[luckybeard]

Hey guys!
I am pretty excited cause tomorrow I am picking up my new car, 2011 BMW 328i in great shape and low miles.
Strange enough I used to have F10 328i before, which I sold a while ago and been driving toyota for a while.
I liked F30, but I also always liked E90. Now I was about to buy a car and I was thinking a lot, considering 2,3,4 and 5 series. But I didn't want to buy the same car again, so finally I found this fresh E90 and decided to get it.
I only noticed so far that steering is much more hard, but I think I will get used to it.
I just wanted to ask if any of you guys went from F30 to E90? And if yes how do you feel about it?

[MSCD]

I have an E93 and an F31 (both 328i). Both are dramatically different. The electric steering on the F series is much lighter in any mode and the turbo has a quicker pickup.

The engine sounds better on the E9* due to the 6 cylinder. The interior seems better quality in the E93 as well. I have integrated nav which looks better to me.

The E90 is probably the better drivers car overall but I love my F31 for daily duties.

I have real leather in the convertible and fake in the F but MSport somewhat makes up for that.

The E90 is the last 3 that is normally aspirated as well.... is 328i guise.

Enjoy!

[luckybeard]

Thanks MSCD for your perspective!

My new E90 will have more options that I had in my F30. It has nav and also I can stream music through a bluetooth (I missed this feature I was really surprised when I found out F30 can't do that if does not have a nav). Also even this E90 does not have harman/kardon sound, it has tweeeters in front doors and sounds much better that F30 premium. Man, I can't wait to have fun with this car!

[BimmerNugget]

Originally Posted by luckybeard

Thanks MSCD for your perspective!

My new E90 will have more options that I had in my F30. It has nav and also I can stream music through a bluetooth (I missed this feature I was really surprised when I found out F30 can't do that if does not have a nav). Also even this E90 does not have harman/kardon sound, it has tweeeters in front doors and sounds much better that F30 premium. Man, I can't wait to have fun with this car!

...You CAN stream music through bluetooth on an F30 without nav...

I have a 2011 328i, my girlfriend has an F30 328i so I have access to both cars. AND trust me you absolutely can stream music though bluetooth in an F30 without navigation.

On another note, I like my E90 alot more than her F30. F30 feels huge, soft, wallowy, and steering is way too light (even in sport mode). The only good thing about the F30 328i is the peppy engine and the ZF 8 speed tranny. Feels significantly more powerful than an E90 328i and the 8 speed shifts much faster.

[luckybeard]

Thanks BimmerNugget. Well, may be some other option should be present, but my F30 for sure did not support BT audio streaming, only phone calls.

[toymaker]

Originally Posted by luckybeard

Hey guys!
I am pretty excited cause tomorrow I am picking up my new car, 2011 BMW 328i in great shape and low miles.

Great car :-) How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

[BimmerNugget]

Originally Posted by toymaker

Great car :-) How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

He said "great shape" and "low miles" so assuming 40k miles and no recorded accidents. I would say he paid cash price before tax & fees of $14,500

If he financed the vehicle, I would say $13,200 before tax & fees.

The Manheim 30 day MMR on a vehicle with similar conditions is about $9700 +/- $600 adjustment for location and desirable options/colors.

[toymaker]

Good to know. My car has 30000 miles and is pristine.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

I've gone from an F30 loaner back to my E90 a fair amount of times. Here's my perspective:

- The F30 has a more refined interior
- BMW clearly spent a great deal of time focusing technology and connectivity, which they have to do in order to remain relevant in the 21st century
- The sport steering wheel is a softer leather
- The actual steering response is lightning quick as expected, but the feel is too light
- If I put the car in Sport mode, the steering feel is weighted a bit more
- The second I get back into my E90, I remember how much I missed the steering feel

The F30 is a great car, but they're missing such a crucial aspect: heavier steering. That's the biggest thing they need to do with the next car.

[luckybeard]

Originally Posted by toymaker

Great car :-) How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

It's 30k miles and 15,800. Very well kept, the best E90 I seen.

[Al_335xi]

I never drove the e9x 328 but the F10 328's I have multiple times. And currently own a E92 335, IMO it's way better. I love that hard steering.

[6ixSpd]

You’re going to enjoy the E90 328i much, much more in my opinion. It?s an amazing driver?s car that is perfectly suited to daily duties as well, not to mention far less expensive to maintain than any F30.

[TemjinX2]

i think the newer bmw designs have gotten uglier other then the new bmw M cars and the i8. I think that also one of the reason your starting to see older M cars starting to appreciate.

I kinda think BMW needs to go back to basics with there design.

[luckybeard]

Honestly I like how F30 looks only with M SPORT. It is one I used to have. The regular once, I just can't stand that front bumper.
E90 looks great without M SPORT as well.

Also weird observation: in my F30 I haven't had comfort access, so I had to pull out a key to open/close the car. This E90 has a comfort access option but you have to pull out a key anyway to insert it and start the engine. Damn.

[TemjinX2]

Originally Posted by luckybeard

Honestly I like how F30 looks only with M SPORT. It is one I used to have. The regular once, I just can't stand that front bumper.
E90 looks great without M SPORT as well.

Also weird observation: in my F30 I haven't had comfort access, so I had to pull out a key to open/close the car. This E90 has a comfort access option but you have to pull out a key anyway to insert it and start the engine. Damn.

i think the f30 has too many angular lines and creases for the regular 3 series. For the wide body M cars it flows better.

You can start the car without inserting the key if have comfort access. You might need a new battery for your key fob.

[luckybeard]

Originally Posted by TemjinX2

You can start the car without inserting the key if have comfort access.

Oh really? I just haven't tried it yet.
I still don't have a car.

[TemjinX2]

Originally Posted by luckybeard

Oh really? I just haven't tried it yet.
I still don't have a car.

Yup i do it every day... some times i do have to insert the key every now and then because i have metallic tint all around and it reduced the range of my comfort access.

[N52UNED]

Originally Posted by TemjinX2

i think the f30 has too many angular lines and creases for the regular 3 series. For the wide body M cars it flows better.

My thoughts exactly. I much prefer models of 2011 and prior.

[F30lolz]

I have. Purchased a new 2013 f30 328i back late March 2015 as it was sitting in the dealer lot garage for two years. Had 26 miles when I took deliver and they installed a new battery. In 14 months I put about 30K miles (took a few trips to Chicago and NY) and I did enjoy the car to a certain extent. Steering sucked, standard seats were uncomfortable and the overall driving experience was meh. I got rid of it May 2016 for my current E90 335i and would do it again.

[lab_rat]

I have owned both an F30 (320i) and an E90 (330i).

Both have their merits, but in the end, I still have the E90 and sold the F30.

I ordered the F30 exactly how I wanted it (Sport & Lighting packages, 6-speed manual, heated seats, sunroof). Honestly, it was a simple car, with just the 'essential' enthusiast options, and it was a fun (but sedate) daily driver. Not soul stirring, but I think its still better than 90% of cars on the road.

Even though it was nearly identical in size to the prior generation 5er, the sport suspension and chassis combo could still hustle pretty good IMO. I even liked (still like) the evolutionary styling direction-except for the fact the headlights now touch the grill. Otherwise, I like the exterior & interior design.

The E90 330i though...what a machine! Being slightly smaller and heavier overall curb weight makes it feel more substantial. Plus the more communicative feel of the hydraulic steering of the E90 makes for a much more enjoyable daily drive.

And maybe I'm biased, but I prefer the NA inline-6. While the DI turbo inline-4 is an efficient engine, I don't like the issues associated with DI, turbos, start/stop technology, etc. I'll keep my straight 6, thank you very much!

Some points I do concede to the F30 over the E90 as a daily:
1) bigger back seat.
The extra 2" of legroom in the back of the F30 made for a much more tolerable ride for my two teens, as opposed to the E90's slightly smaller backseat/head/legroom.
2) more robust plastics.
Although many complain about the plastics being "cheap looking" in the F30, they were an improvement over the peeling plastics in the E90 (door handles, center console, steering wheel cover, etc.)

I will drive my E90 until the wheels fall off...and most likely replace it with another. They are just that good IMO.

[luckybeard]

Wow thanks guys for all your comments, really enjoyed reading it!

[thakid22]

Originally Posted by luckybeard

Hey guys!
I am pretty excited cause tomorrow I am picking up my new car, 2011 BMW 328i in great shape and low miles.
Strange enough I used to have F10 328i before, which I sold a while ago and been driving toyota for a while.
I liked F30, but I also always liked E90. Now I was about to buy a car and I was thinking a lot, considering 2,3,4 and 5 series. But I didn't want to buy the same car again, so finally I found this fresh E90 and decided to get it.
I only noticed so far that steering is much more hard, but I think I will get used to it.
I just wanted to ask if any of you guys went from F30 to E90? And if yes how do you feel about it?

The E90 really outshines the F30 in several ways.
- The steering is very tight, weighty, and responsive.
- The Automatic transmission shift lever feels very nice moving through it's detents.
- The N52 is far more refined than the N2x
- The Suspension is more composed.

The F30...
- has more room.
- has better tech.
- has better throttle response.
- has AWESOME fuel efficiency.
- has a smoother ride quality.
- has a better interior design
- ZF8 is very well programmed
- SAT negates the need for Alpina flash

I loved my E90. I love the F30 as well. For the G30, I PRAY that BMW refines the suspension and steering from F30 levels. I'd also like to see them do away with the video arcade feeling shift lever. The operation is fine. It just feels flimsy when you move it. Maybe flimsy is the wrong word... It is more accurately described as "low-effort".

Just shifting to backing out of the driveway felt special in the E90, because the ZF6 mechanical shift lever felt so mechanical. It has a notchiness reminiscent of a manual shift lever. A very nice touch. That is the oddest thing that I miss from my e90. Enjoy it!