F30 vs G20 - what is your preference?

[PsyCLown]

Hey all!

So now that the G20 has been out for a while, I would like to get some opinions from those who have owned or driven both an F30 and G20 and find out which you preferred and why.

We know when it comes to E90 vs F30, a lot preferred the E90 over the F30 although what about F30 vs G20?

Steering, suspension, tech (most likely goes to the G20), build quality, styling etc.

 

[///M_Diesel]

G20, Better build quality, tech and styling. If you have a family and kids it has more space.

G20 > F30
E90 > F30
G20 Vs E90 hmm, the G20 tech and interior will give it the win, other than that I'll take a E90 LCI 😁

 

[MR_Y]

I will post my review from 2019.
I drove a 320i G20 in Cape Town for a few days as a rental. Compared it to my F30 LCI 320d.
Ferdi provides a counterpoint in my review thread that is also worth considering.

I didn't feel the G20, at least in 320i guise, was a dramatic improvement over the F30. I guess the M340i would be a different beast vs the F30 340i...

G20 320i review

Hi, So this past weekend, I had a 400km mixed road experience with a G20 320i as a rental car in Cape Town. From what I gather, the car had the M Sport package (18 inch mixed wheels), front and rear PDC and sunroof. The satnav and function to write on the iDrive controller, I assume, are...

www.bmwfanatics.co.za

 

[VinceM]

I was annoyed with the door knob rattles from F30.

Inferior quality materials used vs other cars (E90/G20)

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[KarshS]

Having had the e90 330d LCI, E92 335i, F30 340I and now the G20 M340i....

The G20 is far superior to all of them.... Tech, Build quality, comfort is all better in the G20. To me the G20 has that 5 series feel in quality. You never got that in the previous Gens. When i had the F30 340i and my engine was replaced i was given a G20 320d as a loan car. If it wasnt for the b58 i really did not want to give the G20 back when my engine replacement was completed lol.

 

[MoeM2]

Having owned F30 330d and now G20 M340i have to agree with Karsh, far superior in every department. The luxury aspect is also a noticeable step up and the ride quality is improved. Love driving the G20 however condition of our roads in JHB is disappointing.


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[MR_Y]

Love driving the G20 however condition of our roads in JHB is disappointing.

X3 M40i then?....

 

[ooovie]

Having had the e90 330d LCI, E92 335i, F30 340I and now the G20 M340i....

The G20 is far superior to all of them.... Tech, Build quality, comfort is all better in the G20. To me the G20 has that 5 series feel in quality. You never got that in the previous Gens. When i had the F30 340i and my engine was replaced i was given a G20 320d as a loan car. If it wasnt for the b58 i really did not want to give the G20 back when my engine replacement was completed lol.

I have a F30, wife has a G20. Does the F30 not feel more stable on the road around 210kph-220kph vs the G20? Thats the only thing I prefer from the F30 over a G20

 

[KarshS]

I have a F30, wife has a G20. Does the F30 not feel more stable on the road around 210kph-220kph vs the G20? Thats the only thing I prefer from the F30 over a G20

So for me its night and day. This could be due to 2 reasons:
1) My g20 has adaptive suspension (comfort/sport ect). This makes a huge difference compared to the standard suspension.
2) The G20 has x-drive compared to my f30 which was RWD. Alot more confidence especially into corners

In general the g20 steering in sport feels heavy and direct whereas the F30 was very light and twitchy for me.

 

[PsyCLown]

Seems as if the G20 is much preferred over the F30 and if you can get a G20 for the right price, take it over the F30.

The interior certainly feels like a far nicer place to be in than that of the F30, I'd much rather be the G20 in the daily commute traffic than an F30.


For interest sake, does nayone have a list of what are standard features in the G20 which was not standard in the F30?
I also took a brief look and from what I can tell, it seem as if HUD is not a common feature on the G20's? A quick google search seems to suggest that retrofitting of tHUD is not the easiest or cheapest with a new instrument cluster being required, dash and ideally new windshield for the HUD.
What about the driver assistance / safety features like the automatic parking, lane keep assist, lane change, emergency brake assist etc? Are these common features on the G20's?

I also see on the overseas forums, it seems as if the adaptive suspension is quite common but not sure about the ones we get in SA? Is it a common feature on models below the M340i?

 

[KarshS]

@PsyCLown this should answer most your questions:

https://www.bmw.co.za/content/dam/bmw/marketZA/bmw_co_za/Documents/brochures/bmw-3-series-brochure-2022.pdf.asset.1649317076427.pdf

 

[KarshS]

The launch editions have alot of options fitted.
You will also notice that Pre Covid build cars will have more options than post covid.

 

[MR_Y]

Just throwing it out there...

The F30 was made in SA.
The G20 is made in Mexico.
Mexico also builds the latest 2 series coupe for the international market and their quality standards are pretty high.
I had minor quality issues on my F30 LCI and my current G01 X3 - both made in SA

 

[MoeM2]

X3 M40i then?....

If I were to go with x3 it would be the M40d though. I do have a F25 x3 20d and it’s a brilliant vehicle


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[Rainier Vermaak]

My F34 was at Xcede yesterday and we had to make a detour to Power Pipes - Juvan commented on how quiet the ride is and that the interior seems a lot more solid than most F30's he has been in.

The F34 is probably imported from Germany, which probably accounts for the perceived difference in quality.

The steering is still horrendous.

 

[MR_Y]

My F34 was at Xcede yesterday and we had to make a detour to Power Pipes - Juvan commented on how quiet the ride is and that the interior seems a lot more solid than most F30's he has been in.

The F34 is probably imported from Germany, which probably accounts for the perceived difference in quality.

The steering is still horrendous.

Yes - F34 wad imported. F30 was made in SA.

 

[KR_19]

I used a G20 for 2 days. After owning two F30's, besides the enhanced tech in the G20, it definitely feels much better put together and of higher quality inside.
Even my F22 felt more solid than the F30's, again this might be because the F22 came in fully imported (from Germany if I'm not mistaken).

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[Rotinaj]

With all this so much better put together nonsense you boys are talking.... The E46 was better than the E36 that can be believed due to the change in manufacturing technique. E90 as better than E46... and E46's last, F30 was better than E90 we must be getting close to a Honda now, G20 better than F30. Wow BMW must have made a Lexus by now. Come-on now stop with the drivel.

G20 is not my cup, it is to big, i hate the new BMW dashboard and well BMW made their small car so fucking big you might as well just get the X3 that rides better and handling is much of a muchness with EPAS and oversized rims.

 

[msm]

I know looks are subjective, but I love the F30. A nicely modded one still gets my attention. Favourite M car is also the previous F80/F82. Don’t care much about the performance improvements on the newer gen, but that’s just my opinion.

 

[Rotinaj]

I know looks are subjective, but I love the F30. A nicely modded one still gets my attention. Favourite M car is also the previous F80/F82. Don’t care much about the performance improvements on the newer gen, but that’s just my opinion.

There will always be a newer better faster warra warra. Park a MK8 Golf R or a Delta Integrale infront of me, my eyes won't even glance towards the VW. Why buy what we like and if you liked the right car it will not lose a fuckton of value. Imagine you kept your E39 individuals you had back in the day.