Initial comparison (E46 to E90)

[herr bmw]

so its my first bmw,and its a e90 323i.so cant compare it with an e46,but to be honest and i am not insulting anybody that owns a e46,its a bit box shaped for me,prefer the style of the e90,but knowing people that have own e46 shape it has grown on me ,espescially henrys one,in that colour.

interior wise,i did battle to get the drivers seat into a comfortable position and took a couple of weeks to get right.
the window switches,i always seem to open one of the back ones first now and then,and my wife has complained about the passenger ones location.

i love the rfts as i drive at night alot and find it safer to drive on instead of stopping and getting killed for R20 and a cell

in general i like the e90,but with time have gotten to like all the bmw range,even though i havent driven them,or been in them and find myself reading more about bmw,i have learnt alot also on the forum about bmw and if i had to compare it with the other cars that ive owned,it is by far the most comfortable one to drive,the closets for me,was the vr6 jetta,not even the golf 5 had this level of comfort.

so in general love the e90,get the new 3 series?no dont like turbos,so this might be the first and last bmw i own,but doesnt mean ill be getting rid of it.

 

[Doomsdaya]

sometimes i wish i had an e36 so i could give an unbiased opinion, but i see no reason to get an e90 other than its newer... if they still made the e90 and the e46 and i could buy one new i would go for the e46 :fencelook:

to me the e46 is a more complete car where the e90 is more of a stepping stone for bmw to try out new things that will be perfected in the future

I've driven all 3.... E36, E46 & E90. As an everyday car, the E90 would suit me, on long distance drives as a family car the e46 would be perfect and for fast & furious driving the e36 :rollsmile:

 

[Gizmo]

Reasons why I won't go e90.
1. Doors have no beadings to protect them, other drivers bang their doors against yours in parking lots making your doors look like golf balls, seen many e90's like this already with terrible door dents. A problem not associated with e36 and e46 which do have the protective strips. Same goes for the bumpers.

2. Pre-facelift e90's are downright UGLY!!! Look like a daewoo lanos from the rear!!:yuck: Facelift is a little better, more like a polished turd.

3. Interior is BORING and bland, window switches in the wrong place, seats are terrible and unsupportive, dashboard isn't orientated towards the driver like previous models. (something I love about older BMWs)

4. BMW are making these new cars as cheap as possible and it shows with the warranty claims @ bmw dealers. My mechanic friends @ BMW dealers say that these E90's are always going wrong (esp 323i) and that they are cheaply made. Dealers have 10x more warranty claims on e90's going wrong compared to the e46. Dealers still consider the e36 and e46 as the most reliable 3 series ever.

5. You can still fix a e36/e46 if you get stuck on the side of the road as the electrics don't completely shut down like the e90. There is just way too much electronics in an e90 to go wrong...

 

[Karthik]

Reasons why I won't go e90.
1. Doors have no beadings to protect them, other drivers bang their doors against yours in parking lots making your doors look like golf balls, seen many e90's like this already with terrible door dents. A problem not associated with e36 and e46 which do have the protective strips. Same goes for the bumpers.

2. Pre-facelift e90's are downright UGLY!!! Look like a daewoo lanos from the rear!!:yuck: Facelift is a little better, more like a polished turd.

3. Interior is BORING and bland, window switches in the wrong place, seats are terrible and unsupportive, dashboard isn't orientated towards the driver like previous models. (something I love about older BMWs)

4. BMW are making these new cars as cheap as possible and it shows with the warranty claims @ bmw dealers. My mechanic friends @ BMW dealers say that these E90's are always going wrong (esp 323i) and that they are cheaply made. Dealers have 10x more warranty claims on e90's going wrong compared to the e46. Dealers still consider the e36 and e46 as the most reliable 3 series ever.

5. You can still fix a e36/e46 if you get stuck on the side of the road as the electrics don't completely shut down like the e90. There is just way too much electronics in an e90 to go wrong...

It is down to personal preference , so I agree you should never go for an E90 as the little things affect you way too much . But I'm sure the bigger things that are better about the E90 outweigh those tiny problems you outlined .

 

[kabal]

check this polished turd :rollsmile:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258714

 

[msm]

Reasons why I won't go e90.
1. Doors have no beadings to protect them, other drivers bang their doors against yours in parking lots making your doors look like golf balls, seen many e90's like this already with terrible door dents. A problem not associated with e36 and e46 which do have the protective strips. Same goes for the bumpers.

2. Pre-facelift e90's are downright UGLY!!! Look like a daewoo lanos from the rear!!:yuck: Facelift is a little better, more like a polished turd.

3. Interior is BORING and bland, window switches in the wrong place, seats are terrible and unsupportive, dashboard isn't orientated towards the driver like previous models. (something I love about older BMWs)

4. BMW are making these new cars as cheap as possible and it shows with the warranty claims @ bmw dealers. My mechanic friends @ BMW dealers say that these E90's are always going wrong (esp 323i) and that they are cheaply made. Dealers have 10x more warranty claims on e90's going wrong compared to the e46. Dealers still consider the e36 and e46 as the most reliable 3 series ever.

5. You can still fix a e36/e46 if you get stuck on the side of the road as the electrics don't completely shut down like the e90. There is just way too much electronics in an e90 to go wrong...

You are indeed correct on all these points and I don't want to turn this into a E90 or E46 "bashing" session as everyone has their preferences.

However, forget the build quality, the sh!tty dash design, the poor location of switches, etc, etc, the reason some people upgrade is summarized quite nicely in this video:

[video=youtube]

---

check this polished turd :rollsmile:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258714

Not too shabby ....

 

[herr bmw]

like that ad.

problem is the more advanced technology becomes the more people dont like it.
more electrical gizmos,etc,hear the new three series,to open the boot you swipe your foot under the rear bumper and it opens.

so here in sa all crooks will be opening your boot at the robots and stealing your belongings

---

Reasons why I won't go e90.
1. Doors have no beadings to protect them, other drivers bang their doors against yours in parking lots making your doors look like golf balls, seen many e90's like this already with terrible door dents. A problem not associated with e36 and e46 which do have the protective strips. Same goes for the bumpers.

2. Pre-facelift e90's are downright UGLY!!! Look like a daewoo lanos from the rear!!:yuck: Facelift is a little better, more like a polished turd.

3. Interior is BORING and bland, window switches in the wrong place, seats are terrible and unsupportive, dashboard isn't orientated towards the driver like previous models. (something I love about older BMWs)

4. BMW are making these new cars as cheap as possible and it shows with the warranty claims @ bmw dealers. My mechanic friends @ BMW dealers say that these E90's are always going wrong (esp 323i) and that they are cheaply made. Dealers have 10x more warranty claims on e90's going wrong compared to the e46. Dealers still consider the e36 and e46 as the most reliable 3 series ever.

5. You can still fix a e36/e46 if you get stuck on the side of the road as the electrics don't completely shut down like the e90. There is just way too much electronics in an e90 to go wrong...

i dont know if i can agree with you or not,only owned the e90,but isnt it gonna be worse with the new one coming?

also it isnt just bmw,but all brands,i remember doing all repairs my self on a mk1,when i got the mk5 couldnt do a thing,always dealers,and when the turbo blew,stuck on the side of the road for 3 hours,then got taken to the nearest dealer,then had to wait there till my wife could come through from pretoria to kempton to pick me up,only got home at 7pm.

 

[Gizmo]

It is down to personal preference , so I agree you should never go for an E90 as the little things affect you way too much . But I'm sure the bigger things that are better about the E90 outweigh those tiny problems you outlined .

Could you point out those things that make the e90 better than the e46 besides fuel economy? Because I cannot see them.

---

check this polished turd :rollsmile:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258714

Still not doing a thing for me...
I see facelift sportpacks all over the place and Im trying to like them but no angle I look at them makes me go "YEAH". Infact all bmws made after the e46, e38 and e39 just don't appeal to me... Its quite sad really because Im such a fan of the brand. Walking into a BMW dealer these days makes me sad because all the cars look the same now...

 

[Coisman]

imp:
Also having driven all 3, E36, E46, E90, (the E36 was my dads car) I totally agree with Gizmo on this.
The biggest turnoff for me in the E90 is like Frikkie said, the Engine noise cause its not that well insulated under the bonnet like the E46. Also the shitty layout of the interior, the straight dash, the location of the window switches, and the poor quality parts inside, like the gearknobs that lose their coting after a few months and have to be replaces constantly.
What I also dont like is the ride, and the cruising feel of the car. What I mean by that is in my E46, if you drive it slow, it settles down, but if you punch it, it feels like a racer. In the E90 no matter what, it ALWAYS feels as if its driving slow... hope that makes sence?? :thinking:
The E90 is WAY more spasious inside and the overall feel is more luxury than the E46, and it kinda makes up for the flaws. The E90 is like the grown up brother of the E46, where it has left its "boyish" ways behind and grew up, becoming more sofisticated and for the lack of a better word... boring...

I liked my dads E36, I love my E46, and if I buy a E90, it would be a financial decision to get the motorplan and all that, and NOT because I walked into the dealership and saw it, and fell inlove, like I did with my E46.

Some people love the E90, I drove a few now, I really like how the coupe's look, somehow the 2 door design is WAY better that the 4-door models, in the end it comes down to how the car makes me feel, and i am sorry, but the E90 just cant give me that "boner" I get from my E46, no matter what model I drive... well, maybe the M3 and 335i... raise:

 

[Philip Foglar]

All valid points, and ultimately comes down to personal preference. Before I bought my E90 I was dead-set on getting an E46 330i manual - was not a fan of the E90, and in fact for many years after it was launched simply could not stand them! But typically there were none to be found worth looking at back then, so took another look at the E90 - saw the advert for my car and went to take it for a test drive. Maybe I was a bit too eager, but signed and bought the car that same day. But I don't have any regrets, not saying it is faultless or perfect - it does have some irritating issues here and there. At this stage the only thing that is preventing my car from being better are those horrible Continental RFT's.

The E46 is always going to be an awesome car, probably the nicest of the 3 Series, again a matter or opinion. But it is fair and apparent that the E46 is starting to look its age. I do agree about the issue with the E90 doors not having beadings to protect against bumps and scratches - just noticed a mark on my left rear door indicating that a door was opened against my car!! :argh:

My car's engine isn't noisy albeit, some of the E90 I6's (N52 family) engines are known to develop weird metal ticking noises, then there is the gearbox input shaft rattle or clutch release bearing that develops a rattle.

I maintain that both cars are great in every respect, but yes, the one better than the other at certain things and vice versa...

 

[Gizmo]

just noticed a mark on my left rear door indicating that a door was opened against my car!! :argh:

Be prepaired for that, seen tons of e90's with door marks, e60's too.

BTW, the 323i e90 suffer from camshaft failure which results in the replacement of the head too. Dealers are suffering with these warranty claims on 323i head replacements, keeps the workshop busy all the time though....:fencelook:

 

[XPD]

The e90 M-sport is an absolute stunner. Granted the back is a bit iffy but who buys a car for how the back looks? The sport seats are super supportive. The ride with these new generation rft's is good and the handling and balance is sublime. Granted an e46 f/l individual looks good but to me it can't compare in in terms of overall feel an quality. For me it does not matter how the dash is positioned or where the window switches are. As long there is an e90 with a steering in front of me, some pedals and a good manual together with some twisties motoring with be enjoyable my day will be made.

On the issue of warranty claims, of course the e90 will have more, as it has outsold the e46 by a long way. My 2c worth. Happy motoring guys.

 

[herr bmw]

BTW, the 323i e90 suffer from camshaft failure which results in the replacement of the head too. Dealers are suffering with these warranty claims on 323i head replacements, keeps the workshop busy all the time though....:fencelook:

very strange as the motor is actually a 2.5,based on the 325i.
head is actually the same so that means the 325 will also have cam faliures.

please show me one car in the world that hasnt given mechanical or electrical problems,even ferrari had cars catching fire,there was a guy in china that paid people to have his lambo smashed up.

any car has its problems,i remember my vw caddy had over 31 problems when i bought it,and that was brand new out the box

 

[Sandman]

Could you point out those things that make the e90 better than the e46 besides fuel economy? Because I cannot see them.

Ok, i only ever owned one bmw and it happens to be the E90 320D, yes i was on the brink of buying a 2004 330i, but somehow after test driving the E90, the comfort, sense of cruising while speeding, steering wheel buttons, extra airbags, xenon angel eyes, 18' inch rims, wider rear tires and interior space was the closer. oh and the consumption, while speeding.

In closing i still like the E46 330i\325i, they are awesome cars and would love to have them in my garage. Gizmo, the choice is yours, but i think you will hav one in the next 5 years, if not sooner, maybe even a hybrid version :=):

 

[AshG108]

two words for this thread - Personal preferance

People have mentioned it already...that is all it boils down to.

 

[frikkieh]

Just another opinion on this: Most e90's still have motor plan, but as they run out, the demand for DIY / 3rd party support will become higher. Parts become more readily available on scrap yards and the OEM shifts focus to it's new models.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Just another opinion on this: Most e90's still have motor plan, but as they run out, the demand for DIY / 3rd party support will become higher. Parts become more readily available on scrap yards and the OEM shifts focus to it's new models.

+1

Exactly!! :thumbs:

 

[Gizmo]

Oh, one more thing I left out on the list. No spare wheel for the e90.:thumbdo:
This is fine for overseas countries where the chance of running over a huge pothole or brick in the road is slim to none. We live in Africa where the possibility of that happening is infinite on a daily occurrence. My dad went over a brick in the road when he had his e39 m5, it buckled the wheel so bad that the car was immobile. Being stuck @ 8pm next to a township in the middle of nowhere with no spare wheel is simply STUPID!!!
Runflats are no good in Africa, you cannot drive on a wheel which is shaped like a "D" no matter what kind of tires you have.

 

[frikkieh]

Oh, one more thing I left out on the list. No spare wheel for the e90.:thumbdo:
This is fine for overseas countries where the chance of running over a huge pothole or brick in the road is slim to none. We live in Africa where the possibility of that happening is infinite on a daily occurrence. My dad went over a brick in the road when he had his e39 m5, it buckled the wheel so bad that the car was immobile. Being stuck @ 8pm next to a township in the middle of nowhere with no spare wheel is simply STUPID!!!
Runflats are no good in Africa, you cannot drive on a wheel which is shaped like a "D" no matter what kind of tires you have.

Good point. No provisions made for a spare...Or a jack. But think of the scenario where you drive over a brick with an e46 and you have two flat tyres (happened to me in an old Jetta). You only have one spare anyway.

I would say there is always a risk, therefore BMW could have at least provided space for a spare.

 

[herr bmw]

you dont need a spare,thus saving weight thus making the car lighter on fuel


or am i talking rubbish now:roflol: