[Enthusiast~1]

Second time now of getting a 2022/2023 loaner while having my M40 maintenance/repairs done. Parts take an extra day but here’s a loaner. First a 335 then a few months later (today) a 530 and well… while nice and don’t get me wrong, I REALLY appreciate the loaner but I still prefer my 19 X3M40. Is it me or do the newer models seem cheap, less planted, and loose steering?

[ASAP]

doubt u got a car w sport pack... changes the driving experience

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by Enthusiast~1

Is it me or do the newer models seem cheap, less planted, and loose steering?

It’s you.

[M40i4me]

Loaners usually have bare bone packages. They also get the shite beat out of them all the time!

[Enthusiast~1]

Originally Posted by ASAP

doubt u got a car w sport pack... changes the driving experience

335 yes/330 no but still for $65k + eh

[Enthusiast~1]

Originally Posted by alex2364

It’s you.

lol ok you must have a 2022/2023 that you’re paying way too much for ??

Seriously though… even the doors are lightweight… Guess I like old school solid builds.

[Bimmerforlife]

Would you rather have a Nissan or a Kia from Enterprise Rental instead of your BMW rental? It sounds like your bashing folks that might have a 2022/2023 over your vehicle. That’s not cool.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Enthusiast~1

335 yes/330 no but still for $65k + eh

mate i dont think a 335 has been made since 2015... did u get a dinosaur rental?

and the 330i is a 4 banger without sport pack... thats a base base car

[Enthusiast~1]

Originally Posted by ASAP

doubt u got a car w sport pack... changes the driving experience

True. But I miss the days of a base E92 being a driving machine compared to a Lexus or Honda. I will always go sport. Just surprised a 530 didnt win me over.

[Enthusiast~1]

Originally Posted by ASAP

mate i dont think a 335 has been made since 2015... did u get a dinosaur rental?

and the 330i is a 4 banger without sport pack... thats a base base car

ok so it could’ve been a 320 328 325 or 330. my point exactly in that it didn’t wow me enough to leave a mark… really wanted them to.

[Enthusiast~1]

Originally Posted by Bimmerforlife

Would you rather have a Nissan or a Kia from Enterprise Rental instead of your BMW rental? It sounds like your bashing folks that might have a 2022/2023 over your vehicle. That’s not cool.

Im saying that I think the 2021 2022 even maybe 2023 are not to the BMW standard that originally won me over 10+ years ago. Not bashing at all just staing an opinion just like he did when he said “it’s you”. I WANT to like the new cars, i really do. Just surprised and disappointed that’s all.

[bocabimmer]

I agree with several of the points you’re making. I had two 325/328 E90s and that era was BMW’s best balance of a luxury interior, size, and driving dynamics for all levels of cars.

My F30 was an LCI with the B46. I would never have even driven an F30 that didn’t have those two things. They were pretty bad in the steering, suspension, and engine departments. Even the LCI wasn’t that much better.

I don’t have much time being the wheel with the new 3, but I’ve driven a 530 loaner and I feel that the 5 always leans towards luxury over a dynamic drive… so not the same experience. So that leaves me with the G01. I would say this is light years ahead of the F series chassis. The steering is nice and firm and so is the suspension. The only thing I think is still missing is that feeling that even the entry level models get an equal chance at being fun to drive. They sadly just don’t.

[ASAP]

I think only 2 cars can fairly be compared to the G01 M40i in terms of dynamics - the BMW m240i / m340i and the 540i with M sport pack... any non sport pack 3 or 5 are not meant to be dynamic... the 7's and X5 / X7 are far too large... real M cars can't be compared either as they are another level. If your baseline wasn't an M240i / m340i or 540i as those are the same engine w m sport pack, you don't have a legit comparo.

[CFonAir]

Originally Posted by Enthusiast~1

lol ok you must have a 2022/2023 that you’re paying way too much for ??

Seriously though… even the doors are lightweight… Guess I like old school solid builds.

A '19 is not "old school" compared to a '22. This is mostly in your head. You like what you own, which great.

I owned a '19 M40i. I now own a '22. The '22 is better in almost every conceivable way other than the exhaust sound.

[Enthusiast~1]

Originally Posted by ASAP

I think only 2 cars can fairly be compared to the G01 M40i in terms of dynamics - the BMW m240i / m340i and the 540i with M sport pack... any non sport pack 3 or 5 are not meant to be dynamic... the 7's and X5 / X7 are far too large... real M cars can't be compared either as they are another level. If your baseline wasn't an M240i / m340i or 540i as those are the same engine w m sport pack, you don't have a legit comparo.

Agree with this now that I see your vehicles noted. My last three BMWs of ownership… 2012 BMW 335M sport, 2017 BMW M240 and now the X3M40. Im doomed to require the high end. Totally set myself up.

[Enthusiast~1]

Originally Posted by CFonAir

A '19 is not "old school" compared to a '22. This is mostly in your head. You like what you own, which great.

I owned a '19 M40i. I now own a '22. The '22 is better in almost every conceivable way other than the exhaust sound.

My personal reference of old school is the E92 I owned for a time. Truly enjoyed the steering and handling of this car and it has become my baseline. If I had mechanic skills and or unlimited cash Id have an E92 manual drive and my current M40 in the stable.

[335is-dct]

E46/E90 platforms are widely considered the last of bmw’s driver cars. The transition to electrically assisted steering, turbocharging, infotainment, drivers aids, added weight, increased sound deadening, etc etc have all changed the dynamics of the “ultimate driving machine.”

Not to say that bmw doesn’t still make excellent cars. This is just the natural progression of the industry.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by 335is-dct

E46/E90 platforms are widely considered the last of bmw’s driver cars. The transition to electrically assisted steering, turbocharging, infotainment, drivers aids, added weight, increased sound deadening, etc etc have all changed the dynamics of the “ultimate driving machine.”

Not to say that bmw doesn’t still make excellent cars. This is just the natural progression of the industry.

One could conversely argue that the E46 / E90-

1) Were also the most unreliable and cheaply built BMW gens.

2) the E90 was by far the least comfortable as it was the introduction of the runflat tire when they were absolutely terrible

3) the hydraulic racks transferred a ton of vibration to the steering wheel that made it annoying to drive

The best example that I can come up with of the E series and BMWs so called drivers cars being ALMOST a fail is the E60 M5.

Initially touted as the ultimate drivers car with an almost formula one V10, hydraulic racks, amazing na response, still relatively light for a big car, sound out of the cosmos etc... and all that hype lasted for about 3 years during the warranty period.

Today the E60 M5 is considered a pile of unusable junk as it's the most unreliable BMW ever built, the build quality is horrible, maintenance cost are thru the roof and the reliability even out of the factory was horrid... oh and you can pick up one up for $5 today but the maintanence will force you to sell your house.

Say what you want about BMWs past, but their current decisions are not made in a silo.

[335is-dct]

Originally Posted by ASAP

One could conversely argue that the E46 / E90-

1) Were also the most unreliable and cheaply built BMW gens.

2) the E90 was by far the least comfortable as it was the introduction of the runflat tire when they were absolutely terrible

3) the hydraulic racks transferred a ton of vibration to the steering wheel that made it annoying to drive

The best example that I can come up with of the E series and BMWs so called drivers cars being ALMOST a fail is the E60 M5.

Initially touted as the ultimate drivers car with an almost formula one V10, hydraulic racks, amazing na response, still relatively light for a big car, sound out of the cosmos etc... and all that hype lasted for about 3 years during the warranty period.

Today the E60 M5 is considered a pile of unusable junk as it's the most unreliable BMW ever built, the build quality is horrible, maintenance cost are thru the roof and the reliability even out of the factory was horrid... oh and you can pick up one up for $5 today but the maintanence will force you to sell your house.

Say what you want about BMWs past, but their current decisions are not made in a silo.

Yea you make some great points lol. Individual throttle bodies and plastic everything make for some interesting long term reliability issues. Rod bearings and smg issues aside, that v10 is a special engine

[alex2364]

Anyone reminiscing about the E90 is forgetting how it felt like you’re driving over the craters of the moon on anything but the smoothest roads even with non run flat tires. Plus the N54 had multiple issues with HPFP and carbon buildup.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Anyone reminiscing about the E90 is forgetting how it felt like you’re driving over the craters of the moon on anything but the smoothest roads even with non run flat tires. Plus the N54 had multiple issues with HPFP and carbon buildup.

I've had 3 E series BMWs... never again lol... these cars are all clappers now and that's why so few remain on the roads today. the F series and later G series brought another level of reliability into the mix

When i bought my M2C I was blown away by how reliable a powerful car can be.

[sbt007]

There is no deep mystery here. Loaners are usually base models, be it 530i or 330i or X1. They choose the cheapest config. So they will often feel not quite as nice in terms of power and interior coming from a M40i.