Right off the bat, I've not driven an E46, just want to throw in my 2c - being an enthusiast none-the-less.
I definitely fell in love with BMW's driver-oriented dash, but perhaps they moved away from it when Audi started jumping on the bandwagon :fencelook:
I find a lot of people saying that the E90 dash is boring, there's just not a lot of anything going on there, and I'm inclined to agree. Also, I find myself only using the centre dash when I turn off the radio or toggle the air-conditioning. The rest of the toys are all on the steering and stalks.
I really think they could have at least left some sort of space-provision for a spare wheel. I don't like that you're given no choice. We've ditched the run-flats and travel with a compressor and tyre repair kit instead, but there's always that element of worry that goes along with the decision.
I agree also with an earlier post regarding 'unspecific warnings' on the E90 -not knowing which door isn't closed properly, and the most annoying, which light bulb is out. Our's is currently adamant there's a light out, but I'll be damned if I can find one that's out - probably just a computer error.
Another post mentioned that the E90 always feels slow and I often get that - there are often times when I want the car to 'feel' like the spirited driving it's doing, but it is rather dull.
I also find it rather unnerving that they don't have a heat gauge on the E90. There are just times when you want to be sure if things have been questionable, and I find it hard to trust the car's wisdom without having a way to keep an eye on it. Especially when the car's computer does make errors - as with the light-bulb warning now - and a previously very doomsday-limp-mode-inducing error which turned out to be a computer malfunction. I suppose as cars become more technological we have to get used to relying on it blindly, but it takes some of the joy out of being a car enthusiast imo.
So I pretty much agree with most of the E90 criticism that have been mentioned in the thread, they're all pretty valid, but I still love the car *too much* and always have a kick-ass time driving it. Except on a wet slippery gravel road. Don't ever try that. Really. Don't.
Personally - if it says BMW on the badge, half the argument has already been won for me. I wouldn't put it past myself to look at an E46 to add to the family some day, they are without a doubt one of the best all-rounder 3-series ever made, and sometimes it's hard to beat the best - even if the best is your own
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