[instantexpert]

I just had my 1200 mile service (yay!) and they loaner they gave me was a 320i. To say I was disappointed in BMW would be an understatement and I now completely understand why the 3 series is the most dumped car after 1 year:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorz.../#1805c90821a5

I've had more pleasant experiences driving in a rental spec Ford Focus. The steering wheel was thin hard plastic, less enjoyable to hold than an 80s GM car. Actually, the hard plastic was everywhere.

It's like BMW is saying "One of the poors thinks they can own a BMW, give them the Chevy Cobalt".

I was *exceptionally* happy to get back in my M3 at the end of the day.

[///M4ster Yoda]

I couldn't open the link but I'm not that surprised. BMW cares more about sales figures then anything else. To be fair the F80/82 is almost twice the price of a 320i. I've had a few 320 loaners and I wasn't impressed. They are slugs that will get burned by almost every Camry on the road. The Ultimate Driving Machine doesn't apply.

As sad as it is

BMW = German Toyota

[clutchdj]

And I thought hyundai had the worst steering wheel

[Jockey]

Yeah, I've been driving a 430i for past week. Finally get my M3 back today.

It's nice but not for the price you are paying for it.

[yaymitch]

I was put in a 320i loaner yesterday and it is by far the worst BMW imported to America. It is bottom of the line for BMW here. Most automakers have this entry level garbage. The Mercedes CLA 250 is a piece of crap too. Still nicer than most bottom of the line models from other automakers, but nothing I want to drive again.

[jpdchicago]

But you can still check power and torque on the screen! Lol

[Sassicaia]

Amazing the difference a nicer steering wheel would make, and yet it would add almost nothing to the cost of the car.

[calbears]

Had a 320i rental in Germany with the M Sport package. Wasn't too bad and even got it up to 123 on the autobahn

[instantexpert]

Originally Posted by Sassicaia

Amazing the difference a nicer steering wheel would make, and yet it would add almost nothing to the cost of the car.

Exactly!

I went through the options this morning:

Base price: $33,450.

To get a decent steering wheel, add sport package total: $34,750
To get a decent gauge cluster, add navigation: $36,700
To get the nicer dash trim: $37,200
Load it up with heated seats and other nice to haves: $41,275

So, tick the first three boxes and you have a car that has the major niceties of a decent 3 series for only $4K more than base and it's a pleasant place to live with enough power for most people.

Without those options, though, you're reminded every time you're behind the wheel that you're in the German Camry.

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by instantexpert

Exactly!

I went through the options this morning:

Base price: $33,450.

To get a decent steering wheel, add sport package total: $34,750
To get a decent gauge cluster, add navigation: $36,700
To get the nicer dash trim: $37,200
Load it up with heated seats and other nice to haves: $41,275

So, tick the first three boxes and you have a car that has the major niceties of a decent 3 series for only $4K more than base and it's a pleasant place to live with enough power for most people.

Without those options, though, you're reminded every time you're behind the wheel that you're in the German Camry.

Hey, don't you talk about Camrys!

[instantexpert]

Originally Posted by Jockey

Hey, don't you talk about Camrys!

German Civic?

[Vitacura]

It's an appliance.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

I'd rather get a GTI over a 320. And Golf R over a 330. Then bite the bullet for a M3 over a 340.

[instantexpert]

Originally Posted by pheerix

I'd rather get a GTI over a 320. And Golf R over a 330. Then bite the bullet for a M3 over a 340.

Or a Focus ST or Focus RS. The Civic Type R would be great if I was 16... There are a lot of options that give as good, or better performance without feeling like a penalty box.

I seriously considered a 340 but knew I'd just regret not getting the M3.

[instantexpert]

Pulling the bandaid off. Post 200.

[Yay-Z]

Totally agree, the base cars are pretty sad.

[jiggz]

Somebody above nailed it, it's all about selling cars.

BMW seemingly has a vehicle offering in nearly every segment now. Hybrids, countless SUV options...but I agree the 320 has got to be the saddest of them all.

[JibSTir13]

The loaner I had was a 540 when I brought the car in for the break-in service. I was not impressed by the interior at all - cheap plastic everywhere. The car did have HUD, which was a nice surprise.

To be fair, if my F80 didn't have full leather, it probably would not have bothered me so much. As many here have said, once you go full leather there's no going back.

[BMW11]

isn't the X1 front wheel drive considered the entry level BMW now?

[Bbb34]

It's built to meet the price point (whether it's worth the price is another issue).

A bit uncool in my opinion to be dumping on a car that many on this forum own and are happy with. Look at it as a first step into BMW ownership for many, entry level BMW if you will. Can it be better, sure, but so can any other car in BMW lineup. Besides if they make 320 "amazing", how would they sell 328, 340... and so on.

I'm sure there are Porsche, Ferrari, likely few others, looking at M3 and going, "me'h, it's OK, but nothing special", there's always better out there.

[oarnura]

Originally Posted by instantexpert

Exactly!

I went through the options this morning:

Base price: $33,450.

To get a decent steering wheel, add sport package total: $34,750
To get a decent gauge cluster, add navigation: $36,700
To get the nicer dash trim: $37,200
Load it up with heated seats and other nice to haves: $41,275

So, tick the first three boxes and you have a car that has the major niceties of a decent 3 series for only $4K more than base and it's a pleasant place to live with enough power for most people.

Without those options, though, you're reminded every time you're behind the wheel that you're in the German Camry.

How much was your M3 similarly spec'ed? Pushing $72K? You can buy faster cars for cheaper than an M3. Get off your high horse.

I had a loaner 320i and it wasn't too bad. The steering wheel felt like shit compared to the M-Sport one in my 340i and the non sports seats were sad but it was zippier than my e46 325i. You can option those on a 320i no problem.
It is a decent car for what it is.

Comparing it to your M3 just so you can shit on cars many people buy is a low blow.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by instantexpert

Exactly!

I went through the options this morning:

Base price: $33,450.

To get a decent steering wheel, add sport package total: $34,750
To get a decent gauge cluster, add navigation: $36,700
To get the nicer dash trim: $37,200
Load it up with heated seats and other nice to haves: $41,275

So, tick the first three boxes and you have a car that has the major niceties of a decent 3 series for only $4K more than base and it's a pleasant place to live with enough power for most people.

Without those options, though, you're reminded every time you're behind the wheel that you're in the German Camry.

This is dead right - just like any BMW it is all in how you option it. There are plenty of 328i / 330i models optioned to an MSRP above 50k that I would not enjoy driving as much as a properly optioned 320i.

Dealers seem to option all the 320s with the silver interior trim that is just awful, without the sport package which is the single most important option, and without nav and LED headlights. This does lead to a very unimpressive vehicle.

I think they do it to make the extra bump to the 328i / 330i look more attractive on the lot. But don't dismiss the 320i if you are ordering and don't need every lux feature. It can be made very nice for much less $