330i loaner

[JABCAT]

My M2 is at the dealer getting some warranty work & regular maintenance done. I was given a brand new 330i for a loaner.

I would not buy this car if I were in the market.

It's grossly under-powered, the interior is extremely cheap-looking,and the seats are uncomfortable. The exterior of the loaner is white (boring) and the interior is a mix of cognac (eww), black, grey plastic-looking fake wood, and silver trim. Talk about being assaulted by colors that don't look good together. Then you have the display screens with a pinkish/coral colored background. I couldn't find any setting to change thst horrible background.

I did initially like the steering wheel but then noticed this large black plastic section on the bottom that looks completely out of place.

Guess I'm spoiled with 2 Ms.

[OC40]

[IMG]https://media.tenor.com/1vxhS0PXxsgAAAAM/cool-cool-cool.gif[/IMG]

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

My M2 is at the dealer getting some warranty work & regular maintenance done. I was given a brand new 330i for a loaner.

I would not buy this car if I were in the market.

It's grossly under-powered, the interior is extremely cheap-looking,and the seats are uncomfortable. The exterior of the loaner is white (boring) and the interior is a mix of cognac (eww), black, grey plastic-looking fake wood, and silver trim. Talk about being assaulted by colors that don't look good together. Then you have the display screens with a pinkish/coral colored background. I couldn't find any setting to change thst horrible background.

I did initially like the steering wheel but then noticed this large black plastic section on the bottom that looks completely out of place.

Guess I'm spoiled with 2 Ms.

You are most definitely spoiled and you already know that it is a terribly unfair to compare an M2's power and interior trim to what you get in a 330i because it is like comparing an apple to a raisin.

Reason #1 - PRICE!

Reason #2 - PRICE!

Reason #3 - you get what you pay for!

PS, I have seen an Alpine White M2 and that color looked pretty boring to me.

[JABCAT]

I had a '22 330e MSport before the M2, and that car was nice. That's why I was surprised when I got in this one. The materials & feel definitely appear cheaper in the new model.

Re price: I just priced this car, and it's $53k. Realistically it feels like a $35k car. For the cost, I would expect better materials in a BMW.

[25 V8 IS]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

My M2 is at the dealer getting some warranty work & regular maintenance done. I was given a brand new 330i for a loaner.

I would not buy this car if I were in the market.

It's grossly under-powered, the interior is extremely cheap-looking,and the seats are uncomfortable. The exterior of the loaner is white (boring) and the interior is a mix of cognac (eww), black, grey plastic-looking fake wood, and silver trim. Talk about being assaulted by colors that don't look good together. Then you have the display screens with a pinkish/coral colored background. I couldn't find any setting to change thst horrible background.

I did initially like the steering wheel but then noticed this large black plastic section on the bottom that looks completely out of place.

Guess I'm spoiled with 2 Ms.

You nailed it. I remember when my M2C was in for a long service and they gave me a 2023 230i. I could not get out of that car fast enough. It was horrible in every way.

[MisanoblueZ4]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

I had a '22 330e MSport before the M2, and that car was nice. That's why I was surprised when I got in this one. The materials & feel definitely appear cheaper in the new model.

Re price: I just priced this car, and it's $53k. Realistically it feels like a $35k car. For the cost, I would expect better materials in a BMW.

Wait till you see the interior of the new X3. Made of vegan plastics lol

[AWDtoRWD]

Driving new cars, you'd never buy, is always a little fun.

Do you agree?

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by MisanoblueZ4

Wait till you see the interior of the new X3. Made of vegan plastics lol

Oh they gave me one last time it was in for an oil change - horrible.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by AWDtoRWD

Driving new cars, you'd never buy, is always a little fun.

Do you agree?

Meh - I enjoy driving my vehicles. My wife is getting stuck with the loaner now until my M2 is ready because I can't take it out of the inmediate area. I work 250 mi away during the week, so I begrudingly have to drive her X3MC this week

[kudos]

I have a 330xi loaner in black and I'm loving it. I don't understand how you view the seats as uncomfortable coming from an M2. Maybe your loaner had the lower end seat option or something? Mine are very comfortable. The ride is great. I don't think you can compare the power to an M2, it's not fair. It's a more executive sedan than a sports car. I'm actually regretting not upgrading from my old 330i to a current 2025 one.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by kudos

I have a 330xi loaner in black and I'm loving it. I don't understand how you view the seats as uncomfortable coming from an M2. Maybe your loaner had the lower end seat option or something? Mine are very comfortable. The ride is great. I don't think you can compare the power to an M2, it's not fair. It's a more executive sedan than a sports car. I'm actually regretting not upgrading from my old 330i to a current 2025 one.

The seats in my M2 are some of the most comfortable seats I've had any of my vehicles. They're also more comfortable than the seats in my wife's X3MC, which is odd because they're the same seats

The loaner I had priced out at $53k, and the seats (don't know if there are options) had no support whatsoever. My wife got in and said the same thing. Re: power, I wasn't comparing it to an M, I was suggesting it was very underpowered for what it is. Even in sport+ mode it seemed underpowered.

It wasn't a bad car overall, but it's not a $53k car. I also wouldn't categorize a 3-series as an executive sedan. It's more inline with a honda accord.

M2 seats vs 330 i seats:

[kudos]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

I also wouldn't categorize a 3-series as an executive sedan. It's more inline with a honda accord.

I knew this line would get that exact response. It drives like one compared to a sports model. Comparing a 3-series to a Honda Accord is just ridiculous. One thing I hate is the steering wheel though.

Also, I was assuming you bought carbon seats since you had an M2. I guess I forgot it had the other option.

[Efthreeoh]

Once BMW stopped offering a manual transmission in a non-M 3-series was the day it farted on itself.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by kudos

I knew this line would get that exact response. It drives like one compared to a sports model. Comparing a 3-series to a Honda Accord is just ridiculous. One thing I hate is the steering wheel though.

Also, I was assuming you bought carbon seats since you had an M2. I guess I forgot it had the other option.

It wasn't meant as a dig but a 3-series is in the same segment as an accord. A fully-loaded accord is $45k & based on the quality of materials in a 3-series, that's about what they should be priced at as well. They're over-priced simply because of the "luxury brand" name. I just rented a new accord a few weeks ago & it was as nice or nicer than the 330i I just drove.

If anything in the BMW line-up is an executive sedan, it's a 5 or 7-series. 3-series is I just got my first job out of undergrad.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Guess I'm spoiled with 2 Ms.

Not necessarily

Had it as a loner a couple of months back..
Didn't care much about interior.. well, comparing to old Exx series it's okish (except for the stupid dash monitor).

But what was driving me nuts - the suspension. It was bouncy as hell on crappy Bay Area roads. Compression was actually ok, but rebound was horrendous - my head was nearly hitting the roof on bumps. Even in sport++ mode it still wasn't right. The rear end of the car was all over the place at high speed.

Suspension on my old E92 and my wife's E88 were never that bad, even when it was stock.

Looks like BMW not only lost their designers, but also all their suspension and steering tuning skills are gone

[mbanck]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

The loaner I had priced out at $53k, and the seats (don't know if there are options) had no support whatsoever. My wife got in and said the same thing. Re: power, I wasn't comparing it to an M, I was suggesting it was very underpowered for what it is. Even in sport+ mode it seemed underpowered.

M2 seats vs 330 i seats:

Those are the Sport seats, not the regular seats in the 330i. Obviously, those have less support than the M seats, but they are certainly better than the industry standard seats (and I think haven't been changed since the G20 introduction).

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

My M2 is at the dealer getting some warranty work & regular maintenance done. I was given a brand new 330i for a loaner.

I would not buy this car if I were in the market.

It's grossly under-powered, the interior is extremely cheap-looking,and the seats are uncomfortable. The exterior of the loaner is white (boring) and the interior is a mix of cognac (eww), black, grey plastic-looking fake wood, and silver trim. Talk about being assaulted by colors that don't look good together. Then you have the display screens with a pinkish/coral colored background. I couldn't find any setting to change thst horrible background.

I did initially like the steering wheel but then noticed this large black plastic section on the bottom that looks completely out of place.

Guess I'm spoiled with 2 Ms.

The 3 series in general is trash. The 330i is just buying the badge, it's not a even halfway decent car. It's for someone who must have a BMW but also need a $300.a month lease.

[allinon72]

Those of us lucky enough to own M cars get isolated from the realities of BMWs target market (US), and what cars are BMW’s true bread and butter that pad the revenue. 3 series and below are for older women who lease these all day every day. 5 series and up are for old men who lease these all day every day. Of course there are exceptions but your average BMW driver comes in, does not give one shit about heritage or performance, they simply want to lease a vehicle that is in the luxury tier and in a lot of cases, they can write off at tax time.

Now, the newer M cars are targeted toward the young social media influencer crowd. But that’s a separate issue.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

The 3 series in general is trash. The 330i is just buying the badge, it's not a even halfway decent car. It's for someone who must have a BMW but also need a $300.a month lease.

Why is it trash? And compared to what?

[OC40]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Why is it trash? And compared to what?

Because some dude said it’s only for older women, so it must be. Lmfao.

[Mason Hatcher]

I had a loaner 330i in May. My experience was that it was a fine car. The power was fine, the ride nice, and it was comfortable. It was not has fast as my 20 M340i, but… duh. 😝

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Why is it trash? And compared to what?

Cheap interior.materials everywhere. Rough suspension that somehow manages to alone floaty with no grip AND ride terrible. The B48 is gutless until you beat it like dinner is late, but then it sounds terrible. The interior is cramped, the base stereo is trash. It doesn't even have good dynamics.

It has literally only two good things about it. The big moonroof is nice. The ZF8 speed is a good transmission. Everything else about it is garbage compared to basically any other car that intends to be at all sporty. Hell, it's worse than a lot of things that are horribly compromised before having anything sporty added to them.