RNR Automotive Blog

“Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken”

That’s the expression that crossed my mind when I was driving the E90 generation. I kept thinking of the 2012 328I F30 version that I drove as a courtesy car. I kept wondering, how did they manage to make the F30 so different than the E90. The E90, in my mind, is almost perfect (the E46 is my favorite).  The BMW 3 Series is the leader of the compact luxury class, and within good reason. When you drive the BMW, Ultimate Driving Machine springs to mind. The one virtue I’d like to have in a car handling wise is decent steering feel. And the Beemer has exemplary feedback. I can literally tell when the road changes just from the feel of the front wheels. There is a stereotype that BMW drivers are douchebags on the road which I can relate to as the engine note of the inline six cylinder engine is addictive. I have a hard time resisting the urge to push the engine to its redline. I prefer it when I can feel the bumps in the road, but not to the point it gets intrusive. The ride quality in the BMW is firm and comfortable at the same time. I don’t know any other car manufacturer that does this. Maybe Honda? But BMW is still miles ahead. I drove on a narrow twisty road, and the car turns so quickly I was able to corner relatively quickly. On a twisty road, this car makes me smile with the alluring engine note and the car’s ability to carve tight turns so well.

Sadly this car is an automatic. I am one of those people who believe there are two kinds of cars, cars that should bought in manual only, and cars that should be bought in automatic. This BMW deserves to be a manual car. It’s a bona fide enthusiast vehicle, and a manual would make the driving experience even better.

The seats are super comfortable.  I drove a six hour road trip in this car, and I never felt tired. One thing I will say, the run-flat tires are not worth it. They are just simply too noisy. Also memo to BMW: please fit real cup holders where they should be, not flimsy pop-out cup holders. Also, this BMW has the premium package, which does not include the IDRIVE navigation. But I have noticed that if you wear polarized sunglasses, you literally cannot see the radio. I do not know if this is the sunglasses’s or a fundamental flaw in the radio design, but I do know that you literally cannot see the radio display when wearing sunglasses. Other than that, the fit and finish is immaculate. And the steering wheel is a joy to hold. The AC controls are a bit confusing though.

Styling wise, I go for simpler designed cars, because they age well over the years. Case in point: I prefer the Kia Optima over the Hyundai Sonata because the Kia is understated, and over the years, it is still gorgeous whereas the Sonata is starting to look overwrought. This BMW has aged well over the years because it is understated. The styling has many BMW design elements such as the kidney grilles and the Hofmeister  kink. I know that Chris Bangle got a lot of flak for designing the E90 bland compared to the sleek E46, but I really think it was worth it, because the E90 looks fresh after all these years.

To me, The E90 is a gem overlooked, because most people buy it for the prestige, not for the package it is. It is upsetting because now the F30 is designed for those people who want the prestige, not the drive. When I drove the F30, all I could think about was…”Wow, the steering is so light, and I can’t feel anything”. Other than the feel of the older car’s wheel, I loved the weight. It was just right. The new steering was so light, I was alarmed whether not it was actually connected to the wheels. Also, the stop start system was so jerky I thought the car stalled. I am worried for BMW, because this BMW showed the great possibilities that BMW can do. BMW stuck to the basics and made great cars. Now BMW wants to split the 3 series into the sedan, 3 series Touring, 3 series Granturismo, 3 series Gran coupe, 4 series, M3 and M4…. what happened to the perfectly acceptable and relevant range of 3 series sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible? I miss it when things were simpler. Like I said, don’t fix it if it isn’t broken. In the future, I hope to have an E90 or an E46, with just the basics and a stickshift. Please let me know what you think about this car review! Don’t be surprised if this review is not perfect, considering it is my first car review. Any feedback would be appreciated!