Got my first loaner vehicle today, a White 2009 328i..all I can say is..WOW. What difference between this car and my 528...it's like driving a Yugo (no offense to the 3-series owners out there)...I wish they would have at least given me a 335, so I could beat on the turbo for a while..

 

I had my '07 530xi 6 speed manual in for warranty work in September, and got to take a 2011 328i with xDrive automatic home as a loaner. I gotta tell ya, the 3 CAN'T COMPARE to my 5! Okay, I'm biased toward a manual transmission, but I don't think the paddle shifters are as satisfying. It reminded me of when I used to shift from D1 to D2 to D3 on my father's '66 Mustang to make believe I was driving a stick, LOL! The seats were very stiff and the headrest not too adjustable. The car handled very well, but after driving my (new to me) 5 for just a couple of months, I think the 5 series is a cut above the 3 series.