BMW is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 3 series series this year, so we are at BMWblog deal with the history of the model and its contribution to the success of the car manufacturer. We have already looked at the first five generations – from the E21 to the E90. The E30 (second generation) and the E46 (fourth generation) may be the favorites of the enthusiasts, although the E90 was a big step towards digitization and efficiency. This was the first 3 Series, the iDrive and a turbocharging engine.
Nevertheless, today we will check the sixth generation of the sixth generation. It was produced from 2011 to 2019, and in addition to the conventional limousine and real estate body styles, the F30 was available in Fastback (3 Series Gran Turismo) and Langwallenbase (LWB) variants. Both increased the practicality and the comfort of the rear passengers. However, the 3 Series Coupé and Cabrio models were switched off as a 4 Series (F32).
F30: increasing focus on luxury
The most important change in the F30 was the increasing emphasis on luxury, with more sophisticated interiors, larger personalization options and mechanical improvements such as electrical power steering and sophistication of driving quality. In addition, the F30 was also the first 3 series, which were driven exclusively by turbocharged engines and contained a plug-in hybrid model.
While these upgrades made the sixth generation to think of its predecessor, some BMW supporters made problems that BMW BMW had “civilized” the 3-series series to win consumers from Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lexus, and diluted their performance DNA.
Even then, most F30 buyers were not die-hard performance enthusiasts anyway, so that the changes were not only appropriate, but also effective. In fact, the F30 achieved 2.6 million sales and won awards such as What car? Leadership car of the year, golden steering wheel from Car pictureAnd Automotive magazine All-star.
If that weren’t enough, the chauffeur-oriented model made 80 percent of 3 sales in China with a long wheels. Remember that China has overtaken the USA as a BMW’s largest market in the 2010s, and luxury there is defined by design, comfort, opulence and technology and not by sporting driving.
Performance: Still better than its predecessor
In any case, the technical data of the F30 were better than the E90. For example, the B58-driven 340i produced 322 hp and ran from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.1 seconds, with the E90 335i, which generated 302 hp and reached 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds. Similarly, the 330e -IPERMAULICACE -HYBRID produced 248 hp and had a time of 0 to 60 miles per hour of 6.1 seconds -significant numbers for a vehicle that is mainly intended to prioritize sustainability.
In the meantime, the M3 (F80) ultimately set the performance benchmark. The S55 twin turbo engine generated £ 425 and £ 406, with the power supply being sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual clutch gear. The DCT M3 was able to go from 0 to 60 km / h in 3.9 seconds, while the manual M3 lasted 4.1 seconds.
Also worth mentioning is the M3 CS-E-ES delivered 453 hp and £ 443, while it weighs 50 kilograms less than the standard M3. This meant that in 3.7 seconds it sprinted to 60 miles per hour and could achieve a top speed of 174 miles per hour. However, the production was 1200 units, each about 100,000 US dollars.
Interestingly, the F80, when the E90 M3 was initially skepticism compared to the first M3 with a V8, hit criticism that it was the first M3 to use a turbocharged engine. But like the E90, the F80 finally silenced its critics with almost 35,000 sales.
Uncertain inheritance?
Nevertheless, the general heritage of the F30 remains a topic of the debate. Since it represented the shift of BMW in the direction of luxury and comfort, many consider it the “most boring” and the most uninteresting 3 -series generation. However, those in Munich argue that they had no other choice because they had to expand the customer base of the 3 Series. We personally enjoyed driving the F30/F80 – even if they were not as funny as the E90 or G20 – and would recommend it to anyone who wants to buy a used BMW.
