The steering of the 328i is so light and fingertip easy

Is this cause for concern?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...s-320d/260112/

"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."

Not sure I want to "waft" anywhere.

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

It sounds like selecting sport mode tightens up the steering feel as well?

Originally Posted by 3284me

It sounds like selecting sport mode tightens up the steering feel as well?

Yes. I've read this in several of the reviews so it appears to be accurate.

Originally Posted by 3284me

It sounds like selecting sport mode tightens up the steering feel as well?

Yes, but it also makes it fruitier. Not like a persimmon, more like a banana or kumquat. Seriously though, what does it mean to make a traction control system "fruitier"? Does it heighten or lessen the intrusiveness?

Originally Posted by bm323

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

Originally Posted by 3284me

It sounds like selecting sport mode tightens up the steering feel as well?

Phew!

You can get crisp, tight steering response in any Japanese car.

My personal concern is whether that Germanic feel for the road is still transmitted to your hands. FWIW, this characteristic is not dependent on sport vs. comfort. The E39 (6 cyl models) had gobs of road feel.

Originally Posted by RadioWave

Yes, but it also makes it fruitier. Not like a persimmon, more like a banana or kumquat. Seriously though, what does it mean to make a traction control system "fruitier"? Does it heighten or lessen the intrusiveness?

I think it must be a Brit term.

i get tons of sharp steering responses, road feel, and no traction control... watch out!! my technology is super out of date and it requires a true driver behind the wheel.








i know what bmw is trying to do, and i dont like it..

Since you have EPS of course when you switch modes you get different tunings. Even GM does this on Opel cars.

Europeans love "Driver Mode Control."

Watch the video. He elaborates more on the steering.

Originally Posted by xclozano

Watch the video. He elaborates more on the steering.

I watched it, just sounded too good to be taken seriously.

Good question, why is it a good thing to have such a light steering wheel in a 3?

Almost feel like a passenger? WTF was that? Why do I want to feel like a passenger? I hate being a passenger

Originally Posted by Robert A

Is this cause for concern?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...s-320d/260112/

"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."

This is what I've been predicting: each successive generation of the 3 Series sedan is bringing it closer to family sedan status and further away from sport sedan designation.

"The steering of the 328i is so light.... you almost feel like a passenger in the car."

Seems like with the F30, BMW may just have created the best family sedan out there.

As for me, assuming Autocar's review is confirmed, I will be looking elsewhere for my next car, as this kind of BMW sedan doesn't interest me. Sad.

Originally Posted by hpowders

This is what I've been predicting: each successive generation of the 3 Series sedan is bringing it closer to family sedan status and further away from sport sedan designation.

"The steering of the 328i is so light.... you almost feel like a passenger in the car."

Seems like with the F30, BMW may just have created the best family sedan out there.

As for me, assuming Autocar's review is confirmed, I will be looking elsewhere for my next car, as this kind of BMW sedan doesn't interest me. Sad.

Why take just that statement, and ignore this statement in the very next paragraph of the review?

"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,.."

Originally Posted by hpowders

...Seems like with the F30, BMW may just have created the best family sedan out there.

Think of it the other way around: with every generation, BMW is bringing the qualities of the best sports sedan/coupe closer to use as a family sedan/coupe.

Originally Posted by 7or8

Why take just that statement, and ignore this statement in the very next paragraph of the review?

"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,.."

Well for one thing, I just get into my E90 and drive. Nothing to change. The steering's perfect.
Why change something that doesn't need to be changed? Why make driving more complicated under the guise of "high-tech"?

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Think of it the other way around: with every generation, BMW is bringing the qualities of the best sports sedan/coupe closer to use as a family sedan/coupe.

I've been saying for a long time on E9x that with each successive generation, the 3 Series is being gradually transformed from enthusiast's sport sedan of choice into an upscale family sedan with a bit of sport.

Originally Posted by hpowders

I've been saying for a long time on E9x that with each successive generation, the 3 Series is being gradually transformed from enthusiast's sport sedan of choice into an upscale family sedan with a bit of sport.

Except all of the car magazines say it is the sport sedan of choice and is even better at this than the newer Audi A4. The e9X is still the standard and the reviews of the F30 seem to say that the new model is even better. You and others seem to dislike that there are added luxury and electronic features. These do not reduce the driving dynamics.

Originally Posted by hpowders

..Why change something that doesn't need to be changed?

Seems like all manufacturers feel they need to change to electronic steering to keep up CAFE goals.

Trust me, I don't like this side effect of CAFE. I'd be happiest if the options where: Sport, Sport+ and 'go-kart'. I love to feel everything happening under my tires.

Originally Posted by 7or8

Seems like all manufacturers feel they need to change to electronic steering to keep up CAFE goals.

Trust me, I don't like this side effect of CAFE. I'd be happiest if the options where: Sport, Sport+ and 'go-kart'. I love to feel everything happening under my tires.

BMW's steering is wonderful in the E90-consistently heavy, no matter what the speed. There was no need to modify it.

Originally Posted by hpowders

BMW's steering is wonderful in the E90-consistently heavy, no matter what the speed. There was no need to modify it.

Yeah except that the fuel economy standards (CAFE) are making all manufactures feel they have to go eps. CAFE sets rules as to where manufacturers need to be a few years down the line as far as fuel economy. BMW, Porsche, and others have to start finding ways to meet those goals now, so they're not left scrambling last minute. Hydraulic systems are more fuel thirsty, so they're moving away from them. Why else would Porsche go that route? Not cause they wanted to.

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Except all of the car magazines say it is the sport sedan of choice and is even better at this than the newer Audi A4. The e9X is still the standard and the reviews of the F30 seem to say that the new model is even better. You and others seem to dislike that there are added luxury and electronic features. These do not reduce the driving dynamics.

What other reviews say the F30 is better than the e90?

I don't think BMW is trying to hide the fact that they are shifting the feel of their cars from sport to luxury, even if it is ever so slightly, this is the trend.

Does anyone dispute that?

Check out Edmunds long term review of the 528...along with every other review...its just less sporty (and more luxury) than it was...not necessarily a bad thing....depends upon which side of the fence you are on

Originally Posted by tagheuer

What other reviews say the F30 is better than the e90?

Autoexpress.com
Turn into a corner, and it's clear the 3 Series has lost none of its poise and precision. With a perfectly balanced rear-wheel-drive chassis, strong grip, well weighted controls and direct steering, it's still the top choice for keen drivers.


Even this issue fails to undermine the achievements of the new 3 Series. Its predecessor was still the class benchmark after six years in production, yet the newcomer improves on it in nearly every area. On this showing it's going to take something very special to knock the BMW off the top step of the podium


whatcar.com
The result is a perfectly balanced car that's a joy to drive..

On the road, all those same traits were displayed, and we have no doubt that this new 3 Series is the best car in its class to drive.

Should I buy one? It shows just how dominant the current 3 Series is that the only car the new model has to beat is its predecessor – and that it does.

Autocar:
Should I buy one?
Because be in no doubt, a new world leader has arrived – and it may take a while for the others to catch up.

Autoblog.com
One key to determining where this car fits on our love scale of one to ten is how it enters and exits these Catalan curves at speed... the 328i did everything we asked of it, exceeding its job description and doing it noticeably better than an E90 could.

In our case, the combination of an M Sport adaptive suspension that snugs the chassis four-tenths of an inch closer to the road plus the improved sport steering assured that this is the finest 328i we've ever driven. We didn't have all its competitors handy for a comparison, but this 328i Sport Line is easily one of the best non-M/AMG/RS etc. drives – if not the best – that we've ever had in this class.


Automobile mag:
We have no such reservations about the suspension, which exhibits all the athleticism we've come to expect here. That was particularly in evidence over five rainy laps of the Circuit de Catalunya, where the new 3 really came into its own. The steering, which we had been thinking was a bit less communicative than the delightfully informative system in the previous car, here conveyed plenty of info about the front tires' tenuous relationship with the wet tarmac

Overall, our first drive shows the latest 3-series to have suffered hardly at all for the cause of greater efficiency. Yes, some aspects of the 3-series have been altered, and others have been improved, but that the overall character of the car has been maintained. And that's a relief.

Autoweek:
It still sets the standard for sheer driving chops in its segment..

..Of course, for most 3-series buyers, it's the driving that matters most, and in that regard, the sixth-generation car is as put-together as anything that tries to vie with it.

Originally Posted by tagheuer

What other reviews say the F30 is better than the e90?

I don't think BMW is trying to hide the fact that they are shifting the feel of their cars from sport to luxury, even if it is ever so slightly, this is the trend.

Does anyone dispute that?

Check out Edmunds long term review of the 528...along with every other review...its just less sporty (and more luxury) than it was...not necessarily a bad thing....depends upon which side of the fence you are on

Have you read the reviews so far of the F30 and seen the video's? Most have said the F30 is the best handling 3 series yet.

Also, while you can say the 5 and 7 series have shifted towards luxury that doesn't make it true of the 3 series and the reviews so far show the 3 series to continue the DNA of the previous 3 series models.