Comparing Interiors: E85/E86 to E90...

J

JimF

Member
Just a quick one: Recently at work I've been driving one of the pool cars a lot more. It's an E90 330d with all the sport trimmings. I'm in the market for an E86 Z4 coupe at the moment and.......

Can they be compared in terms of interior quality and feel? I love the driving position, cabin quality and steering wheel.
Will the Z4 I get be of similar quality? Or is it slightly lower rent?
 
JimF said:
Just a quick one: Recently at work I've been driving one of the pool cars a lot more. It's an E90 330d with all the sport trimmings. I'm in the market for an E86 Z4 coupe at the moment and.......

Can they be compared in terms of interior quality and feel? I love the driving position, cabin quality and steering wheel.
Will the Z4 I get be of similar quality? Or is it slightly lower rent?
Click to expand...

Ive had both & whilst the E90 felt more solidly built & rode the bumps well it still had the same issues with wear on buttons, switches & trim
You can't really compare driving position as they are totally different machines
If i was to place in order i would say E90 was better built than E85,E86 but then E46s are better than both :o if that makes sense :oops:
 
Wow I never knew E46s were held in such high regard!
As long as the Z is nicer than my Subaru I'll be happy :D
 
The z4 interior is very dated now. It's the one thing that makes me know I'm drink an older car :thumbsdown:
 
Had a couple of E90`s a 330i/330d and it is a decent enough interior I reckon but if I am honest the overall build and interior on my Z4M was poor I thought but in fairness they are more about the way they drive than the interior/build quality I think so you easily end up turning a blind eye to it and just enjoy driving it instead rather than get upset with the rattles and low quality plastics.
 
Ah I'm a bit disappointed to hear that. I'm coming from a world of rattles and low quality plastics... However I dont think the Z4 interior is dated I think it looks fantastic. Especially as I have a personal hatred of buttons (main thing I dont like about Porsche interiors!)

Hoping I'm not too disappointed to be in one... Especially with it not being an M I'm going for.
 
I don't think you will be too disappointed overall because as a package they are great whether M version or not, my Z4M was the worst out of all the BMW`s I have experienced in terms of build and interior quality but that's not what they are really about because they are a sports cars to be enjoyed and its all about the driving experience so you can forgive them for the few quirks it has I think.

When I had my Z4M I did often wonder where they got the original £43k list price from if I am honest but you were paying for the engine and other bits and bobs and not for the way it was screwed together or its interior quality, to be fair when I had my E92 M3 I was disappointed with its interior too because it wasn't any different from the rest of the range either bar dials/seats.

Having had a Nissan 200sx in the past the interior on that was questionable to say the least but it never bothered me because it was such a good thing to drive. :driving:
 
Taz said:
The z4 interior is very dated now. It's the one thing that makes me know I'm drink an older car :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

You been driving too much alcohol Taz?
 
Ah. A nicer interior was one of the main selling points to me.... Best test drive one before I commit.
 
JimF said:
Ah. A nicer interior was one of the main selling points to me.... Best test drive one before I commit.
Click to expand...

If you havent had multiple BMWs (or Audi/Porsche/Mercedes ) previously i doubt you will be disappointed once in a E85 E86
They have a air of style & quality but against other german models maybe not as high in material or build ?
I did take a 3.0 56 Subaru Outback for a testdrive a few months back , not disappointed at all but in the end the non "germanic" feel + the £500 tax prompted my 2nd X3 purchase :wink:
time will tell mate & don't be put off by any negative comments , the Z4 is a great car to own :thumbsup:
 
Yeah was having a wobble yesterday looking at Caymans on finance :lol:
Looking forward to getting into a Z4!
 
JimF said:
Yeah was having a wobble yesterday looking at Caymans on finance :lol:
Looking forward to getting into a Z4!
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Cayman's are a nice thing but you would need £3/£4k to purchase equivalent year/spec/miles as a Zcoupe
Running costs are similar but there is little chance of any major mechanical breakdown with the 3.0 straight 6 BM unit , can't say the same for the Porsche 8)
 
Yep exactly! My budget is approx £9000 and aiming around the 80,000 mile mark. For an equivalent Cayman I'd be looking at £13,000+

Also, brake costs on the Porsche make me feel a little unwell :lol:

My last 3 cars have been rattly Japanese boxes. I'm looking forward to the quality!
 
JimF said:
Yep exactly! My budget is approx £9000 and aiming around the 80,000 mile mark. For an equivalent Cayman I'd be looking at £13,000+

Also, brake costs on the Porsche make me feel a little unwell :lol:

My last 3 cars have been rattly Japanese boxes. I'm looking forward to the quality!
Click to expand...

Haha , yeah the 3.0 can have discs+pads all round for £250 , same with most other stuff service + repairwise , very reasonable to maintain , on a par with average family hatch id say :thumbsup:
 
Thats the main appeal for me. Im currently driving a 330bhp newage Impreza STI, with close ratio gears, variable 4wd, snap off steering wheel etc... Looking for something a bit more refined and cheaper to run!
 
My e93 has a much better cabin than my e85 had-but saying that the e93 is more equipped than the e85 was-e93 seems better screwed together tho.
 
JimF said:
Wow I never knew E46s were held in such high regard!
As long as the Z is nicer than my Subaru I'll be happy :D
Click to expand...

:lol: :rofl: :lol: Love a man with really low standards.

Which Skooby are we talking about? :wink:
 
mr wilks said:
JimF said:
Just a quick one: Recently at work I've been driving one of the pool cars a lot more. It's an E90 330d with all the sport trimmings. I'm in the market for an E86 Z4 coupe at the moment and.......

Can they be compared in terms of interior quality and feel? I love the driving position, cabin quality and steering wheel.
Will the Z4 I get be of similar quality? Or is it slightly lower rent?
Click to expand...

Ive had both & whilst the E90 felt more solidly built & rode the bumps well it still had the same issues with wear on buttons, switches & trim
You can't really compare driving position as they are totally different machines
If i was to place in order i would say E90 was better built than E85,E86 but then E46s are better than both :o if that makes sense :oops:
Click to expand...
True my e46 was solid! :)
 
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