Well I just got my car back from the dealership. BTW, BMW of Bel Air in Maryland did a wonderful job and all the employees were very friendly. They had to replace the sensor in my sunroof because for some reason it thought something was stuck in there. Now I just have to figure out why my computer has decided to reset itself out of nowhere. But that is niether here nor there...

While my car (335i Coupe, you can read my signature to see the rest of the options) was in the shop, I was loaned a 335i Sedan w/ navi and cold weather. Here are my thoughts on the two: First off, the Sedan had no sports package, which is a big loss. The seats felt very unsupportive and just strange to me. The steering wheel was also not near as thick nor did it have the "thumb slots". It was also an auto, and wow, not impressed at all with that! It seemed like every time I took off the pedal was sticking and made for a "jumpy" ride. Very inconsistent. Maybe the clutch on my car makes it seem smoother since I have more control over throttle inputs. I thought it might be nice having a little extra room for a few days as well, not really the case. I liked being able to just throw my gym bag in the back seat as opposed to opening the trunk, but that's about where it ends. I am just over six feet tall and with the seat in a comfortable position it seemed like every time I looked over my left shoulder I was staring down a B pillar. Would not suggest a sedan for anyone tall... Also, my car has the comfort access, and the loaner did not. Wow I did not realize how used to having this convenience I had become. It seemed overly annoying to have to pull the key out, hit the unlock button, and then put it in the ignition! Crazy right!? Seemed like such a normal thing with all my cars before and now I could barely stand it for the two days I went without!

Now that I am almost finished with my little rant, I guess the main point is it's all about the options you order. For me, sport package, manual transmission, and comfort access are things I would never not get on my future cars. The coupe provides better visibility and overall a more sporty feel, but then again I may be a little bit bias :) All in all, I walked away with that much more of an appreciation for the car choice I made. Let the replies fly!!!

I agree. Even though they are technically the same series and all, the sedan looks a little rotundly obese in my opinion. I like the idea of the sedan but that coupled with the oddly shaped sharp corner of the headlight and those play-doh like randomly shaped taillights, it just ruins it for me. I think they have bad wheel options as well. I just think the coupe is an overall winner unless it's imperative that you have 4 doors.

eh, I think with the Sport Package and wheels the sedan still is very good looking and sporty. I just love the look of the coupe, so that's why I hunted down the MT and 335 Coupe configuration. I would have taken a sedan in MT if that was the only thing I could find.

Sounds like your loaner was jacked up. I love my auto. Agree with you on sport package. I love the seats and thicker wheel. Wish I had comfort access. Also, did you try Sport mode (DS)?

interesting observations .... and expect a lot of replies!!

i had a sedan (323) , now a coupe (328) and you're right- you sometimes wish you could open the 2nd door for groceries or gym bag, but it's not that big a deal.
i have the sport pkg, so i don't know what the seats or steering wheel are like without it ... but i'm glad to hear it makes a difference.
i didn't get comfort access - but i have a friend w/ it and he says he doesn't think it was worth it for him, so i guess some options are a bit more subjective. personally? i can't imagine talking in the car on the phone w/out the bluetooth! and even though i went without, i can't imagine not having navigation or real time traffic.
while many may disagree with your assessment, i thought it was an interesting comparsion/observation.

Note: The 335i auto is ZF sourced. I don't believe the 328i auto tranny is the same. The 335i auto tranny is actually faster than the manual.

Agree about sedan styling. If I were buying a sedan, I would go elsewhere. Performance is great but is too overdesigned for me. Coupe is a more elegant design.

How did this turn into a style bashing thread. The OP had some interesting points without slamming the sedan styling.:rolleyes

For all you coupe lovers, we get it, you don't like sedans. I feel the opposite, but I don't have to put down your coupe (yes, there are flaws) to enjoy my sedan.

As for responding to the OP's points:

Yep, spt pkg, manual and premium make all the difference in my opinion. The steering wheel, seats and suspension are much better with spt pkg. CA is simply great, I love it, totally worth $500. I would bet your experience would have been less tramatic with those things in the car. If the options and colors were the same as your car you probably would have barely noticed.

I agree about the auto, very unsmooth, like it's trying a little to hard to feel like a manual, but doesn't quite make it.

I'm 6'2", I agree that the b-pillar is right there. If you drive for a longer time with it, you just never notice. This is my 3rd 3 series sedan, so I'm use to it. I find the smaller back window height of the coupe to be more bothersome when I look in the rearview mirror. That seems to block more view than the b-pillar. Probably more about what your use to.

And last, I throw my gym bag in the passenger seat. I didn't know that was what the back seat was for, maybe I'll try it.;)

For all you coupe lovers, we get it, you don't like sedans.

I don't mean to bash the sedan. Like I said I like the idea of a sedan. Not just that but in looking at the e46, I like the sedan and coupe equally. I just think that with the e90 they just went a little in the wrong direction, that's all. Not making a general statement about sedans.

Note: The 335i auto is ZF sourced. I don't believe the 328i auto tranny is the same.

The 328 auto is made by GM in France.

The steering wheel was also not near as thick nor did it have the "thumb slots". It was also an auto, and wow, not impressed at all with that! It seemed like every time I took off the pedal was sticking and made for a "jumpy" ride. Very inconsistent.

Just to let you know, even with the sport pkg., the steering wheel on the AT loses the "thumb slots" because of the paddle shifters.

Well I just got my car back from the dealership. BTW, BMW of Bel Air in Maryland did a wonderful job and all the employees were very friendly. They had to replace the sensor in my sunroof because for some reason it thought something was stuck in there. Now I just have to figure out why my computer has decided to reset itself out of nowhere. But that is niether here nor there...

While my car (335i Coupe, you can read my signature to see the rest of the options) was in the shop, I was loaned a 335i Sedan w/ navi and cold weather. Here are my thoughts on the two: First off, the Sedan had no sports package, which is a big loss. The seats felt very unsupportive and just strange to me. The steering wheel was also not near as thick nor did it have the "thumb slots". It was also an auto, and wow, not impressed at all with that! It seemed like every time I took off the pedal was sticking and made for a "jumpy" ride. Very inconsistent. Maybe the clutch on my car makes it seem smoother since I have more control over throttle inputs. I thought it might be nice having a little extra room for a few days as well, not really the case. I liked being able to just throw my gym bag in the back seat as opposed to opening the trunk, but that's about where it ends. I am just over six feet tall and with the seat in a comfortable position it seemed like every time I looked over my left shoulder I was staring down a B pillar. Would not suggest a sedan for anyone tall... Also, my car has the comfort access, and the loaner did not. Wow I did not realize how used to having this convenience I had become. It seemed overly annoying to have to pull the key out, hit the unlock button, and then put it in the ignition! Crazy right!? Seemed like such a normal thing with all my cars before and now I could barely stand it for the two days I went without!

Now that I am almost finished with my little rant, I guess the main point is it's all about the options you order. For me, sport package, manual transmission, and comfort access are things I would never not get on my future cars. The coupe provides better visibility and overall a more sporty feel, but then again I may be a little bit bias :) All in all, I walked away with that much more of an appreciation for the car choice I made. Let the replies fly!!!
+1 on the options, but disagree on the B pillar and visibility thing. I had a coupe BMW for 10 years (well hatchback but except for the rear 1/4 it is identical to e36 coupe) and appreciate the longer door/window, but to be honest the sedan has much better visibility. Also I am probably taller than you and don't feel the B pillar interferes at all, unlike almost every other sedan I have driven. So yeah although a sedan might not be everyone's cup of tea (and to be honest if not for kids I'd probably have chosen the coupe), it is very ergonomic. Being in it for the duration you have doesn't give you enough time to judge it objectively I think, but thanks for sharing your thoughts. I guess I have to try the coupe and see what I am missing!

Just to let you know, even with the sport pkg., the steering wheel on the AT loses the "thumb slots" because of the paddle shifters.

That's true, and I didn't realize it until you said it. But what sucks is that on the BMW website in the photo gallery for the 335 coupe, it has an auto w/ paddles but it also has the thumb slots on the steering wheel even though they aren't actually made that way.

Can someone say consumer protection suit for reason of deceptive advertising?

That's true, and I didn't realize it until you said it. But what sucks is that on the BMW website in the photo gallery for the 335 coupe, it has an auto w/ paddles but it also has the thumb slots on the steering wheel even though they aren't actually made that way.

Can someone say consumer protection suit for reason of deceptive advertising?
:lol

+1 on the options, but disagree on the B pillar and visibility thing. I had a coupe BMW for 10 years (well hatchback but except for the rear 1/4 it is identical to e36 coupe) and appreciate the longer door/window, but to be honest the sedan has much better visibility. Also I am probably taller than you and don't feel the B pillar interferes at all, unlike almost every other sedan I have driven. So yeah although a sedan might not be everyone's cup of tea (and to be honest if not for kids I'd probably have chosen the coupe), it is very ergonomic. Being in it for the duration you have doesn't give you enough time to judge it objectively I think, but thanks for sharing your thoughts. I guess I have to try the coupe and see what I am missing!

Well of course my opinion is probably a bit bias! I guess overall it just didn't feel "right". The moment I sat in my coupe for the first time it just felt so comfortable and everything seemed to be in just the right spot. Perhaps a little more seat time in the sedan and I might change my mind, but I doubt it. Who knows though, like you said, didn't experience it for long enough. I would be more than happy to drive a sedan (BMW of course) but the coupe fits me better. Just thought I would put my impressions out there. Oh, and I'm a young guy with no kids so it was never even a question of whether or not to get a coupe!

Oh, and I'm a young guy with no kids so it was never even a question of whether or not to get a coupe!
Not yet at least :rolleyes. Those were my exact thoughts 10 years ago...

Not yet at least :rolleyes. Those were my exact thoughts 10 years ago...

Ha! Oh I have no doubt it will happen in the next few years, but this car was my gift to myself! :buttrockBy the time the family thing roll around this one will probably be sold...

Ha! Oh I have no doubt it will happen in the next few years, but this car was my gift to myself! :buttrockBy the time the family thing roll around this one will probably be sold...
My ti Compact survived marriage and 1st 2 kids, not bad huh, esp. it was the only car in the household. I just gave in this year, couldn't take the wife's nagging anymore about lack of extra doors and trunk space.

I agree on the B-pillars. I drove all coupes before this car and having driven my sedan for 6 months now, the B-pillars still annoy me. Sport package is a no brainer for the seats and the wheels, which are the same as the coupe. If not for kids coming (t minus 6 months and counting) I would be driving a coupe right now instead of the sedan. That said, it's a fantastic car! And I know what you mean about missing CA. Every time I drive my wife's car, I walk up to the door, start pulling the handle, and then curse as I realize I have to dig for the keys and press a button! Silly I know, but it's all about what you're used to I guess!!