Picked up E91 today; E91 vs E46 Review (long)

shack · 01-07-2006, 09:18 PM

Just picked up the E91: (Arctic Metallic | Black Leatherette | Poplar | Ski Sack | Heated Seats | STEPtronic | Sirius | PDC | Xenon | Sunshades). I like the arctic because it looks different in different lighting and it’s unique, but next to my titanium silver E46 I realize how great that silver is and I’ll miss it. Also saw a sparkling graphite E91 at the dealer – that is a hot color for the E91 – really looks muscular. Not good for cold climates where it will look like crap with salt all over it, but if you’re in a warm climate that sparkling graphite is unbeatable for E91. Still own 2002 E46 325xiT so comparison is in order. My first impressions.

Significantly more power and better handling on E90 over E46. Much, much quieter. More rear seat legroom and headroom. I have same headroom with panoramic roof in E90 as I have without sunroof in E46.

Sound system is very good – and I’ve only got the basic system (+3 bass; +1 treble; +2 rear fade sounds perfect). Satellite radio is nice and not too difficult to navigate even without iDrive. You have 12 presets so you just put in your favorites (preset 6 for 60s, 7 for 70s, etc). Plugged in the iPod and it worked like a charm. You do have to take the songs in the order they are loaded on the iPod, but you can adjust the Aux volume to get it close to rest of the inputs. I think I’m going to be listening to more sat radio than anything else. In fact I’m only putting 2-3 CDs in the car since sat radio and iPod will be primary sources. Absolutely no need for CD changer unless you want a marathon of one artist (and Sirius has an Elvis-only channel!). I like the 18 FM presets although I wished it scrolled through them all instead of by sixes and then you have to select next group.

Fit and finish generally better throughout on the E90 than on E46, except possibly the wood (but my E46 has BMW Individual Arizona sun maple wood). I also liked the E46 guage cluster better, but E90 gives you so much more info and flexibility. Leatherette seems the same to me. Armrest on both door and console on E90 are at just the right height. In E46 it was too high on door and too low on console armrest. Seats heat faster in E90 than E46.

Panoramic sunroof is awesome – opens a bunch of different ways, but it’s below zero now so that will have to wait. Xenons and angel eyes are ‘must-have’ option.

The many changes – super capable trip computer, included sunroof, way better auto climate control with 3 zones, puddle lighting, more and better organized trunk space – it’s all good.

Since there are outlets everywhere I wish I could get the no smoker package and remove ashtray and cigarette lighter for more storage (sunglasses!). E90Fleet have you got a part number for no smoker pkg?

Got carpet mats only – have to order rubber mats from Circle, but they’re on sale…The door pockets are better-designed and less likely to get kicked getting in and out of car than on E46, but they will not hold the owners manual packet. But, I read it and don’t need it in the cockpit, so it sits under one of the elastic straps in the trunk – perfect. Like that new storage space with no spare as well.

I have the pictures, incl with poplar shift know and brake handle, but changed computers so I need an adapter to download pix from my older Fuji digital which is not USB compatible. Plus it’s snowing like hell today!!!

Oh, and the kicker is this far better equipped and better example of the same vehicle (more powerful engine, 6 speed, etc, etc) cost me exactly $2,000 more in 2006 than the E46 cost me in 2002 (and $845 of that was sat radio and rear window shades). That’s pretty amazing!!

JSpira · 01-07-2006, 09:41 PM

Congratulations and nice write up.

I find the same thing re Sparkling Graphite as you do re Artic, that it changes based on the light.

That's one of the things I like about it in addition to its "muscular" look as you put it.

I was recently parked right next to a white E90 and it was surprising how much bigger the car looked in Sparkling Graphite. Color does matter.

shack · 01-07-2006, 10:14 PM

Aber sicher!

shack

LEDZEP · 01-08-2006, 06:42 AM

shack - very nice write up! I've never owned a pre-E90 BMW so it was cool to read your comparison. Congrats again on your fine purchase. We will expect to see those pictures!

Here's a tip for you that you may not have discovered yet. When you open the rear window, you've noticed that the cargo shade will auto retract, right? At first try it does not seem to do so when you open the full rear hatch... but if you press and hold the trunk unlock button of your fob for over a second it will retract the shade. It also will retract if you pull slight pressure and hold it on the hatch release handle... just something I noticed that no one at my dealership knew about.

espo · 01-08-2006, 09:25 AM

I also went from a E46 325xi to a E90 330xi. There is a world of difference between the cars (esp considereing I went from a farily base 325xi model to a loaded 330xi). A world more power and tighter road feel. However there are a couple of interior features on the E46 that I liked better (such as the location of the window switches, the size of the glove box, and that storage bin in the middle of the main dash).

DerekS · 01-08-2006, 05:53 PM

shack,
Thanks for your very informative write up on your new E91. I have one on order (silver/black/walnut w/prem.+ sport) for March delivery. Curious how you managed to get a US spec car delivered into Canada. I tried to order the style 161 wheels with summer tires (sport pkg.upgrade available in the US), but BMW Canada refused to supply. For the winter, I have a set of 158s with Dunlop M3 snows - these are excellent snow tires.
I think you made a good choice in colour - the wagon looks best in lighter colours. On my present 330i, sparkling graphite looks pretty dreary on cloudy days and it really shows up salt and muck.
Look forward to seeing your pics.

fragra · 01-09-2006, 08:17 PM

DerekS,

That's too bad that BMW Canada wouldn't supply you with a set of 161s. Did they give any reason? What did you get instead? The 158s look like they would make a great winter combo with the M3s (easy to clean). I was contemplating doing the same myself when I order my e91 - 158s or 159s for winter and 161s or 194Ms for summer. I would have thought that any OEM wheel that fits would be available.

(BTW Shack, great writeup.)

BMW0 · 01-09-2006, 08:32 PM

Nice evaluation of your newly aquired E91. I like how you compare your past and present car back to back, one for one comparisons. This helps identify how well the new Bimmers have evolved. Thanks for the write up!

Lost Rider · 01-09-2006, 08:37 PM

Congrats! nice to hear what you have to say about the e91 (especially color).
Can't wait to see the pics.
Here's the part# for the sunglass holder(in place of ashtray)

51-16-7-132-376

DYI non-smoker thread:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7049

DerekS · 01-09-2006, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fragra

DerekS,

That's too bad that BMW Canada wouldn't supply you with a set of 161s. Did they give any reason? What did you get instead? The 158s look like they would make a great winter combo with the M3s (easy to clean). I was contemplating doing the same myself when I order my e91 - 158s or 159s for winter and 161s or 194Ms for summer. I would have thought that any OEM wheel that fits would be available.

(BTW Shack, great writeup.)

Fragra,
BMW Canada refuses to supply any option that is not on their price list. The US sport pkg. upgrade is not on their list.
Instead, I will be trading off the OEM 159s with a/s tires in exchange for dealer supplied 161s with Pirelli Euphori@s.

David328M-Sport · 01-09-2006, 11:35 PM

Congrats on your new car.

I had a masive leap in car quality and power going from my 46 323 to my e90 325. I concur with all you have written except for the wagon bits as I have never owned a wagon.

The panoramic roof sounds awsome.

All the best

BKsBimmer · 01-10-2006, 12:10 AM

Shack ... congrats on your new E91! Check this one out. Ain't it gorgeous??!!!!

fragra · 01-10-2006, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerekS

Fragra,
BMW Canada refuses to supply any option that is not on their price list. The US sport pkg. upgrade is not on their list.
Instead, I will be trading off the OEM 159s with a/s tires in exchange for dealer supplied 161s with Pirelli Euphori@s.

Thanks for the info. My rep indicated to me that swapping wheels and tires wouldn't be a problem - I guess these things have to be done at the dealer level.

Your TiAg combo sounds beautiful. Be sure to post photos when she arrives.

DerekS · 01-10-2006, 12:19 PM

Fragra,
Look at the photo posted by BKsBimmer. That's the same as my future 325 XiT, minus the chrome window trim. The car in the photo is a 330 XiT (only in Europe !) with 161 alloys. I will also be swapping the black 325 grills and the black lower grill slats for the brighter 330i versions as seen in the same photo.

01-07-2006, 09:18 PM	#1
shack Colonel 8 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2002 325xiT Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325xiT [0.00] 2002 325xiT [0.00]	Picked up E91 today; E91 vs E46 Review (long) Just picked up the E91: (Arctic Metallic \| Black Leatherette \| Poplar \| Ski Sack \| Heated Seats \| STEPtronic \| Sirius \| PDC \| Xenon \| Sunshades). I like the arctic because it looks different in different lighting and it’s unique, but next to my titanium silver E46 I realize how great that silver is and I’ll miss it. Also saw a sparkling graphite E91 at the dealer – that is a hot color for the E91 – really looks muscular. Not good for cold climates where it will look like crap with salt all over it, but if you’re in a warm climate that sparkling graphite is unbeatable for E91. Still own 2002 E46 325xiT so comparison is in order. My first impressions. Significantly more power and better handling on E90 over E46. Much, much quieter. More rear seat legroom and headroom. I have same headroom with panoramic roof in E90 as I have without sunroof in E46. Sound system is very good – and I’ve only got the basic system (+3 bass; +1 treble; +2 rear fade sounds perfect). Satellite radio is nice and not too difficult to navigate even without iDrive. You have 12 presets so you just put in your favorites (preset 6 for 60s, 7 for 70s, etc). Plugged in the iPod and it worked like a charm. You do have to take the songs in the order they are loaded on the iPod, but you can adjust the Aux volume to get it close to rest of the inputs. I think I’m going to be listening to more sat radio than anything else. In fact I’m only putting 2-3 CDs in the car since sat radio and iPod will be primary sources. Absolutely no need for CD changer unless you want a marathon of one artist (and Sirius has an Elvis-only channel!). I like the 18 FM presets although I wished it scrolled through them all instead of by sixes and then you have to select next group. Fit and finish generally better throughout on the E90 than on E46, except possibly the wood (but my E46 has BMW Individual Arizona sun maple wood). I also liked the E46 guage cluster better, but E90 gives you so much more info and flexibility. Leatherette seems the same to me. Armrest on both door and console on E90 are at just the right height. In E46 it was too high on door and too low on console armrest. Seats heat faster in E90 than E46. Panoramic sunroof is awesome – opens a bunch of different ways, but it’s below zero now so that will have to wait. Xenons and angel eyes are ‘must-have’ option. The many changes – super capable trip computer, included sunroof, way better auto climate control with 3 zones, puddle lighting, more and better organized trunk space – it’s all good. Since there are outlets everywhere I wish I could get the no smoker package and remove ashtray and cigarette lighter for more storage (sunglasses!). E90Fleet have you got a part number for no smoker pkg? Got carpet mats only – have to order rubber mats from Circle, but they’re on sale…The door pockets are better-designed and less likely to get kicked getting in and out of car than on E46, but they will not hold the owners manual packet. But, I read it and don’t need it in the cockpit, so it sits under one of the elastic straps in the trunk – perfect. Like that new storage space with no spare as well. I have the pictures, incl with poplar shift know and brake handle, but changed computers so I need an adapter to download pix from my older Fuji digital which is not USB compatible. Plus it’s snowing like hell today!!! Oh, and the kicker is this far better equipped and better example of the same vehicle (more powerful engine, 6 speed, etc, etc) cost me exactly $2,000 more in 2006 than the E46 cost me in 2002 (and $845 of that was sat radio and rear window shades). That’s pretty amazing!!
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01-07-2006, 09:41 PM	#2
JSpira Freude am Fahren 336 Rep 5,254 Posts Drives: Fünfer, Dreier, + Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New York, München, Wien iTrader: (1)	Congratulations and nice write up. I find the same thing re Sparkling Graphite as you do re Artic, that it changes based on the light. That's one of the things I like about it in addition to its "muscular" look as you put it. I was recently parked right next to a white E90 and it was surprising how much bigger the car looked in Sparkling Graphite. Color does matter. __________________ Freude am Fahren. Jonathan E90 2006 330xi E90 2006 325i E39 2003 530i Sport* E46 2000 328Ci* E36 1996 328iS* E36 1992 325i* E30 1991 318is E21 1982 320iS* E21 1979 320 (6-Zyl)* *retired Nominated: Most Contributing Member
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01-07-2006, 10:14 PM	#3
shack Colonel 8 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2002 325xiT Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325xiT [0.00] 2002 325xiT [0.00]	Aber sicher! shack
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01-08-2006, 06:42 AM	#4
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	shack - very nice write up! I've never owned a pre-E90 BMW so it was cool to read your comparison. Congrats again on your fine purchase. We will expect to see those pictures! Here's a tip for you that you may not have discovered yet. When you open the rear window, you've noticed that the cargo shade will auto retract, right? At first try it does not seem to do so when you open the full rear hatch... but if you press and hold the trunk unlock button of your fob for over a second it will retract the shade. It also will retract if you pull slight pressure and hold it on the hatch release handle... just something I noticed that no one at my dealership knew about. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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01-08-2006, 09:25 AM	#5
espo Captain 12 Rep 715 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sugar Land TX iTrader: (0)	I also went from a E46 325xi to a E90 330xi. There is a world of difference between the cars (esp considereing I went from a farily base 325xi model to a loaded 330xi). A world more power and tighter road feel. However there are a couple of interior features on the E46 that I liked better (such as the location of the window switches, the size of the glove box, and that storage bin in the middle of the main dash). __________________ E46 325xi Oxford Green/Sand Leatherette/Myrtle Wood Auto ZCW - Retired E90 330xi Mystic Blue/Black Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/CA - Retired F22 M235i Mineral Gray/Red Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZPP/ZTP
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01-08-2006, 05:53 PM	#6
DerekS Major 197 Rep 1,180 Posts Drives: '24 X3 M Sport Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: YVR iTrader: (0)	shack, Thanks for your very informative write up on your new E91. I have one on order (silver/black/walnut w/prem.+ sport) for March delivery. Curious how you managed to get a US spec car delivered into Canada. I tried to order the style 161 wheels with summer tires (sport pkg.upgrade available in the US), but BMW Canada refused to supply. For the winter, I have a set of 158s with Dunlop M3 snows - these are excellent snow tires. I think you made a good choice in colour - the wagon looks best in lighter colours. On my present 330i, sparkling graphite looks pretty dreary on cloudy days and it really shows up salt and muck. Look forward to seeing your pics.
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01-09-2006, 08:17 PM	#7
fragra Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2013 328xi Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver BC iTrader: (0)	DerekS, That's too bad that BMW Canada wouldn't supply you with a set of 161s. Did they give any reason? What did you get instead? The 158s look like they would make a great winter combo with the M3s (easy to clean). I was contemplating doing the same myself when I order my e91 - 158s or 159s for winter and 161s or 194Ms for summer. I would have thought that any OEM wheel that fits would be available. (BTW Shack, great writeup.) __________________ 2013 328xi Mineral Grey/Everest Grey
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01-09-2006, 08:32 PM	#8
BMW0 Colonel 237 Rep 2,059 Posts Drives: AW E90 330i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Spokane, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Nice evaluation of your newly aquired E91. I like how you compare your past and present car back to back, one for one comparisons. This helps identify how well the new Bimmers have evolved. Thanks for the write up! __________________ 330i 6MT l 255 HP @ 5900 rpm 214 lb-ft Torque @ 3500 rpm l Alpine White l Beige l Aluminum l ZSP l 494 l PDC "Freude am Fahren" = "Joy to Drive"
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01-09-2006, 08:37 PM	#9
Lost Rider Captain 87 Rep 805 Posts Drives: R NineT, X1 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ventura County, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW R NineT [0.00] 2015 X1 xdrive [9.00]	Congrats! nice to hear what you have to say about the e91 (especially color). Can't wait to see the pics. Here's the part# for the sunglass holder(in place of ashtray) 51-16-7-132-376 DYI non-smoker thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7049 __________________ GET LOST! www.lostrider.com Last edited by Lost Rider; 01-10-2006 at 01:18 PM..
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01-09-2006, 11:35 PM	#11
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	Congrats on your new car. I had a masive leap in car quality and power going from my 46 323 to my e90 325. I concur with all you have written except for the wagon bits as I have never owned a wagon. The panoramic roof sounds awsome. All the best __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
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01-10-2006, 12:10 AM	#12
BKsBimmer Lieutenant Colonel 87 Rep 1,645 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Titanium Silver Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: USA / Silver Spring, Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330xi [10.00] 2006 330xi [0.00]	Shack ... congrats on your new E91! Check this one out. Ain't it gorgeous??!!!! Attached Images
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01-10-2006, 12:19 PM	#14
DerekS Major 197 Rep 1,180 Posts Drives: '24 X3 M Sport Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: YVR iTrader: (0)	Fragra, Look at the photo posted by BKsBimmer. That's the same as my future 325 XiT, minus the chrome window trim. The car in the photo is a 330 XiT (only in Europe !) with 161 alloys. I will also be swapping the black 325 grills and the black lower grill slats for the brighter 330i versions as seen in the same photo.
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