BMW: 3-Series News
04-22-2006, 05:36 PM
#1561
The Third Ball
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They need to put the fucking window controls back on the center console...I LOVED that about my old 5. And I like how it confused people 
04-22-2006, 05:44 PM
#1562
Pro
I was pretty much 100% set on getting this car this fall, but without an SMG/DSG type transmission, I don't see that happening. Anyone who spends more than an hour in traffic a day knows that a 6speed is the king of all hassles, and anyone who spends their free time beating their cars into submission knows that automatics are garbage. I was really hoping the 335 would bring with it the unveiling of SMGIII or that ZSG that they're working on. Maybe next year...
04-22-2006, 06:20 PM
#1563
Safety Car
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I don't really see how tilting the radio area etc. towards the driver would make this all of a sudden a better interior. Think they just need better interiors altogether in all of their vehicles now. As far as driving the 3-series, I didn't find anything that was a problem in the sedan interior as far as orientation, just that it wasn't great looking.
It also sucks, like mentioned, companies aren't embracing dsg, especially a company like BMW.
It also sucks, like mentioned, companies aren't embracing dsg, especially a company like BMW.
04-22-2006, 07:08 PM
#1564
Burn some dust here
Originally Posted by TheAcAvenger
I was pretty much 100% set on getting this car this fall, but without an SMG/DSG type transmission, I don't see that happening. Anyone who spends more than an hour in traffic a day knows that a 6speed is the king of all hassles, and anyone who spends their free time beating their cars into submission knows that automatics are garbage. I was really hoping the 335 would bring with it the unveiling of SMGIII or that ZSG that they're working on. Maybe next year...
04-22-2006, 07:16 PM
#1565
Pro
yea. they stopped selling the 3er with SMG this year, I believe? Maybe last? They just started selling it with SMG when the E90 came out. Thats a 1/2 year lifespan of SMGs on 3ers? Notice how the SMG isnt available on any of the cars anymore except the M3/M5/M6. Last year it was available on all 5s, free of charge. I'm guessing they're just phasing out the tranny completely. Interesting that they would do this now that Audi/VW is really pushing that DSG hard and the europeans are eating it up.
04-22-2006, 09:20 PM
#1566
Senior Moderator
Well rumor has it that BMW is making a double clutch system type of tranny. So maybe thats why they phases out the SMG.
The SMG came in the e46 but i think only for one year? Of course not the same system in the M3.
The SMG came in the e46 but i think only for one year? Of course not the same system in the M3.
04-22-2006, 09:44 PM
#1567
Senior Moderator
I hate to agree with Zeroday but i understand what hes saying. The new interior doesnt wrap around you and make you feel as if you are in a cockpit. Its a reason why i liked the E46 interior.
Im still meh on the interior in all 3/5/7 series. Everything is still easy to reach, besides the window controls which I still were still in the center like before. I just dont like the "wall" feeling of the dash, thats all.
I'd still rock one.
I guess im alone on thinking the E36 interior is just plain nasty. Then again i guess it was nice for its time.
Im still meh on the interior in all 3/5/7 series. Everything is still easy to reach, besides the window controls which I still were still in the center like before. I just dont like the "wall" feeling of the dash, thats all.
I'd still rock one.
I guess im alone on thinking the E36 interior is just plain nasty. Then again i guess it was nice for its time.
Last edited by Crazy Bimmer; 04-22-2006 at 09:46 PM.
04-22-2006, 11:05 PM
#1568
Banned
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BMW's interior is like American Express Card its not for everyone..... Personally I used to think for many years why people liked BMW interior's for me its was like meh...
For the 1st time the only car that has given me the impression i'm sitting in a cockpit wrap around feel is the new designed IS300... Its like seating in a Lear 35A.
For the 1st time the only car that has given me the impression i'm sitting in a cockpit wrap around feel is the new designed IS300... Its like seating in a Lear 35A.
04-23-2006, 08:50 AM
#1569
Changin bulbs since '73
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Do you think the 335Xi will be available with the manual tranny? That would be nasty!
I agree with Zero that the interior is the best of the 80's!! It reminds of the old Mercedes dashes!
This car is awsome! Order it without iDrive (and navi) and put your own in!
I agree with Zero that the interior is the best of the 80's!! It reminds of the old Mercedes dashes!
This car is awsome! Order it without iDrive (and navi) and put your own in!
04-23-2006, 07:38 PM
#1573
6 Forward 1 Back
Yeah, That's not the Cabrio. More like the M3 (side vent, quad exhausts) , but until I see official pics, renders are nothing.
04-25-2006, 06:42 PM
#1582
Senior Moderator
Sorry...but, I'm not drooling. 
Meh.
Meh.
04-26-2006, 01:03 AM
#1585
Senior Moderator
So far, RS4 > M3 in terms of looks. 
BUT, YES YES...I know the Mer is just a chop. Relax.
BUT, YES YES...I know the Mer is just a chop. Relax.
04-26-2006, 01:52 AM
#1586
04-26-2006, 05:24 PM
#1587
Senior Moderator
Videos of car in action: http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/...335i-3-series/
04-27-2006, 02:16 AM
#1588
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Originally Posted by Yumchah
Videos of car in action: http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/...335i-3-series/
the e92
04-28-2006, 05:32 AM
#1591
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whats the point of masking any other 3 series coupe other than the new M3 anymore, they're likely to look the same 
04-28-2006, 12:40 PM
#1592
Senior Moderator
BMW details new ultra-quick Six-Speed automatic
BMW has released more information on its new six-speed automatic gearbox, which will show up in the 2007 3-Series Coupe. The gearbox uses a dedicated electronic control unit that permanently monitors the position of the gas pedal, registering the intensity of the pressure exerted by the driver on the gas pedal and determining whether and to what extent the driver wishes to accelerate. Retrieving data on the road speed of the car, engine speed and the steering angle, the control unit also detects current driving conditions at all times, considering furthermore whether the car is driving uphill or downhill. By taking all these criteria and many others into account the management unit is able to determine which gear is the most suitable. The harder and faster the driver depresses the accelerator, the lower the gear.
The system is designed to give the automatic transmission increased precision, without any time-consuming search for the right gear, which the driver would experience as an unwanted delay.
100 milliseconds response time
According to BMW, the new six-speed automatic transmission sets new standards for shift times. The new six-speed automatic transmission completes every gearshift process faster than the vast majority of sporting drivers experienced in shifting gears manually.
In a kick-down situation at a speed of 50 mph in sixth gear, the transmission can shift in just 100 milliseconds to second gear. While this is happening, the control unit sends a positive force pulse to the engine, which immediately increases its speed from approximately 1,400 to more than 5,000 rpm.
Source: Leftlane News
The system is designed to give the automatic transmission increased precision, without any time-consuming search for the right gear, which the driver would experience as an unwanted delay.
100 milliseconds response time
According to BMW, the new six-speed automatic transmission sets new standards for shift times. The new six-speed automatic transmission completes every gearshift process faster than the vast majority of sporting drivers experienced in shifting gears manually.
In a kick-down situation at a speed of 50 mph in sixth gear, the transmission can shift in just 100 milliseconds to second gear. While this is happening, the control unit sends a positive force pulse to the engine, which immediately increases its speed from approximately 1,400 to more than 5,000 rpm.
Source: Leftlane News
04-28-2006, 12:43 PM
#1593
Senior Moderator
Plastic panels used to reduce weight...
BMW has transitioned to using plastic front quarter panels (fenders) on its 2007 BMW 3 Series Coupe in order to save weight and increase durability. The weight savings is minimal — about 6.6 pounds — but it helps BMW achieve its much-touted 50:50 weight balance more easily. The new material also offers greater freedom in design, being easier to mould and shape than steel – an important factor giving the designer new freedom in the design process. BMW says the fenders are painted with the exact same paint used for the steel unibody and look the same as steel panels. In low-speed collisions, the new panels are also less likely to permanently deform. After the jump we have two images: one illustrating how light the new panels are, and another shows the difference between the sedan and coupe’s fenders (with the latter having a deeper character line)…
Source: Leftlane News
Source: Leftlane News
04-28-2006, 12:57 PM
#1594
^ But will it be like Saturn's plastic panels, which changes slightly with temperature, creating ill forming panel gaps...
04-28-2006, 03:04 PM
#1595
Senior Moderator
^ But, it's a BMW and it's German...so, by that virtue, it's perfect and invincible. 
04-28-2006, 09:43 PM
#1596
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hmmmm......
to me my friends 04 330ci looks like it's body panels are already made out of plastic
to me my friends 04 330ci looks like it's body panels are already made out of plastic
05-11-2006, 10:51 PM
#1599
Moderator Alumnus
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New rumor on engine now is 425HP from 4.4 liters (V8). Initially we'll see an SMG and 6 Speed manual tranny, but later an ala-DSG tranny will apear. Also, the coupe and the 4 door will have more significant differences this time than before. No cabrio is planned currently.