BMW F30 is BMW’s internal code specifically introduced for the sixth-generation 3 series sedan, manufactured between 2011 and 2019. Therefore, this code differentiates this car from other 3-series models from BMW, such as E36, E46, and E90. But is the F30 a good car?
Yes, the BMW F30 is an excellent car. The car combines performance, comfort, efficiency, and safety in one ride. It is also one of the best-looking BMW 3-series ever made by BMW. Besides, the F30 is more reliable than most BMW models as it experienced fewer issues.
Additionally, the BMW F30 is an impressive sedan as it is easy to handle with an efficient engine. What’s more, it looks elegant on the exterior and comes with a high-quality interior. Nonetheless, it is crucial to note that not all BMW F30s were reliable cars as the 328i had a lot of issues.
Features of the BMW F30
Appearance
The BMW F30 is one of the best-looking BMW 3-Series models of all time. In fact, it is one of the best-looking BMW sedans ever made. This car comes with a masculine and sporty exterior with an advanced and luxurious interior. It oozes comfort and luxury, making it a true German luxury sedan.
The beautiful look and luxurious features that this car offers have made it to be one of the bestselling BMW models. The BMW 3-Series accounts for a third of global BMW sales. This is not a coincidence as the features, performance, and quality of the car speak for themselves.
Aside from the exceptional exterior look and large wheels, the BMW F30 also features automatic air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, keyless starting, automatic boot opening, BMW Professional radio with a 6.5-inch color screen, and multi-function leather steering wheel.
Performance
The BMW F30 3-Series is not among the fastest BMWs on the market. However, it is still fast compared to the cars in its class. This car can accelerate from 0 to 60 in just 6.7 seconds, which is quite slow but still good. However, it has a top speed of 145 mph, which beats most of the competitor cars in its class.
Even though the BMW F30 has had different engines, the most popular one is the B58 engine. This 3.0-liter single turbo engine delivers up to 320 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. Therefore, it is very powerful. Nonetheless, it had an option for a 6-speed manual transmission and a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission.
Comfort and Luxury
Since the BMW F30 3-Series comes in different lines, you’re likely to get different comfort and luxurious features depending on the line that you pick. However, some of the standard features that you will find in all F30 lines include large wheels, leather seats, and wood or aluminum interior trims.
When it comes to top-notch upholstery, the sport line model has four different leather textures to pick from, which include one type of leatherette and three types of Dakota leather. On the contrary, the modern line offers more interior trims than any other line. It has pearl metallic, aluminum, and two different types of wood.
Safety
Since the BMW F30 is among the most reliable cars ever made by BMW, this car had top-notch safety features. Some of these included stability control, anti-lock brakes, overhead airbags, anti-whiplash, knee airbags, overhead airbags, security systems, and much more.
Other vital safety features of the BMW F30 include run-flat tires and optional rearview camera, and side and top-view cameras. All these features combined make driving this car to be safe.
FAQ
How reliable is BMW F30?
The BMW F30 is ranked slightly above average by most rating agencies. This is because it doesn’t have several common issues like most BMWs. This means that most of the issues that owners of this car will experience are a result of normal wear and tear after several years of use.
The hidden MENU service on the BMW F30 comes with functions that can assist you to check the health of your car. To unlock or access this hidden MENU, here is what you need to do:
- Don’t turn off the engine or ignition
- Press and hold the trip reset button for about 10 to 12 seconds
- Press the trip reset button several times until the unlock feature shows up
- Press and hold for several seconds on unlock option until it asks for the code
- The unlock code is featured in the sum of the last 5 digits of the chassis series
- Enter the code, press and hold the button for several seconds
- You’re done
What do the BMW E and F numbers mean?
BMW has code names and E and F are some of them. The code number E means Entwicklung in German, which means development. Note that these numbers are the code numbers provided to new cars in the process of development. So, the F-number was allocated after the E number reached triple digits.
What are some of the common problems associated with the BMW F30?
BMW F30 may be an outstanding car, but it also comes with some shortcomings that you should be aware of. These include poor build quality, not-so-good steering feel, and poor ride quality. Note that these problems vary from one F30 model to another.
The bad steering feel is across all the F30 lines. On the contrary, poor ride quality is common with BMW F30 328 and 335 models. When it comes to the build quality, this issue is very common in the 320i as it does not feel as classy as the E9x or other top-notch BMW F30 models.
Summary
Overall, the BMW F30 is a good car. Thanks to its exceptional exterior and interior appearance that make it ooze comfort and luxury. On top of that, the car performs at a high level, has an efficient engine, and comes with top-notch safety features. Nonetheless, it also has some common issues that you should be aware of before purchasing it.
