Interior build quality and finish of new BMWs (rant)
Discussion
Matt UK said:
Pickled Piper said:
rassi said:
E39 !
This here is your problem. After having an E39 nothing else quite compares in terms of solidity and the feeling that it has been hewn from solid granite.pp
I hate old cars, this was never supposed to happen!From personal experience I don't understand the belief that BMW quality had deteriorated.
The 2007 E90 touring I drive feels very similar in quality to my father's old E46 which I drove many many times, and if anything feels to be better.
The E90 has only done 30,000 miles, but its interior is as new - the leather is entirely unstained and completely matt, despite being a pale colour.
When I was a kid in the eighties my dad had an E28. It was far less well built than either the E46 or E90 - though much better looking, particularly than the E46 which I find very bland inside and out, though not as dull as an Audi.
The 2007 E90 touring I drive feels very similar in quality to my father's old E46 which I drove many many times, and if anything feels to be better.
The E90 has only done 30,000 miles, but its interior is as new - the leather is entirely unstained and completely matt, despite being a pale colour.
When I was a kid in the eighties my dad had an E28. It was far less well built than either the E46 or E90 - though much better looking, particularly than the E46 which I find very bland inside and out, though not as dull as an Audi.
As my line of work means we have to disassemble a lot of modern vehicle interiors, I have to say the latest BMW's are certainly not as well screwed together as the older models. The E90 climate control panel just falls out, held on with 2 clips - go on try it!! I have often wanted to do this in a dealership as the sales guy talks me through the controls and build quality but have refrained so far.
The Audi's are very very well constructed, but for driver appeal I would take the BMW everytime.
The modern Skoda build quality is above the rest for me, even compared to the VW it is based on. I have no idea why but the Skoda build team have added more screws to panels and they are a bugger to take to bits.
The Audi's are very very well constructed, but for driver appeal I would take the BMW everytime.
The modern Skoda build quality is above the rest for me, even compared to the VW it is based on. I have no idea why but the Skoda build team have added more screws to panels and they are a bugger to take to bits.
I would argue that the Audis are put together with far too many screws and clips, and the more you have the more chance you have or squeaks and rattles.
For example, the gear surround on the 5 series is held on with 4 pins, it simply pulls up and off, the A6 you need to take off the armrest, then take out the rear ashtray, then slide off the trim either side of the centre console, then undo 8 screws each side, and then undo the screws under the gear gaitor, and then you can lift it up.
I have never had a squeak or rattle on the BMW, but the Audi had loads, sometimes things can be over engineered.
For example, the gear surround on the 5 series is held on with 4 pins, it simply pulls up and off, the A6 you need to take off the armrest, then take out the rear ashtray, then slide off the trim either side of the centre console, then undo 8 screws each side, and then undo the screws under the gear gaitor, and then you can lift it up.
I have never had a squeak or rattle on the BMW, but the Audi had loads, sometimes things can be over engineered.
once you have had an e39 its hard to find anything else that has the same quality feel, i have had 2 e39's and i think i have been spoilt, i looked at a few z4's and was comparing them to my e39, no comparison at all, even at 60k the seats in the z4 felt realy worn,(looked at a few) and the interior had a cheaper feel to it.
saying that it wouldnt put me off buying one, you gotta make things more fuel efficient these days so weight saving is a big factor there.
my 525 still drives, feels and smells like a new car.
imo the e39 was the last of the bmw's built under the 'ultimate driving machine' branding
the ones built with 'efficiency dynamics' ????????? not so great.
its very rare to see a rusty e39, how many newer e46's do you see with terrible rusty front and rear arches?
saying that it wouldnt put me off buying one, you gotta make things more fuel efficient these days so weight saving is a big factor there.
my 525 still drives, feels and smells like a new car.
imo the e39 was the last of the bmw's built under the 'ultimate driving machine' branding
the ones built with 'efficiency dynamics' ????????? not so great.
its very rare to see a rusty e39, how many newer e46's do you see with terrible rusty front and rear arches?
E39's have quite significant rust issues inside the fuel filler cap and on the rear tailgate. They are also the same generation of car as the E46.
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seen a few with rust spots on the boot lid but not that many, i refer to major problems like front and rear arches shot, on an 8 year old bmw? that shouldnt happen, its not just newer bmw, been looking at audi TT's for the missis and you would be surprised how many have rusty arches, maybe i expect too much but a car under 10 year old these days should not suffer these issues.
My 1er went in for a service yesterday and I took the opportunity to have a look at the X1. To say the finish inside was shocking is an understatement. Hard, scratchy plastics that felt very hollow when tapped, the general standard of finish wasn't all that high. Certainly not high enough to justify the 'premium' price tag. BMW seem to be cutting a lot of corners to save money at the moment, whilst still charging the same.
Fox- said:
Matt UK said:
Pickled Piper said:
rassi said:
E39 !
This here is your problem. After having an E39 nothing else quite compares in terms of solidity and the feeling that it has been hewn from solid granite.pp
I hate old cars, this was never supposed to happen!
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