I've owned 10 BMWs, going back to 1966 2000ti. But haven't driven a new one for some time. 90+% of my driving since 2012 has been my Model S or my Model 3, or my eGolf. 10% in 2012 BMW X1. So yesterday, when my flight had a mechanical out of Santa Barbara and I had to drive one way to LAX, and National offered me 2020 BMW 330 for $80 premium, I had to check it out.
Getting in, what a shock. During a stop, I counted them. 75 buttons or controls. Plus on screen menus. Could not find ANYTHING! I'm sure the car had TACC, but darned if I could find it. I'm sure it had Nav, but couldn't find that either. Wasn't on the main screen menu anyway, and not evident on a switch or button. Even adjusting the side mirrors... non-intuitive controls. The instrument cluster and infotainment screen... former non-functional and silly, latter primitive and useless. I longed for the single screen interface. Or maybe my spartan 2002 dash, where the most important of the 10 controls was the choke knob.
When I started driving, I listened for all the quiet I was expecting. BMW advocates often knock the 3's road and wind noise. Well, this thing had the loudest road noise I've ever heard over rough pavement - maybe the run-flats BMW loves? And wind noise was worse than either of my 2 3's. So was sound insulation. I could hear every car around me.
Acceleration, steering, braking - again felt primitive vs. 3. And it is very hard to go back from EV torque and regenerative braking.
What was good about it? The seats were comfortable and supporting - better than model 3. I'll give them that. And it did have that autobahn feel where it seems to dig in at 70+, quiet down, and handle better. But how much of my driving is done at that speed?
All in all, no thanks. Driving it made me feel as if I went back in time 20 years.
Getting in, what a shock. During a stop, I counted them. 75 buttons or controls. Plus on screen menus. Could not find ANYTHING! I'm sure the car had TACC, but darned if I could find it. I'm sure it had Nav, but couldn't find that either. Wasn't on the main screen menu anyway, and not evident on a switch or button. Even adjusting the side mirrors... non-intuitive controls. The instrument cluster and infotainment screen... former non-functional and silly, latter primitive and useless. I longed for the single screen interface. Or maybe my spartan 2002 dash, where the most important of the 10 controls was the choke knob.
When I started driving, I listened for all the quiet I was expecting. BMW advocates often knock the 3's road and wind noise. Well, this thing had the loudest road noise I've ever heard over rough pavement - maybe the run-flats BMW loves? And wind noise was worse than either of my 2 3's. So was sound insulation. I could hear every car around me.
Acceleration, steering, braking - again felt primitive vs. 3. And it is very hard to go back from EV torque and regenerative braking.
What was good about it? The seats were comfortable and supporting - better than model 3. I'll give them that. And it did have that autobahn feel where it seems to dig in at 70+, quiet down, and handle better. But how much of my driving is done at that speed?
All in all, no thanks. Driving it made me feel as if I went back in time 20 years.