Now that we’re seeing a few more F36’s on the forum, i felt like posting a review after having mine for 5 months. My thoughts & opinions are coming from 7500 miles worth of driving and a wide range of weather, temperature, trips / routes, and a few mods here and there. This is my first BMW.
LEASING / BUYING PROCESS - Over the past year as my old lease expired, I set my mind towards getting into my first BMW. My wife always daily drives an SUV (currently a ’14 Jeep Rubicon 4 door), so I am pretty flexible in regards to body styles for my daily driver car. I was open to either new or used and willing to consider M cars, sedans, coupes, or a ‘vert even… it just had to be sporty. The package I fell in love with was the new F36 Gran Coupe. I loved that it was clearly not a 3 sedan (too common), the utility of the hatch, the N55 inline six, and the 8 speed sport transmission. I’ve also lusted after Carbon Black ever since a friend had a Carbon Black e46 M3 about 10 years ago. I didn’t have time to order a car (next time I will), but found a close match about 90 minutes away. My setup is a 435i rwd, 8 speed sport auto, M-sport non-DHP, regular brakes, 400m 18” wheels with runflats, technology (nav & HUD), premium (leather), Harmon Kardon, xenons, sunroof, and drivers assist (backup cam). My dealership experience during choosing the car & leasing was excellent. I expect my service & maintenance experience to be the same.
EXTERIOR / LOOKS
In my opinion, the 4 series is the best looking BMW currently on the road. The 1 & 2 series cars are too small & squashed for me. The 3 series is boring and everywhere. The F10 5 series can be a beautiful car, but a bit big for me. The 4 series is the perfect size. The F36 is low and wide, has hips, and sits with purpose. The car gets lots of positive comments and looks from up and down the automotive food chain.
Carbon Black changes from metallic navy blue in the sun, to deep purplish at dusk, to a beautiful wet black at night. The regular xenon lights look great. The rear is not it’s best angle, but mods have helped. My appearance upgrades are legal max tint, IND painted front reflectors, IND painted surround kidney grills, ECS spacers (10mm front / 15mm rear), M performance diffuser, cyba 3.5” black chrome exhaust tips, and I’m de-badged. The stock 435 exhaust tips are tiny. Cyba's tips fit perfectly and are a great size. Heads up though that the "black chrome" finish is really more of an industrial machine gun metal look, which I like. I have removed all the shiny chrome as there wasn’t much and it just didn’t look right. I will be adding 19” or 20” wheels in the spring (turning my current wheels into a winter setup). I am super bummed that I don’t have the M-sport brakes. The car could definitely use a drop, but I’m leased and a little hesitant. I might paint my rear diffuser and I’m also considering the M front lip and side blades.
INTERIOR & TECH - The interior is very good, but not great. I have one big complaint and a couple small ones. Let’s start with the good. Cabin lighting is classic BMW amber and the adjustable ambient lighting highlighting the doors & armrests are well done. The aluminum trim and piano black accents are quality. The M-sport wheel is a work of art. The thickness, nappa leather, and paddle layout is perfect. A flat bottom might look even cooler, but I’ve never had one and can’t really comment. The front is spacious and you sit INSIDE and low in the cockpit. The M door sills are stylish and go well with my upgraded pedals, M wheel, & alum trim.
The tech package screen is well done and has good configuration options. Buttons are where they should be and there aren’t too many as to be confusing. The 8 favorite buttons are awesome for storing music, NAV destinations, and phone numbers. The Harmon Kardon stereo upgrade sounds great (after tweaking the Logic 7 EQ) and is another must have option. Bluetooth and iPhone calling & music functionality work flawlessly and in high sound quality. The HUD is amazingly useful and has excellent NAV instructions. The HUD seemed like a cool toy during my test drive, but now I am a die hard everyday fan. NAV displays, functionality, and the whole iDrive system is excellent. I need to play more with BMW Connect app suite and Google Maps send-to-car functionality. The sport gauges for HP and TQ are a little silly to me on a non-M car. The interior is a well done mix of mostly sport, mostly tech, and just a little luxury (which can be improved with the full leather dash option). The back-up camera is great and a must-have on any car in my opinion. Front parking sensors and folding mirrors are useful & smart benefits for parking. I would really like to explore coding if I could find someone knowledgeable who could confidently code on a leased car.
The electric gate rear hatch is ridiculously useful. We took a 2-adult / 3-kid 1600 mile road trip to Hilton Head with TONS of bags & luggage arranged neatly in the back. With the rear seats folded down, storage is huge and rivals a wagon or small SUV. My interior mods are BMW all weather mats, knock-off aluminum pedals (i didn’t want to drill), and an invisicorded Passport Max radar which works perfectly.
Rear bucket-like seating room is okay. Two six foot adults can be comfortable on shorter trips. Headroom is more of an issue than leg room.
What’s not so great? Well, I do not like the sport seats at all. My biggest complaint is that the left thigh bolster digs uncomfortably into my leg. It feels as if my drivers seat is mis-aligned slightly pointed to the right/center of the car. I hope the seat alignment can be adjusted and I’ll be talking to the dealer about it this week. The seats are also uncomfortably firm. The Lexus IS350 F sport I test drove had amazing seats that were MUCH better. My other gripes are minor. The dual-zone climate control should have a SYCH button, but doesn’t. I can’t close my hatch with my key fob (but I think it can be coded). The interior hatch-release button is inconveniently located down by your left knee (it should be center dash or by the sunroof control). Getting golf clubs in the large but square shaped hatch is a trick. The interior panels & speaker grills could be a bit more solidly put together. The Harmon Kardon sounds excellent, but certain frequencies (like talk radio) cause tiny vibrations and interior panel noises.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE / ROAD MANNERS - This N55 engine, 8 speed sport auto, and M sport suspension all want to be pushed! BMW knows how to build an inline six and the N55 is powerful, smooth, efficient, and ready to play. (I can understand buying the 4 cyl turbo in a 2 series, but no way in anything bigger.) The stock exhaust is a little quiet, but it can sound quite good in the higher rpms. I can understand getting the MPPK and the MPE, but they aren't absolutely necessary.
As a daily commuter, i wish I had the DHP suspension because the passive M sport suspension on run-flats can be a little harsh. I’ll be getting rid of the run-flats in the spring and I expect that to be a big help. The transmission settings between ECO-Pro, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ are all useful and significantly different. Sport+ shifts are very quick and aggressive with subtle exhaust burbles/blips.
Road tripping from the midwest to Hilton Head, SC through the Smoky Mountains was fun. Depending on your mood and the roads, the car can take various personalities. It can extend its legs and tour at high speeds comfortably. You can also flip the car into Sport+, activate the paddles, and rip things up for awhile. Having DHP and replacing my run-flats would be nice here too, because extended periods on poorly surfaced highways can get a little harsh & bumpy.
The car comes alive on the curves and hills of isolated sweeping country backroads, as a BMW should. The wide power band can quickly and effortlessly put you 30+ mph over the speed limit in any situation. The rear wheel drive dynamics are fun and predictable. Steering is a little bit artificial and could use more feel, but it is razor precise in picking and holding lines. 8 speeds is not too many, … it’s just right actually. The sport auto & paddles shift extremely quickly and it never gets too hyper (you can approach 90mph in fourth gear). I do wish the HUD display showed your gear. The brakes are powerful & confident (still wish I had the M-sport brakes). The fixed M-sport suspension really shines during aggressive driving. Keeping the car in SPORT mode is a great setting for spirited driving in the rain, with traction control that keeps you out of the ditch. SPORT+ is good in the dry and you can press the traction button for 3 seconds to further disable electronic nannies. The more you push the car towards 9/10ths the more confident and rewarding it becomes. The tires are the weakest link stock, and they’ll be replaced in a few months. The wide split-zone NAV screen is awesome for long wandering drives through the country. I like to open two maps... a large zoomed-out view for knowing your general area, and a second zoomed-in view for street and highway names. I've found so many scenic twisty local backroads I never knew existed this way.
I have yet to drive in any real snow, but I'm sure with rwd and these tires I'm in a little bit of trouble. I plan on getting a set of dedicated snows for next winter. I drove once in ice and traction was really poor, but ECO-Pro mode helped.
SUMMARY - I am a very picky person and scrutinize my purchases & decisions. I really, really, really like my 435i F36. If I can fix/adjust the seating issue and find a great 19 or 20 inch wheel & tire option, I’ll love my F36. I think this is a truly great choice for my first BMW. I’m getting a complete mix of sport, luxury, and utility in one package at a price where nothing else really competes. Older people think it’s youthful and athletic and sporty. Younger people think it’s grown-up, classy, powerful, and luxurious. I think an M-version would kick the snot out of the new M3. If I had time to order my car car perfectly, I would’ve checked a few more option boxes like M-sport brakes, DHP, and probably the MPPK and MPE. I’m really enjoying my introduction to BMW and have 2.5 years left on my lease to figure out which one might be next!
LEASING / BUYING PROCESS - Over the past year as my old lease expired, I set my mind towards getting into my first BMW. My wife always daily drives an SUV (currently a ’14 Jeep Rubicon 4 door), so I am pretty flexible in regards to body styles for my daily driver car. I was open to either new or used and willing to consider M cars, sedans, coupes, or a ‘vert even… it just had to be sporty. The package I fell in love with was the new F36 Gran Coupe. I loved that it was clearly not a 3 sedan (too common), the utility of the hatch, the N55 inline six, and the 8 speed sport transmission. I’ve also lusted after Carbon Black ever since a friend had a Carbon Black e46 M3 about 10 years ago. I didn’t have time to order a car (next time I will), but found a close match about 90 minutes away. My setup is a 435i rwd, 8 speed sport auto, M-sport non-DHP, regular brakes, 400m 18” wheels with runflats, technology (nav & HUD), premium (leather), Harmon Kardon, xenons, sunroof, and drivers assist (backup cam). My dealership experience during choosing the car & leasing was excellent. I expect my service & maintenance experience to be the same.
EXTERIOR / LOOKS
In my opinion, the 4 series is the best looking BMW currently on the road. The 1 & 2 series cars are too small & squashed for me. The 3 series is boring and everywhere. The F10 5 series can be a beautiful car, but a bit big for me. The 4 series is the perfect size. The F36 is low and wide, has hips, and sits with purpose. The car gets lots of positive comments and looks from up and down the automotive food chain.
Carbon Black changes from metallic navy blue in the sun, to deep purplish at dusk, to a beautiful wet black at night. The regular xenon lights look great. The rear is not it’s best angle, but mods have helped. My appearance upgrades are legal max tint, IND painted front reflectors, IND painted surround kidney grills, ECS spacers (10mm front / 15mm rear), M performance diffuser, cyba 3.5” black chrome exhaust tips, and I’m de-badged. The stock 435 exhaust tips are tiny. Cyba's tips fit perfectly and are a great size. Heads up though that the "black chrome" finish is really more of an industrial machine gun metal look, which I like. I have removed all the shiny chrome as there wasn’t much and it just didn’t look right. I will be adding 19” or 20” wheels in the spring (turning my current wheels into a winter setup). I am super bummed that I don’t have the M-sport brakes. The car could definitely use a drop, but I’m leased and a little hesitant. I might paint my rear diffuser and I’m also considering the M front lip and side blades.
INTERIOR & TECH - The interior is very good, but not great. I have one big complaint and a couple small ones. Let’s start with the good. Cabin lighting is classic BMW amber and the adjustable ambient lighting highlighting the doors & armrests are well done. The aluminum trim and piano black accents are quality. The M-sport wheel is a work of art. The thickness, nappa leather, and paddle layout is perfect. A flat bottom might look even cooler, but I’ve never had one and can’t really comment. The front is spacious and you sit INSIDE and low in the cockpit. The M door sills are stylish and go well with my upgraded pedals, M wheel, & alum trim.
The tech package screen is well done and has good configuration options. Buttons are where they should be and there aren’t too many as to be confusing. The 8 favorite buttons are awesome for storing music, NAV destinations, and phone numbers. The Harmon Kardon stereo upgrade sounds great (after tweaking the Logic 7 EQ) and is another must have option. Bluetooth and iPhone calling & music functionality work flawlessly and in high sound quality. The HUD is amazingly useful and has excellent NAV instructions. The HUD seemed like a cool toy during my test drive, but now I am a die hard everyday fan. NAV displays, functionality, and the whole iDrive system is excellent. I need to play more with BMW Connect app suite and Google Maps send-to-car functionality. The sport gauges for HP and TQ are a little silly to me on a non-M car. The interior is a well done mix of mostly sport, mostly tech, and just a little luxury (which can be improved with the full leather dash option). The back-up camera is great and a must-have on any car in my opinion. Front parking sensors and folding mirrors are useful & smart benefits for parking. I would really like to explore coding if I could find someone knowledgeable who could confidently code on a leased car.
The electric gate rear hatch is ridiculously useful. We took a 2-adult / 3-kid 1600 mile road trip to Hilton Head with TONS of bags & luggage arranged neatly in the back. With the rear seats folded down, storage is huge and rivals a wagon or small SUV. My interior mods are BMW all weather mats, knock-off aluminum pedals (i didn’t want to drill), and an invisicorded Passport Max radar which works perfectly.
Rear bucket-like seating room is okay. Two six foot adults can be comfortable on shorter trips. Headroom is more of an issue than leg room.
What’s not so great? Well, I do not like the sport seats at all. My biggest complaint is that the left thigh bolster digs uncomfortably into my leg. It feels as if my drivers seat is mis-aligned slightly pointed to the right/center of the car. I hope the seat alignment can be adjusted and I’ll be talking to the dealer about it this week. The seats are also uncomfortably firm. The Lexus IS350 F sport I test drove had amazing seats that were MUCH better. My other gripes are minor. The dual-zone climate control should have a SYCH button, but doesn’t. I can’t close my hatch with my key fob (but I think it can be coded). The interior hatch-release button is inconveniently located down by your left knee (it should be center dash or by the sunroof control). Getting golf clubs in the large but square shaped hatch is a trick. The interior panels & speaker grills could be a bit more solidly put together. The Harmon Kardon sounds excellent, but certain frequencies (like talk radio) cause tiny vibrations and interior panel noises.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE / ROAD MANNERS - This N55 engine, 8 speed sport auto, and M sport suspension all want to be pushed! BMW knows how to build an inline six and the N55 is powerful, smooth, efficient, and ready to play. (I can understand buying the 4 cyl turbo in a 2 series, but no way in anything bigger.) The stock exhaust is a little quiet, but it can sound quite good in the higher rpms. I can understand getting the MPPK and the MPE, but they aren't absolutely necessary.
As a daily commuter, i wish I had the DHP suspension because the passive M sport suspension on run-flats can be a little harsh. I’ll be getting rid of the run-flats in the spring and I expect that to be a big help. The transmission settings between ECO-Pro, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ are all useful and significantly different. Sport+ shifts are very quick and aggressive with subtle exhaust burbles/blips.
Road tripping from the midwest to Hilton Head, SC through the Smoky Mountains was fun. Depending on your mood and the roads, the car can take various personalities. It can extend its legs and tour at high speeds comfortably. You can also flip the car into Sport+, activate the paddles, and rip things up for awhile. Having DHP and replacing my run-flats would be nice here too, because extended periods on poorly surfaced highways can get a little harsh & bumpy.
The car comes alive on the curves and hills of isolated sweeping country backroads, as a BMW should. The wide power band can quickly and effortlessly put you 30+ mph over the speed limit in any situation. The rear wheel drive dynamics are fun and predictable. Steering is a little bit artificial and could use more feel, but it is razor precise in picking and holding lines. 8 speeds is not too many, … it’s just right actually. The sport auto & paddles shift extremely quickly and it never gets too hyper (you can approach 90mph in fourth gear). I do wish the HUD display showed your gear. The brakes are powerful & confident (still wish I had the M-sport brakes). The fixed M-sport suspension really shines during aggressive driving. Keeping the car in SPORT mode is a great setting for spirited driving in the rain, with traction control that keeps you out of the ditch. SPORT+ is good in the dry and you can press the traction button for 3 seconds to further disable electronic nannies. The more you push the car towards 9/10ths the more confident and rewarding it becomes. The tires are the weakest link stock, and they’ll be replaced in a few months. The wide split-zone NAV screen is awesome for long wandering drives through the country. I like to open two maps... a large zoomed-out view for knowing your general area, and a second zoomed-in view for street and highway names. I've found so many scenic twisty local backroads I never knew existed this way.
I have yet to drive in any real snow, but I'm sure with rwd and these tires I'm in a little bit of trouble. I plan on getting a set of dedicated snows for next winter. I drove once in ice and traction was really poor, but ECO-Pro mode helped.
SUMMARY - I am a very picky person and scrutinize my purchases & decisions. I really, really, really like my 435i F36. If I can fix/adjust the seating issue and find a great 19 or 20 inch wheel & tire option, I’ll love my F36. I think this is a truly great choice for my first BMW. I’m getting a complete mix of sport, luxury, and utility in one package at a price where nothing else really competes. Older people think it’s youthful and athletic and sporty. Younger people think it’s grown-up, classy, powerful, and luxurious. I think an M-version would kick the snot out of the new M3. If I had time to order my car car perfectly, I would’ve checked a few more option boxes like M-sport brakes, DHP, and probably the MPPK and MPE. I’m really enjoying my introduction to BMW and have 2.5 years left on my lease to figure out which one might be next!
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