BMW and M Power Owners

[TW]Fox · 3 Dec 2015 at 17:34

This is the danger of using the spec tool. It is not a UK specification site, therefore many items which are standard fit on UK cars are listed as factory options because thats how the system records them.

All Sport 3 Series will have the M Sport Package 2, Aerodynamic Package, Individual Headlining, etc. They are just the components that make up the standard specification of a Sport model.

crinkleshoes · 3 Dec 2015 at 17:42

[TW]Fox;28898330 said:
Why would you pay 400 quid to rent a 4 Series for 4 days? Am I missing something?

As opposed to?

420 would have been £180 IIRC... 640 £300... 320 £130... don't want another 740 again or a 5 series and the F-Type R at £750 was more than I wanted to spend... although I might have to try that some time.

Gaygle · 4 Dec 2015 at 10:51

hurfdurf said:
Thanks to all who suggested Redish on here, just booked in my car for an oil service tomorrow there and I am filled with way more confidence than I was talking about an M service so generically with the local BMW main dealer, its half the price as well.

You're welcome

I just wish we had someone with their level of service and knowledge this side of the country.

Sam · 4 Dec 2015 at 11:26

SS-89 said:
Yes so I've been told but it's likely even rarer as it's not on the official price list or the configurator (unlike the m3/m4), also dakota vs merino leather

Plastic is rubbish tbh, though alcantara...yes please!

sunny007 said:
My M3 has Full Extended leather, makes the interior feel much nicer.

I specced my dads M4 and the leather was the first option i ticked, changes the feel of the interior IMO.

Basher · 4 Dec 2015 at 11:33

Sam said:
I specced my dads M4 and the leather was the first option i ticked, changes the feel of the interior IMO.

Love the leather, but it would annoy me spending that kind of money and still getting the centre console of a one series.

xs2man · 4 Dec 2015 at 11:34

Feel, yes. Look, still like the 1 series I'm afraid.

I test drove an M4 and an M135i a few weeks back, on a back to back basis. The 1 series was smaller, obviously, but the similarities were to prominent for me. I personally couldn't spend £40k+ for a blown up 1 series interior, despite the engine underneath it.

Must be some semi-reasonable M5's for that sort of money though.

iaind · 4 Dec 2015 at 11:39

Why's it such a big deal that its the same/similar as a 1? In isolation, it looks fine for the class of car..i quite like it myself. Is it just the principal of it looking the same as the cheaper car, or do people really dislike it?

[TW]Fox · 4 Dec 2015 at 11:41

It its good enough for a 1 then by definition it would seem inappropriate for a car from the class above.

Have a look at the C Class for what an interior in this class ought to look like. Stupid iPad display aside of course.

iaind · 4 Dec 2015 at 11:50

[TW]Fox;28901048 said:
It its good enough for a 1 then by definition it would seem inappropriate for a car from the class above.

Have a look at the C Class for what an interior in this class ought to look like. Stupid iPad display aside of course.

Like I said though - is that just principal or a genuine gripe at the quality/style?

Maybe it's completely appropriate for the 3 and exceptional for the 1? I had never been in a 1 series of this generation but had been in several 3s of different specs and never once thought "this looks like the interior from a class below".

I do think the new C interior looks superb, but I still really like the F30 inside

Basher · 4 Dec 2015 at 11:54

iaind said:
Like I said though - is that just principal or a genuine gripe at the quality/style?

Maybe it's completely appropriate for the 3 and exceptional for the 1? I had never been in a 1 series of this generation but had been in several 3s of different specs and never once thought "this looks like the interior from a class below".

I do think the new C interior looks superb, but I still really like the F30 inside

Personally I think the interior is poor for the class. It doesn't give you that 'cockpit' type feel in the same way the 5 does.

crinkleshoes · 4 Dec 2015 at 11:56

Basher said:
Love the leather, but it would annoy me spending that kind of money and still getting the centre console of a one series.

I think you guys are looking at this in the wrong context.

They've brought the look/feel of the 3/4 series to the 1/2 series market segment.

The 1/2 series competes with the like of Golf R / Audi A3 and it is leagues above and beyond those cars interiors.

xs2man said:
Feel, yes. Look, still like the 1 series I'm afraid.

I test drove an M4 and an M135i a few weeks back, on a back to back basis. The 1 series was smaller, obviously, but the similarities were to prominent for me. I personally couldn't spend £40k+ for a blown up 1 series interior, despite the engine underneath it.

Must be some semi-reasonable M5's for that sort of money though.

It also happens to look a lot like the 5/6/7 series interior :confused:

M4 is a much nicer car to drive than the M5.

iaind said:
Why's it such a big deal that its the same/similar as a 1? In isolation, it looks fine for the class of car..i quite like it myself. Is it just the principal of it looking the same as the cheaper car, or do people really dislike it?

I really don't see the big deal... the interior of all the 1/2/3/4/5/6/7 are incredibly similar.

Only the cabin size is noticeably smaller on the 1/2 series.

[TW]Fox;28901048 said:
It its good enough for a 1 then by definition it would seem inappropriate for a car from the class above.

Have a look at the C Class for what an interior in this class ought to look like. Stupid iPad display aside of course.

BMW interior is better than Merc C Class interior... stop spouting this crap.

This gen C Class is an improvement over the last C... sure... but it's so tacky it's just gross and yes, the display is a heck of a lot worse.

Dr House · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:01

Basher · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:12

crinkleshoes said:
I really don't see the big deal... the interior of all the 1/2/3/4/5/6/7 are incredibly similar.

They may look similar, but they feel totally different inside. The difference between the quality and feel of the 1 vs the 5 is massive (not to mention the 1 vs a 7!)

I had a 1 for just less than a year and it never really felt special inside, even though it was the top 1 series you could buy. I'm now in a 5 and it feels totally different.

I still stand by my opinion that the interior of the 3 is poor for the class.

[TW]Fox · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:21

crinkleshoes said:
I think you guys are looking at this in the wrong context.

They've brought the look/feel of the 3/4 series to the 1/2 series market segment.

No, it's the other way round. Previous - with say the E46 - the 3 Series had a smaller 5 Series interior. Now, it has a larger 1 Series interior.

BMW interior is better than Merc C Class interior... stop spouting this crap.

It's not 'crap'. The new C Class has a class leading interior.

crinkleshoes · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:32

Basher said:
They may look similar, but they feel totally different inside. The difference between the quality and feel of the 1 vs the 5 is massive (not to mention the 1 vs a 7!)

I had a 1 for just less than a year and it never really felt special inside, even though it was the top 1 series you could buy. I'm now in a 5 and it feels totally different.

I still stand by my opinion that the interior of the 3 is poor for the class.

They were clearly and plainly talking about appearance above, and they all look very similar

I know they feel different though, I have spent extended rental periods with all of the recent 3/4/6/7, only limited time with the latest gen 1 and it was a low spec 118d (erk)... but it still felt OK - I didn't hate it like so many here seem to.

I would have a 1-series over a c-class any day of the week.

[TW]Fox;28901236 said:
No, it's the other way round. Previous - with say the E46 - the 3 Series had a smaller 5 Series interior. Now, it has a larger 1 Series interior.

It's not 'crap'. The new C Class has a class leading interior.

I've seen / been in worse... but compared to a 3/4 series with extended leather... yes, it's crap.

The c-class wrap around leather is quite nice... but the whole centre console, right back to behind your elbow and especially the badly stuck on ipad is absolutely vile... but, I would still have one over a VW or similar... I just think that compared to a 3/4 series, it's horrid.

SDK^ · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:36

Outside of the OcUK Motors Forum bubble the interior of the 3 series isn't seen as low rent. Most reviews i've read online place it well against it's rivals.

iaind · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:38

SDK^ said:
Outside of the OcUK Motors Forum bubble the interior of the 3 series isn't seen as low rent. Most reviews i've read online place it well against it's rivals.

That was my view - I had already formed my own opinion about it and read the reviews before I even knew that it was similar to a 1... or had seen people on here complaining about it

[TW]Fox · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:41

crinkleshoes said:
I've seen / been in worse... but compared to a 3/4 series with extended leather... yes, it's crap.

But 3/4 Series with extended leather simply do not exist. It's such a rare option that unless you are speccing up your dream new purchase you will simply not get one with it. I know you claim to have had a hire car with it somewhere which is lovely but doesn't really change the fact that it doesn't really exist in the market.

I genuinely want to like the 3 Series interior. The 3 Series, used, is a much better value car than the F10. I could afford a better 3 Series than I can 5 Series and they are cheaper to own and run with much lower warranty costs. On paper a 3 Series is ideal but the interior just doesn't feel luxurious or special and it's a real shame.

You can barely tell which of these is a 1 Series and which is a 3 Series without looking at the filename. Great news for 1 Series buyers (and I think for this class the interior is fine) but the 3 Series is supposed to be a better class of car, it shouldn't have an almost indistinguishable interior from the 1 Series.

Yet it does.

http://cdn1.autoexpress.co.uk/sites...lic/3/28//p90171618-highres.jpg?itok=OfOBf91K

http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2011/10/2012-BMW-3-series-with-M-sport-package-interior.jpg

It's even still got an old-school handbrake :confused:

crinkleshoes · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:49

SDK^ said:
Outside of the OcUK Motors Forum bubble the interior of the 3 series isn't seen as low rent. Most reviews i've read online place it well against it's rivals.

iaind said:
That was my view - I had already formed my own opinion about it and read the reviews before I even knew that it was similar to a 1... or had seen people on here complaining about it

Exactly... I think it is a big fuss being made over minor differences.

[TW]Fox;28901345 said:
But 3/4 Series with extended leather simply do not exist. It's such a rare option that unless you are speccing up your dream new purchase you will simply not get one with it. I know you claim to have had a hire car with it somewhere which is lovely but doesn't really change the fact that it doesn't really exist in the market.

I genuinely want to like the 3 Series interior. The 3 Series, used, is a much better value car than the F10. I could afford a better 3 Series than I can 5 Series and they are cheaper to own and run with much lower warranty costs. On paper a 3 Series is ideal but the interior just doesn't feel luxurious or special and it's a real shame.

I guess I just don't value the differences as highly as you do, even with plastic... I still prefer it to the C-Class.

I've had quite a few with that option, the only 3 series I've had without it, was a 318d I got from Sixt.de in Germany.

420i M-Sport from Budget, 640d M-Sport from Thrifty, M4 from Thrifty, 740d from Thrifty, 435i from Thrifty, 320d from Sixt UK... all had it. Don't know if the option is standard or not in the 640/740.

When I booked a 520, they gave me an E-Class and I couldn't stand the thing... that horrible to be a driver of, you have to assume the old man driving style and have nowhere to rest your elbows... comfy enough for the passengers though.

crinkleshoes · 4 Dec 2015 at 12:52

[TW]Fox;28901345 said:
You can barely tell which of these is a 1 Series and which is a 3 Series without looking at the filename. Great news for 1 Series buyers (and I think for this class the interior is fine) but the 3 Series is supposed to be a better class of car, it shouldn't have an almost indistinguishable interior from the 1 Series.

Yet it does.

http://cdn1.autoexpress.co.uk/sites...lic/3/28//p90171618-highres.jpg?itok=OfOBf91K

http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2011/10/2012-BMW-3-series-with-M-sport-package-interior.jpg

It's even still got an old-school handbrake

Like I said above though, that's a good thing for both cars... the differences are there, but subtle... I see that as 1 series with 3 series-like interior, rather than the other way around.

note: I happen to really like the seats in those pictures you shared, the 118d I had came with them.