hopefully it won't be done until tomorrow - I'd like to drive this F30 home (50 mile drive from work) and really get a feel for it but first impression is not good. I've got to open it up on the highway before I make final judgement.

Why did you downgrade cars? You went from a 330i to a 328xi which has 25 less Hp and is a lot heavier. I mean come on why do you need awd? You live in NJ just put on some winter tires if you are that worried. I know its a coupe but still...

[BMWFanatic2008]

Originally Posted by axztx

It's not really about hp for me, I did go from a 330i to 328xi so the drop in power was noticeable but not a deal breaker for me. I like my e92 because to me it's fun to drive and the handling makes up for the lack of hp. The F30 328 Luxury Line is not much fun to drive to me. The Sport Line I'm sure has better handling but the steering and suspension feel in the Luxury Line 328 is not for me.

Hopefully the F32 has a more appealing design, because I'll be looking in 5+ years to move into a CPO BMW but after driving the F30 328 4 cylinder automatic I know I'll have to move up to the 335 or maybe over to a 1 series - but definitely not a 4 cylinder.

I drove both E9x 328 and F30 328 and felt that N20 is peppier (I did drive it in Sport mode, but what's wrong with that?) As far as the handling goes, Sport Line makes a big difference and is the way to go. Also, AT in F30 is way ahead of AT in E9x 328.

[axztx]

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

Why did you downgrade cars? You went from a 330i to a 328xi which has 25 less Hp and is a lot heavier. I mean come on why do you need awd? You live in NJ just put on some winter tires if you are that worried. I know its a coupe but still...

I couldn't find a CPO 328i coupe with sport package within 100 mile radius at the time I was looking. Didn't really need the xi but after driving 100 miles/day in 2 horrible winters in the 330i (which was terrible in the snow) I thought the xi couldn't hurt. And after owning a pre-LCI sedan I didn't want to own another one. This car is my daily driver so I'm not hung up on hp #s - I'm happy with 230 hp for the driving I do. Considering I wrapped the 330i around a telephone pole I thought a downgrade in power was a good thing for me.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

The point is you have the flexibility to increase the HP if desired, which the OP stated lack of improvement as an issue.

Everyone talks a good game about MPG, but when comes to putting their money where their mouth is, we prefer performance over economy.

Well not me. I like a balance. My 325i is a daily driver and has a good blend of performance and fuel mileage (I've averaged 27 MPG over 171,000 miles). There is always something faster regardless of tune...

[E90_boostjunky]

Originally Posted by rondocap

The last loaner I got was a brand new 2011 335ix M Sport, fully loaded with navigation and everything. Car had 150 miles when I got it!

Before that, a 2011 335ix coupe. Also fully loaded. I can't wait to get an F30 as a loaner!

LUCKY!!

[JustinGTP]

I have a 2012 320i as a loaner which does not compare to my E90 LCI 335i.

But, based on the car itself, the auto start/stop engine is interesting, what happens when the car is old and it takes 30 seconds for the engine to finally catch? It's awkward for it to be constantly turning on and off, what about wear and tear?

I find that the left mirror is too weird. It doesnt come in to the right enough and it has too many angles/convex weirdness going on.

I want my 335i back

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by axztx

I own a e92 328xi and previous car was e90 330i. I know the new 328i has a turbo but honestly it sounds and feels like all the other 4 cylinder cars I've driven as rentals - Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, etc.

I've only driven the loaner for a couple miles but my first impression is that this engine is nowhere close to either of my N52 cars. My e92 is in for service today so hopefully it won't be done until tomorrow - I'd like to drive this F30 home (50 mile drive from work) and really get a feel for it but first impression is not good. I've got to open it up on the highway before I make final judgement.

I believe its faster and uses less fuel than your 328. More tq for sure. They sound different and power comes on differently. I'd take the new one over a 328 i6 ANY day.

[axztx]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

I believe its faster and uses less fuel than your 328. More tq for sure. They sound different and power comes on differently. I'd take the new one over a 328 i6 ANY day.

I agree with you on the power/tq and fuel economy but if I was hung up on on those numbers I'd buy a Mustang GT or something else like it. For me it's about having fun driving/road feel on my long commute and the new 328 (luxury line) didn't have what I was expecting.
I so wanted to like the F30 and was pretty stoked when my SA gave it to me as a loaner but the steering alone killed it for me among other things. I posted a detailed review in this post after driving it 100 miles but that's just my opinion.

[Nalod]

My 2010 5 speed tiptronic A4 avant 2.0 with 17in wheels gets real world 27mpg.

my 2007 e92 MT 6peed with n52 and 18in wheels gets real world 23mpg.

17% better.

Performance 0-60 on the avant is 6.4 vs 6.0 on the BMW. Audi is heavier and has quattro.

I think the Audi would do better without the quattro.

Engine sound: Audi sounds like shit compared to the N52.

Manual 2013 0-60 328 with N20 is 5.5 seconds!

And it will get 15-20% better MPG in a bigger car?

The sound is a small price to pay for better performance and effiecency! Sounds like PROGRESS!

[Scootguy58]

I had the 2013 "x328" (?) as a loaner for the weekend as the E93 was in the shop for the first service and a "shaking and squeaking on shutdown" (anyone else?) Since they needed more time to asses the problem, I was able to keep the loaner for the weekend and spend some serious time with it in traffic and on the highway.
So, my impression of the four banger is not especially great, but not bad either.
First order of business is the auto shut-down. I was not prepared to actually use it, but as I sat in traffic..three hours to do a two hour trip...I gave it a shot. It is not smooth on start-up. The creepiest part is when it senses that the A/C needs a boost and starts up just as you are beginning to "doze" as the traffic is at a standstill. I know, it can be shut down and it was over the course of the weekend.
Second irk: The boys really need to work on the shift map in the Eco mode. The thing wants to be in 7-8 all the time. This engine does not have the spunk to produce a vibration free ride at low speeds.
Now the Sport mode: In that mode we are talking about a whole new experience. Switch the shifter over to M and go to work! Yep, that's the spirit! No, it is not the sound of the beloved six, but it will do.
Here's the thing..Is this the same engine going into the 5 series?
If it is, it's really going to be a slug in eco/comfort, IMO.
(65 years old, going on 30)