windnsea00
11-04-2006, 01:43 AM
So I drove our `02 325iT (sport package) back to back with a brand new 328iT (non-sport package) today. I've driven the E90 before but never wrote any review so I will incorporate it all now.
I liked I-drive and all the goodies such as RTTI and Bluetooth, etc. that you can play with. It also IMO makes the dash look better as the stock E90 (E91 in this case) dash looks way too flat. Panaromic moonroof was awesome, bet it's not great for weight but really lights up the interior which I like. However, rear headroom suffered a bit, I'm 6`0 and my hair lightly brushed the ceiling.
The non-sport seats are more comfy than the non-sport E46 seats but nothing special. Gauges are fantastic and I like the amber ring around them. Also when using cruise control I liked the little hash mark that goes next to your speed and digital speed display. The new setup for blinker/wiper switches takes getting use to but makes sense. Cupholders blow but I don't care. I miss the center window switches but they obviously want to clean up that area for I-drive and what not. I think the DVD navigation slot could be placed somewhere more discreet as how often does one take it in and out? There is TONS more little gadgets thru the OBC and I-drive combined that made the drive home in the E46 feel rather sparse.
I like how they brought back the driver/passenger temp controls and in knobs...like in the E36. They are well placed also for quick changes. I noticed everything feels pretty close to the driver, like the windshield and controls compared to the E46. However, I didn't like how the dash is higher up as it has to line up with the front end which has increased in height for pedestrian safety. This was noticeable going back to the E46 where the view of the road right in front of the car was better. The headliner material seemed of better quality than past 3er's. I noticed the glove compartment was rather small and the material in that lower dash did not feel as high quality as in the E46's. One other thing I didn't care much for was in the non-sport wheel, my fingers couldn't come down as low as in the E46's (the cutoff for where the controls were are higher on the E90/E91) therefore my arms had to sit higher.
The sheetmetal on the outside (door panels for instance) seemed more Japanese like, as in much thinner. I guess they have to trim weight due to more electronics and safety. Thus there seems like there is less lust in the paint. Funny how a large amount of Asians are buying these new 3er's compared to last generations, I believe BMW tried to capture some of that market that in the past was left out. At least the doors still close with that solid German feel.
Clear lenses in the front would really help from the examples I have seen but I have gotten use to the outside and personally feel the Touring pulls it off well. I really like the mirror design, very smooth and pretty. I also like how they electrically folded up in that cool angle that E39 M5's did. I liked how the passenger wiper comes up at an angle towards the end, helps finish off the lines of the hood IMO. When the salesman was backing the car up at an angle I could see the bi-xenon projectors move side to side, neat upgrade.
Now the driving. The 3.0 N54 motor is fantastic. BMW really made it feel free revving and it begs to be driven. I personally found it pretty quick for an everyday car. BMW motors always feel so much quicker when in their top end rush compared to motors with another 30+ more hp. I would easily enjoy that powerplant as a daily driver with a 6-spd manual.
However, I was driving a 6-spd automatic which was an improvement over the past 5-spd auto in the E46. It shifts much snappier and stays in the powerband better. Brakes felt no different than the E46, granted I didn't really drive the car hard. Handling felt taut, but it was brand new so shocks/tires/brakes hadn't broken in though I already know the sport package is a must. Driving the E46 afterwards, the M54 felt less willing/fun and a little less taut in the suspension since it has 51k miles on it. I wouldn't say the new 3er's make a DRASTIC leap from the E46 in terms of driving but the engines definitley do, minus the S54.
Overall, I would say I really like all the gadgets to play with in the new 3er, Comfort Access, Bluetooth, RTTI all make one nice daily driver. While the interior/exterior doesn't feel quite as "luxurious/german" as the E46, I could still sport it.
I liked I-drive and all the goodies such as RTTI and Bluetooth, etc. that you can play with. It also IMO makes the dash look better as the stock E90 (E91 in this case) dash looks way too flat. Panaromic moonroof was awesome, bet it's not great for weight but really lights up the interior which I like. However, rear headroom suffered a bit, I'm 6`0 and my hair lightly brushed the ceiling.
The non-sport seats are more comfy than the non-sport E46 seats but nothing special. Gauges are fantastic and I like the amber ring around them. Also when using cruise control I liked the little hash mark that goes next to your speed and digital speed display. The new setup for blinker/wiper switches takes getting use to but makes sense. Cupholders blow but I don't care. I miss the center window switches but they obviously want to clean up that area for I-drive and what not. I think the DVD navigation slot could be placed somewhere more discreet as how often does one take it in and out? There is TONS more little gadgets thru the OBC and I-drive combined that made the drive home in the E46 feel rather sparse.
I like how they brought back the driver/passenger temp controls and in knobs...like in the E36. They are well placed also for quick changes. I noticed everything feels pretty close to the driver, like the windshield and controls compared to the E46. However, I didn't like how the dash is higher up as it has to line up with the front end which has increased in height for pedestrian safety. This was noticeable going back to the E46 where the view of the road right in front of the car was better. The headliner material seemed of better quality than past 3er's. I noticed the glove compartment was rather small and the material in that lower dash did not feel as high quality as in the E46's. One other thing I didn't care much for was in the non-sport wheel, my fingers couldn't come down as low as in the E46's (the cutoff for where the controls were are higher on the E90/E91) therefore my arms had to sit higher.
The sheetmetal on the outside (door panels for instance) seemed more Japanese like, as in much thinner. I guess they have to trim weight due to more electronics and safety. Thus there seems like there is less lust in the paint. Funny how a large amount of Asians are buying these new 3er's compared to last generations, I believe BMW tried to capture some of that market that in the past was left out. At least the doors still close with that solid German feel.
Clear lenses in the front would really help from the examples I have seen but I have gotten use to the outside and personally feel the Touring pulls it off well. I really like the mirror design, very smooth and pretty. I also like how they electrically folded up in that cool angle that E39 M5's did. I liked how the passenger wiper comes up at an angle towards the end, helps finish off the lines of the hood IMO. When the salesman was backing the car up at an angle I could see the bi-xenon projectors move side to side, neat upgrade.
Now the driving. The 3.0 N54 motor is fantastic. BMW really made it feel free revving and it begs to be driven. I personally found it pretty quick for an everyday car. BMW motors always feel so much quicker when in their top end rush compared to motors with another 30+ more hp. I would easily enjoy that powerplant as a daily driver with a 6-spd manual.
However, I was driving a 6-spd automatic which was an improvement over the past 5-spd auto in the E46. It shifts much snappier and stays in the powerband better. Brakes felt no different than the E46, granted I didn't really drive the car hard. Handling felt taut, but it was brand new so shocks/tires/brakes hadn't broken in though I already know the sport package is a must. Driving the E46 afterwards, the M54 felt less willing/fun and a little less taut in the suspension since it has 51k miles on it. I wouldn't say the new 3er's make a DRASTIC leap from the E46 in terms of driving but the engines definitley do, minus the S54.
Overall, I would say I really like all the gadgets to play with in the new 3er, Comfort Access, Bluetooth, RTTI all make one nice daily driver. While the interior/exterior doesn't feel quite as "luxurious/german" as the E46, I could still sport it.