[Damn Dirty Ape]

I was given a 528 loaner today for the rest the week. I don't really care for how big the car feels when driving it is definitely not as sporty feeling. But the interior is about 1000 times better put together and feels much more solid.

I see what people are saying now, 3 series does seem cheaper inside that's all. I still can't wait to get my 328 Msport back though.

[newoldbeemer]

Just be glad they didn't give you a 135i with sports package .

[OC40]

Originally Posted by Damn Dirty Ape

I was given a 528 loaner today for the rest the week. I don't really care for how big the car feels when driving it is definitely not as sporty feeling. But the interior is about 1000 times better put together and feels much more solid.

I see what people are saying now, 3 series does seem cheaper inside that's all. I still can't wait to get my 328 Msport back though.

I received a 528 loaner on two occasions. I found the entire car, including the interior to be horrible. The thing that surprised me the most? The 528 has less front leg room than the 3er. At 6'5", my legs were cramped.

[ipilcher]

The 5er has a big cabin, but the seats seems to occupy most of that space (which does allow them to be amazingly comfortable). I'm 6'0" and it couldn't pass my "sit behind myself" test; there was plenty of room for my knees but none for my feet.

3GT FTW.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Damn Dirty Ape

I was given a 528 loaner today for the rest the week. I don't really care for how big the car feels when driving it is definitely not as sporty feeling. But the interior is about 1000 times better put together and feels much more solid.

I see what people are saying now, 3 series does seem cheaper inside that's all. I still can't wait to get my 328 Msport back though.

Based on your conclusion, BMW have done a good job.
3 being sportier, cheaper and less luxurious than the 5.
Same can be said about 1 and 3 series comparison.

[Damn Dirty Ape]

2 things that made me say 'damn' is the much better nAv map resolution and the hvac operation. Ass is smoother, no lag to start moving when the pedal is pressed. Maybe an msport would drive better but maybe next car lol.

I know I cannot get comfortable in the driver seat like on mine.

[dL.]

Originally Posted by Damn Dirty Ape

I was given a 528 loaner today for the rest the week. I don't really care for how big the car feels when driving it is definitely not as sporty feeling. But the interior is about 1000 times better put together and feels much more solid.

I see what people are saying now, 3 series does seem cheaper inside that's all. I still can't wait to get my 328 Msport back though.

I 100% agree. World of difference to the point that I will look towards getting a 5 series next if the price is right.

The 3/4 series is a joke compared to the fit & finish of A4/A5 and especially the upcoming C class. We are comparable to a Jetta (MK5) at best.

Too bad the aggressive front and headlight design of the 3/4 series is 1000x better than the 5 series.

dL

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by OC40

I received a 528 loaner on two occasions. I found the entire car, including the interior to be horrible. The thing that surprised me the most? The 528 has less front leg room than the 3er. At 6'5", my legs were cramped.

Ridiculous right? All that extra size for a little more shoulder room, but less leg room up front (tiny more in back I think, so same total), and a bigger trunk. If I am going to drive such a big, long car, I would at least want a lot more room inside. I love going back and forth between my F30 and F15 because the F30 is more fun but the X5 is more roomy for long drives.

[300hp]

Not sure why you would think it's better built:

It most likely came with the thin steering wheel which completely sucks and takes away the luxury appeal of the car IMO especially if you have an msport steering wheel.

It most likely does not have leather but the fake leather, if you don't have a compass on the rear view mirror then you are sitting on fake leather.

The nav in the 2014s is the same as the 5er.

[stewie]

Test drove a 535 last fall, enjoyed the "luxury" feel of the car but was really glad to get back in my e90 335i. It was boring. It just felt like my dad's car, you know? (and I'm over 40 so that's saying something).

The 3 is not as well put together as the 5, but as far as driving enjoyment goes, it wins big time. Although I can afford a 5, and I could use the extra room for my family, I opted instead for a loaded up 335. Good balance between luxury and performance, at least from my perspective. I'm not ready to give up my stick shift and M exhaust just yet.

Side note: As for all the praise for Audi's interiors, I think it's overdone. I test drove an S4 and loved it... but there was a noticeable creak coming from the plastic around the nav screen, and that is on a car with only a few hundred clicks on it. Did some research and the A4/S4's are plagued with creaks and rattles all over the place.

[DrivenByE30]

Yeah i hear you all.

I had the 535d and that car so smoothly eat my 335i for breakfast.

What a locomotive! Torque everywhere!

[openwheelracing]

Agree 100%. The 5 series interior is in a whole different class. Literally.

[3onDubs]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

Just be glad they didn't give you a 135i with sports package .

I miss my 135i...one of the funnest MT cars i've driven

[Roki_014]

Originally Posted by Damn Dirty Ape

I was given a 528 loaner today for the rest the week. I don't really care for how big the car feels when driving it is definitely not as sporty feeling. But the interior is about 1000 times better put together and feels much more solid.

I see what people are saying now, 3 series does seem cheaper inside that's all. I still can't wait to get my 328 Msport back though.

3 series is actually rated lower than x3 as well

[Roki_014]

Originally Posted by dL.

I 100% agree. World of difference to the point that I will look towards getting a 5 series next if the price is right.

The 3/4 series is a joke compared to the fit & finish of A4/A5 and especially the upcoming C class. We are comparable to a Jetta (MK5) at best.

Too bad the aggressive front and headlight design of the 3/4 series is 1000x better than the 5 series.

dL

"we are comparable to a Jetta (MK5) at best" i dont agree with this, my gf just got one and it definitely feels cheaper than the f30, 5 series definetely feels better than f30, from 3 to 5 is little bit less than jetta to 3 series in jump of luxury

[chrisny]

lots of self-loathing on here… the 3 is what it's supposed to be, no more or less luxurious than it should be, IMO. Some of you guys need to jump in a Chevy Malibu or something for perspective.

[Damn Dirty Ape]

It does have the skinny steering wheel but does have the dakota leather option. Just saying things seem a bit higher quality in the materials area, doors thunk shut, I know it's more expensive just wanted to voice my thoughts on what I've heard others mention from time to time.

I do feel that the 4 banger isn't the best choice in a 5 IMHO as there is more gear-hunting in hilly areas that on my 328.

[BMHunden]

Well, I traded in my 2010 530d for a new 435i and:

- I'm 2m tall and I have more legroom in both the passenger's and driver's seat;
- the roof in the 4 is slightly, slightly lower, but I just fit (both had sunroofs);
- I have more room around the pedals, where my right foot use to get stuck above the brake pedal in my 5 (and in fact in my e60 530d before that, and in my dad's 1994 5 series which I learned to drive in);
- the 4's doors feel more "solid" than the 5's when closing them (although this could be 4 series specific, I had a 328 loaner for a few days and its doors really did feel quite lightweight);
- in fact, the 4 feels generally more solid than that 328, but I really don't want to invite a hate storm down upon myself in this regard;
- the seatbelt presenters never fail to impress and amuse my passengers (and ME)
- the sports seats are comparable and in fact I'd say that the seats in the 4 are superior to the sports seats I had in the 5; the 4 has adjustable lumbar support where the 5 didn't;
- the driving position in the 4 is in my view superior to that in the 5; I never could get quite low enough in the 5;
- in my 5, when I adjusted the steering wheel to a comfortable position, the top of the speedo and tachometer were hidden, whereas I don't have the same problem in the 4;
- I do miss the electric steering wheel reach / angle adjustment in the 5, but since I've found a better seating position in the 4 I don't actually fiddle with the steering wheel's position as much as I did in the 5 (if ever);
- the M sport steering wheel in the 4 is far superior to the non-M sport steering wheel in the 5;
- the frameless, large windows are just cool.
- the HK sound system in the 4 is far superior to the system I had in the 5 (which was at the time of launch the top-spec system);
- I prefer the aluminium trim in the 4 to the wood trim I had in the 5 (including the estoril blue accent line);
- I prefer the dials and the ambient lights in the 4;
- the 5 may have slightly better air vents (?), but even then, I didn't like the area immediately below the vents where the wooden trim met the aluminium strip;
- I hated the catch on the 5's armrest storage compartment - but this has been fixed in the 2014 5 series;
- the dashboard and instrument cowl in the 5 are far more imposing than in the 4, with the result that the cabin is definitely less open in feel;
- the cabin lighting and ambient lighting are all, in my view, superior in the four;
- the leather trim is equivalent in quality;
- the driver's door handle on the four is superior to that in the 5;
- the window controls and headlight controls are identical;
- the climate control and drive (dashboard) buttons in the 5 may be slightly superior in feel;
- the iDrive system on my dad's new 535i is exactly the same as the system on my 435i (and both are far superior to the system in my 2010 5 series);
- I have no rattles in my 4, and towards the end of my time with the 5 (80 000km) I was starting to notice more of these;
- the plastic trim around the area where the rear-view mirror met the windscreen in my 5 was of terrible quality and was responsible for significant and persistent rattles;
- the gearshifts are identical (i am not talking about the operation of the gearbox itself, which is a totally different story);
- the sunroof on the 435i lacks a power-operated inner partition, but I don't miss it;
- I don't even really miss the electronic parking brake on the 5. The auto-hold braking function was handy in traffic but even then it would, quite often engage inconsistently in stop-start traffic with the result that I often switched it off. It was also a pain to have another button to remember to press at the start of every journey (along with the button to put the car in sport mode).
- the overall impression gained in driving the 4 is one of a lighter, more undiluted and more nimble car and the cabin ambience matches that. The 5 was heavy, and quiet. It became boring.
- I better stop the list as I'm starting to talk about the driving experience and mechanical differences, which is another topic.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by Damn Dirty Ape

It does have the skinny steering wheel but does have the dakota leather option. Just saying things seem a bit higher quality in the materials area, doors thunk shut, I know it's more expensive just wanted to voice my thoughts on what I've heard others mention from time to time.

I do feel that the 4 banger isn't the best choice in a 5 IMHO as there is more gear-hunting in hilly areas that on my 328.

Ok. I was only comparing the f30 to what I assumed to be a low end speced out loaner. Once you start decking out the 5er with all options then there is really no discussion to be had. 5er will dominate the 3/4 iro luxury.

I could only describe my 5er loaner experience as COMFORTABLE.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by chrisny

Ridiculous right? All that extra size for a little more shoulder room, but less leg room up front (tiny more in back I think, so same total), and a bigger trunk. If I am going to drive such a big, long car, I would at least want a lot more room inside. I love going back and forth between my F30 and F15 because the F30 is more fun but the X5 is more roomy for long drives.

Agree. I was completely underwhelmed with the 5er.

[dL.]

Originally Posted by stewie

Test drove a 535 last fall, enjoyed the "luxury" feel of the car but was really glad to get back in my e90 335i. It was boring. It just felt like my dad's car, you know? (and I'm over 40 so that's saying something).

The 3 is not as well put together as the 5, but as far as driving enjoyment goes, it wins big time. Although I can afford a 5, and I could use the extra room for my family, I opted instead for a loaded up 335. Good balance between luxury and performance, at least from my perspective. I'm not ready to give up my stick shift and M exhaust just yet.

Side note: As for all the praise for Audi's interiors, I think it's overdone. I test drove an S4 and loved it... but there was a noticeable creak coming from the plastic around the nav screen, and that is on a car with only a few hundred clicks on it. Did some research and the A4/S4's are plagued with creaks and rattles all over the place.

Can you link me on the A4/S4 rattles that you found? AFAIK, I didn't find that many if any.

dL

[nicknaz]

I must not be picky... I don't see much of a difference when I get back into my 335 after having a 535d loaner.