The car is fantastic and seems to get better and better. If I can save one dad who loves driving and who needs a car to lug a couple of kids and all their stuff from buying an SUV, this post will have done it's job.
Powertrain/handling/fun
The best turbo 4 you can buy. End of story. Full of character, loves to be revved, rewards you for doing so and still sips fuel when you lay off it. Mine is tuned which results in a silly amount of power for a family car, stock is more than enough, but tuned is better... :D I often let other people in if I'm near the tail of merging traffic so I can have a long run up to the freeway and keep the revs over 5k.
I love the diesel like clatter and grumbly exhaust when it's cold. When it's warm you go from a throaty purr at low rpm to a growl and then a loud, flat snarl at WOT. The gearbox is still only ok. I want a dual clutch. With it, this car would be almost unbeatable as a daily driver.
You have enough power (tuned) to easily be the fastest thing you'll see all day. In a wagon body, it's a deadset sleeper. Very little will keep up with you and most of what does will disappear at the first corner. The default cornering behaviour is very neutral in all modes. When out of sport and sport+ the electronic aids intervene only to maintain that neutrality, mostly by cutting power and/or braking a wheel. In sport+ and with everything off (not recommended, more on that later) you can trail brake into a corner and point it at the exit, or you can steer it with the throttle, or you can be an absolute hooligan if you want to.
I think that sport+ is better than everything off mostly because the car has so much grip and stability that you need the e-diff working to rotate it smoothly, well at least I do, because I'm not prepared to drive in a way that would do it on public roads. A mechanical diff would be better, but BMW know the 328i is the Cayman of the 3 series so we'll never get one to keep their higher range offerings safe. In sport+ the back is active and engaged at pretty much every level of traction, though you'll only go really sideways if it's wet.
Then you can put it all in Eco-Pro and take your in-laws to Bunnings while they natter about how comfortable it is, how well it rides and how they have so much legroom.
Practicality
Pretty much does everything. From hundreds of kilos of cement, roof sheets on the roof racks, Ikea crap, icecream (the little insulated compartment in the boot is perfect for cold things if you chuck an icepack in there).
Ownership experience
Other than random BMW haters, it's pretty awesome owning one. In 6 months I have only seen one other F31 328i M-Sport (in grey). I'm nearly due for the first service so I'll know more about the ownership side then. Any recommendations in Brisbane as to where to go?
Future plans
-Exhaust, leaning towards M-Perf
-Intercooler
-Sponge Bob Squarepants window blinds to increase the humiliation levels every time I toast a WRX or domestic V8. ;)
Powertrain/handling/fun
The best turbo 4 you can buy. End of story. Full of character, loves to be revved, rewards you for doing so and still sips fuel when you lay off it. Mine is tuned which results in a silly amount of power for a family car, stock is more than enough, but tuned is better... :D I often let other people in if I'm near the tail of merging traffic so I can have a long run up to the freeway and keep the revs over 5k.
I love the diesel like clatter and grumbly exhaust when it's cold. When it's warm you go from a throaty purr at low rpm to a growl and then a loud, flat snarl at WOT. The gearbox is still only ok. I want a dual clutch. With it, this car would be almost unbeatable as a daily driver.
You have enough power (tuned) to easily be the fastest thing you'll see all day. In a wagon body, it's a deadset sleeper. Very little will keep up with you and most of what does will disappear at the first corner. The default cornering behaviour is very neutral in all modes. When out of sport and sport+ the electronic aids intervene only to maintain that neutrality, mostly by cutting power and/or braking a wheel. In sport+ and with everything off (not recommended, more on that later) you can trail brake into a corner and point it at the exit, or you can steer it with the throttle, or you can be an absolute hooligan if you want to.
I think that sport+ is better than everything off mostly because the car has so much grip and stability that you need the e-diff working to rotate it smoothly, well at least I do, because I'm not prepared to drive in a way that would do it on public roads. A mechanical diff would be better, but BMW know the 328i is the Cayman of the 3 series so we'll never get one to keep their higher range offerings safe. In sport+ the back is active and engaged at pretty much every level of traction, though you'll only go really sideways if it's wet.
Then you can put it all in Eco-Pro and take your in-laws to Bunnings while they natter about how comfortable it is, how well it rides and how they have so much legroom.
Practicality
Pretty much does everything. From hundreds of kilos of cement, roof sheets on the roof racks, Ikea crap, icecream (the little insulated compartment in the boot is perfect for cold things if you chuck an icepack in there).
Ownership experience
Other than random BMW haters, it's pretty awesome owning one. In 6 months I have only seen one other F31 328i M-Sport (in grey). I'm nearly due for the first service so I'll know more about the ownership side then. Any recommendations in Brisbane as to where to go?
Future plans
-Exhaust, leaning towards M-Perf
-Intercooler
-Sponge Bob Squarepants window blinds to increase the humiliation levels every time I toast a WRX or domestic V8. ;)
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