While I did not get a new shirt, I did take the 435xi M-Sport out for it's first spirited romp today.
Having completed 1200 miles of break in, I drove a favorite and familiar loop. Roughly 200 miles on the western slope here in CO. Mostly twisty, scenic state highways with a short bit of I-70.
Having driven the same circuit in previous E90 335's, here's my analysis:
Motor/Acceleration
The N55 is more refined than the N54 which was more visceral. And quite a bit louder, which I missed The n55 makes nice enough sounds, there are just muted. The same motor in our X1 35i is quite a bit louder. Even though the numbers say otherwise, the 435 doesn't seem as fast as the E90. Perhaps this is because it is new or because it is so serene inside.
Handling/Steering
With the DHP set to Sport (as is always is) the F32 corners much flatter and overall rides better than the E90 did. I always felt the 335xi was under suspended for it's motor, not so with the 435xi. In constant radius corners once the car has taken a set, there seems to be more grip and a higher limit. Bumps and undulations are better damped in the new car, but only in Sport mode.
Comfort mode makes the car pitch and roll and bounce far worse than in the E90. Haven't tried ECO Pro yet, may not.
The variable ratio steering is great in rapid succession corners. The increase in turning is very natural and predictably progressive, The steering is more precise and surgical than in my previous cars. Very quick corner to corner.
It is also devoid of tactile sensation. The car goes where you aimed it, you just don't feel anything. One of the things that struck me most the first time I drove a BMW was that sensation of your hands being attached to the front wheels. In the F32, not so much.
There is no sensation of road surface or adhesion limits, just point and shoot. A little disconcerting in the rain.
Brakes
This was a strength of the E90, a very firm pedal up top and progressive increase in power as you increased pedal travel. The F32 pedal feels a bit softer off the top and then pressure builds up very well though not as rapidly as previously.
In the E90, when I was braking hard, it always felt like there was a lot more available. The F32 doesn't provide that same level of effortless deceleration. It scrubbed speed quite effectively, but I had to get further into the pedal travel to do so.
While I did not get the m-Sport brakes, they do make the wheels dirty at a faster pace than the old car(s).
Overall
Clearly, the new car is "nicer" than the old one. While the seats seem identical, everything is more comfortable. This has been true of each succession of the 3er that I have owned. Even the HK stereo sounds much better than it did in the e90's.
Certainly more poised. Probably more capable. And quite a bit more aloof.
Two out of three ain't bad.
Also instead of Coral Red, I now refer to my interior as Salmon.
jummo