BMW interior quality
Discussion
My E90 is currently being looked at as part of the double recall programme. Booked in a month ago and still parts not in stock but that’s another story.
As a loaner I have some horrific Grand Tourer thing. Probably the very worst model in the range with a 218d moniker. What is even funnier is it’s a M Sport model.
Anyway, the part of the car I really dislike is the cabin. It is so cheap with black plastic everywhere and splatterings of shiny silver plastic made to look like metal. The new X2 was exactly the same. My E90 is in a different league quality wise.
I should have looked closely at an F30 but really surprised how much BMW has fallen. It really just seems to be all about profit now. Every car looks the same from the front with differing body shapes - I much preferred the distinction from the Bangle era. Nothing really appeals to me in the BMW range within my budget.
Anyone else feel disenchanted with the current range?
As a loaner I have some horrific Grand Tourer thing. Probably the very worst model in the range with a 218d moniker. What is even funnier is it’s a M Sport model.
Anyway, the part of the car I really dislike is the cabin. It is so cheap with black plastic everywhere and splatterings of shiny silver plastic made to look like metal. The new X2 was exactly the same. My E90 is in a different league quality wise.
I should have looked closely at an F30 but really surprised how much BMW has fallen. It really just seems to be all about profit now. Every car looks the same from the front with differing body shapes - I much preferred the distinction from the Bangle era. Nothing really appeals to me in the BMW range within my budget.
Anyone else feel disenchanted with the current range?
Edited by pattyg on Monday 16th July 12:47
The 2 series grand tourer is family-orientated, where robust and easily cleanable interior trim is a big bonus. However I would agree with the above poster about the lower series having a different level of quality to the 5/6/7 and 8 (probably); my 6 series had one of the nicest interiors I've ever experienced. Now in a '03 Z4 which has rubberised plastics however it suits the nature of the car, given the interior is regularly exposed to the elements.
I am generally OK with my 335d but I agree there are some things, which seem very minor, but are a source of irritation.
My E36 had the wheel house inner footwell cover in a nylon pile.
The F30 has it in hard plastic. The issue then is as my right foot modulates the acc. pedal the welt on my shoe squeaks on the hard plastic. On long journeys it is a major irritation, because it is not always there, but sounds like something is squeaking.
I am not sure if it is cost cutting or lack of attention to details.
I know how these things happen. That issue will have come up in testing, and then it will be a battle of wills between one individual who thinks it is an issue and another who overrides that. I have been in similar situations in vehicle development and stuck to my guns on similar seemingly minor customer related issues.
My E36 had the wheel house inner footwell cover in a nylon pile.
The F30 has it in hard plastic. The issue then is as my right foot modulates the acc. pedal the welt on my shoe squeaks on the hard plastic. On long journeys it is a major irritation, because it is not always there, but sounds like something is squeaking.
I am not sure if it is cost cutting or lack of attention to details.
I know how these things happen. That issue will have come up in testing, and then it will be a battle of wills between one individual who thinks it is an issue and another who overrides that. I have been in similar situations in vehicle development and stuck to my guns on similar seemingly minor customer related issues.
Having driven both an X1 and a Hyundai Tucson, I'd say the vastly cheaper Korean is at least as good. The interior trim is actually more robust feeling. One of those silver door trim strips actually came adrift on the X1, a new car with 500 miles. The Active Zafira is a hateful thing. It really is the epitome of cheaply produced white goods, an overpriced baby on board s
tbox sold primarily to those who consider themselves too good for the cheaper and probably better Kia alternative.
tbox sold primarily to those who consider themselves too good for the cheaper and probably better Kia alternative. At the risk of being shot down, I disagree. I quite liked the 2 Gran Tourer as I accepted it entirely for what it was, a BMW Zafira. The quality was OK, no squeaks or rattles, felt solid and comfortable enough. It wasnt a premium feeling thing, but it wasn't really offensive either. Spec was good and it was good to drive for a bus.
If I needed an MPV I would consider one. Much more preferable to an X2, which was like a flashy X1, but less comfortable and creaked a lot. I don't like how they look much either.
If I needed an MPV I would consider one. Much more preferable to an X2, which was like a flashy X1, but less comfortable and creaked a lot. I don't like how they look much either.
I've had a couple of current 3 Series and an M140. The interior of both 1 and 3 is now a way behind Mercedes C Class and others (the Volvo interior is definitely a step up).
Ergonomically, they're brilliant, but the E90 and especially E46 were nicer environments than the F3x.
Also, considering my F80 is a mid 2017 model, its dash creaks and rattles like nobody's business, which really isn't good enough for a well established £70k car.
Ergonomically, they're brilliant, but the E90 and especially E46 were nicer environments than the F3x.
Also, considering my F80 is a mid 2017 model, its dash creaks and rattles like nobody's business, which really isn't good enough for a well established £70k car.
pattyg said:
I should have looked closely at an F30 but really surprised how much BMW has fallen. It really just seems to be all about profit now.
It's only since BMW have expanded into chasing the Ford/Vauxhall/VW mass market drossmobiles that you see this.As said, you have to delve into the 5 Series and above to get a 'properly built' BMW these days.
Been a BMW "follower" for sometime
E36 323i>E93 335i>F34 320d
Surprisingly when I look back at the E36, they cost roughly the same at my F34 when new, no inflation draw the price up...etc. I don't found a significant down grade from E36 to E93 to F34, leather used on the leather seat and cheap plastic around transition tunnel. Before I get my F34 I go viewing the X1, and 5s, 3 series is a slight upgrade to 1 and 5 is another level compare to 3. However, compare to my Volvo and Mazda which are few thousand cheaper than the BMW, and their interior material are not as good as my BMW. Consider that 3 is just a family saloon with a "premium" badge and 1 city hatchback. You really have to go to higher model like 5 in BMW and 90 in Volvo to actually feel abit of premium but that was reflected on the price tag as well
E36 323i>E93 335i>F34 320d
Surprisingly when I look back at the E36, they cost roughly the same at my F34 when new, no inflation draw the price up...etc. I don't found a significant down grade from E36 to E93 to F34, leather used on the leather seat and cheap plastic around transition tunnel. Before I get my F34 I go viewing the X1, and 5s, 3 series is a slight upgrade to 1 and 5 is another level compare to 3. However, compare to my Volvo and Mazda which are few thousand cheaper than the BMW, and their interior material are not as good as my BMW. Consider that 3 is just a family saloon with a "premium" badge and 1 city hatchback. You really have to go to higher model like 5 in BMW and 90 in Volvo to actually feel abit of premium but that was reflected on the price tag as well
Well BMW did admit the 2 series AT and GT were retention devices.
The big problem for me in some these ranges is that when you really break it down there is limiting factors of the base car. So yes an F80 might be a £70k+ car but it is held back by the architecture of the overall base model.
As said above there is a huge difference between a 5 upwards.
But then as it currently stands I just don't know what I would even begin to replace my 6GC in the current line up as everything has "issues" which I am not sure I could accept.
M140i the interior is still just basic 1 series, which I think is part of the problem with the original M2, the M2 Competition appears to be fixing those wrongs as it were.
M2 Comp - like the look of it, but the colour selection is appalling!
I3s - lovely thing, but the range would need to improve to make me feel "comfortable" as it were.
The new 5 I like but there is odd things I personally do not like, if I could probably only in 40i specification!
The 7 I am not sure, I liked the one my dealer had in with a few extra touches like being finished in san marino blue, a handsome looking thing!
I think BMW would make a killing if they could expand the individual range more to include the M2 for example or even some of the higher end ones M performance range. It seems odd to me at least you can buy a 320D in individual colours, but not an M2.
The big problem for me in some these ranges is that when you really break it down there is limiting factors of the base car. So yes an F80 might be a £70k+ car but it is held back by the architecture of the overall base model.
As said above there is a huge difference between a 5 upwards.
But then as it currently stands I just don't know what I would even begin to replace my 6GC in the current line up as everything has "issues" which I am not sure I could accept.
M140i the interior is still just basic 1 series, which I think is part of the problem with the original M2, the M2 Competition appears to be fixing those wrongs as it were.
M2 Comp - like the look of it, but the colour selection is appalling!
I3s - lovely thing, but the range would need to improve to make me feel "comfortable" as it were.
The new 5 I like but there is odd things I personally do not like, if I could probably only in 40i specification!
The 7 I am not sure, I liked the one my dealer had in with a few extra touches like being finished in san marino blue, a handsome looking thing!
I think BMW would make a killing if they could expand the individual range more to include the M2 for example or even some of the higher end ones M performance range. It seems odd to me at least you can buy a 320D in individual colours, but not an M2.
Ninja59 said:
I think BMW would make a killing if they could expand the individual range more to include the M2 for example or even some of the higher end ones M performance range. It seems odd to me at least you can buy a 320D in individual colours, but not an M2.
Not every BMW plant has the facilities/setup for BMW Individual, which is the issue why a base 320d can be painted Ind and not a M2, which IIRC is made in the 1/2 Series plant in Leipzig alongside the base models, and Leipzig can't accommodate BMW Ind.Even the massive Spartanburg plant in the USA that makes the X3/4/5/6 until very recently couldn't do full Ind. and even now, its very limited to a handful of orders per month (have heard its an 18 month+ wait if you really insist on one of the Ind colours not in the options list)
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