RE: BMW 335i Touring (F31): Spotted
Discussion
FanBoy21 said:
I currently have a BMW 340i saloon with the 6MT and MPPSK. I range between thinking its wonderful to wishing I got the ZF-Auto (which I had in my last car - DMS remapped F30 335D).
Once the gearbox is completely warm its not too bad but it really is with the weak link of the car. Its not that it ever impedes your progress, per se, more that the shift from 1st to second simply isn't very nice and therefore isnt very enjoyable. Once you are up and running the B58 engine is a peach and the gearbox is actually quite good. Would I have another, i'd think long and hard about it.
Your experience of a Bmw manual gearbox mirrors exactly my experience of it. I can really understand why the Auto is the most popular choice overall. Its a real shame though because I personally love a three pedal manual, and I very rarely enjoy using an Auto. Once the gearbox is completely warm its not too bad but it really is with the weak link of the car. Its not that it ever impedes your progress, per se, more that the shift from 1st to second simply isn't very nice and therefore isnt very enjoyable. Once you are up and running the B58 engine is a peach and the gearbox is actually quite good. Would I have another, i'd think long and hard about it.
wingman0401 said:
Sorry to go off topic. To bring it back... that Touring is overpriced. Basic nav looks cheap, and no HK system? No thanks. I get the point that it's a manual transmission, but even so, that's not the transmission you want on that car. The ZF8 is perfectly suited to the N55 engine. It's five years old and, the next time you renew the BMW warranty, it's likely to be passed the 60,000 mile mark (hence more expensive warranty premiums).
Owner is obviously a PH'er and believes the small handful of people that wax lyrical about the vital importance of a manual gearbox in a 1600kg saloon, and thus thinks it commands a premium 
The reality is, the vast majority of people in the market for that kind of car (actually buying, not hypothesising from their £2k s
tbox) don't want a manual. Hence why there are virtually none around.FanBoy21 said:
I currently have a BMW 340i saloon with the 6MT and MPPSK. I range between thinking its wonderful to wishing I got the ZF-Auto (which I had in my last car - DMS remapped F30 335D).
Once the gearbox is completely warm its not too bad but it really is with the weak link of the car. Its not that it ever impedes your progress, per se, more that the shift from 1st to second simply isn't very nice and therefore isnt very enjoyable. Once you are up and running the B58 engine is a peach and the gearbox is actually quite good. Would I have another, i'd think long and hard about it.
The entire modern gearbox argument summed up in one paragraph. Most modern saloon cars are good despite the manual box, not because of it.Once the gearbox is completely warm its not too bad but it really is with the weak link of the car. Its not that it ever impedes your progress, per se, more that the shift from 1st to second simply isn't very nice and therefore isnt very enjoyable. Once you are up and running the B58 engine is a peach and the gearbox is actually quite good. Would I have another, i'd think long and hard about it.
Harry_523 said:
on the subject of manual estates with nice engines:
THIS is rocking-horse st:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
An LCI with the right wheels, right colour, right interior, right spec, good history and near unicorn status for E61 535d money. If I had £10k, it'd be on my drive and prepped for a drive to the South of Spain. On a side note, this is getting close to unicorn status tooTHIS is rocking-horse s
t:https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Edited by aaron_2000 on Thursday 20th September 15:34
Ares said:
Owner is obviously a PH'er and believes the small handful of people that wax lyrical about the vital importance of a manual gearbox in a 1600kg saloon, and thus thinks it commands a premium
The reality is, the vast majority of people in the market for that kind of car (actually buying, not hypothesising from their £2k stbox) don't want a manual. Hence why there are virtually none around.
Exactly my thoughts, but you put it slightly more eloquently. The reality is, the vast majority of people in the market for that kind of car (actually buying, not hypothesising from their £2k s
tbox) don't want a manual. Hence why there are virtually none around.AutoTrader and WBAC valuations are both £4k under that adverts value. Say what you want about those sites, they're (normally) not far off the reality of a cars given value.
Ares said:
I'll go in a hearse when I'm dead, not before.
Saloons bring great refinement and look better. If I need space I'll go one better and get an SUV.
You equate wanting space with not wanting a car that's nice to drive? Why not have both!Saloons bring great refinement and look better. If I need space I'll go one better and get an SUV.
I prefer the look of estates - but I grew up with them so that's probably why. Saloons just look like a waste of wheelbase.
Harry_523 said:
on the subject of manual estates with nice engines:
THIS is rocking-horse st:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
That is pretty much ideal for me, I loved that engine in my X5 4.8iS but the dim witted Auto gearbox tarnished the engine a fair bit for me(although I appreciate that a manual X5 wouldn't be the best combo).THIS is rocking-horse s
t:https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I just seem to love the idea of a big engine mated to a manual gearbox.
Oily76 said:
Ares said:
I'll go in a hearse when I'm dead, not before.
Saloons bring great refinement and look better. If I need space I'll go one better and get an SUV.
You equate wanting space with not wanting a car that's nice to drive? Why not have both!Saloons bring great refinement and look better. If I need space I'll go one better and get an SUV.
I prefer the look of estates - but I grew up with them so that's probably why. Saloons just look like a waste of wheelbase.
Snd I never said I didn't want a car that's nice to drive.... Thats why I have a saloon with a roof box & suction bike carrier
Ares said:
Oily76 said:
I don't understand people who want a saloon over an estate. Same footprint but one of them is missing a chunk of body that could be used for carrying stuff!
I'll go in a hearse when I'm dead, not before.Saloons bring great refinement and look better. If I need space I'll go one better and get an SUV.
You can get long items in the saloon.
I don’t need the volume.
Anything that I want that is bigger, will probably be too big for an estate.
Most large items can be delivered at no extra cost, and certainly cheaper than would justify an estate on cost and frequency of need.
However, fair does if you want one.
Is the F31 manual gearbox better than the E91?
I have a 330d E91 manual, it was hard to track down... But the manual box is far from great - pretty much any other manual I've driven has a better gearbox, which is the one thing that would put me off somewhat.
Hopefully they sorted out the manual??
I have a 330d E91 manual, it was hard to track down... But the manual box is far from great - pretty much any other manual I've driven has a better gearbox, which is the one thing that would put me off somewhat.
Hopefully they sorted out the manual??
wingman0401 said:
AutoTrader and WBAC valuations are both £4k under that adverts value. Say what you want about those sites, they're (normally) not far off the reality of a cars given value.
Both those sites are always wide of the mark when it comes to cars which are not the norm. They're fine for a 320d or a Mondeo, but way off for the more niche products. cerb4.5lee said:
FanBoy21 said:
I currently have a BMW 340i saloon with the 6MT and MPPSK. I range between thinking its wonderful to wishing I got the ZF-Auto (which I had in my last car - DMS remapped F30 335D).
Once the gearbox is completely warm its not too bad but it really is with the weak link of the car. Its not that it ever impedes your progress, per se, more that the shift from 1st to second simply isn't very nice and therefore isnt very enjoyable. Once you are up and running the B58 engine is a peach and the gearbox is actually quite good. Would I have another, i'd think long and hard about it.
Your experience of a Bmw manual gearbox mirrors exactly my experience of it. I can really understand why the Auto is the most popular choice overall. Its a real shame though because I personally love a three pedal manual, and I very rarely enjoy using an Auto. Once the gearbox is completely warm its not too bad but it really is with the weak link of the car. Its not that it ever impedes your progress, per se, more that the shift from 1st to second simply isn't very nice and therefore isnt very enjoyable. Once you are up and running the B58 engine is a peach and the gearbox is actually quite good. Would I have another, i'd think long and hard about it.
I am also told that removing the Clutch Delay Valve sorts 1st to 2nd out, so am going to get the chap who looks after my cars to take it out next time it's in for work.
RemarkLima said:
Is the F31 manual gearbox better than the E91?
I have a 330d E91 manual, it was hard to track down... But the manual box is far from great - pretty much any other manual I've driven has a better gearbox, which is the one thing that would put me off somewhat.
Hopefully they sorted out the manual??
From memory, it was a bit better. If you've not done it yet, remove the CDV as BMW fits them for some unknown reason. Utter crap. With it removed, it ameliorates the clutch/stick interface. Similarly, change the gearbox oil every 40-50k or so. That makes a significant difference too. I have a 330d E91 manual, it was hard to track down... But the manual box is far from great - pretty much any other manual I've driven has a better gearbox, which is the one thing that would put me off somewhat.
Hopefully they sorted out the manual??
kambites said:
spikyone said:
Not sure I understand your question. New-ish BMWs seem to make up a disproportionately high number of the cars that I see sitting on the hard shoulder. I'm surprised if I manage a motorway journey without seeing a broken BMW; last time I actually passed one that was on fire on the opposite carriageway.
I suspect you underestimate the proportion of UK motorway miles which are done in a BMW 3-series. I don't think BMWs are particularly reliable, but I don't think they're especially unreliable either - by and large they're just bog-standard mainstream cars with bog-standard mainstream reliability. RemarkLima said:
Is the F31 manual gearbox better than the E91?
I have a 330d E91 manual, it was hard to track down... But the manual box is far from great - pretty much any other manual I've driven has a better gearbox, which is the one thing that would put me off somewhat.
Hopefully they sorted out the manual??
What has always fascinated me is that I really disliked the manual gearboxes in my Z4M/E92 M3, but I liked the manual gearbox in my E61 520d(hated the engine but the gearbox was lovely to use). I have a 330d E91 manual, it was hard to track down... But the manual box is far from great - pretty much any other manual I've driven has a better gearbox, which is the one thing that would put me off somewhat.
Hopefully they sorted out the manual??
I've driven a few F30 320d's and I don't recall disliking the manual in those either. I'd loved to know the reason why I dislike some but not all of Bmw manuals, and what they do different to them.
I have a manual F56 Mini Cooper S currently and the Manual gearbox in that is fine(not the last word admitted), but you can change quickly from first to second without it throwing its toys out of the pram. So Bmw don't always make reluctant and frustrating manuals it seems.
wingman0401 said:
MattOz said:
Both those sites are always wide of the mark when it comes to cars which are not the norm. They're fine for a 320d or a Mondeo, but way off for the more niche products.
It's a five year old BMW estate, not some exotic classic we're talking about.Sold my 340i Touring the other month. Brilliant car. It had the MPPSK (chavy exhaust and power boost). I know it’s a cliche, but if you could only have one car to do it all...fast yet frugal, decent steer but comfortable and rides well on UK roads (compared to more extreme saloons and estates), big enough for the family but not too big. Am missing it a bit already.
Ares said:
wingman0401 said:
MattOz said:
Both those sites are always wide of the mark when it comes to cars which are not the norm. They're fine for a 320d or a Mondeo, but way off for the more niche products.
It's a five year old BMW estate, not some exotic classic we're talking about.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff