E82 Interior Quality

[AndrewCowley]

Back in the early 2000's I had an E46 325i sedan and I remember the interior build quality being top notch. Wonder how the E82 coupe compares? Given all I have read it seems perhaps the E82 isn't quiet as top notch. I really want an E82 135i before they disappear, guess I need to just take one for a test drive, but I've got a nagging doubt about the interior perhaps being a little sub par given my E46 experience. Any thoughts?

[Harlequin]

I'd say the E82 is simpler and less "luxurious" than a 3 or 5 series but the quality (of mine, at least) is good.

I know some people have said that they have creaks and rattles but just as many others say that they don't - me included.

There was also an issue with the dashboard sinking around the passenger airbag causing the outline to appear on an otherwise smooth surface but I don't know if that's still a problem... It was never a huge problem and none of the E82s I've seen have it...

I think that people who criticise the E82 interior are often confusing "quality" with "Luxury" and "gadgets"...

[RaihaX]

No creaks and rattle on mine

[MikeVictor]

No creaks and rattles on mine, and no sunken dash either after 3 years and almost 40,000km

The interior isn't lined with baby fur seal leather, but it's good enough for me. I clean and treat the surfances regularly and make sure to look after the leather. Paint's held up very well too, I might refresh the paint protection in a few months to keep it looking great.

[MGL9X]

Becoming a recent owner of an E82 coupe, i can say the interior build quality is spot on (so far). I've also owned an 2004 E46 (M3) and can only give you my own opinion that i felt there is no difference in quality. Everything feels proper BMW. Yes, quality is not the same as a 5 series but you're not paying the same money....

[flinchy]

i've been in a 3 series, the interior is well... the same? soft rubber, leather, aluminium and a TINY bit of hard plastic.

no squeaks, 70,000km old interior here.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

I'd say the E82 is simpler and less "luxurious" than a 3 or 5 series but the quality (of mine, at least) is good.

I know some people have said that they have creaks and rattles but just as many others say that they don't - me included.

There was also an issue with the dashboard sinking around the passenger airbag causing the outline to appear on an otherwise smooth surface but I don't know if that's still a problem... It was never a huge problem and none of the E82s I've seen have it...

I think that people who criticise the E82 interior are often confusing "quality" with "Luxury" and "gadgets"...

^^+1, 100%!

I think most of the negative comments about the e82 are from 3er owners who are insecure. The build quality is just fine. We have many former e46 owners here including some past M3 owners.

[UR25IO]

The E82 interior is good just remember that this is a SPORTS car and doesnt really fall into the whole Luxury side like the 3 series

but in saying that, i must admit there still a bit of the glam/luxury in the car.
one thing i dislike about it are the seats.. its not padded enough for my skinny ass after a long drive!

[Harlequin]

Yah... In a 3 Series you'll get a bit more of the "trim", whether it's wood or aluminium or whatever... and a bit more leather...

But this is as much a function of the extra space as anything else...

[Honny]

The interior quality for the 1 series is pretty much on par with the 3 series E9X. Design for me is the question rather than quality. When I go inside my 135i ever since I had my Merc it really felt it's age. However anything is still better than my GTR.

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by UR25IO

The E82 interior is good just remember that this is a SPORTS car and doesnt really fall into the whole Luxury side like the 3 series

but in saying that, i must admit there still a bit of the glam/luxury in the car.
one thing i dislike about it are the seats.. its not padded enough for my skinny ass after a long drive!

:O really? i've driven numerous solid trips and my ass is soooo comfy!

[gazz]

Having gone from a 335i to a 1M I there is one area where the quality has dropped; the seats. The 335i had flawless fitment whereas the 1M has gathers and wrinkles. The seats look like a rush job on mine. The rest of the two cars are very similar.

A general disappointment is the under bonnet and inside the boot paint finish. I can remember comparing cars when the E46 was new and it seemed to me that these areas were finished to the same high standard as the rest of the car. Even inside the fuel filler space.
Watch out BMW - check out VWs today and you will see that the gap in quality between high end cars and the better mid range stuff has closed significantly.

[david.orr]

Originally Posted by AndrewCowley

Back in the early 2000's I had an E46 325i sedan and I remember the interior build quality being top notch. Wonder how the E82 coupe compares? Given all I have read it seems perhaps the E82 isn't quiet as top notch. I really want an E82 135i before they disappear, guess I need to just take one for a test drive, but I've got a nagging doubt about the interior perhaps being a little sub par given my E46 experience. Any thoughts?

I had a E46 and waiting for my 1er but have sat in a few. So whilst I can't vouch wholly for it as other owners could, I would think its quality exceeds the best Subaru could offer? On this front, you should feel the 'upgrade' and perhaps that should be the benchmark you move forward from henceforth. On a more important front, N55 135i drivetrain >> E46 325i etc. All the best

[chrisN]

my door handle trim seems a little loose, like the tab isn't holding it properly. other than that, pretty nice

[UR25IO]

Originally Posted by flinchy

:O really? i've driven numerous solid trips and my ass is soooo comfy!

hey Finchy
yeah, i struggle hard sitting in the seat for more than an hour, after that i get really restless.. what keeps me going its the sports button- dct button and shift the gear stick you s/m..

What i think the Germans should of done used memory foam for the 135i and scrap the standard this foam..

LOVE the adjustable side support in the seat though

[RaihaX]

Originally Posted by UR25IO

hey Finchy
yeah, i struggle hard sitting in the seat for more than an hour, after that i get really restless.. what keeps me going its the sports button- dct button and shift the gear stick you s/m..

What i think the Germans should of done used memory foam for the 135i and scrap the standard this foam..

LOVE the adjustable side support in the seat though

Nothing wrong with my seat

[UR25IO]

Originally Posted by RaihaX

Nothing wrong with my seat

I must have a defected one
knowing my luck

[sparoz]

e46 3er definitely have better finishing than the 1ers that I had. Just remember, one is a 3 and the other is a 1. It is expected. Is it far off, probably not. You would probably complain more about the RFTs and the soft suspension set up on the standard 1ers more. However, I would rather have a E82 than a E9x any day .

[alik01]

The quality is okay. I absolutely hate the plastic on the side of the seats - it is the cheapest and crappiest I have yet to experience.

I think there are kids in Guandong playing with carcinogenic dolls that are made of the better plastic that the side of my seat. The one with all the M badges.

[ItsHectic]

Cant compare it to older BMWs but when I was at the dealership, sitting in a 7 series for just a few minutes, at a quick glance it didnt seem a world apart as you might imagine.

Comparing to other cars I would say the build quality is between a VW and Mercedes as you would expect but more closer to Mercedes. The material and build quality is much better than the 350z I owned but not as good as any Mercedes.
The 2009 IS250 has better materials quality but it also has a lot of squeeks and the overall design isnt as good in a Lexus at all.

The biggest downside to the 1er is the leather quality, the "M sport" steering wheel isnt nappa leather (AMG, even Lexus have Nappa steering wheels). The Boston leather is also not as good leather that was in my 350z.
The stitching could also be better.
Just my 2 cents.

I finally got my seating position comfortable, it took 2 months. I think the seats are one of the strong points of the car, I just wish the headrest could click forward.

Also I sat in an E class for a while and I did not like the seats as much as the 3 series, the 3 series was so much more comfortable to me, where as the E class was less supportive overall, I think BMW make much nicer seats than Mercedes but that could be a matter of opinion. And the lexus IS seats have no upper back support at all, they feel like old school cars where the seats finish half way up your back. I dunno I think BMW put A LOT of thought in to their seats across their whole range compared to a lot of other companies.

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by JustMe

The biggest downside to the 1er is the leather quality, the "M sport" steering wheel isnt nappa leather.

My new M3 Wheel is

[Eddie135]

I felt the 1-series is more like a budget BMW car. The quality is there but certainly not top of the class materials built.

I have had quite a few warranty claims so far from BMW Dealership.