[Juve29]

RyBMW,

Your right about that, the fit in 04 Acura TL is not that great, I won't say it's terrible, but no way near the fit of the E90.

The quality is great, very functional but it just lacks inspiration.

I think they could have kept it simple and functional, eventhough they would have gotten a little more creative.

We have to admit, that in a couple of years if the Japanese meet the quality standars of the Germans, the German manufacture will be in trouble.

[JamieA]

I love it, it is better than my A4's interior for style and design flair. It needs iDrive to look complete though. I like the mini-5 look. There are some bits that aren't particlarly well designed like the interior dome lights look wrong, but luckily everything else is so right, and very very tactile...

[Garrett]

The E46 Interior was a driver-centric design. The passenger was just that... everything wraped around the driver and they were in command.

The E90 newly designed interoir SUCKS. The strait dash design looks like a Chevy Malibu. Althought the fit and finish might be of better quality, that means less when it's a horrid experience driving in such an ugly designed interior.

I hope to God BMW changes the Coupes interior a "cockpit" driver-centric design... and not this open "I am a family man, with a pregnant wife" style of design.

Cadillac's interior far exceeds BMW this year... and this ambigious, smalzy open air design is NOT BMW'esque ...!





-Garrett

[BMW0]

You never know if a Canadian is joking or if it’s serious talk. I think he's joking; it's not in his best judgment to post something that would cause him retribution.

[Juve29]

What are you trying to say?

[wantmye90]

While I am a big fan of the A6's interior, I really appreciate the e90's elegant simplicity. Time will ultimately be the best judge, but my money says that the e90's interior is well designed and is a classic - no frills, just good ole fasioned spot on german engineering. A drivers car.

[JBM]

I actually like the simple style of the dash. I'll admit, I'm usually drawn to the tech-filled dashes (e.g. I have a 2005 Acura TL). But the simplistic lines and minimalist style in the 3 series is nice.

I'm still waiting for my ordered 325xi from the dealer. And because my other lease was due and I had to turn in my car, the dealer gave me a brand new 330xi to tool around in until my car arrives.

Here's something I noticed though. When I test drove the BMW (always during the day), I though the gauges were fine. Nothing spectacular, but well laid out and easy to read. But when I received the loaner 330xi, it was at night. I noticed that the all orange lighting was not very conducive to easy reading. Since everything is orange, there was no contrast between the numbers, hash marks, and the needles on the gauges. I found myself spending more time attempting to read the gauges rather than the usual quick glance.

I think a different color for the needles would greatly help (maybe white), as well as eliminating some of the hash marks around the speedometer. It seems to me that the speedo is a little too "hash marked."

What does everyone else think?

[Jibber]

Originally Posted by Juve29

The problem I find with the interior of the e90 is it looks to me like an old Bimmer.

When I both the car I though, I was going to get use to it, but I just can't.

Dashboard is to flat! A little bit more creativity, would of been a good thing

I heard that the original E90 interior design was actually packed with gratuitous and unmotivated lines and curves, plus Pokeman emblems all over the place. Unfortunately, someone senior in the design team overruled this new interior claiming "basic sense of class and style." Sad.

[cntlaw]

There is nothing I hate and nothing I like about.
If I must say one thing that I like, then it will be because it is a BMW.

[2006bmw]

I think the interior is outstanding. Very clean, minimalist design which is very appropriate for a sports sedan, yet there is no mistaking that this is a luxury car. They did screw up a few things in my opinion, including the cupholders and the location of the window controls. By and large, though, I think it is superb. Whoever said it looks like a Chevy Malibu, gimme a break. I actually drove a rented Malibu for a week before my Bimmer came in, and let me tell you, there's simply no comparison.

[khoda355]

Originally Posted by jcoo085

I hate the interior. That's why I bought it...

ya same i just felt like wasting $$$$$$

[txusa03]

It looks very nice to me. However, 1 small problem with the radio display. In the day time, you cannot see the radio display so my guess is they will tweak that little on the next model to fix the glare. Maybe if I tinted my window, it might help. Who knows.

[cntlaw]

Originally Posted by JamieA

I love it, it is better than my A4's interior for style and design flair. It needs iDrive to look complete though. I like the mini-5 look. There are some bits that aren't particlarly well designed like the interior dome lights look wrong, but luckily everything else is so right, and very very tactile...

We all love our interiors because it is our cars
Not meant to be rude, your A4 must be an old one , new Audi interior is on average , the best among MBs and BMWs.
Hit me.

[jmcphillips1]

I am not to fond of the interior without Nav, but with it, I love it!!!

[poldim]

Originally Posted by Juve29

BMW took a risk with the exterior, and according to me they did an excellent job, but then when I look at the interior, it looks as if they were afraid to take a risk. The interior doesn't seem to go with the exterior.

When you look at exterior, you expect the interior to be just as nice.

As if they were afraid of shocking to many people.

The interior lights, to me look cheap.

The cupholders are a complete disaster, there's not a lot of storage space.

Just on top where the air vents are, right in the middle of the dash, they should have put a clock there.

Without the iDrive it looks empty.

Just little thing that they could have done, that could have made a difference.

Little touches that the Japanese don't seem to ignore.

I dont think their exterior was a risk, it trickled down from the 7 and 5 down to the 3. The 7, when it was the first Bangle out, was a risk.

I love the interior, its the perfect blend of function and form. The ambient lighting is one of my most favorite features of BMW, and in fact, I wish it had some more like the 760 I was in last night. I'll try to get a few shots tonight of what I'm talking about it.

I haven't had any problems with the cup holders....yet. Only trouble is with the passenger one that it seems to catch itself on the dash if you dont push it in fast enough.

I wouldnt mind some more dash storage, but there is plenty of door storage.

I have iDrive so I can't really comment on how bad the non iDrive interior is, but maybe there is a logic to them making the non iDrive interior perfect, maybe they also want to push the non iDrive consumer into an iDrive position.

[Mauricio]

I like my interior very much, but have always felt it was a little too simple. I had an E46 and liked that interior better; I thought.

After spending 6 months with my car, a friend of mine purchased a used E46 and when I sat in the car, it felt familiar to me and I missed certain aspects of it, but when I got back in my car, I appreciated it much better. The simplicity of the lines on the dash together with perfectly placed controls make for an amazing interior. I love the new interior.

And about the iDrive...I was starting to regret not getting it because of the satelite radio controls and more user customized options, but I spent the weekend driving a 545i (which was amazing to drive btw, but doesn't compare to how my e90 drives ) and the only reason I would regret not getting iDrive is because it works as a great shelf for placing french fry containers while driving. My girlfriend emptied the french fries into the bag and put ketchup in the container and placed it on the iDrive "shelf" and it was perfect. There was no other way to do this before. I also used it for my cell phone and was even thinking it would be a great place to put my ipod when my cupholder is being used.

[Bimmerista]

I love the interior, I think it looks clean, sporty (especially with alu trim) and high-end all the way.

I used to have an Audi (A4) so I can compare with probably the best interior in the business. While the Audi has certain touches (like the illumination around the stereo knobs) and the tactitle feel (rubberized) of each switch which remain superior - the difference now (as compared with the e46) is one of degree, not quantum leap.

BMW interiors are right up there (this includes the 5 series as well).

[Juve29]

Ride = exciting
Handling = exciting
Manual transmission = exciting
Exterior = exciting
BMW = exciting
Interior = BORING

[dkizerian]

Originally Posted by BMRAMA

I really like the seats, the lower central console, the arm rest, the door inserts, and the stalks from the steering wheel. That said, the sun visors, the floor mats, and the upper center console (sun roof control) all feel cheap and weak.

Overall, I do like the interior, but I know what you mean.

I couln't have said it better myself. The interior pieces over my head all feel cheap, and why doesn't BMW do positive retention (hook) on it's floor mats? but other than these I love the interior. I do miss the massive cup holder my dodge truck had, but that's to be expected I think.

[ThreeBimm]

Eh, it's growing on me. I was never a fan of the simplicity of it but everything is well placed and I am beginning to like it more and more.

I do NOT like the clown nose. Even if you have the alarm installed it is ugly and oversized.

The cupholders aren't great however I don't think any car manufacturer has nailed cupholders down yet - they all suck. I wish the center console was a little bigger and a little more forward.

[wantmye90]

I know I am in the minority when I say this, but "I like the cup holders". I think they work just fine, and what's real slick is that they disappear out of sight when not in use. This makes the interior clean and that much more pleasing to the eye.

Big cup holdrs all over the interior of many cars reminds me of the guy who walks around with one of those "big gulp" plastic mugs from the corner convenience store. T-A-C-K-Y.

[Mauricio]

I also like the cupholders. Their placement at least. Mine have both broken, but it's covered by the dealer so I guess it's cool.

But this weekend, as I mentioned earlier, I spent in a 5 series and the cupholders are in the exact same places but are built much, much better. They are deeper and thicker. If I had pics I'd post them, but this is how they should have been done on the 3. They seem much more resistant to bangs from peoples knees.