I'm a BMW fan....I'm on my second now, an e46 330i Sport as my daily driver.


Looking good........unlike the driver's t-shirt

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11...-2012-bmw.html

 

Isn't 4-Series just a 3-Series Coupe?

 

Yeah I'm kinda wondering about what the purpose of this vehicle is...


but you get that sweet fender vent

 

Heres the latest render from M3post.



Dave

 

Yep, somebody needs to punch BMW in the face for that. I suppose as an american and with an american penchant for intuitive whatever (electronics, branding, et al) calling the 4dr the 4 series would have made more sense especially when your aspirational sport coupe has serious equity with the M3 name.

 

Well, the 6 series has long been a "coupe 5-series", so I can understand why they are going with this. Audi did similar with the A4 based A5 coupe.

However, lots of traditional values are changing at BMW, and not necessarily for the better........no more n/a straight 6 engines (turbo only, now).......the next 1-series going FWD etc


FWIW, I've always loved the 3-series. Drive one, and you'll know why they are so popular. OK, the majority, especially here in the UK, will be the 320d, but it's still a great car. And its one reason the likes of the Mondeo is struggling sales-wise.

 

My brother just bought a F30 328i Sport, absolutely fabulous car. Its definitely underrated at 240hp as they run mid 5's 0-60 and 14.0s in the 1/4 mile, one test even cracked a 13.9. Yet you see lighter Fusion, Focus STs with similar engines rated at the same horsepower (even higher in the Focus ST) yet the 328i is quicker.

As far as the M3 being called a M4...what a shame. Throwing away the equity and gravitas of the M3 name to be called a M4 is down right sacrilege.

That is why I am seriously entertaining the idea of keeping my 2011 E92 M3 Competition Package (ZCP). Not only is it going to be the last high revving normally aspirated M3, but the only one ever with a V8.



Dave

 

Is it true that BMWs can be very unrealiable once warranty expires and that they're very expensive to maintain?

 

I know people with 08 M3s and near 100k miles without a hiccup. They definitely have gotten alot better. I think the issue is with all cars, that once you have all these electronic doodads somethings going to give. For example, the E92 has a arm that hands you the seat belt when you shut the door. You know damm well that in 10 years this will be broken. It really isn't that hard to reach back there yourself to get it, so I took out the fuse in mine so it doesn't do that anymore.

There are a lot of E36 and E46 M3s running around out there...

Dave

 

I like it except for the cheap and cheesy looking side vent on the fender -- did they pick that up from Pep Boys or what.

I don't mind the 4 Series nomenclature -- "a rose by any other name..." -- and it does fit in to their lineup logically: sedans being odd numbered, coupes and verts even numbered. After some initial snivelling, I think people will quickly become comfortable with it.

As for reliability, the E36 and E46 series did suffer typical late '90's and early 2000's quality sags that seemed to afflict all German brands. The E90s do seem to be more reliable and robust with few bugs.

 

Very nice!!

 

Are you kidding that shirt is awesome. Lol

 

This

 

Yeah the early 00s are rough. My parents own a '00 328 and an '04 X3. The 328 is on its third trans (auto), but otherwise its ok. Expensive though. BMW wanted 7k to replace it the first time. The X3 though... That car has broken down and rendered itself useless more times than even the deathtrap of a bike I used to have. Its trans/awd is always acting up. Sunroof is for show now. Even the interior is falling apart. Not only are the "cheap hard plastics" in my 01 holding up better, they are actually softer to the touch lol

That being said they still use both cars today, every day. They're both still loads of fun to drive (when the X3 wants to work atleast) but also very expensive to repair

 

Agreed

 

^^ That is gorgeous.


As is this........thanks for posting, Dave

 

Thanks guys..

One more for your viewing pleasure..

 

I, for one, am SHOCKED that this car will look like a BMW

 

Great angle.................really show off those staggered wheels

 

Really not that much of a change from the E9X series to the F3X series...now huge difference from the E46 series to the F3X.

Dave