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Complaints about interior
Just out of curiousity, although I don't drive a E90 (I'd like to though), but I was just curious why some critics are saying that the E90's interior is not "driver centric" like the E46. I have ridden in an E90 many times and don't know what everyone is complaining about. What exactly does "Driver centric" mean and how come some car critics say the E90's interior is not?
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"No longer driver centric" is a euphemism for "even if I am driving, my wife can change the radio station now if she wants to"
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Quote: | Just out of curiousity, although I don't drive a E90 (I'd like to though), but I was just curious why some critics are saying that the E90's interior is not "driver centric" like the E46. I have ridden in an E90 many times and don't know what everyone is complaining about. What exactly does "Driver centric" mean and how come some car critics say the E90's interior is not? | "Driver-centric" means that the interior layout is based around the driver. In the E36 and E46 3-series, the instruments, radio, climate controls, and center console all faced the driver to some degree. In the those cars, it was especially noticeable when sitting in the front passenger seat - you would feel almost left out.
The E90 interior does not face the driver as much as the earlier cars, although it still does face the driver. Some critics (although I don't know which ones) may have a problem with this because everything is not catered solely to the driver.
I have to confess, I don't really understand the complaint. Perhaps my point would be better made through the words of MotorTrend: "Inside, the seats embrace you.... Everything else is just where your eyes and limbs can get to it. The interior styling might be different these days, but that perfect interface between body and automobile means you could only be in a Bimmer." (Motortrend, April 2005).
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Quote: | Just out of curiousity, although I don't drive a E90 (I'd like to though), but I was just curious why some critics are saying that the E90's interior is not "driver centric" like the E46. I have ridden in an E90 many times and don't know what everyone is complaining about. What exactly does "Driver centric" mean and how come some car critics say the E90's interior is not? | Stepping from the conooned environment of an E36 (well, as cocooned as you can get with a four-seater family car) into an E46, I noticed a slightly loss of driver focus, but as a passenger in an E36 you certainly felt left out. In the E46 there is still a noticeable curve towards the driver - look at the shape of the wood/plastic/chrome etc. trims on the dashboard itself. In the E90, this area of the car is almost completely flat. Step into a modern Audi, and that driver-centric feeling is back again. (A review I read in Car magazine some time ago reported much mirth in the Audi camp when pictures of the E90 dash were leaked - Audi couldn't believe that BMW could ever let that design feature go, and couldn't believe their luck).
Years of driving BMWs of various sorts mean I have got used to the selfish feeling you get as a driver. Hey, it's my money 
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Quote: ....
Years of driving BMWs of various sorts mean I have got used to the selfish feeling you get as a driver. Hey, it's my money | Exactly!
I read all of the E90 boards and paid close attention to the finest critiques while I was searching for a dealer that had a manual sport 330i they could let me drive. I finally found one and drove on down in my pristine 100,000 mile 1992 E36 325i. After driving a new E90 330i along the beach, on I-5, and up, over and down the hills of La Costa and Carlsbad on a 60 minute unsupervised test drive with my wife I returned to the dealer, wrote out a deposit check, and ordered on the spot.
During the entire experience of driving the car it never occurred to me or my wife that either of us was "detached" from the other in any way. There was a lot "this thing is awsome", what a f***ing rush!", and finally "I gotta have one!", but never even a thought of "gee, the dash is boring", or I don't feel connected". Sure, the dash is not angled as in my E36, but at the same time the new seats wrap right around you keep you very involved. I drove home in the E36 and noticed big differences in handling, but no more connected to the car than in the new one.
The E90 is fantastic and I'm starting to feel like these critics are having to dig deep to find something "wrong" with the latest iteration of the best sports sedan ever. I remember when I saw the first 1992 325i on the lot. It was like nothing ever seen before and without driving it I ordered on the spot that day also - and have never regretted it a single day. I'm sure the same will apply as soon as my E90 bumps my E36 from the garage to the carport.
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"Driver-centric" means more than just having the switchgear binnacle tilted towards the driver.
iDrive does much to take away from the "driver-centric" nature of the previous cars in that it makes the driver take their eyes and thus their concentration off of the road. With iDrive you must now visually confirm a starting point, visually confirm proper navigation through the options, and then visually confirm that the correct option has been selected.
This process is by no means driver-centric. In previous cars one could instinctively push the correct button without taking their eyes off of the road.
Driver-centric also refers to knowing at all times what is going on with ones car and being able to make minor adjustments here and there.
The new car has less "at-a-glance" instrumentation than some previous cars; owner's really can't even check their oil now save for however accurate the oil high-low "idiot light" is. There is so much minor maintenance that is now relegated to the computer and when it thinks that service or fluid changes are needed.
While the computer might be more accurate overall it prevents the owner from engaging in a certain kind of, well, bonding with the car that is also part of being driver-centric.
The move towards more and more in-car entertainment is also a move away from driver-centric-ness.
I am not arguing that everything old is better and that everything new is bad, just pointing out that driver-centric involves many things.
As aside: No e90 owner with a faint heart should look at the interior of the new Honda Civic Sedan. While opinions might vary on the aesthetics quality of the new design, the materials and their execution in this economy car put the interior design and materials of the $40-$50,000 e90 330i to shame.
Remember: I warned you.
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Complaints about interior