03-25-2020, 02:05 PM | #45 | |
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It was properly weighted at every speed-incredibly linear, responsive and wheel turns resulted in a very natural and accurate direction change. I think the best word to describe it: Precise. Not so much anymore. It's really difficult to describe but once you've felt it-it's sorta hard to go back from there. ANd feedback doesn't necessarily mean feeling bumps and potholes, etc. through the wheel. You'll be amazed how differently a steering wheel with feedback will feel during a high grip vs low grip situation. You know what the car is about to do before it does it and you have time to correct.
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2019 G20 330i RWD
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03-25-2020, 02:55 PM | #46 |
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We replaced my wife's F30 with a G20 330i M-sport. Certainly a much improved car, but the steering is still pretty uncommunicative and it sounds awful at idle. Interestingly, it is almost exact the same size as my old E39 530i SP/5SP. Now THAT car was the whole package, not blinding fast like the M5, but terrific handling, balanced in every way, and the nicest looking wheels BMW ever offered stock.
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03-25-2020, 08:35 PM | #47 | |
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I've driven the M340 a few times now and while it's a lot better than the F30, it's not good enough for me to pull the trigger on. If they had a manual transmission option, I'd go for it, but no steering feel and auto only is a non starter for me. |
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03-25-2020, 10:12 PM | #48 |
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I recently drove a low mile E39 M5. It is not the sweetheart you make it out to be. In fact, it feels dated.
If the M340 isn't good enough (lol) for you to pull the trigger, I have to ask.... What car in the same price range would you consider better? |
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03-25-2020, 11:24 PM | #49 |
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I think compared to my last 2 cars the m340i's steering at least feels weightier. My b9 a4 and f30 328i just felt crazy over boosted.
That said I haven't driven an E46 in a really long time, and my roomate used to have an E34 back in the day. And i'm really not sure it is this crazy huge gulf everyone makes its sound like it is. They are different sure, but the g20 is not bad. |
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03-25-2020, 11:51 PM | #50 | |
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All together, I really think BMW needs to work harder on the steering. A decade later of BMW EPS and while progress has been made, its honestly still not enough. I get making the rack numb on your bread and butter 330i or X3 for the general public, but on the M cars there is zero excuses for numbness. They can't use their typical "but people don't want feel" card on the M cars which are mainly made, advertised and sold to enthusiasts who like steering feedback. I mean, there's a list of cars and manufacturers that I can think of off the top of my head that I have driven and have better steering feel than most new BMW's, and these range from Mazda's and Honda's to Cadillac's and even Mercedes, to of course Porsche and Alfa who have some of the best.
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03-26-2020, 02:33 AM | #51 |
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I left BMW of Fairfax about three year ago. I've messaged the admins about a name change like six times but nobody ever gets back to me. :/
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03-26-2020, 02:34 AM | #52 |
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To be honest, It lasts me enough between oil changes that I never have to top it off. The cars computer reads about half before I get to my oil change.
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03-26-2020, 02:35 AM | #53 | |
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03-26-2020, 03:35 AM | #54 |
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03-26-2020, 12:40 PM | #55 | |
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The M340 has a great chassis and a great interior, but if I'm going to be forced to give up a manual transmission, I at least want decent steering feel. With the M2 Comp at least I can get the 6mt. I am very interested in the new M3/4, but if it looks anything like the concept, styling kills it. I'll argue that the E39 doesn't feel dated if the suspension is in good shape. Even low mileage E39 M5s can feel dated because the bushings and stuff wear pretty quickly on them. They're basically completely shot at 80k miles max. Even at lower mileage, there is play in a lot of the components because of the age of the rubber. If you drive one that has had the shocks replaced along with all control arm/suspension parts and steering center link, it feels far from dated. Given the current BMW lineup, I'd rather spend a few thousand every 80k miles to refresh the suspension on the M5 than to buy anything new unless the new M3/M4 has a smaller grill than what we've been seeing. From a tech perspective, yeah the E39 M5 nav system sucks, but there's a bluebus adapter shipping now that basically gives full bluetooth control with the steering wheel controls and stock mic and bluetooth audio with excellent quality and all controlled through the stock nav so nothing looks aftermarket. For $50 worth of parts and about an hour of work you can add wireless charging so the only features my E39 is missing that my G30has are the heads up display, traffic updates, and comfort access. Of those, I think I miss the Heads Up Display the most...really amazing feature. I'm also not a huge fan of the sound of the M340 or the M2 comp, but that has been beaten to death and I won't go there. Last edited by wknddrivr; 03-26-2020 at 12:49 PM.. |
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03-27-2020, 06:21 AM | #56 |
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Well you basically don't like how turbo sound? Thought B58 is at least the ones that sound better
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03-27-2020, 07:24 AM | #57 | |
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03-27-2020, 08:15 AM | #58 |
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No. I was at BMW of Silver Spring.
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03-27-2020, 08:30 AM | #59 | |
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If you are going to give up the utility and comfort of a proper sedan, why not get into the Porsche Cayman GT4? The manual transmission in the Porsche embarrasses the M2 manual, and the car weighs just 2900 pounds. With the engine behind you that car is in a completely different world than the M2. Price is close too. Drive one and let me know your thoughts. |
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03-27-2020, 08:39 AM | #60 | |
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2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i
2023 BMW M3 6MT 2024 Mini Cooper S Convertible '20 BMW m340i... '20 BMW X5 40i... '16 Infiniti Q50 RS 400... '10 Lexus RX 350... '08 Lexus IS 350... '00 Nissan Maxima... '93 Nissan Maxima |
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03-27-2020, 08:59 AM | #61 | ||
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03-27-2020, 09:00 AM | #62 |
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Agree w your statement it doesn't sound good I mean
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03-27-2020, 09:42 AM | #63 | |
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I think that phrase has been highly diluted over the years. Yes, the car is blazingly fast. But, the 340i's massive size and weight along with it's novacaine numb steering puts in the "sporty" luxury car category IMHO. Haven't seen a proper "sports sedan" since the 4 door e36 M3. THere- i said it!
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03-27-2020, 10:34 AM | #64 | ||
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2017 BMW 530i, Sport Line,Alpine White, Canberra Beige Sensatec, 19 inch V-Spoke wheels, basic plain Jane build with no options whatsoever..... "Less is more".
Before: 2011 BMW 328i E90 sedan, Platinum Bronze Metallic, Dakota Brown leather, 17 inch wheels, 6-speed auto, N52 6 Cyl inline N/A goodness.... |
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03-27-2020, 10:53 AM | #65 |
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Don't forget RWD only with, at the very least, an available manual trans
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2019 G20 330i RWD
2014 F30 328i RWD 2009 E90 328i RWD 2006 E90 330i RWD 2002 E46 330i RWD Last edited by alpinewhite3; 03-27-2020 at 10:59 AM.. |
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03-27-2020, 10:57 AM | #66 |
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Ok fair enough, but realistically speaking, is there anymore a size able market for something like this? I mean, outside of BMW internet message boards?
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2017 BMW 530i, Sport Line,Alpine White, Canberra Beige Sensatec, 19 inch V-Spoke wheels, basic plain Jane build with no options whatsoever..... "Less is more".
Before: 2011 BMW 328i E90 sedan, Platinum Bronze Metallic, Dakota Brown leather, 17 inch wheels, 6-speed auto, N52 6 Cyl inline N/A goodness.... |
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