2018 BMW 530e Test Drive
#16
Lexus Champion
#17
I can't, for the life of me, figure out why BMW went the direction it did with the F30/F80 electric steering. I agree, it's not the greatest steering feel, although aftermarket suspension has helped a bit on my M3, and it is still better than my 340i and 328. I really miss that connected feeling and I hope the next gen M3 will return to form. Otherwise I'll have to look elsewhere in 2 years when time comes to replace it.
#18
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
#19
Lexus Fanatic
Although sales are, in fact, up, the steering-system change had little to do with it. Most automakers converted from hydraulic to electrical systems for two major reasons.....mechanical simplicity and (slightly) better fuel-economy....though minor at best, maybe 1 MPG or less. The flip-side, of course, is less of a telepathic steering-feel for enthusiasts.
#20
Lexus Fanatic
I don't think the change in steering had anything to do with sales or a choice of direction, nothing negative at all about the old steering systems, as Mike said its just a change in technology and the drawback is what we've described.
#21
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (3)
Although sales are, in fact, up, the steering-system change had little to do with it. Most automakers converted from hydraulic to electrical systems for two major reasons.....mechanical simplicity and (slightly) better fuel-economy....though minor at best, maybe 1 MPG or less. The flip-side, of course, is less of a telepathic steering-feel for enthusiasts.
#22
Lexus Test Driver
The only problem with BMW is whichever one you buy, the name will change a year or two later- effectively making what you have another lame duck (with possible lower resale). One of my biggest pet peeves is a brand that has A.D.D. with their model names. Can't build much brand equity if you can't retain model recognition with the public.
#23
The only problem with BMW is whichever one you buy, the name will change a year or two later- effectively making what you have another lame duck (with possible lower resale). One of my biggest pet peeves is a brand that has A.D.D. with their model names. Can't build much brand equity if you can't retain model recognition with the public.
#24
Lexus Fanatic
The only problem with BMW is whichever one you buy, the name will change a year or two later- effectively making what you have another lame duck (with possible lower resale). One of my biggest pet peeves is a brand that has A.D.D. with their model names. Can't build much brand equity if you can't retain model recognition with the public.
I bought 2 items imho at the right time, or I would have been SOL like you describe, not because I knew, because I happened to buy at that time. In Oct. 2006, I ordered a 335i coupe. I cannot imagine what it would have felt like buying a 330i less than a year prior--the replacement came as a surprise to the automobile community (twin turbo, BMW does not turbocharge cars, wtf is going on?) From memory, it had to be at least a 70 ft. lb. bump and available at 1700 rpm. The other product I got was the infamous iPad 4, it came out dunno 7 or 8 mos after the iPad 3, smoking the 3 buyers....
And to your point, numbers once correlated with displacement. imho Infiniti is one of the worst, assigning large numbers to the same paltry V6....my .02
#25
Lexus Champion
The only problem with BMW is whichever one you buy, the name will change a year or two later- effectively making what you have another lame duck (with possible lower resale). One of my biggest pet peeves is a brand that has A.D.D. with their model names. Can't build much brand equity if you can't retain model recognition with the public.
#26
Lexus Test Driver
Car enthusiasts know what is a real ///M or F or AMG and what is Msport/Fsport etc.
Even base ///M is not good enough, you need CompetitionPack then new CS or top dog GTS. Lol
I drove a regular 440i, non Msport coupe a few weeks back, that car is so fast and capable.
For 99.99% people will never explore its limits.
At the end of the day - its all about Marketing and being able to say I have the superior car.
Even base ///M is not good enough, you need CompetitionPack then new CS or top dog GTS. Lol
I drove a regular 440i, non Msport coupe a few weeks back, that car is so fast and capable.
For 99.99% people will never explore its limits.
At the end of the day - its all about Marketing and being able to say I have the superior car.
#27
Car enthusiasts know what is a real ///M or F or AMG and what is Msport/Fsport etc.
Even base ///M is not good enough, you need CompetitionPack then new CS or top dog GTS. Lol
I drove a regular 440i, non Msport coupe a few weeks back, that car is so fast and capable.
For 99.99% people will never explore its limits.
At the end of the day - its all about Marketing and being able to say I have the superior car.
Even base ///M is not good enough, you need CompetitionPack then new CS or top dog GTS. Lol
I drove a regular 440i, non Msport coupe a few weeks back, that car is so fast and capable.
For 99.99% people will never explore its limits.
At the end of the day - its all about Marketing and being able to say I have the superior car.
It's a never-ending struggle to keep up. I had a 340i M Sport with the Track Handling Package and it was quite capable. It wasn't until I took it to it's absolute limit did I realize that it wasn't raw enough for me, hence the move to a F80. Then the ZCP came out afterwards... damnit! I've learned to enjoy what I have in the meantime and see what happens next.
#28
Lexus Fanatic
It's a never-ending struggle to keep up. I had a 340i M Sport with the Track Handling Package and it was quite capable. It wasn't until I took it to it's absolute limit did I realize that it wasn't raw enough for me, hence the move to a F80. Then the ZCP came out afterwards... damnit! I've learned to enjoy what I have in the meantime and see what happens next.
I mean I could beat myself up. A 16 y.o. in some cases would be humiliated driving a 2007 BMW 335i to school, this is a 11 y.o. car and an obvious sign that the parents do not love this child, or are broke. But for me, the car is very pleasurable to drive, so I don't care! I mean really, imagine only have 300 HP in 2017, that's pretty sad indeed...
#29
Lexus Test Driver
It's a never-ending struggle to keep up. I had a 340i M Sport with the Track Handling Package and it was quite capable. It wasn't until I took it to it's absolute limit did I realize that it wasn't raw enough for me, hence the move to a F80. Then the ZCP came out afterwards... damnit! I've learned to enjoy what I have in the meantime and see what happens next.
Thinking of ordering 2018 M3 with CompPack and keep it for 5-6yrs. Exhaust sound is really my only dislike of the F80 and the CompPack sport exhaust fixes that. Due to kids, will need rear seats for forseeable future.
#30
If it's anything like the MPE than it's worth it. The MPE was the deciding factor for me.