[Roman G]

I am coming from 2013 G37S 6MT Sedan.

There are currently no manual F30 328 in my area so I cant exactly go and test drive it and as much as I want a manual car, MT on a 328 brings up some questions...

From the videos and posts I've read, the f30 328 (m sport) does not come with a short throw kit. A standard on a G37S 6MT. I loved having short throws... To those with a f30 6mt, do you find your self wanting a short throw kit? How long are the throws? Purchasing a STK for f30 is not an option.

Now I know this is preference, but I'm just looking for any advice before I get one.


Has anyone come from a G37S 6mt to a manual F30 328? How is the change? Specifically how do you like the 6mt on a 328 vs G37S.

I do believe a jb4 stage 1 f30 328 m sport is very close to G37S in performance.

Thanks,

Roman

[Reelknead1]

Coming from a g37s I have a feeling you'll find the 328 a bit slow. Don't get me wrong the car is capable but it's just not very quick. It doesn't give you the sense of urgency when accelerating. I came from a tuned GTI and the mid range power was addicting.

As far as the 6mt in the m-sport, again coming from the GTI the throws are very short and much more direct. I find the shifter in this car very good compared to what I've experienced. I see no need for a short throw shifter.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by Roman G

I am coming from 2013 G37S 6MT Sedan.

There are currently no manual F30 328 in my area so I cant exactly go and test drive it and as much as I want a manual car, MT on a 328 brings up some questions...

From the videos and posts I've read, the f30 328 (m sport) does not come with a short throw kit. A standard on a G37S 6MT. I loved having short throws... To those with a f30 6mt, do you find your self wanting a short throw kit? How long are the throws? Purchasing a STK for f30 is not an option.

Now I know this is preference, but I'm just looking for any advice before I get one.


Has anyone come from a G37S 6mt to a manual F30 328? How is the change? Specifically how do you like the 6mt on a 328 vs G37S.

I do believe a jb4 stage 1 f30 328 m sport is very close to G37S in performance.

Thanks,

Roman

I find the throws fine, The closest thing to the G37 I drove was a 350Z.

I have my 6mt MSport in Brooklyn for Integral Audio till August when it will be for sale. If you can wait a bit, I am happy to let you try out my car.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by Reelknead1

As far as the 6mt in the m-sport, again coming from the GTI the throws are very short and much more direct. I find the shifter in this car very good compared to what I've experienced. I see no need for a short throw shifter.

+1. Great shifting feel and action, something BMW really excels with. Not super short, but not too long. I won't be bothering with any aftermarket shifting add-on.

[FC4]

The shifter in these cars is average at best. If you're used to driving sports cars, it will feel sub-par. If all you've driven are economy cars, it will feel amazing and you'll justify why BMWs have long been considered "driver's cars." The shifter in a G37 was as equally mediocre so it will feel fine.

[Reelknead1]

Originally Posted by FC4

The shifter in these cars is average at best. If you're used to driving sports cars, it will feel sub-par. If all you've driven are economy cars, it will feel amazing and you'll justify why BMWs have long been considered "driver's cars." The shifter in a G37 was as equally mediocre so it will feel fine.

Maybe you're correct as I've only had experience with 3 manual transmissions. A MkVI GTI which was documented above, a 2003 v6 Dakota; worst shifter action I've ever experienced, I thought I was driving a tractor trailer. My third experience was a 997 911 and I thought our shifter was on par with the one in the Porsche. Porsche is using cables in their system where I believe the BMW is direct to the transmission but overall I thought they were comparable...

Either way, OP make sure you get an extensive test drive in the 328i, coming from a car with 300+ hp down to 240hp could be a deal breaker. I haven't even made my first payment and I'm already thinking about a Stage 1 tune. I just feel the mid range of this car is lacking.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by Reelknead1

Either way, OP make sure you get an extensive test drive in the 328i, coming from a car with 300+ hp down to 240hp could be a deal breaker. I haven't even made my first payment and I'm already thinking about a Stage 1 tune. I just feel the mid range of this car is lacking.

Its going from a 300+hp car down to a 260+ one and one with more TQ.

The G37 was a 102mph trapping car that did 0-60 in about 5.3. That is not a world away of the 5.5/99mph of the STOCK 328 6mt. BMS stage 1 nets G37 matching or beating performance for a few hundred bucks.

The thing is the 328 does not FEEL as fast as it does not feel very RAW in it's power delivery.

[unintelligible]

I went from a 2009 G37S 6MT and now have an F30 328i 6MT. So the exact case you are asking about.

To put it bluntly, I thought that the G's transmission was garbage. The drivetrain had so much slop in it. Whining gears, notchy shifting, banging, grinding, unpredictable clutch... I could never drive that car smoothly and hated it so much I got rid of it with less than 10k miles. That was painful.

On the other hand, the F30 feels much better. The clutch action is smooth and linear. And while the shift action is slightly longer than the G, it feels more substantial. The drivetrain feels tight and refined - no massive banging of the transmission when disengaging the clutch under load. It is just way better to live with by a country mile.

In terms of the engine, power wise I don't think there is a ton of difference. More power / less torque vs. less power / more torque. The power deficiency can be somewhat rectified with a JB. However where you will definitely notice a difference is the sound. The N20 sounds like a bucket of bolts, and the exhaust note of the G gives me goosebumps. You'll have to determine if that matters to you.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by FC4

The shifter in these cars is average at best. If you're used to driving sports cars, it will feel sub-par. If all you've driven are economy cars, it will feel amazing and you'll justify why BMWs have long been considered "driver's cars." The shifter in a G37 was as equally mediocre so it will feel fine.

I'm a little curious, from what high horse do you come where the shifter in these cars is "average at best"?

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by unintelligible

I went from a 2009 G37S 6MT and now have an F30 328i 6MT. So the exact case you are asking about.

To put it bluntly, I thought that the G's transmission was garbage. The drivetrain had so much slop in it. Whining gears, notchy shifting, banging, grinding, unpredictable clutch... I could never drive that car smoothly and hated it so much I got rid of it with less than 10k miles. That was painful.

On the other hand, the F30 feels much better. The clutch action is smooth and linear. And while the shift action is slightly longer than the G, it feels more substantial. The drivetrain feels tight and refined - no massive banging of the transmission when disengaging the clutch under load. It is just way better to live with by a country mile.

In terms of the engine, power wise I don't think there is a ton of difference. More power / less torque vs. less power / more torque. The power deficiency can be somewhat rectified with a JB. However where you will definitely notice a difference is the sound. The N20 sounds like a bucket of bolts, and the exhaust note of the G gives me goosebumps. You'll have to determine if that matters to you.

I noticed you own a 2012 328... have you driven a new one? While I think the VQ sounds better than the N20 of all years, the N20 interestingly sounds better to me these days.. I'm not sure if BMW revised the exhaust or what

[NOBLE MOTORCARS]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

I'm a little curious, from what high horse do you come where the shifter in these cars is "average at best"?

TROLOLOL OH SHIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

The G37 was a 102mph trapping car that did 0-60 in about 5.3. That is not a world away of the 5.5/99mph of the STOCK 328 6mt.

For some reason I thought the G37 trapped in the 105-107 mph range, like the 335? ~8mph trap speed difference is starting to get noticeable, IMHO.

Maybe I am thinking about the later 7speed automatic cars or read skewed information from a G37 fan site

[unintelligible]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

I noticed you own a 2012 328... have you driven a new one? While I think the VQ sounds better than the N20 of all years, the N20 interestingly sounds better to me these days.. I'm not sure if BMW revised the exhaust or what

It's not your imagination. I had a '14 loaner a month or two ago and it sounded better. Whatever they did, it had a bit more growl to it. But where it seems to be worst is in low speed driving, like if you're in a parking garage or next to a building and you start to let the clutch out, the engine clatter at that point in the rev range is just awful. It truly does sound like a diesel. But since my loaner was an automatic, I don't know if that situation would be any better in the '14s.

[FC4]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

I'm a little curious, from what high horse do you come where the shifter in these cars is "average at best"?

LOL sure.

Please share with us how impressed you are by the shifter in these cars. I'm sure you think it's great.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by FC4

LOL sure.

Please share with us how impressed you are by the shifter in these cars. I'm sure you think it's great.

I already shared my thoughts. I'm honestly just wondering what makes you say that..

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

I'm a little curious, from what high horse do you come where the shifter in these cars is "average at best"?

I don't know about FC4, but nothing I've driven has beaten the stick shift in a S2000.

[unintelligible]

Originally Posted by alex2364

I don't know about FC4, but nothing I've driven has beaten the stick shift in a S2000.

I hear this all the time about the S2000... I really need to drive one some day to see what everyone is raving about

[FC4]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

I already shared my thoughts. I'm honestly just wondering what makes you say that..

Sure...thank you for a more appropriate, mature response.

I say that because the shifter really is average. What's so bad about that? Perhaps my horse is a little higher because the only manual cars I've owned have been sports cars, but no one will praise the stick in these cars after driving any of the numerous cars out there with a generally accepted "good" shifter.

Throws are long and numb but positive. It has never caused me to miss a shift, but then again I'm not driving this car very aggressively. The occasions where I have pushed the car, it doesn't take too kindly on fast shifting, and for whatever reason it doesn't like to go to into 2nd all the time downshifting for a corner.

The clutch is just fine, although I had a BMS Clutch Stop since day 1...world's better than Nissan's clutch in the Z/G where the engagement point was all the way at the top of pedal travel, causing everyone to free-rev the car while shifting until they got used to it.

[dtn]

Originally Posted by alex2364

I don't know about FC4, but nothing I've driven has beaten the stick shift in a S2000.

Originally Posted by unintelligible

I hear this all the time about the S2000... I really need to drive one some day to see what everyone is raving about

I concur. Shift felt amazing in that car.

Loved that car to death but the 10 year production cycle with no redesign killed me. I always thought the E89 Z4 was what the next gen S2000 was supposed to look like... which is why I picked up one and started the BMW addiction.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by FC4

Perhaps my horse is a little higher because the only manual cars I've owned have been sports cars, but no one will praise the stick in these cars after driving any of the numerous cars out there with a generally accepted "good" shifter.

I'm wondering what sports cars you're referring to.

I've been a car guy for over a decade and from my perspective, BMW has always been in that category of being generally accepted as "good" if not setting the bar for feel and precision. The phrase "shifting through butter" comes to mind.

I get it, the S2k shifter is amazing. Fine. But my point is that there is some room between "amazing" and "below average."

[Roman G]

Thank you all for feedback.

I definitely plan to JB4 tune it. I think i'll be happy with a stage 1 tune. Wont be modding past a tune maybe m perf. exhaust.

I felt the manual G was always asking and daring you to punch it after downshifting it when high in the rev range.

If jb4 brings the 328 to similar power levels on the street as g37 ( i know on paper tuned 328 is a direct match with a g37 ) or slight less I'm ok with that.

Originally Posted by unintelligible

I went from a 2009 G37S 6MT and now have an F30 328i 6MT. So the exact case you are asking about.

To put it bluntly, I thought that the G's transmission was garbage. The drivetrain had so much slop in it. Whining gears, notchy shifting, banging, grinding, unpredictable clutch... I could never drive that car smoothly and hated it so much I got rid of it with less than 10k miles. That was painful.

On the other hand, the F30 feels much better. The clutch action is smooth and linear. And while the shift action is slightly longer than the G, it feels more substantial. The drivetrain feels tight and refined - no massive banging of the transmission when disengaging the clutch under load. It is just way better to live with by a country mile.

In terms of the engine, power wise I don't think there is a ton of difference. More power / less torque vs. less power / more torque. The power deficiency can be somewhat rectified with a JB. However where you will definitely notice a difference is the sound. The N20 sounds like a bucket of bolts, and the exhaust note of the G gives me goosebumps. You'll have to determine if that matters to you.

How is the driving experience G37 6mt and 328 6mt? twisties and control, driving experience overall in the city and when the inner Chris Harris wakes up within you? I know this is all subjective, just want extra opinions.

Thanks all

Roman

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

For some reason I thought the G37 trapped in the 105-107 mph range, like the 335? ~8mph trap speed difference is starting to get noticeable, IMHO.

Maybe I am thinking about the later 7speed automatic cars or read skewed information from a G37 fan site

I have never seen a 6spd stock G37 trap at 335 numbers, always under 103.

If we bring autos into it, the 328/428 has quite a few reported tests of slightly lower traps but 13.8's and 13.9's which narrows the gap between it and G's even more so.